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The Newsletter ArchiveA Message From The Executive Director | An Overview of Popular Weight Loss Drugs: Benefits, Risks, and Concerns | Accessing Health Care As A Military Family | (The Policy Pages) A Summary of Action | (Network News) In Case You Missed It… | (Young Feminist) A Psychologist’s Advice on How to Have a Healthy Relationship: Lessons from The Break-Up | (Since You Asked) Does Heart Disease Show Up Differently In Women? | Study Snapshots | Tribute Gifts
NWHN ValuesExecutive Director of the National Women’s Health Network
Dear Supporters,
Have you noticed something new with the National Women’s Health Network (NWHN)? Can’t quite put your finger on it? Let me give you a hint…we have a fresh look and a modern style to better highlight NWHN’s accomplishments and keep you informed of the latest information and research in women’s health.
The new logo represents our growth as we continue to be recognized as a leader in women’s health care education, advocacy, and supporting programs through our networks. The three petals on the flower are a nod to the three focus areas of our work for women across the life continuum; sexual & reproductive health, maternal health, and aging women. And to keep it close to our roots, we have blended in some of our legacy colors with new shades. The overall effect is a modern and compelling design that is recognizable and gets us away from the limited image of the female torso.
The new website also boasts a streamlined layout and features that address users’ key pain points. Specifically:
We changed so that we could better serve you as you look to us for representation, guidance, and women’s health information.
-Denise Hyater-Lindenmuth, Executive Director
Go below the surface on health topics you care about.
In scientific literature, weight loss medications are called anti-obesity medications (AOMs). The active ingredient(s) vary across weight loss medications and are noted in the parentheses next to the medications below. In considering treatment options, most of us have heard about one or more of the following medications:
All of which support weight loss in some capacity (2-3). While Ozempic appears to garner the most public interest (4), it is essential to differentiate between medications approved to treat type 2 diabetes and medications approved to treat obesity or individuals who are overweight (BMI ≥ 27) AND weight-related medical problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, or type 2 diabetes (5).
Ozempic and Mounjaro received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2017 and 2022 respectively (6-9), as injectable prescription medications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes but NOT as weight loss drugs (6-7). However, some physicians may prescribe these medications off-label for other reasons, including weight loss (10).
Wegovy, Saxenda, Qsymia, Contrave, Xenical, and Zepbound all received FDA-approval as prescription weight loss medications. Alli is an FDA-approved over-the-counter medication.
Wegovy, Saxenda, Qsymia, Xenical, and Alli have also been approved by the FDA for children ages 12 and older with obesity (10).
Weight loss medications work through a variety of mechanisms, such as reducing the amount of fat that is absorbed by the body, reducing one’s appetite, causing one to feel full sooner, and targeting the brain to impact appetite and food intake. Saxenda, Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, and Mounjaro are classified as glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) receptor agonists, and work by slowing down the stomach from emptying and decreasing hunger sensations (10,12). It is not advised to combine GLP-1 medications, as this can lead to dangerous complications including gastroparesis, where the intestines slow down too much, and can cause a bowel obstruction.
While these medications have reported weight loss, a healthy diet and regular physical activity are essential components of using weight loss medication.10 Weight loss medications alone are not sufficient for establishing a healthy lifestyle.
Several benefits have been identified from moderate weight loss of 5%, 10%, and 15% in people with obesity.
Studies involving weight loss medications have reported up to 25% body weight loss, such as with the most recently approved medication, Zepbound3,12. Wegovy often results in losing about 15% of total body weight.15-16 Saxenda, Qsymia, and Contrave result in a 5-10% body weight loss, and up to 5% with Xenical and Alli (2,14).
Recent research from a multi-year study funded by Novo Nordisk, the drugmaker of Saxenda, Wegovy, and Ozempic, examined the use of semaglutide in adults with obesity or who were overweight (BMI ≥ 27) with cardiovascular disease and their risk for myocardial infarction (i.e., heart attack), stroke, or death due to heart disease. The study enrolled 17,604 patients from 804 clinical sites across 41 countries into two study groups: semaglutide (2.4 mg) or placebo. Participants received a once-weekly injection of semaglutide or placebo (21).
