When discussing women’s health, it is important to remember
that women and men are different in both how they show symptoms and in how they
are affected by certain diseases and health problems. While the list notes five health problems,
this post will focus on two.
According to NIH, the following health problems affect women
differently than men:
·
Women are more likely to die following a heart
attack than men.
·
Women are more likely to show signs of
depression and anxiety than men.
·
The effects of sexually transmitted diseases can
be more serious in women.
·
Osteoarthritis affects more women than men.
·
Women are more likely to have urinary tract
problems.
(NIH: National
Institute of Child Health & Human Development)
Heart Disease/Stroke:
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and
women in the United States. However,
women tend to have a delay in treatment for their disease.
There are certain stroke risk factors that are unique to
women: birth control pills, pregnancy,
HRT, frequent migraines, waist circumference greater than 35.2”, and high
triglycerides. Diabetes also increases
the risk of stroke for women, possibly due to the loss of estrogen through
menopause.
Osteoarthritis:
Osteoarthritis includes joint pain, joint stiffness, and
joint swelling, and is the most common form of arthritis. However, women tend to be recommended for
joint replacement and treatment less than their male counter parts. The risk factors that are unique to women
include:
·
Biology:
a woman’s joints move more due to looser tendons and wider hips.
·
Genetic Predisposition
·
Hormones:
estrogen protects cartilage from inflammation, and a woman’s estrogen
levels drop during menopause. Also,
giving birth, HRT, and early puberty (≤11 years of age) increases the risk of
osteoarthritis.
·
Obesity:
more women than men are obese—every extra pound a woman weighs puts 3
extra pounds of pressure on the knees and 6 extra pounds of pressure on the
hips.
(everydayhealth.com/osteoarthritis)
The long and short of it is women need to be proactive about
their health. Women need to realize that
they are different than their male counterparts and need to advocate for their
health issues. If a woman has one or more
risk factor for a disease or health problem, it is important to take steps
toward a healthier lifestyle.
About the Author:
Victoria Gravini is the owner of Alignment Studio, LLC and
has spent the greater part of 35 years studying the human body and nutrition. She is a Nutrition and Wellness Specialist,
NASM CPT FNS, and MELT Hand and Foot Instructor. She specializes in nutrition, stress
reduction, and pain reduction. She can
be found at Tenley Sport and Health or online at www.alignment-studio.com
Resources:
