(melitas/iStock via Getty Images) Lea en español A century ago, so little was known about heart disease that people who had it resigned themselves to years of bed rest or, worse, an early death. Even less was known about how heart disease affected women – because nobody thought it did. Heart disease was considered a…

(AzmanL/E+ via Getty Images) Black women treated for high blood pressure in their 30s and 40s may face a substantially higher risk for having a stroke than their peers without a history of high blood pressure treatment, new research suggests. The findings showed Black women under 35 who were treated for high blood pressure, also…

(ljubaphoto/E+ via Getty Images) Lea en español From the time they reach reproductive age, women are encouraged to visit an OB-GYN at least once a year for a wellness exam that may include screening for breast or cervical cancer, sexually transmitted diseases or other issues involving their reproductive organs. But a growing body of research…

(PeopleImages/iStock via Getty Images) Lea en español Pregnancy often causes discomfort, whether it be morning sickness, backaches or swollen feet. But sometimes, health experts warn, a seemingly minor symptom could be a flag for something more. Take dizziness. “It’s common, especially in the first trimester,” said Dr. Silvana Ribaudo, an attending physician and assistant clinical…

(Gorica Poturak/iStock via Getty Images) Pregnancy complications and menopause can increase women’s risk for cardiovascular disease. Here are the year’s top 5 stories on these topics and more, ranked in order of unique page views. 1. Pregnancy complications could increase a woman’s stroke risk at an earlier age Women who have complications during pregnancy may…

(J614/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images) Hispanic women diagnosed with high blood pressure for the first time during pregnancy may face a higher risk of developing abnormalities in heart function and structure later in life, a new study suggests. The findings could have significant health implications for women who develop hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, such as…

(fabio camandona/500Px Plus via Getty Images) Lea en español How well a woman sleeps – not just how long – as she transitions through menopause may affect her projected risk for heart disease and stroke, new research suggests. The study found women who were peri- and postmenopausal who experienced a range of sleep disturbances scored…

(Sebastian Kaulitzki/Science Photo Library via Getty Images) Lea en español Having a hysterectomy, even if the ovaries are spared, may place women at greater risk for a constellation of cardiovascular risk factors known as metabolic syndrome, new research shows. The findings, presented last month at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions conference in Philadelphia, call…

(Drazen Zigic/iStock via Getty Images) Many women with diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy did not receive appropriate postpartum care to reduce their future risk of cardiovascular disease, a study at one health system has found. “Many patients I see were not aware that (one of these pregnancy complications) was a risk factor for…

(izusek/E+ via Getty Images) Lea en español Routine mammograms are used to check women for breast cancer. But new research suggests they could do more than that: The images may help predict a woman’s risk for major cardiovascular problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, when they show the presence of calcium buildup in the…