meetara-lab/vectorstore-women_health huggingface dataset:
Q: What does healthy eating look like?
A: Healthy eating means choosing different types 
of healthy food from all of the food groups (fruits, 
vegetables, grains, dairy, and proteins), most of the 
time, in the correct amounts for you. Fill your plate 
with foods from the five food groups at each meal. 
Half of your plate should be fruits or vegetables. Most 
women do not get enough fruits, vegetables, whole 
grains, seafood, fiber, or healthy fats, such as olive 
oil or canola oil. Most of us don’t need complicated 
calorie counting programs or special recipes for healthy 
eating. Healthy eating also means not eating a lot  
of foods with added sugar, sodium (salt), and saturated 
and trans fats.  

Q: How do women’s nutritional needs change 
throughout life? 
A: Women’s nutritional needs change as our bodies 
change during different stages of our lives.
Q: How do women’s nutritional needs change 
throughout life? 
A: Women’s nutritional needs change as our bodies 
change during different stages of our lives. 

•  During the teen years. Girls ages 9 to 18 need 
more calcium and vitamin D to build strong 
bones and help prevent osteoporosis later in life. 
Girls need 1,300 milligrams (mg) of calcium and 
600 international units (IU) of vitamin D every 
day. Girls ages 14 to 18 also need more iron. 

•  Young adults. Teen girls and young women 

usually need more calories than when they were 
younger, to support their growing and developing 
bodies. After about age 25, a woman’s resting 
metabolism (the number of calories her body 
needs to sustain itself at rest) goes down.
•  Before and during pregnancy. You need more 
of certain nutrients than usual to support your 
health and your baby’s development. These 
nutrients include protein, calcium, iron, and 
folic acid. Many doctors, nurses, and midwives 
recommend prenatal vitamins or a folic acid 
supplement during this time. 

•  During breastfeeding. Continue eating healthy 
foods while breastfeeding. You may also need 
to drink more water. Nursing mothers may 
need about 13 cups of water a day. Try drinking 
a glass of water every time you nurse and with 
each meal. 

•  After menopause. Lower levels of estrogen after 
menopause raise your risk for chronic diseases, 
such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and 
osteoporosis. What you eat also affects these 
chronic diseases. Talk to your doctor about 
healthy eating plans and whether you need more 
calcium and vitamin D to protect your bones. 

www.womenshealth.gov | 1-800-994-9662
Top Questions About Nutrition and Women 

2
www.womenshealth.gov | 1-800-994-9662
Top Questions About Nutrition and Women 

2

Q: Are low-fat or low-carb diets safe for women?
A: Yes, these diets can be safe, but you should always 
talk to your doctor or nurse before limiting the amount 
of any specific nutrient like fat or carbs. Fats and carbs 
are essential, which means your body needs them to 
work correctly and for good health. 

•  Low-carb diets can help you lose weight, but 
they can also limit the amount of fiber you get 
each day. Most women do not get enough fiber. 

•  Low-fat diets also can help you lose weight. But 

the amount of weight lost is usually small.
•  Low-fat diets also can help you lose weight. But 

the amount of weight lost is usually small. 

For weight loss, what is more important is eating 
healthy carbs and unsaturated fats and limiting the 
amount of calories you take in. It helps to cut out  
or eat less of foods that don’t have essential vitamins, 
minerals, or nutrients. Try one of the healthy eating 
plans at www.choosemyplate.gov or the top-rated 
Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet  
at www.nhlbi.nih.gov. 

For more information…
For more information about nutrition, call the OWH Helpline at 1-800-994-9662 or contact  
the following organizations:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC), HHS 
1-800-232-4636 • www.cdc.gov/nutrition

ChooseMyPlate.gov 
www.choosemyplate.gov 

Nutrition.gov 
www.nutrition.gov 

Office of Dietary Supplements, NIH, HHS 
301-435-2920 • ods.od.nih.gov
ChooseMyPlate.gov 
www.choosemyplate.gov 

Nutrition.gov 
www.nutrition.gov 

Office of Dietary Supplements, NIH, HHS 
301-435-2920 • ods.od.nih.gov

All materials contained on these pages are free of copyright restrictions and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the 
Office on Women’s Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated. 

