Deaths from painkiller overdoses rise sharply among women
Posted by on July 13, 2013 - 2:11pm

The number of prescription painkiller overdose deaths increased five fold among women between 1999 and 2010, according to a Vital Signs report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While men are more likely to die of a prescription painkiller overdose, since 1999 the percentage increase in deaths was greater among women (400 percent in women compared to 265 percent in men). Prescription painkiller overdoses killed nearly 48,000 women between 1999 and 2010.

“Prescription painkiller deaths have skyrocketed in women (6,600 in 2010), four times as many as died from cocaine and heroin combined,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Stopping this epidemic in women – and men – is everyone’s business. Doctors need to be cautious about prescribing and patients about using these drugs.”

The study includes emergency department visits and deaths related to drug misuse/abuse and overdose, as well as analyses specific to prescription painkillers. The key findings include:

  • About 42 women die every day from a drug overdose.
  • Since 2007, more women have died from drug overdoses than from motor vehicle crashes.
  • Drug overdose suicide deaths accounted for 34 percent of all suicides among women compared with 8 percent among men in 2010.
  • More than 940,000 women were seen in emergency departments for drug misuse or abuse in 2010.

These startling numbers also emphasize the need for more sex based research in drug development.  Too often drugs are only tested in males, especially at the animal level, opening the door to more adverse side effects eventually reported by women.   We already know that some drugs work differently in men and women and there is a move to provide separate male/female prescribing instructions that could alleviate some misuse!!!

Violence Against Women is a Global Epidemic
Posted by on July 11, 2013 - 2:10pm

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a report on the global prevalence and impact of violence against women, and found it to be a “global health problem of epidemic proportions.” The report includes data on violence against women by intimate partners and sexual violence against women by non-partners. The report also examines the effect violence has on other aspects of women’s health.

By studying data from across the world, WHO researchers found that about 35% of all women will experience violence in their lives from either intimate partners or non-partners. Violence inflicted by intimate partners is more prevalent worldwide, with 30% of women affected.

In addition to injury and death, violence against women results in other physical and mental problems. For example, women who have undergone partner violence are almost twice as likely to experience depression or have an alcohol-use problem than women who have not been subject to violence. Additionally, women who experience violence are more likely to acquire a sexually transmitted disease, have an unwanted pregnancy, and receive an abortion. Violence against women also affects the next generation, as studies show women who experience violence are 16% more likely to have a low birth-weight baby. Click here for additional statistics.

The report points out that steps need to be taken throughout the world to prevent future violence against women, but also improve the treatment of women who have already experienced violence. Dr Claudia Garcia-Moreno of the WHO states that “violence greatly increases women’s vulnerability to a range of short- and long-term health problems; [the report] highlights the need for the health sector to take violence against women more seriously,” and that many healthcare workers don’t know how to respond to cases of violence. However, to make a significant change, the social and cultural factors behind violence against women must be addressed.

Source: "WHO report highlights violence against women as 'global health problem of epidemic proportions." WHO Media Centre. 20 June 2013.

Annoying Thyroid? Stats and Symptoms of Thyroid Disease
Posted by on July 8, 2013 - 10:13am

For such a little organ, the thyroid gland sure can cause a lot of trouble.   This small, butterfly-shaped gland controls nearly all of your body’s metabolic processes by secreting different kinds of hormones. Almost 60 million Americans are estimated to have some sort of thyroid problem and a vast majority of these individuals don’t even realize it.

Women have a much greater chance of developing thyroid disease than men—researchers estimate that women are 6-8 times more likely to develop thyroid conditions in their lifetimes.

Thyroid disease can refer to anything from hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) to thyroid nodules to thyroid cancer. The first step in understanding the thyroid and your personal risk factor is to educate yourself on the different types. Pay special attention to the symptoms and see which ones apply to you.

Some of the most common symptoms include:

  • Persistent weakness or pain in the muscles and joints
  • Hair loss
  • Sudden changes in weight
  • Inexplicable mood changes, especially depression
  • Irregular menstruation
  • Irregular bowel movements (constipation or diarrhea)
  • Neck swelling

If you are experiencing several of these symptoms, a TSH screening is good place to start; this simple blood test determines how well your thyroid is functioning.

