Blog 1: Health Concerns

As a young woman, I am concerned about my health and ways that I can be healthier so that I can enjoy life to the fullest extent. I would say I am most concerned about my weight. Most women obsess about their weight (especially this time of year.. it is bikini season!). And all too often society associates beauty and worth with being thin. Sure, I'd love to be skinny so that I could fit into all the cute clothes, but I am more concerned about how my weight affects my health and livelihood. Being overweight is a main cause of a multitude of other health issues, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. These are things I hope to avoid! To prevent this from happening, I have started to exercise three times a week. Diet is another thing that I struggle with, but recently I have tried to monitor my portions and cut out excess calories by avoiding things like sodas and sweets.I want to be able to have a healthy adulthood. I want to get married and have children (and healthy pregnancies!) and not be burdened by health issues which could have been avoided.

I interviewed two women to see what they worry about:

Interview 1: Karen, 50

Tristan: What is your biggest health concern?

Karen: My biggest concerns are mental illnesses, like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

T: Why are these your biggest concerns?

K: Because my mother's side of the family has a history of mental illness. Several of her family members had some form of dementia, so I know first hand how difficult it is for the family to deal with.

T: So what are you doing to prevent these health issues?

K: The last doctor I saw told me I was just as likely to be hit by a bus than to have one of these illnesses, which wasn't helpful. I guess the only thing I do that is preventative is keep up with my hobbies, like arts and crafts, to keep my mind sharp.

Interview 2: Liane, 29

Tristan: What are your biggest health concerns?

Liane: Alzheimer's, obesity, arthritis, senility, reproductive health issues, like endometrial cancer... I have a lot of worries.

T: So why are these your biggest concerns?

L: Because I am at risk for all of them. Mental illness and obesity run on my mother's side. My father's side has a history of arthritis. And since I had my children I have discovered that I am at a higher risk for endometrial cancer. I'm afraid to get any of these diseases because I've seen my family members endure them and it's not pleasant. Plus, I know that doctor and hospital bills are expensive.

T: So what are you doing to prevent these from occurring?

L: Basically nothing. I have never heard of any preventative measures for any of them.

I had similar concerns as the two women I interviewed. As I stated previously, most women worry about their weight. It is a real issue that can cause so many problems later in life, so I believe the best way to deal with it is to be proactive now. Aside from obesity, I am also worried about mental illness. I have some family history of it and I know that it is extremely difficult for both the patient and the family. I know there really isn't much to be done about dementia, but I like to exercise my brain by doing crossword puzzles.

Lastly, I was concerned that neither of the women I spoke with were doing anything preventative for their health concerns. This was especially discouraging because both women stated that their doctor's hadn't discussed it with them. Prevention is the key to avoiding disease! I have found some resources that talk about prevention for some of the aforementioned health issues:

Alzheimer's Research & Prevention Foundation: 4 Pillars of Alzheimer's Prevention

http://www.alzheimersprevention.org/intro_4_pillars.htm

National Cancer Institute - Endometrial Cancer: Prevention, Genetics, Causes

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/prevention-genetics-causes/endometrial

-Tristan Thompson