Last month, we focused on the Top 10 Risks Affecting Men’s Health. So this month, we’re focusing on the top 10 health risks women face.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the top 10 leading causes of death in women in the US are from the following:
- Heart disease – 22.4
- Cancer – 21.5
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases – 6.1
- Stroke – 5.8
- Alzheimer’s disease – 4.6
- Unintentional injuries – 3.8
- Diabetes – 2.8
- Influenza and pneumonia – 2.3
- Kidney disease – 1.8
- Septicemia – 1.6
Based on this information, 43.9% of women die from heart disease and cancer, compared to 48.1% of men. The good news is that you can take steps to reduce these risks.
Heart disease
People often think heart disease usually affects men, but women are also at risk. Eating well and exercising are some of the best ways to improve your overall health and reduce your risk for heart disease. Start by moving more. Develop a regular exercise program. Try yoga, walking, running, or sports. The key is to find something you enjoy doing that gets you up and moving.
Cancer
Like cancer in men, cancer in women can come in many forms, but according to the American Cancer Society, the cancers that most often affect women include:
- Breast
- Lung
- Colon (colorectal)
- Endometrial
- Cervical
- Skin
- Ovarian
The good news is that early screenings can sometimes catch cancer early, giving you a better chance at beating the disease. The key is to talk with your doctor here at Horizon Family Medical Group and schedule regular screenings.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have created a number of valuable resources, including the following fact sheet on breast cancer, including what puts you at risk and symptoms you should remember.
Resources
- https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/pdf/breastcancerfactsheet.pdf
- https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/resources/features/WomenAndCancer/
- http://www.cancer.org/healthy/findcancerearly/womenshealth/cancer-facts-for-women
- https://medlineplus.gov/womenshealth.html