What is Women’s Health?

The health problems of both men and women are nearly the same except for some gynecological ‎problems. Over the centuries the life of the women has changed. Women's health has been ‎affected by various diseases over the years. In the 1900s the average life expectancy of the ‎women was around 55 years. But it changed drastically in the 2000s where the average life span ‎of the women increased to 80 years. The average life span has increased as the women are now ‎taking charge of their bodies and are serious about their personal health and fitness. ‎There are some diseases that are more commonly found in women in comparison to men. The ‎diseases which commonly affect the women are gallstone, urinary tract infection, osteoporosis, ‎and breast cancer.‎

Gallstone: this is a condition where a hardened digestive fluid gets formed within the body. The ‎size of the gallstone can range from a grain of sand to a table tennis ball. This condition occurs ‎when there is too much cholesterol present in the bile, there is too much bilirubin present in the ‎bile, and the gallbladder is not emptying correctly.‎

Infection of the urinary tract: this is a condition wherein the microbes infect the urinary tract. The ‎majority of urinary tract infections are due to bacteria. This condition can occur anywhere ‎within the urinary tract like urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys.‎

Osteoporosis: one of the most common problems that affect the majority of women is ‎osteoporosis. Nearly every second woman is suffering from this condition. A woman suffering ‎from this condition has brittle bones that are abnormally thin and can get broken easily. ‎Women after menopause are at increased risk of osteoporosis due to the reduced level of ‎estrogen.

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Breast cancer: this is a cancerous condition wherein a lump gets formed in the breasts of the ‎women. The symptoms of this condition are a bloody discharge oozing out from the nipples, and ‎change is the shape of the breast or nipples.‎

How is the treatment done?

Gallstone: the treatment for gallstones can be done through either surgery or medicines. The ‎surgery to remove the gallstones is termed as cholecystectomy. The gallstones can be removed ‎either through laparoscopic surgery or open surgery. The gallbladder is surgically removed as the ‎gallstones have the habit of reoccurrence. A patient does not need a gallbladder to survive. The ‎other option which the doctor may advise is medications to dissolve the gallstone. However, it ‎may take months or even years to completely dissolve the gallstone. If the medications for ‎dissolving the gallstones are stopped then it may get formed again. ‎

Infection of the urinary tract: the treatment of the infection of the urinary tract is based on the ‎cause of the infection. A doctor may order some tests to identify which organism is causing the ‎infection. In the majority of the cases, it is bacteria while in a few cases the infection can be due ‎to fungi and viruses. For the treatment of urinary tract infection due to bacteria, a doctor may ‎recommend antibiotics. While for viral urinary tract infection a doctor may order antivirals. ‎

Osteoporosis: for treating the condition of osteoporosis a doctor may prescribe certain ‎medications like Alendronate, Risedronate, and Ibandronate. These medicines are required to be ‎taken before consuming the meal. A doctor may also prescribe Zoledronic acid for treating ‎osteoporosis. This medicine is given as a 15-minute infusion once a year. ‎

Breast cancer: a doctor may describe various therapies and surgery for the treatment of breast ‎cancer based on the stage of disease, type of tumor, and age of the patient. A doctor may advise ‎surgery only if the cancer is in the initial stages. The types of surgery that can be performed are ‎lumpectomy and mastectomy. In a lumpectomy, the doctor removes the tumor along with a layer ‎of healthy tissue. The majority of the breasts remain after the surgery. In mastectomy surgery, the ‎entire breast is removed surgically. Besides the surgery, if the cancer is past its initial stage then a ‎doctor may advise radiation therapy. In this therapy, high energy x-rays are used for destroying ‎the cancer cells. There are different types of radiation therapy which can be used

• External-beam radiation therapy: in this, the treatment is given from outside through a ‎machine.‎
• Brachytherapy: in this type of therapy the radioactive material is placed into the tumor.‎
• Intra-operative surgery: this is a therapy wherein the radiation is given by making use of a ‎probe in the operation theater.‎

A doctor may also advise chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer. In this treatment, drugs are ‎used for destroying the cancer cells. This therapy involves a combination of drugs to be given for ‎a specific number of cycles in a fixed time duration.‎

Who is eligible for the treatment? (When is the treatment done ?)

The eligibility of a patient for the treatment of a specific disease depends on the symptoms exhibited ‎by the patient. A patient is eligible for the treatment of gallstone if she exhibits the following ‎symptoms

• An abrupt and agonizing pain in the right portion of the abdomen.‎
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Gastritis
• Pain between the shoulder blades.

