Heart Disease and Stroke

• Study Links Female Patients' Survival to Cardiac Care Site. [Indianapolis Star] Women now have almost a 10 percent greater chance of surviving heart disease and stroke than they did a few years ago, but their chances of survival also may depend on where they're treated, according to a report released this past week.

• Healthy Lifestyle Cuts Women's Stroke Risk. [Forbes] A healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, no smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, and a healthy diet can help cut a woman's stroke risk, a new U.S. study confirms.

• Women's Heart Attack Symptoms Different from Men's. [About] Women often experience new or different physical symptoms as long as a month or more before experiencing heart attacks. Among the 515 women studied, 95% said they knew their symptoms were new or different a month or more before experiencing their heart attack. The symptoms most commonly reported were unusual fatigue (70.6%), sleep disturbance (47.8%), and shortness of breath (42.1%).

• Migraines with Aura Raise Heart Risks for Older Women. [Medical News Today, UK] Older women who experience migraines with aura have a higher risk of experiencing heart attacks, strokes, angina and heart-related deaths, say American researchers.

• Women Who Work at Night Prone to Breast Cancer. [INQ7.net, Philippines] Women who work at night, like those employed in call centers, could be prone to breast cancer and menstrual problems, according to an Institute for Occupation Health and Safety Development official.

• Drug Found to Be Useful Only for Women at Greatest Risk. [The Ledger] Tamoxifen won't improve the life expectancy of all women eligible to take it for breast-cancer prevention, according to a new analysis of its results and cost-effectiveness. Women need to be at the higher end of breast-cancer risk -- a greater than 3% chance of developing cancer within five years -- before the drug improves their life expectancy.

• Postmenopausal Women Less Concerned about Breast Cancer. [SeniorJournal.com] Older women, the most at risk for developing breast cancer, are the least likely to realize it. Being over age 50 places a woman at an increased risk for developing breast cancer. Yet, only 37% of women aged 55 or older listed breast cancer as a disease they were most concerned about as they age.

• Tamoxifen Doesn't Extend Life for Most Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer. [Forbes] Women at risk for breast cancer or breast cancer recurrence are routinely prescribed tamoxifen to help lower that risk, but a new study suggests the drug will not boost the life expectancy of many women who take it. Specifically, women at high risk for breast cancer but without any prior history of the disease may not benefit from use of the drug in terms of extended life span.

• Breast Cancer in Dad's Family May be Missed. [Reuters.uk] Women may often lack information about breast cancer on their father's side of the family, a problem that could cloud their view of their own risk.  In a study of 899 women age 40 and older, the researchers found that 16% said there was a history of breast cancer in their mother's family, while just 10% reported a paternal history of the disease.

• Studies Highlight Strategies to Reduce Ovarian, Breast Cancer Risk. [Forbes] New research confirms that removing the ovaries can drastically reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in women who have certain genetic mutations. And all women can cut their risk of breast cancer by losing weight after menopause.

• Cervical Cancer Vaccine Backed. [Baltimore Sun] An influential committee of health experts recommended to state and federal health officials yesterday that girls ages 11 and 12 routinely receive a new vaccine that protects against cervical cancer. The panel, whose decisions carry great weight with government health departments and private health insurers, said girls as young as 9 and women up to age 26 could be given the vaccine if doctors approve.

• Too Many Women Still Going Without Regular Pap Screening. [Globe and Mail, Canada] Cervical cancer accounts for 10 per cent of all female cancers worldwide, and in developing countries it ranks as the most or second-most common form of cancer of women. But the news isn't all good. For Canadian women under 50, cervical cancer is the second most common form of cancer -- a shocking statistic on par with developing countries

• Women Ponder Cervical Cancer Vaccine. [DesMoinesRegister.com] 50-75% of people who have sex will get HPV, according to the American Cancer Society. Last month's recommendation by the CDC that all women and girls receive a new vaccine against a common sexually transmitted infection is generating questions to physicians. This comes as women decide whether to get a shot that experts say could dramatically reduce the incidence of cervical cancer.

