In the age of Google, bad medical advice is just a couple of clicks away. But common misconceptions and myths about womenâs health sometimes persist even in doctorsâ offices.
CTVâs medical consultant, Dr. Marla Shapiro, debunked some of those myths Tuesday. She listed four common misconceptions women face:
1. Heart disease is a manâs disease. âThereâs a myth and perception that (heart disease) is really male-dominated,â Dr. Shapiro told CTV News Channel. âIn and around the time of menopause, we begin to see those numbers reversing with women catching up.â
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death for Canadian women. The foundation urges all women to be
2. Women who are done having children donât need regular checkups.âThe advice that we donât need an annual health exam is probably right, but women still need targeted exams based on where they are in age-related events,â Dr. Shapiro said. âYouâre finished having your children? We still worry about gynecological health.â
Dr. Shapiro said women should always stay on top of their breast health, Pap smears and other potential gynecological issues. Heart health, of course, also needs to be monitored, she said.
3. Low sexual libido is just âin your head.âThatâs not sound advice because âone in 10 women have a desire deficit, if you will, called hypoactive sexual desire disorder,â Dr. Shapiro said. âUp until now, we havenât had any focus on women on their libido and sexual health â the focus has been all on men. Donât be afraid to bring this topic up with your physician, who may not initiate it.â
4. If a cold-related cough is keeping you up, take over-the-counter medicine to fall asleep. âThe reason youâre coughing is to help clear a lot of the fluid and the mucus thatâs there and often, cough suppressant will sedate you, decrease the drive to breathe and that isnât necessarily a good thing,â Dr. Shapiro said. She advises the use humidifier and a raised pillow for better sleep when dealing with a bad cold or the flu.
