Women not getting equal medical advice when it comes to heart health, study finds

Women not getting equal medical advice when it comes to heart health, study finds
Women not getting equal medical advice when it comes to heart health, study finds
The Good Brigade/Getty Images

(NEW YORK) — Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women, but women may not be receiving the same treatment, according to a new study.

Though guidelines for heart disease prevention are gender neutral, researchers report that, in practice, doctors advise less aggressive strategies for women.

Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital examined the advice doctors gave to patients at high risk for heart disease to help prevent their first cardiac event and found that women were advised more often to make lifestyle changes alone.

“Our study found that women are advised to lose weight, exercise and improve their diet to avoid cardiovascular disease, but men are prescribed lipid-lowering medication,” Dr. Prima Wulandari, a cardiology clinical researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, said in the study findings. “This is despite the fact that guideline recommendations to prevent heart disease are the same for men and women.”

The researchers examined the advice that nearly 3,000 high-risk men and women received for prevention of heart disease, based on participants in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Study from 2017 to 2020.

They found that though both men and women were eligible, men were 20% more likely to be prescribed statins. Women, on the other hand, were almost 40% more likely to receive recommendations for behavioral modifications, like losing weight, exercising more and stopping smoking.

The study was presented Dec. 3 at a medical conference in Singapore.

Close to 700,000 people die of heart disease in the U.S. every year making it the most common cause of death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Among women, heart disease causes 1 in 5 deaths, and around 1 in 16 women over 20 years of age have coronary heart disease, the most common type of heart disease, according to the CDC.

Coronary heart disease can present with chest pain, nausea, and breathlessness, among other symptoms. However, typical symptoms are mostly seen in men.

Women tend to experience less chest pain than men. Instead, they experience more pain in the middle or upper back, neck or jaw, more dizziness, extreme tiredness, pressure in chest and stomach pain — all symptoms that can easily lead to misdiagnosis.

Multiple studies have shown that in health care overall, inherent biases among doctors lead to women not being diagnosed or having a delay in diagnosis.

When it comes to why the prevention of heart disease in women is sub-optimal, according to the study, the reasons vary.

One reason, according to Wulandari, is that heart disease may still be seen as something that predominantly impacts men, despite the statistics showing women are also affected.

The rate of coronary heart disease is higher in men until 75 years of age, and women present with more atypical symptoms which could lead to misdiagnosis of their disease.

“A potential root of the discrepancy in advice is the misconception that women have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than men,” said Wulandari. “Our findings highlight the need for greater awareness among health professionals to ensure that both women and men receive the most up-to-date information on how to maintain heart health.”

Another potential reason for the treatment bias is that there is an underrepresentation of women in research studies that can lead to practitioners being cautious of generalization of the heart disease management to both genders.

In addition, women themselves may underestimate their own risk of heart disease, and for other chronic health care conditions, it has been consistently shown that women prefer lifestyle intervention over medications.

According to ABC News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton, in addition to a greater awareness among health care professionals, there are prevention strategies of which patients themselves should be aware.

Around 80% of heart disease can be prevented, Ashton said Tuesday on “Good Morning America,” citing American Heart Association data.

Some health changes that can help prevent heart disease include weight management, exercise, eating more fiber and less saturated fat, consuming less alcohol, monitoring blood glucose and not smoking cigarettes.

Ashton, a board-certified OB-GYN, said it is also important to take prescribed medications if indicated.

“If indicated, blood pressure medication, cholesterol-lowering medication for both men and women have been shown to save lives,” she said.

Dr. Sristi Sharma is a preventive medicine physician and is a member of the ABC News Medical Unit.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Twisted Sister announces signature makeup line

Twisted Sister announces signature makeup line
Twisted Sister announces signature makeup line
Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

In a collaboration that was destined to happen, Twisted Sister has teamed up with the cosmetic company Rock and Roll Beauty to create a new signature makeup line.

The collection includes an eye shadow palette, lip kit, eye liner and blush palette inspired by the “We’re Not Gonna Take It” rockers’ famed look.

“All products are specially designed to create a glam look that screams, ‘you can’t stop rock ‘n’ roll,'” a press release declares.

