Estradiol

MISSION, Kan., May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- (Family Features) Most people think of heart attacks as debilitating pain in the chest. However, that's not always the case, especially for women, and missing the signs can be a matter of life and death. Although heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women, according to the American Heart Association, symptoms are often overlooked or explained away as less worrisome conditions. Continue Reading Photo courtesy of Shutterstock "Men and women experience many aspects of life differently, and heart disease is no exception," said LeAnne Bloedon, MS, RD, vice president of clinical development, Esperion Therapeutics. "Symptoms of a heart attack aren't as obvious as many women think, and failing to recognize the danger and get help can have catastrophic results." One heart disease risk factor, for example, is high LDL cholesterol. Often referred to as a "silent killer," it doesn't always present noticeable symptoms. In fact, data suggests women with high LDL cholesterol are not diagnosed or treated as early or aggressively as men, which can put women at an increased risk for cardiovascular events. Understanding how men's and women's risk and symptoms differ may help identify and treat a serious heart health problem before it causes lasting damage. Anatomy Differences Some differences between men and women are present in the body's internal systems, including the cardiovascular system. Women generally have smaller hearts and narrower blood vessels. This can affect heart health in numerous ways, including less efficient stress responses and greater risk of widespread plaque buildup, especially in smaller vessels, called microvasculature, which can pose treatment challenges. Cholesterol Buildup Hormones influence aspects of the body's function, including cholesterol levels. Estrogen, a female sex hormone, raises HDL (good) cholesterol levels. This may be why women tend to have more HDL cholesterol and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol than men, especially before they reach menopause, though inherited high cholesterol can affect women of all ages. "It's critical to raise awareness about the importance of measuring LDL cholesterol, diagnosing high cholesterol and treating elevated LDL cholesterol per guidelines and individual patient needs," Bloedon said. Risk Factors While there are shared risk factors for heart disease among men and women (such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes), some risk factors disproportionately affect women. For example, uncontrolled cholesterol in women, particularly after menopause, can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Care and Treatment "While you may not be able to fully prevent heart disease, you can understand the risks and take proactive steps," Bloedon said. "Commit to a healthy, smoke-free lifestyle. Exercise regularly and eat a well-balanced diet with limits on processed foods, sugar, sodium and alcohol. Take any medications as directed by your health care provider." Statins, which reduce the production of cholesterol in the liver and lower cholesterol levels in the bloodstream, are the medications most often prescribed to help manage high LDL cholesterol. While generally well-tolerated, statin intolerance (the inability to take a statin at any dose or the recommended dose) does occur in some patients and is more common in women. Talk with your doctor about other steps you can take to manage elevated LDL cholesterol levels and learn more about women's heart health at goredforwomen.org. Symptoms of Heart Attacks in Women Women's experiences with heart disease may be quite different from men. For example, according to the Heart Disease Foundation, women are likely to be older when they experience a heart attack. They may also attribute symptoms to other conditions, such as diabetes or arthritis. Further complicating matters, several diseases mimic heart attacks so getting to the root of the problem can be tricky. Women are more apt than men to experience a coronary spasm, coronary dissection or broken heart syndrome. What to Watch For: Like men, women experiencing a heart attack may notice prolonged or reoccurring chest pain or pressure. In women, that pain may extend to the arms, back, neck, jaw and stomach. Some women experience shortness of breath with no chest pain at all. Other symptoms women are more likely to report can be easily mistaken for other conditions. Some of these signs include unexplained fatigue, disruptions to normal sleep patterns, lightheadedness, nausea and cold sweats. Michael French [email protected] 1-888-824-3337 editors.familyfeatures.com About Family Features Editorial Syndicate A leading source for high-quality food, lifestyle and home and garden content, Family Features provides readers with topically and seasonally relevant tips, takeaways, information, recipes, videos, infographics and more. Find additional articles and information at Culinary.net and eLivingToday.com. SOURCE Family Features Editorial Syndicate WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

NHS patients will soon be able to access Theramex’s once-a-day endometriosis pill Yselty (linzagolix), following final draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The health technology assessment agency has recommended the at-home treatment be used to manage endometriosis symptoms in patients across England, Wales and Northern Ireland with a history of previous medical or surgical treatment for their endometriosis. It will be given with add-back hormone therapy, which involves using low-dose hormone replacement therapy to minimise or eliminate menopause-like symptoms and bone loss. Affecting approximately 1.5 million women in the UK, endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows elsewhere in the body. Patients can experience a range of symptoms, including dysmenorrhoea (painful cramping, usually in the lower abdomen), heavy bleeding and pelvic pain. Yselty is designed to block the hormones that contribute to endometriosis symptoms. The drug is expected to be available in the coming months and could benefit more than 1,000 patients every year, according to NHS England. NICE’s decision was supported by results from the EDELWEISS 3 study, in which Yselty used alongside add-back therapy demonstrated statistically significant reductions in both co-primary endpoints of non-menstrual pelvic pain and dysmenorrhea compared to placebo. Sue Mann, national clinical director in women’s health for NHS England, said: “This is welcome news for women with endometriosis who haven’t found relief from previous therapies or surgery – it’s another treatment option which will help women take control of their health and better manage the symptoms of this often painful and debilitating condition.” NICE’s final guidance on Yselty is set to be published on 25 June, after which the NHS must make the treatment available within 90 days. The announcement comes less than two months after NICE recommended Gideon Richter’s Ryeqo (relugolix, estradiol and norethisterone) as the first long-term daily pill for endometriosis. Commenting on the agency’s latest decision, Emma Cox, chief executive at Endometriosis UK said: “Historic lack of research into women’s health means those with endometriosis have far too few options for managing their sometimes debilitating pain and other symptoms of endometriosis. “It’s good to see companies investing in research, and NICE approving a new drug for endometriosis, offering more choice for those considering medical menopause to manage symptoms.”