English + Infographic text Obesity is clinically defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. But managing this medical condition is about much more than a number on a scale. BMI Isn’t Everything BMI can be used as a screening tool, but it does not tell the whole story about the health of an individual. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have questions about your BMI. Did you know? Although healthy eating and physical activity are important for weight management or weight loss, some people may need additional tools. ¿Qué son los biofármacos? Un biofármaco es un medicamento hecho ..read more

April is National Minority Mental Health Month. A woman of color begins suffering from depression after hearing jokes about her ethnicity on a regular basis at work. Another woman feels anxious when she drives too close to a police cruiser. Yet another woman stops taking her regular walks outside, fearful that her race might make her a target for violence. All three scenarios can be considered examples of racial trauma — the emotional response resulting from negative experiences that happen because of a person’s race. Racial or race-based trauma can have a significant impact on mental, emoti ..read more

Scrolling though #birthcontrol on social media is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get. In one video, a woman turns to reveal a dramatic weight gain, blaming birth control pills. In another, healthcare providers (HCPs) perform a choreographed dance holding vaginal rings. A third post says, “Birth control makes you date crappy men.” Social media makes it easy to put a message — any message, really — into the world, but media has long influenced conversations about women’s health. Melissa Jordan, a registered nurse, said she remembers the highly publicized Women’s ..read more

+ Infographic text What is a biosimilar? Biosimilars are drugs made from living material, such as bacteria or plant cells. They are modeled after another type of drug called a biologic that is also made from living material.  The biologic that a biosimilar is modeled after is called the reference product.  Why do people use biosimilars? Biosimilars can be used to treat a variety of health issues, including: Chronic skin diseases, such as psoriasis  Chronic bowel disease  Diabetes Arthritis Certain kidney conditions Multiple sclerosis  Macular dege ..read more

Español Retired registered nurse Michelle Clapham was 11 or 12 when she started experiencing migraine attacks, about six months after she started getting her period. “I told my mom and she explained that many women in her side of the family had them,” Clapham said. “When I have a migraine, it feels like my head is in a vise, like someone is squeezing. It’s throbbing, and I sometimes get nausea with light sensitivity. At their worst point, I would stand in the middle of winter in my garage in bare feet on the cold concrete floor. That felt better than my headache. Anything to take my mind off ..read more

English Un episodio de migrañas es más que un simple dolor de cabeza. Un trastorno de migrañas puede ser una experiencia de todo el cuerpo y los desencadenantes y síntomas de los episodios de migrañas son muy personales. HealthyWomen habló con Maureen Moriarty, DNP, profesora adjunta de enfermería de Malek School of Nursing de Marymount University, acerca de este trastorno común que frecuentemente no se comprende bien. ¿Las buenas noticias? Los episodios pueden tratarse y algunos incluso pueden prevenirse conociendo y evitando tus desencadenantes personales. ¿Qué es el trastorno de migrañas ..read more

English Michelle Clapham, una enfermera certificada retirada, tenía 11 o 12 años cuando empezó a tener episodios de migrañas, aproximadamente seis meses después de tener su primer período menstrual. “Le avise a mi mamá y me explicó que muchas mujeres en su familia las tenían”, dijo Clapham. “Cuando tengo una migraña, siento presión en mi cabeza, como si alguien la estuviera apretando. Es un dolor palpitante y a veces tengo náuseas y sensibilidad a la luz. En su peor momento, me ponía de pie en el invierno en mi garaje, descalza, en el piso de concreto helado. Eso se sentía mejor que mi dolor ..read more

English Nichole Andrews, RDN, hizo la revisión médica de este documento. + Infographic text Comer bien es una gran forma de dar apoyo a tu cuerpo durante y después de un tratamiento contra el cáncer de vejiga urotelial (UBC, por sus siglas en inglés).  Enfócate en una buena nutrición con:  Una dieta saludable para el corazón   Implementar una dieta mediterránea u otra dieta saludable para el corazón puede ser útil para que te protejas de inflamaciones perjudiciales. También puede ser útil para aliviar síntomas relacionados con el tratamiento tales como la fatiga.  Ali ..read more

The world of Covid vaccines has certainly changed since the initial pandemic days of people waiting in long lines to get vaccinated. Today, there are several different Covid vaccines to choose from. Two are mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna) and one is a protein-based vaccine (Novavax). And if you’re confused about what’s available and when you should get it, you’re not alone. There are currently three 2023–2024 updated Covid vaccines, and which ones you can receive depends on your age and previous vaccination status. Here are the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Con ..read more

A migraine attack is more than just a headache. Migraine disease can be a total-body experience, and the triggers and symptoms of migraine attacks are highly individual. HealthyWomen spoke with Maureen Moriarty, DNP, associate professor of nursing at Marymount University’s Malek School of Nursing, about this common but commonly misunderstood disease. The good news? Attacks can be treated, and some can even be prevented by knowing and avoiding your personal triggers. ​What is migraine disease? Migraine disease is an inherited neurological, or nervous system, disorder characterized by symptoms ..read more