Innovations in Women's Health Shine

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Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of women's health conditions have come a long way, baby. In honor of women's health, the popular health and wellness website, EverydayHealth.com, is working with the HHS Office on Women's Health and da Vinci Surgery to present "Women's Works: Tools for a Healthier You." Free educational programs are taking place at over 250 hospitals nationwide throughout the month of May. Each will shine a light on the advances and innovations in some of the conditions that affect women.

"Fear prevents a lot of women from making the necessary appointments for medical tests to stay healthy," explained Jenny Sucov, editor, EverydayHealth.com. "We wanted to focus on five major conditions affecting women -- from fibroids to breast cancer to osteoporosis -- and dispel some old beliefs about what's involved in certain procedures. Ultimately, we want to educate women and encourage them to take charge of their own health."

Here's a glimpse at some of the findings:

* Heart Disease. Researchers are working on better ways to evaluate heart disease in women, and even routine assessment of risk factors like high cholesterol. For example, a recent study showed that a woman's menstrual cycle can impact her cholesterol levels.

* Breast Cancer. A new Computed Tomography (CT) scanner, custom designed for the breast, eliminates the need to compress breast tissue and produces a 3D image in as little as 10 seconds. The CT scanner can also detect tumors as small as 3 mm that are difficult to see on a mammogram.

* Fibroids. Some fibroids don't need treatment, or can be managed by taking birth-control pills or other drugs. But others do require surgery, in some cases a hysterectomy. In the past, a hysterectomy would require many weeks of painful recovery, leaving large scars. Thanks in part to newer robotic surgery techniques, like da Vinci Surgery, hysterectomy patients can leave the hospital the next morning with only a few tiny (1/2 to 1 inch) incisions to heal, reaching full recovery within days.

* Osteoporosis & Osteoarthritis. Advances are being made in the treatment of osteoporosis, including new drugs, like Forteo, designed to increase bone mass rather than just prevent bone loss

* Gestational Diabetes. Left untreated, gestational diabetes can lead to overweight babies. New testing standards announced in March, according to the American Diabetes Association, may mean more women affected by the condition will have the chance to reduce their blood-sugar levels.

For more insights on the innovations in women's health and to find a free, educational event near you, log on to EverydayHealth.com.

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