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1st appeared 27 May 1998 Healthy People 2000 Update As we approach the next millennium, the face of American women is changing. By the year 2030, women of color will represent nearly half of the US female population, and women over the age of 65 will comprise over 20 percent of the population. What do these changing demographics mean for women and their health? On Wednesday, May 20, women's health experts, students of public health, and leaders of women's health organizations gathered to view the first live broadcast of Healthy People 2000 Women's Health Progress Review. Hosted by the UCSF Center of Excellence in Women's Health (COE), the program explored the progress made towards reaching the federal government's women's health objectives for the year 2000, and the challenges remaining. "Today's discussions emphasize the importance of women's health prevention, specifically eating well, exercising adequately and avoiding smoking and other harmful substances; the importance of access to health care, prevention and screening; the importance of reducing violence in women's lives; and viewing women not as separate body parts but as integrated individuals living within diverse communities," said Nancy Milliken, UCSF associate chair of clinical programs in the department of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences. "The UCSF COE is committed to fostering multidisciplinary approaches, utilizing both academic and community resources, for the improvement of health of women and girls across diverse communities," Milliken said. How Are We Doing? The leading cause of death for women 75 years and older is heart disease -- 300,000 elderly women died of coronary heart disease in 1996. Although heart disease is the number one killer of elderly women, and the second most frequent cause of morbidity among women under the age of 75, many women believe that cancer, specifically breast cancer, is the most formidable health threat to women. Strong breast cancer marketing and advertising campaigns have led to this misconception, and many women do not understand the major health risks that contribute to heart disease and stroke, said Edward Sondik, director of the National Center for Health Statistics Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, although stroke is the third most frequent cause of death among women, only one percent of those surveyed by the American Heart Association reported that they knew stroke was a health risk. Sondik said that the American lifestyle is becoming increasingly sedentary; between 50 and 60 percent of Americans are physically inactive -- one of the most prevalent risk factors for obesity, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancers. The federal government aims to encourage all women, particularly young girls, to develop a regular exercise regimen, which has become increasingly important as states no longer mandate physical education for K-12 students. Lack of exercise is also a contributing factor for diabetes and obesity -- two closely linked conditions that are on the rise among women. There are 16 million cases of diabetes nationally, and six million cases are not diagnosed. The federal government hopes to establish population-based screening for diabetes, particularly among African-American women who have the highest rate of non-diagnosed diabetes cases. Combating poverty among women is also one of the federal government's top priorities. There is a growing number of low-income, uninsured American women who do not have access to health care. Without insurance, many women and their children cannot receive proper health care, preventive screenings and contraceptives. The Progress Review panel also addressed the role of health care providers in women's health. They said health care professionals need to provide holistic care to women, become culturally sensitive, and take time to explain the major health risks women face. For instance, it is estimated that approximately two million people each year would stop smoking if their doctors took time to discuss the health effects associated with tobacco use. by Abby Sinnott |
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