Latest Women's Health News

21Sep
2023

Substance Abuse Greatly Raises Odds of Heart Attack, Stroke During Pregnancy

Substance Abuse Greatly Raises Odds of Heart Attack, Stroke During PregnancyTHURSDAY, Sept. 21, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Substance abuse and pregnancy may be a dangerous combination.New research finds that pregnant women with a history of substance abuse had a dramatically increased risk of death from heart attack and stroke during childbirth compared to women with no drug history.“This telling research shows that substance use during pregnancy doubled cardiovascular events and maternal mortality during delivery,” said senior author Dr. Martha Gulati, associate director of the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. “Substance abuse also doubled the risk of acute heart failure," she said in an institute news release.Researchers studied a variety of substances, including cocaine, opioids,...

A Baby Cries & Mom's Breast Milk Releases: New Study...

20 September 2023
A Baby Cries & Mom`s Breast Milk Releases: New Study Could Explain WhyWEDNESDAY, Sept. 20, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Many a new mom knows that when her newborn cries, her milk releases. Now, animal research reveals a newly discovered brain circuit that may explain why that happens.This new study showed that when a mouse pup starts crying, sound information travels to an area of its mother’s brain called the posterior intralaminar nucleus of the thalamus (PIL). This then sends signals to oxytocin-releasing brain cells (neurons) in another region called the hypothalamus, which is a control center for hormone activity.While most of the time, these hypothalamus neurons are kept in check by proteins acting as gatekeepers to prevent wasted milk, after 30 seconds of continuous crying, signals from the PIL were found to build up and overpower these inhibitory...

Future of 'Artificial Wombs' for Human Preemies to Be...

19 September 2023
Future of `Artificial Wombs` for Human Preemies to Be Weighed by FDA AdvisorsTUESDAY, Sept. 19, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Advisors to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will weigh the possibilities and parameters of experiments with artificial wombs for premature human babies.Scientists have already had some success with the concept in animals. During a two-day meeting that ends Wednesday, the Pediatric Advisory Committee will cover regulations and ethics around creating an artificial womb that would help very premature humans to survive, with time to continue to develop their lungs, gastrointestinal system and brain. The advisors will also consider what clinical trials for this would look like. The purpose of an artificial womb would be to help the fraction of babies born before 28 weeks' gestation, which is less than 1% of infants. It could not be used from...

Common PFAS Chemicals Linked to Cancers in Women

19 September 2023
Common PFAS Chemicals Linked to Cancers in WomenTUESDAY, Sept. 19, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Harmful "forever" chemicals are widespread in the environment, and new research hints they pose a particular health risk to women.A new study suggests women who are exposed to higher levels of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, or PFAS, are more likely to have been diagnosed with certain cancers. Exposure is also linked to liver damage, fertility issues, high blood pressure and other health conditions. PFAS is a category of more than 15,000 compounds found in everyday household items, including shampoo, dental floss, cosmetics, nonstick cookware, food packaging, clothing and more. PFAS compounds can find their way into water and food supplies. They are called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down and can last for...

An OTC Contraceptive Pill Is Coming Soon, but Who Will Pay For It?

19 September 2023
An OTC Contraceptive Pill Is Coming Soon, but Who Will Pay For It?TUESDAY, Sept. 19, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- The first over-the-counter birth control pill is slated to hit drug stores in early 2024, but questions about cost and insurance coverage loom. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Opill (norgestrel) for preventing pregnancy without a prescription in July, but pill maker Perrigo has yet to announce the price of the contraceptive. So far, only six states require coverage of some OTC birth control methods: California (effective in 2024), Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Washington, according to KFF.“Affordability is a key piece to ensuring that people have access to birth control and Opill once it is on shelves,” Victoria Nichols, project director of Free the Pill, said during a recent KFF news conference on...
RSS
First567810121314Last
HealthDay

Copyright © 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved.