A hike in your blood pressure during middle age significantly raises the risk of having a heart attack or a stroke during your lifetime, according to new Northwestern Medicine research. The study offers a new understanding on the importance of maintaining…
Remember when road rage was mainly triggered by rush hour traffic? Recently, I was driving in local traffic near the university when a car in front of me was signaling left and made a sudden move to the RIGHT lane. Okay,…
Half of all stillbirths result from pregnancy disorders and conditions that affect the placenta, according to a new report. Risk factors already known at the start of pregnancy—such as previous pregnancy loss or obesity—accounted for only a small proportion of the…
Typical Turkish Spread
The Turkish people love to eat! My husband and I just spent 8 days visiting this interesting country and noticed that very few individuals were obese (or even overweight). There is fast food in the cities but…
Why do so many postmenopausal women who are treated for estrogen-sensitive breast cancer quit using drugs that help prevent the disease from recurring?
The first study to actually ask the women themselves — as well as the largest, most scientifically rigorous study…
Dr. Woodruff (in the red jacket) meets with President Obama
Teresa Woodruff, Director of the Institute for Women’s Health Research (creator of this blog site) and the Thomas J. Watkins Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine,…
Women who worked a rotating night shift had an increased risk of type 2 diabetes that was not completely explained by an increase in body mass index (BMI), according to results of a prospective study of women who were enrolled in…
Women were nine times more likely to develop takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC), or “broken heart syndrome,” than men, and older women more likely than younger, researchers found.
In a database that included 6,178 women, those older than 55 were 4.6 times more likely…
While mammograms certainly play an important role in the early detection of breast cancer (and women have responded to this selling point), when weighed against other issues related to quality of life, this benefit becomes the question of debate among the…
Handling holiday stress is the focus of this month’s e-newsletter from the Institute for Women’s Health Research and can be accessed by clicking HERE. It addresses why stress is handled differently in men and women.
We also thought the following tips on…
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today overruled federal drug regulators to block wider access to the emergency contraceptive known as Plan B.
A panel of scientists at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that Plan…
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission said over-the-counter weight loss products containing human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) are fraudulent and illegal, and the agencies have told seven manufacturers to stop selling them. They have become a popular…
Women who drank at least four cups of coffee daily had a 25% lower risk of endometrial cancer as compared with women who consumed less, data from a large prospective cohort study showed.
The apparent benefit was limited to regular coffee, as…
A new study that takes a complete snapshot of adolescent cardiovascular health in the United States reveals a dismal picture of teens likely to die of heart disease at a younger age than adults do today, reports Northwestern Medicine research.
“We are…
Today, World AIDS Day, is a good time to reflect on how this disease effects women since it’s discovery in 1981. HIV incidence among women increased gradually until the late 1980s, declined during the early 1990s, and has remained relatively stable…
As the City of Chicago and the nation mourns the death of former first lady of Chicago, Maggie Daley, I reflect on a lesser known aspect of this remarkable woman. Yes, she is well known for her strong support of the…
A new report from the US government released today warns that energy drinks are sending an alarming number of people to emergency rooms.
In 2009, US emergency rooms treated almost 10 times more cases of reactions to beverages such as Monster, Red…
Women who regularly drink sugary beverages may be increasing their cardiovascular risk, researchers found. A longitudinal study showed that those who reported drinking at least two sugar-sweetened beverages every day were more likely to gain weight, increase waist size, and develop…
The Old--remember these?
Remember those weight loss machines that consisted of a vibrating belt you put around your waist? They were often part of a comedy routine on early TV. Well, they are back in the form of a whole body vibration…
In 2020, the vast majority of adults in America will be overweight or obese and more than half will suffer from diabetes or pre-diabetic conditions, according to projections presented by Northwestern Medicine researchers at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions…
The birth rate for U.S. teens aged 15–19 years hit a record low in 2010, according to a report released on November 17, 2011 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Births: Preliminary Data for 2010,” from CDC’s National Center…
November 17, 2011
Last August, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a proposed rule containing the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation that health plans cover the full range of FDA-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling for…
Are you curious about deep frying a turkey? I know you are! You’ve heard all the talk about how tasty they are; tender and juicy yet crispy on the outside. You’ve seen the turkey fryers and giant jugs of peanut oil.…
Among patients with type 2 diabetes, women were more likely to have risk factors for chronic kidney disease than men, which may also put them at risk for poorer outcomes, according to at study reported at the American Society of Nephrology…
This sounds like a headline that Jay Leno would satirize on his late night show! Low-income women with children who move from high-poverty to lower-poverty neighborhoods experience notable long-term improvements in diabetes and extreme obesity, according to a new study. …
WHSP students in surgery simulation lab
The Women’s Health Science Program for High School Girls developed by our Institute for Women’s Health Research has just been awarded the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring by President Barack…
So you’re flocking to online dating sites with a wish list of ideal traits that you desire in a mate. Not so fast! Once you actually meet a potential dating partner, those ideals are likely to fall by the wayside, according…
In a world of predators, who is responsible for keeping our children safe? A major new nationwide study released November 1 , 2011 shows that many parents know that their underage children are on Facebook in violation of the site’s…
November is National Diabetes Month and World Diabetes Day is Nov. 14. Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes, and more than one-quarter of them do not know it. Left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious complications, such as heart disease, stroke,…
Today’s athletic high school girls “got game” on the basketball court and soccer field, but they are at a greater risk for sports-related knee injuries than their male counterparts.