Content last updated: January 11, 2018.

www.facebook.com/HHSOWH

www.twitter.com/WomensHealth

www.youtube.com/WomensHealthgov

www.womenshealth.gov | 1-800-994-9662
A FACT SHEET FROM THE OFFICE ON WOMEN’S HEALTH

Top Questions About Stroke and Women

A stroke, sometimes called a “brain attack,” happens 
when blood flow to a part of the brain stops or is 
blocked and brain cells begin to die. Stroke is the 
third leading cause of death for women. Stroke also 
kills more women than men each year. A stroke can 
leave you permanently disabled. But many strokes are 
preventable or treatable.

•  Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding

•  Trouble seeing in one or both eyes

•  Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance 

or coordination

•  Severe headache with no known cause

Q: How does stroke affect women differently 
than men?
A: Stroke affects women differently than men in 
several ways.
or coordination

•  Severe headache with no known cause

Q: How does stroke affect women differently 
than men?
A: Stroke affects women differently than men in 
several ways.

•  More women than men die from stroke, and more 
women have strokes later in life. It is twice as 
common for women between 20 and 39 to have 
a stroke than men of the same age. Also, more 
women than men have another stroke within 
5 years of the first stroke. 

•  Women have unique risk factors for stroke, such as: 

 ◦ A history of problems during pregnancy, 

including gestational diabetes or preeclampsia
 ◦ Use of hormonal birth control while smoking
 ◦ Use of menopausal hormone therapy during or 

after menopause

•  Some risk factors for stroke are more common in 
women than in men. These include migraine 
with aura, atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), 
and diabetes.

Q: What are the most common symptoms 
of stroke?
A: Stroke symptoms come on suddenly. The most 
common symptoms are:
Q: What are the most common symptoms 
of stroke?
A: Stroke symptoms come on suddenly. The most 
common symptoms are:

•  Numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, 

especially on only one side of the body

www.womenshealth.gov | 1-800-994-9662

Strokes happen fast and are a medical emergency. If 
you think you or someone else may be having a 
stroke, use the F.A.S.T. test:

F—Face: Look in the mirror and smile, or ask the 
person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A—Arms: Raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S—Speech: Repeat a simple phrase, like “Hello, my 
name is ____.” Is the speech slurred or strange?

T—Time: Act fast. If you see any of these signs, call 
911 right away. Some treatments for stroke work only 
if given in the first 3 hours (or up to 4½ hours for 
some people) after symptoms appear.
T—Time: Act fast. If you see any of these signs, call 
911 right away. Some treatments for stroke work only 
if given in the first 3 hours (or up to 4½ hours for 
some people) after symptoms appear.

Q: What do I need to know about my risk of stroke? 
A: Certain habits and health problems raise your 
risk of stroke. You can control many of the risk factors 
for stroke.

•  Habits you can control include not smoking, eating 

healthy, getting physical activity, limiting alcohol, and 
reducing stress. 

•  Health problems you can improve include 

high blood pressure—the leading risk factor for 
stroke—high cholesterol, overweight and obesity, 
and diabetes. 

•   Risk factors you can’t control include your age, 

family history, race and ethnicity, and menopause.
2

Knowing about your risk factors, including those you 
can’t control, can help you and your doctor or nurse 
decide on a plan to lower your risk of stroke.
Knowing about your risk factors, including those you 
can’t control, can help you and your doctor or nurse 
decide on a plan to lower your risk of stroke.

Q: Why does pregnancy affect my stroke risk? 
A: The increased risk of stroke during pregnancy 
comes from several changes that happen to your body 
during pregnancy, such as increased blood clotting. 
Your body also makes more blood during pregnancy. 
After birth, these changes reverse rapidly, and this can 
trigger a stroke.

Health problems that can happen during pregnancy, 
such as preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and 
gestational diabetes, also increase stroke risk later in life.

