Beware of Critical Diseases in Women, Screening and Prevention from an Early Age is the Key to Maintaining Health

Illustration of a mother carrying a child (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Behind a warm and strong family, there is almost always a healthy mother figure, not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally. In the momentum of Mother's Day, experts remind that maintaining the health of mothers from an early age is not just a form of love, but a long-term investment for the health of the whole family.

According to Fransiska Xaveria Aryani, M.Psi., Psychologist from Primaya Hospital Kelapa Gading, the mother's health condition can have a major impact on the psychological stability of the family.

"Mothers often put the needs of their families above themselves. It needs to be a concern if mothers experience physical fatigue and emotional stress but are not handled, it can have an impact on the mother's mental health, which then affects the overall family dynamics," he explained.

Data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health shows that non-communicable diseases such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, diabetes, and metabolic disorders are still the main cause of the decline in the quality of life of Indonesian women. Moreover, most of these cases are only detected when they have entered the advanced stage - when treatment becomes more complex and risky.

Fransiska emphasized that routine health screening, including attention to mental health, is an important step so that mothers are still able to carry out their roles optimally, without sacrificing their own well-being.

During the pregnancy phase, the mother's health not only determines her safety, but also the growth and development of the fetus. Emotional support from the family, balanced nutrition intake, and periodic medical monitoring are the main foundations of a healthy pregnancy.

dr. Risma Maharani, Sp. OG, MKes, Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Primaya Hospital Bekasi Timur, emphasized the importance of fetomaternal examination. "Pregnancy examination is not only routine ultrasound, fetomaternal examination is also needed to help detect risks early, both in the mother and fetus, so that potential complications can be prevented early," he said.

Beware of Critical Diseases in Women

In addition to pregnancy, women's reproductive health also requires serious attention. In Indonesia, cancer is the third highest cause of death in Indonesia. Based on data from the Global Cancer Observatory (Globocan), the types of cancer with the highest death rate are breast cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and liver cancer. The most common cancers in women are breast cancer and cervical cancer. WHO notes that cervical cancer is one of the second most common cancers in women, which should be prevented through HPV vaccination and routine screening.

"Early detection and vaccination are the two main keys to reducing the risk of cervical cancer. Unfortunately, there are still many women who come to the doctor when they have severe symptoms," added Dr. Risma.

Tips for Moms to Stay Healthy and Energetic

In the midst of busy taking care of the family, the mother's health is often neglected. In fact, a healthy body and mind are the key to keeping mothers active, happy, and fully present for loved ones.

Some of these simple steps can be started:

· Perform regular health checks to find out the condition of the body early, even before the complaint appears.

· Consume nutritious food and enough fluids so that the body stays energized throughout the day.

· Stay active every day, just by walking or doing light exercise for 15-20 minutes at home.

· Get enough and quality sleep to help the body recover and maintain mood.

· Take care of your mental health, take time for yourself and manage stress well.

· Pay attention to personal hygiene and the environment so that mothers remain healthy and comfortable to carry out activities.