Taking care of yourself should always be your top priority

Throughout life, men and women will face warnings about a number of health issues. That said, there are some common health concerns for women that men don't have to be as worried about. Some of these include breast cancer, fertility issues, and cardiovascular health.

Here, a list of the most common health concerns that women have to be on the lookout for, and what you can do to prevent them.

CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

Everyone knows the typical symptoms of a heart attack: your left side usually goes numb and tightness of the chest. However, the symptoms of a heart attack manifest differently on women.

For some women, the symptoms leading to a heart attack can be something as common as nausea or slight discomfort. It's important to remember that cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women, causing the death of 1 of 3 women each year.

FERTILITY ISSUES

It is now coming to light that more and more women are having issues with fertility. More and more women are concerned about having children in their late 30's, and open to the options of being able to conceive.

Not only that, but women are starting to pay attention to their irregular periods and the painful side effects of something that happens to every woman. Some of the reasons why women may be having issues with fertility are endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METABOLIC SYNDROME

Metabolic syndrome is not a disease specifically, but rather a clustering of health markers, such as abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, and hypertension.

These markers could then lead to more serious conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and can predict if a person suffers from diabetes.

STRESS HEALTH

Mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disease, affect more women than men. More than 1 in 5 women have reported suffering from some type of mental and stress health issue.

Mental health is also a little more unique in women due to the existence of postpartum depression — which new fathers can also develop — and depression tied to a woman's period. Although unexpected, giving birth can trigger feelings of depression and detachment, preventing the mother from bonding with her child.

Some women can also develop premenstrual dysphoric syndrome (PPD), which is a depression that's tied to a woman's cycle. The mood swings are much more severe than the typical ones that come before a woman's period and can disrupt her everyday routine.

BREAST CANCER

According to the CDC, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, no matter the age or the race. Although there is a variety of factors that can cause cancer, the main one is simply being an aging woman.

However, there are now tests that can detect if you have a mutation that can be a probable cause of developing breast cancer. Early detection is key when it comes to battling this disease.

AUTOIMMUNE ILLNESSES

About 75 percent of the people diagnosed with an autoimmune illness are women. They are mainly genetic and tend to happen in clusters within families.

This means that although they may not have the same disease, women within the same family may suffer from diseases categorised as autoimmune related, which includes lupus, diabetes, and arthritis.