  
Women's Health Across the Lifespan
Women's health issues continue to capture the spotlight in state legislatures, as the importance of health-related topics have grown along with demands on state budgets. Policymakers are often forced to view women's health by issue area such as breast cancer, chronic disease or pregnancy. A better way to understand women's health involves looking at a woman's life comprehensively.
Women's health begins at birth. Into early childhood, health depends on proper nutrition and physical activity, immunizations, and the prevention of conditions like osteoporosis and skin cancer. As girls move into the teen and early adult years, awareness, prevention and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STD), HIV/AIDS, violence, tobacco use and substance abuse become a concern for policymakers and parents alike.
Policymakers also address a variety of women's health and reproductive issues. In 2008, legislators made decisions about family planning, insurance mandates for contraceptives, infertility treatments, prenatal/postnatal services, breastfeeding, newborn screening and preventative screenings for women.
Upon entering middle age, women's health needs change. Management of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases becomes vital, as does screening for and knowledge about lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, diabetes and a variety of other conditions. Mental health services throughout a woman's lifespan greatly affect her overall health, as can access to prescription drugs, long-term care facilities, and community-based care services during the twilight years of womanhood.
Recent News/Updates
-
Childhood ImmunizationsThis National Conference of State Legislatures Postcard includes information on school requirements, immunization funding, and immunization registries, May 2008.
-
-
Women and Diabetes
This National Conference of State Legislatures Postcard provides some brief statistics about women and diabetes, costs, and control and prevention, March 2008.
-
-
-
Heart On, presented by Events of the Heart is touring the country to raise awareness about the leading killer of women: heart disease.
-
Click on the icon below to learn more about Patient Assistance NOW 
|