Although pregnancy-related stroke is not common, the 
number of women who have a stroke during or soon 
after pregnancy is going up. You may be more at risk 
if you already have risk factors for stroke, such as high 
blood pressure, and you are African-American, are 
older than 35, or have lupus or migraine headaches.
Q: How does menopause affect my stroke risk? 
A: Menopause raises your risk of stroke because your 
ovaries stop making estrogen. Estrogen is a hormone 
that may help keep blood vessels relaxed and open 
and help the body maintain a healthy balance of good 
and bad cholesterol. Without estrogen, cholesterol 
may start building up on artery walls. This can lead to 
stroke and other types of heart disease.

For more information…
For more information about stroke, call the OWH Helpline at 1-800-994-9662 or contact the 
following organizations:

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 
(NHLBI), NIH, HHS 
1-800-222-2225  • www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC), HHS 
1-800-232-4636 • www.cdc.gov/stroke

National Institute of Neurological Disorders 
and Stroke (NINDS), NIH, HHS 
1-800-352-9424 • www.ninds.nih.gov

American Stroke Association 
1-888-478-7653 • www.strokeassociation.org
National Institute of Neurological Disorders 
and Stroke (NINDS), NIH, HHS 
1-800-352-9424 • www.ninds.nih.gov

American Stroke Association 
1-888-478-7653 • www.strokeassociation.org

A full fact sheet on this topic is available online at www.womenshealth.gov. All material contained on this page is free of copyright restrictions 
and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated. OWH content is available for syndication through the HHS Syndication Storefront at 
digitalmedia.hhs.gov. 

Content last updated: December 7, 2018.

www.womenshealth.gov | 1-800-994-9662

www.youtube.com/WomensHealthgov

www.facebook.com/HHSOWH

www.twitter.com/WomensHealth

Top Questions About Stroke and Women
Depression 
in Women:  
4 THINGS TO KNOW

From the NATIONAL INSTITUTE of  MENTAL HEALTH 

Feeling sad is a normal reaction to difficult times in life. Depression is different—it is 
a mood disorder that can affect how a person feels, thinks, and acts. Read this fact 
sheet to learn about depression in women and ways to get help.

Depression is a medical condition. 

Depression is a common but serious mood disorder. 
Research suggests that depression is caused by a 
combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and 
psychological factors. 

All people can feel depressed, but the disorder is 
especially common among women due to unique 
biological, hormonal, and social experiences. 

Depression is not brought on by anything a woman 
has or has not done, and it is not something she  
can “snap out” of. Most women need treatment to 
feel better.

Depression has signs and  
symptoms to look out for.

Sadness is only one part of depression. Other common 
symptoms include:
Depression has signs and  
symptoms to look out for.

Sadness is only one part of depression. Other common 
symptoms include: 

•  Anxiety or irritability

•  Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or 

helplessness

•  Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities

•  Fatigue, lack of energy, or feeling slowed down

•  Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making 

decisions

•  Changes in sleep or appetite

•  Physical aches or pains that do not have a clear 

physical cause 

•  Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts

These symptoms can make it hard to think, work, 
sleep, study, eat, and enjoy life. Talk to a health care 
provider if you experience symptoms most of the day, 
nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks. Depression 
does not look the same for everyone; some women 
may experience many symptoms, and others may 
experience only a few.
Communicating well with a health care provider can improve your care. NIMH provides ways to get help, find a 
health care provider, and access treatment at www.nimh.nih.gov/findhelp. For tips on preparing for and getting the 
most out of your health care visit, see www.nimh.nih.gov/talkingtips. 

If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis 
Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In life-threatening situations, call 911.
Certain types of depression are 
unique to women.

Certain types of depression occur at specific stages of 
a woman’s life. Pregnancy, the postpartum period, the 
menstrual cycle, and perimenopause are associated 
with physical and hormonal changes that can bring on 
a depressive episode in some women.
•  Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a more intense
form of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, that occurs in 
the weeks before menstruation. The disorder causes 
severe symptoms, such as depressed mood, anger 
or irritability, suicidal thoughts, appetite changes, 
bloating, breast tenderness, and joint or muscle pain.