Once you are diagnosed with a thyroid disorder, there are several treatment options ranging from surgery (for cancer, goiters, and nodules) to drug therapy. Just know that there are several treatment options to choose from and that (most importantly) you are not alone.

Guest Author: Carolyn Heintz is a nutritionist, freelance writer and mother who has dedicated her life to building a comprehensive knowledge of how to eat, exercise, and live well. In her spare time, she runs her personal health and wellness blog.

50 and Fabulous: New Menopause Website Empowers Women to Combat Menopausal Symptoms
Posted by on June 28, 2013 - 8:32am

Do you have questions about menopause? Are you ever curious about hormone therapy treatments? You’re not alone!  Every year over two million women in America alone enter into menopause, and most have questions.  The Women’s Health Research Institute wants to provide answers with the creation of a new website: menopausenu.org.  This new site is tailored to the needs of women, offering up-to-date information on menopause and symptom management.  The site even offers a personalized “Menopause Self Assessment,” which enables women to evaluate their own symptoms and health status that they can then print out and share with their healthcare providers.

Menopause marks the transition in every woman’s life when menstruation and fertility decline and eventually end.  Menopause symptoms affect women differently, so treatments vary from woman to woman.  The many stages of menopause may seem overwhelming, but women should find comfort in the numerous treatment options developed by leading researchers and clinicians.  Empowering women with educated choices regarding their health provides them with the tools to live longer and stronger in their journey during and after menopause. Click here to learn more about menopause and the different ways you can navigate your menopausal transition.

 

New Surgical Probe Reduces Multiple Lumpectomies in Breast Cancer Patients
Posted by on June 27, 2013 - 2:21pm

There’s a new “toy” in the surgical wing at the UC Irvine Medical Center that’s causing surgical oncologists to perform 56% less duplicate breast cancer surgeries.  It’s called MarginProbe, and it detects whether surgeons have removed all of a woman’s breast cancer cells during surgery, reducing the necessity of a second operation.  This sterile, handheld device sends electromagnetic signals to the bodily tissues surrounding a surgical incision, which are then transmitted and analyzed to determine whether any unhealthy tissue remains in the breast.

Before this device, 60% of lumpectomy patients were sent back to the operating room because some cancerous tissue was missed in the initial surgery.  Furthermore, these patients would have had to wait up to a week before pathologists could determine whether all malignant cells were removed.  Now, with MarginProbe, the tissue is analyzed instantaneously, while the patient is still in surgery, increasing the surgeon’s likelihood of eradicating the cancerous cells on the first try.

One surgical oncologist at UC Irvine, who had begun using the probe in March, said, “This new technology is a game changer for early-stage breast cancer surgery, and we’re already seeing better results!”  With lumpectomies serving as the standard procedure for two-thirds of the new breast cancer cases each year, this probe is bound to make a large splash in the effective treatment “pool.”  The FDA eagerly approved the MarginProbe after Dune Medical Devices developed the prototype in 2012.  UC Irvine was selected to use MargineProbe in a clinical trial, which included over 660 women nationally.  Well on its way to becoming a staple in the oncologist’s tool belt, the MarginProbe also promises to reduce healthcare costs by decreasing the necessity of follow-up surgeries, saving up to $6,000 per patient.  This new probe will prove to be instrumental in providing high quality patient care for women afflicted with breast cancer.

Source: HealthlineNews

 

Vegetarianism: Men and women alike?
Posted by on June 24, 2013 - 2:58pm

 

The connection between what we eat and mortality rates come as no surprise, but does changing our diet really give us a better chance of survival? According to a study by JAMA International Medicine, there is a correlation between a vegetarian diet and a longer life. However, the study also showed a difference between men and women (25-older). The study took place  in the US and Canada over a period of 6 years where the diets of 73,000 participants were observed. This community had even amounts of vegetarians and non-vegetarians. After the span of the 6 years there were a total of 2,570 deaths and the results then provided that participants with a vegetarian diet were 12% less likely to die. The study went in further to this particular statistic and found that the mortality rate was still higher for women despite the fact that they were vegetarian.

This is not to say that a vegetarian diet does not impact or influence women's health. It is always suggested to maintain a healthy lifestyle no matter what your age or gender may be. Being aware of your diet, communicating with your doctor about your health and staying active still remain for a healthier and longer life.

