A growing body of evidence suggests the effects of mental health have a disproportionate impact on women’s bodies. Photo: Pexels (McKenzie Beard/ The Washington Post) — Dianne Travis-Teague remembers clutching her chest as she navigated the chaos of a crowded hospital parking lot, searching for a space amid the throng of vehicles. For weeks a clinic in her hometown of Santa Barbara had been telling her the chest pain was merely the result of anxiety or indigestion. At the emergency room, doctors quickly discovered that the two-time breast cancer survivor was having a heart attack. Surgery to u ..read more

Harvard researchers found that study participants found combining higher diet quality with higher olive oil consumption may provide an enhanced benefit in protecting against dementia. Photo: Pexels (Leslie Beck/ The Globe and Mail) — The Mediterranean diet has been tied to numerous health advantages, with evidence particularly strong for its heart health benefits. A growing body of research also suggests that adhering to the plant-forward eating pattern helps guard against cognitive decline and dementia. Now, new study findings suggest that a hallmark ingredient of the Mediterranean diet – oli ..read more

Woman holding birth control (Tina Dawn/ VM-Med) –– In today’s world, women who don’t wish to currently conceive a child have a variety of contraceptive options available to them. Different methods of birth control work in different ways, and some methods are better at preventing pregnancy than others. From barrier methods, like condoms, to long-term hormonal methods like the patch or an IUD, or short-term hormonal methods like the contraceptive ring, women can choose what best suits their lifestyle, their age, and their health history. One of the most popular contraceptive methods for both the ..read more

 Woman suffering from ovarian cancer (Tina Dawn/VM-Med) –– Ovarian cancer has often been referred to as the “cancer that whispers.” What that means is that due to its vague symptoms that are often not manifested until it’s metastatic and a late-stage disease, ovarian cancer remains one of the most challenging cancers to diagnose and treat. This also explains why it’s the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among women and the deadliest of gynecologic cancers. Ovarian cancer often doesn’t produce symptoms that one particularly notices or are cause for concern in the early stages. M ..read more

As expected, vaccinated women had a lower risk of developing cervical cancer within at least five years of getting the shots.  Photo: Pexels (Karla K. Johnson/ Time Magazine) — New research suggests the HPV vaccine is preventing cancer in men, as well as in women, but fewer boys than girls are getting the shots in the United States. The HPV vaccine was developed to prevent cervical cancer in women and experts give it credit, along with screening, for lowering cervical cancer rates. Evidence that the shots are preventing HPV-related cancers in men has been slower to emerge, but t ..read more

Among those diagnosed with postnatal depression, 30 to 60 per cent present symptoms in the prenatal period. Photo: Pexels (The Canadian Press/ CTV News Health) — A tool to support new parents when they encounter emotional challenges during and after pregnancy was launched Monday morning. Quebec Minister responsible for Social Services Lionel Carmant made the announcement at the Sainte-Justine Hospital in Montreal. According to the Observatory for Children’s Education and Health, problems of sadness, anxiety or depressive symptoms during pregnancy are among the most frequent complications ..read more

As we age, we need good functional strength exercises that are challenging muscles to build up those muscle fibers. Photo: Pexels (Lauren Finney Harden/ Well + Good) — You’re experiencing telltale symptoms like hot flashes, irritability, trouble sleeping, and weight gain, and even hot ears or itchy breasts. But you’re not old enough to be in menopause, you think—and you’re still getting your monthly cycle, for that matter. It could be perimenopause, the period before the cessation of your menstruation, says nurse practitioner Daniela Ezratty, MSN, ACNP-BC, of Ezratty Integrative Aest ..read more

A woman in pain due to ectopic pregnancy,  in consultation with a doctor taking notes (Tina Dawn/ VM-Med) — Finding out you are pregnant can be both an exciting and unnerving time, as you can worry about your and your baby’s health. It’s important to remember that most pregnancies progress without incident, but minor or even major complications can occur for some. One of those complications is an ectopic pregnancy. If you’re pregnant, you should understand what this serious complication is, how to detect something that may be wrong, and how best to manage it. An ectopic pregnancy occurs w ..read more

Breast cancer treatment can leave you feeling like you’re living in a stranger’s body. But there are ways to get your sex life back. Photo: Pexels (Abby McCoy/ Everyday Health) — If you’ve recently gone through lifesaving breast cancer treatment, you may be looking forward to better days ahead. But as you try to get back to “normal life,” you might notice a change in your libido. “Cancer treatment across the board can take a significant toll on the body, and breast cancer is no different,” says Gabriel Cartagena, PhD, a clinical psychologist at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven and ..read more

Women are twice as likely as men to develop Alzheimer’s disease. New research provides a clue about why. Photo: Pexels (Laurel Leicht, Sarah Ellis/ Health Central) — If you’re a living, breathing human being, chances are you know someone affected by Alzheimer’s disease. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, killing more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Currently, more than five million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is projected to grow to nearly 14 million by the year 2050. Women are twice as likely as men to develop Alzh ..read more