Positives findings for the semaglutide group included a lower risk of death from (21):
Adverse events in the semaglutide group included (21):
These results are significant, however further research is needed by independent parties, particularly because women and Black persons were underrepresented, with men accounting for almost 75% of study participants and only 3.8% of study participants identified as Black. These results are also limited to individuals aged 45 years or older (21). Since persons who were pregnant, breastfeeding, intended to become pregnant, or able to become pregnant and not using a highly effective contraceptive method were excluded from the study,22 it is unknown how these populations would fare. Currently, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends that persons who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant do not use weight loss medication (10).
Unfortunately, weight loss medications include a laundry list of potential side effects, risks, and contraindications. For side effects from specific medications, please view this table, by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases10.
Common side effects include (10-11):
Possible serious side effects include (11-12):
Thus, potential side effects and severity of side effects should be carefully assessed when considering weight loss medications.
Other considerations include potentially reduced effectiveness of birth control pills if using Zepbound (tirzepatide), availability of medication, cost of medication or insurance coverage, time on the market since FDA-approval, your doctor’s familiarity with weight loss medications, and whether your doctor has received payment and/or consulted on behalf of drug companies that manufacture weight loss medication (https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/ (12, 23).
More research is needed to examine the use of weight loss medication in diverse populations (e.g., age groups, women, women using hormonal contraceptives/birth control pills, racial and ethnic groups, and people with disabilities). Longitudinal studies are needed to thoroughly investigate the long-term impacts and risks associated with using weight loss drugs, particularly because continued use of weight loss medication is recommended for weight loss maintenance. Future studies should examine the relationship between body image, eating disorders, and the use of weight loss medication in adolescents and adults.
It is crucial to recognize the chronic nature of obesity, it’s extensive impact on the body, the deleterious effects of stigma in the management of obesity, and the importance of ensuring access to safe and effective treatment options for persons with obesity or who are overweight who desire to lose weight. Weight loss medications may be a viable treatment option or adjunct to other lifestyle modifications for persons with obesity or who are overweight with a weight-related medical problem. However, more research—including research funded by independent parties, not the drug manufacturer—is desperately needed to fully understand the benefits and risks of contemporary weight loss medications.
Katymay Malone holds a Ph.D. in Health Education with a cognate in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES®). She has 15 years of professional experience as an educator and program director and coordinator in K-12 and higher education. She has collaborated with community-based organizations in the areas of health, education, research, and training. Currently, she serves as an Independent Contractor/Consultant working as a Grant Reviewer, Panel Chair, and Panel Facilitator for multiple federal and state agencies.
Rachel is a freelance health writer, former tenured nursing professor and ER nurse, is a military spouse, and mom to 18-month-old twin girls. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing Education from Walden University and spent the last four years as a nursing professor specializing in pediatrics, geriatrics, and communications. She is passionate about women’s health and wants to spread knowledge and evoke change in government policy that supports all women.
Real health stories from members to inspire, educate, and activate you.
There are 2 million military families in the US. Accessing health care can take expert navigation skills even in your hometown. Now imagine being stationed from across the country to around the globe – and that’s the experience for military families.
Rachel Grimsley is a military spouse, mother to two-year-old twin girls, and is also a nurse writer.
***This interview has been edited for length and clarity***
Well, I’m Rachel Grimsley. I’m a nurse, military spouse, and mom to twin girls who just turned two. They’re not identical by any means. Sophie is a copy of my husband and Amelia is a copy of me.
Tim and I met back in high school when I was 14 and he was 16. So, we’ve known each other for more than half our lives, but we didn’t start dating until I was 21 and he was 23. He was already in the Navy for two years when we started dating, and I was just graduating nursing school. Three years into dating we got married, almost to the day. So that’s when I officially joined military family life.
