Women's Health Care: The Top Health Care Issues Women Face Today

When the topic of women's health care is raised, the first

disease that comes to mind is probably breast cancer. But

surprisingly, that's not the number one health care issue

confronting women today. In fact, heart disease kills more women

each year than all forms of cancer combined. By knowing the most

significant risks in women's health care and what you can do to

combat these health care issues, women of all ages can take a

proactive approach to leading healthier lives.



The #1 Women's Health Care Issue: Heart Disease More than

489,000 American women lose their lives each year as a result of

heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases.



In

fact, more women than men die from heart disease each year.

Until recently, little research focused on women and heart

disease, but the good news is that's no longer the case. From

research into the effects of hormone replacement therapy on

heart health to studies of how cholesterol-lowering medications

work in women, there's an unprecedented increase in the amount

of information available to women working to live with and ward

off heart disease.



Experts at the Mayo Clinic offer simple common sense advice to

women (and men) in the fight against heart disease: don't smoke,

eat a diet low in fat and rich in fruits, vegetables, whole

grains, and low-fat dairy products, exercise at least 30 to 60

minutes a week, and maintain a healthy weight.



In addition, they encourage women to see their family doctor

each year for a physical which includes blood pressure and

cholesterol screenings. Studies indicate that there is a 46%

increase in stroke risk for women for each 7.5 mm HG increase in

their diastolic blood pressure, so monitoring blood pressure and

controlling hypertension are vital.



Women who suffer migraines, are pregnant, have atrial

fibrillation and those with the auto-immune disease Lupus also

appear to run a greater stroke risk.



Diabetes is another women's

health care issue with a direct impact on heart health. The

American Heart Association notes women with diabetes have a two

to six times greater risk of heart disease and heart attack and

are at a significantly greater risk of suffering a stroke. All

of these risk factors make an annual visit with your doctor one

of the best ways women can manage and improve the health of

their hearts.



Cancer Concerns: The Second Deadliest Health Care Issue Women

Face While breast cancer is often at the top of the list of

health care issues for women, several other types of cancers

also pose a significant threat to women's health.



In this

country, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer

during her lifetime according to current data which means that a

little more than 2 million women are currently living with

breast cancer in the U.S. But melanoma, a form of skin cancer,

actually kills more young women than any other cancer according

to statistics provided by the Skin Cancer Foundation. In fact,

melanoma is the most common form of cancer in women between the

ages of 25 and 29 and its incidence has tripled in women under

40 in the last thirty years.



Ovarian cancer is another women's health care concern. Usually

symptomless until it is widespread, this disease is the fourth

most frequent cause of death for American women. The American

Cancer Society estimates 26,000 new cases of ovarian cancer

diagnosed each year. Unfortunately, there are few definitive

screening tests that detect this disease, but experts advise a

thorough annual gynecological exam and for women to be alert to

pelvic pain and pressure, low back discomfort, mild nausea, and

an increase in constipation or gas.



A serum CA-125 blood test

can detect certain forms of ovarian cancer, but the test is not

accurate enough to be used as a routine screening tool.



The rate of women suffering from cervical cancer has dropped a

great deal over the years, thanks in part to the increase in the

number of women who get an annual Pap smear which can indicate

the presence of abnormal cells on the cervix. It's a strong

argument for making sure you never skip your Pap smear. Women

who have had Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs), herpes simplex

virus, those with suppressed immune systems, and those who have

had multiple sexual partners run a greater risk of cervical

cancer.



On the prevention front, a recent trial of a vaccine

against cervical cancer was 100% effective in the short term at

blocking the disease.



Psychological Well-being: A Growing Health Care Issue for Women

In the field of women's health care, psychological problems,

which include eating disorders, depression, and anxiety

disorders, affect millions of American women. From coping skills

to medications to alternative and complementary medical

approaches, there is a growing body of knowledge being brought

to bear on this important health care issue.



More than 19 million people in the United States, the greatest

percentage being women, live with anxiety disorders that disrupt

their lives. The different types of disorders within this group

include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder,

obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias. Treatment options

include talk therapy and a wide range of medications that can

quell the symptoms of the condition. Many women also combine

alternative approaches to treatment such as acupuncture,

meditation, and diet modification with traditional forms of

treatment.



According to the American Psychological Association, women are

almost twice as likely to suffer from major depression as men.

In fact, some experts in the field have called depression the

most significant mental health risk for women, especially those

in their childbearing and rearing years. Studies have found that

married women and mothers are especially vulnerable to

depression. It's important for a woman who feels she may be

suffering from depression to be carefully evaluated by a

physician because the source of the depressive symptoms could be

birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, or thyroid

disease.



Treatment for depression, like most other psychological

conditions, includes talk therapy and medications. Some women

also find relief in alternative medicine with herbal

supplements, meditation, and other complementary techniques.



Though many of the women who struggle with eating disorders are

in their teens and twenties, these conditions also affect women

at other stages in their lives. Anorexia, bulimia, and binge

eating are the most well-known forms of eating disorders.

Statistics show that one out of every one hundred girls between

the ages of 10 and 20 is anorexic, 4% of college-aged women are

bulimic, and 1% of women are binge eaters.



The root causes of

these diseases include stress at home and at school or work,

depression and anxiety, major life changes like a divorce or

death, and physical and sexual abuse. Breaking out of the cycle

of eating disorders requires a combined approach to this health

care issue including psychological treatment, nutrition

counseling, and in some cases, hospitalization.



A Holistic Approach to Women's Health Care As women become more

proactive about their health, many seek a holistic approach to

improving their well-being and fighting disease.



But

coordinating information among several health care providers,

keeping on top of the latest breakthroughs in health, and

finding the United States' best doctors is a daunting task for

any women.



Some are turning to private professional health care advocates,

like those available at PinnacleCare, to help them achieve their

goal of a whole-woman centered approach to health care issues.

>From compiling and electronically storing comprehensive medical

records to researching treatment options and providing

accelerated access to the United States' top doctors,

PinnacleCare's health advocates make a holistic approach to

health care possible.



"I passionately believe that what our PinnacleCare Members

experience is the way healthcare ought to be delivered,"

explains John Hutchins, PinnacleCare's Managing Director. "The

healthcare system has gotten so complex that most people are at

a loss to find their way through it without professional

guidance and objective counsel."