Several key conditions threaten women, but you can take steps to reduce the risk that these conditions will harm you.

Worrying too much about your health is more than a waste of time. Taken to extremes, it can damage your well-being by increasing your stress and anxiety.

But you can make a fundamental difference in your health risks by being aware of the key issues women commonly face, keeping your health screenings current, and making healthy lifestyle choices.

Heart Disease
Heart disease isn’t just a man’s disease; it’s also the number one killer of American women. These lifestyle changes can significantly reduce your risk for this major threat:

• Quit smoking. Women who smoke have a higher death risk from heart disease.
• Be more physically active. Even moderate regular exercise, such as walking once a day for 30 minutes, is beneficial. The more exercise you do, the better your protection.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet. Choose more fresh fruit, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Cut down on red meat, high-fat dairy, and foods that contain saturated and trans fats.
• Maintain a healthy blood pressure and a healthy weight. Sticking with a healthy diet and exercising most days of the week can help you reach both of these goals.

Lung Cancer
Usually caused by smoking, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in U.S. women. Women who smoke are 12 times more likely to get this disease than women who have never smoked. Secondhand smoke also increases the risk.

Breast Cancer
Among cancers, breast cancer is the number two cause of death in American women. While the cause is not always apparent, maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active appear to offer some protection.

The most important step you can take to protect yourself from breast cancer is to keep up with the following screenings:

• Mammogram: Every year or two starting at age 40
• Breast exam by a doctor: Every year starting at age 20
• Breast self-exam: Monthly

Depression
Twice as many women as men experience depression. Primary risk factors include having a family history of the condition, experiencing a major life stressor, undergoing abuse as a child, abusing alcohol, and having little control over one’s life.

With proper treatment, about four out of five women with depression can be helped. Keys to recovery include:

• Seeking help from a mental health professional.
• Sticking with treatment. Antidepressant medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two are the most effective treatments.

Sexual Health
Birth control and protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are important aspects of women’s sexual health. Choosing the right kind of contraception is a personal matter that you should discuss with your doctor. Each method has specific pros, cons, and levels of effectiveness.

You should also:

• Have a Pap test to screen for cervical cancer every one to three years if you’re sexually active or older than 21.
• Talk with your doctor to determine if you should be tested for other STDs.

By Barbara Floria, senior writer for Vitality.

© StayWell Custom Communications. Information is the opinion of the sourced authors and organizations. Personal decisions regarding health, diet, and exercise should be made only after consultation with the reader's own medical advisers. This material may not be reproduced for redistribution without written permission from StayWell Custom Communications.