I feel like I kind of escaped it for a while because I worked full time as a nurse while finishing my master’s in nursing and we didn’t have kids until much later in our marriage. Most of the wives from the command were either younger than me or had several children or were trying to have children, and I was more focused on my career.
I did have two people who helped me learn more about the military benefits, including how important it was that Tim enrolled me into DEERs so I could get my military ID, which allowed me to go on base and shop at the commissary for cheaper groceries.
DEERS is the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, and you need to be enrolled in DEERs to be eligible for TRICARE. When the girls were born, they had to be added to DEERs as well so we could enroll them in TRICARE while they were in the NICU. Adding dependents to DEERs also affects Tim’s paycheck since it affects the basic allowance for housing.
Thankfully, most of the forms and instructions can be found by Googling it so while there are a lot of steps and forms to fill out, they’re easy to find.
It is Tricare and we have Tricare Prime because we’re luckily in a location that offers Tricare Prime. Tricare Prime has a lot of flexibility. You don’t have to only go to a military provider because if you live close to a base and they have a lot of providers, you will have to go to the military hospital to see their providers and see their doctors. So with Tri-Care Prime, because of where we are, Navy Hospital in Washington is not very big, and it can’t support even all of the service members. They don’t have enough doctors and specialties to support all Navy personnel, just active duty.
But thankfully with Tri-Care Prime you can see anyone in their network and there’s a lot of doctors in their network here. So, I saw a private doctor. I saw all civilian doctors for when I was pregnant and I was in a civilian hospital when I had my babies, mainly because the hospital Naval Hospital in Bremerton is closing their OB unit and only handles very low risk deliveries. They can’t handle twins, they can’t handle preterm, and even the main hospital I went to couldn’t handle how preterm my girls were. So, I was transferred to a different hospital.
Thankfully, it was all covered by our insurance. I didn’t see a single bill. Going to the first hospital, being transported by ambulance to the second, being there for the three days before I even had the babies, and then delivering in the OR, recovering, being readmitted for preeclampsia and then the girl’s 30-day NICU stay, not a single bill. What could have been hundreds of thousands of dollars was completely covered by Tricare.
Tim has experienced delays in getting a physical, he had to wait around two months to get to the doctor. However, when he needed urgent surgery, he got the surgery the same day. It depends on what’s going on. Some sailors have had to wait years for joint surgery or back surgery because it must be proven that all the preventative stuff has been tried and failed. Usually, the guys who need those surgeries are the more valuable ones. They’re the chiefs that have been in forever and have wrecked their shoulders climbing up and down ladders or screwed up their knees by slipping somewhere, or, like you know, it’s usually the older guys, and so you really have to prove that you need the surgery.
Yes, so you can apply to get reduced daycare, and there are on-base daycares, but of course, there’s waiting lists. I thought I had applied to the waiting list and then found out a couple of weeks before I was going back to work that we were not on the waiting list. Talk about stress, and so that’s why we went with an in-home nanny, which there are also ways to get things partially covered. We didn’t go that route because it was just too much stress. It probably wasn’t as hard as we thought it would be, but I was six months postpartum with twins. Tim was deployed again for four months. I was going back to work full time and I was like I can’t.
They have mental health services. I know they paid for most of it when I was seeing a therapist.
I’m also in physical therapy. I’ve been in physical therapy for two years and they’ve paid for it 100%. My rib cage is 20 degrees wider than it should be because I had twins and I’ve had back and pelvic issues since having them.
I had access to physical therapy, pelvic floor physical therapy, a variety, all that were not military, and so really, I feel like I’ve been really supported by Tricare Prime.
They cover annual routine eye exams. I was hoping to get some contacts and I’ve got to wait until April because my appointment was both too early and too late. It had been too long since my eye appointment to get contacts, but I could not have a new appointment yet because it had not been 12 months.
They cover dental as well, so far I’ve had 100% dental covered including x-rays, exams, and fluoride.
The coverage is for all covered dependents, so all the care my girls have received has been covered 100%. When I say all their care, I mean like all their appointments, all their vaccines. Because they were born so early they had physical therapy screening, occupational therapy screening, developmental screening to make sure they were on track, specialty eye exams to make sure their eyes weren’t affected by being born premature, and then hearing screening.
