The Health Team provides information on women's health and aging to allow you to make informed health decisions. We will take a holistic approach to help us safeguard and nurture our bodies, as well as enrich our minds and spirits. There will be articles and reports, suggested books, and FAWCO member contributions. We will also include practical information and resources, such as caring for loved ones from a distance, for ourselves and family members.
In 2014, we re-launched Clubs in Motion, with the goal to walk or run around the globe before the March 2015 Conference. That's 40,000 kms, so we better get moving! To learn more, sign up your club's walking or running group, and check how far we've come, go to Clubs in Motion.
We have gathered information from FAWCO Clubs about their Heart Pillow Projects to help women who have had breast cancer surgery. If you have Heart Pillow news to share, please send it to us at .
We are currently looking for a Health Issues Team Chair. Please contact if you are interested in the position.
Better Health After 40
As we get older, we are at an increased risk for many chronic diseases—for about a dozen diseases this risk increases exponentially with each decade. These diseases include heart disease, cancer osteoarthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and osteoporosis.
But many of these conditions are preventable and experts agree that making healthy changes at midlife can reduce...
FAWCO joins 16 NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC in a statement on 
"Aging and the Rights of Older Persons" 60.50 Kb delivered to the 61st Human Rights Commission in Geneva April 14, 2005
Statement for the Human Rights Commission 61st session "Aging and the Rights of Older Persons", March 2005
Taking Care of Your Eyes
Many people fail to consider eye health a priority in their overall health scheme, especially if they have 20/20 vision. But, taking regular care of your eyes to prevent disease or degeneration should be part of your regular health regime. Regardless of your age, you should consider the following ways of taking care of...
Taking Care of the Men in our Lives
Prostate Cancer
September 14-20 is Prostate Cancer Awareness Week
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. By age 50 approximately one in four men have some cancerous cells in the prostate gland. By age 80, this ratio increases to one in two. It is also the second leading...
The Facts About Arthritis
Steps to Limit the Impact of Arthritis
Arthritis and rheumatic diseases are the most common chronic health conditions in the United States today. While these conditions become more common among older people, even in those under 65, arthritis is a major cause of work disability. While many believe that arthritis is just another name for the aches and pains...
What is Melanoma?
Melanoma is a type of cancer that forms in melanocytes. A melanocyte is a normal cell, found in the skin, which produces melanin. Of the many different types of melanoma, most are seen in the skin (this also includes nail beds, soles of the feet, and scalp), but can be found in the eye, anal canal,
Getting to the ER in Time
Each year more than 500,000 people die unnecessarily because they don't get to their doctor or to an emergency room soon enough to properly treat their medical problems. Delay can be deadly. For example, in a heart attack or stroke arteries to the heart or brain must be unblocked within three hours of...
November is Diabetes Awareness Month
Prediabetes - A New Term for an Old Condition
In the United States more than 17 million people are likely to suffer from diabetes in the next 10 years. These people have prediabetes, which means that their above-normal blood sugar levels put them at a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A combination of overweight,
Type II Diabetes - A Growing Epidemic
If you are a woman, over age 40 and overweight, and you don't get enough exercise, you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, the most common form of this disease. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that Type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes cases are increasing dramatically among women.
The American Domestic Violence Crisis Line (formerly American Women Overseas) operates the only international toll free domestic violence crisis line in the U.S. for abused American women and children living in foreign countries. With funding, this organization is hoping to start an Outreach Program in the spring of 2004. Should this materialize, the group would like to coordinate presentations/visits to...
New Guidelines on Hormone Replacement Therapy from the FDA
On Tuesday, September 9, 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unveiled a new Web site with information on hormone replacement therapy: www.fda.gov/womens/menopause
It explains how to weigh the risks and benefits of both the estrogen-progestin combination and estrogen alone, an option only for women who have had hysterectomies. The...
United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, 14 March-22 April 2005
Item 14 : Specific groups and individuals: (d) Other vulnerable groups and individuals
The International Association of Gerontology (IAG) in conjunction with the following organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC (see list enclosed),
calls the attention of the Commission...