Women’s Top Health Concerns

August 2023

As women age, specific health concerns become more important. Here are some of women’s most common health concerns and ways you can address them.

Heart disease and cardiovascular health

Because blood vessels and arteries become stiffer as we age, the heart works harder to pump blood through them. This stiffness can increase your risk of high blood pressure, so be sure to manage stress, eat a healthy diet, enjoy exercise daily, get enough sleep (seven to nine hours each night) and don’t smoke.

Also, remember that heart disease symptoms for women can differ from those for men. The American Heart Association offers this list of symptoms of heart attack and stroke in women.

Breast cancer

A woman’s risk of developing breast cancer increases as she ages. According to the National Cancer Institute, a woman age 30 has a 1-in-227 chance of developing breast cancer. At age 50, the risk is 1-in-42; at 60, the risk is 1-in-28.

However, keep in mind that factors other than age can be involved. Some of these factors include family history, mammographic breast density, personal history of breast cancer, genetic alterations, reproductive and menstrual history, alcohol consumption, radiation therapy, body weight and long-term use of menopausal hormone therapy.

Osteoporosis

Women make up about 80 percent of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis. The reason includes having smaller bones than men and reduced estrogen levels as women age.

Taking estrogen is one form of therapy, but there are several risks to doing so, including stroke, heart attack, blood loss and cognitive decline. Other treatments, such as denosumab (known by several trademark names), also have risks. Discuss these factors with your doctor.

For general bone health, ensure your diet includes plenty of vitamin D, avoid smoking or drinking, and exercise regularly, incorporating weight-bearing exercise.

Memory

Like almost every other body part, your brain changes as you age. These changes can affect your memory or ability to multitask, for example.

Your brain is a muscle, and like other muscles, it needs to be exercised. Keep your brain active with familiar personal care such as exercising, eating a balanced diet and treating cardiovascular disease. Social interaction and other activities, such as learning new hobbies, taking classes and reading are also effective ways to stimulate your brain.

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