Chronic diseases are a major global public health problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that lifestyle-related chronic diseases will account for 70% of global deaths by 2030. Women around the world face unique health challenges due to lifestyle choices. unhealthy. Most women are programmed to take care of the family first without paying attention to their own health and, in fact, they neglect it most of the time. And this is further aggravated if they are working women trying to balance home and work. Balancing home and work is a difficult process and requires considerable skill.
This can lead to irregular eating patterns, lack of meals, lack of sleep, stress, lack of physical activity, addictions, poor relationships, all of which contribute to the development of lifestyle-related diseases (chronic diseases or non-communicable diseases ).
What are some of the main lifestyle diseases in women?
Heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and some types of cancer are some of the lifestyle-related diseases. They can lead to loss of independence, years of disability, or death, placing a significant financial burden on health services.
What can you do to keep lifestyle diseases at bay?
Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet and not smoking reduces the risk of developing chronic diseases by 80 percent. An unhealthy lifestyle is the root cause of all lifestyle diseases as they often originate in childhood, develop silently over time and manifest without warning, also called silent killers.
Women over the age of 40 are more prone to heart disease. Image Courtesy: Shutterstock
What increases the risk of lifestyle-related diseases in women?
1. Unhealthy eating habits
Unhealthy eating patterns and irregular meal times lead to hidden hunger, which means loss of micronutrients leading to deficiencies.
2. Stress:
Stress, lack of sleep, and lack of physical activity all contribute to weight gain. Stress and lack of sleep increase levels of the hormone cortisol, which causes inflammation in the body. Cortisol increases hunger and cravings, which leads to weight gain. This can lead to prediabetes, high blood pressure, hormonal problems, and eventually PCOS.
3. Age
Women are at high risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes from the age of 35. Heart disease is the leading preventable cause of death among women.
4. Menopause
Before menopause, a woman’s own estrogen helps protect her from lifestyle-related diseases, especially heart disease, by raising HDL (good) cholesterol and lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol. Women have higher overall cholesterol levels than men after menopause. Triglyceride levels are an important factor.
Menopause can bring with it many diseases. Image Courtesy: Shutterstock
5.Diabetes
Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease in women more than in men with risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Diabetes doubles the risk of a second heart attack and heart failure in women who have already had a heart attack.
6. Metabolic syndrome
Women who have metabolic syndrome, which includes a large waistline, high blood pressure, glucose intolerance, low HDL cholesterol, and high triglycerides, are more likely to develop heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
7. Smoking
Compared to men, women who smoke are more likely to have a heart attack. Cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases are influenced by persistent low-grade inflammation.
Think twice before smoking! Image Courtesy: Shutterstock
How can women avoid lifestyle-related diseases?
Adopting healthy habits, improving physical activity, quitting tobacco, a diet rich in fiber and low in fat to control body weight, good sleep habits, avoiding excessive alcohol, coping with stress and seeking support when necessary, reduces the risk of death from lifestyle diseases.
Women with disabilities need the same general health care as women without disabilities.
Source: www.healthshots.com