Eight Facts to Know about Women's Health

"Women and girls face unique health challenges across their lifespans. Learn how some of these health conditions affect millions of women and girls each year.

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Two out of every three caregivers in the United States are women. Women who are caregivers have a greater risk for poor physical and mental health, including depression and anxiety. The COVID-19 pandemic can add even more stressors to the role of caregiving. Maintaining healthy behaviors, managing stress, and seeking extra support, are important, especially during COVID-19.

• Simple ways to maintain healthy behaviors include participating in regular exercise, practicing good sleep habits, and avoiding excessive alcohol.
• To help manage stress, caregivers should take breaks, make time to unwind, and consider respite careexternal icon as needed.
• Recognize when more help is needed. Support groups provide a safe place for people in similar situations to find comfort. Learn more about coping with stress during COVID-19.

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Asthma occurs more often in women than men. In 2019, the asthma rate was higher among non-Hispanic Black women, and lower among Hispanic women compared with non-Hispanic white women.

• Changing hormone levels during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause may make asthma symptoms worse in womenexternal icon. Asthma can also cause problems for women and their baby during pregnancy.
• Women’s lungs are smaller than men’s, which may make women more sensitive to asthma triggers and make it harder for women to breathe during an asthma attack.
• Persons with asthma should avoid asthma triggers. Known asthma triggers include but are not limited to pets, outdoor air pollution, mold, and tobacco smoke.
• Work with a doctor or health provider to develop an asthma action plan that will help to prevent and control asthma attacks..."
  Women's health 

Lower Your Risk for the Number 1 Killer of Women

"Learn about heart disease and women and what you can do to keep a healthy heart.

Get Informed: Facts on Women and Heart Disease

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States.
• Although heart disease is sometimes thought of as a “man’s disease,” around the same number of women and men die each year of heart disease in the United States.
• Some conditions and lifestyle choices increase a person’s chance for heart disease, including diabetes, overweight and obesity, poor diet, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use.
• High blood pressure, high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. LDL is considered the “bad” cholesterol because having high levels can lead to buildup in your arteries and result in heart disease and stroke. Controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol, not smoking, and regular physical activity will reduce your chances for heart disease..."

Women and Heart Disease

National Women's Health Week

"National Women's Health Week starts each year on Mother's Day and encourages women across the country to make their health a priority. Take these steps to live a safer and healthier life!

Get recommended screenings and preventive care

Take steps to protect your health by getting the care you need to prevent disease, disability, and injuries. Regular check-ups are important. Preventive care can keep disease away or detect problems early, when treatment is more effective. Talk to your health care provider to learn more about what screenings and exams you need and when..."
Women's Health

Women and Heart Health Awareness

"Although heart disease is sometimes thought of as a "man's disease," around the same number of women and men die each year of heart disease in the United States. Despite increases in awareness over the past decade, only 56 percent of women recognize that heart disease is their No. 1 killer. That's why it's important to know the signs and symptoms and how to lower your risk for heart disease..."
Women's heart health

Affordable Care Act Rules on Expanding Access to Preventive Services for Women
"...The Affordable Care Act – the health insurance reform legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010 – helps make prevention affordable and accessible for all Americans by requiring health plans to cover recommended preventive services without cost sharing.

Under the Affordable Care Act, women’s preventive health care services – such as mammograms, screenings for cervical cancer, and other services – are already covered with no cost sharing for new health plans. The Affordable Care Act also made recommended preventive services free for people on Medicare. However, the law recognizes and HHS understands the need to take into account the unique health needs of women throughout their lifespan.

On August 1, 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) adopted additional Guidelines for Women’s Preventive Services – including well-woman visits, support for breastfeeding equipment, contraception, and domestic violence screening – that will be covered without cost sharing in new health plans starting in August 2012. The guidelines were recommended by the independent Institute of Medicine (IOM) and based on scientific evidence..."
view full guidelines

Fertility of American Women, 2010
"Data on fertility of American women for the noninstitutionalized population are collected biannually in the June Current Population Survey (CPS) for the Nation. Detailed information from recent surveys and historical trends in selected tables are listed below. Data on children ever born and mothers’ age at last birth are collected for women 15 to 44 years old arom 1971 to present and are available at the national level. These data are the best source for historical trends in fertility. (Note: Reports from 1997 to present are currently on-line)..."

