How hormones can affect your mental health
Depression
Did you know? 61 per cent of women are unaware that the number of men and women that experience depression in their lifetime is not the same.
Fact: Research shows women are twice as likely as men to experience depression.
According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, "many hormonal factors may contribute to the increased rate of depression in women -- particularly during times such as menstrual cycle changes, pregnancy and postpartum, miscarriage, pre-menopause, and menopause."
Research shows that exercise is a great antidepressant. "Studies have shown cardiovascular exercise can greatly improve peoples' moods," says Dr. Martin. "I encourage people prone to depression to maintain a regular, and predictable routine."
It's also important that women talk to their doctors about their symptoms so they can seek the appropriate treatment. For more information on depression, visit the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health website.
Arthritis
Did you know? Nearly half (45 per cent) of women did not know more women suffer from arthritis than men.
Fact: Two-thirds of Canadians living with arthritis are women. And women are twice as likely to be disabled by arthritis as men.
"People often will write off joint pain as the aches and pains of getting older," says Dr. Martin. And a common misconception is that osteoporosis and arthritis have a connection. Arthritis is not normal and a woman who suffers from any joint pain should visit her doctor.
Even though there is no cure for arthritis, you can slow it down by staying active and maintaining a healthy body weight.
For more information, visit the Arthritis Society of Canada's website.
Cancer
Did you know? One-third (33 per cent) of women mistakenly believe that men and women who smoke develop lung cancer at the same rate.
Fact: Women are 1.5 times more likely than men to develop lung cancer, and women who never smoked are more likely to develop lung cancer than men who have never smoked.
One of the disturbing statistics Dr. Martin reports is that young women are the only group of people that's seeing an increase in smoking rates. Since the number 1 risk factor for developing lung cancer is smoking, we can expect to see even more cases of lung cancer among women as they age. It's important to educate today's youth about the dangers of smoking, regardless of whether they're male or female.
For more information on cancer, visit the Canadian Cancer Society.
*Statistics are from the Women's College Hospital X-Effects Health Index.
Why are more women getting asthma? Find out if you're at risk.
Page 3 of 3
Did you know? 61 per cent of women are unaware that the number of men and women that experience depression in their lifetime is not the same.
Fact: Research shows women are twice as likely as men to experience depression.
According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, "many hormonal factors may contribute to the increased rate of depression in women -- particularly during times such as menstrual cycle changes, pregnancy and postpartum, miscarriage, pre-menopause, and menopause."
Research shows that exercise is a great antidepressant. "Studies have shown cardiovascular exercise can greatly improve peoples' moods," says Dr. Martin. "I encourage people prone to depression to maintain a regular, and predictable routine."
It's also important that women talk to their doctors about their symptoms so they can seek the appropriate treatment. For more information on depression, visit the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health website.
Arthritis
Did you know? Nearly half (45 per cent) of women did not know more women suffer from arthritis than men.
Fact: Two-thirds of Canadians living with arthritis are women. And women are twice as likely to be disabled by arthritis as men.
"People often will write off joint pain as the aches and pains of getting older," says Dr. Martin. And a common misconception is that osteoporosis and arthritis have a connection. Arthritis is not normal and a woman who suffers from any joint pain should visit her doctor.
Even though there is no cure for arthritis, you can slow it down by staying active and maintaining a healthy body weight.
For more information, visit the Arthritis Society of Canada's website.
Cancer
Did you know? One-third (33 per cent) of women mistakenly believe that men and women who smoke develop lung cancer at the same rate.
Fact: Women are 1.5 times more likely than men to develop lung cancer, and women who never smoked are more likely to develop lung cancer than men who have never smoked.
One of the disturbing statistics Dr. Martin reports is that young women are the only group of people that's seeing an increase in smoking rates. Since the number 1 risk factor for developing lung cancer is smoking, we can expect to see even more cases of lung cancer among women as they age. It's important to educate today's youth about the dangers of smoking, regardless of whether they're male or female.
For more information on cancer, visit the Canadian Cancer Society.
*Statistics are from the Women's College Hospital X-Effects Health Index.
Why are more women getting asthma? Find out if you're at risk.
Page 3 of 3
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