Deadly in Disguise: 5 Sneaky Health Threats Every Woman Should Know About

Although women live longer than men, that doesn’t mean they get sick less than men. There are certainly diseases that women are more prone to than men just because they are women, and that we should be more concerned about.

American health and medical media ‘WebMD’ cited heart disease, breast cancer, osteoporosis, depression, and autoimmune diseases as the top five diseases that women should worry about first, and introduced the causes and prevention methods through explanations from experts. Experts advise, “Women need to understand their own physical signals and know what is beneficial to their health.”

heart disease=Heart disease is a ‘cruel killer’ that strikes regardless of gender. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 29% of women die from heart disease.

Cindy Pearson, director of the National Women’s Health Network, said, “As women reach their 60s, the number of deaths from heart disease increases rapidly, and most people could not have predicted it when they were younger. Heart disease can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath or difficulty climbing a flight of stairs.” “I have symptoms,” he said.

The most common heart disease symptom in women is chest pain, but jaw pain, nausea, vomiting, shoulder pain, and shortness of breath should also be kept in mind.

The risk factors for heart disease cited by the American Heart Association include aging, smoking, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, obesity and overweight, and diabetes. To prevent heart disease, you must pay attention to managing these risk factors.

osteoporosis= According to the American Osteoporosis Association, 68% of American women suffer from osteoporosis. Experts said, “Osteoporosis is preventable,” and “Lifestyle habits from infancy and adolescence have a significant impact on osteoporosis.”

Risk factors for osteoporosis are △female age △small and weak skeleton △caucasian and Asian women are at higher risk △family history △irregular menstruation, decrease in estrogen during menopause △lack of appetite △diet lacking in calcium and vitamin D △sedentary lifestyle △smoking △excessive use Drinking, etc.

melancholia=Depression occurs more often in women than in men. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in the United States, about 12 million women suffer from depression every year, compared to about 6 million men.

Experts said, “Women need to find something to connect with that will sustain their lives,” and “if they don’t have that, they tend to become depressed.” Sometimes, hormonal changes after pregnancy or during menopause can lead to a depressive state.

Other factors of depression include △previous depressive events △family history of depression △family history of heart disease △serious chronic illness △discord with husband △drug addiction △taking medications containing ingredients that cause depression △stress, such as loss of job or death of an acquaintance Daily life △anemia or thyroid disease △recent experience of receiving a serious illness or major surgery △memories of being physically or sexually abused as a child.

Experts advise, “To reduce the elements of depression, you need to find a reason to wake up in the morning,” and “Good reasons could be work, colleagues, love, pets, charity work, etc.”

autoimmune disease=Autoimmune disease is a disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own body tissues. More than 80% of autoimmune diseases occur in categories such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes.

According to the American Association for Autoimmune Diseases, 75% of autoimmune diseases occur in women. In addition to diabetes, thyroid disease, and lupus, there are also uncommon diseases. Although it is not exactly known, genes, hormones, and environmental factors are the most influential factors in autoimmune diseases.

It is not easy to understand autoimmune diseases. This is because the decisive factor in the appearance of a disease is different for each disease. Because the symptoms are not accurate, it is not easy to get a diagnosis. However, if you, or someone you love, notices something is wrong, you should definitely seek medical attention.

breast cancer=Breast cancer is the cancer with the second highest mortality rate among American women after lung cancer. Experts say, “Women are so afraid of breast cancer that they are reluctant to go to the hospital for a diagnosis or even undergo unnecessary mastectomies,” adding, “Breast cancer can be treated in a wide variety of ways, and a diagnosis of breast cancer is not a ‘death sentence.’ “He says.

The risk factors for breast cancer cited by the American Cancer Society are: aging, genes (5-10% are caused by specific gene mutations), family history, personal history, exposure to radiation too early, early onset of menstruation before age 12 or menopause after age 55, and children. In the absence of △use of synthetic female hormones such as diethylstilbestrol △excessive drinking △insufficient nutrition △obesity, etc.

Experts advise, “Women should be aware of the above risk factors and undergo regular checkups,” and “Just because your mother did not suffer from breast cancer does not mean you cannot get it.”

Reporter Kwon Soon-il (kstt77@kormedi.com)