Look Young Again!

Chronic Health Problems

The medical community has long known that women are more likely to suffer from chronic health problems than are men.  Some, but not all chronic health problems in women are hormone related.  Some chronic health problems that affect both men and women, such as heart disease and stroke, have even been known to manifest in different ways and have different symptoms in men and women.

There are virtually hundreds of chronic health problems that have been identified in women. Some of them are as follows:

• Anxiety disorders
• Breast cancer
• Varicose veins
• Thyroid problems
• Osteoporosis
• Uterine fibroids
• Lupus
• Eating disorders
• Infertility
• Depression
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Pelvic pain
• Vulvar pain
• Headaches
• Heart disease
• Connective tissue disease
• Skin disorders
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Scleroderma

While this list is certainly not exhaustive, it does represent many of the most commonly reported chronic health problems that affect women.

Much research has been done in the field of women’s chronic health problems, and it has been discovered that there are many things that can trigger certain health problems in women that do not necessarily present a problem for men.  Some events, or occurrences, that can both cause and exacerbate chronic health problems in women include the following:

• The onset of menopause
• Pregnancy
• Domestic violence
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• Divorce
• Death of a loved one
• Recurrent failed pregnancies
• Undergoing a hysterectomy
• Hormone imbalances
• Nutritional imbalances
• Workplace discrimination

To make matters even worse for women, those suffering from one chronic health condition are likely to find themselves suffering from a new one long before the original health concern can be rectified.  Chronic health problems are like a roller coaster; women have good days and bad days, but aren’t ever sure what kind of day they will have until the sun goes down and the day is over with.

Women who have a family history of chronic health problems do have an advantage over those who are not aware of their family history, wherein they can take preventative measures that sometimes aid in keeping some chronic health problems at bay.

Women suffering from chronic health problems need to be aware of the importance of seeing a specialist for each of their different medical concerns.  Seeking the help of only a primary care physician is not the best course of action to take when chronic health problems are a concern.  There are cardiologists for heart related issues, neurologists for mental disorders, gynecologists for reproductive health issues, and specialists for those suffering from arthritis, thyroid problems as well as those dealing with weight problems.

If you are a woman, or know a woman who suffers from chronic health problems, realize that the problems will not go away on their own.  Without medical attention, they are sure to only grow worse over time.  Suffering from chronic health problems can cause stress and depression to set in, which by themselves will cause chronic health problems.  Visit the doctor and discuss any and all symptoms that you may be experiencing.  Your primary care physician is a good place to start, and they will be able to direct you to specialists trained to treat any chronic health problems that may be affecting you.

Suffering from any medical condition is bad enough, but suffering with chronic health problems, especially if more than one exists, can have adverse affects not only on your well being, but also on the quality of your life.