Rock and Roll Beauty has previously released makeup lines inspired by Ozzy Osbourne, Jimi Hendrix and Def Leppard.

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Idina Menzel shares her hopes for Elsa should ‘Frozen 3’ happen

Idina Menzel shares her hopes for Elsa should ‘Frozen 3’ happen
Idina Menzel shares her hopes for Elsa should ‘Frozen 3’ happen
Courtesy Disney+

Idina Menzel hopes to see Elsa find a significant other — if Disney decides to give the Frozen franchise a third movie.

Speaking with People, the Broadway legend spoke about her hopes for the character she voices. “I love that she was unconventional in that she didn’t need a prince to save the day and that it was a story about sisters,” she began before revealing what she wants Elsa to get in the potential third installment.

Said Menzel, “I would love her now — finally — in Frozen 3 to have a partner in life.” The actress added she is conflicted about what kind of person Elsa would romantically pursue.

“It’s hard for me to say,” she offered. “Because then I do love the fact that she’s just powerful on her own … I’m on the fence.”

Disney introduced the world to Frozen, its adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen tale The Snow Queen, in 2013. The movie, which also starred Kristen Bell as Elsa’s sister, Anna, became a global hit and amassed $1.28 billion at the box office.  

Disney greenlit a sequel and, in 2019, Frozen 2 hit theaters and made an even bigger impression in the global box office — earning a whopping $1.45 billion. 

It is unknown at this time if Menzel, Bell and the rest of the Frozen gang will return for a third film.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

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Nicky Youre, Fitz and the Tantrums, Dove Cameron and more heading to ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’

Nicky Youre, Fitz and the Tantrums, Dove Cameron and more heading to ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’
Nicky Youre, Fitz and the Tantrums, Dove Cameron and more heading to ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’
ABC

The lineup for this year’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest has finally been unveiled and those helping to ring in 2023 include Nicky YoureDove CameronFitz and the Tantrums and FINNEAS.

The lineup was unveiled Tuesday, with celebrations planned at Disneyland, in Los Angeles, in New Orleans and, of course, in Times Square in New York City. 

Those holding down the fort in Disneyland include Fitz and the Tantrums, Lauren Spencer Smith, CiaraAly & AJ and Shaggy.

Fitz and the Tantrums will perform their songs “Sway” and “HandClap,” while Lauren is set to sing her smash hit “Fingers Crossed” as well as “Flowers.” Shaggy will perform a medley of his hits “Boombastic” and “Angel.”

Ciara will co-host the night, but she will also pump up the crowd by performing a medley of her hits “Better Thangs” and “Jump.” Aly & AJ will assist actor Ben Platt in a version of Fleetwood Mac‘s “Go Your Own Way.”

FINNEAS and Nicky, along with Armani WhiteBetty Who and Dove, will celebrate 2023 in Los Angeles. Nicky will perform “Sunroof” and “Eyes On You,” while Dove will belt out “Boyfriend” and “Bad Idea.” As for FINNEAS’ songs, he’ll do “Let’s Fall in Love for the Night” and “Only a Lifetime.” Betty will sing “Blow Out My Candle” and also perform a cover of Kate Bush‘s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God),” which gained new life after being featured on Netflix’s Stranger Things.

Armani will perform his viral hit “Billie Eilish” and his new song “Goated.”

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest will air December 31 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Ciao, Slipknot: Inaugural Knotfest Italy announced

Ciao, Slipknot: Inaugural Knotfest Italy announced
Ciao, Slipknot: Inaugural Knotfest Italy announced
Venla Shalin/Redferns

Slipknot has announced the inaugural edition of Knotfest Italy, taking place June 25, 2023, in Bologna.

As is usually the case with their namesake festival, the masked metallers will headline Knotfest Italy themselves. Other artists on the bill include Architects, I Prevail and Nothing More.

For more info, visit Knotfest.com/Italy.