• It's Not Just Religious Conservatives Who Oppose Mandatory HPV Vaccine. [OpEdNews] We're not talking about whether giving the vaccine to pre-adolescent girls makes sense in terms of their overall health, the long-term safety of the vaccine or whether it should be required to enter school -- all subjects much more controversial than news coverage would have you believe.

• Oral Contraceptive Use Accelerates Nicotine Metabolism. [Kaiser network.org] Women metabolized nicotine faster than men -- an average of 18.8 milliliters per minute per kilogram in women compared with 15.6 milliliters per minute per kilogram in men. In addition, women taking oral contraceptives metabolized nicotine at a rate of 22.5 milliliters per minute per kilogram, while women not taking them metabolized nicotine at a rate of 17.6 milliliters per minute per kilogram.

• Early Terminations Push Abortion Rate to Record Level. [Telegraph.co.uk] Abortions have reached record levels in the UK, and nearly a third of women who have an abortion have had one or more before. Department of Health statistics reveal that abortions in England and Wales rose by more than 700 in 2005, from 185,713 in 2004 to 186,416. More than 1,000 girls under 15 had an abortion, an increase of 4.7 per cent in a year.

• New Female Contraceptive Implant Approved. [Facts and Comparisons] The FDA has approved a single-rod implantable contraceptive that is effective for up to 3 years. Implanon, about the size of a matchstick, is made of a soft medical polymer and is subdermally inserted on the inner side of a woman's upper arm. It can be removed at any time, returning a woman's fertility to her preexisting level.

• New Means To Help Women With Fertility Challenges. [Canada NewsWire, Canada] Health Canada has approved a new method of helping women with fertility challenges to conceive. Called the Conception Kit™, it is safe, effective and affordable, and is used in the privacy of the home.

• A Three-Dimensional Culture System Ensures Female Fertility. [MedIndia, India] In women who are at risk for infertility and needing cancer therapy, it was difficult to attain follicular maturation in vitro. But a group of researchers have created a new technology that encloses follicles, allowed normal follicular maturation in vitro and helped maintain a normal connection between follicle and egg leading to birth of a live mice.

• Mother's Age, Child's Life Expectancy. [Kaiser network.org] Infants born to women under age 25 are almost twice as likely to live to at least age 100 as infants born to older women, according to a study presented at a Chicago Actuarial Association meeting. Researchers are unsure why the age of the mother is a factor in an infant's longevity, but some say it might be that younger women have higher "egg quality.”

• Care During Pregnancy, Low Birthweight. [Kaiser network.org] Comparison of the maternity experiences of South Florida women finds that Latina women had a rate of delivering low-birthweight infants of 9%, compared with 18% for non-Latina black women and 11% for non-Latina white women. Researchers say that family and cultural influences might be reasons for the statistics, with many Latino families providing care, attention and support for women during pregnancy.

• Women Who Formula-Feed Should Not Be Harshly Criticized. [Kaiser network.org] An HHS campaign called "Healthy People 2010" aims to have 50% of women who delivered infants to continue breast-feeding for up to six months after delivery. The campaign has received criticism that it overstates the benefits of breast-feeding and could make women who cannot breast-feed, or who opt not to, feel ashamed and inadequate.

• Maternal Mortality On the Rise. [AllAfrica.com] The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative, Dr. Eugene Nyarko has disclosed that several childbearing mothers died daily during childbirth. Speaking at the close of a ten -day workshop for the development of Liberia's Reproductive Health Program at the weekend, Dr. Nyarko said that several mothers have met and have continue to meet their untimely demise during childbirth.

• Heart Drug May Act as 'Female Viagra'. [FOX News] A drug once studied to treat heart problems may help treat sexual dysfunction for women. A new study shows that a modified version of the experimental heart drug Candoxatril was effective at increasing blood flow to the vagina in animal tests. If further research confirms these results in humans, the drug may be used to treat female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD).

