Aug. 6, 2020 | According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a man born in the United States will, on average, live about 76 years and two months. A woman’s average life expectancy is 81 years and one month. Researchers can only guess why there is such a large longevity gap between men and women in this country. Most believe it has something to do with the fact that men are more likely than women to smoke, drink and be overweight and are less likely to seek medical help early. It may also be a result of our genetic makeup. Chromosomes come in pairs, with women having two X chromosomes and men having an X and a Y chromosome within each cell. This difference may have an effect on the way cells age. Having two X chromosomes allows women to have a double copy of every gene, meaning they have a spare if one is faulty. Men don’t have a back-up, putting them at a greater risk for disease as cells begin to malfunction the older they get.

Aug. 6, 2020 | Thirteen percent of the women in this country over the age of 18 are considered to be in fair or poor health. Forty-one percent of women over 20 are obese, with 33 percent suffering from high blood pressure. Heart disease, cancer and chronic lower respiratory diseases are the leading causes of death for women, with less than half of the nation’s female population getting the recommended amount of aerobic activity needed to remain healthy. All of these statistics point to the need for a facility specific to women’s needs like the newly opened UAMS Health Women’s Center. The Women’s Center offers a wide variety of services, from pregnancy care and menopause treatment to behavioral health care. It also boasts Arkansas’ only Centering Pregnancy Center, which offers prenatal care that includes a regular health check-up along with extra time for learning and sharing. For more information, visit UAMS.Health/Womens Health.

Aug. 6, 2020 | Some medical conditions affect men and women while others affect women primarily or more severely. Pregnancy, menopause and gynecological conditions like uterine fibroids and pelvic floor disorders are just a few of the medical issues unique to women. Turner syndrome is a condition in which a girl or woman is partially or completely missing an X chromosome. It can cause infertility and heart problems and alter a female’s appearance. Vulvodynia is chronic pain or discomfort that occurs in the vulva. Rett syndrome is a neurological and developmental genetic disorder that occurs mostly in females. Infants with Rett syndrome seem to grow and develop normally at first, but then they stop developing and even lose skills in different stages of the disease over a lifetime. Certain kinds of cancer, such as ovarian and cervical, occur only among women as do certain illnesses related to infertility like polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis.

Aug. 6, 2020 | Women are considered a much higher risk for breast cancer than men, but what are some of the diseases that can affect women differently from men and require different forms of treatment? Women are more likely than men are to experience urinary tract problems. For example, urinary incontinence affects twice as many women as men due to the way the female urinary tract is structured. Women are more likely to show signs of depression and anxiety than men are. Depression is the most common women’s mental health problem, and more women than men are diagnosed with depression each year. Arthritis is the leading cause of physical disability in the United States. The condition affects millions of people in this country and seems to affect more women than men. And while heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, women are more likely to die following a heart attack than men are.

Aug. 6, 2020 | Certain health screenings are important for adults at various ages but what screenings are recommended specifically for women? Gynecologist and obstetrician Nirvana Manning of the new UAMS Health Women’s Center says a mammogram is recommended for all women beginning at age 40, or earlier if a woman has a family history of breast cancer. A breast cancer screening is recommended every two years. A screening for cervical cancer should include a Pap test, a screening performed during a pelvic exam that checks for changes in the cells of the cervix, and an HPV test, which finds certain infections that can lead to cell changes and cancer. Dr. Manning adds that a bone mineral density test should begin at age 65 or earlier if a woman is at risk for osteoporosis. Those risk factors include a family history of the disease, low body weight or a small, thin frame, a history of broken bones, an unhealthy diet and excessive drinking.