Why would being pregnant give me heartburn
Susan Male-Smith - Live Right Live Well

You probably expected morning sickness, but pregnancy heartburn may come as a surprise. Nevertheless, most pregnant women experience some heartburn. Here's why

Shoes Causing You Foot Pain?
Kim Schworm Acosta - Live Right Live Well

Painful feet? Aching toes? You're not alone! A whopping 84 percent of women say they've experienced at least one foot problem, according to a recent survey. Even if you know better than to wear high heels day in and day out, you may be unwittingly contributing to your foot pain by committing one or more of the following footwear fouls

Walk Away the Pregnancy Pounds
Karen Asp - Live Right Live Well

Pregnancy pounds. Baby weight. No matter what you call it, it's probably on your mind if you're a new mom. And while many exercise options can help you get back in shape, few offer the triple benefits of stroller walking. Want to try it? Here's how to get started

Secrets to Sneaking in More Sleep
Anne L. Fritz - Life & Beauty Weekly

These days, more and more people are sleeping fewer and fewer hours. But we don't need to tell you that. Keeping up with your kids, household and the rest of your life has likely made you a living, breathing -- and exhausted -- example of today's sleep-deprived woman. Most adults need seven or eight hours. Not hitting the magic number? Here are some innovative ways to squeeze in an extra 30 to 60 minutes of sleep each day.

Perimenopause Before 40 Possible But Uncommon
Richa Sood, M.D., Women's Health, Mayo Clinic

Is it possible that at age 37 I could be experiencing perimenopause? What are the signs and symptoms? Is there a way to test for it? I have not had children. Does that affect when a woman begins this process?

Essential Tremor and How to Manage It
Harvard Women's Health Watch

Essential Tremor is less well known than Parkinson's disease, but it's far more common. For many, the late actress Katharine Hepburn provided an indelible public image of essential tremor. Her quavering voice and trembling hands unmistakably betrayed the disorder. About 10 million people in the U.S. have symptoms of the condition, which variably causes hands, head, and voice to shake.

Does Hormone Therapy Cause Dementia?
Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D.

The Women's Health Initiative found that hormone therapy wasn't helpful for avoiding dementia; there was some suggestion that it might even cause cognitive problems. Am I at risk for dementia by continuing hormone therapy?

What Causes Acid Reflux in the Throat
Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D. - Harvard Health Letters

I developed a hoarse voice and annoying phlegm in my throat and was surprised to learn that the cause was acid reflux. I've never had heartburn, so I don't know how this could have happened. Can you explain?

Dealing With the Hormone Dilemma
Kerry Hannon

Women have been frightened away from hormone therapy ever since a large clinical trial called the Women's Health Initiative found seven years ago that the treatments raised the risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and strokes. Many experts, however, contend that the pendulum has swung too far, leaving women without any effective remedy for severe menopausal symptoms.

Top Cosmetic Treatments for Aging Skin
January W. Payne

No one likes looking older...which is why we spend billions of dollars every year on over-the-counter products, prescription creams and fillers, and, most drastically, cosmetic surgery. Do any of these actually work to reduce the signs of aging? In many cases, yes -- at least temporarily. Here's a quick guide to some of the most popular treatments and procedures

Manage Stress During Pregnancy for Baby's Health
Lilian Presti

It's unclear whether unmanaged stress during pregnancy is a minor issue or as potentially harmful as the lifestyle habits we try to discourage during pregnancy, but mounting evidence suggests a closer look is in order. More and more health experts are questioning whether too much stress can have repercussions for a baby's development.

Mammograms

Everyone's Talking About Mammograms, But Many Women Don't Get Mammograms
Katherine Hobson

The recent brouhaha over breast cancer screening is about recommendations -- what different experts say women of different ages should do. But even where the experts widely agree, a significant number of women simply aren't going in for screening mammography.

Mammograms: See Past the Controversy
Mary Sanchez

Backlash to the shifting guidelines on breast cancer screenings highlighted one rather disheartening truth: When it comes to our health, we women may not be as empowered as we think. How else to explain the torrent unleashed when it was put before us that mammograms are not as effective for some women?

Gastric Banding Not Stand-Alone Weight Loss Solution
Mayo Clinic

Bariatric surgery is a general term used to describe operations that help a person lose weight more consistently and effectively. The two most common types of bariatric surgery performed in the United States are adjustable gastric banding -- sometimes called lap band surgery -- and gastric bypass surgery.

Is a Tanning Bed Safer Than Sunlight
Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D.

It doesn't matter whether you get it from the sun or from artificial sources such as sun lamps and tanning beds -- ultraviolet (UV) radiation is linked to skin cancers (including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma) and to other sorts of skin damage, particularly premature skin aging (photoaging).

