Understanding your health as a woman means you need to know how your body works, how symptoms are different for men or women, and specific issues and health issues you can experience in your life. The sad reality is that women’s pain and health concerns are more likely to be dismissed than men’s, and women are automatically at a disadvantage when it comes to securing healthcare and treatment as they aren’t as readily believed as men are.
But what health conditions should women be aware of to get the help and care they need?
Breast Cancer
While breast cancer does affect men, too, it is more common for females to experience this type of cancer. Multiple initiatives are aimed at helping women understand their breasts and identify changes they need to be concerned about. Any new lumps, changes to the shape, heat spots, texture changes, or discharge from the nipple can all be causes for concern and should indicate you need to get your breasts checked out sooner rather than later.
Cervical Cancer
There are over 11,000 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed each year, and it is often undetected in its early stages. This is despite catching it early is the key to successful treatment. The reason it’s not caught early is that many women don’t know the signs. Going for your pap smear, practicing safe sex, and getting your HPV vaccination are great ways to prevent cervical cancer; however, knowing the signs of cervical cancer and getting these checked by your doctor will help you get treatment should you require it.
Heart Disease
Heart disease isn’t just applicable to women. Still, it can be a life-threatening condition that many women don’t realize they have, as heart disease is predominantly seen as something men have more often than women. Heart disease is the cause of 1 in 4 deaths in the female population each year and is one of the leading causes of death for women. Take your time to learn the signs of female heart disease and look at your risk factors to help you improve your heart health. Be it lowering your blood pressure, improving heart health by exercising more frequently, eating a healthier diet, or quitting smoking, you must find and fix what impacts your heart health.
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is primarily prevalent in older women, although females of any age can develop it. Like cervical cancer, there is little indication something is wrong aside from pain, and this can often be dismissed by the patient and medical professional alike and attributed to the menstrual cycle. However, with rates of new cases of ovarian cancer being 10.3 per 100,000 women and the death being 6.3 per 100,000 diagnosed women, knowing the signs of ovarian cancer and how to spot anything that is wrong is vital so you can get the treatment you need before it’s too late.
There are many health conditions that can affect women alone or are more prevalent in females. However, with such disparity in healthcare between women and men, it’s not as easy to advocate for yourself to be taken seriously. The more you know about your health and the types of illnesses and conditions that you are more likely to experience, the better your chance of getting the right test and treatment.