Women’s Health

In honor of Women’s Health Month, we will bring attention to a few health conditions that affect women this month. Although men and women are affected by many of the same health conditions, some conditions are experienced differently by women. Additionally, women face health conditions that are exclusive to them that can seriously impact or impair their lives.

Women often bear the brunt of caregiving. They ensure that those around them are taken care of (e.g., receiving their checkups, getting screened, eating well, getting exercise, having support, and being out in nature). As a result, they are usually the last one in line when it comes to being cared for. It is imperative that women move up that list to ensure that they care for their own needs and receive the care they need. This ensures that they can show up for the people in their lives.

So, what are some of the conditions that can adversely affect women and disrupt their lives? At the top of the list is heart disease which is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Many women, when asked are unaware that it is the leading cause of death for women, so making sure that more women become aware of this is of vital importance. Heart disease is defined as referring to several types of heart conditions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There are four types of heart disease. They are coronary artery disease, strokes and transient ischemic attacks, peripheral arterial disease, and aortic disease. Since heart disease claims the lives of so many women, it is important to know your risk and the steps that can be taken to prevent heart disease and the exacerbation of its symptoms. For some additional information on heart disease in women, see our previous blog on Women and Heart Disease here.

Cancer and stroke round out the top three conditions that lead to death in women. In the coming weeks during this month, we will provide some helpful facts about these conditions and how they affect women along with resources that can help them engage in prevention and care access for these conditions.

References

• About Heart Disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/index.html
• Cardiovascular Disease. NHS. Updated April 22, 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiovascular-disease/