The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages

Table of Contents

Foreword.......................................................................................................................8

Taking Charge of Your Health........................................................................................10

Heart Disease..............................................................................................................15

Understanding risk factors for this number one killer of women, as well as heart attack 

signs, common tests, treatments, and living with heart disease. 

Stroke.........................................................................................................................37

Recognizing the signs of stroke, as well as understanding risk factors, diagnosis, and 

treatment of stroke.

Cancer........................................................................................................................51

Understanding risk factors, symptoms, important screening tests, and treatment of 

cancers affecting women.

Type 2 Diabetes ...........................................................................................................69

Knowing the signs of type 2 diabetes and how to manage, prevent, and delay the 

condition. 

Autoimmune Diseases..................................................................................................83

Recognizing symptoms of autoimmune diseases more common in women, dealing with 

diagnosis, and understanding special pregnancy concerns. 

Blood Disorders.........................................................................................................103

Learning how blood works and recognizing symptoms of bleeding disorders, clotting 

disorders, and anemia.

Sexually Transmitted Infections ..................................................................................119

Lowering the risk of sexually transmitted infections, symptoms to watch for, understanding treatment, and dealing with diagnosis.

HIV/AIDS ..................................................................................................................139

Preventing HIV, understanding the importance of testing, recognizing AIDS-related 

infections, and living with HIV.
Table of Contents 

Reproductive Health ..................................................................................................153

Caring for your reproductive health, understanding reproductive and gynecologic 

disorders, and understanding your birth control options.

Pregnancy.................................................................................................................169

Preparing your body for pregnancy and delivery, understanding body changes, and 

learning about the stages of pregnancy.

Breastfeeding ...........................................................................................................187

Learning how to breastfeed your baby, with practical tips and suggestions for getting 

your baby to latch, expressing milk, and caring for your breasts.

Mental Health ...........................................................................................................207

Learning how to care for your overall mental health, understanding mental health 

disorders, and finding out how to get help. 

Healthy Aging ............................................................................................................221

Dealing with menopause, understanding common signs of aging, and living with chronic 

health conditions. 

Violence Against Women ............................................................................................235

Understanding the impact of violence against women in the United States, recognizing 

dangerous relationships, and learning practical ways to get help. 

Urologic and Kidney Health ........................................................................................251

Learning how the urinary system works and recognizing, preventing, and treating 

common urologic and kidney health problems.

Digestive Health ........................................................................................................265

Learning how the digestive system works, dealing with digestive health problems during 

pregnancy, and understanding how to keep your digestive system healthy.

Respiratory Health.....................................................................................................279

Understanding how the respiratory system works, dealing with common respiratory conditions, and recognizing symptoms.
 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages

Oral Health................................................................................................................293

Caring for your oral health, understanding oral health issues specific to women, and 

learning how to recognize oral health problems.

Skin and Hair Health..................................................................................................305

Caring for your skin and hair, understanding the link between hair and skin and overall 

health, and dealing with common skin and hair problems.

Nutrition ................................................................................................................... 317

Learning about healthy eating, including practical tips for making healthy food choices.

Fitness......................................................................................................................337

Learning about the importance of physical activity, including practical tips for leading an 

active lifestyle.

Pain..........................................................................................................................351

Understanding the impact of chronic pain and painful conditions among women and 

learning about treatment options.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine ...................................................................367

Learning about the use of complementary and alternative medicine in 

the United States, the state of research on specific types of alternative medicines, and 

important safety tips. 

Appendix...................................................................................................................383

Additional Health Information and Tips............................................................................................385

Important Screenings and Tests ........................................................................................................ 413

Health Resources for Women and Families.....................................................................................423

Glossary....................................................................................................................437

Bibliography..............................................................................................................463

Index ........................................................................................................................509