Health Risks: What Filipinas have to Face Daily

// April 14th, 2007

Every human has potential health risks, men, women, children, illnesses do not choose people, unfortunately, due to additional roles that a woman’s body has to perform, there are health risks that can affect women directly.

Modern technology and increased studies have helped the Filipina realize the increased health risk that she is in, but do you know what these risks are? Certain studies have lead to the following leading health risks for Filipinas.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy in itself is already a risk, carrying another life, for nine months and childbirth are all risks that a woman takes when she wants to have a child. Fortunately modern technology has helped to alleviate complications as well as ill-effects of having a child, thereby decreasing the probability of death.

However, some women are at higher risk than others. 1998 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) states that one in 100 women suffer from complications during pregnancy, according to the Department of health, women below 17 years old ad older than 35 years old have greater possibilities of complications than women 17-35 years of age. Also women with diabetes heart disease or other prevailing illnesses, as well as women having twins or multiple births as well as women having caesarian sections are at a higher risk for complications

In the Philippines only 77% of women get post partum treatment, while only 60% get professional help during childbirth.

Anemia

A woman experiences, menstruation, menopause, pregnancy. Menstruation and childbirth makes a woman lose more blood than a man, and this can cause iron deficiency anemia. Heavy menstruation can be a concern because of rapid loss of blood. Anemia can cause low endurance, fatigue and palpitation if it’s not managed properly.

Anemia is when the number of red blood cells. These red blood cells contain hemoglobin, the chemical responsible for transferring oxygen efficiently to different parts of the body.

You can find out if you’re anemic by a simple blood test. But whether you are anemic or not, certain measures must be taken because of the higher risk in women. Foods high in iron like liver, green leafy vegetables, fish and red meat all promote the production of hemoglobin.

Smoking

People who smoke, male or female, all face the risk of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases, however, there are other risks that are isolated to women.

Women taking contraceptives while smoking have higher risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases. Researches show that these probabilities increase by tenfold. Usually an increase in blood pressure is observed in women who take oral contraceptives, and the heart disease risks are only increased by the combined ‘power’ of contraceptives and smoking.

Smoking can also affect a woman’s fertility. Studies have shown that a 38% of women who do not smoke conceived in their first cycle while only 28% of smokers did.

Women who smoke are also at risk of varying menstrual cycles. This effect links smoking to a woman’s fertility. There are studies that have shown that period irregularity and sometimes unusual vaginal discharge are more common in women who smoke than those who don’t. In addition, menopause is reached 2 years earlier than normal for women who smoke.

Osteoporosis, which is already more prevalent in women then in men, can also be aggravated by smoking. Heavy smokers also suffer a greater risk of developing vulvar and cervical cancer.

Women are indeed at higher risk, because of our additional physical responsibilities and different hormonal balances, women are more at risk in some areas. However, these could be alleviated by proper health care, frequent check-ups, a proper diet and exercise.