Obesity, stress, diabetes, osteoporosis and pre-menstrual syndrome are some of the issues that a woman of today faces. Experts tell you that the solution lies in identifying a holistic approach towards well-being. Deebashree Mohanty reports

Being a woman is not an easy job,’ Queen Elizabeth had declared recently and many women related to this statement. While for some it is the emotional trauma that has increased manifold, there are others who believe that health hazards faced by women have doubled in the last decade. “Nowadays the role of the woman is not just limited to running the house. Today, she is expected to be in office, handle projects, even finances of companies and also take care of her home. Multitasking is a good thing but if you over do it then there could be serious repercussions on your health,” Dr Malavika Chaudhury from Fortis Healthcare, Noida says.

For Dr Chaudhury, when the topic of women’s health care is raised, the first disease that comes to mind is probably breast cancer. But surprisingly, that’s not the case. “The number one health care issue confronting women today is diabetes leading to heart diseases. This kills more women each year than all forms of cancer combined,” she tell you, adding that by knowing the most significant risks in women’s health care and what you can do to combat these health care issues, women of all ages can take a proactive approach to leading healthier lives.

Apart from serious medical ailments there are many lifestyle issues that pose a challenge to the woman of today. “Obesity and stress being the most common across all age groups. Owing to the fast lifestyle that we are following, women feel the need to be on the run all the time. This impacts their mental health and could give rise to many other health problems as well,” Dr leena Dhawan from Apollo Hospitals, tells you.

Experts tell you that apart from the above mentioned lifestyle problems, there are other challenges that a women has to overcome:

Diabetes

According to Dr VK Gujral, diabetologist, National Heart Institute, New Delhi: “While the ratio of men-to-women afflicted with diabetes is roughly equal, women are uniquely and often more severely affected by the complications of diabetes. The risk of death from coronary heart disease is 50 per cent higher for women with diabetes compared to men with diabetes, a statistic that increases dramatically if the woman is also a smoker. Another form of diabetes which is only found in women is gestational diabetes. It occurs when a woman is pregnant, and is a result of the hormonal changes during the period. Though gestational diabetes does not stay after the baby is born, women who have gestational diabetes during pregnancy, are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in their life. If undetected and untreated, it puts both woman as well as the child at high risk of developing diabetes in their lives,” he tells you.

Osteoporosis

Of the estimated 10 million women  with osteoporosis in the world, about eight million or 80 per cent are women. “Approximately one in two women over the age 50 years will break a bone because of osteoporosis. A woman’s risk of breaking a hip is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer. There are multiple reasons why women are more like to get osteoporosis than men, including the fact that they tend to have smaller, thinner bones than men. Also because estrogen, a hormone in women that protects bones, decreases sharply when women reach menopause, which can cause bone loss. This is why the chance of developing osteoporosis increases as women reach menopause,” Dr Manoj Desai, ex-AIIMS and now a private practitioner, says.

He adds that a healthy lifestyle is the only way that women can prevent this from happening.

“It is true that as women age, oestrogen levels decrease and the risk of osteoporosis goes up. It is observed that one in every three women in India over the age of 50 years will suffer fractures due to osteoporosis, a condition which renders bones weak and causes them to wear out. These fractures usually occur in the vertebral column, ribs, hip and wrists. Osteoporosis is preventable disease if it is diagnosed early with regular bone health check up complimented with lifestyle modification and medicines. 

“Prevention should start right from the teenage years. The diet should be rich in dairy products and be accompanied by regular exercise. This will give good amount of bone stock in the body. If there is good bone stock, the risk of osteoporosis is cut down drastically.

“Once a woman reaches the menopausal stage they should start taking calcium and vitamin D supplements as prescribed by the doctor. Exposure to sunlight for 20-30 minutes daily and consumption of milk would lower the risk of bone loss since calcium is one of the main components in bone,” Dr Ambar Agarwal, senior orthopedic surgeon at Nova Speciality Surgery, tells you.

 Obesity

This is a concern for both men and women but the risk of life threatening diseases due to obesity is maximum in women. From high blood pressure to heart diseases, an obese woman is exposed to these ailments.

According to Dr Sukhvinder Singh Saggu, bariatic surgeon, Nova Specialty Surgery: “Women in India are facing a dual problem of weight with extremes like moderate to morbid obesity and anorexia on the other. Weight gain among the women can be attributed to sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy food intake and lack of time to exercise.

On the other hand, the young generation is falling prey to anorexia. They have a real fear of weight gain and a distorted view of their body size and shape. As a result, they can’t maintain a normal body weight. Many teens with anorexia restrict their food intake by dieting, fasting, or excessive exercise,” he says.

Pre Menstrual Syndrome

PMS (Pre Menstrual Syndrome) is very common among women falling in the age bracket of late 20s and early 30s. During this period women go through ‘fight or fight’ response to various difficult situation and becomes sensitive and tearful.  Other emotional and behavioural changes which can be seen are anxiety, depression, irritability, panic attacks, tension, lack of coordination, decreased work or social performance and altered libido.

“PMS has both emotional and physical symptoms. Most women suffer joint or muscle pain, headache, fatigue, weight gain, acne flare-up, constipation, diarrhea and many more. These physical and emotional changes which go particularly intense during some months may start to affect one’s life. Currently women are dealing with double stress levels in comparison to women faced may be a decade back,” Dr Asha Sharma HOD obstetrician and gynaecologist.

Many gynaecologists tell you that in some cases such women had to consult a doctor. According to Dr Sabita Kumari, senior consultant, Obs & Gynae, mother & child hospital, Faridabad: “PMS can have a serious impact, even affecting relationships, performance and well-being. Headaches, bloating, irritability, depression and fatigue are just a few of the unpleasant symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, which affects millions of women every month,” she tells you.

Stress & eating disorders

More than 19 million people in the world live with anxiety disorders that disrupt their lives. The different types of disorders within this group include generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias. Treatment options include talk therapy and a wide range of medications that can quell the symptoms of the condition. Many women also combine alternative approaches to treatment such as acupuncture, meditation, and diet modification with traditional forms of treatment.

“Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating are the most well-known forms of eating disorders. Statistics show that one out of every one hundred girls between the ages of 10 and 20 is anorexic, four per cent of college-aged women are bulimic, and a per cent of women are binge eaters. The root causes of these diseases include stress at home and at school or work, depression and anxiety, major life changes like a divorce or death, and physical and sexual abuse.

Breaking out of the cycle of eating disorders requires a combined approach to this health care issue including psychological treatment, nutrition counseling, and in some cases, hospitalisation,” Dr Deepa Passi, paedetrician Apollo Noida, tells you.

Broadly, these are the main problems that a woman faces in her life span and each of these issues can be prevented. A holistic approach towards general well being is one of the solutions to such problems. 

Holistic approach

As women become more proactive about their health, many seek a holistic approach to improving their well-being and fighting disease. This includes making necessary changes in the lifestyle and inculcating healthy eating habits. Any sort of addiction should be avoided and a woman must want to make a difference to her life. Only then will she reach the holistic well being.