All articles tagged with #women health
There is no FDA-approved testosterone product for women, so clinicians rely on off-label or compounded regimens to treat menopausal symptoms such as low sexual desire, leading to dosing, safety, and insurance challenges; an FDA workshop is reviewing evidence gaps and safety to determine whether standardized access and guidelines are feasible, spurred by patient and clinician advocacy.
A global review of 38 studies found women with the same health conditions as men are far less likely to be offered active treatments (surgery, stents, pain relief, statins) in conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, and Parkinson’s, with 33 studies showing this disparity. Men were more likely to receive procedures like bypass or deep brain stimulation, while women faced longer catheter use in dialysis and less access to permanent options. No significant gaps were seen for stroke or diabetes, and dementia treatment favored women. The study suggests the gap isn’t due to different clinical needs or guidelines but potential bias and misattribution of women’s symptoms, urging clinicians to base decisions on clinical grounds.
Heart attack symptoms in women can be subtler than men's. The piece lists eight signs to watch for (extreme fatigue, indigestion or heartburn, jaw/back pain, shortness of breath, left-arm pain, nausea, and chest pressure) and explains why women may have different patterns. Time is muscle: seek urgent care immediately by calling 911 and getting an ER evaluation with an ECG and blood tests. For risk reduction, prioritize regular exercise, a heart-healthy diet, avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting sufficient sleep.
Heather Suchan, a non-smoker and mother of two, saw persistent coughs dismissed by doctors before a bronchoscopy confirmed Stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer with an EGFR mutation. After a PET scan revealed widespread disease, she underwent a multi-drug treatment plan including chemotherapy and a targeted drug amivantamab, now administered subcutaneously, which has led to no disease progression and regression of cancer in the liver and bones, allowing her to return to work while continuing treatment.
An NBC Today segment highlights that heart attacks can present with nausea and stomach upset—especially in women—alongside subtler signs like chest pressure, sweating, dizziness, or jaw/neck pain. Doctors note nausea can depend on which artery is affected and is rarely the only symptom, so seek medical care if nausea occurs with other warning signs or if risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes are present. The piece also emphasizes recognizing women-specific signs and adopting heart-healthy habits to reduce risk.
A hospital worker recounts nearly missing a heart attack because women often present with nonclassic signs. The piece highlights that female heart attack symptoms can include chest pressure in the upper abdomen, jaw, neck, back, fatigue and GI distress, and stresses proactive testing and patient advocacy (e.g., hs-CRP, Lp(a), ApoB, CAC) plus regular checkups. Experts note the need for better education and research on women’s cardiovascular risk and encourage patients to persist with doctors to get answers and appropriate tests.
A Northwestern-led study of more than 10,000 postmenopausal women finds natural menopause before age 40 is tied to a 40% higher lifetime risk of coronary heart disease, with Black women experiencing premature menopause at higher rates. The findings suggest the menopausal transition is a critical window for early cardiovascular prevention, including monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol, prioritizing strength training, managing stress, and ensuring menopause history informs heart-disease risk assessments to protect long-term health.
A European Heart Journal study shows that artificial intelligence can quantify breast artery calcification on routine mammograms to flag women at higher risk of heart disease, potentially enabling a scalable dual-use screening tool. While promising, researchers stress the approach should complement—not replace—standard cardiovascular risk monitoring, and further trials are planned to validate how BAC scores might inform prevention and treatment.
Nutritionist Nmami Agarwal explains that strength training, which can be done without a gym, builds muscle, ligaments, and bone density while improving metabolism and insulin sensitivity, supporting hormonal balance and reducing injury risk—empowering women to become metabolically smarter, hormonally happier, and physically stronger.
Using national surveys and census projections, the American Heart Association estimates the share of adult women with cardiovascular disease will rise from 10.7% in 2020 to 14.4% in 2050, driven by aging and increasing rates of diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure, with the rise already seen among women ages 20–40 and disparities heavier among Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and multiracial groups. The report notes GLP-1 weight‑loss drugs aren’t accounted for and urges improved prevention and early detection—regular checkups, medications, and healthier lifestyles—to reduce what it calls largely preventable cardiovascular risk (about 80%).
The American Heart Association projects a substantial rise in cardiovascular disease among adult women—from 10.7% in 2020 to 14.4% by 2050—driven by aging and risk factors like diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. The uptick spans all ages but hits girls and women 20–40 hardest, with greater effects on Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and multiracial groups. The report notes GLP-1 weight‑loss drugs could influence future risk, though long-term safety and access are uncertain. Actionable steps include regular checkups, taking prescribed medications, and adopting healthier diet and exercise habits, especially around pregnancy and menopause.
A study reported by The Wall Street Journal finds deaths from severe first heart attacks among adults aged 18–54 rose 57% from 2011 to 2022. About 60% of patients had high blood pressure, over half had high cholesterol or smoked, and roughly a third had diabetes; many were low income, suggesting limited access to preventive care. Notably, young women died at higher rates than men.
Using national surveys and census projections, the American Heart Association forecasts that cardiovascular disease in U.S. women will rise from 10.7% in 2020 to 14.4% in 2050, driven by aging and increasing rates of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, with larger increases among younger and minority women. The report underscores the need for better prevention and early detection, notes that risk factors are rising across ages (including 20–40 year-olds), and highlights uncertainties around the impact of weight-loss GLP-1 drugs and affordability that could affect disparities.
A Circulation study of ~4,200 adults undergoing coronary CT angiography finds that women have lower total plaque but a higher risk at lower plaque burdens than men, with risk beginning around 20% plaque in women versus 28% in men and rising more steeply as plaque increases. The findings highlight non-obstructive disease and the need for sex-specific risk assessment and broader use of quantitative plaque analysis for early, personalized prevention in women.
A long-running study of more than 100,000 women over more than 20 years found that strong adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet lowers overall stroke risk by 18%, with a 25% reduction in hemorrhagic stroke risk and a 16% reduction in ischemic stroke risk, suggesting this eating pattern supports brain health by reducing blood pressure, cholesterol and inflammation.