8 most common health problems in women at different stages of life

In general, women are much more likely to see a doctor than men, partly because women are more likely to seek medical care, but also because women are more prone to certain health problems. Regular visits to the doctor are a great habit for women, given the number of health problems that life can bring. Here are eight of the most common health problems women face throughout their lives.

Women's health in adolescence
The teenage years can be full of ups and downs, especially for teenage girls. The stress of adolescence can lead to physical and emotional problems such as acne and mental disorders.

Acne
Noticeable breakouts during adolescence can make middle and high school years even more difficult. Due to significant hormonal changes during puberty, teenage girls are naturally prone to acne, but certain habits can also increase their risk:
taking progesterone-containing drugs, such as combined oral contraceptives;
using oily cosmetics that clog skin pores;
use of steroid ointments on the skin;
taking lithium or lamotrigine, drugs that treat mood disorders.

Topical creams or ointments containing salicylic acid, benzyl alcohol, or topical antibiotics are most often used as a first attempt at treating acne. But if your acne doesn't respond to these options, it may be time for oral antibiotics, birth control pills, or isotretinoin. Dermatologists sometimes recommend treatments such as laser therapy and chemical peels to combat acne and the scarring that comes with it.

Mental health problems
Body dysmorphic disorder is an extreme, time-consuming obsession with perceived physical impairments. Teenage girls are more likely to have the disorder if they have a parent or close relative with body dysmorphic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or if the teen has experienced abuse, neglect, or other childhood trauma.

It can be difficult to know when low or fluctuating self-esteem is normal for a teenage girl and when it becomes a serious condition. Symptoms such as these may indicate the need for professional attention:
negative self-image affecting school or home life;
avoidance of social interactions;
strong preoccupation with cosmetic defects and attempts to correct or hide them.
Psychotherapy can be helpful in reframing negative feelings about yourself, and more than half of women with body dysmorphic disorder say that antidepressants such as fluoxetine and paroxetine have also helped.

Women's health at a young age
Young women are often busy with their personal and professional lives, but certain conditions, such as menstrual irregularities and migraines, can easily slow them down.

Menstrual irregularities
At a young age, menstrual irregularities due to endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) become more noticeable. Endometriosis is a painful condition in which the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, while PCOS is a condition in which many cysts form on the ovaries. Many women may experience both of these conditions. Each of these conditions can interfere with a woman's regular menstrual cycle and make fertility a problem. In addition, PCOS increases the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

So which women are at risk? Well, exposure to high levels of estrogen over time is often the cause of endometriosis. For example, women are exposed to estrogen longer if they started menstruating before age 12. A low body mass index (BMI) and alcohol consumption also increase the risk of developing endometriosis. When it comes to PCOS, the most significant risk factors are genetics, stress, and excess weight.

Hormonal birth control is the main treatment for endometriosis and PCOS. This is because regulating a woman's menstrual cycle, or limiting the frequency of her periods, helps reduce painful symptoms. Sometimes surgery may be required to remove overgrown lining or even the entire uterus or ovaries.

Migraine
More than 18% of women suffer from migraines, but almost 40% of women report having them during their reproductive years! It also turns out that women tend to have longer and more painful migraines than men.

Hormones such as estrogen can contribute to migraines in young adult women and occur more often before or after menstruation or pregnancy. Alcohol, stress, salty foods and too much or not enough sleep can also cause migraines, but the biggest risk factor in women is genetics.
There are two approaches to treating migraines: either stop an ongoing migraine or prevent one from occurring. Over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen can help treat migraines, but stronger medications such as triptans may be needed. Antidepressants and heart medications such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers may also be useful for migraine prevention.

Women's health in adulthood
Becoming a middle-aged woman comes with a whole host of new potential health problems. Some of the most common include cancers related to reproductive hormones, such as estrogen, and autoimmune disorders.

Breast and ovarian cancer
The possibility of developing cancer is a serious concern for many women. Breast, ovarian, and even endometrial cancers are more common in middle-aged women simply because they are older, but family history can also be an important risk factor. Fortunately, women can take certain steps to prevent these cancers, such as choosing to breastfeed if they have children, limiting their alcohol intake, losing weight, and not smoking.

Most often, cancer treatment involves surgery, chemotherapy, targeted treatments, radiation, or some combination of these four methods. Not only is the cancer itself worrying, but the physical and emotional effects of treatment are often severe for affected women.

Autoimmune diseases
As women reach middle age, the risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and lupus increases.

Inflammation is one of the main culprits in autoimmune diseases, so naturally, anti-inflammatory medications can help these women. In more serious cases, stronger medications that suppress the immune system are sometimes used.

Women's health in later life
Considering all the health problems, living to old age is a feat. But two underlying health conditions become more likely in women over 55: heart disease and dementia.

Heart diseases
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, and older age is an important risk factor. Menopause, which usually occurs between the ages of 48 and 55, causes estrogen levels in the body to decrease, increasing the likelihood of heart disease. Other major risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking.

Although women have no control over genetics or family history, heart disease is largely preventable. In fact, when a woman is diagnosed with heart disease, a healthy diet and daily exercise are the first recommendations for treatment. If more aggressive treatment is needed, medications such as statins to lower cholesterol and beta blockers to lower blood pressure may be prescribed to help keep the heart functioning normally.

Dementia and Alzheimer's disease
Age is the most powerful risk factor for developing dementia, a group of symptoms that include problems with thinking, communicating and remembering. The risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, a common cause of dementia, doubles every five years after age 65. And since women tend to live longer than men, it's not surprising that Alzheimer's disease is often associated with older women. While men have a 1 in 11 chance of developing Alzheimer's disease at age 65, women have a 1 in 6 chance of developing Alzheimer's disease.

In Alzheimer's disease, cognitive function declines over time. At the moment, donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine are the most effective drugs that help improve memory and slow the progression of the disease.