Search powered by AI
Healthy Women Image

Jacquelyne Froeber

Senior Editor, HealthyWomen

Jacquelyne Froeber is an award-winning journalist and editor. She’ holds a BA in journalism from Michigan State University. She is the former editor-in-chief of Celebrated Living magazine and has editing and writing experience for print and online publications, including Health magazine, Coastal Living magazine and AARP.org.

As a breast cancer survivor, Jacquelyne encourages everyone to perform self-exams and get their yearly mammograms.

Full Bio
woman hand touching her chest having heart attack
iStock.com/Doucefleur

Can HPV Lead to Heart Disease in Women?

A growing body of research says it’s possible. Here’s what you need to know.

Your Health

You’ve probably heard of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and that it can cause cancer. It’s true — almost all cervical cancer cases in the U.S. are caused by high-risk strains of the virus. But growing research is finding an equally scary link between HPV and cardiovascular disease — the number one killer of women and people assigned female at birth in the U.S.

In a recent study of more than 163,000 Korean women, the women who tested positive for high-risk HPV (the strains that cause cancer) had a significantly higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to women who did not have HPV.

The study followed women with no history of heart disease for up to 17 years. The women with high-risk HPV were four times more likely to die from heart disease and six times more likely to die from stroke. And women living with obesity and high-risk HPV had even higher numbers.

Previous research has linked HPV to clogged arteries in women, but this is the first study to track the association between high-risk HPV and heart-related death.

A smaller 2019 study of perimenopause, menopause and postmenopausal women, found that the women with HPV were more likely to have coronary artery disease compared to the women who did not have HPV.

One theory is that the virus may create inflammation and block blood vessels and inflammation overall may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Heart disease in women

About 1 in 5 women die from heart disease each year. Blocked blood vessels, which can lead to a build-up of plaque in the arteries, can be particularly dangerous for women.

Research shows women are more likely to have coronary microvascular disease (CMD) compared to men. The heart condition causes squeezing and chest discomfort caused by problems in the network of tiny blood vessels in the heart. This can lead to heart attack, heart failure and death.

Read: Why Don’t Women Get the Same Treatment for Heart Disease as Men? >>

Overall, risk factors for heart disease include:

Some women have no symptoms of heart disease. And symptoms of heart disease in women can be different from symptoms of heart disease in men.

In addition to pain or heaviness in the chest, symptoms can include pain in the jaw, neck, throat, arm, shoulder, back and upper abdomen.

Read: Symptoms of Heart Attacks in Women >>

HPV and women

Experts say pretty much everyone who is sexually active will have HPV at some point in their lifetime — and HPV poses a big risk to women because high-risk HPV can cause cervical cancer, the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. HPV can also cause other cancers, including throat, anal, vaginal, and head and neck cancers.

Watch: Congressional Briefing: Preventing HPV-Related Cancers Through Vaccination and Screening >>

Reduce your risk for HPV and heart disease

Luckily, there are steps you can take to protect against getting cancer from HPV. Routine screening, which includes HPV tests, Pap tests, or combination tests, can help you catch precancerous cells, which means you can stop cancer before it starts, or catch it early, when it’s easier to treat.

Read: Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider About Cervical Cancer Protection >>

Second, you can get vaccinated against HPV. While the vaccine is ideally given to young teens, adults up to age 45 still may be able to get the vaccine. If you have not gotten the HPV vaccine, your HCP can help you decide if you’re a good candidate.

Watch: How to Talk to Your Healthcare Provider About Getting the HPV Vaccine as an Adult >>

Regular visits to your HCP are also part of reducing the risk for heart disease. Talk to your HCP about tests for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. High blood pressure can lead to many serious health conditions, including stroke.

Outside of your HCP, incorporating healthy habits can also help reduce the risk. These can include:

  • Get at least 150 minutes of exercise a week
  • Make healthy food choices, like limiting processed foods and red meats, and eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains
  • Limit your alcohol intake (if any)
  • Manage your stress
  • Don’t smoke

Both HPV and heart disease can have serious — even deadly — consequences for women’s health. But you can take steps to reduce your risk for cervical cancer and protect your heart.

You might be interested in
Trending Topics

Español

C. diff is the name of a common, easily transmittable infection caused by the bacterium Clostridioides difficile. The infection causes your colon (bowel) wall to become inflamed, resulting in severe, watery diarrhea. Left untreated, it can cause a serious complication called toxic megacolon.

C. diff affects about 250,000 people in the United States every year. Some people get it only once in their lifetime, but if you have a C. diff infection, there is up to a 1 in 4 chance you might relapse (the same infection returns) or get it again within eight weeks. People at the highest risk for a C. diff infection are those who take or have recently taken antibiotics, especially if they have a weak immune system.

The bacteria live in feces (poop), and in soil and water. They spread easily and can live for a long time on hard and soft surfaces, like linens and clothing. If someone who has C. diff on their hands touches a door handle and you touch it after, the bacteria transfer to your hand. They then can enter your gastrointestinal system if you touch your mouth or handle food before washing your hands.

Protect yourself and others from getting a C. diff infection in a healthcare setting

hand washing in a hospital

If you are a patient in a hospital, skilled nursing facility or rehabilitation center, you are at higher risk of getting a C. diff infection — not just because you likely have a weak immune system from the condition that put you in the facility but also because of the number of people you may encounter while you’re there.

Here are some steps you can take to lower the risk of getting C. diff in a healthcare facility:

  1. Make sure all healthcare workers and visitors wash their hands before they touch you and your things. If you don’t see them wash their hands, ask them to do so.
  2. Wash your hands well with soap and water every time you use the bathroom. If you use a bedside commode, ask to be transported to a sink to wash your hands or use a waterless hand sanitizer.
  3. Wash your hands before eating or drinking. If you can’t get to a sink, ask the staff or a friend to supply you with a waterless hand sanitizer to use while you are in bed or sitting in your chair.
  4. Allow cleaning staff access to your environment. Clear everything off the bedside table or nightstand, and remove clothing or linens from the bedside rails so they can be wiped down.

Patients with a diagnosed C. diff infection should not share a room with someone who does not have the infection. If you do share a room and your roommate contracts C. diff, ask to be moved.

Stop the spread of C. diff at home

household cleaning supplies

C. diff doesn’t just affect people in healthcare facilities. It can happen at home, too.

Here are steps you can take to reduce the risk of spreading C. diff at home:

  1. If your home has a second bathroom, reserve one for the person with the C. diff infection to limit exposure to others.
  2. If your home has only one bathroom, make sure the toilet seat, flusher, faucets, light switches and doorknob are cleaned with a bleach-based cleaner after each use.
  3. If the infected person is immobile, keep waterless hand sanitizer within reach.
  4. Clean common home surfaces (door knobs, light switches, fridge handles, etc.).
  5. Wash clothing (especially underwear), towels and linens separately and in the hottest water possible.
  6. Wear disposable gloves while handling clothing and linens, especially if the person is incontinent (loses control of their bowels). Wash your hands after removing the gloves.
  7. Shower with soap to remove C. diff that may be on the skin.

This educational resource was created with support from Seres Therapeutics and Nestle Health Science.