National Women's Health Report

December 2008: Women: Living Well & Aging Well

There's plenty you can do--and some things you can't--to soften the impact aging has on your body. Get expert advice on changes you can make today to improve your health in days to come.

October 2008: Pregnancy and Women Age 35+

The scoop on having a baby over 35, plus marriage and parenting and the latest in reproductive technology.

March 2008: Women & Anxiety Disorders

One in three women will experience an anxiety disorder in her lifetime. Learn what's new about effectively diagnosing and treating the disabling symptoms of these disorders.

December 2007: Women & Health Screenings

Nationwide, women tend to put preventive care like screening mammograms, colonoscopies Pap smears and other such testing on the back burner, even if they have good insurance.

November 2007: Complementary & Alternative Medicine for Women

More women�of all ages�than ever before are turning to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for their health needs.

September 2007: Women & Neurologic Conditions

Did you know that each year 46,000 more women than men experience a stroke?

June 2007: Women & Gastrointestinal Conditions

What are the latest diagnostic and treatment options for colon cancer, chronic constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis and other gastrointestinal conditions?

February 2007: Women & Lung Conditions

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in women, and nonsmoking women are two to three times more likely than men to get the disease--although doctors don't know why.

December 2006: Substance Abuse, Addiction & Women

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 12:00:01 GMT

The health effects of substance abuse and addiction and women rarely make the headlines, despite its devastating consequences. This issue of the National Women's Health Report explores how drugs and alcohol affect women differently than men; which drugs are the most likely to be abused by women young and old; and, which drug epidemic today remains a huge problem for pregnant women and their babies.

October 2006: Women & Obesity

This 8-page publication explores how being overweight affects women's health and what nationally recognized medical experts say can help women improve their health where weight is concerned. Of special interest are articles on obesity in children, women and metabolic syndrome, weight-loss medications and suggestions for making your health, not your weight, your focus.

September 2006: Autoimmune Diseases & Women's Health

Nearly all of them cause difficult-to-diagnose symptoms and most trigger significant health issues for the women who suffer from them.

June 2006: Women & HIV

Today, the face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is increasingly feminine-both worldwide and in the U.S. Twenty-seven percent of those with AIDS in the U.S today are women, compared to just seven percent in 1985. This article outlines the unique effects of HIV on women's health; how research is seeking to better understand and improve care for women with HIV; and what the future may promise in terms of prevention.

April 2006: Women & Healthy Vision

When it comes to vision, women don't see eye to eye with men. About two-thirds of the 3.4 million visually impaired people and two thirds of the one million blind people in the U.S. are women. And nearly all eye-related diseases and conditions, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma and cataracts, are more prevalent in females. Researchers aren't sure exactly why vision loss is more of a female problem, but some theories point to the tendency for women to live longer and to develop sight-threatening autoimmune diseases. What is known, however, is that 75 percent of eye problems can be prevented or corrected, primarily with lifestyle changes, says Ilene Gipson, PhD, a senior scientist at the Schepens Eye Research Institute, affiliated with Harvard Medical School in Boston. Long-term sun exposure is one of the most prevalent threats to sight. Wind, smoking, airplanes, computers and a poor diet can also contribute. Knowing how to defend your eyes against these threats, both in terms of lifestyle changes and proper eye protection, will help you see more clearly.

Special Issue: Women & Pregnancy

Between 1990 and 2003, the birth rate for women aged 40 to 44 jumped 58 percent, while the number of births to women aged 45 to 49 grew fourfold. That's just one change in the pregnancy/birth picture over the past decade. From newer, less invasive prenatal screening tests and genetic counseling, to cutting edge technology designed for surgery in utero, women have more to think about than ever before when planning a pregnancy. And, they have more choices. As with anything, our increasing reliance on technology has pros and cons, says Heather Reynolds, CNM, MSN, FACNM, a certified nurse midwife and associate professor at Yale Medical Center in New Haven, CT. "You always have to weigh the risks and benefits of any technology we use," she notes.