Women are increasingly becoming prone to suffering from chronic illnesses than ever before. According to a World Health Organization 2016 annual report, non-communicable diseases accounted for an astonishing 86% of total deaths in women in the developed world although the figure was significantly lower in the developing countries. The following are the major chronic diseases affecting women.
Cancer
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in women worldwide. Many deaths in developing countries are due to lack of resources for the early diagnosis of these cancers. About 20% of total female deaths in the world were attributed to cancer. The major types of cancers suffered by women are breast, cervical, and ovarian cancers which have been linked to gender differences such as female hormone imbalances.
Cardiovascular Diseases
Contrary to popular belief, cardiovascular diseases affect men and women in equal measure and these diseases are the leading cause of death in the developed world where in women, 22% of deaths are due to these illnesses. The major types of diseases in this category include hypertension, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Poor dietary choices, tobacco and physical inactivity have been touted to be major causes of this illnesses.
Autoimmune Disorders
This category involves diseases where the body’s own immunity attacks a specific organ or organ system. About 43% more women than men suffer from these conditions because of genetic differences and the increasing complexity of the female hormonal system. Some of these diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and myasthenia gravis.
Reproductive Health
Sexual and reproductive health problems are responsible for one third of health issues for women in the reproductive age group in developing countries. Unprotected sex is a major risk factor for contracting these diseases which include infertility. This is why it is imperative to get services to the 230 million women who aren’t getting the contraception services they need.
Communicable diseases
Sexually transmitted and urinary tract infections are the leading cause of death in women living in underdeveloped countries. Common STIs include HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis. According to the WHO, untreated syphilis is responsible for more than 200,000 stillbirths and early foetal deaths every year, and for the deaths of over 90 000 new-borns.
Mental health
Women are more prone than men to experience mental illnesses such as depression and related conditions such as premenstrual dystrophic disorder mainly because of the fear of stigmatization and ridicule. Depression is the most common mental health problem for women and suicide a leading cause of death for women under 60. Raising awareness in women about mental conditions can help alleviate the burden of mental illnesses in women.
