Tag

Womens Health

All articles tagged with #womens health

health8 hours ago•179 min saved

The hidden toll after mastectomy: chronic pain that lingers for years

A CNN/KFF Health News report highlights post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS), a poorly defined and undertreated condition where many survivors experience chronic chest, shoulder, or armpit pain months to years after mastectomy and reconstruction. Patients describe pain severe enough to disrupt work and daily life, while doctors often dismiss symptoms and there is no FDA-approved cure. Treatments exist (e.g., nerve targeting, gabapentin) but results vary and evidence is limited. Legislation like the Advancing Women’s Health Coverage Act aims to improve coverage for chronic post-treatment complications and spur more PMPS research, signaling a need to address long-term suffering beyond cancer survival.

via CNN|

#breast-cancer #health #mastectomy

health-and-fitness17 hours ago•2 min saved

Doctors Urge Expanded Awareness of Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women

Doctors say estrogen replacement can benefit many women by addressing hormonal fluctuations that affect the menstrual cycle, heart, bones, and brain; despite past fears from the Women’s Health Initiative and FDA warnings, updated research and guidance are expanding who should consider HRT, with estrogen levels that can require multiple tests to monitor; it's never too late to start for postmenopausal or younger patients experiencing imbalance.

via ABC7 Los Angeles|

#estrogen #fda #health-and-fitness

health2 days ago•36 min saved

Lipedema: the real culprit behind stubborn menopausal fat—and how to shift it

Lipedema is a chronic, hormone-influenced condition causing disproportionate fat buildup in the legs (and sometimes arms) that does not respond to diet or exercise and is often misdiagnosed as obesity; the piece outlines symptoms, the female predominance, and UK treatments such as a CORE diagnostic pathway, Vaser fat harvesting, and RF skin tightening to relieve pain and improve mobility.

via Daily Mail|

#fat-distribution #health #lipedema

health13 days ago•36 min saved

Busy-mom’s private scans expose thyroid cancer after doctors dismiss symptoms

A UK mom’s fatigue, hair loss, heart palpitations, trouble swallowing, and neck lumps were repeatedly dismissed by doctors as a result of being a busy mother. After six visits with little help, she privately funded scans that showed suspicious thyroid nodules and enlarged lymph nodes. An initial biopsy came back non-cancerous, and she waited months for a follow-up. A second private scan in December 2025 revealed progression, leading to ultrasound and ENT evaluation; a biopsy confirmed thyroid cancer, and she subsequently had her thyroid removed and is awaiting pathology to determine staging and the next steps, likely including iodine therapy or radiation. She urges others to trust their gut and push for answers when something feels wrong.

via Yahoo|

#health #missed-diagnosis #patient-advocacy

health17 days ago•4 min saved

Ultra-Processed Diet Linked to Lower Fertility Odds for Women

A study analyzing NHANES data found that women with higher consumption of ultra-processed foods had about 60% lower odds of conceiving within a year, while those who ate more whole foods had better odds. The foods may expose the body to chemicals like phthalates, BPA and acrylamides that can disrupt hormones, though the study is observational and does not prove causation. Reducing UPFs and increasing whole foods could potentially improve fertility chances.

via New York Post|

#fertility #health #nhanes

health22 days ago•43 min saved

Grip-and-rise test links longevity to muscle strength in older women

A University at Buffalo study of about 5,000 women aged 60 and older finds that a two-step test—handgrip strength followed by five consecutive sit-to-stand lifts—predicts eight-year mortality risk. Every 15-pound increase in grip strength cut death risk by 12%, and women with the strongest grip had about a 33% lower mortality risk than those with the weakest. Faster sit-to-stand performance showed a 4% lower risk per six-second improvement. The findings underscore muscular strength as a biomarker of aging and suggest that maintaining both aerobic and resistance training can support longevity.

via Upworthy|

#aging #grip-strength #health

health24 days ago•267 min saved

Two Decades of Pain, One Diagnosis: Endometriosis Finally Found After Gaslighting

A 33-year-old woman recounts 20 years of severe pain and dismissal from doctors who urged her to stay on birth control; after multiple ER visits and a decisive gynecologist, she was diagnosed with endometriosis and underwent surgery removing 23 lesions, yielding dramatic pain relief. She now advocates for better medical education on endometriosis and improved insurance coverage for treatments.

via AOL.com|

#advocacy #endometriosis #gaslighting

health25 days ago•41 min saved

Two-Decade Struggle Ends with Endometriosis Diagnosis After Doctors Dismissed Her

