Health needs and services for various populations have come to the forefront as states work to make their systems more efficient and consider covering additional people under federal health reform implementation. This brief, the third in a series about women’s health, highlights diseases and health challenges common to women, opportunities to improve access to care and effective treatment, and strategies to prevent conditions and health problems before they become problematic and expensive.

Women, who are key in maintaining healthy families, access the health system more than men, both for themselves and on behalf of their children. Many become pregnant and give birth, a significant health event, then typically become their child’s primary caregiver, a role that greatly influences household health overall. Elder and long-term care issues affect women more often because they live longer; have higher rates of disability and chronic health problems; and lower incomes than men on average, which puts them at greater need for state and community resources, such as Medicaid.

Across her lifespan, a woman’s health status matters to herself, her family and to state budgets. Legislators are wrestling with tight budgets and changing health laws-including the realities of implementing federal health reform under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If women’s needs are overlooked in these discussions, however, states lose important opportunities to improve the health of residents and gain partners in creating a healthier society.

Heart Disease-Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. Women may have more subtle symptoms of a heart attack than men, such as upper abdominal pain, light-headedness or fatigue. “Heart Month” is nationally recognized in February, and the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign encourages awareness. Many states have adopted similar awareness efforts. Two CDC grant programs-Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) and the National Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program (HDSP)-help states cover screening and related services for women.

Cancer-Cancer kills more than 250,000 women in the United States annually. Access to preventive services under the ACA should help more women detect some cancers earlier. In addition, raising awareness about symptoms and risk factors for particular cancers is an important component of prevention and early diagnosis, especially for cancers of the breast, lung, colon and skin, which are largely preventable. States can help ensure early breast cancer detection by increasing access to mammograms. Some states have taken legislative action to require the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for pre-adolescent girls to prevent cervical cancer or have provided funding to make it more readily available. In an effort to reduce skin cancer rates, a number of states ban tanning bed use by minors.

Journal of Women’s Health and Reproductive Medicine is an interdisciplinary journal that explores clinical, medical, social and economic aspects of female reproductive health and medication worldwide.

Authors can submit manuscript as an e-mail attachment to the Editorial Office at https://www.imedpub.com/submissions/womens-health-reproductive-medicine.html

Media Contact
John Kimberly
Associate Managing Editor
Journal of Women’s Health and Reproductive Medicine
Email: womenshealth@emedscholar.com