I would say go and ask questions, go to meet someone from Tricare, because the websites have a ton of information, but it’s like you don’t know where to go. You don’t know how to log in there are so many places that the system will redirect you to and then you need a different login.
If you just go in person to ask your questions, they have brochures, they have information, anything you might need. They will be able to meet you where you’re at. And I know, like having my babies, I needed so many appointments because it was the highest risk pregnancy. The babies were small, so I was getting an ultrasound every week at one point.
It would be nice, and it would take a magic wand to do this, if there was just one website, but there are so many different websites and so many different places you have to go, like you really do need someone to help you or you need to like delve in and become an expert yourself.
Embrace the culture, embrace the people. Join the groups. Be a part of all the wives’ groups and mom groups and go to all the activities they do together, because they are fun.
Rachel is a freelance health writer, former tenured nursing professor and ER nurse, is a military spouse, and mom to 18-month-old twin girls. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing Education from Walden University and spent the last four years as a nursing professor specializing in pediatrics, geriatrics, and communications. She is passionate about women’s health and wants to spread knowledge and evoke change in government policy that supports all women.
Updates on how we’re making change at the highest levels of government.
The National Women’s Health Network works with members of Congress to improve the health and well-being of women across the life continuum. This article provides the highlights of our women’s health policy work during the first quarter of 2024. Please contact Raaya Alim at [email protected] with any questions or comments.
In the 118th Congress, the Network’s top priorities include expanding access to family planning services, improving and diversifying perinatal and postpartum care, and increasing access to preventative screenings.
The Network is happy to see introductions and reintroductions of key women’s health legislation. You can learn more about key legislation the Network supports and why on our virtual bill tracker here.
The Network is also happy to announce our 2024 Policy Agenda, which was crafted with insights from our dedicated supporters and built upon key policy pillars. Below are some highlights:
In each of these areas, the National Women’s Health Network remains committed to advocating for policies that prioritize the health and rights of women across the lifespan, striving for equitable access to comprehensive healthcare services and reproductive autonomy.
On February 13, the Network participated in the American Diabetes Association’s policy roundtable, focusing on the significant impact of diabetes on women’s health outcomes. Discussions highlighted the critical role of primary care providers in addressing these challenges, particularly amidst the ongoing workforce shortages. Diabetes disproportionately affects women, posing unique health risks such as increased rates of heart disease and stroke. With primary care shortages exacerbating access to crucial healthcare services, ensuring support for primary care providers is paramount to effectively managing and mitigating the impact of diabetes on women’s health.
First, a quick primer on the appropriations process: The president submits a budget to Congress for the federal government every fiscal year (October 1 through September 30). Congress must then pass 12 appropriations bills or pass a continuing resolution (also called a stopgap bill) before the October 1st deadline to fund the government for the following year. The NWHN Policy Department is both closely monitoring this process and fighting every day to make sure that programs promoting the health and well-being of women are backed with federal dollars. Here’s where we stand:
On February 29, Congress successfully passed legislation to prevent a government shutdown temporarily, setting the stage for another round of negotiations with a looming shutdown deadline just a week away on March 8. The stopgap spending bill received overwhelming support, clearing the Senate with a 77-13 vote and gaining House approval by a margin of 320-99 in the afternoon. The measure is now on its way to President Biden’s desk for his signature. This legislation extends funding for various agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Departments of Energy, Agriculture, and others, until March 8. Additionally, funding for the remainder of the federal government under this bill expires on March 22, two weeks later than under current law.
This is the third time since September 2023 that the government has narrowly avoided a shutdown, though it is a small consolation to lawmakers. Congress was expected to have several appropriations bills for the remainder of the fiscal year as former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif) and President Biden agreed last spring to constrain federal spending for the 2024 fiscal year in exchange for suspending the debt limit, however intense policy demands from both Democrats and Republicans pushed the government to the brink of another shutdown.
