This is National Women’s Health Week (May is National Women’s Health Month) and I can’t think of a better time to discuss the top five health issues that women face: heart disease, breast cancer, osteoporosis, depression and autoimmune diseases.
With wellness and prevention in mind, how can working women battle these potential problems?
Heart disease
We’ve blogged about this before. Eating healthy, a solid exercise routine and regular checkups are key. However, family history is a factor. Knowing the first signs of a heart attack can prove vital.
Breast cancer
Early diagnosis and education have played a huge role in saving untold lives. However, breast cancer is still the most common cancer for women. Women should know their family history and be aware that obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, increasing age and not having children increases their chances for getting this debilitating and potentially deadly disease.
Osteoporosis
Calcium and Vitamin D intake as early as childhood can have a major impact on how women’s bones fare further down the road. In adulthood, a woman’s best bet is eating a diet rich in nutrients, starting with dark leafy vegetables, fortified cereal and juice, low-fat dairy products, soy products and fish such as salmon or sardines.
According to recommendations by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), about 1,000 mg of calcium daily are needed for women between 18 and 50, increasing to 1,200 mg daily after that. Sticking to a regular exercise routine can also keep bones healthy and strong.
Who is most prone to being diagnosed with osteoporosis? Women who are:
– post-menopausal
– have a small, thin-boned frame
– white or Asian
– have a family history
Depression
Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression than men, according to The National Institute of Mental Health. What’s the best way to keep a positive outlook on life? Connecting with others. Those deep bonds, from friends to family, can help women from getting depressed.
On the flip side, those close relationships can also be taxing as women juggle more work/family issues as primary caregivers for children and aging parents. Trying to keep up with work and the demands at home can have an major effect on health, not to mention lack of sleep, fatigue and an increased chance of picking up some sort of illness or infection because they’re worn out. Other causes of depression include family history, hormonal changes, serious chronic illness or a major loss, to name just a few.
Autoimmune diseases
There are more than 80 serious chronic illnesses considered autoimmune diseases. (Lupus, multiple sclerosis and Type 1 diabetes are just a few.) Women are much more likely to have these illnesses. In fact, women account for 75 percent autoimmune diseases, according to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA).
Autoimmune diseases occur when the body attacks its own tissues. So what can be done?
Although genetics play a role, preventative care and early diagnosis are the best bets. Women who exercise regularly, get a good night’s rest, eat a balanced diet, avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol may have a better chance of avoiding this diagnosis just by keeping their immune system stronger.
Symptoms can be managed under a physician’s supervision, although treatment as a whole remains elusive.
Embrace wellness
National Women’s Health Month is the perfect time to start a dialogue with your female workforce on the importance of preventive care and wellness practices. And make sure that your wellness program provides screening services that can help with early detection on many of these potential health problems facing women today.
