Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2019
Body Weight Status and Sleep Disturbances During Pregnancy: Does Adherence to Gestational Weight Gain Guidelines Matter?
To determine the effect of preconception body mass index (BMI) and/or gestational weight gain (GWG) on the occurrence of sleep disorders over the whole pregnancy. ⋯ High prepregnancy BMI together with sociodemographic correlates appear as the most critical for sleep disturbances across pregnancy. GWG is of marginal importance, especially regarding snoring. These findings confirm the importance of considering the initial body weight status of women in tailoring sleep hygiene advises irrespective of the recommendations for weight gain during pregnancy. The results also underscore the need to providing as early as possible during a pregnancy, supportive tools to ethnic minorities, multiparous, and women from deprived socioeconomic neighborhoods.
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2019
Female Sexual Health: Barriers to Optimal Outcomes and a Roadmap for Improved Patient-Clinician Communications.
Although sexual health can be considered a vital sign for overall health, several barriers prevent women from receiving proper medical counseling, support, and/or care for their sexual health needs and concerns. ⋯ Solutions exist to address the barriers currently impeding patient-clinician interactions around sexual health.
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2019
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program: Increasing Access to Screening.
The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) provides breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women across the nation. Although the program has provided services to more than 5 million women since 1991, there remains a significant burden of breast and cervical cancer with inequities among certain populations. To reduce this burden and improve health equity, the NBCCEDP is expanding its scope to include population-based strategies to increase screening in health systems and communities through the implementation of patient and provider evidence-based interventions, connecting women in communities to clinical services, increasing opportunities to access screening, and enhancing the targeting of women in need of services. The goal is to reach more women and make sure women are getting the right screening test at the right time.
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Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disorder of the ocular surface and tear homeostasis that can result in discomfort, pain, and visual disturbance. Untreated, DED can become chronic, progressive, and significantly affect an individual's quality of life. Women are disproportionately affected by DED, are diagnosed at a younger age, and experience more severe symptoms compared with men. ⋯ Furthermore, women's health care-seeking behaviors provide opportunities for general practitioners, specialists, and women's health centers to help identify women with DED or at risk for DED for referral to an eye care specialist. This review of the prevalence of DED in women, and gender and sex-specific aspects of DED, highlight a significant opportunity for action. Earlier diagnosis and treatment of this common but burdensome condition could significantly improve a woman's quality of life.
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2019
ReviewRole of Stress and Psychosocial Determinants on Women's Cardiovascular Risk and Disease Development.
The notion that cardiovascular disease (CVD) primarily occurs in men is slowly disappearing. More women than men die of CVD every year, and when women survive, the burden and consequences are worse than in men. Markers of stress and other psychosocial factors have been associated with poor outcomes. ⋯ This review arises from accumulating evidence suggesting that psychological well-being may improve cardiac-related outcomes, independent of cardiac risk factors. Despite the fact that positive physician-patient engagement is likely to play a critical role in promoting positive psychological traits and healthy behaviors, current physician awareness and advocacy are rather suboptimal, despite active awareness campaigns such as the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women®. There is a need to further study the role and management of stress as a CVD risk factor, especially in women, who are disproportionately affected.