Testing It Up

February 3 was National Wear Red Day, and for a moment America saw red as advocates made an effort to spread awareness about heart disease in women.

While heart disease is something that can afflict both men and women, it is the number one killer of women in America, with an estimated one in four women dying from it, based on information provided by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

The American Heart Association (AHA) said that more women die from heart disease than the next four causes of death combined, which makes it imperative to raise awareness about the disease – the primary objective of National Wear Red Day.

Heart disease, however, is a preventable condition; 80 percent of deaths due to heart disease in women can be prevented for as long as women eat right, exercise, and do not smoke.

In addition to leading a healthy lifestyle, women are also advised to watch out for heart attack symptoms, including uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest which may be intermittent or lasts for more than a few minutes; pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach. Other signs of a heart attack may be shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort, and breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

The AHA shard further that women are more likely to feel some of the other symptoms of a heart attack, especially shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Everyone wants to live a long and healthy life. In women, it means more time to spend with kids and grandkids and to pursue various endeavors. Falling ill, however, is a fact of life; but there are things that can be done in order to either prevent one’s self from falling ill, or at least delay the onset of disease. A key tool towards this end is information; knowing what one should be concerned about and what one should do about it can do wonders.

Among women, there are 5 health issues that can cause concern. By learning everything they can on these issues and working with their physicians, looking at their respective family histories and lifestyles, women can make an attempt at preventing the development of these diseases.

Heart disease. Although this affects both men and women, it is nevertheless a major cause of concern, since it is responsible for almost 30% of deaths in women. And it is not the fact that heart disease can be fatal that is a cause of concern; the concern lies more with the fact that it can occur at an untimely and early time, with women in their 60s and younger succumbing to the disease.

Breast cancer. This is the form of cancer that is most common among women, although it can occur in men. While it can be prevented and is highly treatable, extremes in its treatment and diagnosis have lead to either late diagnosis or over-diagnosis and treatment. Fear of the disease can sometimes deter high-risk patients from undergoing breast cancer screening in time; at the same time, it can lead to others having to undergo a mastectomy needlessly.

Osteoporosis. Another common disease to afflict women is osteoporosis – hunched backs, back pain, and frail bones. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, it is a condition that threatens 44 million Americans. The good news is that it is a highly preventable disease, influenced as it is by behavior during childhood, adolescence and early adult years.

We will bring you two more common health issues in succeeding posts, as well as what their risk factors are and what can be done to prevent or address them in succeeding posts.