Category Archives: Women’s Health

Heart attack mortality is lower among menopausal women, compared to men. While menopause is a known risk factor for heart disease, the research study found women faced a lower risk of dying from a heart attack, compared to men. Unfortunately, the gender differences weren’t as significant among racial minority groups. The study involved 23,086 black ...click here to read more

Urinary incontinence in women can be treated effectively with pelvic floor muscle training. Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Carolyn M. Clancy said, “Urinary incontinence can affect women in a variety of ways, including physically, psychologically, and socially — and some of these impacts can be severe. This new report will help ...click here to read more

Stress urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women may be treated with a pill, which can potentially reduce urine leakage. The effects of medication is currently investigated by the researchers in the ongoing study. Principal investigator Dr. Kenneth Peters said, “Our hope is that this daily pill will enhance the pelvic floor muscle and reduce stress urinary ...click here to read more

Menopause seems to have an effect on cholesterol levels. While estrogen supports high levels of HDL (good) cholesterol during a woman’s reproductive years, once she goes through menopause, her estrogen levels decrease. So do the levels of HDL cholesterol, allowing for LDL levels to rise, thus increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Practicing ...click here to read more

Bladder problems commonly occur in women after menopause and can include urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, and prolapsed bladder. There are many reasons why bladder problems are more predominant after menopause, including a reduction in estrogen levels, along with the consequences of pregnancy and giving birth. Being aware of bladder problems can make you more ...click here to read more

Urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse awareness is lacking among most women. Knowing the signs and symptoms of these conditions can help start the treatment sooner, but unfortunately, many women are unfamiliar with these conditions and their symptoms, so treatment is often delayed. This lack of knowledge was seen to be more common ...click here to read more

Urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted infections in women are often misdiagnosed by emergency departments – in fact, nearly half of the times. Such misdiagnoses lead to misuse of antibiotics and an increase in antibiotic resistance. Lead researcher Michelle Hecker said, “Less than half the women diagnosed with a urinary tract infection actually had one. ...click here to read more

Weak bones are a common problem associated with aging. Women are particularly susceptible to osteoporosis, which can lead to fractures and disability. The key to strong bones is a combination of calcium and vitamin D, but recent research has uncovered that good bone health may actually begin in the gut. Soluble corn fiber helps support ...click here to read more

A large-scale study has concluded that oral estrogen therapy for menopausal women increases the risk of gallbladder surgery for gallstone disease. According to the study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), menopausal women who took estrogen through skin patches or gels as opposed to oral estrogen therapy didn’t seem to have an increased ...click here to read more

Pelvic organ prolapse risk raises with high body mass index (BMI) after pregnancy. Having a healthy BMI has been associated with overall good health, but having your BMI in the unhealthy range increases the risk of a number of various health issues, including heart problems – and organ prolapse. Maintaining a healthy BMI may also ...click here to read more

Women with urinary incontinence are more likely to experience depression, including postpartum depression. For the study, researchers followed middle-aged women with incontinence and found they are more likely to develop depression, compared to middle-aged women without incontinence. Researcher Jodie Avery said, “Women with both incontinence and depression scored lower in all areas of quality of ...click here to read more

Triglyceride levels in postmenopausal women may predict ischemic stroke risk more accurately than cholesterol. The study uncovered that common risk factors such as high cholesterol are not as effective in predicting the risk of stroke in postmenopausal women. The researchers suggest focusing on triglyceride levels instead for a more accurate risk estimate. Lead author Jeffrey ...click here to read more

When we talk about women’s health, we almost inevitably touch upon the subject of menopause. Although many women may be relieved they don’t have to experience their monthly period any longer, menopause comes with its own set of unpleasant symptoms, too. And hot flashes, night sweats, and hormonal fluctuations aside, menopause is also believed to ...click here to read more

Estrogen may help prevent recurrent urinary tract infections in post-menopausal women. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are particularly common in women, with 25 percent experiencing recurrent UTIs. Menopausal women are at a higher risk of UTIs, which has been shown to be linked to lower estrogen levels. When bacteria enter the bladder, antimicrobial peptides inside the ...click here to read more