Common Health Issues in Women

Many health conditions present differently in women, compared to men. Some conditions are also unique to women. It is important to understand the symptoms of common health issues in women, so that you can proactively safeguard your wellbeing.

Women are affected by many conditions and diseases similar to men, but these often present or affect them differently. Some diseases primarily affect women, such as reproductive system illnesses. On top of having different biological conditions, there are often social stigmas surrounding female health which inhibit prevention and treatment. For example, women tend to downgrade their pain, and many clinical trials only focus on male subjects. The female body also goes through many more changes than the male body, particularly during pregnancy and menopause. According to health data, women (56.5%) are more likely than men (49.5%) to have at least one chronic condition.

Dementia

What is dementia?

Dementia describes the symptoms of a large group of illnesses that cause a progressive decline in a person’s functioning. This decline is a result of various diseases affecting the brain. There are many different forms of dementia, and each has its own causes. The most common types of dementia are:

• Alzheimer's disease
• Vascular dementia
• Dementia with Lewy bodies
• Fronto Temporal Lobar Degeneration
• Huntington's disease
• Alcohol-related dementia
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Why does dementia impact women differently?

Dementia, including Alzheimer’s, is the second leading cause of death for people in Australia, and the leading cause of death for women. According to health data, almost two-thirds of people who died from dementia were women in recent years. Most people with dementia are older, but it’s important to remember that not all older people get dementia. It’s not a normal part of ageing or something to be expected. As we know, more women are affected by dementia than men, however, there is still debate as to why and how this is the case. Current research shows that the rate at which brain cells are dying in the brain is faster in women than in men. This is combined with the fact that women are more likely to live longer than men. However, although the risk of dementia increases with age, it is caused by diseases of the brain and not age alone. But potentially, if women tend to live longer and their brain cells die faster, these two things combined could be one reason why more women are diagnosed with dementia in Australia.

How can women reduce their risk of dementia?

While we can’t stop getting older, or change genetics and family history, scientific research suggests that changing certain health and lifestyle habits may make a difference to reducing risk of dementia. The World Health Organisation has provided 12 recommendations for reducing the risk of general cognitive decline. These recommendations are:

• Be physically active
• Stop smoking
• Eat a balanced diet
• Drink alcohol in moderation
• Do cognitive training
• Be socially active
• Manage body weight
• Manage hypertension
• Manage diabetes
• Manage cholesterol
• Manage depression
• Look after your hearing

There is currently no prevention or cure for most forms of dementia, which means it’s essential for risk management and diagnosis as soon as possible. Some medications and lifestyle changes can help reduce some of the symptoms of dementia, but these are only management tools.

Osteoporosis

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a chronic disease that makes your bones less dense and more fragile. You’re more likely to break a bone from minor falls or injuries. Many people don’t know they have osteoporosis until they’re diagnosed with a fractured or broken bone.

Why does osteoporosis impact women differently?

In Australia, health data shows that women (5.9%) are more likely to be diagnosed with osteoporosis than men (1.1%). Women are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis than men, as hormone changes during menstruation directly affect bone density. Additionally, women with breast cancer have an increased risk of developing osteoporosis because of the treatments used and their effect on oestrogen levels.

How can women reduce their risk of osteoporosis?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for osteoporosis, and we cannot entirely prevent it from happening. However, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis. The symptoms can also be managed with lifestyle changes and prescription medicines if you develop osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can be managed through lifestyle changes, such as:

• Stopping smoking
• Increasing exercise
• Doing bone strengthening exercises
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Reducing alcohol intake

For any age or biological sex, there are a few general ways to improve bone health, such as calcium intake, vitamin D, exercise, protein intake, and weight management.

Heart Disease

What is heart disease?

There are many types of heart disease, including heart conditions, strokes and cardiovascular diseases. Some heart diseases are chronic conditions and dangerous for the person, and others can be managed relatively easily. Some of the more common types of heart disease include:

• Arrhythmia
• Atherosclerosis
• Angina
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Cardiac Arrest
• Cardiomyopathy
• Coronary Heart Disease
• Heart Attack
• Heart Failure
• Heart Valve Disease
• Hereditary heart conditions

While genetic or hereditary problems often compromise the heart, it can also be compromised by lifestyle choices made over time.

Why does heart disease impact women differently?

In Australia, although health data shows that heart disease is more common in men (4.9%) than women (3.1%), other factors make heart disease a unique problem for women. Historically, heart disease has been regarded as a man’s disease, so many women don’t recognise the risk factors. The signs and symptoms we commonly learn to recognise are typical of heart disease in men, not women. Heart disease in women is often undiagnosed, under-managed and under-reported. There is also often a poorer prognosis, greater likelihood of disability, and higher rates of illness and death compared with men.

How can women reduce their risk of heart disease?

There are a couple of things to note when it comes to reducing the risk of heart disease, or knowing when you are suffering from a heart condition. There is a range of risk factors for heart disease. Some can be controlled or improved, and some cannot be controlled. Some of the risk factors that can be controlled or improved include:

• Being inactive
• Being overweight
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Smoking
• Unhealthy diet

Alternatively, some of the risk factors that cannot be controlled include:

• Age
• Biological sex
• Ethnic background
• Family history

As well as understanding risk factors, it’s essential to be aware of the different signs and symptoms of heart attack in women compared to men. Women don’t always feel pain in the centre of the chest. In a large study of 1.1 million people who had heart attacks, 42% of women didn’t feel any chest pain. The common symptoms of a heart attack in women include feelings of:

• Pain
• Pressure
• Tightness
• Heaviness

You may feel these symptoms in the:

• Chest
• Neck
• Jaw
• Arms
• Back
• Shoulders

You may also feel symptoms of:

• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Cold sweats
• Dizziness

If you experience one or a combination of these symptoms and they progressively get worse for at least ten minutes, it’s important to tell someone how you are feeling. Unfortunately, women often wait too long to seek help because they don’t think they’re at risk of heart attack or brush off their symptoms. When it comes to heart attacks in Australia, more women die than men, often because they don’t seek help fast enough or understand their symptoms.

Stay On Top of Your Health

Learn first aid to get on top of your health and reduce the risk of potential injuries and illness to yourself and those around you. If you’re ever unsure about your health risks or symptoms, you should seek advice from a medical professional.