The 4 Diseases Women Are More Likely To Get (And How To Prevent Them), According To A Doctor

When we talk about women's health, the conversation usually starts—and ends—with periods, birth control, fertility, or the occasional reminder to book your pap smear. (Here's your sign to do so if you haven't yet, btw!) But your hormones influence far more than just your reproductive health.

In fact, the same biology that shapes your menstrual cycle and reproductive health also affects everything from your bones and immune system to your brain and thyroid. That's why women are statistically more likely than men to develop certain diseases that have nothing to do with pregnancy or periods.

Ahead, Dr. Sheryll Cornejo, an internal medicine consultant at Makati Medical Center, breaks down four conditions that disproportionately affect women, plus the lifestyle habits that may help lower your risk of getting them:

You might think osteoporosis is something to worry about decades from now, but bone health actually starts way earlier than that.

"Osteoporosis, or the weakening of bones, is a result of decreased estrogen production from menopause, which contributes to bone loss," explains Dr. Cornejo. Women also naturally have smaller and thinner bones than men, making fractures more likely as bone density decreases with age.

The good news? Building stronger bones isn’t something you have to put off until your 50s. To help reduce your risk of getting osteoporosis, you can try the following:

• Eat calcium-rich foods like dairy products, leafy greens, and fish with edible bones.

• Get enough vitamin D through early morning sunlight and your diet.

• Make strength training and weight-bearing workouts part of your routine.

• Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, both of which can weaken bone health over time.

The thyroid may be tiny, but it plays a major role in regulating your metabolism, energy levels, and hormones. Women—especially during their reproductive years—are diagnosed with thyroid cancer more often than men. One reason is that thyroid tissue contains estrogen receptors, meaning hormonal fluctuations may encourage certain thyroid cells to grow.

Other risk factors include:

• A family history of thyroid cancer

• Certain inherited gene mutations

• Radiation exposure

• Iodine deficiency

• Obesity

While there's no guaranteed way to prevent thyroid cancer, Dr. Cornejo recommends maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, limiting unnecessary radiation exposure, and knowing your family's medical history.

She also encourages doing regular neck self-checks. If you notice a lump or swelling at the base of your neck that wasn't there before, don't brush it off—it's worth getting evaluated by your doctor. The good news: When caught early, thyroid cancer has a very high survival rate.

Not every case of joint pain comes from spending one too many hours hunched over your laptop. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints, and according to the World Health Organization, women are two to three times(!) more likely to develop it than men. Researchers believe that's because women have stronger immune responses and experience hormonal shifts—particularly after pregnancy or during menopause—may also play a role that can trigger the disease.

Other risk factors include genetics, smoking, obesity, and environmental factors.

If RA runs in your family, Dr. Cornejo recommends eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, managing stress, and quitting smoking—one of the biggest risk factors for developing RA.

When people think of Alzheimer's disease, they often associate it with aging. But there are everyday habits that may influence your long-term brain health years before symptoms even appear.

According to Harvard Medical School, women are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease more often than men, partly because women generally live longer. However, experts have also identified several modifiable risk factors that can increase a person's chances of developing the disease:

• High blood pressure

• Diabetes

• Smoking

• Excessive alcohol consumption

• Physical inactivity

• Limited social interaction

According to Dr. Cornejo, making healthy lifestyle choices now may help delay—or even reduce—the risk of Alzheimer's disease later in life. "Staying physically and mentally active as well as socializing with family and friends do wonders in keeping the brain stimulated, healthy, and happy," she says.