The Deadliest Diseases in Women
By Sara Butler
In the world of women’s health, heart disease and cancer are the biggest killers. The Centers for Disease Control claim those two ailments as the top killers of women of middle age. So, they’re worrisome for sure, but there are other diseases you should be on the lookout for when it comes to your health. Here are some of the other diseases that afflict women, their risk factors and what you should do to lower your chances of getting them.
Chronic Liver Disease
Forget that juice cleanse – your liver is your body’s natural cleanser. It flushes your system of toxins and waste every single day and makes it possible for your body to absorb the vitamins and minerals it needs to be healthy.
Chronic liver disease is also called cirrhosis. It’s a breakdown of your liver function over time and can be caused by:
- Hepatitis
- Heavy drinking habitually
- Obesity
- Certain blood diseases
You can’t control all the risk factors, but you can lower your chance of contracting this killer by eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing your alcohol intake and exercising regularly.
Diabetes
When your body can’t manage its blood sugar levels, then you’re at risk for diabetes, which puts you at a higher risk for a host of other diseases such as kidney disease, heart disease, and nerve damage. Type 2 diabetes is the kind contracted as an adult, impacting 10 percent of Americans today. You can lower your risk of developing this disease by staying active, watching what you eat and maintaining a healthy weight.
Sepsis
Sepsis is a blood infection and something that usually only impacts people who are already sick. But according to the National Institutes of Health, sepsis can start from something as seemingly innocent as a urinary tract infection or skin infection. The infection spreads to your bloodstream where it triggers an immune response that becomes overwhelming to your body. Eventually, your organs begin to fail.
If you have a weakened immune system or have other health issues, then you are at a higher risk of sepsis, but anyone with an untreated infection can be susceptible.
These are just a few of the health problems that can impact women as they grow older, so make sure you’re taking a proactive approach to your health by eating right, exercising and seeing a healthcare practitioner such as your chiropractor regularly in order to stay healthy!