Majority of Miscarriages Are Beyond a Mother's Control
Bruce Johnston, M.D., Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic

Miscarriages are very difficult, and the emotional impact of having a miscarriage can be significant. Although determining the cause of a miscarriage can be hard, it's very unlikely that it resulted from anything you did.

'Gummy Bear' Implants Would Offer More Natural Breast Shape Than Current Options
Galen Perdikis, M.D., Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic

The medical term for the breast implants you heard about is cohesive silicone gel implants. They're often called "gummy bear implants" because their consistency and texture is similar to those of the candy bears. The biggest difference between these new implants and others is that the gummy bear implants can be formed into and maintain a natural breast shape.

Excess Amniotic Fluid Can Cause Pregnancy Complications
Kyle Traynor, M.D., Obstetrics & Gynecology, Mayo Clinic

There are a number of possible causes for polyhydramnios, ranging from maternal metabolic abnormalities, like gestational diabetes, to fetal congenital abnormalities. Provided your physician has ruled out the more concerning causes for polyhydramnios, then the issue becomes the effects of the polyhydramnios itself. There are three significant complications that can arise from the presence of excess amniotic fluid

Ways to Ease Those Menopause Symptoms
Kerry Hannon

In the years since hormone therapy was dethroned as the best way to adjust to menopause -- the transition ranges from a few symptom-free months to six or more life-disrupting years -- how have women adapted? While some are simply toughing it out, others are trying numerous approaches, many nonmedical, to manage their hot flashes, chills, vaginal dryness, breast tenderness, sleep disruptions, headaches, and mood swings. Here are 10 strategies that can help you make the transition smoothly

Soy Extracts Don't Improve Bone Density in Older Women
Harvard Women's Health Watch

Soy once looked like the kinder, gentler alternative to hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms and risk reduction. Many population studies suggested that women who regularly ate soy products had not only fewer hot flashes but also a lower risk of developing heart disease and osteoporosis. But findings have been inconsistent or lacking in older women

Botox: Beyond Cosmetic Fixes
Harvard Health Letters

Today, most of us are familiar with botulinum toxin as Botox, the popular cosmetic treatment approved in 2002 to minimize the appearance of glabellar lines -- vertical furrows between the eyebrows that become more pronounced as we age. By preventing muscle contractions that cause facial lines, Botox smooths the skin and makes it look younger

Swine Flu Advice for Pregnant Women and New Moms
Deborah Kotz

Pregnant women and parents of newborns should do the following: Get a seasonal flu vaccination now, since it's currently available; get the H1N1 vaccine in mid-October when it first becomes available; and call the doctor immediately if they have signs of the flu, such as fever, chills, coughing, or a sore throat.

Can You Avoid Arthritis Knee Pain by Building Thigh Muscles
Deborah Kotz

Millions of older women suffer the pain and stiffness of arthritis, especially in their knee joints, which can severely curtail everyday activities like climbing stairs or getting out of a car. It turns out there may be a way to protect our knees and avoid the discomforts of aging: strong thigh muscles.

Mayo Clinic: Healthy Young Women Should Undergo Important Health Screenings
Robin Molella, M.D.

Your periodic exam is an opportunity to identify behavioral health risks and create strategies to minimize them over time. Research continues to highlight behaviors that make a significant difference in longevity. They are ...

Eating for Two: The Idea Is to Eat Better, Not Just More
Betsy Berthin RD, LD

For some pregnant women, this old cliche is carte blanche to feast on any kind of food that appeals to them. Being pregnant does entitle you to additional calories -- 300 calories a day to be exact -- but that's not as much as you may think.

Annual Gynecological Exam May be Necessary Even After Hysterectomy
Petra Casey, M.D., Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic

I am age 70 and had a complete hysterectomy about 20 years ago for benign fibroids. Do I need to get a gynecological exam every year when I'm not having any problems? I do get a mammogram every year.

How Much Calcium is Enough

On the one hand, we've been told to take calcium pills to keep bones strong, prevent osteoporosis, and reduce the risk of fracture. On the other, information seems to keep popping up that calls into question the value of calcium -- and even suggests that large amounts might be counterproductive.

Hormones Linked to Ovarian Cancer: What to Do
By Deborah Kotz

For some menopausal women, taking a combination of estrogen and progesterone (or estrogen alone for women who have had hysterectomies) is the only way to get relief from sleep-disrupting night sweats and hot flashes. But they're also warned about the increased risk of breast cancer associated with hormone use.

