Women/Women's Health Issues Articles

New research suggests that a woman’s level of physical activity is a better sign than body weight of existing coronary artery disease and future heart problems. The study, which appeared in the September 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (2004; 292 [10], 1179–87), examined 906 women who had chest pain, suspected narrowing of the coronary arteries, o...

Moms (and dads) who want to find out what their kids are eating at school have a new weapon in their arsenal. MyNutriKids monitors what your children consume in the cafeteria. Sign up at www.mynutrikids.com....

Caffeine can be your enemy if you are pregnant, says a new study that appeared in the March issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Too much caffeine can increase the risk of miscarriage—even if you have no previous history of this problem. Researchers found that a caffeine intake of more than 200 milligrams (mg) per day ...

Regular participation in a pre/postnatal exercise program has many benefits for a woman. Research has demonstrated that pregnant and postpartum women who exercise at a mild to moderate intensity at least three times per week experience increased cardiovascular fitness, improved well-being, reduced constipation, fewer leg cramps and a quicker return to prepregnancy weight compared with their non...

Although many women worry about their risk of getting breast cancer, heart disease is actually the leading killer of females in America. Not only does heart disease kill more women than men each year (Thom et al. 2006), but females who survive a cardiac event fare much worse than their male counterparts (Blomkalns et al. 2005). Yet many women and their physicians fail to recognize the toll that...

Are you pregnant? Congratulations! As you are finding out, pregnancy is one of the most meaningful and remarkable experiences in a woman’s life. Physical radiance, the surge of endorphins and excitement about motherhood are among the most enjoyable benefits. However, pregnancy is also physically and emotionally taxing. The good news is that exercise can help. Many women with...

Based on the findings of a recent study regarding gestational weight gain and childhood obesity, health experts may need to revise long-standing guidelines on how much weight gain is healthy for women during pregnancy. The purpose of the study, published in the April issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, was to examine the relationship between a mother&rsquo...

More and more women are seeking rejuvenation in body-mind retreats that cater to women’s interests. Yoga was originally an all-male activity. Today, 77% of American practitioners are women, according to the 2005 Yoga in America Survey from Yoga Journal. Women-only retreats focus on issues unique to women’s bodies and nurture the expression of female energy. Exa...

While there are numerous tai chi styles, only one is designed exclusively for women. Mulan quan (or chuan) is a modern form of tai chi created for women by a female tai chi master, Sifu Mei Fing Ying. Literally translated, mulan quan means “wooden orchid fist”; the style, however, is named after Hua Mulan, a brave young woman who took her aging father’s place in...

Till now, studies of CAM use by people with cancer have not focused specifically on women with lung cancer. However, a new study by researchers from several nursing schools throughout the United States and from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston surveyed 189 women with non–small cell lung cancer to determine their use of six complementary and alternative therapies.