Nowadays, people are living longer than ever before thanks to the wonders of modern medicine. Nevertheless, there are still some health red flags that women should be watching out for to make sure they avoid serious illnesses as far as possible.
There are a range of different signs and symptoms that women should be looking out for. Given our biological make up, the illnesses that women need to look out for are sometimes different than those of men. Anything related to a woman’s reproductive system is a uniquely female issue, for example.
So here are some of the main things that women need to look out for to ensure early diagnosis of anything that could potentially be harmful to their health or fatal.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most prominent cancer and health issues found in women and is one of the most common causes of death for women. This being the case, it is absolutely vital that women know what to look for so they can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. Women should keep an eye out for any unusual bumps or lumps in their breasts or a change in shape or size of their breast. Women who have a family history of breast cancer should be especially vigilant.
Heart Disease
Although heart disease affects both men and women, more women are left under-diagnosed. This means that by the time the symptoms are prominent enough to be recognised it is too late to do anything about it. Symptoms don’t seem like unusual features for most women – chest pain, nausea and shoulder ache are all symptoms. Yet, these symptoms don’t seem out of place in most women’s daily life. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly will help keep the risk of heart disease at bay.
Osteoporosis
When you see little old ladies with painfully hunched backs, you should know that what they are suffering from is called osteoporosis. Fortunately, this condition is quite preventable. The best way to keep the disease from touching you is by adhering to some sound lifestyle principles. Make sure your diet is high in vitamin D and calcium as these will strengthen your bones and prevent frailty. You should also avoid excessive smoking or alcohol consumption.
Pregnancy
Of course, being pregnant is not a disease. In fact, those who discover they are with child often welcome it. However, there are times when a pregnancy is unwanted and in these cases it is important to find out as soon as possible so steps can be taken to remedy the situation. Early signs include swollen or tender breasts, a missed period, tiredness and backache. If you have any other these signs or are nervous that you might be pregnant, take a test or visit a GP. Even if the result is negative, at least it will put your mind at ease.
Strokes
Believe it or not, women are more susceptible to strokes than men. And, although this is the case, women don’t usually worry about the possibility of having a stroke. Obviously you shouldn’t be spending all of your time in a state of paranoia. You could have a stroke at any time but it is important to be aware that it could happen. There are no symptoms that occur before the actual stroke begins. But once it has begun there will be some obvious signs that something is wrong. These signs include one side of their face drooping, their speech becoming slurred and them being unable to lift both of their arms. If any of these things occur in someone you know, called an ambulance immediately.
