“Health is wealth!” I have grown up with that incentive imparted to me by my aging father. For women, however, health in modern society has become more of a gamble. more women are dying from “lifestyle diseases” today than in the past numerous decades, the likes of heart disease, diabetes, obesity-related complications, and hypertension.
What do we mean by “lifestyle diseases”? To put it plainly, these are conditions primarily linked to the way we live—our daily habits and behavior. Unlike infectious diseases that you can pick from someone else, these simply develop over time due to factors like poor diet, lack of exercise, stress, smoking, alcohol consumption, inadequate sleep name it all… and to be quite frank studies show that women’s health risks in 2025 are significantly influenced by lifestyle disorders, because why not? We all have something going on as we age and our years catch up to us. Recently, however, studies have shown that more women are being diagnosed with these “lifestyle diseases” than men, and at younger ages too.
For example, a study in Soweto revealed that women as young as 22 were facing similar risks of diabetes and hypertension as those in their 50s. makes one wonder Why women are dying from lifestyle diseases.
So, what’s going on? Why are more women facing the brunt of lifestyle diseases?
Hormonal Changes. Women go through several hormonal shifts throughout their lives—menstruation, pregnancy, menopause—all of which affect their metabolism and overall health. For instance, menopause leads to a drop in estrogen, increasing the risk of heart disease. Studies show that women’s heart disease symptoms are often different from men’s, leading to misdiagnoses or delayed treatment.
Stress and Modern Lifestyles. For women, lifestyle is more than just personal activities. They often have to balance work and home, putting the family’s needs above their own and thus often neglecting their own well-being. Stress and inadequate sleep have been shown to increase cortisol levels, leading to “stress weight gain” and higher blood pressure.
Poor Diet and a lack of physical activity. In 2025, there are many processed foods on the supermarket rack, and quite frankly, many of us don’t have time to prepare a wholesome meal at home. High sugar consumption and unhealthy eating habits are now the major factors in obesity, leading to health issues like diabetes and hypertension.
Medical Bias and Late Diagnosis. For some conditions like heart disease, women often experience different symptoms from men. This often leads to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis—the delay in treatment increases health risks.
Where men usually report chest pains as the main symptom of a heart attack, women may experience signs like shortness of breath, unexplained fatigue, dizziness, and pains in the neck, jaw, shoulder, and upper-back pain… which are less recognized as heart attack indicators. Awareness of these differences can be helpful for early detection and prevention
That said, lifestyle diseases can be largely preventable.
How to Prevent Lifestyle Diseases in Women.
Healthy eating habits. Healthy eating habits have been the topic for many lifestyle enthusiasts, from vegan culture to little life hacks substituting certain ingredients for other healthier ones—a well-balanced diet with fruit, veggies, some lean protein and whole grains can help reduce the risk of diet-related lifestyle diseases.
Reducing processed foods, excessive sugar, and unhealthy fats is essential. Studies show that drinking an 8-ounce glass of milk daily can lower the risk of colorectal cancer in women by 17%.
Regular exercising. Another lifestyle trend that’s actually for the better is gymming/exercising. Activities like walking, jogging, yoga and strength training can help manage weight, reduce stress, and even lower the risk of heart disease. and it can be done at home too, here are some workouts for a healthy body at home, without a gym.
Managing stress and mental health. Chronic stress is a silent killer, a good one at that considering we all have aspects of our lives that stress us out every once in a while. Meditations, yoga, and breath exercises- everyone has one that works for them. As for me, I prefer sleeping. Adequate sleep can help regulate stress levels.
Prioritizing mental health is just as important as physical health.
Regular health check-ups. Routine screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and cancer could help you get timely treatment. With these lifestyle diseases on the rise, early detection and treatment could make all the difference.
Borderline, many of the chronic conditions we face today are more related to our lifestyles than we care to admit. Chronic pains from overworking, stress-induced insomnia…by adopting healthier habits, prioritizing self-care, and staying informed we can mitigate these conditions…at least to a degree.
That said, this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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