March
is Women’s History Month sponsored by womenshistorymonth.gov. Our focus this
month is history of health issues for women specifically the top ten illnesses
that affect women. Our scale of health issues rankings will go from 10 to 1.
10.
Septicemia: Blood poisoning that can turn life-threatening. Deaths percentage
is 1.5.
9. Kidney
disease: If a woman is diabetic her chances of developing kidney disease
increase and put her equally at risk. Menopause can also play a role in kidney
disease but occurs less frequently in premenopausal women. Death percentage is
1.8.
8.
Influenza
and pneumonia: Have ongoing threats to elderly women and those with weak immune
systems. Death percentage is 2.7.
7.
Diabetes:
9.7 million women in the United States suffer with diabetes. Death percentage
is 3.1.
6.
Unintentional
death categories are falling, poisoning, suffocation, drowning, fires or burns,
and car crashes. Death percentage is 3.3.
5.
Alzheimer's
disease: Women may have a higher risk for Alzheimer's than men due to estrogen.
When women go through menopause estrogen level reduce and increase risk of
developing Alzheimer's. Death percentage is 3.9.
4. Chronic
lower respiratory diseases: Chronic obstructed pulmonary disease (COPD),
emphysema, and chronic bronchitis typically 80% of those diagnosed are
cigarette smokers. Death percentage is 5.2.
3.
Stroke:
Three million women die from stroke annually. At the age of 45 a woman's risk
of stroke increases steadily until age 65 and will equal the rate of men. Death
percentage is 7.5.
2. Cancer:
The American Cancer Society estimated in 2009 approximately 269,800 women will
die of cancer. Death percentage is 22.
1. Heart
disease: 8.6 million women throughout the world have died according to The
Women's Heart Foundation. In the United States 8 million women have heart
disease. Death percentage is 27.2.
Now that top ten are listed, we have much work to do
women. I know when it comes to my family we have been affected by 5 of the 10.
It is my belief that many of these illnesses develop because we as women make
sure that the family is taken care of and save our health for last. I am very
guilty of this behavior. Life is already short and we make it shorter when we
don’t take care of ourselves. So ladies this is our wake-up call. Let’s take
care of ourselves so we can continue to make history that we and future
generations can enjoy.
Reference:
%womensissues.about.com/od/womensbodiesminds/a/Top10WomensHealthIssues.htm
