This Women’s Day, Screen Yourself to Save Yourself

International Women's Day 2023: Due to their hectic schedules and juggling between work, motherhood, along with endless home responsibilities, women often neglect their health and fail to listen to their bodies. Yet, doing so puts them in danger of consequences from a variety of diseases, including cardiac problems, hypertension, diabetes, liver disease, and many others that have an unnoticed impact on the body. Some disorders have no symptoms at first, and they might be difficult to control or treat later on.

Lifestyle concerns are the root cause of many health issues, and the fact that many women are unable to focus on their overall wellness can frequently result in the development of dangerous diseases.

This Women’s Day

Every year on March 8, International Women's Day is observed to honor women's achievements and promote gender equality. This year's Women's Day campaign theme is #EmbraceEquity, while the United Nations theme is 'DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality'.

On this occasion, we asked an expert to elaborate on the top five diseases that are silent killers for women.

"Silent killer illnesses are diseases that have little or no symptoms yet can lead to death if left untreated. Heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes are the leading silent killers. Some lesser-known silent illnesses include to mention a few, primary amyloidosis, renal cell carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, and hepatitis B or C infection," says Dr. Shalini Vijay, Senior Consultant Obstetrician & Gynecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Lullanagar.

Dr. Shalini says the number-one silent killer is heart disease. "Hypertension, smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, and high cholesterol are the key risk factors that contribute to this elevated risk," says the expert.

Six Potential Diseases that can Impact Women’s Health

Let's take a look at the six potentially deadly diseases and how to recognize their subtle signs, as explained by Dr. Shalini.

1. Ovarian Cancer is the most Common type of Cancer:
   One in every 75 women is affected by this deadly illness. Worryingly, many women have the illness without ever realizing it. The five-year survival rate is only 46%, and if the cancer is not diagnosed early, it may be even lower. The symptoms of this silent killer are sometimes so subtle that even doctors miss them.
2. Cardiovascular Illness:
   Women, in particular, experience far fewer symptoms, such as shortness of breath, nausea, and weariness as compared to men. If you have a family history of cardiovascular disease, you are at a higher risk and should pay close attention to these signs.
3. Lupus:
   Lupus is defined as a chronic, autoimmune disorder that can damage any portion of the body like skin, joints, and/or other organs within the body (source). A 'butterfly rash' may appear on the nose or cheeks, joints may become achy and tired, and breathing may become difficult; other common symptoms include hair loss, stomach pain, and migraines.
4. Diabetes:
   With so much information about the dangers of diabetes available, it's practically impossible for the disease to go untreated. However, the symptoms of diabetes, particularly type 2, can be so subtle and seemingly innocuous that people may not realize they have the condition.
5. Parkinson's Disease:
   Motor Neuron Disease (MND) is a neurological disorder in which nerve cells degenerate to the point of irreversible destruction. Patients lose all muscular capacity and eventually die as the disease progresses.
6. Osteoporosis:
   Osteoporosis is the major cause of fractures in postmenopausal women around the world. One in every two women over the age of 50 has an osteoporotic fracture. The risk of hip fracture equals the total risk of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer. Women are twice as likely as men to get osteoporosis because their bones are thinner. The hormone estrogen drops throughout menopause, causing bone loss, weakness, and stress fractures.

Source-Medindia