Women's Health
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Introduction
Women and men share many similar health problems but women also have their own
health
issues, which deserve special consideration.
Today women's health is coming to be viewed as a distinctive field. Why should
it be separate
from the rest of health? The answer is two-fold.
An area devoted to women's health:
1. Makes finding
information about women's health matters faster; and it
2. Focuses directly on
topics that are major health concerns for women.
Women's lives have changed over the centuries. Historically, life was
particularly difficult for
most women. Aside from the numerous dangers and
diseases, women became wives and mothers often when they
were just emerging from their own childhood. Many
women had a multitude of pregnancies which may or
may not have been wanted. In the past, childbirth
itself was risky and not infrequently led to the death
of the mother. Most women in the past did not live long
enough to be concerned about menopause or old age.
In 1900, a woman's life span was about 50 years. Now, in the new millennium,
life expectancy for
American women is 82 years of age, and continuing to
rise. Not only are women living longer, but they also have the
possibility of enjoying a better quality of life
throughout their span of years. But to do this, it is essential that women take
charge of their
own bodies and comprehend how they can maximize
their health. It is also helpful that men
understand and are supportive of the health
concerns of the women.
Gynecology is the primary branch of medical science concerned with women's
health.
The word "gynecology" is a word consisting of "gyneco,"
meaning "woman," and "logic," meaning "knowledge." Taken together, it is "woman
knowledge."
It is important that every woman has access to knowledge related to the spectrum
of women's health issues, not only about her
reproductive system, but about all aspects of her body (as below):
* General Health and Wellness
* Female Anatomy
* The Female Reproductive System
* Female Hormones
* Diseases More Common In Women
* Cancer In Women
* Women's Cosmetic Concerns
* Menstruation
* Sexuality
* Fertility, Birth Control and Infertility
* Pregnancy
* Motherhood
* Menopause
* The Mature Woman - Post Menopause
* Find a local Obstetrician-Gynecologist in your town
General Health and Wellness
There is credible information available to women not only on
such problems as eating disorders, stress, alcoholism,
addictions, and depression, but also on basic topics
such as good nutrition and exercise. For example,
it is beneficial that a woman maintain her optimum weight. If a woman's waist
size measures more than 35 inches (89 cm),
she is more likely to develop heart disease, high
blood pressure, and diabetes.
Eating sensible meals, eliminating after- dinner
snacks, and making physical activity a part of daily life
are significant ways to help control weight and lower
the risk of a long list of health problems.
Smoking is detrimental to a woman's health (or to anyone else's). Unfortunately,
women continue to
smoke despite the known health risks. Even though
the number of women smoking is declining, still about
19% of women in the U.S. were smokers in 2003. Women
are smoking in spite of the well-publicized risks
of lung disease including cancer, heart disease, and
innumerable other health problems now linked to smoking.
Drinking an excessive amount of alcohol is also harmful to health. Although
women typically begin drinking at a later age than men and tend to
drink somewhat less, women need lower doses of alcohol
before developing alcohol-related medical problems such as cirrhosis and
hepatitis.
Women should be aware that they metabolize a number of drugs differently than
men.
In some cases and for some medications, the rate
may be slower, and in other cases, faster.
It is, therefore, essential that women are well
informed about the kinds and correct dosages of drugs they are taking.
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