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A patient is eligible for the treatment of urinary tract infections if the following symptoms are ‎exhibited

• Pelvic pain in women
• Cloudy urine
• Increased frequency of urination
• Burning sensation while urinating
• Nausea
• Chills
• Fever ‎

A patient is considered eligible for the treatment of osteoporosis if the following symptoms are ‎experienced

• A patient may experience back pain due to a collapsed vertebra or a fracture.‎
• A patient suffering from osteoporosis would have a stooped posture.‎
• A patient with osteoporosis would get his/her bones easily fractured.‎
• A patient with osteoporosis would lose height over a period of time.‎

The occurrence of the following symptoms makes a patient eligible for the treatment of breast ‎cancer

• • A patient might feel irritation in the breast skin.‎
  • A patient would have swelling in either a part of the breast or the entire breast.‎
  • A patient would experience pain in the nipples or breasts.‎
  • The nipple of the breast cancer patient would begin to retract.‎

Who is not eligible for the treatment?

information not available.

Are there any Side Effects?

Side effects are often exhibited as soon as the patient starts treatment either through medicines, ‎injectable or surgery. Every treatment has some severe and some minor side effects associated ‎with it. A minor side effect goes away after a short period of time. However, in case of a major ‎side effect, a doctor must be informed promptly. The side effects of the treatment of gallstones ‎through cholecystectomy are surgical site infection, excessive bleeding, and nerve damage. The ‎side effects of using the medicine for dissolving a gallstone are a loose stool, back pain, indigestion, ‎nausea, and vomiting.

The side effects of the antibiotic used for the treatment of infection of the ‎urinary tract are trouble in sleeping, lightheadedness and a headache. While undergoing treatment ‎for osteoporosis with medicines like alendronate, risedronate, and ibandronate the side effects ‎experienced by the patient are chest pain, difficulty in swallowing, acidity, unusual pain, and ‎flatulence. When a patient undergoes treatment of breast cancer through surgeries like ‎lumpectomy and mastectomy the side effects experienced are infection at the site of surgery, ‎damage of the nerves, fever, and pain. The side effects of radiation therapy are swollen breasts, ‎damaging of the skin, sore throat, fatigue, and lymphedema. The side effects of chemotherapy ‎for the treatment of breast cancer are mouth ulcers, increased risk of infection, hair loss, ‎tiredness, and loss of appetite.‎

What are the post-treatment guidelines?

information not available.

How long does it take to recover?

For the treatment of gallstone if the patient undergoes treatment through cholecystectomy then ‎complete recovery may take 2 weeks. While using medicines for dissolving the gallstone the ‎recovery may take several months or a year. A patient suffering from an infection of the urinary ‎tract recovers within 1 week. However, the majority of the symptoms of urinary tract infection ‎go away within 48 hours of oral administration of the antibiotic.

The recovery of a patient ‎suffering from osteoporosis starts as soon as a patient starts taking the medicines in some cases ‎the disease can be reserved. A patient that undergoes lumpectomy recovers within 14 days of the ‎surgery and in mastectomy a patient may take 4 to 6 weeks to recover. If the cancer is in the ‎initial stage then a patient can completely recover early but in the later stages, it may take months ‎for a patient to completely recover.‎

What is the price of the treatment in India?

The cost of treatment of gallstone in India using cholecystectomy may range from 25,000 to 1 ‎lakh rupees based on the location and the type of surgery. Medicine for dissolving gallstone costs ‎around 250 to 500 rupees based on the power of the medicine. The cost of antibiotic medicine ‎for the treatment of UTI may cost around 100 to 300 rupees. The cost of surgery for breast ‎cancer would cost a patient around 5 to 8 lakh rupees based on the type of surgery and location ‎where the surgery is conducted. The complete cost for the treatment of cancer would cost a ‎patient around 20 lakh including all the surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.‎

Are the results of the treatment permanent?

The result of the treatment is permanent when a patient undergoes surgery for gallstone. The ‎treatment is not permanent while using medications. The result of the treatment for UTI may be ‎permanent but the condition can recur in the future. Osteoporosis can be stopped in its tracks as ‎soon as a patient starts taking the medicine. The results of the treatment of breast cancer are not ‎permanent as there is a possibility that it may return in the future.‎

What are the alternatives to the treatment?

Some patients often opt for Dandelion for the treatment of gallstone as an alternative treatment ‎in their belief. An herb by the name of Lysimachia herba is a Chinese herb that is believed to ‎prevent and treat gallstones. An alternative treatment for UTI can be increasing the intake of ‎vitamin C. patients can opt for vitamin D and calcium supplements for treating the condition of ‎osteoporosis. There is no alternative treatment for breast cancer. However, there are natural ‎remedies that help in reducing the side effects of the treatment.