Their friends and families don't know how to help them, and many times they are unaware of the problem. The resources in the community are nearly invisible, and often inaccessible to many women who need them. But there is an action under way to improve this situation for Nellie and the millions of women who are living with health dilemmas, whether caused by abuse or by other factors. Most major illnesses among women are preventable. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women, almost entirely attributable to smoking.
Heart disease is the other leading cause of early death among women.
It is attributed to poor diet and lack of exercise, but more notable is the fact that it is diagnosed and treated at a much lower rate than it is in men. Through its funding to the IU School of Medicine and seventeen other academic medical centers throughout the country, HHS intends to nurture an initiative to significantly improve women's health. To accomplish this, the eighteen centers are charged with developing networks among existing agencies that serve women, aiming to build critical mass through common goals. The components of the CoE in Women's Health include clinical care, research, professional education, outreach and consumer education, and leadership mentoring for women. Ann Zerr, MD, is co-director.