Blogs

Did you know that March is National Kidney Month? It’s a time to talk about kidney health and chronic kidney disease, a common disease among adults in the United States. That’s why we asked Dr. Kajal Patel, a doctor who specializes in kidney care and disease treatment, to share how women can keep their kidneys healthy and what they need to know about chronic kidney disease. Get her tips for kidney health and learn about women’s unique risk factors for kidney disease.

We have seen tremendous improvements in HIV treatment and prevention over the past few decades. While we want to celebrate this progress, we also need to discuss how it can lead people to falsely believe that HIV is no longer a serious health issue. People across the country — including women — continue to get and transmit HIV regardless of age, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. In the United States, about one quarter of people living with HIV are women, and in 2016, women accounted for 1 in 5 HIV diagnoses. 

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD) is coming up on March 10. We observe NWGHAAD each year to highlight the impact of HIV and AIDS on U.S. women and girls. As we prepare for this year’s observance, we want to encourage you to start planning along with us and to promote resources to help educate women who are at risk for/living with HIV. 

February 26 through March 4, 2018, was Eating Disorders Awareness Week and an opportunity to talk about the connection between bullying and eating disorders. Weight-based teasing and bullying have been identified as common experiences for youth, particularly for those who may be heavier. Children whose peers tease them about their weight are more likely to engage in disordered eating. Help raise awareness about weight-based bullying. Learn what signs to look for in a child or young person who may have an eating disorder and what can be done to help adolescents who are bullied and at risk of developing an eating disorder.

Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of American women, and stroke is fourth? The good news is there are steps you can take to lower your risk of heart disease and stroke at any age. We spoke to Dr. Rachel Dreyer, an Assistant Professor at the Yale School of Medicine who specializes in cardiovascular outcomes research with a focus on women’s health. Dr. Dreyer shares the basics you need to know about heart disease and how to keep your heart healthy.

We know the statistics: Based on the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, among high school students who dated or went out with someone, about 1 in 8 girls and 1 in 13 boys reported that they experienced physical dating violence during the 12 months before the survey. Additionally, about 1 in 6 girls and 1 in 18 boys reported that they experienced sexual dating violence. As for adults 18 and older, the 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey found that more than 1 in 5 women and nearly 1 in 7 men who have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner first experienced some form of intimate partner violence when they were between 11 and 17 years old. 

Parents, you can help protect your child from getting certain HPV-related cancers. How? With a safe and effective vaccine! Here are the top fives things you should know about HPV, or human papillomavirus, and the vaccine. 

Gayathri Ramprasad is a mental health advocate who has faced her share of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. Today, she is the founder and president of a nonprofit aimed at helping others with mental health issues. Read Gayathri’s interview to learn why she’s dedicated her life to helping others, what she wants women to know about mental health, and how you can help fight the stigma around mental health issues.

Your thyroid is a small gland at the base of your neck. It makes a hormone that helps control your body's metabolism, including how fast you burn calories and how fast your heart beats. About three times as many women get thyroid cancer as men. One woman shares her story about finding out she had papillary thyroid cancer, the most common of type, when she was only 19. Read her story — from her diagnosis to treatment to being cancer-free.

Another year has come and gone, and it’s time for a fresh start. There’s something exciting about going into a new year — it feels full of possibility because it’s our chance to commit (or recommit) to a resolution that’s going to make us better. At the Office on Women’s Health, we practice what we preach, so we’re making plans to improve our health and well-being. Check out what some of my colleagues are pledging to do for their health in 2018. Maybe you’ll find an idea for yourself!