The Harvard Medical School Special Health Report, A Guide to Women’s Health: Fifty and Forward, presents a basic overview of the changes in major health risks that women face as they age, and focuses particularly on lifestyle changes that women can make to maintain good health in later years.
According to a description of the Report provided by the publisher, Harvard Health Publications,
The Report, which is 48 pages long, was prepared by the editors of Harvard Health Publications in consultation with Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Associate Chief, General Internal Medicine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Editor in Chief, Harvard Women’s Health Watch.
Changing Health Risks as Women Age
According to the authors, the principal health risks and causes of death for women change as they age. The top three causes of death for women of all ages combined are cancer, heart disease, and stroke. However, the relative prevalence of these causes (expressed as a percentage of total deaths of women) changes as women age.
Cancer is the leading cause of death for all women who die younger than 75 years of age. But, heart disease becomes more prevalent as women age, and is the leading cause of death for women age 75 and over. Stroke also becomes more prevalent as a cause of death, being the third most prevalent cause of death for women age 75 or over.
The following chart from the Harvard Report shows the top 10 causes of death (expressed as a percentage of total deaths) in women at different ages. It illustrates how the risk of the three leading causes of death for all ages combined — heart disease, stroke, and cancer — changes with age.
Contents of Harvard Guide – A Focus on Prevention
Following is a summary of the contents of Harvard’s Special Health Report, A Guide to Women’s Health: Fifty and Forward:
- Taking stock of your health at midlife
- Understanding your health risks
- Cardiovascular disease
- Lung cancer
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Breast cancer
- Influenza and pneumonia
- Colorectal cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Foot problems
- Underactive thyroid
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Skin conditions
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Vaginal pain
- Persistent menopausal symptoms
- Dry skin
- Hair loss
- Excessive hair growth
Purchase of the Harvard Guide to Women’s Health Fifty and Forward
A Guide to Women’s Health: Fifty and Forward is available for purchase online from the publisher, Harvard Health Publications. The cost is $18.00 (print or PDF) or $26.00 for both print and PDF.
See related HelpingYouCare™ reports on:
- Diet & Nutrition: Physical Wellness;
- Exercise: Physical Wellness;
- Sleep, Hygiene, Quit Smoking & Other Healthy Practices: Physical Wellness;
- Activities to Preserve Mental Acuity: Intellectual Wellness;
- Social Interaction & A Sense of Connection With Others: Social Wellness;
- Other Areas of Wellness: Emotional, Ethical/ Spiritual & Vocational Wellness; and
- Examples of Healthy Aging: Stories of Inspiring Seniors.
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