What To Know About Women’s Health Month 2024

The month of May aims to highlight women’s health issues and priorities, encouraging women of all ages to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This month is dedicated to the unique challenges women face and the importance of addressing these issues to promote overall health and wellness. Women’s health month aims to raise awareness and provide support to help women to overcome obstacles and achieve better health outcomes.

Common Obstacles in the Healthcare System

Recent research highlights the ongoing struggles women face in the healthcare system, emphasizing systemic issues that demands attention and action. Here’s a summary of the key findings:

Dismissal of Symptoms

Women frequently encounter healthcare professionals who overlook or underestimate their symptoms. This troubling trend can lead to misdiagnoses and ineffective treatment plans.

Misdiagnosis of Physical Symptoms

It’s not uncommon for women’s physical health concerns to be misinterpreted as mental health issues. This misdiagnosis delays the proper treatment they need, exacerbating their health problems.

Racial Discrimination

Women of color experience additional barriers, including discriminatory attitudes and limited access to quality care. This not only affects their overall health outcomes but also erodes their trust in the healthcare system.

Historical Exclusion in Research

Historically, health studies often excluded women or failed to analyze differences in how conditions affect men and women. Although improvements have been made, with federal initiatives aimed at closing this research gap, there is still a lot of ground to make up.

Delayed Diagnosis of Reproductive Health Issues 

Conditions affecting women’s reproductive health, such as endometriosis, fibroids, and PCOS, often go undiagnosed for years. This delay can lead to prolonged suffering and decreased quality of life.

Addressing these issues requires a concerted effort to reform healthcare practices and ensure equitable care for all women. By acknowledging and tackling these challenges, we can work towards a healthcare system that truly caters to the needs of every patient, regardless of gender.

Myths and Facts about Women’s Health

Fact: Routine check-ups can prevent future health problems.

Staying updated with regular health screenings can catch issues early on. Not only that, but it’s a form of self-care. Who doesn’t love feeling good and the bonus of knowing their body is healthy too?

Myth: Heart disease symptoms in men and women are the same.

Symptoms can show up very differently in women. Both are likely to have chest pain, but women may also experience: pain in the back, neck, jaw or throat; indigestion, heartburn, nausea, or vomiting; extreme tiredness or shortness of breath.

Fact: Exercise can play a significant role in reducing the risk of many diseases.

Some of these include:

1. Heart disease: Exercise lowers blood pressure, improves cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of stroke.
2. Osteoporosis (decrease in bone strength): Weight-bearing exercises can help build and maintain bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis which is common for women after menopause.
3. Type 2 diabetes: Daily exercise helps control weight, use up blood glucose and increase insulin sensitivity.
4. Reproductive Health: Women can manage their PCOS symptoms through daily exercise, improving insulin sensitivity through weight loss.

Be Proactive about Your Health

Many people only see a doctor when there is a problem. However, preventative care aims to minimize the impact of potential health issues and keep them from interrupting your routine. Preventative care visits involve yearly check-ins with your primary care provider to address your recent health status. 

The value of routine check-ins lies in the multiple solutions that can be discussed during these visits. Routine check-ins can lead to early detection and treatment of chronic illnesses, an increase in vaccinations and screenings for conditions like cancer. They can also improve how patients feel about their doctor’s visit too.

A preventative visit will include basic physicals, lab tests, or more, depending on your needs. Your provider will determine what you’ll need based on your personal health history, family history, and current health status.

Get Primary Care at Everyday Healthcare

If you’re looking for a primary care provider, consider Everyday Healthcare as your primary care destination. Our services range from basic physicals to more detail-oriented concerns, like women’s health issues. If you’d like to schedule an appointment, call 559-225-4706 for more information. Visit our website to learn more about the services we provide https://everydayhc.com/.