Nearly, one quarter of all women in the United States have some sort of bowel disorder, (also known as pelvic floor disorders) and more women are likely to be affected as the population ages. Common bowel problems include fecal incontinence, chronic constipation, anorectal disease, rectal prolapse, hemorrhoids and anal pain. Yet, many women often don't seek help because they are too embarrassed or aren't sure where to turn.

Take control of diabetes and stay a step ahead with your treatment strategy. Learn about early diagnosis, management and education. Obtain vital information for controlling type 1 and type 2 diabetes and promoting health and wellness. Download our free diabetes treatment guides and also get information on available diabetes education classes.

Approximately 18 million patients visit a doctor or hospital because of knee pain each year. Fortunately, there are many ways to successfully treat knee pain and get back to an active lifestyle.

Being diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer raises many questions. As the first step in taking control of your health, it's important to learn about all the available treatment options and the benefits and risks of each.

Chronic hip pain can change your life by limiting your ability to walk, sit comfortably or perform normal daily activities. When hip pain interferes with your ability to do the things you need to do each day, it's time to seek medical advice.

Joint pain can be associated with more than 50 kinds of arthritis - but it can also be caused by conditions that are not arthritis at all. Download our free arthritis and joint pain treatment guide to learn more about the three most common types of arthritis, symptoms and risk factors, conservative treatment approaches and surgical treatment options.

If you are one of the more than 5 million women in the United States with endometriosis, you know how it can interfere with your life. The pain it can cause may affect your relationships with your partner, family or friends. And endometriosis can make pregnancy a challenge. Let our experts help you.

Read Dr. Holly L. Thacker's column regarding recently published research spanning three decades that suggests more than one million women have been over-diagnosed with breast cancer by screening mammography.

As we strive to reduce our risk for heart disease (and our waistlines), we often forego some of our most beloved foods, like dessert! While this is a good strategy to follow most of the time (there are a lot of calories in dessert you know!), there is no need to exclude desserts entirely from your life. In fact, rich, decadent desserts can fit into a heart-healthy eating plan, especially when a little culinary know-how and portion control is adopted.

This cheesecake would be delicious set on a pool of raspberry coulis and topped with some fresh berries and a mint sprig. You may also choose to use low fat graham crackers in the crust.

What is Urinary Incontinence? Millions of women experience involuntary loss of urine called urinary incontinence (UI). Some women may lose a few drops of urine while running or coughing. Others may feel a strong, sudden urge to urinate just before losing a large amount of urine. Many women experience both symptoms. UI can be slightly bothersome or totally debilitating. For some women, the risk of public embarrassment keeps them from enjoying many activities with their family and friends. Urine…

What are Probiotics? Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are called "the good" microorganisms because they benefit the body, specifically the digestive system. Probiotics, available in some foods and dietary supplements, are similar to probiotics that exist naturally in your gut. What do probiotics do and how are they helpful? The body does not need the addition of food and supplements that contain probiotics to be healthy. However, food and supplements that contain probiotics…

Benefits of Regular Exercise The benefits of regular exercise to reduce the future risk of heart problems are well documented and apply to both those with documented heart disease and those without documented disease. However, for some it can leave them at risk for future heart problems: For patients with heart disease who engage in regular, aerobic exercise there is approximately a 25 percent reduction in mortality over a 1–3 year time period. For individuals who are regularly active and…

Read Dr. Holly L. Thacker's blog about new research relating to migraine headaches in women and changes in the white matter of the brain. If you or someone you love has migraines, you will definitely want to read this post.

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,…

I have trouble with restless legs, mostly at night. I would rather not take a prescription drug for it. Is there anything else that I could try, maybe extra vitamin supplements?

Have you thought about becoming a vegetarian, but not sure where to start? A good first step is to replace meat in recipes with legumes instead, such as garbanzo beans, which are also known as chick peas.

Legumes provide protein, just like meat does, but without any animal fat. Legumes also are a good source of soluble fiber which helps lower cholesterol. This is a heart healthy recipe - perfect for a meatless Monday dinner!

Enjoy this recipe for home-made, healthy pita chips with friends or treat yourself. With only four ingredients and a few easy steps, you can whip these up in no time!

Why Worry About BMI? The body mass index (BMI) is a tool used to assess and monitor changes in body weight. Body mass index is defined as the individual's body mass divided by the square of his or her height, measured in kilograms/meters squared. To calculate your BMI, divide your weight in kilograms (kg) by height in meters squared (m2). A normal BMI ranges from 18.5 to 24.9. Overweight is defined as having a BMI of 25 to 29.9. A BMI equal or greater than 30 is considered…

What is Perimenopause? Perimenopause, or menopause transition, is the stage of a woman’s reproductive life that begins 8 to 10 years before menopause, when the ovaries gradually begin to produce less estrogen. It usually starts in a woman's 40s, but can start in the 30s as well. Perimenopause lasts up until menopause, the point when the ovaries stop releasing eggs. In the last one to two years of perimenopause, the reduction of estrogen accelerates. At this stage, many women experience…

What is Body Mass Index? One of the most common topics patients address with their doctors is weight loss. One-third of Americans today are overweight. Exceeding an ideal body weight is caused by genetic, socioeconomic, and physiological factors. However, doctors today see excess weight as an important, treatable medical condition. There are several ways of measuring your ideal body weight. One of the most popular methods to gauge whether or not you are overweight is the body mass index…