To provide further context on how the House and Senate appropriations proposals will affect women’s health care, the Network has created a resource page that will be updated throughout the appropriations cycle.
The Network will continue to track court cases that affect women’s health, and we have joined our colleagues in advocating against court decisions that ignore legal precedent and medical expertise in favor of ideology. Here are the cases we are watching closest right now:
Raaya is the Network’s Policy Associate. She earned her undergraduate degrees in psychology and journalism in 2022, followed by her master’s degree in public policy in 2023, all from UMass Amherst. Driven by a strong commitment to social justice, Raaya is an outspoken advocate for gender justice and reproductive health. Raised in the South, she understands deeply the complexities of social justice issues and how they impact individuals across the board. Prior to joining the Network, Raaya worked in various aspects of Massachusetts state policy, gaining invaluable experience and insight into the intricacies of governance and policymaking.
Can’t-miss updates from Headquarters.
Articles by the future, for our future.
What do healthy relationships and feminism have in common? Equality. Equal Partnership. But what does that mean? What does this look like in a real relationship?
Everyone views partnerships differently, but for a healthy relationship, there should be a sense of equality experienced by both partners, as well as mutual love and respect. Without these things, feelings of resentment and contempt will likely build. This is often a major focus of couples therapy. In the 90s, John Gottman (psychologist and co-creator of The Gottman Method for Couples Therapy) and colleagues published their results from research studies which revealed that contempt (as well as criticism and defensiveness) is a major predictor of divorce (1). In other words, the more contempt there is in a relationship, the greater the odds of a break-up.
So, the answer to a long, satisfying, healthy relationship is to just avoid criticism, defensiveness, and contempt, right? Not quite! It’s natural to judge and criticize when things don’t go our way, or to get defensive when we feel attacked. Not to mention, avoiding feelings of contempt is easier said than done. Moreover, let’s not forget that having a healthy relationship also requires both partners to have a mutual sense of love, respect, and balance within the partnership.
Let us look at the 2006 film, “The Break-Up,” starring Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. This movie provides a relatable portrayal of a deteriorating romantic relationship between Brooke (Aniston) and Gary (Vaughn). I was 13 years old when this movie came out and at the time I didn’t fully understand how their relationship deteriorated so quickly. I was used to my parents arguing a lot, and thought for sure, that was normal. So I didn’t understand how their argument devolved so quickly into a break-up, and I was confused as to why they couldn’t resolve their issues. Now, as a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in relationships, I rewatch this movie and can see exactly where the couple went wrong. I find myself practically screaming at the television, telling them all of the things that they could have done differently to save their relationship. Though fictional, I believe this movie offers valuable lessons about communication, conflict resolution, and the effects of imbalance and inequality in relationships. While there is a lot I can talk about in this movie I am going to focus just on the first argument we see in the movie.
Brooke and Gary quickly get into an argument after Brooke asks Gary to bring her home twelve lemons, and he only brings home three.
This transitions into arguing because they have limited time before both of their families are coming to their condo for dinner. Brooke wants Gary to set the table, and help her prepare for dinner, whereas Gary wants to rest before the dinner. From my perspective as a couple’s therapist practicing feminist psychology, this argument appears to stem from differences in values, lack of adequate display and reception of love language between partners, problems in communication, and feelings of inequality and imbalance in the relationship. This argument is one that I see come up all the time with the couples I work with. I would consider this to be a normal marital spat, and I think they handle this well initially. Both partners politely state their desires, Gary offers suggestions for how Brooke can make do with three lemons, and Brooke laughs at some of his responses, keeping the disagreement lighthearted. Ultimately, neither partner gets what they want as their families appear to arrive sooner than expected. However, when the couple re-engages in this argument after their families depart, things take a turn for the worse. Both partners express feeling unappreciated and unheard. The argument spirals into a heated escalation, until Brooke makes the fatal mistake when she proclaims, “I’m done!” This statement indicates the termination of the relationship. In this moment she is speaking impulsively out of hurt and anger, and thus beginning, The Break-Up.
