Women’s Health

Maintaining a healthy and strong body while leading a healthy lifestyle in general will prolong life and improve its quality. Each stage of a woman’s life is full of opportunities to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle and prevent endocrine and somatic disorders, problems with the heart and blood vessels.

Women’s health: stages

Childhood. This is a time of rapid growth and development when positive habits and healthy lifestyle priorities can be instilled. Parents are responsible for teaching their children about healthy eating and incorporating physical activity into daily life. Choosing the right diet and avoiding unhealthy food outside the home contributes to a healthy weight. Setting a good example for our children is the best way to learn from us.

Teenage years. Adolescence has its own problems. Young girls are very impressionable. They react not only to the example of their family, but also increasingly to the media directed directly at them: advertisements on television, radio and print magazines. Young girls receive so many conflicting messages when they are in school, often imitating famous teenagers. As a result, the mixed signals they receive about body image turn into anorexia or obesity. Because adequate nutrition is critical for the development and functioning of the menstrual cycle, as well as for bone development, under- or over-nutrition during this time can lead to irreversible problems later in life.

There are endocrine problems that may be genetically determined but only become apparent during puberty. Other disorders that may affect growth and development also become more frequent during this time. Therefore, full-fledged prevention of problems with the reproductive sphere, weight, mammary gland and somatic health is important.

Youth and youth. These are several other health issues. At this time of life, young women create families, build a career. A healthy lifestyle should include exercise and activity. Work and social pressures often lead to excessive consumption of food and alcohol. Young women should be aware of possible health problems.

Average age. Many middle-aged women are sedentary, obese, and prone to developing chronic diseases that can be worsened by poor physical fitness. While we hope that as young girls women developed healthy eating habits and exercised regularly, it is not too late to change the essential components of a lifestyle in middle age.

Old age. Since the average woman is living longer these days (the average age in Russia is 75), we all hope we age gracefully. If healthy habits are established from the start, osteoporosis, diabetes, and heart disease can be avoided. By continuing to follow a healthy eating plan, exercising, and keeping mentally active, we can stay active and energetic into our mature and advanced years.

How to keep a woman healthy

At different ages, a woman needs to take care of the prevention of various pathologies. The most common women’s health problems are:

• breast problems (benign tumors, mastopathy, cancer);
• disorders of the menstrual cycle and reproductive functions (including infertility);
• endocrine disorders, including thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, or ovarian problems;
• weight problems (obesity or underweight, anorexia);
• endocrine-metabolic pathologies (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, lipid metabolism disorders, metabolic syndrome);
• digestive pathologies;
• infectious diseases.

The leading causes of death among adult women in Russia are heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and unintentional injury.

The greatest threat to women’s health is often preventable. Here’s what you need to know to live a longer, healthier life.

1. See a doctor

Take control of your health by talking to your doctor about identifying individual risk factors for any existing medical conditions. Once identified, get serious about reducing your risk, controlling chronic disease, and taking recommended medications.

If you have health problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes that increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, follow your doctor’s advice.

Also, talk to your doctor about when you should have mammograms and other cancer screenings.

2. Switch to a healthy lifestyle

While you cannot eliminate risk factors such as family history (poor heredity and genes), you can control other risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Lifestyle changes that are not too late to make at any age will help promote health.

3. Don’t smoke, reduce alcohol

If you smoke or use e-cigarette tobacco products, ask your doctor to help you quit smoking. Avoid exposure to passive smoking.

Set an alcohol limit. If you decide to drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. For women, this means no more than one drink a day. Drink – 40 ml of strong alcohol, 350 ml of beer or 150 ml of wine. The risk of various types of cancer, including breast and liver cancer, increases with the amount of alcohol you drink and the length of time you drink regularly. Too much alcohol can also raise your blood pressure and increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.

4. Eat a healthy diet

It is important for a woman to choose fresh and natural, unprocessed vegetables, fruits, whole grains, high-fiber foods, and lean protein sources such as fish for her daily meals. Limit foods high in saturated and trans fats, as well as meals and desserts, snacks with added sugar and sodium.

5. Maintain a healthy weight

Losing extra pounds and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of heart disease, as well as various types of cancer.

6. Be physically active

Exercise can help you control your weight and significantly reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. It may also reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Choose activities that you enjoy, from brisk walking to ballroom dancing. All types of exercise will reduce your risk.

7. Manage stress

If you feel constantly on edge or constantly tired, irritated, or overwhelmed, your lifestyle habits can suffer — as can your immune system. Take steps to reduce stress or learn how to deal with stress in healthy ways. A healthy lifestyle and stress protection can also play a role in preventing Alzheimer’s disease, heart attack, and stroke.

8. Take Preventive Measures

Women are more vulnerable than men to lung damage from inhaled smoke and pollutants. This puts women at increased risk of illness and even death from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes bronchitis and emphysema. You can protect your respiratory health by quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke, inhaling chemicals and other air pollutants.

Also, to prevent respiratory infections, wash your hands frequently and get your flu shot annually.

Ask your doctor if immunizations are needed to prevent pneumonia.

9. Be careful on the road

Another common cause of death among women these days is car accidents. To stay safe on the road, fasten your seat belt. Respect the speed limit. Never get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or any other substances, do not be distracted and do not sleep.

Popular questions and answers

Regarding the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases in women, the features of prevention, we talked with urologist, specialist in ultrasound diagnostics, doctor of the highest category of the Center for Disaster Medicine Yuri Bakharev.