Preventive health care is a multifaceted approach that aims to keep people healthy and reduce their risk for various diseases and conditions. Health education is one facet of preventive health care that can be easily overlooked, particularly by busy adults juggling an assortment of responsibilities.

Health education includes recognition of 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 for 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 view 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 heart disease, including high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, and lower levels of estrogen, are more common in post-menopausal women.

Stroke

Both men and women may be shocked to learn that more women die from stroke than men. Difficulty with speech and numbness of the arms and legs are prominent symptoms of stroke.

Diabetes

Women with diabetes have a four times greater risk for heart disease than women who do not have diabetes. Making an effort to maintain a healthy weight and committing to routine exercise can lower risk for type 2 diabetes. Quitting smoking also lowers a woman’s risk for diabetes.

Urinary tract infections

People assigned female at birth have a shorter urethra than those assigned male at birth. A shorter urethra means bacteria does not have to travel as far to reach the bladder, and UTIs are caused by germs that 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 form of the disease in 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-based screening and healthy lifestyle choices like exercising and avoiding tobacco can help women in the fight against breast cancer.

Alzheimer’s disease

More than two-thirds of the six million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease are women. Women historically live longer than men, but researchers are exploring if that is the only reason for the disparity between rates of Alzheimer’s in women compared to men. A healthy diet and routine physical activity are some of the ways to promote brain health and potentially reduce Alzheimer’s risk.

Recognition of risk for specific diseases can be a vital component of preventive health care that encourages women to take steps that can decrease the chances they develop various conditions.