In Honor of National Women’s Health Week
National Women’s Health Week (NWHW) was May 8-14, 2022 — serving as a reminder why it is so important for women to keep both their mental and physical health a priority. Life can get busy and it is common for women to let their own health get deprioritized. Misinformation on women’s health issues can add to the challenge. The observance of NWHW is to encourage all women to focus on their own health and wellness beyond their daily routine.
Below are some topics that tend to materialize in internet forums and can be constantly misrepresented with false information.
Here are some women’s health “myth busters”:
MYTH #1: Only men get heart disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Although heart disease is sometimes thought of as a man’s disease, almost as many women as men die each year of heart disease in the United States.” Additionally, it is the leading cause of death for women in the United States.1 Although cardiovascular disease impacts some women at higher rates than others, it accounts for 1 in 3 deaths each year.2 For additional information and to learn your own risk of cardiovascular disease, visit WISEWOMAN Home | cdc.gov and Go Red for Women | The American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative.
MYTH #2: Colon cleanses are good for you.
Researchers who reviewed evidence from several studies concluded that scientific data do not support colon cleanses to promote general health.3 Unless your doctor orders a colon cleanse for reasons such as a colonoscopy procedure, it might be best to trust your ‘gut’ instinct on this myth, avoid this diet trend, and follow up with your physician regularly.
MYTH #3: Bladder leakage only happens to the elderly.
Bladder leakage can happen regardless of age, recent childbirth, or hormones. Overactive Bladder (OAB) is a medical condition diagnosed by the occurrence of bothersome urinary symptoms.4 These symptoms may include urinary incontinence, urgency, sleep interruption, or frequency. Prior to receiving any kind of medical treatment, a patient should be evaluated by their physician to ensure that their symptoms are attributable to overactive bladder and not to some other underlying medical condition.4
If you are suffering from bladder leakage or urinary incontinence, contact your physician to schedule an appointment.
Make Your Health a Priority
For a variety of ways to honor National Women’s Health Week with simple changes to your daily routine, click here. The CDC provides easy first steps to prioritizing your health-- from making an appointment with your healthcare provider, adding folic acid to your daily vitamin intake, or simply taking the time to do things you enjoy for your mental health.
1. Women and Heart Disease | cdc.gov Accessed April 2022.
2. Facts | Go Red for Women Accessed April 2022.
3. Acosta RD, Cash BD. Clinical effects of colonic cleansing for general health promotion: a systematic review [published correction appears in Am J Gastroenterol. 2010 May;105(5):1214]. Am J Gastroenterol. 2009;104(11):2830-2837. doi:10.1038/ajg.2009.494 Accessed April 2022.
4. Lightner DJ, Gomelsky A, Souter L et al: Diagnosis and treatment of overactive bladder (non-neurogenic) in adults: AUA/SUFU Guideline amendment 2019. J Urol 2019; 202: 558. Gormley EA, Lightner DJ, Burgio KL et al: Diagnosis and treatment of overactive bladder (non-neurogenic) in adults: AUA/SUFU guideline. J Urol 2012; 188: 2455. AUA/SUFU Guideline: Published 2012; Amended 2014, 2019 Endorsed by the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) Accessed April 2022.
