Silent-killer diseases refer to those diseases that have no obvious symptoms or indications. These diseases produce no symptoms or minimum symptoms and are capable of killing the person when left untreated. Heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension are the most common major silent-killer diseases, especially among women.
Our lifestyle plays an important role in determining our risk of developing silent-killer diseases. Eating a good diet that provides our body with plenty of vital vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds, along with exercising and investing in wholesome lifestyle practices is what determines our overall health. Smoking, drinking alcohol, and obesity increase our risk of silent-killer diseases such as obstructive sleep apnoea, cancers, heart diseases, and hypertension.
Let’s take a look at some of the silent-killer diseases in women.
Anemia- Anemia or iron deficiency is a condition where our blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells that carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. Its symptoms include extreme fatigue, pale skin, headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, brittle nails, poor appetite, and unusual cravings. Along with frequent blood donors, vegetarians, and children, women are at a higher risk of developing anemia because of blood loss during menstruation and during pregnancy.
Anemia can lead to rapid or irregular heartbeat, premature births, and delayed growth and development. Anemia can be prevented by consuming iron-rich food such as apricots, iron-fortified cereals, peas, beans, seafood, and poultry. Eating foods that are rich in vitamin C can also enhance our body’s ability to absorb iron. In case of severe iron deficiency, doctors even prescribe their patients iron supplements.
Ovarian cancer- Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that afflicts less than a million women per year in India. It often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and stomach. It usually has no symptoms in the early stages and can be fatal at a later stage as it becomes more difficult to treat. Ovarian cancer refers to the rapid growth of cells that form in the ovaries.
The rapid growth of ovarian cells can invade and destroy healthy body tissues. Symptoms of ovarian cancer include fatigue, back pain, constipation, frequent urination, abdominal bloating or swelling, and rapid weight loss. The risk of developing ovarian cancer is high in older women, overweight or obese women, women with endometriosis, women who have never been pregnant, and women with a family history of ovarian cancer.
High blood pressure- Hypertension or high blood pressure refers to a condition in which the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls is consistently too high. When left untreated, hypertension can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. Treatment and prevention of high blood pressure include not smoking, exercising regularly, and eating nutritious and healthy food.
People with high blood pressure can have no symptoms, even when their blood pressure is dangerously high. Women are likely to develop high blood pressure in their late 60s. You are at risk of developing hypertension when you are overweight, do not exercise regularly, vape or smoke tobacco, eat too much salt, do not consume enough potassium, or drink too much alcohol.
Sleep apnoea- Sleep apnoea is a serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Women are at an increased risk of developing sleep apnoea if they are overweight or are going through menopause. Symptoms of sleep apnoea include morning headache, irritability, gasping for air during sleep, loud snoring, or excessive daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnoea can lead to sudden drops in oxygen levels which strain the cardiovascular system. It even increases your risk of developing insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.
