Top 10 Women's Health Risks

Heart disease is the number one leading killer of women and men. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that this condition is responsible for 29% of the deaths among women. http://www.cdc.gov/

Ways to Prevent Heart Disease

Visit http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/. The Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention website provided by the CDC has wonderful resources for improving cardiovascular health.

Stop smoking and using tobacco. Secondhand smoke should be avoided as well.

For people with high blood cholesterol levels and high blood pressure they need to seek and follow a doctor's advice.

Maintain a healthy weight.

Exercise regularly.

Cut back foods in your diet that includes sodium and are high in saturated fat.

2 - Cancer

The second most common health risk for women is cancer. This includes breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, and ovarian cancer among others according to the American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/

Ways to Prevent Cancer

Take a look at the CDC's Cancer Prevention and Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ for a great deal of tips that will help you in the first steps of preventing cancer.

Limit or stop; drinking alcohol and smoking or using tobacco products.

Stay away from indoor tanning. Use sunscreen and wear a hat when you are in the sun.

Eat a healthy diet and increase your exercise or daily physical activity.

Most cancers cannot be prevented. Trying to avoid the risk factors and making healthy choices in life will be the best thing you can do.

3 - Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis affects more and more women each year. The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) states that out of 44 million people who are threatened by osteoporosis 68% of them are women. http://www.nof.org/

Ways to Prevent Osteoporosis

Review the NOF's Osteoporosis Prevention website. http://www.nof.org/prevention/ Here you will find help with building strong bones.

Use preventative measures. Before age 30 calcium, vitamin D, and exercise is important to making sure your bones are healthy for the rest of your life.

Get Bone Mineral Density tests (BMD Test) from your doctor. This test is the only way we have of figuring out if someone has osteoporosis and to determine the risk factors for fractures later on in life.

Continue to get enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet after age 30 as well. It is never to late to start a prevention program against osteoporosis.

4 - COPD

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) includes multiple lung conditions that aid each other in blocking air making it difficult to breath. Three of the most common conditions found in COPD are chronic bronchitis, chronic asthmatic bronchitis, and emphysema.

Ways to Prevent COPD

Go to the MayoClinic.com COPD Symptoms website http://www.mayoclinic.com/ if you already think you might have COPD. Catching the illness early can make a big difference in treatment and recovery.

Avoid smoking and tobacco products. This includes being around secondhand smoke.

Try to avoid areas that have a great deal of air pollution.

Stay away or take proper safety precautions with exposure to chemicals.

5 - Alzheimer's disease

The Alzheimer's Association states that Alzheimer's is a disease that attacks the brain and is the most common form of dementia. http://www.alz.org/ There are no proven prevention tips for Alzheimer's disease.

Risk Factors with Alzheimer's disease

Heredity has a lot to do with Alzheimer's. If you have a family member with the disease then you have a chance to carry the gene and get the disease as well.

Age is the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer's. This disease usually affects people ages 65 or older.

Visit http://www.alz.org/ and review the different treatment options, how to diagnose Alzheimer's, as well as myths that are associated with this disease.

6 - Autoimmune Diseases

As reported by the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) 75% of all autoimmune diseases occur to women. http://www.aarda.org/ Singly, each autoimmune disease is common. However, when combined together autoimmune diseases can have a devastating and fatal effect on the body.

Risk Factors with Autoimmune disease

No one knows yet what makes the body start turning against itself. Keep yourself updated with the latest news regarding autoimmune disease by visiting the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association's website at http://www.aarda.org/.

It is thought that the environment, hormones, and genetics all play a role in preventing this type of disease.

7 - Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. This type affects the way a person's body uses its glucose. Many complications come along with this health risk such as; blindness, kidney trouble, nerve damage, and heart disease.

Ways to Prevent Diabetes

Maintain a healthy weight.

Eat a healthy diet that includes low-fat foods, veggies, and fruits.

Exercise or increase your daily activity.

Having diabetes and preventing diabetes requires a big change at times. The American Diabetes Association has a lot of information about lifestyle changes and prevention. http://www.diabetes.org/

8 - Influenza

The flu can be a devastatingly bad illness. Influenza is a viral infection and can be harmful to people with a lowered immune system or illness. The flu, if left untreated, can develop into more severe illnesses and complications.

Ways to Prevent Influenza

There are many different types of influenza. Check out the CDC's Flu page http://www.cdc.gov/flu/ for information on how to prevent the Avian Flu, Canine Flu, Swine Flu, and Pandemic Flu among others.

Getting a flu shot for yourself and your family is the number one preventative measure from getting the flu.

Wash your hands often.

Cover your mouth when you cough so you do not spread germs.

Practice good health habits such as exercise and proper diet.

9 - Kidney Disease

This disease is often a complication of one or two other medical problems. The most common are high blood pressure and diabetes according to the National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/ Kidney disease leads to heart disease which is the major cause of death in this type of illness.

Ways to Prevent Kidney Disease

Follow your doctor's recommendations for any other health problems you might be experiencing.

Maintain a healthy weight.

Limit your salt intake and eat a healthy diet.

Exercise or increase your daily activity.

10 - Septicemia

Blood poisoning is an infection where you have toxins or bacteria in your blood stream. Septicemia is not a preventable illness. You can only take precautions to avoid infections and protect your immune system.

Ways to Avoid infections and Protect Your Immune System

Stay up to date with all your shots and your family's shots.

Change tampons as directed on the box. Usual recommendations include every 6 to 8 hours. Stay away from "super" absorbing tampons.

Use proper wiping techniques after going to the restroom; front to back. Try to urinate after having sexual intercourse.

Wash your hands.

See a doctor if you feel that you have an infection. Catching the infection before it evolves into Septicemia can be important to treatment options.