| Featured Research  Update on the Women's Health Initiative Estrogen-Alone Trial
For women reaching menopause, choosing whether to use hormone therapy is an important health care decision. Each woman, in tandem with her health care team, should carefully consider the benefits and risks of taking a medication, with attention given to both short-term and long-term health consequences. Findings from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) published in 2004 showed that postmenopausal women who have had a hysterectomy and take estrogen for an average of 6 years may be at increased risk of stroke. But what happens to the health risks of these women years after they stop taking estrogen? And do the resulting risks differ depending on what age the women are when they start estrogen therapy? New research from the WHI shows that several of the original patterns of health risks and benefits are not maintained 4 years after women stop taking estrogen. Read a summary of the study and learn what it means for you
The WHI Women  "The three [large] red hearts are for my daughters and 11 pink ones are for my granddaughters. They are the reason I participated in the Women's Health Initiative study program. It is my legacy for them. I hope the study helps the future generations of women." —BS, about the quilt she made for the WHI
The WHI was a major, 20-year research program to address the most common causes of death, disability, and poor quality of life in postmenopausal women—cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. More than 161,000 women aged 50–79 years participated. Women at several clinical centers made quilts for the WHI, and many contributed a personal statement about their participation in the study. View the WHI quilts Learn about clinical trial participation
NHLBI Diseases and Conditions Index (DCI) Heart disease in women Heart disease is not just a man's disease. In fact, 1 in 4 women in the United States dies from heart disease. Coronary heart disease, a condition in which plaque builds up on the inner walls of the coronary arteries, is the most common type of heart disease and affects both women and men. Coronary microvascular disease (MVD) is heart disease that affects the heart's smallest arteries. Recently, studies have shown that women are more likely than men to have coronary MVD. Learn about heart disease and MVD in women Popular NHLBI Resources  The Healthy Heart Handbook for Women
- Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) online
- BMI Calculator App (for iPhone)
- Aim for a Healthy Weight Patient Booklet
News and Events - The Director's Corner: HHS Announces Initiative to Reduce Health Disparities
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released two strategic plans that will guide efforts to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities in the United States.
- American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference, May 13–18, Denver, CO
- Association of Professional Sleep Societies, SLEEP 2011, June 11–15, Minneapolis, MN
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