Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Sep 2004
ReviewProphylactic bilateral mastectomy for breast cancer prevention.
Prophylactic bilateral mastectomy, or preventive removal of the breasts, is an option for women who are at increased risk of developing breast cancer. Among the highest risk groups are those women with a significant family history of breast cancer and those with a known genetic predisposition to the disease. There are many issues surrounding prophylactic mastectomy. ⋯ However, women who choose prophylactic mastectomy may differ compared with those who do not. The results may not be generalizable to all high-risk women. Counseling of high-risk women, specifically those with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, should include a discussion of prophylactic mastectomy, including the medical and psychosocial risks and benefits.
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Journal of women's health · Sep 2004
Fatal and nonfatal unintentional injuries in adult women, United States.
Although we know that injury death rates are lower for women than for men at all ages, we still have a long way to go in exploring the impact of unintentional injuries on women's lives. This paper reviews the leading causes of unintentional injury death and nonfatal injuries for adult women. It also explores selected activities of the Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention (CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention). ⋯ Unintentional injury creates an enormous burden on the lives of women. Moving forward in reducing the burden of unintentional injury requires assessing and understanding the impact of these injuries on the lives of women. Further work is needed to develop a strong context and framework for research and dissemination.
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Journal of women's health · Jun 2004
Racial/ethnic disparities in coronary heart disease risk factors among WISEWOMAN enrollees.
We used the baseline data collected for the Well-integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) participants to provide a snapshot of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk on enrollment and to address racial/ethnic disparities in the following CVD risk factors: body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and total cholesterol, diabetes and smoking prevalence, 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, and treatment and awareness of high cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes. ⋯ Because differences in community characteristics explain many of the racial/ethnic disparities in CVD risk factors, eliminating disparities may require community-wide interventions. Successful WISEWOMAN projects are likely to not only reduce CVD risk factors overall but also to lessen racial/ethnic disparities in these risk factors.
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Women with physical and cognitive disabilities are at high risk for osteoporosis and osteoporosis-related fractures. Women with physical disabilities frequently are nonambulatory and have bone loss due to immobility. Women with cognitive disabilities have high rates of osteopenia and osteoporosis, likely partially due to high rates of anticonvulsant medication use. ⋯ Prevention of osteoporosis and related fractures in this population includes population-based measures, such as calcium and vitamin D supplementation and risk-based screening procedures. Primary care providers and specialists need to prioritize osteoporosis prevention strategies when taking care of women with disabilities. Future research is needed to determine optimal screening and prevention strategies in this very high risk population.