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…

Dr. Holly L. Thacker explains and reviews recent research related to Omega-3 fatty acids and their importance to our health.

This Target Heart Rate Calculator provides, based on your age, an estimate of your target heart rate ranges for all exercise intensity levels.

Curious as to how many calories you need to maintain your current weight? Try this Weight Maintenance Calculator to find out.

Use this Ideal Weight Calculator tool to determine your healthiest weight.

Use our Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator to determine your waist to hip ratio. Waist to hip ratio is a simple measure of where fat is stored in your body.

Use this free Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator to calculate your BMI index. Simply put in your height and weight, and we'll do your BMI calculation.

Read Dr. Holly L. Thacker's blog on the results of the 10-year research on the use of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). This latest study shows the safety of HRT on heart events in recently post-menopausal women.

Sleeping Pills If you feel you are suffering from insomnia, should you seek help and get a sleeping pill prescribed? I am afraid of becoming dependent on the medication. Millions of Americans are asking the same question. While sleeping pills can help a person fall asleep more quickly, most patients with chronic insomnia would better be served by learning healthy strategies for getting a restful sleep. It is true that some of the newer medications advertised on TV are not addictive as was the…

Overview of Sleep Disorders Sleep disorders are on the rise. It is estimated that nearly 75 percent of adult Americans experience sleep disorder symptoms at least a few nights per week. At the same time, sleep disturbances in some form are seen in as many as 25 to 30 percent of infants and children. Millions of people of all ages suffer from a variety of sleep disorders including: Sleep apnea Restless legs syndrome Insomnia. These disorders frequently are misdiagnosed and untreated.…