Men and women suffer from many of the same medical conditions, but there are health concerns that affect women more or are exclusive to women. These conditions warrant annual medical exams and prevention measures to ensure you do not become ill. Eagles Landing OB/GYN can help with some of the medical concerns listed below, including prevention, diagnoses, and treatment plans.
Anxiety and/or Depression
Women suffer from more hormonal fluctuations than men do, which is why more of them suffer from anxiety and/or depression. Menstrual-related conditions, such as PMS and PMDD can wreak havoc on a woman’s emotions, as can menopause. Birth can also bring on post-partum depression.
Autoimmune Disease
An autoimmune condition occurs when the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. Arthritis (psoriatic and rheumatoid), lupus, psoriasis, and thyroid disease are the most common autoimmune conditions suffered by women and, if serious, some of them can be deadly.
Breast Cancer
Women suffer from breast cancer significantly more often than men do. Genetics, hormone replacement drugs, and poor lifestyle choices can all cause breast cancer. Mammograms for women older than 50 help detect breast cancer early, as does self-examination monthly.
Cervical or Ovarian Cancer
Exclusive to women, cervical or ovarian cancer can also be detected early with annual gynecological exams and pap smears, although ovarian cancer is harder to detect. Cervical cancer develops in the lower portion of the uterus, whereas ovarian cancer develops in the fallopian tubes.
Heart Disease
One in four women die of heart disease every year, and it is believed the reason why is that women do not think about it as much as men do. Heart disease is incorrectly assumed to be a male illness, but it affects both men and women almost equally, so take heed and pay attention to your heart.
Osteoporosis
Menopause increases a woman’s chance of osteoporosis because estrogen loss directly affects bone health. This is why more women suffer from stress fractures than men do as they get older. Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce your risk of osteoporosis, as can prescription medication.
Reproductive Concerns
Finally, many women suffer from reproductive conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and uterine fibroids. Some women will struggle with these conditions in their younger years, although PCOS and uterine fibroids are common throughout perimenopause.
Eagles Landing OB/GYN in Stockbridge, GA, can help with many of the medical conditions listed above. An annual gynecological exam gives us the opportunity to test for cancers and diagnose and discuss other concerns, such as endometriosis, with you to come up with a treatment plan. Call our office at 770-474-1919 for an appointment.