So, what could they have done differently, to avoid criticism, defensiveness, and contempt, while maintaining respect, love, and balance in the relationship? How could they build a healthier relationship?
First, healthy relationships require open and effective communication. There are two types of people I see most commonly in my work as a couples therapist. The first type of person is one who lashes out and criticizes their partner when their partner does things that irk them. The second type of person is the type who wants to avoid confrontation, so they suppress all their negative thoughts and feelings about things that irk them in the relationship until they finally explode with contempt. To avoid the fallout that comes with these two common communication styles, I encourage all couples to use ‘I’ statements with their partner during confrontations. Using ‘I’ statements can reduce blame and criticism and help to place the listening partner in a mindset of openness, empathy, and compassion, rather than defensiveness. Effective ‘I’ statements consist of four parts:
Using the example from The Break-Up argument discussed earlier, Brooke could have said, (1) “I feel unappreciated (2) after I put so much work into preparing for dinner tonight. (1) I did not feel supported, and that hurts me. (3) I need to know that you care about me. I want you to take more initiative in contributing more toward chores around the house. (4) If I felt I had more help and support from you, that would help me feel more cared for, and then we can have more time to rest together.” Likewise, Gary could have said (1) “I feel unappreciated and unrecognized for the contributions I bring to the relationship. (2) I feel that my efforts are viewed as not being good enough, and that hurts me. I feel exhausted after working today, and (3) I need to rest for a little while. (4) After I rest for an hour, I will feel more energized and will be able to do my share of the housework.” After either partner’s ‘I’ statements, the other partner could effectively respond by paraphrasing what the other said to be sure they understood, and then providing their partner with words of affirmation to begin by reassuring them that they are cared for and appreciated. But words are not enough. In healthy relationships, words are backed by action.
Second, healthy relationships require compromises. There are times in a relationship when you and your partner’s wants/needs are conflicting or don’t align well. A good compromise takes into account both partners’ needs and/or wants, and leaves both partners feeling respected, valued, and understood, even if they do not get their way. When compromising, needs should come before wants. A need in a relationship is something that is necessary in order to feel emotionally and physically secure in a relationship. A want in a relationship are things that bring enhancement to the relationship, but are not essential to feeling secure. For example, feeling supported in a relationship is a need, but how a partner feels supported (e.g., by words of affirmation, or acts of service, etc.) may be a want. Once you identify the need, you can start to let go of your want to create more room for flexibility and compromise to receive what you need.
Third, healthy relationships still have arguments and heated moments of intense negative emotions. This is normal! One of my pet peeves as a couples therapist is seeing social media posts and TikToks about how “healthy relationships don’t require work,” or “healthy relationships aren’t hard,” or my favorite (read: sarcasm), “healthy couples don’t argue.” NONSENSE! Relationships do take work, and can be hard sometimes! And that’s okay. It shouldn’t always be hard, but it is very normal for it to be hard sometimes. Life is hard, and arguing is inevitable. Not only is it inevitable, but I strongly believe it provides opportunities for growth. When you argue with your partner, you are addressing a problem in the relationship. That’s a good thing. Problems need to be addressed, so that they can be resolved. And what happens when they get resolved? If done effectively and respectfully, you create a more satisfying relationship. Moreover, through the process, chances are you are also learning more about your partner, strengthening your bond, and growing as people. But, in order to be effective and respectful, you need to have a clear mind, and not let emotions get the best of you. To do this, I like to have my couples use the STOP skill from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (2):
Using this skill would have saved Brooke from acting on her emotions impulsively and saying things she didn’t mean to say. It could have given both partners a chance to cool off and resolve their issues and move towards their goals and each other, rather than move apart.
