Health challenges of women in USA

 1. Life Expectancy

 In 2017, the average life expectancy in the United States was 78 years, 5 months. Women live longer than men, on average, by 4 months. If you're a man, the best time to start taking care of yourself is now! On average, women live about 11 years longer than men do.

 2. Infertility

 According to the CDC, approximately 40 million couples struggle with infertility. While many cases can be attributed to external factors such as environmental toxins, genetics play a big role in infertility whether male or female. According to data collected by the National Health Statistics, over 10% of women between the ages of 25-29 have difficulty getting pregnant. In addition, 1 out of 8 couples experience infertility at some point in their lives.

 3. Breast Cancer

 Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among American women. More than 220,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. While mammograms may seem like the safest way to detect breast cancer early, they actually miss 60 to 70 percent of cancers. A regular self-exam can help catch breast lumps before they become serious enough to feel uncomfortable.

 4. Depression

 Depression affects nearly 350 million people worldwide and is the leading mental illness in the world. Of those who suffer from depression, only half receive treatment. The biggest misconception about depression is that it's something that happens to someone older than 30. Young adults are just as likely to suffer from depression as any age group. There are many warning signs and symptoms of depression that should not be ignored if you notice them. Many young adults try to ignore these symptoms thinking that things will get better eventually. However, ignoring these warning signs could lead to worsening depression.

 5. Heart Disease

 Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States today. Unfortunately, heart disease doesn't discriminate. You don't need to be overweight or smoking cigarettes to develop cardiovascular disease. Stress, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and lack of physical activity can all contribute to developing heart disease. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, fish, poultry, and legumes can reduce your risk of contracting cardiovascular disease.

 6. Stroke

 Strokes occur when blocked arteries deprive brain cells of oxygen and damage neurons. One of the largest causes of stroke is hypertension (high blood pressure). High blood pressure damages the small blood vessels throughout the body including the brain. Other contributing factors include smoking, alcoholism, diabetes, obesity, and high levels of lipids. Symptoms of a stroke can include headache, dizziness, confusion, vision changes, weakness, numbness, speech problems, and loss of balance. A stroke occurs in approximately 140,000 Americans per year. Fortunately, 90% of strokes can be prevented through proper management of hypertension.

 7. Diabetes

 Diabetes is a condition where someone’s blood glucose level is higher than normal. The two types of diabetes are type I and II. Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disorder caused by a lack of insulin. This results in insufficient insulin production and therefore high blood sugar levels. People with type II diabetics produce sufficient amounts of insulin, however, their bodies cannot use it properly. Insulin helps to lower blood sugar levels. The four major complications of diabetes include blindness, kidney failure, amputation, and nerve damage.