A 33-year-old woman recounts experiencing severe, ongoing pain since adolescence, only to be repeatedly dismissed by doctors and told to stay on birth control. After two decades of delayed diagnosis, she finally received treatment when a compassionate ER doctor urged further evaluation, leading to surgical findings of widespread endometriosis (23 lesions) and removal of her appendix. Post-surgery she reports a near-pain-free life but continues to deal with bloating and cramps. She advocates for better medical education on endometriosis and for insurance coverage of surgery, emphasizing the need for women to advocate for themselves.

via Yahoo Lifestyle Canada|

#diagnosis-delay #endometriosis #gaslighting

health25 days ago•268 min saved

Two Decades, One Diagnosis: Endometriosis Found After Years of Dismissal

Melissa Diamond, 33, endured 20 years of misdiagnoses and gaslighting before an endometriosis diagnosis and surgery removed 23 lesions (and her appendix); she now lives a near-pain-free life and advocates for better awareness and insurance coverage for endometriosis care.

via AOL.com|

#diagnosis #endometriosis #health

health27 days ago•261 min saved

Watch for a Neck Lump: The Key Sign of Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer is more common in women (often in their 40s–50s). The number-one sign is a new neck mass, typically painless; while most neck lumps are benign, about 5% are cancerous. Early detection improves outcomes, so see a doctor if you notice a lump.

via AOL.com|

#early-detection #health #neck-lump

health27 days ago•26 min saved

Endometriosis: Shedding Light on the Hidden Pain Behind Diagnosis Delays

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, highlighting a chronic condition that affects more than 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing severe pelvic pain, painful bowel movements or urination, dyspareunia, fatigue, and sometimes infertility. Many patients endure years of misdiagnosis or dismissal before getting answers, prompting advocates to push for greater awareness, education, and access to care, with medical experts like UAMS explaining the condition and how to seek timely care.

via KATV|

#awareness #diagnosis-delay #endometriosis

health28 days ago•8 min saved

Lili Reinhart's Yearlong Battle for Answers Turns Up Endometriosis

Lili Reinhart recounts a grueling year of misdiagnoses and invasive tests for persistent bladder and pelvic pain that were initially treated as infections, ultimately leading to laparoscopic surgery that confirmed endometriosis and adenomyosis. She describes the emotional toll, fertility concerns, and the pivotal role of advocating for herself and listening to women's pain, while highlighting the broader issue of how often women's symptoms are dismissed.

via ELLE|

#adenomyosis #chronic-pain #endometriosis

science-health1 month ago•41 min saved

AI Finds Heart-Disease Clues in Routine Mammograms, Increasing Risk Estimates by Up to 70%

A large study finds AI can read breast arterial calcification on routine mammograms to predict cardiovascular risk in women, with mild, moderate, and severe calcifications linked to 30%, 70%, and 2–3 times higher risk, respectively, suggesting screening programs could double as heart-disease risk tools.

via Good News Network|

#arterial-calcification #artificial-intelligence #heart-disease

health-and-wellness1 month ago•65 min saved

Perimenopause Can Begin in Your 30s or 40s, Often Showing Up as Fatigue and Sleep Changes

A Flo Health–Mayo Clinic study of 17,000 women across 158 countries finds that many experience fatigue, exhaustion, sleep disturbances, mood changes, and digestive issues during the perimenopause transition—even before classic hot flashes—while some symptoms cluster in the 30s and 40s. The research highlights a widespread knowledge and diagnostic gap, especially in the US, where symptoms are often attributed to stress or burnout and care is fragmented with limited menopause training. Experts urge tracking menstrual changes alongside mood, sleep, temperature regulation, and digestion, and seeking medical advice early to improve quality of life and potentially prevent longer-term risks such as osteoporosis.

via BuzzFeed|

#fatigue #health-and-wellness #hormonal-changes

health1 month ago•18 min saved

Perimenopause: closing the evidence gaps in a shifting hormone-therapy era

Perimenopause—the turbulent, pre-menopausal years—lacks biomarkers and robust trial data, so treatment tends to rely on postmenopausal findings; modern menopausal hormone therapy is safer and more personalized, yet its long-term effects in perimenopause are still unclear. Reanalyses of WHI show smaller risks than once thought, and FDA warnings have loosened, but gaps remain about who should start therapy, how long to use it, and the benefits beyond symptom relief. Large studies like SWAN and CLIMATÈRE are expanding this knowledge, while researchers explore non-hormonal options and the possibility that hot flushes drive cognitive symptoms. The goal is a biology-based, individualized approach rather than oversimplified messaging or 'fountain of youth' claims.

via Nature|

#clinical-trials #health #hormone-therapy