Interview with Dr. Elisa Llurba

1- What is the general state of women's health today?

Women suffer from depression and anxiety more frequently. We are at greater risk of developing autoimmune diseases and chronic pain. Furthermore, we are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than men. Women have a longer lifespan, but a lower quality of life. In recent years, our male counterparts have been gaining years of life, while this increase has not been as significant for women.

2- What do these differences explain?

The causes are multiple: women suffer more stress, their dual role of family and work life leaves them little time for self-care, and medicine is anthropocentric, having primarily studied diseases from a male perspective. All of this impacts women's health. It is known that the state of health depends not on healthcare but on a whole series of social, economic, educational, and environmental factors.

3. How does a woman's lifestyle affect her health?

Lifestyle determines the expression of certain diseases, especially its relationship with most endocrine diseases such as diabetes, hormonal alterations such as polycystic ovaries, chronic inflammatory diseases such as endometriosis, inflammatory bowel disease, fibromyalgia as well as autoimmune diseases such as hypothyroidism and types of cancer or cardiovascular diseases.

4- Is current medicine meeting the needs of today's woman?

Medicine provides solutions to diseases by resolving symptoms, especially useful in the case of acute illnesses such as an infection or an accident, but often it does not take into account the root causes of diseases and its action is reactive rather than preventive.
In this regard, most women are increasingly showing interest in and concern for their health as women, as well as their physical and psychological well-being. This includes medical aspects, but also psychological, lifestyle (nutrition, exercise, etc.), and beauty aspects—all equally important for our quality of life and emotional balance in our relationship with ourselves and those around us.

5- Is there an excess of content on the internet about women's health that may not be reliable?

Today's woman needs to make decisions with as much information as possible, and it's often very difficult to find reliable sources of this information. Information is now readily available with just a click, but it's very difficult to distinguish quality information from misinformation, and this abundance often leads to more misinformation.
On the other hand, regarding women's health at different stages of life, there are many questions that are rarely answered by the options available to us. For example, we don't ask our gynecologist about our sexual problems, or about our concerns regarding many other ailments that worry us. Indigestion, weight problems, fluid retention, dry skin… these are real problems that are often related to our hormonal status and the stage of life we're in. Many of them have specific explanations and solutions, always from a holistic health perspective, but personalized for each woman.

6- How does beDona respond to this situation of uncertainty and lack of information?

Many reasons explain your frustration: a lack of reliable information and a need for personalized advice and solutions. At beDona, we are dedicated to improving women's health knowledge. Our project stems from the need to find solutions and products specifically designed for women's well-being at every stage of life, providing rigorous information and expert advice tailored to each woman's individual needs.