Death is something we rarely confront until it stares us in the face. For most of us, it lives quietly in the background of life; an abstract, distant event.
But the truth is that many causes of death come with warning signs, subtle, that our bodies and minds can signal if we pay attention.
Recognizing these warning signs, particularly in women whose symptoms are often dismissed or misinterpreted, can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.+See more details
I remember my friend, Lisa, vividly. She was in her early 40s, vibrant, always laughing, always moving. She came to a brunch one Sunday morning with a faint but persistent fatigue that she waved off. “Just work stress,” she said. It wasn’t because two weeks later, she was diagnosed with heart disease.
Women, more than men, often present with a typical heart attack symptoms; fatigue, shortness of breath, back or jaw pain rather than the stereotypical crushing chest pain. Recognizing these subtle cues can be lifesaving.
1. Heart Disease
Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and for women, it can be particularly insidious. Unlike the textbook description of heart attacks with severe chest pain, women often experience symptoms that are easily mistaken for stress, aging, or anxiety.
Shortness of breath during mild activity, nausea, extreme fatigue, lightheadedness, or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back are all potential warning signs.
Take my aunt, Miriam, for example. She spent decades dismissing her exhaustion as part of a busy life raising three children. But one morning, after struggling to climb a flight of stairs, she experienced a tightness in her chest and left arm pain.
She ignored it for hours, convinced she was “just tired.” By the time she went to the hospital, her arteries were dangerously blocked. Heart disease doesn’t always announce itself dramatically, and for women, it often whispers.
2. Stroke
Stroke is another major cause of death with warning signs that can be subtle or sudden. Many women, especially, may experience prodromal symptoms days or weeks before a major stroke, but these are often overlooked.
Numbness or weakness on one side of the body, sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech, vision changes, and severe headache are classic indicators.
I think of my colleague, Tanya, who had always been active and health-conscious. She noticed mild facial drooping and slurred speech during a morning meeting.
She brushed it off as dehydration or fatigue from staying up late with her newborn. Her husband insisted on taking her to the hospital, and doctors confirmed she had suffered a minor stroke.
Early recognition saved her from a major neurological deficit. For women, subtle cognitive changes, feeling unusually tired, forgetful, or disoriented can precede a stroke, and these should never be ignored.
3. Cancer (Early Detection Saves Lives)
Cancer is a complex and varied disease, but certain forms have warning symptoms that, when recognized early, significantly improve outcomes.
Breast, ovarian, cervical, and lung cancers are among the most common causes of death in women.
I still remember my friend Anika’s story. She was 32 when she found a small lump in her breast. It wasn’t painful, so she initially ignored it, thinking it was hormonal or stress-related.
Months later, when she finally went for a check-up, the diagnosis was early-stage breast cancer. Because she caught it in time, treatment was successful.
Warning symptoms for cancer can be easy to overlook: persistent lumps, unusual bleeding, prolonged coughs, unexplained weight loss, and chronic fatigue.
Women are often socialized to downplay pain or discomfort, prioritizing work, family, or other obligations over their own health.
This mindset can delay diagnosis. Paying attention to your body, listening to what feels off, and advocating for yourself are critical steps in prevention and early treatment.
4. Diabetes
Diabetes, particularly type 2, is a chronic condition that can quietly wreak havoc on the body, increasing the risk of heart disease, kidney failure, and infections.
Early warning signs often go unnoticed, especially in women, and include increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, slow-healing wounds, and numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.
My cousin, Debby, struggled with unexplained fatigue and recurrent yeast infections, symptoms she never associated with diabetes.
It wasn’t until she fainted at work that she received a proper diagnosis. Early management of diabetes can prevent life-threatening complications, but awareness of subtle warning signs is crucial.
5. Mental Health And Suicide
While often overlooked in conversations about causes of death, suicide and untreated mental illness are tragically common. Women may experience depression and anxiety differently than men, and their struggles are sometimes dismissed as “moodiness” or stress.
Warning signs can include persistent sadness, withdrawal from loved ones, changes in sleep or appetite, hopelessness, self-harm behaviors, and talk of wanting to die.
A friend from college, Valerie, shared her story with me recently. For months, she quietly battled depression, keeping it hidden under a smile that fooled everyone around her.
The warning signs were there; her close friends noticed she was disengaging, sleeping poorly, and losing interest in activities she once loved.
When she finally sought therapy, it was life-saving. Recognizing mental health warning signs early and seeking professional help can prevent premature death and drastically improve quality of life.
6. Respiratory Diseases (Breathing Matters)
Respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia, are leading causes of death, especially in older adults.
Warning signs can include chronic cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and frequent respiratory infections.
I think of my neighbor, Grace, a lifelong smoker who always dismissed her persistent cough as “just a smoker’s cough.” It wasn’t until she struggled to climb stairs without gasping for air that she sought medical care.
By then, her lungs were severely compromised. Women may experience more subtle respiratory symptoms than men, and these should never be dismissed. Listening to your body is literally a matter of survival.
7. Obesity And Hypertension
Obesity and high blood pressure are silent contributors to mortality. They often do not manifest with dramatic symptoms until complications arise, such as heart attacks, strokes, or kidney disease.
Early warning signs of hypertension can include headaches, dizziness, nosebleeds, or visual disturbances, but many people experience no symptoms at all.
I recall a woman I met at a community wellness seminar, Chinyere, who had been overweight most of her adult life. She had borderline hypertension and high cholesterol but didn’t feel sick.
It was only after her doctor shared her risk of cardiovascular disease that she began taking her health seriously.
Lifestyle interventions; healthy eating, regular exercise, and stress management can prevent many fatal outcomes if addressed before complications appear.
8. Listening To Your Body
Women, in particular, often put their own health needs last. We excuse persistent fatigue, dizziness, or discomfort because we are “too busy” caring for others.
But paying attention to warning signs and seeking prompt medical advice can be lifesaving. Early detection, intervention, and lifestyle changes can prevent many causes of death that are otherwise silent until it’s too late.
As a woman, advocating for your own health is an act of strength. Notice the subtle shifts in your body, trust your instincts, and don’t ignore symptoms because they seem minor or inconvenient.+Read Original Article
Your body often gives early warnings, but it is up to you to listen.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
