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The Women’s Soldiers Memorial, erected in 1997, stands as a testament to the sacrifices and contributions made by women in the U.S. military. (Photo courtesy of Women in Service Memorial, photographer Karen Saunders)
Established in 1997 to honor the more than 3 million women who have protected America since the Revolutionary War, the Women in the Military Memorial (MWM) learns about the physical and mental health of military women through the stories they tell. It has expanded its mission to include lessons learned.
One unexpected cause of death is cardiovascular disease.
CW5 Phyllis Wilson, U.S. (retired), Director of the Women in the Military Memorial. (Photo provided by: Women Soldiers Memorial Museum)
“As women, we still tend to associate heart attacks and strokes with male issues,” says MWM President Phyllis Wilson. Today, we enjoy almost equal opportunity when it comes to heart health. ”
According to the National Institutes of Health, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for American women, killing one in three women each year. Additionally, military women have a higher prevalence of heart disease than civilians, but the reasons for this are “not fully understood,” Wilson said.
In an effort to bring these and other often underdiagnosed health issues to the public forum, MWM will launch the Empowering: Health and Wellness Series on February 28, focusing on heart health and stroke. It started with a health awareness symposium focused on the topic. .
By convening healthcare professionals and thought leaders from government, academia, industry, and the private sector, MWM seeks to establish a dialogue, if not a call to action, between the medical community and military personnel and veterans. .
Far from a new initiative, this educational series is part of MWM’s brown bag “lunch and learn” sessions aimed at educating service members about strokes and heart attacks, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, breast and other illnesses. It is a revival of a program created several years ago. cancer. The aim is to learn better about which diseases can affect them, what factors put them at risk, and how to recognize symptoms at the onset of the disease. It was about providing understanding.
The disease persists then and now, but the landscape of women’s health is changing due to an expanded knowledge base and the way questions are framed.
“We already have data that women who have served in combat zones like Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria are significantly more likely to develop breast cancer,” Wilson said. “So why is that? Could exposure to toxic substances be the cause? Could improper equipment worn in combat zones cause damage to breast tissue? Is it just breast damage? Does this increase the likelihood of breast disease?
In addition to breast health, we also have a wide range of questions regarding cardiovascular disease. How do women internalize stress in combat situations? Why is this disease often underdiagnosed? How does it manifest as symptoms? The traditional crushing chest pain or pain that radiates down the left arm is not necessarily the same as the pain women exhibit, for reasons that are not fully understood.
The hope for answers, Wilson argues, lies in the questions being raised. Even if the answer to such inquiries is “I honestly don’t know yet,” she added.
The February symposium aims to expand the reach of women on heart attack and stroke by bringing thought leaders, researchers, and practitioners into dialogue with military and military-affiliated women. This theme aligns with MWM’s Health & Wellness series, which aims to help those who serve our country reach their optimal physical, mental and emotional health.
The upcoming event is free and will be held at the Education Center at the Women in the Military Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
The neoclassical-design Women in the Military Memorial stands at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, and is a unique historical treasure trove of stories told by women members of the United States military. (Photo provided by: Women Soldiers Memorial Museum)
Welcome remarks will be delivered by CW5 U.S. Military Memorial Director Phyllis Wilson (retired), who will introduce keynote speakers Maj. Gen. Tracy Farrill, Interim Director of the Continental Defense Health Network, Defense Health Agency, and Brig. Gen. Deydre Teyhen, National Capital Region Director, Defense Health Agency; A panel discussion will follow, moderated by Sharon Bannister DDS, MS, FACD, FICD. USAF Major General (Retired), MWM Director. Dr. Andrea Stahl, U.S. Colonel (retired), Henry Jackson Foundation Vice President of USU Operations; Seema Leeza, Chairman and CEO, Community Building Art Works; “We are thrilled to be working with Tri-West to support our patients,” said Lori Heiberger, chief medical officer of behavioral health at TriWest.
Following the panel discussion, attendees will be invited to participate in a special activity on chronic stress led by Community Building Artworks and the Cohen Military Family Clinic. Chronic stress has long been associated with cardiovascular disease, but researchers now find that engaging in creative arts can significantly reduce stress, helping lower cortisol levels and lower blood pressure. doing.
To reserve tickets, visit “Serving in Strength: A Health & Wellness Series – Heart Health Tickets,” Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 2:30 p.m. Registration is here.
