Kathryn Kilpatrick offers suggestions for lifelong learning and successful aging. As a speech-language pathologist with over four decades of experience working with older adults, Kathryn Kilpatrick specializes in working with older adults and their families facing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. In the last decade people of all ages seem to be complaining about their memory. Have you noticed that your memory is not what it used to be? Join the many people, both young and old,…

Read Dr. Holly L. Thacker’s blog about hereditary cancer syndromes. Recently, hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) has been in the news with the announcement by actress Angelina Jolie that she carries the BRCA1 mutation. Lynch syndrome is actually THE most common hereditary cancer syndrome and there are other hereditary cancer syndromes (HCS) that you and your physician should know about!

Take this quiz to find out your cancer risk.

What should a preventative maintenance program for a woman over age 65 look like? I scheduled a pap smear and pelvic exam with my family doctor, and she did not think this was necessary at my age. However, she did not discuss why or discuss what checkups I should be scheduling at my age.

Read Dr. Devorah Wieder's new blog post that discusses the recent announcement of the FDA approved morning sickness drug, Diclegis. This is the first FDA approved morning sickness drug in 30 years and will treat pregnant women experiencing nausea and vomiting.

Gynecologists generally define infertility as not conceiving after one year of unprotected intercourse. Given the intricate nature of the human reproductive system, it’s not surprising that approximately one in every six couples will be diagnosed with infertility. INCREASE YOUR CHANCES There are many things you can do to boost your chances of becoming pregnant, improvimg your overall health and increasing your fertility: Healthy diet Regular exercise Maintaining a normal…

By Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Ph.D., MBA, CPC, RYT Find Your True Joy It’s been said that pleasure is in the body, happiness is in the mind, and joy is in the heart. Both pleasure and happiness are fleeting. Joy, on the other hand, is a deep-in-the-soul feeling and state of gratitude. Unfortunately, the quest for immediate gratification - which is so prevalent in our society - can inhibit the feeling of true joy. We often go for the quick “feel-good” fix of fast food, the latest gadget, a shot…

Read Dr. Holly L. Thacker’s blog about the miraculous story of the three women in Cleveland who were held in captivity for over a decade and are now free.

After working in my garden for a few hours, I am experiencing pain in my lower back. I do not take any prescribed drugs, but should I ask my doctor for a muscle relaxer?

I do lie down and put my feet flat on the floor, which helps ease the pain. After several days of rest, I start to feel better, but I do need to work in my garden again.

Read Nurse Mary's blog post about how to be prepared for a flat tire and her tips on how to stay safe and calm during an emergency.

Pick up a bag of shredded cabbage for effortless preparation of this vibrant salad with a mixture of sweet and savory ingredients in a sweet balsamic vinaigrette. Whenever I make coleslaw, it is always for a crowd, and this recipe feeds them all.

Find more recipes from Holly Clegg's trim&TERRIFIC Gulf Coast Favorites cookbook.

Common Women's Digestive Problems The way to a man's heart is through his stomach, some say. But why isn't that true for a woman? Maybe it's because men's and women's digestive systems aren't the same. For one, women's stomachs tend to process food more slowly than men's. That may explain why women experience nausea and bloating more frequently. And women are more likely to have the following common digestive problems: Gallstones. Women are twice as likely as men to have gallstones,…

A staggering 55 percent of women and men age 50 and older have low bone mass and osteoporosis in the United States. But most won’t know it until they break a bone. That’s a shame, since like many diseases, osteoporosis is preventable and treatable. Why not take steps today to protect your bone health before you run into trouble? WHY DO BONES WEAKEN OVER TIME? To understand osteoporosis, you first have to understand the important role that bones play in the body. You probably associate bones…

A unique twist on a traditional hummus recipe! Enjoy this delicious and healthy Sweet Potato Hummus recipe with friends and family. They'll be sure to enjoy the combination of red peppers, sweet potatoes and fresh garlic.

Bone mineral density testing, also known as bone densitometry, quickly and accurately measures the amount of calcium in certain parts of your bones. From this information, your doctor can determine how strong your bones are and what your risk of fracture is. The test is used to detect osteoporosis, a disease in which the bone's mineral content and density are low, increasing a person's risk of fracture. There is a direct relationship between the lack of estrogen after menopause and the…

A Physical Exam from a Woman's perspective If you’re a woman, the last time you had a physical exam, your doctor probably checked your heart, your lungs and your blood pressure. Maybe you had a breast exam or a pelvic exam. But when is the last time you and your doctor evaluated your health from a woman’s perspective? Women are not just humans with reproductive capacity who are more likely to get breast cancer. There’s a lot more that makes women’s bodies different than men’s. And that makes…

What is Urinary Incontinence? Many women suffer from involuntary loss of urine, or “urinary incontinence.” For some, it’s just a few drops when sneezing or laughing. For others, it’s a large amount after a sudden urge to urinate. Others are fine during the day but get up several times at night to urinate. Urinary incontinence has a significant impact on women’s quality of life. Unfortunately, many women think that urinary incontinence is a natural part of aging and do not seek medical help.…

To welcome the healthiest possible baby into the world, you’ll want to do everything you can to enjoy a healthy pregnancy and a safe delivery. Optimizing your weight before pregnancy and continuing on a healthy path after delivery will create a brighter future for you — and your child. Pregnancy puts a significant strain on your body — for nine months! Like training for a long-distance race, it’s important to get in shape for your pregnancy. You can do this by making changes in your lifestyle…

A panel of federal health experts says a long-established bone strengthening drug should no longer be used by women because there is little evidence it works and it may actually increase the risk of cancer.

Read Dr. Holly Thacker’s column about oral therapy for a common and treatable hormonal condition called Vaginal Atrophy (VA).