•  Perinatal depression occurs during pregnancy or 

after childbirth. It is more than the “baby blues” many 
new moms experience after giving birth. Women 
with perinatal depression feel extreme sadness, 
anxiety, and fatigue that may make it difficult to carry 
out daily tasks, including caring for themselves or 
others. Learn more about perinatal depression at 
www.nimh.nih.gov/perinataldepression.

•  Perimenopausal depression affects some women 

during the transition to menopause. Whereas abnormal 
periods, problems sleeping, mood swings, and hot 
flashes are common during the menopause transition, 
more extreme feelings of irritability, anxiety, sadness, 
or loss of enjoyment may be signs of depression.
You can get help for depression.

Even the most severe depression can be treated. 
Common treatments are antidepressant medication, 
talk therapy (virtual or in person), or a combination of 
medication and therapy.

There is no “one-size-fits-all” for treatment. It may take 
trial and error to find the best one for you. A health 
care provider can explain the different options and 
help you choose the best treatment based on your 
symptoms. With help, you can feel better. 

For more information on treatments for depression, 
visit www.nimh.nih.gov/depression.  

Find additional resources 

The following agencies have more information 
on depression in women:
•  Depression (Office on Women’s Health)  

www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/ 
mental-health-conditions/depression 
•  Depression Among Women (Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention)  
www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/depression 

•  Women and Depression (U.S. Food and
Disease Control and Prevention)  
www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/depression 

•  Women and Depression (U.S. Food and  

Drug Administration)  
www.fda.gov/consumers/women/women-
and-depression 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration provides an online 
resource for finding mental health services in your 
area at https://findtreatment.gov. 

Reprints

The information in this publication is in the public domain and may be reused or copied without permission. 
However, you may not reuse or copy images. Please cite the National Institute of Mental Health as the source. Read 
our copyright policy to learn more about our guidelines for reusing NIMH content at www.nimh.nih.gov/copyright.

