Women’s wellbeing

The average lifespan of a woman in 1920 was just over 50 years. One hundred years later, the life expectancy of women is 83 years of age and the number is on the rise. Not only are women living longer, but they can also anticipate enjoying a better quality of life if they take care of their health and wellness.

When we start to look at our own personal health – or wellness, there is a wide range of health topics – too many to cover here. Here’s just a few that are frequently experienced by our Australian population:

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer can happen at any age and is most common in women – but can also occur in males (attributing to approx. less than 1% of all diagnosed breast cancers).

What are the symptoms?

If anyone finds a change in his/her breast area it is important to seek medical advice to ensure prompt action can be taken if required. The most common change in the breast area is a painless lump, but symptoms can also include:

  • a discharge from the nipple
  • a change in the shape or appearance of the nipple or pectoral muscles
  • a change in the shape or appearance of the breast, such as swelling or dimpling
  • pain
  • swollen lymph nodes (glands) under the arm.

However, just because you notice a change in your breast it doesn’t mean you have necessarily developed breast cancer – early detection and treatment is the key to getting the right advice and support.

Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is usually caused by some form of the human papilloma virus (HPV) which, when these cells grow and spread in an uncontrolled manner, can lead to cancerous changes in the cervix over time.  Cervical squamous cell carcinoma makes up approximately 70% of all cervical cancers while cervical adenocarcinoma makes up approximately 25% of cervical cancers. Most of the high-risk types of HPV can be prevented by having the HPV vaccine.

What are the symptoms?

Some of the common symptoms include:

  • unexpected vaginal bleeding
  • heavier and or longer periods than usual
  • unusual vaginal discharge
  • pelvic pain
  • pain during sex
  • fatigue
  • leg pain and or swelling
  • lower back pain

When should I see my doctor?

You may experience some of the above symptoms throughout the month which can be considered normal and of no great concern. However, if you notice these symptoms continuing longer than normal or you have any concerns you should always seek medical advice.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol, which is a type of fat we need to build and repair cells and make hormones is a part of a healthy body.

We have both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol. Problems can arise when we have too much of the bad type – LDL cholesterol – which can lead to an increase in blood pressure, angina, an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. Having a high level of the good HDL cholesterol helps maintain the bad levels by sending the LDL cholesterol to the liver for removal from the body.

Whilst family history may result in you having elevated cholesterol levels, we can all attempt to maintain our cholesterol by

  • reducing the amount of saturated fat in our diet – such as cakes, fatty cuts of meat, full-fat dairy products and oils such as coconut and palm.
  • eating a diet high in fibre
  • increasing our physical activity levels
  • your doctor may prescribe medication to assist with managing your cholesterol

Diabetes

Diabetes is a very common, chronic condition that can cause elevated levels of glucose in the blood when our body is unable to produce enough insulin or our body cannot use insulin effectively. It is indicated by elevated levels of blood sugar. If left untreated, both short term and long-term complications can arise, such as heart and kidney disease, blindness and lower limb amputation.

There are two main types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2.

  • type 1 diabetes usually occurs in early childhood or early adulthood as an autoimmune disease and is usually diagnosed by the age of 18.
  • type 2 diabetes which is the most common form often has no noticeable symptoms, so diagnosis is delayed. This type is largely preventable and associated with lifestyle factors – factors such as
    • poor levels of activity
    • poor or unhealthy diet
    • obesity
    • smoking tobacco
    • genetic-related risk factors

Women can be diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy which usually resolves once baby is born

There is another form of diabetes which is less common than the above forms of diabetes and arises from a range of different health conditions, such as problems with the pancreas and endocrine system, viral infections and some genetic syndromes.

What are some of the symptoms of diabetes?

Those suffering from diabetes will often

  • feel tired and lethargic
  • feel hungry and excessively thirsty
  • need to urinate more often than they normally would
  • experience weight loss (type 1) or weight gain (type 2)
  • notice cuts to the skin heal slower than normal
  • have itchy skin or skin infections
  • experience blurred vision

One complexity associated with diabetes, especially type 2,  is that many people do not realise they actually have diabetes – with many research results indicating that a vast number of research participants did not realise they suffered from the condition.

What can I do to help prevent developing any of these conditions?

We may not always be able to prevent developing a medical condition. There are certain risk factors, such as ageing, environmental factors and having a family history, that you cannot change. Other risk factors however can be managed, such as

  • quit smoking
  • reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption – ideally limit this to one or two standard drink a day and ensure you have at least a couple of ‘days off’
  • maintain a healthy body weight – try to keep within a healthy body weight range for your height and build
  • eat a balanced diet that covers the major food groups. Check out the April 2022 article in the HSE Hub on Health Eating
  • keep active – exercise is an excellent way to keep fit and manage body weight; aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a day
  • don’t forget to laugh, play and relax
  • seek medical advice if you notice any changes or have any concerns
  • undergo regular medical health checks – refer list below of health screening available.

What health screening should I undertake?

First and foremost, your treating medical practitioner will be in the best position to advise on health screening. Regular health screening enables identification of early warning signs. Here are just some of the screens that are available:

Personal Health Resources

 

Your HSE Manager can also provide advice if you require support.