Is Your Hospital Facing Today's Top Female Medical Concerns?

Is Your Hospital Facing Today’s Top Female Medical Concerns?

With the wealth of information available online, women are openly talking about things their grandparents might have shied away from sharing even with their family doctor.

But with the hectic pace of life these days and the stresses we put our bodies under, there are still significant risks to women's health. What are the biggest health threats to women today? And what is the medical community doing to help?

Heart Disease

Heart disease is still one of the leading killers of both men and women in the U.S..

As well as premature death, heart disease can cause disability, impeding a woman's ability to get around and enjoy the activities of everyday life. 

The risk of heart disease increases with age, family history of the disease, and other conditions such as diabetes or obesity.

For women, embracing a healthier lifestyle is a key part of heart disease prevention. For the medical community, educating females through newsletters, magazines, and video is a great way to spread the word on how to lessen the chances of becoming a victim in the first place.

What you can advise women to do? -  Eat a healthy diet, take moderate exercise, give up habits like smoking and drinking, take care of other existing conditions, and take time out to reduce stress levels.

Cancer

Cancer is a major health risk for women today.

Breast cancer is the most common form of the disease found in women, while lung cancer is also a serious concern. The best chance of successful cancer treatment is to catch it early, so educating yourself about the disease and its signs is one of the best things you can do for your health.

The risk of cancer can be increased by family or personal history of the disease, increasing age, obesity, and not having children.

For hospitals, offering the latest in prevention and surgical techniques to attack cancerous cells and tumors can go a long way in helping women fight cancer. Hospitals should continue working to educate women on prevention, along with the emotional aspects of dealing with the illness once diagnosed.

What you can do: Keep your weight in  the healthy range, quit smoking, perform regular self examinations and take advantage of any screening offered by your doctor.

Stroke

Strokes are a health concern for all women today.

Luckily, there is a lot that can be done towards stroke prevention, and there are treatments available. Adopting a healthier lifestyle now will help to lower your stroke risk in the future.

Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and raised cholesterol can all contribute to the risk of having a stroke. Lifestyle choices such as binge drinking, recreational drug use, and unhealthy food can also raise your risk.

It is important for hospitals to convey the message that strokes can happen to females of all ages. turning away the myth that this is something only older women might have to deal with.

What you can do: Control and treat any other conditions, stay active, avoid binge drinking or recreational drug use, and eat a healthy diet low in saturated fats.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is more prevalent than ever, making it a major health concern for women.

Type 2 diabetes affects the way your body metabolizes sugar. It can lead to a range of complications, including eye problems, nerve problems, kidney damage and heart disease.

Being overweight or inactive has been linked to developing type 2 diabetes. Elevated blood sugar levels, even if not high enough to be classed as diabetes, can lead progress to type 2 diabetes.

For those in the medical community, keeping tabs on your female patients is important, especially for those who have issues with weight. It is important for doctors to emphasize the benefits of eating right and exercising each time they see a patient during yearly exams.

What you can do: Eat healthily, stay active, and be sure to lose any excess weight.

What Help Is Available?

With so many health concerns for women today, knowing where to go for help can be rather daunting. Luckily, there are education and screening programs in most areas.

Many states now run women's health clinics at little or no cost. Doctors are able to advise women on services in their area such as cancer screening, blood pressure checks, blood sugar checks, or overall health screening to make sure they are in good shape.

More emphasis is placed on prevention rather than cure these days, with plenty of information available to help women make good, healthy lifestyle choices that will help to reduce their risk of becoming ill.

Hearing about killer diseases and risk factors can be frightening.

By working together as a team, female patients and the medical community can lessen the odds that diseases will strike.

About the Author

Tristan Anwyn is an author who writes on subjects as diverse as health, positive thinking, and  business reputation management.