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Home > Consumer Focus Archive > Women’s Health
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Consumer Focus: Women’s Health |
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Women’s Health
 When it comes to health, there are many crucial differences between men and women. Yet many women do not know that they react differently to some medications, are more vulnerable to some diseases, and may have different symptoms. Learn more about some of these health concerns.
Posted: January 3, 2006
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Women and Mental Health
Mental illnesses affect women and men differently—some disorders are more common in women, and some express themselves with different symptoms.
Stress
 Stress can arise for a variety of reasons such as a traumatic accident, death, or emergency situation, but can also be a side effect of a serious illness or disease. With all that we have going on in our lives, it seems almost impossible to find ways to de-stress. But it is important to find those ways – your health depends on it!
Health Effects of Stress
Everyone has some sort of stress in their life. Everyday events such as running errands or getting lost while driving can cause short-term stress. Other times, we face long-term stress, such as life-threatening illness, or divorce. Even some of the happiest events, like having a baby or getting a new job, can cause stress. These stressful events can affect your health on many levels. Long-term stress can increase your risk for health problems such as depression. Stress triggers changes in our bodies and makes us more likely to get sick. It can also make problems we already have worse. It can play a part in problems such as these:
- Trouble sleeping
- Headaches
- Irritability/anger
- Lack of energy
- Lack of concentration
- Eating too much or too little
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Sadness, anxiety, or depression
- Higher risk of asthma and arthritis flare-ups
- Tension
- Neck and/or back pain
- Stomach cramping or bloating
- Skin problems, such as hives
- High blood pressure
- Heart problems
- Diabetes
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that can occur after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal. About 8% of men and 20% of women develop PTSD, and roughly 30% of these people develop a chronic, or long-lasting, form that persists throughout their lives. Traumatic events such as a mugging, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat can trigger PTSD. Many people with PTSD repeatedly re-experience the ordeal in the form of flashback episodes or nightmares, especially when they are exposed to events/objects that remind them of the trauma. Anniversaries of the event can also trigger symptoms. People with PTSD can have emotional numbness, sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, irritability or outbursts of anger.
Handling Stress
 As women, we tend to carry a high burden of stress. Don’t let stress make you sick! Here are some ways to help you handle stress.
- Relax. Whether it’s listening to music, doing yoga or message therapy, it is important to unwind.
- Make time for yourself. No matter how busy you are, set aside at least 15 minutes each day to do something for yourself – and don’t feel guilty!
- Sleep. Your stress could get worse if you don’t sleep enough. Try to get seven to nine hours of sleep every night.
- Eat right. Your energy will wear off throughout the day so it is important to fuel up with fruits, vegetables, and proteins – a balanced diet is extremely important!
- Get moving. Physical activity not only helps relieve your tense muscles, but helps your mood too!
- Plan your time. Think ahead about how your are going to spend your time. Write a to-do list and prioritize.
- Set limits. There are only so many hours in a day. Figure out what you can really do and don’t be afraid to say NO to requests for your time and energy.
Remember: Sometimes it is not always worth the stress to argue. Give in once in awhile.
Resources on Stress:
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association
National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
National Institute of Mental Health
National Mental Health Association
National Mental Health Information Center
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Depression
 In any given 1-year period, 9.5 percent of the population, or about 18.8 million (12.4 million women and 6.4 million men) American adults, suffer from a depressive illness. Depressive illnesses often interfere with normal functioning and cause pain and suffering not only to those who have a disorder, but also t those who care about them. Most people with a depressive illness do not seek treatment, although the great majority – even those whose depression is extremely sever – can be helped. The three most common types of depressive disorders include major depression, dysthymic disorder (a less severe but more chronic form of depression), and bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness). A thorough evaluation is needed if three to five or more of the following symptoms persist for more than 2 weeks, or if they interfere with work or family life. The severity of these symptoms also varies from person to person.
- Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood.
- Restlessness, irritability, or excessive crying.
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, pessimism.
- Sleeping too much or too little, early-morning awakening.
- Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain.
- Decreased energy, fatigue, and feeling “slowed down”.
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain.
