Women's Health Month is a time to focus on the unique challenges women encounter on their wellness journey and the efforts to find new healthcare solutions. 

According to the Center for Disease Control:
• The leading causes of death in women are heart disease, cancer and stroke
• 15.2% of women 18 and older are in fair or poor health
• 42.1% of women 20 and older are obese
• 45.7% of women 18 and older have hypertension

Michigan State University’s OB-GYN program is #1 in NIH research funding according to Blue Ridge rankings and our experts are available to comment on many women’s health issues, including heart attack symptoms, perimenopause, headache and migraine symptoms, and sports injuries:

Charles Hong is the chair of the Department of Medicine within MSU’s College of Human Medicine and a board-certified cardiologist at MSU Health Care. He can comment on heart attack symptoms in women and how they differ from heart attack symptoms in men.

Contact: hongchar@msu.edu

“Everyone can experience a heart attack. Men and women can share similar warning signs such as pain in the chest, shoulder, jaw, back and neck and experience shortness of breath. But women can experience additional less talked about symptoms like feeling nauseous, light-headed or unusually fatigued.”

Larry Charleston IV is a professor within the Department of Neurology at the College of Human Medicine and a board-certified neurologist at MSU Health Care. He specializes in headache medicine and migraine treatment. 

Contact: charles6@msu.edu

"Migraine disease has a significant impact on approximately 30 million women in the US alone. Understanding migraine disease, including the associated symptoms of this highly prevalent neurological disease in women is paramount, as migraine often manifests uniquely and can significantly impact daily life. Through personalized care and comprehensive evaluation, we aim to alleviate the burden of this disease and empower women to reclaim control over their health and well-being."

Jill Moschelli is an associate professor within the Department of Orthopedics at the Colleges of Human and Osteopathic Medicine and a board-certified sports medicine physician at MSU Health Care who treats MSU athletes. She can speak to sports related injuries women receive while exercising and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S).

Contact: sadoskij@msu.edu

"Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) poses a significant threat to the health and performance of female athletes. Insufficient energy intake can disrupt hormonal balance, impair bone health, and compromise immune function, leading to increased risk of injury and decreased athletic abilities. It's important for athletes, coaches, and health care professionals to recognize and address RED-S promptly to safeguard the well-being and potential of our athletes."

Ahmad Abu Limon is an assistant professor within the Department of Medicine at the College of Human Medicine and a board-certified endocrinologist at MSU Health Care. He can speak on perimenopause and its symptoms.

Contact: abulimon@msu.edu

"Perimenopause marks a significant transition in a woman's life, typically beginning in her 40s, though it can vary. During this phase, hormonal fluctuations can lead to a variety of symptoms, including irregular periods, hot flashes, mood swings, and changes in libido. Women need to recognize these signs and seek support from their health care providers to navigate this natural but often challenging stage with confidence."