Women are incredibly powerful in such a way that they can juggle working jobs, taking care of their families, listening to their husbands’ rant about work, and keeping depression, anxiety, and restlessness at bay. Because women are too busy thinking about their families, their needs take a back seat, and their health often suffers in the process.
While both men and women suffer from health issues, these are mostly more harmful to women than men. A woman’s body goes through a lot of invasive medical procedures such as a pap smear, the insertion of a frazier suction tube to remove fluids and debris from the cervix for open surgical procedures, and tubal ligation.
Many of women’s health conditions go unnoticed and undiagnosed, according to an article written for Regis College. Most drug trials also do not include female test subjects unless the issues were birth control and reproductive health. Still, women actually die from preventable illnesses such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, depression, sexually transmitted diseases, and even heart diseases.
Women need to get healthier and take better care of their bodies. Here are some of the preventive measures that women can do to improve their overall health:
- Visit your doctor to receive regular checkups and preventive screenings for ovarian and cervical cancer. A lot of women’s illnesses go unnoticed and undetected because they don’t go to their doctors regularly. If something’s bothering you, seek medical advice. Even if it’s something as trivial as low pain in your abdomen, consult your doctor, especially if you think that there’s something more to it. Remember that you know your body well and that you alone can make the decision to seek professional help.
- Live an active lifestyle. A sedentary lifestyle will lead to many health concerns such as cancer, anxiety and depression, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, decrease in skeletal muscle mass, and elevated cholesterol levels. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) suggests that men and women need 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of a more strenuous physical activity. Health professionals also suggest walking 10,000 steps per day to improve health and reduce health risks.
- Eat healthy food. Your unhealthy food choices could be leading to serious health concerns now and in the future. Cut down on the sugar and carbohydrates that you take and start investing in healthier recipes that include a lot of greens and fruits. Instead of snacking on chips, biscuits, and sugary drinks, choose food that is low in oil and sugar, such as Greek yoghurt, mixed nuts, apple slices, celery sticks, and dark chocolate with almonds.
- Sleep and manage stress. You shouldn’t only take care of your physical health, but you should also take notice of your emotional and mental needs. Make a conscious effort to have at least eight hours of sleep a day. Avoid your stressors. If you’re having trouble sleeping, you might have to consult a sleep specialist. A lot of women are so stressed because of their duties as wives and mothers that they lose sleep and are often emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted. Once in a while, leave the kids to their dad or their grandparents. Take a short trip somewhere or even just two hours of a nice massage. It will do your body and spirits good.
Who else is going to care for your bodies but you? Seek help not only when you are ill but also before the symptoms even manifest themselves. Read up about the different health concerns that women are susceptible to, and learn about the medical procedures available to you. Your journey to a healthier you may be fraught with challenges, but knowledge and prevention will bring you closer to your goals.
