HeathWise October 2009
By Doctor Rik Heymans
Calle Angustias 24, NERJA
Telephone: 95 252 6775
Mobile : 619 50 21 51

Women's health:

Important issues

It's a well known fact that women go more regularly for check ups and are more conscious of their health, than (most) men, which has been confirmed by various studies. Perhaps it is genetically linked, where the female has a more responsible role in looking after the wellbeing of the family, and has to care for them, and thus knows the importance of looking after herself as well?

We are seeing a new trend appear, where especially younger women seem to wait longer before taking note of some important signs of illness in their body. Could it be because this classical role pattern has faded a bit? Also, many young women seem to think that serious illnesses only occur in older women and thus ignore them.

I will give a list with some important issues which may specifically affect women ( but some may also affect men), and, if they present themselves, warrant looking into.

Unexplained weight loss: regardless of the fact that losing weight is the top priority for most women, if it is unintentional, it should be looked into. Possible explanations are a thyroid dysfunction, or a cancer.

Feeling Bloated/Indigestion: this is quite a common feeling, so that many people do no feel bothered by it anymore, yet it is not normal. It can be related to ‘innocent' conditions like a gastric inflammation, gallstones; but can be due to an abdominal tumour or mass, especially the pancreas is under suspicion here. It can affect anybody, and is very insidious: its' latest victim is Patrick Swayze.

Breasts: any change in the size, consistency of the breast; colour of the skin or a rash, change of texture and/or appearance of the skin or nipple needs to be investigated.

Inter menstrual blood loss (or any abnormal blood loss): as well as any change in the appearance of the period, duration, sometimes the blood loss can be anal, or from the bladder which obviously needs investigating as well!

Skin changes: any new rash or appearance of a new mole , change in colour or appearance of an existing mole, itchiness or bleeding from a mole could be a skin cancer.

Swallowing: the feeling that food gets stuck, or a burning feeling in the throat or behind the breastbone can be due to a hiatus hernia, gastritis, or a tumour. Oral changes, like soreness, plaques or spots, may indicate suspicious lesions, especially in smokers.

Unexplained pain: although most cancers are painless, and the pain only appears later in the course of the disease, pain which is not due to trauma or otherwise explainable, must be evaluated. Lymph nodes (small well defined nodular swellings) in the armpits, the neck, groin or any other area, which persist for some weeks must also be investigated, since they can be a sign of an underlying serious condition.

Fever of unknown origin (meaning there are no obvious illnesses like a sore throat or cystitis to name but a few possible causes), should be properly checked: certain cancers can produce such a fever. The same can be said of tiredness; after meticulous exclusion of any underlying illness, like diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, one should not overlook an underlying cancer for instance.

A chronic cough which lasts more than four weeks , especially if the patient is/was a smoker needs obviously attention.

 

© Dr Rik HEYMANS.
Rik Heymans is a general medical practitioner in Nerja. He writes monthly for Streetwise on topics which a family doctor comes across regularly.