Slipknot will close out 2022 with Knotfests in Chile and Brazil, while 2023 will also include Knotfest Australia and Japan.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Bill Cosby sued by 5 women in new sexual assault allegations

Bill Cosby sued by 5 women in new sexual assault allegations
Bill Cosby sued by 5 women in new sexual assault allegations
Jason Marz/Getty Images

(NEW YORK) — Actor Bill Cosby is facing new accusations of sexual assault and battery from five women under New York’s new Adult Survivors Act, according to a lawsuit filed Monday.

The lawsuit was filed in New York state court by actresses Lili Bernard and Eden Tirl, who each appeared on “The Cosby Show,” as well as Jewel Gittens, Jennifer Thompson and Cindra Ladd and accuses Cosby of assault, battery, infliction of emotional distress and false imprisonment and accuses the media companies of negligence. The lawsuit also names NBC, the studio where “The Cosby Show” was taped and the show’s production company.

Cosby “used his power, fame, and prestige, including the power, fame and prestige given to him by defendants NBCUniversal Media, LLC, Kaufman Astoria Studios, Inc., and The Carsey-Werner Company, LLC, to misuse his enormous power in such a nefarious, horrific way,” according to the lawsuit.

Cosby, in a statement from his representatives, denied the allegations, saying, “Mr. Cosby continues to vehemently deny all allegation waged against him and looks forward to defending himself in court.”

The Adult Survivors Act, which took effect on Thanksgiving, allows alleged adult victims of sexual assault to file lawsuits that would otherwise be time barred. Most of the allegations from the women took place in the late ’80s and early ’90s, while Ladd claims she was raped in “approximately 1969.”

The lawsuit by the five women include allegations similar to numerous other claims against Cosby, who was convicted in 2018 of sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, a Temple University employee, in 2004.

The conviction was overturned in June 2021 when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court concluded Cosby’s prosecution should never have occurred due to a deal he cut with the Montgomery County prosecutor, who agreed not to criminally prosecute Cosby if he gave a deposition in a civil case brought against him by Constand.

According to the new lawsuit, Cosby drugged and raped Bernard, including once in August 1990 when he arranged a meeting under the false pretense that he wanted to help advance Bernard’s career.

“Bill Cosby drugged Ms. Bernard without her consent by placing an unknown intoxicant in a purportedly non-alcoholic drink that he had prepared and provided to Ms. Bernard. Once Ms. Bernard was incapacitated from the unknown intoxicant, Bill Cosby undressed and raped her without her consent,” the lawsuit said.

Eden Tirl, who had a bit part on “The Cosby Show” as a police officer, declined repeated invitations to Cosby’s dressing room before she was told to go, the lawsuit said.

“Suddenly, and without consent, Bill Cosby came behind her, pulled her arms down, wrapping them around the front of her chest and held them down so that Ms. Tirl could not move or escape his grasp,” the lawsuit said before describing a subsequent assault.

Cosby’s representatives said the women were “unwilling to accept” Cosby being “vindicated” by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

“For the record, these alleged accusers were once represented by Ms. [Gloria] Allred and were a part of parade of accusers back in 2014 through 2016,” they wrote. “As we have always stated, and now America can see, this isn’t about justice for victims of alleged sexual assault, it’s ALL ABOUT MONEY. We believe that the courts, as well as the court of public opinion, will follow the rules of law and relieve Mr. Cosby of these alleged accusations.”

ABC News’ Linsey Davis contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Jury finds Trump Organization guilty of tax fraud on all counts

Jury finds Trump Organization guilty of tax fraud on all counts
Jury finds Trump Organization guilty of tax fraud on all counts
Leonardo Munoz/VIEWpress

(NEW YORK) — A Manhattan jury has found former President Donald Trump’s namesake real estate company guilty of criminal tax fraud, three weeks after Trump announced a third presidential run.

The jury found the two entities of the Trump Organization guilty as charged on all counts, including scheme to defraud, conspiracy, criminal tax fraud and falsifying business records.

The two entities — the Trump Corporation and the Trump Payroll Corporation — were accused of paying the personal expenses of some executives without reporting them as income, and of compensating them as independent contractors instead of full-time employees.

