Foremost Women Health Concerns

When it comes to women health, issues are far different from those faced by the opposite sex. While it is a fact, male and female bodies are prone to many similar concerns regarding illness, disease and general maintenance, there is no disagreeing women face several inimitable challenges. Most of the challenges begin early in life and carry on until menopause or even after that.

REPRODUCTION

When a girl hits puberty or when her menses starts, her encounter with the challenges and difficulties begin. From that very point, girls face distinctive issues related to their sex that can sometime lead to hormonal imbalance. Chemical disparity in vagina can result in yeast infections to go with uterus and ovaries that are vulnerable to injury and diverse medical conditions.

CUSTOMARY ISSUES

Sooner rather than later, every woman learns there are some conditions that impinge on females more than men. For instance, women are three times more likely to suffer from gallstones as compared to their male counterparts and three times likely to experience migraine headaches. Women also have a tendency to develop urinary tract complications and bowel disorders. In addition, different types of cancers also bother females.

AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES

Autoimmune diseases are a group of disorders, which attacks the immune system and destroys tissues. According to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), about ¾ of autoimmune diseases like lupus, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes occur in women. Reasons are largely unknown but gynecologists suspect genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors.

CALCIUM INSUFFICIENCY

As a woman ages, her bone density steadily declines. Often, aged females can lose half of their entire bone mass. Furthermore, these patients experience fragile bones, which leave them susceptible to weakness throughout their bodies. They also become prone to falls and increased harm to their bones.
To fend off these diseases, every woman should develop good and healthy habits at an early stage including a sound diet plan comprising the necessary vitamins and minerals. Though an average woman will go through certain medical complications, most can be avoided with a focus on healthy living.

Specific Details about Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a women health disease in which endometrial tissue that lines inside the uterus grows outside and disrupts the working of other organs. It is mainly found on the pelvic peritoneum, ovaries, in the recto-vaginal septum, on the bladder, and bowel. In the rarest of cases, it can also be seen on the diaphragm and in the lungs. Sometimes it reaches till the wall of the rectum and even the intestines.

Normally, every one out of 10 women suffers from Endometriosis in their reproductive years i.e. between the ages of 15 to 49. If studies are to be believed, nearly 176 million women in the world are affected by this chronic disease. However, Endometriosis may or may not start with a girl’s first menses. Similarly, it may or may not end with menopause, especially if the woman has scar tissue.

The most important symptoms to look out for include agonizing periods, painful ovulation, pain during or after sexual intercourse, blood in the stool or urine, fatigue, backache and even miscarriages. Lack of awareness among women is generally the cause of the delay in treatment. It often leads to disease advancing to a dangerous level.

The causes of Endometriosis are highly unknown, but certain genes influence women to develop this disease. Since, it is genetically related; women have higher risks of getting endometriosis from their mother or sisters. Certain environmental factors also play an important role in causing c. It has been reported that exposure to dioxin can cause endometriosis. As of now, there are no such proofs for this theory.

The treatment of endometriosis depends on a woman’s age, sternness of the symptoms, location and size of the endometrial growth and whether she wants to become pregnant at the latter years of her life. Though there has not been a perfect cure for endometriosis, certain drugs can effectively treat this but they have side effects. Surgery is the only option to remove endometriosis lesions and scar tissue, but success rates are very low. Hormonal treatments besides painkillers can also help in situation getting worse.

Pre-Menstrual Syndrome

Pre menstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual tension is a term used to describe physical and emotional symptoms concerning a woman’s menstrual cycle. Reportedly, 85% of women world over have experienced this kind of health issue once in their lifetime. However, PMS symptoms vary from woman to woman, but the pattern remains the same. 

More than 200 symptoms have been associated with PMS, but perennial symptoms include mood swings, anxiety and tension, breast tenderness and swelling, acne, weight gain, irritability, bloating, water retention, tiredness, depression, constipation, dizziness and many more. The exact intensity of symptoms varies from woman to woman and cycle to cycle. While, some may experience a few of the possible symptoms, other might go through terrible pain. 

