Tales from our Women's Health Hub
According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), there are almost 11 million people aged 65 and over in the UK today, which is approximately 19% of the population. In 10 years, this proportion is set to increase to 22%.
The reducing birth rate and improvements in life expectancy are driving this effect. This clearly puts a strain on the National Health Service, Health and Social Care, and the economy.
Society can make older people feel increasingly invisible – I hear this a lot from my older female patients. Some describe the feeling that they are “shelved” or the sense that they are perceived as “worthless” once they hit their pension years. However, many women over 65 play vital roles, such as caregiving for partners and grandchildren (I know I couldn’t have done long shifts in the hospital or overnight on calls without my mother’s support with my kids)!
We need to take a proactive approach to women’s health across the entire course of their lives.
Understanding the importance of proactive women's health
A 78 year old woman visited for a Women’s Health Check, experiencing breathlessness on exertion, general aches, increasing anxiety and poor sleep. She was worried about her weight gain and felt tired all the time.
She had sought a medication review and a discussion about her general health with her GP, but it was a challenge for her to get the outcome she wanted.
She said: “I am told by my GP that aches and pains are just part of being old, and I have to accept them. I feel too embarrassed to speak to my GP again about my health problems, I feel like I am being a burden.”
My heart sinks when I hear older women talk about these experiences, but it doesn’t surprise me.
In the 2022 “Women’s Health – Let’s talk about it” survey, which included 100,000 women, 76% of women 70-79 years old felt that they were not listened to by healthcare professionals.
Preventive care in women's health
Women are living longer than men (82.6 years vs 78.6 years in the UK), but this doesn’t translate to more healthy years.
A May 2024 BMJ article highlights that although 51% of the population are women, they live in poor health, suffering from more disability, memory decline, and mental health conditions than men.
The Women’s Health Strategy in 2022 has delivered a comprehensive look into why this is the case and calls for more focus on women and their health at all life stages. It outlines that women are under-represented in research and clinical studies and as a result, not enough is known about conditions that only affect women.
The report outlines the need for better services designed specifically for women. It recognises that healthcare professionals need to receive more education about female health matters such as menopause and cardiovascular disease and the differing ways in which they present so they can receive the right treatment earlier.
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Women's Health Check
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Key health concerns for women
Women tend to worry more about cancer than any other disease, but you might be surprised to hear that cardiovascular disease is responsible for more deaths in women than ALL cancers combined.
Being overweight and high sugar levels remain the two biggest factors in ill health, which can lead to type 2 diabetes. In 2019, obesity was more common in women than men (Women’s Health Strategy For England, 2022) and we are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease than men.
The British Heart Foundation is campaigning to raise awareness as studies show that women are more at risk of dying of a heart attack than men due to treatment delay and not treating high blood pressure or raised cholesterol aggressively enough.
Perceptions need to change to dispel the misconception that heart disease and heart attacks are a male problem
Taking control of your health at every age
Staying healthy is a huge priority to most older women and one patient underlined this recently when she told me during her Women’s Health Check: “My friend has died recently and I want to check that I am healthy”
It is a time when many of us are forced to reflect on our own health and maybe decide that we should start to be more proactive around our health. Patients commonly talk about this being a trigger to book a health check.
The NHS offers free health checks every five years, from the ages of 40 – 74. This is a simple screen to check your cholesterol, blood pressure, BMI, and a diabetic check. At the age of 74, these health checks stop being offered to those without pre-existing conditions.
Here at The McIndoe Centre, we understand that women want to live their fullest lives and want to pick up problems early.
Our Women’s Health Check can provide insights into cholesterol, thyroid, and vitamin levels, as well as liver and kidney function, cancer screening for breast and bowel cancer, and the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Cornerstones of women's health
A balanced diet and regular physical activity are foundational to good health. Follow Dr Sloan's top tips for staying well in your older years
- Remain as active and independent as possible.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes five times per week.
- Keep your mind active with new skills.
- Eat healthily, avoid saturated fats and sugary snacks.
- Stop smoking.
- Drink alcohol within safe limits, no more than 14 units per week.
- Be proactive about your health. I recommend monitoring your blood pressure and aiming to keep it at 140 / 90 or less. Investing in a home blood pressure machine, which you can buy off Amazon, could save your life!
- Look after your mental health - recognise when you feel down or anxious and talk to someone about it.
- Seek medical advice if you notice a change in your health, or if something doesn’t feel right.
Book a Women's Health Check at The McIndoe Centre
We believe preventive care and early detection of health risks are key to long-term wellness. Our comprehensive assessment covers a broad spectrum of women’s health tests, all conducted on the same day, to provide an overview of your health status.
Take charge of your wellbeing and book an appointment with one of our GP and Women's Health Specialists at The McIndoe Centre.
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