Every generation of women has health issues that are specific to them. Here are some of the major, trending health issues or topics impacting women at different stages of their lives.
Young Women: Ages 18-34
- Tracking fertility. Fertility awareness method (FAM) apps are becoming a popular way to track the probability that a woman is more or less likely to become pregnant. They can be both a helpful pregnancy planning aid and a pregnancy prevention tool for those who have a regular menstrual cycle. However, the more irregular a woman’s period is, the less accurate these apps can be. The bottom line? Fertility apps can help women become more aware of their bodies, but a doctor is still the most reliable source of information when it comes to planning for or preventing pregnancy.
- Making new connections. Once our school days are over, making friends and networking can be challenging. After all, there are plenty of obstacles in the way —from busy work schedules, to establishing yourself in a new city or town, to parental duties. Yet feeling connected can be essential to our mental health and overall happiness. Fortunately, technology has come to the rescue with a host of friendship, dating, and career networking apps developed by women, for women. By offering women a fun and efficient way to expand their social and professional circles, these apps make networking a whole lot easier.
Mid Adult Women: Ages 35-55
- Rising challenges with substance abuse. Alcohol has been linked to various health issues for women, from breast cancer to brain and heart damage. Men still drink more alcohol than women, but a recent study uncovered an 84% increase in women with alcohol abuse issues, with middle-aged women experiencing the highest incidents of related diseases.
- Sleep deprivation. Generation X women report having more sleep issues than women from virtually every other generation. A third of women in this age group get less than seven hours of sleep a night, on average. But there are remedies for the restless, from acupuncture that can help treat insomnia, to sleep medications that create the inner conditions needed to sleep, to meditation that can lower the heart rate and slow breathing. One of them just might help you relax and catch some ZZZs.
Older Women: Ages 55+
- Social isolation. Women often live 5 or more years longer than men, and almost half of older women live alone. According to Alison Bryant, AARP’s senior vice president of research, “Social isolation and loneliness are as bad for our health as obesity and smoking.” Encouragement and support from family and friends can help older women who are isolated feel more connected. Promoting dinner with others, having a low-maintenance pet to care for, or finding a new hobby can help someone who is alone feel more engaged with those around them.
- Moving more. As your age increases, so should your daily steps, because a body in motion stays in motion. According to a study published in May 2019 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, older women specifically who took 4,400 steps each day (about 2 miles) had a 41% lower rate of death than women who took just 2,700 steps each day.