A clinical prescription for heart health in midlife women.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women throughout the United States and Europe. Despite efforts to raise awareness, the sex-specific risk factors are still poorly recognized in both regions, and many women do not identify cardiovascular disease as a primary threat. During midlife, the incidence of cardiovascular disease increases dramatically, and this unique time gives an opportunity to identify both traditional cardiovascular risk factors as well as emerging risk factors unique to women.

Sex-specific risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women-making cardiovascular disease real.

Purpose Of Review: Sex-specific differences in pathophysiology, prevalence, and impact of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors may explain the high cardiovascular mortality rates in women.

Recent Findings: We review the sex differences in traditional risk factors (dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking) and nontraditional risk factors (menopause and hormones, pregnancy, inflammation and autoimmune diseases, anemia, depression, and migraines) and their prognostic and therapeutic implications.

Summary: Recent research indicates that with respect to traditional risk factors such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking, women appear to have a similar risk of CVD when compared to men.

Sex and gender in medical education: a national student survey.

Background: Gender- and sex-specific medicine is defined as the practice of medicine based on the understanding that biology (dictated by sex chromosomes) and social roles (gender) are important in and have implications for prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment in men and women. In light of the many ways that sex and gender influence disease presentation and patient management, there have been various initiatives to improve the integration of these topics into medical education curriculum. Although certain schools may include the topics, their impact on the student body's knowledge has not been as fully studied.

The Impact of Spinal Cord Stimulation on Sleep Patterns.

Background: Studies of chronic pain show sleep disturbances to be a prevalent symptom in 50-88% of patients and studies show improved pain to correspond with improved sleep. The impact of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) on sleep in failed back surgery syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, and neuropathic pain patients has not been studied prospectively.

Objectives: We prospectively assess the impact of SCS on sleep quality using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).

The Impact of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation on Disability and Depression.

Background: Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) of the named nerves of the head has been shown to be effective in reducing pain levels in patients with chronic pain refractory to other treatments. However, the impact of cranial PNS on depression and disability has not been well documented.

Objectives: We prospectively examine the impact of PNS on quality of life via validated survey scores which assess symptoms of depression and daily functional capacities within patients.