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Seven things every woman must know

As a woman, you’re probably busy taking care of work, family, home, and everything in between. It can be all too easy to ignore or put off caring for your own needs. But when it comes to your health, it’s important to place yourself first.

 

Never overlook symptoms

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in women. But we often overlook symptoms, thinking it is normal. Apart from shortness of breath, take a critical look at heart attack symptoms, such as chest pain or pressure, back or jaw pain, nausea, and cold sweats. If you frequently experience any of these symptoms, visit your health care provider.

Experiencing heavy periods

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As a woman you know your regular periods and how your monthly flow is, in case you experience heavy or painful periods that are out of the ordinary, it’s time to see your doctor. These symptoms can mean gynecological problems like uterine fibroids—the most common noncancerous tumors in women of childbearing age. According to healthgrades.com, there are treatments for uterine fibroids and other gynecological problems known to cause heavy or painful periods.

Unusual flow

Also if you are experiencing unusual bleeding between periods of your flow or after menopause, go to your gynecologist. Although abnormal bleeding can occur for many different reasons, gynecological cancers like cervical or uterine cancer are among them. Endometrial hyperplasia—when the uterine lining grows thick—is a noncancerous cause of abnormal bleeding. Healthgrades.com reveals.

Experiencing Painful sex

Is lovemaking no longer as enjoyable as it used to be? Pain during sex can be due to a number of issues. One to be aware of is endometriosis—a condition that can lead to infertility. Endometriosis is when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus starts to grow outside of the uterus. In addition to painful intercourse, watch for pelvic pain, extremely painful periods, and pain when you go to the bathroom. Hormone therapy is usually the first line of treatment, Doctor Dennis Walker advises.

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Seen any peculiar changes?

According to healthcare providers, any time you notice that a mole or freckle has changed colour, size or shape, get it checked by a doctor right away. Skin changes like these may be a melanoma—a deadly form of skin cancer. Thankfully, it can be treated successfully if found early. Make monthly skin self-exams part of your routine, just like you do breast exams. This way, you’ll know when something isn’t right. If you haven’t had a full-body skin exam before, schedule a skin cancer screening with a dermatologist or your primary care doctor.

If you have a mole you know to keep an eye on, use your smartphone to take photos of it every week to see if it is changing.

Nipple Release

It’s important to pay attention to your breasts. In addition to checking for lumps or changes in breast size or shape, watch for nipple discharge. Discharge especially bloody or clear discharge can be a sign of breast cancer. Don’t delay getting checked by your doctor.

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Be alert each time

As a woman, you know yourself very well and can always tell when something is not right with your health. Listen to your intuition carefully, if you feel there is something doesn’t feel right, remember, seeking care early can help ensure the best outcome possible.

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