To read the entire study results, click here.

Are Emergency Contraceptive Pills Too Taboo for the Social Media Market?
Posted by on June 24, 2013 - 2:52pm

Many women don’t have all the facts when unprotected sex occurs.  Emergency contraceptive methods represent evolving and scientifically viable options for many women, yet are not adequately marketed to the public.  Emergency Contraceptive Pills (EPCs) offer women a fast and private over-the-counter option to use after unprotected sex.  With the multitude of contraceptive agents on the market, EPCs would seemingly be added to the marketing of family planning initiatives.  Yet, surprisingly, EPCs are not marketed effectively, and many women who may wish to consider EPCs as a last-resort option do not have sufficient access to this information.

Elizabeth Westley and Tara Shochet investigate this informational gap in their article Social Marketing of Emergency Contraception: Are We Missing a Valuable Opportunity?  In their attempt to understand this dilemma, they conducted a survey of four social marketing organizations that focused on contraceptive products.  These four organizations were DKT International, Marie Stopes International, Population Services International, and ProSalud Inter Americana; Westley and Shochet identified sub-programs housed under these organizations to get a large enough sample size for their research.  After extensive correspondence, they found that of the 100 programs they documented that focused on family planning, only 33% of them had substantial emergency contraceptive programs.  With data showing that, since 2005, ECPs sales have increased by roughly 7 million, it is difficult to understand why organizations are failing to develop EC programs when there is a clear consumer demand.

Policy barriers, funding difficulties, and lack of knowledge about emergency contraceptives contribute to the underdeveloped nature of EC initiatives.  Court rulings impact the accessibility and sales of emergency contraceptives, and political and non-political groups alike often campaign with anti-EC messages, deeming the issue too “politically sensitive” for many family planning organizations.  Funding and lack of knowledge or awareness about EC go hand-in-hand, since donors typically prefer supporting what is familiar and non-controversial.  Despite these barriers, emergency contraceptives must be effectively marketed to educate the majority of women in developing countries who are unaware of emergency contraceptives.  Furthermore, providing useful and accurate information to women about all their contraceptive options allow women, globally, the right to choose their contraceptive method from a range of alternatives.

Medication during pregnancy: How much do we know?
Posted by on June 24, 2013 - 12:02pm

The answer to this question actually remains unclear. In a country where over 4 million women become pregnant and give birth, there is still no definitive answer regarding the safety of consuming medication during pregnancy.

According to an article in Nature, the reason for this lack of knowledge is due to the discrimination of pregnant women entering biomedical research trials, despite the fact that the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences states eligibility for these women. The real concern entering into the research trials is of course the health of the fetus. In the past thirty years medication administration has increased by 60% and 95% of those medications have been labeled “undetermined” for fetal risk due to a lack of tangible research.

Many pregnant women are under the misconception that testing medication is more dangerous and threatening than consuming medication that has already been approved by the FDA. However, as suggested in the Nature article, it is much safer to test medications in a trial because it is more controlled and thoroughly monitored.

There are many pregnant women who are ill and become pregnant or are pregnant and become ill and the medical world needs to gain better resources to help these women. The only way sufficient information about consuming medications during pregnancy can be provided to the population of pregnant women is to have them more involved in these trials. Until more evidence is gathered, there are other methods to making sure which medications are safe to take during pregnancy. The FDA labels their medications with letter grades (A,B,X) that appropriately address the possible effects, from least to most, if taken while pregnant. All this information is accessible online or through your doctor.

 

Certain Allergies More Prevalent in Women
Posted by on June 21, 2013 - 8:33am

Most people assume seasonal allergies are prevalent during the spring months, when pollen counts are high. While these types of allergies are a serious concern for many women that have them, women have unique challenges when it comes to allergies that men may not face.

It may take some work on your part, but once you understand the common allergens that affect most women, it is entirely possible to avoid the symptoms that these allergies cause.

Makeup

Whether you wear makeup every single day or just for special occasions, there’s a chance that you could have (or may have already) an allergic reaction as a result of a product you’re currently using. While not all women are allergic to the same products, there may be an ingredient in a particular product you use regularly that could cause irritation.

