Women's Health Article

5/3/2024

Jane McMillian, M.D.
ENMMG OB/GYN Specialists

Women’s Health Week Challenge

Many women make healthcare choices for their families, but their care is sometimes neglected. The Women’s Health Movement didn’t begin until the 1960s and 1970s, and it wasn’t until the year 2000 that the country officially began observing National Women’s Health Week, starting on Mother’s Day.

Now, May is the time we remind women to prioritize their health. We all are at risk for some common conditions, but there are healthcare considerations that are either unique to women such as menopause or more common among them than in men such as osteoarthritis.

We all know women are busy. They balance careers and hobbies and act as caretakers for their families. However, studies show that nearly 63% of women have put off healthcare visits.

High blood pressure, obesity and diabetes risks are certainly discussed in check-ups for all adults, but there are other conditions that women are more likely to experience as they age. Post-50, some of those include breast and cervical cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease and autoimmune disorders. Regular appointments with your doctor also can allow you to discuss changes in your sleep patterns, mental health or hormones.

It’s a bit of a mystery when it comes to some conditions, but for others, it may come down to physiology, hormones, and even DNA—especially when it comes to autoimmune diseases. Not only can belly fat and fluctuating hormones trigger inflammation associated with conditions like multiple sclerosis, but research also indicates it’s because women have more X chromosomes. When proteins bind to those chromosomes, the immune system sometimes cannot tell the difference between those proteins and a virus.

That might sound strange, but there is sometimes a gender divide regarding disease. For example, women are less susceptible to infectious diseases, but more have autoimmune diseases than men. They also tend to have a more intense autoimmune response.

Certain lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep, can help reduce the risk of more prevalent diseases among women.

Additionally, regular health screenings, such as mammograms and Pap tests, can help detect diseases early on, when they are easier to treat. All these steps have one thing in common—women prioritizing their health and taking proactive steps toward prevention!

Knowing all of this, I urge you to join me in our Women’s Health Week Challenge. Sign up at https://www.enmmc.com/womens-health-series to join in an email series that aims to be informative, fun and a good way to start small when prioritizing your healthcare needs!

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