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| Most common medical issue of middle aged women in USA |
According to the CDC, the leading causes of death in females in the United States are heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic lower respiratory disease, Alzheimer disease, diabetes, influenza and pneumonia, kidney disease, and suicide 1. However, if you are looking for the most common medical issues of middle-aged women in the US, then a Healthline article states that high-risk alcohol consumption is the most common issue (26 percent), followed by recurrent back problems (21 percent), mental health concerns (19 percent), and high blood pressure (16 percent) 2.
It’s important to note that there are many other medical issues that middle-aged women may face. For example, according to SingleCare, some of the most common female health problems include irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease), gallstones, autoimmune liver disease, celiac disease, and pelvic floor dysfunction 3.
If you have any specific concerns or questions about your health, it’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional.
What are the symptoms of high-risk alcohol consumption?
High-risk alcohol consumption can lead to a range of symptoms and health problems. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of alcohol use disorder can include:
- Being unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink
- Wanting to cut down on how much you drink or making unsuccessful attempts to do so
- Spending a lot of time drinking, getting alcohol, or recovering from alcohol use
- Feeling a strong craving or urge to drink alcohol
- Failing to fulfill major obligations at work, school, or home due to repeated alcohol use
- Continuing to drink alcohol even though you know it’s causing physical, social, work, or relationship problems
- Giving up or reducing social and work activities and hobbies to use alcohol
- Using alcohol in situations where it’s not safe, such as when driving or swimming
- Developing a tolerance to alcohol so you need more to feel its effect or you have a reduced effect from the same amount
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms — such as nausea, sweating, and shaking — when you don’t drink, or drinking to avoid these symptoms
In addition to these symptoms, high-risk alcohol consumption can also lead to other health problems such as:
- Increased risk of cancer (including mouth, throat, liver, esophagus, colon and breast cancers)
- Persistent changes in mood, including anxiety and irritability
- Insomnia and other sleep concerns
- A weakened immune system, meaning you might get sick more often
- Changes in libido and sexual function
- Changes in appetite and weight
- Problems with memory and concentration .
If you are concerned about your drinking habits or are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional.
High-risk alcohol consumption can lead to a range of symptoms and health problems. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems including:
- High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems .
- Increased risk of cancer (including mouth, throat, liver, esophagus, colon and breast cancers) .
- Persistent changes in mood, including anxiety and irritability .
- Insomnia and other sleep concerns.
- A weakened immune system, meaning you might get sick more often.
- Changes in libido and sexual function .
- Changes in appetite and weight.
- Problems with memory and concentration.
If you are concerned about your drinking habits or are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional.
If you are looking to cut down on your alcohol consumption, there are several strategies you can try. Here are some tips from the NHS :
- Make a plan: Before you start drinking, set a limit on how much you’re going to drink.
- Set a budget: Only take a fixed amount of money to spend on alcohol.
- Let them know: If you let your friends and family know you’re cutting down and it’s important to you, you could get support from them.
- Take it a day at a time: Cut back a little each day. That way, every day you do is a success.
- Make it a smaller one: You can still enjoy a drink, but go for smaller sizes. Try bottled beer instead of pints, or a small glass of wine instead of a large one.
- Have a lower-strength drink: Cut down the alcohol by swapping strong beers or wines for ones with a lower strength (ABV in %). You’ll find this information on the bottle.
- Stay hydrated: Have a glass of water before you have alcohol and alternate alcoholic drinks with water or other non-alcoholic drinks.
- Take a break: Have several drink-free days each week.
According to Harvard Health, other tips include:
- Having no alcohol at home can help limit your drinking.
- Drink slowly. Sip your drink.
- Drink soda, water, or juice after having an alcoholic beverage.
- Never drink on an empty stomach.
- Choose alcohol-free days. Decide not to drink a day or two each week.
Remember that if you are concerned about your drinking habits or are experiencing any symptoms of alcohol use disorder, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional.
If you are looking for a healthcare professional to talk about your drinking habits, there are several resources available to you.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has launched the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator, an online tool that helps you find the right treatment for you and near you. It guides you through a step-by-step process to finding a highly qualified professional treatment provider 1.
You can also try searching for healthcare professionals near you who specialize in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry. You can use search engines like Bing or Google to find healthcare professionals in your area. You can also check with your insurance provider to see if they have a list of healthcare professionals who specialize in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry.
If you are looking for support groups, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a free self-help group that provides support for people who want to stop drinking or cut down on their drinking. You can find AA meetings near you by visiting their website .
Remember that if you are concerned about your drinking habits or are experiencing any symptoms of alcohol use disorder, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional.