Common Risks to Women’s Health

Date:  March 16, 2016

For both women and men, lifestyle plays an important role in reducing risks for certain health conditions and improving overall well-being. However, women in particular are at increased risk for certain diseases and should pay attention to minimizing these risk factors. Learn more about what diseases may impact you or women in your family, and how to help prevent them.

Three potential health risks related to women¹:

1. Heart Disease
   Heart disease accounts for more deaths in women than all forms of breast cancer and is one of the most prominent health issues for women.
2. Cancer
   The three most common forms of cancer affecting women’s health are lung cancer (accounting for roughly 90% of deaths), breast cancer, and lastly, colorectal cancer.
3. Stroke
   Stroke is one of the common causes of disability in women accounting for nearly two thirds of stroke-related deaths. Smoking and high blood pressure may also increase the risk of stroke in women.

Though not entirely preventable, certain steps can be taken to minimize the risks associated with the above conditions, starting with simple behavioural changes. Making such changes can be challenging at the beginning, but setting small and achievable goals can help you get there. Also, learning more about your health and how to understand it can help you ask yourself and other healthcare professionals about potential risks. Ultimately, taking control of your health starts with making small changes, consistently.

Here are some preventative measures you can incorporate into your daily life to help minimize your risks^2,3:

• Quit smoking
• Control your blood pressure
• Lower your bad cholesterol
• Limit saturated fats
• Exercise regularly
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Check blood sugar regularly
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Avoid excessive sun exposure

It’s possible to take control of your health today. You can talk to your healthcare team about how to minimize your risks and enhance your overall well-being. If you are yet to introduce a chiropractor to your team, you can get in touch with a local chiropractor who can provide information about how chiropractic can be integrated to help mitigate your health risks.

Sources:

1 High Ranch Colorado Metro District, “Women’s Health Preventing top 10 Threats,” accessed December 7, 2015, http://highlandsranch.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/WomensHealth_2010.pdf.
2 MayoClinic.com, “Women’s top Health Threats: A Surprising List,” http://www.poondiet.com/a13.pdf.
3 Pennington Biomedical Research Center, “Women’s top Health Threats,” Pennington Nutrition Series – Healthier lives though education in nutrition and preventive medicine, No. 22. https://www.pbrc.edu/training-and-education/pdf/pns/PNS_Womens_Top_Health_Threats.pdf.