Category: Health
ACOG Advises Ob-Gyns to Promote Vaccinations to Patients
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends its members encourage their patients to be vaccinated against human papillomavirus virus (HPV), influenza, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, according to new guidelines published on the ACOG Web site March 21. Committee Opinion number 558, to be published in Obstetrics & Gynecology on April 1, is the work of the Immunization…
Read MoreLess-Invasive Surgery Tied to Lower Costs, Less Absenteeism
Minimally-invasive forms of heart surgery and fibroid removal may be less expensive – and cause patients to take fewer days off from work – than standard versions of the same procedures, a new study suggests. Researchers looking at six common surgeries found that if every one of them done in the U.S. in 2009 had…
Read MoreSevere Hot Flashes a Burden to Women, Society
Severe menopausal vasomotor symptoms (VMS) are significantly associated with lower work productivity, lower levels of health status, and greater use of healthcare resources. Jennifer Whitely, EdD, from Pfizer Inc, New York City, and colleagues report results from the 2010 US National Health and Wellness Survey online February 11 in Menopause. The study adds to our understanding of the…
Read MoreWhat’s Hot at 2012 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
A variety of important studies — but no stunning headliner — will be presented at the 35th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), being held December 4 to 8 in Texas, according to one of its codirectors. “It’s a little less obvious this year,” said Peter Ravdin, MD, PhD, about which studies will garner the…
Read MoreCan Aspirin Prevent Preeclampsia in High-Risk Women
Low-dose aspirin failed to prevent preeclampsia in an underpowered trial, but a meta-analysis including that trial suggests that early introduction of aspirin can prevent preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia. “Even with the available data on low-dose aspirin treatment, there are strong controversial opinions for and against it,” Dr. Pia M. Villa from the University of Helsinki,…
Read MoreTiming of Hormone Therapy May Affect Alzheimer’s Prevention
A new study further supports the theory of a critical window around the time of menopause during which initiation of hormone therapy (HT) protects against Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The study found that the relationship between HT and AD not only varies with timing of the therapy initiation but also with its type and duration. Women…
Read MoreUrinary Incontinence Underreported in Young Women
July 16, 2012 — According to the conventional wisdom, urinary incontinence is a problem of middle-aged and older women, especially those who’ve had a baby. But a study out today suggests even young women who’ve never been pregnant could suffer from the problem. The Australian researchers say their study is the first to look at…
Read MoreFrom a Vial of Mom’s Blood, a Fetus’s Entire Genome
NEW YORK (Reuters) Jul 04 – The days of pregnant women having a 3-inch-long hollow needle jabbed into their abdomens may be numbered. For the second time in a month, scientists have announced that a simple blood test, rather than more invasive tests such as amniocentesis, can determine a fetus’s genetic make-up, identifying mutations causing…
Read MoreTiming of Physical Activity Key to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk
June 25, 2012 — It is increasingly well-established that physical activity may reduce the risk for breast cancer; now a new study indicates that the timing and extent of exercise are key to gaining benefit. According to the study, published online June 25 in Cancer, any level of physical activity during the reproductive and postmenopausal years appeared to…
Read MoreLifestyle Changes Help Prediabetic Women Live Longer
June 11, 1012 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — Long-term lifestyle intervention (diet, exercise, or both) helps women with impaired glucose tolerance live longer, according to the results of a study presented here at the American Diabetes Association 72nd Scientific Sessions. The same cannot be said for men, the researchers reported. “The reasons for the difference in the…
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