Eye makeup is particularly problematic for many women; if redness, itching or watering eyes is a common experience for you, consider switching to a different water-based brand to combat the problem.

Base makeup, such as a primer, foundation or blush, can also cause skin allergies. Trying a different brand, particularly a mineral-based product, can help, but it’s not guaranteed to solve the problem. If switching to a new product doesn’t reduce your allergy symptoms, you may need to rely solely on makeup that is hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic and  are less likely to cause allergic reactions or skin breakouts.

Removing your makeup before bed and going extended periods of time of not applying makeup can also be helpful. One of the best things you can do for your skin is to just let it breathe.

Nasal Allergies

Pollen and pet dander are the most common causes of nasal allergies, but many women are mildly allergic to the perfume or body spray that they use on a regular basis. If you find yourself sneezing regularly or unable to breathe clearly, consider switching scents.  Making this slight change to your beauty routine could be beneficial to your health.

However, finding a different fragrance may not completely help your nasal allergies, especially if you also have a mild pollen or dander allergy. To relieve these symptoms, one of the best options you have is a vaporizer that you can use during the day, when you’re home and at night when you’re sleeping. Vaporizers work by converting water into a warm mist that’s released into the air, clearing many of the symptoms of nasal allergies. Vaporizers are also quite cost-effective, and there’s even some evidence that these devices may be beneficial for your overall skin health when used regularly.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy can also bring on allergies in many women, even if they didn’t have them before. The most common allergies pregnant women experience are those related to pet dander, dust, pollen and fungus, but allergies to makeup and scents (that were so minimal they weren’t noticed before) may become apparent and bothersome.

Avoiding makeup or switching products is ideal, and using a vaporizer to deal with nasal allergies can be helpful as well.

Marcela De Vivo is freelance writer from Southern California and the founder of Gryffin Media. Her writing covers a range of health topics, including tips for healthy eating, personal fitness, skin care and holistic medicine.

Female Genital Mutilation: Analyzing its Culture and Consequences
Posted by on June 21, 2013 - 8:32am

Surfacing research proves the Sub-Saharan African traditions of Female Genital Mutilation and Female Genital Cutting (FGM/FGC) lead to long-term health consequences. Such health problems are found to impact the delivery and health of newborns.  Researchers and anthropologists from the Autonomus University of Barcelona collected data from 588 females in The Gambia.  Data were carefully gathered through questionnaires and physical examinations of the female patients, and analyzed with 95% confidence intervals. The results showed that 75.6% of the women had undergone FGM or FGC, and these women had a significantly higher prevalence of health problems including dysmenorrhea, vulvar or vaginal pain, fibrosis, keloid, synechia, and sexual dysfunction.  Furthermore, research showed these women were four times more likely to experience delivery complications such as perineal tear, obstructed labor, episiotomy, cesarean-necessitated delivery, and stillbirth.

The Foundation for Research on Women’s Health reported that seven of The Gambia’s nine ethnic groups practice FGM or FGC on girls between the ages of 10 and 15.  Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting occurs in four types.  Type I is a partial clitoridectomy, Type II is a full removal of the clitoris, Type III is a partial or full excision of the external genitalia, and Type IV is vaginal sealing.  While FGM and FGC are not common in many parts of the world, The Gambia sees these practices as rooted in customs and traditions dependent upon ethnic, religious, and cultural foundations.  Culturally, these practices are seen as “rites of passage” into womanhood, and guarantee a woman’s sexual purity, as pleasure is removed from the woman’s body.

Alternatively, FGM and FGC have been internationally recognized as violations of women’s rights and cruel discriminations against women.  Furthermore, since these practices are almost always carried out on minors, sometimes without parental consent, issues of children’s rights also come into play.  The World Health Organization characterized these practices as violating “a person’s rights to health, security, and physical integrity” as well as “the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” especially when these practices frequently lead to death or long-term health problems.

While it is difficult to impose regulations on cultural traditions so foreign to the Western world, it is important to document the surfacing research that points to the long-term hazards that accompany these practices.  The next steps should be educational outreaches informing the women of The Gambia of the dangers involved with FGM and FGC. This way, they may best make decisions to protect their reproductive health while preserving and respecting their cultural identity.

Sources: Dovepress, The UN Refugee Agency, and The World Health Organization

 

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