Chronic Illnesses Women Face Beyond Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the subject of many social media and traditional campaigns, and the attention it receives is more than merited, above all because knowledge is the first step toward prevention. However, there are many more illnesses affecting women’s quality of life and longevity, all of which can benefit from increased awareness and funding.

For instance, did you know that nearly 80% of people affected by autoimmune diseases are female? These diseases require more studies, breakthroughs, and financial support if they are to be prevented, diagnosed, and treated early. The good news is that everyone can do their share to increase awareness of these health problems by sharing information with friends, loved ones, and communities.

Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for women across the globe, accounting for one-third of all deaths. Despite this fact, heart disease is often underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed in women, often because women have different symptoms than men. For instance, in men, heart attacks typically manifest themselves as pain or pressure in the chest but in women, they can appear as jaw pain, nausea, indigestion, or shortness of breath.

Many women postpone seeing their doctors for check-ups, even when they have symptoms such as breathlessness or faintness. In part, this is because they are often misdiagnosed as having anxiety when their problems are, in fact, heart-related. Believing that they “just” have anxiety can lead them to neglect seeking vital treatment.

Women need to be made aware of the importance of being diagnosed if they suspect they may have heart disease. Modern diagnostics allows physicians to save lives through effective, minimally invasive tests. For instance, right heart catheterization, which evaluates how well the heart is pumping blood throughout the body, takes just an hour to undertake but is a magnificent way to measure the pressure in the heart and lungs.

Specific Autoimmune Diseases

Conditions like lupus, Sjögrens syndrome, and multiple sclerosis impact more women than men. Lupus occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. Sjögrens syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the salivary and lacrimal glands, causing dry eyes and mouth.

Finally, MS causes the immune system to attack the protective covering of nerve fibers, leading to communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. Early diagnosis of these conditions is vital, as starting treatment shortly after initial symptoms gives patients the best chances of minimizing long-term disability, preventing flare-ups and organ damage, and/or improving long-term outcomes and quality of life.

Chronic Pain, Headache Disorders, and Mental Conditions

A study examining disparities in the 20 leading causes of disease burden between females and males has found that many non-fatal conditions that lead to health loss through illness and disability impact more women than men. These include musculoskeletal conditions, mental health conditions, lower back pain, headache disorders, depression, and anxiety. The largest absolute difference between genders is seen for lower back pain, with disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) being a third higher for females than males.

The researchers noted that the conditions that disproportionately affect females in all world regions—such as depressive disorders—are significantly underfunded compared to the major burdens they impose. Only a tiny percentage of government health spending is devoted to mental health conditions. They recommended that future health system planning should include the full range of conditions affecting women throughout their lives, especially considering the higher level of disability they face and the growing female-to-male ratio in older populations.

Urinary Incontinence

Nearly 50% of women over 50 experience urinary incontinence, a factor that can significantly affect their quality of life and well-being. Many silently put up with this problem, not knowing that there are many solutions such as dietary approaches, losing weight, and training the bladder through Kegel exercises. Another relatively easy yet effective technique is called “the Knack.” It involves doing Kegels as one coughs or sneezes. Additional approaches include Botox injections in the bladder lining, medications, and surgery.

Recap: Women’s Chronic Illnesses Besides Breast Cancer

There are major global health differences between men and women. Many women are unaware of serious conditions such as CVD and their consequences. Females live longer but spend more years in poor health, with limited progress being made to prevent, diagnose, and treat chronic conditions. It is therefore vital for governments to embrace targeted programs to prevent the onset and exacerbation of health conditions in women and to plan optimal health symptoms that offer the best opportunities to all genders.