Finally, healthy relationships require balance and equality. In the heat of their argument, Brooke reveals she feels a great imbalance in their relationship in which she believes she is contributing far more to the relationship and doing more work than Gary. Gary feels dismissed for his contributions as he defends himself by reminding her of the financial contributions he makes to the relationship. However this is not what Brooke is talking about. She is describing the imbalance that many women I work with experience in their relationship. I believe a reason for this is the longstanding impact of stereotypical gender roles, in which traditionally, women ran the household, taking care of all responsibilities while the men worked their 9-5s. This may have worked in a bygone era, but it is now outdated and creates an unfair imbalance in the relationship, leading to dissatisfaction, resentment, and contempt. Now that is not to say that relationships should always be 50/50. While that’s ideal, it’s not always realistic
Imbalance can sometimes happen in relationships, and that’s normal, and that’s okay. Sometimes your partner is sick or overwhelmed with their career, so you pick up more of the relationship and household responsibilities, and vice versa.
It’s not fair if all the efforts and responsibilities fall on one partner’s shoulders, however. I can already hear my parents in the back of my mind saying, “life isn’t fair.” And that’s true. Life isn’t fair. So why would anyone want a partner who is making life more difficult? Life is challenging enough. A healthy relationship involves having a person who’s going to help make your life easier by contributing equally to the relationship. That doesn’t mean that relationships are easy by any means. Relationships take work. You deserve someone who is willing to do the work with you.
This is where feminism comes to play. Feminist psychology incorporates feminist theory and principles and aims to recognize and challenge power imbalances in relationships, often caused by problematic gender stereotypes. As a feminist psychologist, I use feminism in relationships to promote mutual respect and open communication and encourage couples to share responsibilities in an equitable manner. This helps to establish healthier dynamics in the relationship, with both partners reporting increased levels of relationship satisfaction. Are you using feminism in your relationship? Do you feel a sense of equality? Is there mutual respect and love? I invite you to ask yourself each day, what am I doing to make my partner’s life easier? What do I need from my partner? Follow the tips outlined in this article, and see if feminism helps to strengthen your relationship, because you deserve a satisfying, healthy relationship, and equal partnership.
Answers to your burning health questions.
In our Your Health Unlocked podcast [link] episode with Martha Gulati, MD, cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, we learned that women’s symptoms of heart disease and heart attack are different. We also learned that women often do not receive the same level of care for heart disease as men.
Heart disease is an umbrella term for several different diseases that can affect the heart. These can include coronary artery disease, dysrhythmias like atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and many more [3]. Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease and the number one cause of death for women with heart disease [3]. Coronary artery disease develops when plaques build up in the walls of the arteries that feed that heart muscle, pinching off the blood flow to the heart.
Heart disease may go unnoticed or without symptoms until it reaches a point that it causes symptoms. Symptoms that can appear may include fatigue, shortness of breath, and exercise intolerance. When heart disease turns into a heart attack (acute coronary syndrome or myocardial infarction) is when additional symptoms start.
When you think of a heart attack, you may picture a man clutching his chest or grabbing his arm. What do you picture for women?
Ninety percent of the time men and women experience chest pain or chest pressure when having a heart attack [2]. In addition to chest pain, women often have three or more accompanying symptoms including [1,2]:
These symptoms might overshadow the initial chest pain, making it more difficult to diagnose women, or leading to medical bias to not look for heart disease in women.
The standard of care for heart disease and heart attack is the same for men and women. Treatment involves taking medications to lower cholesterol, adjusting your diet to be heart healthy, and increasing exercise. You may also have specific tests done, including blood work, checking your blood pressure, an electrocardiogram (ECG) or angiogram.
Sadly, in Dr. Gulati’s experience as a cardiologist and as the chair of the National Chest Pain Guidelines through the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, women’s symptoms continue to be discounted and treatment tends to be less aggressive than for men [2].
When someone is having a heart attack and are brought to the hospital, once a heart attack is diagnosed, they are often taken straight to the cath lab, where their arteries get opened up to restore blood flow to the heart [2]. However, according to the statistics, women are less likely to be taken to the cath lab and are less likely to receive the clot buster medications that men often receive [2]. In addition, women are less likely to receive the guideline directed medical therapy that would save their life within 24 hours, often leading to readmission to the hospital after treatment. After discharge, women are less likely to be referred for cardiac rehab [2]. With women receiving subquality heart care before, during, and after it is not surprising that heart disease is the number one killer of women, but it could be prevented in many cases.
