As medical research continues to evolve, more is being done to fully understand the challenges unique to women’s health. Science continues to delve into explaining why women are more susceptible to certain health conditions. However, what other preventive medical steps can be taken to boost people’s health? Can science go further to fine-tune defective genes that put women at risk? While the global life expectancy of women is 74.3 years, it is often wrought with health conditions.
1. Maternal health issues caused by poor medical attendance
Maternal health in developed countries is better than in middle to low-income nations. However, it appears more can be done to improve the quality of health from pregnancy to the postnatal period.
According to the Maternal Health Task Force website, close to 25% of women in the US seek prenatal care very late in pregnancy. Globally, the percentage is even higher. Unfortunately, this late care often leads to the late detection of maternal health issues that could have been thwarted or properly managed in the early stages of the pregnancy.
For example, eclampsia is a common issue among pregnant women. Many physicians agree that if most women sought prenatal care in the first trimester, it could have been picked on early enough and well-managed.
Furthermore, other pregnancy conditions like iron deficiency anemia negatively affect the general health of expectant mothers. Fortunately, all of these can dramatically minimize when expecting mothers pay critical attention to the essence of immediate care when conception takes place.
2. Global women’s health: Increasing coronary artery disease
Cardiovascular health is a topical issue in the healthcare sector. And you may have heard some information about the increasing cases of heart disease among women.
Unfortunately, women are more prone to heart disease, and cases are often detected when the condition has progressed from the initial stages. Apart from being the number one cause of death among women, it affects females aged 20 years and older.
Black women have a prevalence rate of 6.5% for heart disease. Caucasian women have a 6.1% rate, while Hispanics and Asians scored 6% and 3.2%, respectively. These states raise the question of, Why are women more at risk? The closest medical research has come to providing answers is by attributing it to hormonal fluctuations.
Another possible reason is the smaller nature of a woman’s arteries which makes coronary artery disease more rampant. Thankfully, you can join the heart disease prevention program for women to learn ways to improve quality of life. Looking at the prevalence rate, it is an excellent decision to take measures to reduce the risks of contracting heart disease.
3. Brain degenerative conditions
Dementia affects more women than men across the world’s regions. Women are more at risk than their male counterparts of developing dementia, although little research exists on the gender issues associated with living with this illness or caring for someone with it.
Alzheimer’s disease is a specific brain degeneration disease that falls under the dementia umbrella. Alzheimer’s causes plaque to attack healthy brain cells. A US-based Special Report found that women’s lifetime risk of developing this illness was one in five at age 45 (one in 10 for men).
Scientists say genetic variations could play a significant role here. Thankfully, research shows that optimal brain health at all stages in life can reduce a woman’s risk of getting Alzheimer’s.
Furthermore, women’s life span is longer than men’s, on average, across the globe. As to why women tend to live longer than men, there are several possible explanations, and it’s likely a combination of environmental, behavioral, and biological influences.
Other global women’s health challenges
There are also certain diseases that you are more at risk for developing simply because you are a woman. Breast cancer is an example, and osteoporosis is another one.
Cervical cancer is another concern. The risk factors for developing it include smoking, HPV, and a family history of this type of cancer.
Understanding women’s health challenges across the world is integral to a healthy life. With research, medications and treatments can continue to develop to help those who need it. Plus, it helps to know about these health issues to take measures to minimize your risks.
This list is by no means an exhaustive one. What are some other issues?