Too Many Breast Cancers Diagnosed by Mammograms?
By Deborah Kotz

When it comes to breast cancer, there are certain dogmas that we accept as fact: First, a malignant tumor -- allowed to grow unchecked -- will eventually spread throughout the body and kill. Second, regular mammograms are a must for women over 40 to find every mass before it turns deadly. The trouble is, these "truths" aren't substantiated by scientific evidence.

Tai Chi Health Benefits
Harvard Fitness Health Watch

This gentle form of exercise can prevent or ease many ills of aging and could be the perfect activity for the rest of your life.

Tai chi is often described as meditation in motion, but it might well be called medication in motion.

Treating Female Pattern Hair Loss
Harvard Women's Health Watch

About one-third of women experience hair loss (alopecia) at some time in their lives; among postmenopausal women, as many as two-thirds suffer hair thinning or bald spots. Hair loss often has a greater impact on women than on men, because it's less socially acceptable for them. Here are some medical treatments that may help.

Recession's Impact on Women's Health
By Deborah Kotz

Sure, we're worried about the economy, but just how much of an impact is it having on women's health? Actually, quite a lot

5 Fertility Tips: How to Make Pregnancy Possible
by Kerry Hannon

Face it, for most 20-somethings, getting pregnant isn't top priority. Not getting pregnant is more like it. But the truth is, it's never too early to protect your fertility for the future. Otherwise, when you are ready to start a family, getting pregnant might not be as easy as you envisioned.

Fertility Medication Does Not Put Baby's Health at Risk
Charles Coddington III, MD - Mayo Clinic Medical Edge

I'm trying to get pregnant and my doctor suggests Clomid (clomiphene). Are fertility drugs harmful (physically or intellectually) to the baby?

Many Factors to Consider Before Removing Ovaries to Reduce Cancer Risk

I have the BRCA1 mutation ("breast cancer gene"), which I know increases my risk of getting breast cancer as well as ovarian cancer. A gynecologist recommends I have my ovaries removed as soon as I'm done having children, but another doctor suggests waiting until I'm closer to 40 (I'm 32).

Alcohol can Increase Risk of Heart Rhythm Problems
Harvard Women's Health Watch

Atrial fibrillation is a common heart rhythm disturbance that occurs when the upper chambers of the heart — the atria — contract abnormally. Symptoms range from a fluttering sensation in the chest to shortness of breath and fainting.

Atrial fibrillation isn't immediately life-threatening, but it increases the likelihood of having a stroke. Age is the main risk factor, but drinking too much can also play a role. But how much alcohol is too much?

High Resting Heart Rate Predicts Heart Risk in Women at Midlife
Harvard Women's Health Watch

Many techniques, including blood tests and risk scoring systems, have been developed to predict a woman's risk of having a heart attack.

Pancreatic Cancer Difficult to Detect Early, Challenging to Treat
Suresh Chari, M.D. - Mayo Clinic Medical Edge

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease that's difficult to detect early and challenging to treat, making it a leading cause of cancer death. Currently, only about three out of 100 people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survive five years after diagnosis.

JUKARI Fit to Fly Workout
Reebok & Cirque du Soleil Partnership Creates Innovative Gym Workout

In 1989, Reebok revolutionized women's fitness with the creation of Step Reebok.

Today, the company revealed its new launch of an innovative gym workout - JUKARI Fit to Fly.

JUKARI Fit to Fly makes fitness fun again by introducing a new way to move in a gym workout and is accessible to all women, regardless of fitness levels.

Smart Fitness for Grown-Ups: Tips for the Over-40 Exerciser
By Katherine Hobson

Whether you're looking forward to riding your bike across the country after you retire or you haven't put on sneakers since you were 6, there are things you need to know about exercising after the age of 40.

Peanuts: Bar Snack that Protects Your Health

Health: Potassium & Sodium Out of Balance

Seeds of Health: Pomegranates Pack a Hearty Nutritional Punch

Health & Nutrition: Why Choose Natural and Organic Products?

Which Fish is Best for Your Health

New Tool for Mammography Can Help Detect Breast Cancer More Effectively

The government re-affirmed the importance of early breast cancer detection with its recent update to guidelines recommending that women age 40 and older have mammograms. A new computer-aided tool can make mammograms even better by highlighting potential areas of concern, and ultimately increasing early detection.

Drinking Purple Grape Juice Reduces Breast Cancer Cell Growth in Animal Study

A new study finds that drinking purple grape juice reduces breast cancer cell growth in animal study.

Stress and the Expectant Working Mom

For nearly one million working women who become pregnant each year, juggling stress in the workplace along with stress that comes with being pregnant can be a tall order. First among them is how to work and manage a healthy pregnancy at the same time.