Healthy Living as a Woman

Leading a healthy life is important for anyone of any age or gender, but being a woman brings its own unique set of health concerns that are important for women to be aware of in order to best take care of their health, both physical and mental. Below is a list of some of the most common health concerns that women face as well as suggestions on how to stay healthy.

Mental Health

Many women struggle with mental health—most commonly depression and anxiety—sometime during their life. In fact, studies show that women are almost twice as likely to have an anxiety disorder in their lifetime than men. Women also frequently experience other mental health related issues such as eating disorders, postpartum disorders, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), and more. Though it is common for women to experience these types of mental health difficulties, many do not know how to deal with them. These are complex issues, so there aren’t necessarily ways to completely prevent them, but it is important for women to recognize that anxiety, depression, and other related disorders are real, and that there are healthy ways to deal with them such as seeing a healthcare professional, seeing a mental health specialist, etc. Healthy eating, finding healthy ways to cope with stress such as meditation or yoga, and exercise can all help when paired with advice from medical professionals. Overall, it is important to recognize that pregnancy, hormones, menstruation, and other things unique to women can cause and contribute to mental health disorders and should not be ignored.

Reproductive Health

This is a broad category, but it includes many of the most common health problems experienced by women such as Endometriosis, Gynecologic Cancer, and more. Reproductive health also includes protecting yourself from sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. To stay on top of all these issues, it is important for women to go to a gynecologist every year for a pelvic exam. It is also important to talk to your doctor about any problems and concerns that you may have. The best way to deal with health issues related to the reproductive system is to catch them earlier, which is most likely to happen if you are regularly going to the doctor and seeing an OBGYN. If you notice anything out of the ordinary with your reproductive system such as pain during sex, a prolonged period, bumps or growths, low libido, painful periods, or anything similar, talk to your doctor and gynecologist as soon as possible. Additionally, maintaining a healthy reproductive system includes eating a healthy diet, regularly exercising, and cleaning your body properly.

Heart Health

Heart disease is the most common cause of death for women in the United States. Though men are also at great risk for heart disease, women often experience heart issues differently than men so it is important to understand the symptoms, risks, and prevention of heart disease for women so that you can maintain your heart health. One example of these differences is in the symptoms of a heart attack; sometimes women don’t experience chest pain during a heart attack. Instead the symptoms are subtler such as arm pain, nausea, fatigue, or discomfort in the jaw, shoulder, upper back, neck, or abdomen, among many other symptoms. It is important to know the symptoms of a heart attack in women so that you will be more likely to recognize it as such if it happens. Besides heart attacks, women also need to worry about heart issues brought on my menopause or pregnancy complications. The Mayo Clinic suggests that the best way for women to reduce the risk of heart disease is to exercise regularly. They also suggest eating healthy, managing blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking.

Though healthy living often means the same thing for men and women such as when it comes to healthy eating and exercising, women also need to be aware of other potential health problems such as the ones listed above in order to live their healthiest life.