To start taking charge of your heart health today, consider Life’s Essential Eight, by the American Heart Association [4].
At the National Women’s Health Network, we believe in self-advocacy, which is why we recommend learning more about heart disease, your risks, and advocating for heart health care that aligns with the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology guidelines for heart care.
Women have unique risk factors for heart disease. Aside from family history, blood pressure, and cholesterol, women should also consider the following as heart disease risk factors [2]:
If you think you’re at risk of heart disease, make an appointment with your doctor and ask that your heart be checked out thoroughly and see if you can be referred to a cardiologist.
If you are having chest pains call 911 immediately, and do not try to drive yourself to the hospital. If you are having a heart attack, you could lose consciousness while driving, which could lead to an accident or you not getting to the hospital to save your life.
Sources
[1] Gulati, M. (2021, November 7). Chest pain guidelines. https://drmarthagulati.com/martha-moments/f/chest-pain-guidelines
[2] Scheiber, A. (Host). (2024, February 22). Women’s heart health with Dr. Gulati (39) [Audio podcast episode]. In Your Health Unlocked. National Women’s Health Network. https://nwhn.org/yourhealthunlocked-039/
[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, January 9). Women and heart disease. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/women.htm
[4] American Heart Association. (n.d.). Life’s essential 8. AHA. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/lifes-essential-8
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Readable summaries of the latest medical research.
While there have been observational studies conducted on the association between gut microbiota and endometriosis, there has not yet been a clear causal study to show this relationship. This study investigates the causal relationship between gut microbiota and endometriosis. Results indicate that certain gut microbiota (family Prevotellaceae, genus Anaerotruncus, genus Olsenella, genus Oscillospira, and order Bacillalesare) are risk factors for endometriosis, while others (class Melainabacteria and genus Eubacterium ruminantium group) are protective factors for endometriosis. This study’s findings suggest potential new insights for novel preventive and treatment strategies for endometriosis.
This retrospective study aimed to assess the prevalence of thyroid disorders and the monitoring of hypothyroidism before pregnancy. Analyzing data from over 120,00 pregnancies in Catalonia, Spain, between 2014 and 2016, this study found a significant increase in prevalence of recorded thyroid disorders as age increases. Remarkably, about 40% of women with known thyroid disorders did not undergo thyroid monitoring tests in the year before pregnancy. Among those women with hypothyroidism who were tested, over 30% had elevated thyrotropin (TSH) levels. Furthermore, even among women without previously diagnosed thyroid disorders, a notable percentage exhibited abnormal TSH levels. The study underscores the importance of thorough evaluation and monitoring of thyroid disorders during pre-pregnancy care to ensure optimal maternal health.
This study investigated the relationship between chronic poor sleep patterns and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among women using data from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) over the course of 22 years. Almost 3,000 participants aged 42 to 52 years at baseline, premenopausal or early perimenopausal, and free of CVD, completed questionnaires assessing insomnia symptoms and sleep duration. Group-based trajectory modeling revealed four insomnia symptom trajectories and three sleep duration trajectories. Persistently high insomnia symptoms were associated with a 71% higher CVD risk compared to low insomnia symptoms. Persistent short sleep duration was marginally linked to higher CVD risk, and the combination of persistent high insomnia and short sleep significantly elevated CVD risk. These findings underscore the importance of addressing persistent poor sleep patterns, particularly insomnia symptoms, in midlife women to mitigate CVD risk.
Grace Lee is a Senior Analyst on the Infectious Disease Infrastructure and Policy team at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). Her work focuses on healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial resistance, and sexually transmitted infections. Outside of work, Grace is a board member for HopeLine, a crisis intervention and suicide prevention agency. In addition, she mentors undergraduate students at the University of Pittsburgh, her alma mater. Grace has her Master of Public Health in health policy from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and is based in Washington D.C. In her free time, she loves to travel, dance, bake, and powerlift.
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