Resources on depression:
American Psychiatric Association
Center for Mental Health Services
National Institute of Mental Health
National Mental Health Association
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Eating Disorders
 Women are much more likely than males to develop an eating disorder. Only an estimated 85% to 95 % of people with anorexia or bulimia, and an estimated 64% of those with binge-eating disorder are female. Recognition of eating disorders as real and treatable diseases is extremely important.
Eating disorders frequently develop during adolescence or early adulthood, but onset can occur during childhood or later adulthood. They involve serious disturbances in eating behavior, such as extreme and unhealthy reduction of food intake or severe overeating, as well as feelings of distress or extreme concern about body shape or weight. Eating disorders are real, treatable medical illnesses. The main types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. A third type, binge eating disorder, has been suggested but has not yet been approved as a formal psychiatric diagnosis. These disorders frequently co-occur with other psychiatric disorders such as depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders. People who suffer from eating disorders can experience a wide range of physical health complications, including serious heart conditions and kidney failure.
Anorexia Nervosa
An estimated 0.5% to 3.7% of females suffer from anorexia nervosa in their lifetime. People with this disorder see themselves as overweight even though they are dangerously thin. The process of eating becomes an obsession – unusual eating habits develop, such as avoiding food and meals, picking out a few foods and eating them in small quantities, or carefully weighing and portioning food. Symptoms may include:
- Resistance to maintaining body weight at/or above a minimally normal weight for age and height.
- Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight
- Denial of the seriousness of low body weight
Bulimia Nervosa
An estimated 1.1% to 4.2% of females have bulimia nervosa in their lifetime. Symptoms include:
- Recurrent episodes of binge eating, characterized by eating an excessive amount of food within a discrete period of time and by a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode.
- Recurrent behavior, such as: self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications; fasting; or excessive exercise, to prevent weight gain.
Binge-Eating Disorder
It is estimated that between 2% and 5% of Americans experience binge-eating disorder in a 6-month period. Symptoms of binge-eating disorder include:
- Episodes characterized by eating an excessive amount of food within a discrete period of time and by a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode.
- Binge-eating episodes are associated with at least 3 of the following: eating much more rapidly than normal; eating until feeling uncomfortably full; eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry; eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much one is eating; feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty after overeating.
Resources on Eating Disorders:
MedlinePlus
National Institute of Mental Health
Nutrition.Gov
Weight-Control Information Network
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Women and Cancer
Cancer is a disease in which certain body cells don’t function right, divide very fast, and produce too much tissue, forming a tumor.
 Skin Cancer
The skin is the body’s largest organ. It protects us against heat, light, injury, and infection. It regulates body temperature and stores water, fat, and vitamin D. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, and the number of new cases appears to be rising each year. The two most common kinds of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The most serious kind is called melanoma.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. Artificial sources of UV radiation, such as sunlamps and tanning booths, can also cause skin cancer. Although anyone can get skin cancer, the risk is greatest for people who have fair skin that freckles easily. Most skin cancers appear after age 50, but the sun’s damaging effects begin at an early age. So, protection should start in childhood to prevent skin cancer later in life.
Resources on Skin Cancer:
American Academy of Dermatology
American Cancer Society
CDC’s National Skin Cancer Prevention Education Program
National Cancer Institute
Skin Cancer Foundation
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Breast Cancer
Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women. Remember – if you find breast cancer early, it can often be treated successfully.
Breast Self-Examination
A monthly breast self-exam (BSE) can help you know how your breasts normally feel and look, so you can notice any changes. During your self-exam, you should be looking for any lumps or changes that stand out as different from the rest of your breast tissue. Besides a lump or swelling, other changes in your breast might be:
- skin irritation or dimpling
- nipple pain or retraction
- any discharge other than breast milk
If you find a change, you should see your health care provider. Most breast changes or lumps are not cancerous, but only a health care provider can tell you for sure. A monthly BSE should not take the place of getting regular mammograms.
Mammograms
A mammogram is a safe, low-dose x-ray of the breast that is done to look for abnormalities or problems. The results are recorded on film for a radiologist to examine. A new way of doing mammograms, called digital mammography, records x-ray images on a computer, rather than film. It can reduce exposure to radiation, allow the person taking the x-ray to make adjustments without having to take another mammogram, and takes pictures of the entire breast even if the denseness of the breast tissue varies. Be sure to get a mammogram from an FDA certified mammography facility to ensure that the equipment is in proper working order and that the people taking and studying your mammogram have the right training and education. If you have breast implants, be sure to state this when making an appointment – some facilities do not accept patients with implants. You will need a person who is trained to x-ray women with implants because they can hide breast tissue and make it harder to find problems.
