Archived Newsletters Get the latest health new here May 2005 Newsletter: Original Article:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=WO00014 Women's top health threats: A surprising list Do you know what threatens your life the most? Below are the top causes of death for women in the United States,
starting with the most common. Take this opportunity to learn about each
health concern and how you can reduce your risks. What you learn may
surprise you.
No. 1 - Heart disease
Surprised? Many women are. It's common to think breast cancer is the
No. 1 threat to women's health when, in fact, heart disease is
responsible for more deaths in women than all forms of cancer combined. Heart
disease is the most significant health concern for women in the United
States today, responsible for nearly 489,000 deaths each year.
The common belief that heart disease affects mostly men is a dangerous
myth. In reality, more women than men die of heart disease in the
United States each year. But according to the American Heart Association,
only 13 percent of women know that heart disease is a major threat to
their health. The good news is that heart disease is one of the most preventable
health conditions. You have the power to reduce some of your risks: Avoid smoking and limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole-grain products.
Exercise regularly. Control other health conditions that may put a strain on your heart,
such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.
If you're at increased risk of heart disease, your doctor also may
suggest a daily low dose of aspirin.
No. 2 - Cancer
It's easy to believe cancer is a major threat to women's health, but
the kinds of cancer women are dying of might surprise you. According to
the American Cancer Society (ACS), the most common cause of cancer death
in U.S. women is lung cancer. It's estimated that more than 73,000
women in the United States will die of lung cancer in 2005, with 90 percent
of these deaths linked to cigarette smoking. Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in U.S.
women, and it's estimated that more than 211,000 women will be diagnosed
with breast cancer in 2005. The ACS estimates that about 40,000 women die
each year of breast cancer. The third-leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States
is colorectal cancer. Like heart disease, colorectal cancer is often
mistakenly thought of as a man's disease, but as many women die of
colorectal cancer each year. Estimates suggest that it claims the lives of
approximately 28,000 women in the United States annually. At least one-third of all cancer deaths are related to nutrition and
other controllable lifestyle factors. Do all you can to reduce your
cancer risks: Don't smoke or chew tobacco.
Exercise regularly.
Eat a healthy diet.
Avoid excessive sun exposure.
Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
Have regular preventive health screenings.
Know your family medical history and review it with your doctor.
No. 3 - Stroke Nearly 163,000 people in the United States die of stroke each year, and
almost two-thirds of them are women. Stroke not only is women's No. 3
killer, but it also is one of the leading causes of disability in
America. Smoking and uncontrolled high blood pressure are important risk factors
for stroke. Although stroke is highly preventable, certain risk factors
such as family history, age, sex and race cannot be controlled. Even if
you're at increased risk of stroke, you can still take steps to prevent
it: Don't smoke.
Control your blood pressure.
Lower your cholesterol.
Limit saturated fats.
Exercise regularly.
No. 4 - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) COPD is an overall term for a group of chronic lung conditions,
including bronchitis and emphysema. The main cause of COPD is smoking, and
it's strongly associated with lung cancer, the No. 1 cause of cancer death
in women. About 64,000 women in the United States die of COPD each year. The
quality of life for a person with COPD diminishes as the disease
progresses. Shortness of breath and activity limitations develop, and you may
eventually require an oxygen tank or even mechanical respiratory
assistance to breathe. How do you reduce your risk of dying of COPD? This one's easy: Don't
smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke.
No. 5 - Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease - which affects an estimated 4.5 million Americans
- is a progressive, degenerative brain disease that goes beyond simple
forgetfulness. What may start as slight memory loss and confusion can
eventually lead to irreversible mental impairment. More women than men have Alzheimer's. In fact, nearly 42,000 women die
of Alzheimer's disease each year - more than twice the number of men.
One reason women may be more affected is that women generally live
longer, and the risk of Alzheimer's increases with age. Current treatments focus on stabilizing the signs and symptoms,
improving well-being and easing caregiver burden.
No. 6 - Diabetes
Diabetes, a group of diseases that affect the way your body uses blood
sugar (glucose), is a serious health condition that affects about 18
million Americans. In 2002, it claimed the lives of more than 73,000
people in the United States, and over half of them were women. It's estimated that 5 million Americans don't know they have diabetes.
Many people become aware of it only when they develop one of its
life-threatening complications. Advanced diabetes can cause blindness, kidney
failure and severe nerve damage. People with diabetes are also two to
four times more likely to die of heart disease and suffer from stroke. The most common type of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. This type of
diabetes, generally developing after age 40, can often be prevented. Follow
these steps to reduce your risk: Maintain a healthy weight.
Eat a healthy diet.
Exercise regularly.
Get your fasting blood sugar level checked periodically. No. 7 - Accidents Each year, more than 37,000 women die from accidents (unintentional
injuries). Although the statistics on accidental death are unclear, these
top health threats for women may surprise you: Motor vehicle accidents. Traffic-related accidents were responsible for
more than a third of all accidental deaths for women in 2002. You can
reduce your chances of a fatal crash by routinely using your seat belt,
keeping your speed within limits and not driving while sleepy or under
the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Falls. One out of every three people over age 75 falls each year, and
about 7,800 women in the United States die from such falls.
Three-fourths of all falls occur in the home, so making some common-sense changes
can help prevent falls and their potentially debilitating consequences.
Getting regular eye exams, exercising regularly and improving your
balance also can help reduce your risk. No. 8 - Pneumonia and influenza Pneumonia and influenza combined are the eighth-leading cause of death
for women in the United States today. Together they took the lives of
more than 36,000 women in 2002. When associated with other chronic health conditions, pneumonia and
influenza can be life-threatening. People with COPD, asthma, heart
disease, diabetes and conditions that suppress the immune system are at high
risk. Because both pneumonia and influenza affect the lungs, smoking
increases the danger of these two diseases. The risk of both pneumonia and influenza can be reduced by
immunizations. A yearly flu shot can be up to 90 percent effective in preventing
influenza in healthy adults. The pneumococcal vaccine can reduce the risk
of getting pneumonia by more than half. Stay healthy - get those shots.
Putting health risks into perspective
Putting these health risks into perspective is just as important as
understanding what the top health threats are. This ranking of health
risks applies to the entire population of women in the United States - no
matter what your age. But for specific age groups, the leading cause of
death can shift. For instance, it's true that during the course of your
entire lifetime, heart disease is your No. 1 health threat. However, in
your 20s, your risk of dying from an accident is your top health
threat. Likewise, from ages 35 to 64, your greatest risk is cancer. It's also important whenever you read about health risks to think about
the numbers you read in real terms. For example, that nearly half a
million women died of heart disease in 2002 seems staggering. That's a lot
of women. But if you think of it in terms of the total number of women
in the United States that year - more than 146 million - the number
represents just a small fraction of the female population as a whole. The bottom line? Be concerned about health risks, but don't panic. Do
whatever you can to lead a healthy lifestyle - including eating healthy
foods, staying physically active, getting regular checkups and paying
attention to your environment. Such measures can reduce your risk
factors for these conditions and help you lead a long and healthy life.
By Mayo Clinic staff
WO00014 February 09, 2005
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