The felony convictions carry fines totaling up to $1.7 million. But the collateral consequences may be more significant to Trump, who is seeking a second term in the White House. Banks could call in loans and business partners could cancel contracts if their internal policies prevent them from doing business with felons.

The trial also revealed potentially embarrassing details about Trump, including that he reported nearly $1 billion in operating losses over a two-year period in 2009 and 2010, as well as losses each year for the decade between 2009 and 2018 — some of the same years Trump was touting his business acumen on reality television and as he was campaigning for president.

Prosecutors believed the Trump Organization was culpable because the conduct of CFO Allen Weisselberg benefitted the company and because his position as CFO meant he was entrusted to act on the company’s behalf.

Weisselberg, who testified as part of a plea deal, pleaded guilty in August to charges that he skirted taxes on nearly $2 million in company-provided perks that included the rent on his Manhattan apartment, the leases on cars for himself and his wife and tuition for his grandchildren.

“In Manhattan, we have one standard of justice for all,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told reporters after the verdict was read. “This was a case about lying and cheating and false documents to the end of evading taxes for the individuals and the corporations. They’ve now been held accountable in a court of law.”

“Disappointed with the verdict in Manhattan,” Trump himself said in a statement, calling the case “a continuation of the Greatest Political Witch Hunt in the History of our Country.”

“New York City is a hard place to be ‘Trump,’ as businesses and people flee our once Great City!” he added.

A spokesperson for the Trump Organization told ABC News in a statement, “Mr. Weisselberg testified under oath that he ‘betrayed’ the trust the company had placed in him and that he, at all times, acted ‘solely’ for his ‘own personal gain’ and out of his ‘own personal greed’. The notion that a company could be held responsible for an employee’s actions, to benefit themselves, on their own personal tax returns is simply preposterous.”

Trump Organization attorney Susan Necheles said the company will appeal the verdict.

“This case was all about Allen Weisselberg committing tax fraud on his personal tax returns. Every witness repeatedly testified that President Trump and the Trump family knew nothing about Allen Weisselberg’s actions,” she said. “Why would a corporation whose owner knew nothing about Weisselberg’s personal tax returns be criminally prosecuted for Allen Weisselberg’s personal conduct, for which they had no visibility or oversight? This case was unprecedented and legally incorrect.”

Weisselberg testified at trial that he reduced his reported salary by the total amount of the personal expenses that the company covered, and that the company benefitted by paying less in payroll taxes. He also testified that his primary motive was greed.

“The prosecution’s case rests on one thing: trying to convince you, the jurors, that Mr. Weisselberg’s actions were done in behalf of the company,” Necheles told the jury during the trial. “They were not. They were done solely to benefit himself. And that is the critical issue in this case.”

Prosecutors, however, insisted that the Trump Organization benefitted from Weisselberg’s tax dodge.

“By far the most significant benefit … is that it allowed these companies to pay their top executives less than they otherwise would have,” prosecutor Josh Steinglass told jurors.

Although Trump himself was not a defendant, his name came up repeatedly during the trial, and the jury saw checks he signed and memos he endorsed. The former president has publicly denied any wrongdoing.

Defense attorneys asked witnesses roughly 60 times about Trump’s knowledge of the tax scheme that his company was charged with, as they sought to show that Trump was in the dark about the fraud being committed by his top executives. Defense attorney Michael van der Veen said in his closing statement Friday that jurors “heard no evidence in this case that Mr. Trump or any of his children were aware of anything improper.”

But prosecutors contended that Trump explicitly sanctioned tax fraud when he signed off on part of the scheme. Among the expenses that Trump covered was approximately $100,000 per year for Weisselberg’s two grandchildren to attend Columbia Grammar School, according to checks that were displayed to the jury.

Weisselberg testified that the company stopped paying personal expenses for him and other executives in 2017 as part of a “cleanup process” when Trump was elected president. Prosecutors suggested that the company knew the practice was wrong but allowed it to continue until Trump’s campaign and presidency brought new scrutiny.

“We were going through an entire cleanup process of the company to make sure that since Mr. Trump is now president that everything was being done properly,” Weisselberg testified.

