Most of you probably like the familiarity and satisfaction of your current brain game fitness routine. People will often share with me the types of activities they have done for decades or on a regular basis every day. One of the best things you can do is to keep your mind open to new possibilities. When it is suggested that they consider branching out into something else, I often hear some reluctance. Create a New Brain Enhancement Activity It is likely that my fascination with word games…

Thinking About Going to See a Doctor? Going to a doctor’s appointment can be very intimidating and sometimes a bit scary, especially if you’re seeing a new doctor. Many patients, both male and female, are afraid to visit a doctor, delay making an appointment because of fear, forget what they want to ask once they are in the exam room and leave the visit with more questions than they came with. Below are tips to help you make the most of your doctor’s appointment starting with scheduling the…

What is the best hormone therapy (HT)? I had a hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy when I had surgery for creation of an ileostomy. I still have issues with hot flashes, but I do not like taking pills. Is there another option?

I am 42 years old and I don’t have any health problems, but I have had some joint pain in my hip area. I read an article that taking an Omega-3 supplement would help with some joint pain.

However, I am allergic to fish and shellfish (I am able to eat canned fish and tuna). Is it safe to take the Omega-3 supplement with my fish allergy?

Dr. Lauren Weber discusses two of the most common women's health questions concerning hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Read what she recommends are the best hormonal and non-hormonal treatments for women.

What prevents Lactose intolerance?

July 2013 -- North American Menopause Society's First to Know e-newsletter showcased our Executive Director Dr. Holly L. Thacker's review of hyaluronic acid vaginal gel and it's effectiveness for vaginal dryness in women.

Read Dr. Holly L. Thacker's column on the continued good news about estrogen use in postmenopausal women that is not actually making it into the news!

Thinking about going to see a doctor? Going to a doctor’s appointment can be very intimidating and sometimes a bit scary, especially if you’re seeing a new doctor. Nine tips to help make the most out of a doctor's appointment.

Choosing the right foods to eat and snack on can help you maintain your energy throughout the day. Food is fuel for the day, so make sure your diet is full of healthy food and avoid foods that can bring your energy level down. Try These 2 Types of Food to Help You Fight Fatigue 1. Foods high in generally unrefined carbohydrates When carbs have not been refined, that means that dietary fiber is intact. Examples of these energy-sustaining foods include: Oatmeal Oat…

The latest Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study shows that women who have had a hysterectomy can benefit from taking estrogen therapy. Speaking of Women's Health Executive Director Dr. Holly L. Thacker discusses how the study's findings can improve the quality and longevity of women's lives.

The secret ingredient in this delicious drink is kale! Kale is an excellent natural source of omega-3 fatty acids, which protect your heart and joints, and aid memory. This leafy green also reduces inflammation.

Unchecked inflammation can lead to heart disease, cancer and arthritis. Kale is also a phenomenal source of Vitamin K, which offers protection against heart attack and stroke.

Most people I know have headaches. How do I know what is normal and what is not?

One of the interesting things to note is how many times you are given a piece of information but do not pay attention long enough to be able to recall it later. You are in good company because this is what happens more often than anyone of us would like to admit. This complaint is not limited to older adults any longer. Maybe you need to sharpen some of these skills and notice what happens to your short term memory. Take Notice of Your Mind Many years ago, I read a novel where a man was…

July 2013 -- Researchers at Yale University hope their estimates of what they call the unnecessary premature deaths of women over a 10-year period will jolt patients and their physicians to re-think their avoidance of estrogen hormone replacement therapy.

In an article published online Thursday in the American Journal of Public Health, the researchers project that the deathsof nearly 50,000 women who had a hysterectomy in their 50s and 60s could have been avoided by taking estrogen therapy. The deaths occurred between 2002 and 2011.

July 2013 -- Thousands of postmenopausal women have died prematurely over the past decade because they avoided estrogen therapy after hysterectomy, a new analysis of a landmark study showed.

Ripe juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil, this salad rocks! Enjoy more recipes from Holly Clegg’s cookbook, trim&TERRIFIC Kitchen 101: Secrets to Cooking Confidence.

I recently read a newsletter that featured a section on lowering one’s LDL and it recommended the use of statins. However, and given this is a newsletter specifically focused on women’s health, it has been my understanding that there has been no good research results to date linking the use of statins to lower LDL in women and the prevention of heart disease.

I have had high LDL since my early 30s, and despite the fact that I eat almost no saturated fat and I exercise frequently and rigorously, it has not gone down. I did go on a statin for a while, but felt some muscle weakness, which I did not want to tolerate, as I felt it was interfering with my workouts. Because of my concern and because I could find no good evidence for the use of statins in women, I discontinued its use.

I would love to hear your opinion and that of other medical professionals from the Center for Women’s Health on this issue. Thank you.

Has sex become a chore you no longer feel like doing? Or worse, is it painful? For many women, these feelings are all too common. As you get older — particularly after menopause — you may face an increasing number of barriers to sex, including dryness and constriction of the vagina or medical conditions such as diabetes and extra weight. For more tips and information on how to restore enjoyment in your intimate relationships during menopause and beyond, download our Free Sexual Health in…

Read Dr. Holly L. Thacker’s blog on the 5 common headach triggers and what you can do to reduce the pain in the head!