Healthcare Inspection: Primary Care Services for Women Veterans:Accessibility and Acknowledgement of Test Results
"Ensuring that women veterans receive comprehensive primary care services is a
fundamental goal for Veterans Health Administration (VHA). This review evaluated the
accessibility and acknowledgment of results of gender-specific tests provided at VHA
facilities or through fee basis arrangements.

We identified women veterans who had one of the following tests completed at VHA
facilities: Pap smears, bone mineral densitometry, and mammography. We also
identified women veterans who underwent mammography outside of VHA facilities
through fee basis arrangements.

During October 1 – December 31, 2008, 19,893 women veterans had at least one
outpatient visit at which one of the specified tests was performed. Medical records from
each of the defined populations of tested patients were randomly selected for review..."

National Women's Health Week, May 9-15, 2010
"National Women’s Health Week is a weeklong health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH). National Women’s Health Week empowers women to make their health a top priority. With the theme “It’s Your Time,” the nationwide initiative encourages women to take simple steps for a longer, healthier, and happier life. Important steps include:

Getting at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate physical activity,
1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or a combination of both each week
Eating a nutritious diet
Visiting a health care professional to receive regular checkups and preventive screenings
Avoiding risky behaviors, such as smoking and not wearing a seatbelt
Paying attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress

womenshealth.gov
"Welcome to the National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC), a service of the Office on Women's Health (OWH) in the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The Office on Women's Health (OWH) was established in 1991 within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its Vision is to ensure that "All Women and Girls are Healthier and Have a Better Sense of Well Being." Its mission is to "provide leadership to promote health equity for women and girls through sex/gender-specific approaches." The strategy OWH uses to achieve its mission and vision is through the development of innovative programs, by educating health professionals, and motivating behavior change in consumers through the dissemination of health information.

Don't forget to let us know how NWHIC can work better for you! After all, this national resource was designed to help ensure a healthier future for all American women."

Roadblocks to Health Care:Why the Current Health System Does Not Work for Women
"Women are more vulnerable to high health care costs than men.

Women’s reproductive health requires more regular contact with health care providers, including yearly pap smears, mammograms, and obstetric care.

Women are also more likely to report fair or poor health than men (9.5% versus 9.0%).

While rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are similar to men, women are twice as likely to suffer from headaches and are more likely to experience joint, back or neck pain.2 These chronic conditions often require regular and frequent treatment and follow-up care..."

Women's Health.gov:the National Women's Health Information Center
"The National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) is the most reliable and current information resource on women’s health today. We offer FREE women’s health information on more than 800 topics through our call center and web site."

Women's Health Calendar, 2009
"Our 2009 Women's Health Calendar offers information about common health problems and important symptoms to watch out for. You'll also find charts that describe the screenings and immunizations you need, tips on how to get a second opinion and how to read a drug label, and more – all in a handy, portable calendar you can keep with you year round!"

Marital Status is Associated With Health Insurance Coverage for Working-age Women at all Income Levels, 2007
"Key findings. Data from the National Health Interview Survey

Overall, unmarried (divorced or never married) women aged 25-64 years are more likely to be uninsured (21%) than married women (13%) in the same age group..

Poor married women are more likely to be uninsured than poor unmarried women, in part because they are less likely to have Medicaid coverage.

Married women are more likely to have private insurance, and less likely to have Medicaid, than unmarried women.

The probability of an offer of health insurance through an employer increases with family income for both married and unmarried women.

Marriage affects health insurance coverage. As marriage rates in the United States decline (1), fewer women will have the opportunity to obtain health insurance coverage through their spouse. Marriage can also increase family income and may make health insurance more affordable. Because poor and low-income unmarried women are more likely to be eligible for Medicaid than their married counterparts, changes in Medicaid eligibility may also affect coverage rates disproportionately for poor and low-income unmarried women."

Smoking Prevalence Among Women of Reproductive Age --- United States, 2006
"Cigarette smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the United States. Women of reproductive age (18--44 years) who smoke risk adverse pregnancy outcomes and adverse health consequences for themselves. They also are exposing their children to secondhand smoke and modeling behavior that will increase the likelihood that their children will become smokers. CDC analyzed state-specific prevalence of smoking and attempts to quit among women of reproductive age, using 2006 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The data indicated a six-fold difference between the state and territory with the highest and lowest prevalence (range: 5.8% [U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI)]--34.7% [Kentucky]). Among women of reproductive age, those aged 18--24 years were most likely to have attempted to quit (68.4%), but least likely to have quit smoking (26.3%). Successful prevention and cessation interventions for this group of women can protect their own and their children's health."