Dalhousie professor emerita Barbara Keddy discusses theories of causes and types of treatments for fibromyalgia
“Drug approved. Is disease real?”
“Does it really exist or is it all in women’s heads?”
“The doctors are in. The jury is out. “
The New York Times headlines rankle Barbara Keddy. For more than 40 years, she has suffered from fibromyalgia, a chronic disorder characterized by widespread pain and fatigue. But the condition is little understood and difficult to diagnose. As borne out by the headlines, some doctors are hesitant to acknowledge it even exists.
After retiring from teaching at Dalhousie University four years ago, Dr. Keddy decided it was time for an in-depth investigation of fibromyalgia, which is much more common among women than men and so has become known as primarily “a woman’s disease.” As a nurse, medical sociologist, university professor and researcher who suffers from the condition herself, she has a unique perspective to offer. [continue reading…]
Published: April 11, 2008
The Society for Women’s Health Research encourages women to take charge of their health throughout the year. But for those women who have fallen behind with regular exams and screenings, National Women’s Health Week (May 11-17, 2008) is the perfect time to take charge, take action, and get healthy. [continue reading…]
Whether you are running for president or looking for a clerical job, you cannot afford to get angry if you are a woman, Yale University psychologist Victoria Brescoll has found.Brescoll and Eric Uhlmann at Northwestern University recently completed three separate studies to explore a phenomenon that may be all-too-familiar to women like New York Senator Hillary Clinton: People accept and even reward men who get angry but view women who lose their temper as less competent [continue reading…]
Published: March 10, 2008
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center say they may have figured out why poor sleep does more harm to cardiovascular health in women than in men.
Their study, appearing online in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity, found that poor sleep is associated with greater psychological distress and higher levels of biomarkers associated with elevated risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. They also found that these associations are significantly stronger in women than in men. [continue reading…]