“This whole narrative that Donald Trump is blissfully ignorant is just not true,” Steinglass said during his closing statement.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Bill Cosby sued by 5 new women for sexual assault; reps call action “frivolous”

Bill Cosby sued by 5 new women for sexual assault; reps call action “frivolous”
Bill Cosby sued by 5 new women for sexual assault; reps call action “frivolous”
Matt Rourke-Pool/Getty Images

Actor Bill Cosby is facing new accusations of sexual assault and battery from five women under New York’s new Adult Survivors Act, according to a lawsuit filed Monday.

The lawsuit was filed in New York state court by actresses Lili Bernard and Eden Tirl, who each appeared on The Cosby Show, as well as Jewel Gittens, Jennifer Thompson and Cindra Ladd. The filling accuses Cosby of assault, battery, infliction of emotional distress and false imprisonment; the lawsuit also names NBC, the show’s production company and the studio where the Emmy-winning sitcom was shot.

Cosby “used his power, fame, and prestige, including the power, fame and prestige given to him by defendants NBCUniversal Media, LLC, Kaufman Astoria Studios, Inc., and The Carsey-Werner Company, LLC, to misuse his enormous power in such a nefarious, horrific way,” according to the lawsuit.

Representatives for the embattled Cosby responded to the filing in an email to ABC News. “Unwilling to accept that Actor & Comedian Bill Cosby was vindicated by the PA State Supreme Court almost a year and a half ago, five (5) previous alleged accusers have resurfaced to file a frivolous civil lawsuit against Mr. Cosby in the Supreme Court of the State of New York County New York.”

The statement continued, “For the record, these alleged accusers were once represented by [attorney Gloria Allred] and were a part of parade of accusers back in 2014 through 2016. As we have always stated, and now America can see, this isn’t about justice for victims of alleged sexual assault, it’s ALL ABOUT MONEY.”

Cosby’s reps concluded, “We believe that the courts, as well as the court of public opinion, will follow the rules of law and relieve Mr. Cosby of these alleged accusations. Mr. Cosby continues to vehemently deny all allegation waged against him and looks forward to defending himself in court.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Weezer headlining Railbird Festival; The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs headlining Kilby Block Party

Weezer headlining Railbird Festival; The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs headlining Kilby Block Party
Weezer headlining Railbird Festival; The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs headlining Kilby Block Party
ABC/Randy Holmes

The lineups for the 2023 Railbird and Kilby Block Party festivals have been announced.

Weezer will headline Railbird, which takes place June 3-4 in Lexington, Kentucky, while The Strokes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs lead the bill for the Kilby Block Party, which will be held May 12-14 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Other artists playing Railbird include Marcus Mumford, The Head and the Heart, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats and Sheryl Crow. At Kilby Block Party, you can also catch Pavement, Pixies, Run the Jewels, Hippo Campus and Lucius.

For the full lineups and all ticket info, visit RailbirdFest.com and KilbyBlockParty.com.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Skid Row & Buckcherry announce co-headlining tour

Skid Row & Buckcherry announce co-headlining tour
Skid Row & Buckcherry announce co-headlining tour
Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Skid Row and Buckcherry are teaming up for a co-headlining tour next spring.

The joint outing, dubbed The Gang’s All Here tour, will launch March 9 in Bowler, Wisconsin, and will wrap up March 31 in Hinton, Oklahoma.

“I’m psyched to hit the road together with our friends in Buckcherry,” says Skid Row bassist Rachel Bolan. “This will be the coolest, most bada** tour of 2023!”

“Put two great live rock and roll bands together and watch the sparks fly,” adds Buckcherry frontman Josh Todd. “Buckcherry and Skid Row, the perfect welcome to spring tour!”

Tickets go on sale this Friday, December 9, at 10 a.m. local time.

Skid Row released a new album called The Gang’s All Here in October. Buckcherry, meanwhile, just wrapped working on a new record to follow 2021’s Hellhound.

In other tour news, Queensrÿche has announced a 2023 trek kicking off March 3 in Orlando, Florida. The prog metallers will be supporting their latest effort, October’s Digital Noise Alliance.

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