• Lactivists: Where is it OK to Breastfeed? [CNN.com] "I was SHOCKED to see a giant breast on the cover of your magazine," one person wrote. Readers weren't complaining about a sexually explicit cover, but rather one of a baby nursing, on a wholesome parenting magazine -- yet another sign that Americans are squeamish over the sight of a nursing breast, even as breast-feeding itself gains more support from the government and medical community.

• Incentive for Women to Donate Eggs. [Irish Health, Ireland] Women in England are to be offered cut-price fertility treatment in exchange for donating their eggs for stem cell research. The UK regulatory body for infertility treatment, the (HFEA) has granted permission for researchers in Durham and Newcastle in England to offer IVF treatment at half price in exchange for half of their eggs.

• Severe Hot Flashes Associated With Chronic Insomnia. [Kaiser network.org] The study finds that 33% of participants -- including 12% of premenopausal women, 79% of perimenopausal women and 39% of postmenopausal women -- experienced hot flashes. More than 80% of the women who experienced hot flashes also reported experiencing chronic insomnia, according to the study. "[H]ot flashes are linked with insomnia regardless of the menopausal status of women."

• Working Women Struggle Within. [Poughkeepsie Journal] A recent survey polling members of the National Association for Female Executives revealed that 80 percent of women 35 and older who experience menopausal symptoms have had one or more symptoms interrupt their daily routines. Forty-four percent of those who experience insomnia, another symptom, said it has had a negative impact on their work productivity.

• Childhood Cancer Survivors Prone to Early Menopause. [Forbes] Female survivors of childhood cancer are more likely to experience early menopause than other women. The study concluded that age, radiation to the ovaries, a diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma, and treatment with alkylating chemotherapy increased the risk of early menopause in childhood cancer survivors

• Menopausal Women Missing Out Because of Misinformation. [New Zealand Herald] The popularity of hormone replacement therapy plunged a few years ago as doctors encouraged patients to stop using the hormones after studies found they increased the risk of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke. But newer research shows a form of HRT, using just the hormone estrogen, has lower risks than previously believed, and in some cases protects women against breast cancer.

• The Estrogen Debate. [New Zealand Herald] Five major studies looked at the effect of everything, from diet and supplements to hormones, in the aging process. Two groups of women, volunteered to test hormone replacement therapy. After five years, the combined HRT study was abandoned because of the "unacceptable" risk of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke.

• HRT Not as Bad as Many Think. [News 14 Carolina] Menopause can be miserable! Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help but has been linked to a 110% increase in breast cancer risk for smokers, 41% increase in stroke risk, and 22% increase in cardiovascular disease. New studies show short-term, low-dose hormone therapy can relieve symptoms like hot flashes, and as long as you don't take it for more than 10 years, does not appear to increase breast cancer risk.

• Dean Blasts World Health Organization (WHO). [AllAfrica.com] Renowned rights activist and Makerere University Faculty of Law Dean, Dr Sylvia Tamale, discussed the politics of female eroticism at the 2nd Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights. The WHO’s crime was classifying the practice of elongating the labia minora as FGM. This cherished cultural practice is conducted between the age of 9-12 to guide a Muganda girl to prepare her genitals for future sex.

• End Female Genital Mutilation - African Union. [IRIN] The Africa Union on Friday urged its member states to put an end to the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), saying the ritual traumatized millions of girls and women on the continent.

• Calcium Supplements Could Help Women Control Weight. [NutraIngredients.com, France] Middle-aged women could benefit from calcium supplements suggests a new study that is yet another twist to the calcium-dairy weight loss debate. “Increasing total calcium intake, in the form of calcium supplementation, may be beneficial to weight maintenance, especially in women during midlife.”

• Study Shows Health Risks of Obese Women. [Pittsburgh Post Gazette] Extremely obese white or black women are more likely to die of any cause, or to develop heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure.  The rate of extreme obesity is now outpacing mild to moderate forms, and is likely to have an impact on prevention and treatment needs as well as healthcare costs.

• Obese Women Run Risk of Frailty in Old Age. [PakTribune.com, Pakistan] Women who are obese after age 70 are more likely to become frail -- and perhaps disabled -- than normal-weight women, new research shows.

