Perhaps because 51 percent of the American population is female, or perhaps because it's just about time they did so, researchers, legislators and healthcare professionals are starting to pay more attention to women's health risks, disease prevention and outcomes.

In 2004, Florida lawmakers passed landmark legislation creating the Women's Health Strategy, section 381.04015 of the state code.

This law was created to improve the overall health status of women through research and education on women's health issues, noting that “Such research has important implications for both men and women in terms of clinical practice and disease prevention and manifestation.”

According to information compiled by the Florida Department of Health, recent advances in women's health (both in and out of the state) include:

Women and Heart Disease
Recognizing that symptoms are experienced differently among men and women has been key to learning how to help women identify the risks for heart disease.

“Research shows that women and men experience different signs and symptoms of a heart attack. The most commonly recognized sign is tightness in the chest. However, women are more likely to experience fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath and pain in the right shoulder, arm, neck or stomach.” (See article on page 18 for more information.)

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine
Creating quite a stir when first introduced in 2006, most healthcare practitioners now regard this vaccine as necessary to prevent cervical cancer and other diseases caused by certain types of genital HPV.

The vaccine, called Guardasil®, protects against four strains of HPV, which combined cause 70 percent of cervical cancers and 90 percent of genital warts.

John J. Bomalaski, M.D., Brevard's only board-certified specialist in Gynecology and Oncology, said the HPV vaccine has shown effective in fighting pre-cancerous lesions and should help reduce incidence rates of HPV, which number between 60 to 70 percent in America.

Bomalaski wants to make it clear that he views the vaccine as a preventive measure, one that can save untold number of lives.

“We're not vaccinating against sexually transmitted diseases, we're vaccinating against an infection that [may lead to] significant and deadly health problems,” he said.

Although the Food and Drug Administration recommends that girls and women from ages 9-26 receive the vaccine (administered in three doses), Bomalaski said that women older than the recommended age should not rule out the treatment and should discuss the vaccine with their primary care physician.

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
Working to educate women on the underlying symptoms of Ovarian Cancer – once termed the “silent killer” – the Gynecological Cancer Foundation, the Society of Gynecological Oncologists and the American Cancer Society issued a consensus statement in June listing the following symptoms as much more likely to occur in women with ovarian cancer:

• Bloating
• Pelvic or Abdominal Pain
• Difficulty Eating or Feeling Full Quickly
• Urgency or Frequency of Urination

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, seek the immediate opinion of your primary care physician.

Postpartum Depression
The Melanie Stokes Act and the Mom's Opportunity to Access Help, Education, Research and Support for Depression (MOTHERS) Act was created to enable new mothers and their families access to education about postpartum depression, symptoms screening and essential services. Research and awareness also will increase as the causes, diagnosis and treatments for postpartum depression are more carefully scrutinized.

This is just a partial list of issues impacting women's health today. On the pages that follow, you'll find more reporting on important women's health issues including Heart Disease, Relief from Menstrual Cramping, a Q/A with an area Anti-Aging Specialist and important information on Premature Births.

Information compiled with assistance from John J. Bomalaski, M.D., a gynecological oncologist with privileges at Health First Hospitals in Melbourne. For more information, call (321) 752-0944.