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Medindia » International Health Days » International Day of Action for Women’s Health

International Day of Action for Women’s Health

by Medindia Content Team on 
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Heart disease: Men Are From Mars, Women From Venus

It has been known for a long time that mutual antagonism between husband and wife can lead to increased risk of heart disease. It has now been possible to pinpoint the exact reason. Expression of hostility during marital disagreements can lead to hardening of coronary arteries (atherosclerosis) in women while controlling behavior of either spouse has been found to result in heart disease in men.Dr. Tim Smith and fellow researchers from University of Utah have conducted this research on nearly 150 healthy couples, over 50 years of age. The three-year study (2002-2005) was conducted on healthy couples, devoid of cardiovascular disease. The study participants were subjected to CT examination to look for presence of calcification in the coronary arteries (arteries that supply the heart). Clogging of the coronary arteries leads to heart attack.
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The woman’s side of AIDS

Women are at a greater risk (twice) of being infected with HIV through heterosexual sex than men. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 17.5 million women worldwide were infected with HIV. One of the most common ways in which women are infected in many places is through her husband. Female sex workers and injecting drug users are at a very high risk group. UNAIDS estimates about 2.3 million children are living with HIV, most of them were infected with HIV at birth. Early diagnosis allows women to take full advantage of antiretroviral treatments and preventive medicines for opportunistic infections. Sex education in school should be encouraged and should be taught about using condoms. Scientists are developing a microbicide which when applied in the vagina kills HIV and prevents the infections. Scientists are developing a microbicide which when applied in the vagina kills HIV and prevents the infection. However, till then the need of making sex education in all schools & colleges compulsory through
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Women: don’t give your bones a break

Osteoporosis is a disease of thinning bones, fractured hips and hunched spines, a disease of aging in which the condition is worsened during the menopausal stage. Many women still do not consider this as a major health issue and do not undergo the bone density test, Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) routinely. It affects 55% of the women who are 50 years and above. Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) slows the rate of bone loss while Forteo is the first true bone-forming drug, which produces significant increases in bone mass within 12 to 18 months. Hip protectors are a very effective way to reduce hip fractures and exercise improves balance and strength and is a powerful weapon against osteoporosis.
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Celebrating motherhood

Childbirth is one of the most memorable and rewarding event in a woman’s life. Both labor and delivery are associated with pain and some degree of anxiety but confident and well informed mothers have no problem of handling the awesome task of bringing a child into the world. Today’s women prefer cesarean delivery and the rates have skyrocketed from 5 % to 25 %. Though cesarean delivery is safer and is the preferred mode of delivery in case of emergencies, it still causes a higher rate of maternal injuries than vaginal delivery. Pregnancy-related complications are among the leading causes of death and disability for women age 15-49 in developing countries. Safe motherhood ensures that all women receive the care they need to be safe and healthy throughout pregnancy and childbirth.
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Women and domestic violence

Domestic violence can be defined as a man using a pattern of assault and intimidating acts to assert power and control the woman. It is recently recognized as a major woman's health issue. Domestic abuse involves physical, psychological, economic, and sexual abuse. The overall framework in which the abuse occurs may follow a pattern called the cycle of violence. Unfortunately it has been a part of many cultures for many generations. In 1994, the Violence against Women Act was adopted to protect battered woman. UN statistics show that about one in 4 women has been abused at some point in her life. Today several organization and campaigns are working to stop Violence against Women.
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