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8 Common Women’s Health Issues & Tips on How To Prevent Them
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Women are busy — busy breaking down walls and barriers, shattering glass ceilings, paving the way for other women, and often too busy to care for our own health.
Unfortunately, certain health issues have become much too common, because for the most part, they are preventable. Practicing sustainable actions and habits that improve and contribute to your health are the key to longevity.
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SOME OF THE MOST COMMON WOMEN’S HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE OFTEN THE MOST PREVENTABLE (OR TREATABLE).
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• PMS: According to Healthy Women, 75% of women in their childbearing years experience PMS, and 20 to 40% have difficulties as a result of premenstrual syndrome.
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• Reproductive Issues: Globally, one-third of health problems in women between the ages of 15 and 44 stem from reproductive health, per World Health Organization.
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• Heart Health: 1 in 4 women die from heart disease in the United States.
• Mental Health Illnesses: According to the Mental Health Foundation, women are three times more likely to experience mental health issues than men.
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• Insomnia and Sleep Problems: Trouble sleeping is all too common, especially for women, and is often the result of a lifestyle filled with lots of stress that can result in poor diet choices.
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• Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Estimates and studies show that STDs are common and estimate over half of the people in the US will have one in their lifetime.
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• Breast and Cervical Cancer: The World Health Organization estimated that globally, 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020.
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• UTIs: Urinary tract infections account for 8 million visits to the doctor each year in the US and about 40% of women will have symptoms of a UTI in their lifetime, per the Urology Care Foundation.
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1. VISIT A DOCTOR ONCE A YEAR.
Make sure you have an annual checkup! Preventive care is the key for long-term health. Scheduling and attending your annual women's wellness exam is a crucial step for preventive care.
Instead of scrolling, try reading or journaling before bed. Winding down will help signal to your brain that it's time to rest and help you get a better night's sleep (poor sleep often leads to other health issues).
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2. DEVELOP GOOD SLEEP HYGIENE AND ROUTINES.
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3. USE PROPER PROTECTION/SAFE SEX PRACTICES.
Practicing good sexual hygiene, such as washing sex toys and urinating and showering after intercourse, can help prevent UTIs. Using condoms or other barrier methods can help prevent sexually transmitted diseases and sexually transmitted infections.
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4. PRACTICE PREVENTIVE CARE AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE HABITS.
Preventive care means screening for diseases and issues before they become a problem, whether it's diabetes, a cancer screening, or talking to a mental health care professional about anxiety or depression.
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Minimizing your screen time, spending time outdoors, and practicing mindfulness, either through mediation or another practice, such as gratitude journaling, are all excellent strategies.
5. STRESS REDUCTION IS KEY FOR DISEASE PREVENTION.
While it's best to get all the necessary vitamins and minerals your body needs through the food you eat, this isn’t always possible or realistic, especially depending on your schedule and other commitments. Ask your doctor which supplements are best for you.
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6. TAKE THOSE SUPPLEMENTS.
7. MAKE TIME FOR REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
For managing stress, heart health problems, and mental health issues, daily movement — even as little as 30 minutes — can make a huge difference.
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8. PRIORITIZE SELF-CARE AND MAKE TIME FOR ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE YOUR NORMAL ROUTINE.
If your calendar and commitments are overwhelming, see where you can start scaling back. Maybe this looks like a drive to the beach one weekend or another favorite spot you haven't had time to visit lately.
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