Saturday 12th October
This week I thought I would discuss three most common myths about women’s health, and debunk them!
Myth 1 – Heart Disease Affects Men More Than Women
It’s very common to think that we don’t need to worry about heart disease, as we think it is men who are affected more. New research shows that one in three women, in the US, will die from heart disease. In fact, each year, more women will die from heart disease than men. Type II diabetes, obesity, or hypertension (high blood pressure) can increase your chances of developing heart disease.
How can we look after our hearts and possibly prevent heart disease. There are plenty of things you can do every day to help look after your heart, such as exercise, a nutritious diet, stress management, and by not smoking or drinking alcohol.
Myth 2 – Breast Cancer Only Occurs When You Have a Family History of Cancer
If a woman has, or had a family member with breast cancer, yes, they will be at a higher risk of developing breast cancer too. However, almost 75% of women who do develop breast cancer, have no relevant family history. This shows us why it is crucial to continue regular self-checks for lumps and bumps and to keep up to date with mammograms.
Myth 3 – Cranberry Juice Can Prevent or Cure Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
While cranberry juice contains substances that can prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall, it does not contain enough of these substances to make any difference in treating UTIs. Most UTIs are treated successfully with antibiotics, if treated quickly; there can be serious complications if a UTI is not treated promptly.
Myth 4 – Cellulite Is Fat
There is a lot of discussion about cellulite due to its lumpy dimpled appearance, and is seen on many areas of the body but mostly on thighs and the abdomen. However, cellulite is not fat! It is the connective tissue between fat cells. Weight gain may make it more noticeable, but women of all shapes and sizes can have cellulite.
