Health Issues Women Should Be Aware Of

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Women have a tough old time when it comes to health. From having to deal with periods from a young age to pregnancy and menopause, problems that men will never understand. We still don’t have it easy, and there are just some things that women suffer with and apart from scientific research, raising money and taking care of yourself there’s not a lot you can do about it. Here are some of the health issues that women need to be aware of:

Gynecological Health
As well as the usual symptoms of the menstrual cycle, including bleeding and discharge, there are other symptoms which could indicate that other health issues are going on. Bleeding in between menstruations and needing to urinate more often than usual can be a sign that something else going on, so it’s always worth double-checking. If you have vaginal issues, it could be a sign of a sexually transmitted disease or reproductive tract cancer, which can be treated quickly if spotted early. However, with both of these issues, if they are left undetected, they can lead to more severe problems such as infertility and kidney failure.  If you are worried about anything ‘down there,’ then it’s best to get it checked out as it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

Morton’s Neuroma
Morton’s Neuroma is a condition that affects your feet and is thickening of the nerve between the third and fourth toes. It can feel as though you are walking with a pebble in your sock. It is benign and mostly affects women because it can be caused by wearing narrow or high-heeled shoes and an essential part of treatment means you have to wear shoes that allow more space for the foot and toes. Other causes include high impact activities, such as running or jogging, which can put pressure on the ligaments of the foot and cause thickening of the nerve. So sports are another common cause of Morton’s Neuroma, especially particular sports that require tight-fitting shoes, such as skiing. Finally, deformities of the foot, such as hammertoes, bunions, and flat feet, can cause the ligament to press on the nerve.

Mental Health
Thankfully people are talking about mental health more and more today, and it is not so much of a taboo subject as it once was. According to research, women are more likely than men to experience anxiety, depression, and somatic complaints – physical symptoms that cannot be explained medically. According to the WHO, depression is the most common mental health problem for women and suicides a leading cause of death for women under 60.

HIV
While it’s commonly known that HIV affects homosexual men, it is actually also very common for young women. According to Avert, women account for more than half the number of people living with HIV worldwide. Young women, in particular aged 10-24 years old,  are twice as likely to acquire HIV as young men the same age. Women can be affected by new HIV infections as many women struggle to protect themselves against sexual transmission of HIV and to get the treatment they need.