PMS has been categorized into four types:

1. Type A- ANXIETY: This is very common and every 8 out of 10 women suffer from it. Common symptoms include mood swings, irritability, anxiety and tension.
2. Type C – Cravings: this type of PMS includes craving for sweets or chocolates, increased appetite, fatigue and headaches. 6 out of 10 women experience these kinds of symptoms leading up to the period.
3. Type H – Hyperhydration: Up to 40% of women suffer this type of PMS. The warning signs include water retention, breast tenderness and enlargement, abdominal bloating and weight gain.
4. Type D – Depression: Only few women (5%) have reported to be suffering from this PMS, but it is largely regarded as the most serious. Depression can often lead to confusion, forgetfulness, clumsiness, withdrawal, lack of co-ordination, crying spells, confusion. 

The symptoms are predominantly psychological. Hence, women are prescribed either tranquillizers or antidepressants. However, other women are just told to “dig it out” as a part of a normal cycle. If situation persists and worsens, one should immediately see an experienced gynecologist. Intake of certain vitamins and minerals will increase the body’s ability to produce the right balance of hormones.

Perimenopause

Perimenopause is defined as the natural phenomenon of menstrual periods before actual menopause symbolizing hormonal imbalance and fluctuations. It is just the opposite of puberty, starting when a woman reaches the age of 35 and in some exceptional cases as late as 50. The average of perimenopause is around mid to late 40’s. During perimenopause, hormones fluctuate violently and often make life miserable. But, that’s more related to hormonal imbalance. 

There isn’t an accurate prediction or exact time for perimenopause because it’s more of a development rather than a series of events. Symptoms might appear 10-15 years before total stoppage. Alternatively, in some cases, a few months or years before actual menopause hits. Symptoms are the only way to tell whether a woman is experiencing perimenopause. However, if symptoms become more severe, a gynecologist consultation may be the best way out. 

Women carrying extra burdens are more likely to suffer from severe hormonal imbalance in perimenopause, which is directly proportional to chronic stress and emotional issues. The fact of the matters is chronic stress can destabilize changing sex hormone and neurotransmitter levels in perimenopause and menopause causing extreme symptoms. In addition, eating habits, inadequate sleep and extravagant lifestyle can further dismantle hormonal imbalance in perimenopause. The reason being these factors reduce the body’s ability to detoxify and maintain balance. 

Subtle changes in diets, simple exercises, rest, and relaxation along with natural herbs and emotional are linked with maintaining hormonal balance. Some women find high-quality nutrients and phytotherapy is sufficient, while others need additional support to attain symptom relief. This can mean addition of amino acids, or complementary therapies like acupuncture or chiropractic.

Diabetes among pregnant women

Diabetes is of two types, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes occurs when your body stops producing insulin. This usually happens at an early age. An individual’s body does not respond to insulin and produces more than required in Type 2 diabetes. This tends to happen due to either family genes or obesity. 

When we talk about pregnant women, both type of diabetes are serious cause of concern. If you are diabetic prior pregnancy i.e. pregestational diabetes, then you should speak with an experienced gynecologist as soon as possible and learn various precautions to take throughout pregnancy.

It’s great if you don’t have diabetes before pregnancy, but chances are you may develop it during i.e. gestational diabetes. According to American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2-10% of pregnant women are affected by gestational diabetes. 

Diabetes during pregnancy could have horrendous effects such as miscarriage, extreme levels of blood pressure, preterm labor, stillbirth, birth defects, unusually large baby making delivery more painful and more. 

Women who fulfill following criteria are at risk of developing gestational diabetes:

• Fat, overweight, obese.
• Age crossing 25 years mark.
• Had issues in previous childbirths like gestational diabetes, large baby or stillbirth.
• Have a family history of diabetes.
• Have polycystic ovary syndrome.

Your gynecologist will prescribe a diabetes-screening test after 28 weeks of pregnancy. If you test positive, then you will need to monitor your sugar levels, eat a healthy prenatal diet, exercise and take proper medicines during pregnancy. Subsequently, there’s a possibility of developing Type 2 diabetes later on. If that happens, you have to start getting monitored 6-12 weeks after delivering.