• Women's Health Risks Rise Along With Weight. [Forbes] Another major study finds that the more obese a woman is, the greater her risk for coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, high blood pressure and death. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh analyzed data on weight, death, and cardiovascular disease among more than 90,000 ethnically-diverse U.S. women followed for an average of seven years.

• Women to be Given Key to Curb Deadly Disease. [Toronto Star, Canada] The next best hope in the fight against HIV/AIDS comes in the form of a virus-killing gel that puts the power of protection in women's hands. Called microbicides, they are increasingly drawing worldwide attention and funding in light of the distant prospects for an AIDS vaccine and the unwillingness of men in developing countries to use condoms.

• Women Given Specialized Treatment Half As Likely To Attempt Suicide. [uwnews.org] Women with a serious mental disorder called borderline personality disorder who received a specialized form of cognitive behavioral therapy were half as likely to attempt suicide as women who were treated by expert therapists in dealing with difficult patients.

• A Silent Epidemic for Women. [Seven.com.au, Australia] Fiona Te Wierik is a hard-working nurse whose excess kilos are due to a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a silent epidemic now affecting one-in-eight Australian women between the ages of 12 and 50. 25% of reproductive-aged women have ovarian cysts or underdeveloped eggs, and beyond weight gain the symptoms of the syndrome include infertility, acne and excess body hair.

• Experiences Differ by Gender. [Arizona Republic] There are differences in the ways women and men experience heart disease, cancer, sexually transmitted disease, and depression, plus what can be done to make prevention, diagnosis and treatment equally effective:

• Female Knee Implant. [WIS] Hundreds of thousands of knee replacement surgeries are done every year. About two-thirds of the patients are women. Many doctors say it's about time they have an implant that fits. Annie Beylerian is making medical history as one of the first to receive a revolutionary new knee implant specifically designed for women.

• Arthritis Sufferer Targets MPs in Bid to Aid Others. [Belfast Telegraph, UK] The 'Women in RA' campaign highlights the fact that three times as many women suffer from the condition as men. It calls for urgent Government action to help women with the illness and proper funding for the latest and best treatment.

• Women Smokers on the Rise. [MedIndia, India] The department of health has expressed concern about the rise in the number of women smokers. According to the Bureau of Health Promotion about 4.76 % of women over the age of 18 smoke regularly.

• Female Smokers Face Twice the Risk. [St. Petersburg Times] Although men still are more likely to smoke, female smokers are almost twice as likely to get lung cancer as their male counterparts. “The implication to me is that we need to tell young women to stop smoking,’’ said Dr. Melvyn Tockman, one of the study’s investigators.

• Study Says Diabetic Women Have Increased Risks Of Hip Fracture. [All Headline News] A study compiled by researchers from Harvard University has claimed that women with type 1 or 2 diabetes over a period of 22 years have revealed a statistically significant increased risk of hip fracture among them.

• Report: Circumcision May Prevent HIV. [CBS News] Male circumcision, if widely adopted in Africa, would prevent 3 million deaths over 20 years and would work as well as a moderately effective AIDS vaccine. These estimates are based on a 2005 clinical trial that found male circumcision reduces female-to-male spread of HIV — the AIDS virus — by 60%. Preventing HIV infection of men would slow HIV spread to women.

• Weight Loss Precedes Alzheimer's Diagnosis in Women. [Reuters.uk] Women destined to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease often show a reduction in body weight many years before symptom onset, new research shows. However, men who develop this neurologic disorder do not show any weight changes.

• Women at Greater Risk from Working Long Hours. [Globe and Mail, Canada] Women who work long hours are more likely than men to indulge in unhealthy behaviors, such as snacking, smoking and drinking caffeine, according to a new study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.

• They Got It Right About Women's Health. [Seattle Post Intelligencer] Two federal agencies actually got it right, for a change, in regards to women's health. Good medical science, it would appear, has won the day. It's a refreshing shift for far too many of this administration's federal agencies, which have put ideology ahead of science and health.