Types of illnesses and disabilities

Women are affected by many different illnesses and disabilities, which can range in severity. Some disabilities are rare, and some are more common. Some disabilities are visible to others — such as blindness or paralysis. But many are not. For instance, some mental illnesses affect people's ability to do their jobs or manage a household. Some people are born with disabilities. Some disabilities result from illness or an accident. Many disabilities come on as people age. As the number of older Americans grows, so does the number of people living with a disability. Because women live longer than men, women are more likely to be limited in the amount or kind of major activity they can perform. The illnesses and disabilities featured in this section of womenshealth.gov affect large numbers of women. If you don't see a topic, you also can check our A-Z health topics list.

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Types of illnesses and disabilities

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