International Women's Day: Five health conditions that affect women more than men

International Women's Day will be observed on 8^th March, 2019 across the globe. As we get ready to mark this occasion, it is time for us to reflect on the sensitivities that are often associated with women. Today, the world has witnessed an immense upsurge in the participation of women in all domains of human existence. Women are partners in today's world and every sphere of activity, be it commercial, financial, medical, etc. is a testimony to this. Therefore, it is extremely important for all of us to know and understand clearly the specific-facts that affect women more than they affect men. Generally speaking, women are more vulnerable to certain health-related conditions than men. This is not to imply that men may not suffer from these conditions, although conditions like probability of breast cancer and post-menopausal depression are specific to women. To get a broader understanding, here is a list of five health conditions that affect women more than men:

1. Cancers of breast and cervix:

   Breast cancer has been listed as one of the most common causes of cancer in women. It occurs due to the growth of malignant cell masses, in the form of lumps which then spread to surrounding tissues. Although with advances in medical science, diagnosis and treatment rates have improved, however, the treatment involved is very elaborate and extensive.

2. Heart-related disorders:

   Women are more prone than men to developing disorders related to heart and cardio-vascular system. The incidence of such disorders is same for both men and women; however, it is a fact that the probability of heart-related disorders and associated conditions is higher among women than among men.

3. Bone-health related issues:

   The skeletal structure of women is naturally thinner than that of men. In addition to this, after menopause, the levels of estrogen decline sharply in women. Besides, the levels of calcium deplete fast after a certain age. This leads to reduced levels of bone strength and hence, women are more prone to occurrence of diseases like osteoporosis etc.

4. Joint-related disorders:

   In addition to the issues related with bone health, women may also tend to have weaker cartilage between bone joints. This means that the lubrication in bone joints gets hampered and this in turn, increases the probability of developing mobility-related diseases like osteoarthritis. Women are therefore, more prone to joint-related disorders than men.

5. Depression:

   Women are more likely to undergo depression at various points of their life. The psychological and physiological changes that occur during puberty, menstrual cycles, pregnancy etc. contribute to this significantly. Therefore, it has been found that women are more vulnerable to depression and related disorders like anxiety, chronic stress etc. than men.

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