What would cause swelling in your fingers on both hands other than gout? My first finger started itching, feeling warm and then swelling.

From the CDC and the ACIPThe CDC and the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently released updated recommendations regarding the influenza vaccine for the 2018-19 “flu season.” This report updates the 2017–18 ACIP recommendations. The ACIP continues to recommend that all persons 6 months and older to receive routine annual influenza vaccination with a licensed, recommended, and age-appropriate vaccine, unless they have specific contraindications. Two of the three viral…

I have stage IV breast cancer and take an Aromatase Inhibitor (Letrozole) as part of my treatment. I have severe vaginal dryness and atrophy, continuous UTIs and pain in the urogenital area. I recently read an article saying "Intrarosa 0.5% DHEA nightly vaginal suppository contains NO estrogen and is safe to use in women who have to avoid estrogen." None of my doctors agree that Intrarosa would be safe for me to use because of my ER/PR+ cancer. They claim that DHEA turns into estrogen, so I should not take it.

One gynecologist did suggest the possibility of me using Intrarosa (vaginal DHEA) when my regular gynecologist was out. What are your thoughts?

Read Dr. Holly L. Thacker's column on tips to help families have a smooth routine for school and work days.

I am just getting 1 or 2 hours of sleep a night as my hot flashes keep me awake all night. I have the air conditioning on as cold as I can without freezing others. After the hot flash I get cold, so all night I am pulling the covers off, then putting them back on. I can't have my husband lay close to me at all.

I am a Minister and when I speak to the congregation as soon as I start to move around or get excited the hot flash will start, and I am not able to give the best sermon or concentrate like I should. I can’t take black cohosh because it hurts my stomach. My forgetfulness is horrible and it is hard to remember what I just said or what I was talking about. It is hard to function at work and I am not giving my family the attention they deserve. My baby girl is getting married and I am doing everything I can to muster up the energy to remember and give my daughter the support from her mother. Please help!

I was wondering if my medical insurance covers non-surgical treatment CoolSculpting®?

Read Dr. Holly L. Thacker’s column describing our new website look with updated web site navigation, tools, terrific information and more!

Bold flavors give this simple chicken dish lots of pizazz. This recipe is from Holly Clegg's trim&TERRIFIC® Eating Well To Fight Arthritis.

Cleveland Clinic nutritionist Kristin Kirkpatrick discusses the new field of nutrigenomics and how your genes may dictate what is your best diet.

The Ohio Department of Medicaid is changing the way it pays for prescription drugs, giving the boot to all pharmacy middlemen because they are using "spread pricing," a practice that has cost taxpayers hundreds of millions. Medicaid officials directed the state's five managed care plans Tuesday to terminate contracts with pharmacy benefit managers using the secretive pricing method and move to a more transparent pass-through pricing model effective Jan. 1. "It will provide volumes of…

Read guest columnist and fitness guru Andrea Metcalf’s column on the best workouts for midlife women.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved elagolix (Orilissa) for oral treatment of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis, announced AbbVie and Neurocrine Biosciences; this approval makes it the first such treatment in more than a decade. Elagolix is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist and the first and only one developed specifically for managing this kind of pain. The approval is based on two 6-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3…

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is cracking down on manufacturers marketing the use of laser or other energy-based devices for "vaginal rejuvenation" which manufacturers claim will treat conditions and symptoms related to menopause, urinary incontinence, or sexual function. "The procedures use lasers and other energy-based devices [such as radiofrequency] to destroy or reshape vaginal tissue. These products have serious risks and don't have adequate evidence to support their use for…

Dr. Holly L. Thacker discusses how women can best care for their hair and scalp during the summer months.

Ever wonder why medications and medical supplies are so expensive? Ever wonder why some critical medications are in such short supply?

This recipe is a great way to include more fish in your diet. This southwestern seasoned fish topped with cool tasting Mango Pico makes for a mouthwatering, light meal.

This recipe is from Holly Clegg’s trim&TERRIFIC® Eating Well Through Cancer.

Indiana patient describes her positive experiences using the Cleveland Clinic Express Care Online app for virtual appointments with Dr. Holly L. Thacker. Patient Mary Margaret Lavelle scheduled an online medical appointment and instructions for the virtual appointment were emailed to her. “It was quick and easy. I just downloaded the Cleveland Clinic Express Care Online app and logged in shortly before the appointment. After a short wait in the virtual waiting room, there was Dr. Thacker…

Many women recognize subtle signs that their period is about to start. An uptick in chocolate cravings, unexplained crankiness and fatigue are common symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that typically come and go relatively quickly. But for others, these symptoms are anything but subtle. A small percentage of women (3%-9%) have premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a medical condition that causes intense physical and emotional symptoms beginning up to two weeks before menstruation…