By Holly L. Thacker, M.D. In October 2013, the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) investigators published a comprehensive overview of findings from their two hormone therapy (HT) trials, including extended follow-up representing 13 years of cumulative data.1 When I analyzed this latest WHI report, I initially focused almost exclusively on the data presented in figures and tables within the article itself, as well as on supplemental data presented on the Internet.2 Only then did I read the…

I am a little confused as to why people generally say that eating soy is bad for you, as in it’s full of synthetic estrogen.

Would this not be good for a woman who is menopausal as she will have low estrogen levels?

I noticed a rash on my temple about a week ago and my eye was hurting pretty bad. I didn’t think much about it, but a few days later it wasn’t getting any better and the pain was still there so I went to my doctor who diagnosed me with shingles.

My doctor put me on a antiviral medication and said she hoped it wouldn’t spread, but it did spread to my forehead and in my hair. It’s very painful especially, the headaches. I saw my physician after one week, and she couldn’t believe the shingles spread so much. She put me on three more days of antiviral medications. She was very encouraging to me and said that I had done really well under the circumstances. I still feel awful and the sores are still there, so my questions are: (I forgot to ask my doctor this) how long will these sores stay on my face, will I have scaring and when will I feel like my old self again? I feel weak and the headaches come and go, even though I’m taking naproxen. Thank you.

Read weight expert Karen Cooper’s column on weight problems in women and available treatments, including the vexing menopausal mid-abdomen excess.

Over the last 12 months I have had fasting glucose levels of 98 and 97. Although, this is within the recommended normal range, I noticed it is not far below the limit of 100.

I am 5’8" and weigh 145 pounds. I eat healthy - I think. I hardly ever eat red meat and stick to fiber rich breads. I also try to exercise two to three times a week for 30 minutes, mostly on the treadmill or a walking exercise class. There are times, of course, that this may be less, but I know I need to work on that. I do like my wine in the evenings, but not every night.

What can I do to keep my glucose better in check? I would feel better if the fasting level was lower.

Read Dr. Holly L. Thacker’s latest column about a 25 year Canadian study involving 90,000 women randomized to either yearly mammography or yearly breast exam that showed no survival benefit for women ages 40-59 getting annual mammograms.

What can I do about a burning mouth?

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What can I do to support my smoking cessation efforts (holistic or pharmacological)?

I have two glasses of wine as my happy hour at home. I put my feet up and relax. Is this bad considering I’m trying to lose weight?

A few mixes and boxes come together for this stupendous trifle layering red velvet cake. Heavenly pudding, berries and whipped topping making it the perfect dessert.

This recipe is from Holly Clegg’s trim&TERRIFIC® Eating Well to Fight Arthritis cookbook. Enjoy more delicious Holly Clegg recipes at hollyclegg.com.

I have a friend who has to consume more protein because she has been fighting cancer and getting chemotherapy. She is tired of shakes and smoothies, but her esophagus is damaged and has to be stretched often, so she needs to be careful of eating certain types of meat.

I know what items contain protein, but I wonder if there is a trick I could use with recipes - something to make food more palatable. Thank you.

Dr. Kristi Tough DeSapri shares her experiences of navigating motherhood with her first child.

Risk of Heart Disease Increases as you Age Heart disease, the No. 1 killer of American women, isn’t “one size fits all.” Symptoms can differ from one woman to the next — heart palpitations and dizziness in one, shortness of breath and fatigue in another, swollen legs and ankles in someone else. But one thing is true for every woman: “Risk of heart disease increases as you age. And it skyrockets after menopause, when your ovaries stop making the heart-friendly hormone estrogen,” says Andrea…

Read guest columnist Dr. Michael Krychman's, noted OB-GYN physician and sex therapist, exciting column on female sexual function, low libido and sexual therapy controversies.