NIH Publication No. 23-MH-4779 
Revised 2023

www.nimh.nih.gov
Contact: nimhinfo@nih.gov

Follow NIMH on social media @NIMHgov

[Table Data]
[Table: table_1_1]
| Depression
in Women:
4 THINGS TO KNOW | Col1 | Col2 | Col3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |
| From the NATIONAL INSTITUT |  |  | E of MENTAL HEALTH |
| Feeling sad is a normal reaction to difcfi ult times in life. Depression is difef rent—it is
a mood disorder that can afef ct how a person feels, thinks, and acts. Read this fact
sheet to learn about depression in women and ways to get help. |  |  |  |
| Depression is a medical condition.
Depression is a common but serious mood disorder.
Research suggests that depression is caused by a
combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and
psychological factors.
All people can feel depressed, but the disorder is
especially common among women due to unique
biological, hormonal, and social experiences.
Depression is not brought on by anything a woman
has or has not done, and it is not something she
can “snap out” of. Most women need treatment to
feel better.
Depression is not brought on by anything a woman
has or has not done, and it is not something she
can “snap out” of. Most women need treatment to
feel better.
Communicating well with a health care provider can impro
health care provider, and access treatment at www.nimh.
most out of your health care visit, see www.nimh.nih.gov/
If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoug
Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In life-threatenin |  | Depression has signs and
symptoms to look out for.
Sadness is only one part of depression. Other common
symptoms include:
• Anxiety or irritability
• Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or
helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
• Fatigue, lack of energy, or feeling slowed down
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making
decisions
• Changes in sleep or appetite
• Physical aches or pains that do not have a clear
physical cause
• Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts
decisions
• Changes in sleep or appetite
• Physical aches or pains that do not have a clear
physical cause
• Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts
These symptoms can make it hard to think, work,
sleep, study, eat, and enjoy life. Talk to a health care
provider if you experience symptoms most of the day,
nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks. Depression
does not look the same for everyone; some women
may experience many symptoms, and others may
experience only a few.
ve your care. NIMH provides ways to get help, find a
nih.gov/findhelp. For tips on preparing for and getting the
talkingtips.
hts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis
g situations, call 911. |  |
|  | Communicating well with a health care provider can impro
health care provider, and access treatment at www.nimh.
most out of your health care visit, see www.nimh.nih.gov/
If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoug
health care provider, and access treatment at www.nimh.
most out of your health care visit, see www.nimh.nih.gov/
If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoug
Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In life-threatenin | ve your care. NIMH provides ways to get help, find a
nih.gov/findhelp. For tips on preparing for and getting the
talkingtips.
hts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis
g situations, call 911. |  |
|  |  |  |  |
[Table: table_2_1]
| Col0 | Col1 |
| --- | --- |
| Certain types of depression are
unique to women.
Certain types of depression occur at specific stages of
a woman’s life. Pregnancy, the postpartum period, the
menstrual cycle, and perimenopause are associated
with physical and hormonal changes that can bring on
a depressive episode in some women.
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a more intense
form of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, that occurs in
the weeks before menstruation. The disorder causes
severe symptoms, such as depressed mood, anger
or irritability, suicidal thoughts, appetite changes,
bloating, breast tenderness, and joint or muscle pain.
• Perinatal depression occurs during pregnancy or
after childbirth. It is more than the “baby blues” many
new moms experience after giving birth. Women
with perinatal depression feel extreme sadness,
anxiety, and fatigue that may make it difficult to carry
out daily tasks, including caring for themselves or
with perinatal depression feel extreme sadness,
anxiety, and fatigue that may make it difficult to carry
out daily tasks, including caring for themselves or
others. Learn more about perinatal depression at
www.nimh.nih.gov/perinataldepression.
• Perimenopausal depression afef cts some women
during the transition to menopause. Whereas abnormal
periods, problems sleeping, mood swings, and hot
fal shes are common during the menopause transition,
more extreme feelings of irritability, anxiety, sadness,
or loss of enjoyment may be signs of depression. | You can get help for depression.
Even the most severe depression can be treated.
Common treatments are antidepressant medication,
talk therapy (virtual or in person), or a combination of
medication and therapy.
There is no “one-size-fits-all” for treatment. It may take
trial and error to find the best one for you. A health
care provider can explain the difef rent options and
help you choose the best treatment based on your
trial and error to find the best one for you. A health
care provider can explain the difef rent options and
help you choose the best treatment based on your
symptoms. With help, you can feel better.
For more information on treatments for depression,
visit www.nimh.nih.gov/depression.
Find additional resources
The following agencies have more information
on depression in women:
• Depression (Office on Women’s Health)
www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/
mental-health-conditions/depression
• Depression Among Women (Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention)
www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/depression
• Women and Depression (U.S. Food and
Drug Administration)
www.fda.gov/consumers/women/women-
and-depression
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration provides an online
resource for fni ding mental health services in your
area at https://findtreatment.gov. |
|  |  |
| Reprints |  |
Anxiety disorders

Anxiety is a normal response to stress. But when it 
becomes hard to control and affects your day-to-day 
life, it can be disabling. Anxiety disorders affect nearly 
one in five adults in the United States. Women are 
more than twice as likely as men to get an anxiety 
disorder in their lifetime. 

Q: What are the major types of anxiety disorder?
A: The major types of anxiety disorder are:

•  Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). People 

with GAD worry excessively about ordinary, day-
to-day issues, such as health, money, work, and 
family. Women with GAD may have muscle ten-
sion and other stress-related physical symptoms, 
such as trouble sleeping or upset stomach.
•  Panic disorder. People with panic disorder have 
sudden attacks of terror when there is no actual 
danger. Panic attacks may cause a sense of unre-
ality, a fear of impending doom, or a fear of 
losing control. People having panic attacks some-
times believe they are having heart attacks, losing 
their minds, or dying. 

•  Social phobia. Social phobia, also called social 
anxiety disorder, is diagnosed when people 
become very anxious and self-conscious in every-
day social situations. People with social phobia 
have a strong fear of being watched and judged by 
others. They may get embarrassed easily and often 
have panic attack symptoms.

•  Specific phobia. A specific phobia is an intense 
fear of something that poses little or no actual 
danger. Specific phobias could be fears of closed-in 
spaces, heights, water, objects, animals, or spe-
cific situations. People with specific phobias often 

www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662