Women in the United States today face a wide range of serious health concerns. More than 8 million women live with heart disease, and 43 percent of American women die from cardiovascular disease. More than 75 percent of all autoimmune diseases strike women, usually during the childbearing years. The Encyclopedia of Women's Health, Fifth Edition is a thorough reference guide to these issues and many others that impact women's health. More than 1,000 A-to-Z entries explain medical, scientific, social, and lifestyle matters, including physiology, genetics, childbearing, life span, diseases and conditions, medications (including allopathic and complementary options), fertility, and much more. Written in straightforward, jargon-free language, this authoritative, up-to-date, and helpful resource is for professionals and laypersons alike. - Back cover.