Being a woman has its own share of health woes. The reality is your biological makeup does impact your overall health and increases your risk of certain conditions like breast cancer and reproductive health problems.
“It’s important for women to be aware of the conditions that usually affect them, so they’ll be able to understand and take the necessary steps to prevent its occurrence and seek medical consultation with the correct physician if they are afflicted,” says Martin P. Manahan, MD, of the Obstetrics & Gynecology Department.
The top hospital in the Philippines, Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed), shares some of the common health concerns of modern Filipinas and the best way to manage one’s risks.
GERD is a condition resulting from a recurrent backflow of gastric contents into the esophagus and adjacent structures causing troublesome symptoms and/or injury to the esophageal lining. It affects both men and women - but women experience its symptoms more frequently. Common symptoms more prominent in women include heartburn, regurgitation, or some of the extra-esophageal symptoms like cough and chest pain. Should one experience severe or frequent GERD symptoms, she should make an appointment with a gastroenterologist.
“GERD has seen a recent increase in its prevalence among Filipinas because of increased stress, unhealthy weight and lifestyle choices,” Carlo Conejo, MD, a gastroenterologist and MakatiMed Chief of the Section of Gastroenterology points out. “Simple changes in your routine may alleviate GERD symptoms - among these elevating the head of the bed while sleeping, abstaining from cigarettes or vapes, restricting alcoholic drinks, minimizing dairy and chocolates, eating small meals, and refraining from spicy, fried, or fatty dishes.”
UTI is particularly common among women since they have shorter urethra than men. Eladio Miguel M. Peñaranda, Jr. MD, a nephrologist and MakatiMed Chief of the Section of Nephrology explains that because of this, it’s easier for germs like E. coli to get into the bladder where they can multiply, cause inflammation, and spread to the kidney. This can cause frequent urination and pain or a burning sensation when urinating. It can also make the urine smell bad and lead to having blood in the urine, and if the infection reaches the kidney, a fever is likely to develop.
“A woman can be at even greater risk of UTI if she is sexually active, pregnant, or going through menopause. Having diabetes and kidney stones can also make you more prone to infections,” shares Dr. Peñaranda. “Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat UTI. As for prevention, it is best to urinate every 3-4 hours and before and after sex and wipe from front to back. It’s also advisable to wear cotton innerwear and change out of swimwear and workout clothes quickly.”
Hormonal imbalance is something most women are already familiar with - how hormones and their fluctuations affect the body, from menstruation to pregnancy to menopause. But certain lifestyle habits and irregularities in the endocrine glands can cause hormonal imbalance that may lead to health issues like diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, and thyroid disease.
“Hormones, which are released from the endocrine glands, are important in many functions of our body like metabolism and reproduction. Having low or high levels of certain hormones can cause changes like weight gain or loss, diarrhea or constipation, and fatigue to more concerning symptoms like elevated cholesterol levels, increased or decreased heart rate, and infertility,” MakatiMed’s Ma. Cecilia G. Gonzales, MD, an endocrinologist says. “If you’re experiencing hormonal imbalance, consult a doctor to learn more about how to manage the imbalances.”
Treatment options like pills, injections, surgery, or even radiation therapy can be done depending on one’s specific case of hormone imbalances. “While these imbalances aren’t fully preventable, it’s best to maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, manage stress, and improve sleep quality to keep your hormones balanced and avoid fluctuations that can affect your overall health,” Dr. Gonzales asserts.
“Knowing your body and your health risks is a must for maintaining good health. This helps you determine if the changes you experience need medical attention,” says MakatiMed’s Dr. Manahan. “Women should have regular checkups with their primary doctors and even with specialists like an OB-GYNE to further help them evaluate the state of their health and spot problems as early as possible.”
For more information, please contact MakatiMed On-Call at +632.88888 999, email mmc@makatimed.net.ph, or visit www.makatimed.net.ph. Follow @IamMakatiMed on Facebook and Twitter.
This is a press release distributed by Buensalido