Women's Health

Women monitor their bodies from a very early age. Research suggests that more than 50 percent of girls are dissatisfied with their bodies by the age of thirteen and that many begin a pattern of weight obsession and dieting as young as eight or nine. The extremes to which young women may go in their quest for the perfect body – smoking and unhealthy eating patterns being the most obvious – can have an extremely negative impact on their health and create problems that will resurface in later years.

Middle-aged women may no longer pursue unrealistic ideals, but they have new health concerns to consider. High blood pressure is a silent disease. There are no clear signs or warning signals. Yet it is a major risk factor for stroke, affecting more than 25% of women. The risk increases with age, affecting 50% of women post-menopause. High blood pressure is a risk factor for diabetes and kidney disease, and in combination with cigarette smoking, is a serious risk factor for numerous medical conditions. (The Kidney Foundation of Canada features a detailed discussion on high blood pressure at www.kidney.ca.) To analyze your risk of developing high blood pressure, take the quiz featured on the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada's website. You'll find it in the section "Create Your Health Action Plan" at www.heartandstroke.ca.

Approximately one in three Canadian women will develop cancer in their lifetimes. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Canadian women, accounting for almost one in three cancer diagnoses. For information on breast self-examination, clinical breast examination and mammograms, see the Canadian Cancer Society website (www.cancer.ca). Lung cancer is rapidly becoming a major health issue for women. Both the incidence of lung cancer and the mortality rate are increasing for women, in contrast to the decrease that is being seen in men. For a discussion on this and other lung diseases, visit www.lung.ca.

You may think that osteoporosis is a disease which affects only the elderly. Not so. As with many conditions, osteoporosis is seen most frequently in elderly women, but is by no means limited to that group. Common risk factors for this condition include being female, age 50 or older, with a family history of osteoporosis. For information on other risk factors and on testing for BMD (Bone Mineral Density), see the Osteoporosis Society's website (www.osteoporosis.ca).

Finally, what makes managing women's health such a challenge is that women tend to manage their family's health as well. The range of health issues that confront any family are very broad.

Nutrition is a major preoccupation at any age. Teenagers should be counselled about safe sex and birth control (www.ontarioaidsnetwork.on.ca will link you to sites which feature information about safe sex). Pregnancy has its health risks (www.cysticfibrosis.ca and www.ofcp.on.ca provide background on cystic fibrosis and cerebral palsy). Many women monitor their aging parents as well and wrestle with questions that address the needs of the elderly. Is a mother-in-law merely forgetful, or are these early signs of Alzheimer Disease? (See the Alzheimer Society website www.alzheimer.ca for further information on "10 warning signs"). For advice on juggling these many roles, visit the Canadian Health Network (www.canadian-health-network.ca) and read the section called "How can I care for a chronically-ill loved one, and care for myself too". Many days it may seem an impossible task. But isn't that what Dr. Mom's are for?