In a new study from Northwestern Medicine, focused on predominantly low-income, urban female…
Consumers are often frustrated when they hear the results of research studies that indicate a “maybe” rather than a definitive answer. Here’s an interesting study that demonstrates the long road researchers often have to take. On the other hand, trial and…
Before and after a brazilian blowout treatment used to smooth hair
FDA has received a number of inquiries from consumers and salon professionals concerning the safety of “Brazilian Blowout” and similar “professional use only” hair smoothing products. The U.S. Occupational Safety and…
Heart disease affects men and women in different ways. In women, symptoms of burgeoning heart disease are often more insidious, but when a heart attack strikes, it is more lethal than it is in men. Roughly 25 percent of men will…
Are you or a family member at risk for osteoporosis–a serious, potentially debilitating condition more prevalent in women? Over the past decade a number of treatments have become available including bisphosphonates. An excellent one-page summary of benefits and risks is now…
A recent UT Southwestern Medical Center study found that estrogen regulates energy expenditure, appetite and body weight, while insufficient estrogen receptors in specific parts of the brain may lead to obesity.
“Estrogen has a profound effect on metabolism,” said Dr. Deborah Clegg,…
Next time you get a haircut, you might end up with a referral to a dermatologist.
A recent survey of Texas hair salons found more than a third of stylists check at least half of their customers for suspicious moles on the…
Gender Differences in Blood Pressure Appears As Early As Adolescence, With Girls Faring Worse
The female hormone estrogen is known to offer protection for the heart, but obesity may be taking away that edge in adolescent girls. New research from the University…
As it turns out, you really can overdose on candy—or, more precisely, black licorice. Black licorice is an old fashioned treat that can be harmful if you eat too much. If you’re 40 or older, eating 2 ounces of black licorice…
Yoga can relieve lower back pain, but it’s the stretching that helps, not the meditation. A new study found that yoga and regular stretching were equally effective at improving lower back pain symptoms, suggesting that the mindfulness promoted by yoga doesn’t…
Women who take angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to treat high blood pressure in the first trimester of their pregnancies are at no greater risk of having babies with birth defects than are women who take other types of high blood pressure…
Wouldn’t it be cool to have Twilight vampire eyes for Halloween? Or deep violet eyes to match your purple sweater? How about your favorite sports team’s logo on your eyes just for fun?
You can have all of these looks with decorative…
Contrary to popular belief that estrogen is a risk factor for stroke at all ages, researchers found that the sex hormone actually may prevent strokes in premature or early menopausal women. For the research, published in the journal Menopause, Mayo Clinic…
Recent Height Loss Predicts Hip Fracture Risk in Elderly, says Institute for Aging Research Study–Simple Measurement May Help Protect Seniors from Major Public Health Threat
Elderly men and women who lost height over a two-year period are up to 54 percent more…
Smoking is definitely a risk factor for heart disease but until recently it was not known if this risk was higher in women. Study results published in Lancet in August 2011 suggest that the risk of heart disease due to smoking…
Many women over 50 continue to have an active sex life but most of the messages and campaigns about safe sex are aimed at younger generations. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Affairs (no pun intended) stresses the need…
An article published in the Chicago Tribune discussed the findings from a recent study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research which found an association between high stress levels and aggressive forms of breast cancer, and that black and Latina…
Recently, I attended the meeting of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) in Washington DC along with 1500 other health professionals. The bottom line: Estrogen is not the devil, but it is not the panacea for all things female!
When the large…
Ladies, share this blog with the men in your life. Long-term adminstration of the dietary supplement saw palmetto, even at three times the usual dose, did not reduce symptoms of prostate enlargement significantly better than placebo in a large group of…
In one of the largest genomic studies ever, an international research consortium identified 29 genetic variations that influence blood pressure. More than half of these variants were previously unknown. The findings provide insights into the biology of blood pressure and may…
[09-26-2011] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is informing the public that it has not yet reached a conclusion, but remains concerned, about the potential increased risk of blood clots with the use of drospirenone-containing birth control pills. FDA has…
A drug used to treat cancer may also be effective in diseases that cause scarring of the internal organs or skin, such as pulmonary fibrosis or scleroderma.
The drug, with the generic name bortezomib, stopped the production of fibrotic proteins in human…
African-American men living in areas with low sunlight are up to 3 ½ times more likely to have Vitamin D deficiency than Caucasian men and should take high levels of Vitamin D supplements, according to a new study from Northwestern University…
SEND US YOUR IDEAS! Being healthy and safe takes commitment, but it doesn’t have to be time-consuming, painful, or boring. Most things are simple and take so little time that you’ll wonder why you’ve been avoiding them. Even small steps can…
Factoids on headaches!
Headaches account for more than 3 million emergency department visits annually in the U.S., and of those, about 81,000 result in hospital stays.
In 2008, the highest rate of emergency department visits for headaches involved people ages 18 to 44.…
Researchers have converted stem cells from the human endometrium into insulin-producing cells and transplanted them into mice to control the animals’ diabetes. The endometrium, or uterine lining, is a source of adult stem cells. Normally, these cells generate uterine tissue each…
Where do you get your health information? Doctors are often too busy to spend much time on preventive care. The internet is alive with personal and commercial blogs on the latest health fads. And most recently, politicians are getting into…
Menopause has little to no impact on whether women become more susceptible to diabetes, according to a one-of-a-kind study.
Postmenopausal women had no higher risk for diabetes whether they experienced natural menopause or had their ovaries removed, according to the national clinical…
The following blog is excerpted from a Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) blog and raises important issues regarding genomic (genetic) testing.
Campaigns against public spitting in the 19th century were largely driven by concerns about the spread of tuberculosis. However,…
A new Northwestern University study provides compelling evidence that human males are biologically wired to care for their offspring, conclusively showing for the first time that fatherhood lowers a man’s testosterone levels. So guys, there is no excuse for not pitching…
No bones about it: eating prunes helps prevent fractures and osteoporosis. When it comes to improving bone health in postmenopausal women — and people of all ages, actually — a Florida State University researcher has found a simple, proactive solution to…