Preventive health care is a multifaceted approach that aims to keep people healthy and reduce their risk of various diseases and conditions. Health education is a facet of preventive health care that is often overlooked, particularly among busy adults juggling a range of responsibilities.
 

Health education includes recognizing various conditions that pose a threat to individuals. Women can do their best to learn about issues that commonly affect them, with the goal of taking steps to reduce their risk of various diseases and conditions. Northwestern Medicine® reports that the following are some of the most common health issues affecting women today.
 

  • Heart disease: It’s common to think of heart disease as a killer of men, but women should know it’s the No. 1 cause of death for women. Menopause does not cause heart disease, but certain risk factors for it—such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, and lower estrogen levels—are more common in postmenopausal women.
     
  • Stroke: Both men and women might be surprised to learn that more women than men die from stroke. Difficulty speaking and numbness in the arms and legs are common symptoms of stroke.
     
  • Diabetes: Women with diabetes have a fourfold higher risk of heart disease than women without diabetes. Maintaining a healthy weight and committing to regular exercise can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. Quitting smoking also reduces a woman’s risk of developing diabetes.
     
  • Urinary tract infections: People assigned female at birth have a shorter urethra than those assigned male at birth. A shorter urethra means bacteria do not have to travel as far to reach the bladder, and UTIs are caused when germs enter the urethra and multiply. Frequent urination, painful urination, and cloudy urine are common symptoms of UTIs.
     
  • Breast cancer: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. Women in the United States have a 13% chance of developing breast cancer, and that risk may be even higher for women living outside the U.S. Age-specific screening and healthy lifestyle choices like exercising and avoiding tobacco can help women in the fight against breast cancer.
     
  • Alzheimer’s disease: Over two-thirds of the six million Americans living with Alzheimer’s are women. Women have generally lived longer than men, but researchers are investigating whether that is the only reason for the higher rates of Alzheimer’s in women compared to men. A healthy diet and regular physical activity are among the ways to support brain health and potentially lower Alzheimer’s risk. 

Recognition of risk for specific diseases can be a vital component of preventive health care, encouraging women to take steps to reduce their risk of developing various conditions.