Interviews and Spotlights

It can be tough to make time for sleep, especially when you’re trying to juggle family, friends, work, and your other commitments. But sleep is worth prioritizing. Dr. Michael Twery, the director of the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research at NHLBI, shares why sleep is important, how much you need, and what you should know about sleep disorders.

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.

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.

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.

Women are the fastest-growing group of military veterans in the U.S., and they have unique health care needs. And women vets are taking steps to address those needs head-on.

Depression is more than feeling blue or down for a few days. It’s a real illness that can impact a person’s day-to-day life. Millions of Americans have depression, and it’s more common among women than men. Former Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams is one of those women. She shares what depression feels like to her, why she decided to get help, and how she’s learned to manage her depression.

One of the first decisions all moms have to make is how they're going to feed their babies. For National Breastfeeding Month, we interviewed a mom who decided to breastfeed. Lauren Sogor is the proud mom of a 10-month-old girl. From the joys to the challenges, she shares her experiences breastfeeding and offers her tips for pumping at work.

Lauren Sogor works in health policy communications and lives in Virginia with her husband, their 10-month-old daughter, two rambunctious dogs, and a cat.

From serving in a war zone to dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to becoming Ms. Veteran America 2016, Molly Mae Potter shares her story about being in the Air Force and then transitioning to civilian life. She opens up about her experiences with PTSD and the role her family's dog, Bella, played in her healing. Read her interview to learn what it was like being a woman in the military, when she was diagnosed with and finally got treatment for PTSD, and her thoughts on how others can support women veterans.

Each National Women’s Health Week, we encourage women to pay attention to their mental health. What does that mean to you? We asked Dr. Keisha Downey, a National Women’s Health Week ambassador and psychologist. She offers her tips for staying mentally healthy, plus insights about when to get help.

Dr. Keisha Downey is a psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, and mental health and relationship expert.