What are the common diseases that women acquire?
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Migraine Headaches
- Osteoporosis
- Diabetes
There have been numerous discoveries and advancements in the field of medicine in the past century. Medicine for diabetes, the total eradication of smallpox, and other breakthroughs and milestones have been achieved thanks to the dedication of both researchers and volunteers.
The medical supplies in the Philippines are enough to treat most diseases, but sometimes, even when taking extreme care, people get sick—nothing you can do about it. Luckily, we have medicine for that.
Since we’re celebrating women’s month this March, we’ll be talking about the common diseases that women acquire, and the treatment for each of them.
Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infection, or UTI, is common in both men and women, but women are more vulnerable to it.
UTI, in most cases, involves the lower urinary tract, or the bladder and the urethra. It is a bacterial infection, and the reason why it’s more usually found in women is the female anatomy—females have a shorter urethra compared to males, which means that bacteria have to travel a shorter distance to the bladder.
UTI can be treated with antibiotics, the common ones being amoxicillin and cephalexin. Once treated, it can be effectively prevented by drinking plenty of water, and thoroughly washing the genital areas.
Migraine Headaches
Migraines happen to everyone. It’s been around for a very long time and medicine for it is very accessible, but it’s still one of, if not the most dreaded, chronic diseases.
There have been more recorded incidents of migraine occurring in women, but there still isn’t a definitive explanation—although researchers believe estrogen is the primary suspect.
Migraine can be treated using pain relievers (such as paracetamol and ibuprofen) and sleep. It can be avoided by getting a good amount of rest, eating properly, and staying hydrated.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is most often found in people with advanced ages, but more than 60% of the people at risk are women.
The main culprit for this is the changing levels for estrogen, particularly when a woman experiences menopause—when their estrogen levels drop drastically. Additionally, women who have had their first menstrual period at a later age and have irregular periods are at an even higher risk.
Following a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D and regular exercise helps strengthen bones which can prevent osteoporosis. Treatment options include taking hormone-like medications like raloxifene and bisphosphonates.
Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes:
| Type 1 | Type 2 |
| Symptoms start anytime from childhood to young adulthood | Usually discovered in adulthood |
| Sudden symptoms of high blood sugar | Usually no symptoms before diagnosis |
| Episodes of low blood sugar are common | No episodes of low blood sugar |
| Cannot be prevented | Can be prevented or delayed with a healthy lifestyle |
Treatment of diabetes focuses on controlling blood sugar levels. Dietary changes and exercise can help manage both types. Type 1 is managed with insulin, while type 2 can be managed by either insulin or non-insulin medicine for diabetes.
The risk of diabetes is higher for those with diabetes in their family history. Nevertheless, staying healthy is the best advice—family history or not, and regardless of whether the type.
Key Takeaway
While maintaining a healthy lifestyle certainly helps fight off diseases, there will be times when it can’t be avoided. Women are notably more vulnerable to some common diseases and should take extra care. If infected with a disease, medicine will always be available, but preventing the diseases from infecting the body should always be the number one priority. Good thing that there are tons of available medical supplies in the Philippines that can help you with your concerns.