Mammograms look for breast lumps and changes in the tissue that may develop into problems over time. They can find small lumps or growths that a health care provider or woman can’t feel when doing a physical breast exam. Breast lumps or growths can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). If a lump is found, your doctor will order a biopsy, a test where a small amount of tissue is taken from the lump and from the area around the lump. The tissue is sent to a lab to look for cancer or changes that may mean cancer is likely to develop.
As with any medical test, mammograms have limits.
- Mammograms are only part of a complete breast exam. If they show abnormalities, your health care provider will follow-up with other tests.
- Don’t wear any deodorant, perfume, lotion, or powder under your arms or on your breasts on the day of your mammogram appointment. These things can make shadows show up on your mammogram.
- False negatives can happen – this means everything may look normal, but cancer is actually present. Younger women are more likely to have a false negative than are older women – this is because the breast tissue is denser, making cancer harder to spot.
- False positives can happen – this is when the test results look like cancer is present, even though it is not. False positives are more common in younger women than older women.
Woman over 40 should get a mammogram every 1 to 2 years. Women who have had breast cancer or breast problems, or with a family history of breast cancer may need to start having mammograms at a younger age or more often.
Note: Mammograms don’t take the place of getting regular breast exams from a health care provider and examining your own breasts each month.
Resources on Breast Cancer:
American Cancer Society
National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
National Cancer Institute
National Women’s Health Information Center
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is cancer in the cervix, the lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb). It occurs when normal cells in the cervix change into cancer cells. The good news is that there are ways to help prevent cervical cancer. By getting regular pap tests and pelvic exams, your health care provider can find and treat the changing cells before they turn into cancer.
Resources on Cervical Cancer:
American Cancer Society
Gynecologic Cancer Foundation
National Cancer Institute
National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
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Lung Cancer
 More people die from lung cancer than from any other kind of cancer. More women die each year from lung cancer than of breast cancer. There are two kinds of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. Each kind of cancer grows and spreads in different ways and is also treated differently. When lung cancer is found, the doctor will do tests to see how far the cancer has spread. The test will help the doctor decide which treatments to suggest. How well those treatments work depends on how far the cancer has spread. Some warning signs of lung cancer:
- A cough that does not go away
- Chest pain
- Weight loss
- Not feeling hungry
- Coughing up bloody mucus
- Trouble breathing
- Hoarseness
- Lots of lung infections, such as pneumonia
Note: Smoking causes almost all lung cancer. The more you smoke and the longer you smoke, the more likely you are to develop lung cancer.
Women Who Quit are Winners
About 1 out of every 5 women in America smokes, and they are starting to smoke at younger and younger ages. Women smoke for different reasons – to deal with stress, or control weight, Aside from lung cancer, smoking causes serious health problems:
- Lung diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
- Cancer of the throat, mouth, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, kidneys, bladder, cervix, and stomach.
- Leukemia, or cancer of the blood
- More frequent cases of bronchitis and pneumonia than nonsmokers
- Gum disease
- Raises the risk for cataracts, which cause blindness
- Atherosclerosis or hardening and narrowing of the arteries
- Early menopause
- Raises the risk of getting a hip fracture
- Increases the body’s tendency to form blood clots
- Adds to health problems from having diabetes
- Makes it more difficult to become pregnant
Benefits of Quitting Smoking
The benefits of quitting are clear – you will lower the risk for serious illnesses and disease like heart attack, stroke, and cancer. Nearly 80% of those who quit will gain weight. The average weight gain after quitting is just five pounds. But keep in mind that 56% of those who continue to smoke will gain weight too. The bottom line – the health benefits of quitting far exceed any risks from the average weight gain that may follow quitting.
Resources on Quitting Smoking:
American Heart Association
American Lung Association
CDC – Tobacco Information and Prevention Source (TIPS)
National Cancer Institute
National Tobacco Quitline
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