Women's Health

When it comes to pregnancy, there's the stuff everyone talks about. And then there's the stuff no one mentions. We give you the low-down on five little-known pregnancy symptoms and what you can do about them

Eat and Drink Dairy Products for Health

Why should you put milk-based foods on your grocery list? Research suggests that dairy foods and the nutrients they provide can shield you against weak bones, high blood pressure and more.

Are You Forgetting ... Your Doctor?

Making time for your medical needs may be the last thing on your to-do list. But it's essential when you're a mom

Why Sad Movies Make You Happy

Do sad movies always make you cry? That's great. Get ready to feel good afterward

Youthful Legs No Matter Your Age

Here's two natural herbs and five simple lifestyle habits for youthful legs -- no matter your age

Yoga Stretches That Improve Your Health

Research shows that yoga helps ease stress and may even fend off sniffles. Here, a 15-minute daily routine that will get results

Eating Well: 5 Foods For Breast Cancer Prevention

You can lower your risk for breast cancer by reaching for the right foods, according to five new studies by filling your diet with lean protein and plentiful produce. Here's how

Beyond the 'Baby Blues': Postpartum Depression Common and Treatable

Postpartum depression affects about 10 percent to 15 percent of mothers, whose 'baby blues' turn into something more persistent. A mother with postpartum depression may feel sad, worthless, or guilty. She may be unable to concentrate or take interest in anything, even her baby. Postpartum depression also affects men

Many Possible Causes of Irregular Periods

Irregular periods have many possible causes. Your past medical health, certain medications, lifestyle, and current medical conditions can all affect your menstrual cycle

Variety of Factors Influence Breast Cancer Screening Schedule

There are no set rules that can be generalized to all women for breast cancer screening. A variety of factors influence the screening schedule that's right for you, including your age, family history of breast cancer and other risk factors. But most doctors in the United States use the following guidelines as a starting point.

What to Do About Dry Skin In Winter

Dry skin occurs when skin doesn't retain sufficient moisture. Wintertime poses a special problem because humidity is low both outdoors and indoors, and the water content of the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin) tends to reflect the level of humidity around it. Fortunately, there are many simple and inexpensive things you can do

4 Things Women Should Be Doing in Their Training But Are Not

If your workouts consist of doing light weights and steady-state cardio, you might be in for some bad news: These things alone won't likely get you the results you're after, say experts. To increase your fitness level, burn fat, and improve muscle tone, you've got to step up your game. Here are four things women tend to skip that can deliver serious results

The Vaccines You May Need

Women need to receive vaccines in order to be protected against preventable diseases. However, a recent adult immunization report released millions of adults go without necessary vaccinations each year, which leads to almost 50,000 preventable deaths and thousands of illnesses. Here are some common vaccines you may need

Strong Relationships Are Good For Your Health

Social connections not only give us pleasure, but they also influence our long-term health in ways every bit as powerful as adequate sleep, a good diet, and not smoking. Dozens of studies have shown that people who have satisfying relationships with family, friends, and their community are happier, have fewer health problems, and live longer

Various Treatment Options Available for Large Bartholin Cyst

Treatment of a Bartholin cyst depends largely on the symptoms you're experiencing. These cysts are formed when one of the Bartholin glands, located on either side of the vaginal opening, becomes obstructed.

Hypnotherapy Smoothes Out Fears of Childbirth

Bring up the words labor or childbirth for a pregnant woman and you're sure to be met with a look of anxiety or even panic. Most American women fear childbirth due to the anticipation of extreme pain. For some women, the alternative to a fear-based birth that includes pain medications and frequent interventions is natural labor assisted by hypnosis

Managing Menopause Naturally

With age comes wisdom. And for many women, age also brings hot flashes, vaginal dryness and moodiness. This is menopause, the time in a woman's life when her menstrual periods stop. That's something many women would look forward to if the change were swift and uneventful. Alas, that is not usually the case

Treatment For Rare Form of Endometrial Cancer Can Be Complex

Uterine Cancer (uterine papillary serous carcinoma) is a rare form of endometrial cancer. It usually spreads more quickly and is more difficult to detect early than other more common forms of endometrial cancer

Bad Habits That Are Good for You

You might be embarrassed to admit that you don't make your bed in the morning or you tap your foot under your desk at work. But it turns out these and other tendencies could actually be healthy habits for your body and mind. Here's what experts have to say about good vices

Is Thermography a Good Screening Tool for Breast Cancer?

When you talk about breast cancer screening, why don't you mention thermography? I've been using it for several years instead of mammography, which uses radiation

Mood Makeup: Can Cosmetics Influence the Brain?

Beauty products are designed to make us feel better about ourselves. In a growing trend, cosmetics companies are boasting that their products can latch onto brain receptors and alter our moods

Cervical Cancer on the Rise in Developing World

Last year, an estimated two million women around the world developed breast cancer or cancer of the cervix (the neck of the womb); more than 600,000 died -- the equivalent of six large passenger planes crashing every single day

Iron Supplementation Typically Not Recommended for Postmenopausal Women

You're wise to be cautious about taking extra iron. Typically, iron supplementation is not recommended for postmenopausal women, because as women age, their need for iron goes down

Lifestyle Choices Can Help Reduce Risk of Recurrent Breast Cancer

As a breast cancer survivor, you can take steps to help reduce the risk of recurrence. They include maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and limiting the amount of alcohol you drink

Protection Against Sunscreen Confusion

The FDA has just released a new set of guidelines to help us better understand sunscreen labels. Now you can keep your skin safe, streamline your purchases and eliminate the time-suck of standing in front of the shelves trying to decipher countless sunscreen labels

Many Treatment Options Are Available For Varicose Veins

For many women, varicose veins are all too common. Although most look worse than they feel, varicose veins can cause aches and pains in the legs. In rare cases, they can lead to more serious problems

Get Your Smile in Shape

A beautiful smile is one of your greatest assets, so it's no wonder that you brush religiously and shun sugary sodas to protect it. But the surprising reality is that you may be putting your pearly whites at risk without even realizing it. Here's the most common mistakes that women make when it comes to their teeth and gums

Minimally Invasive Treatments Available For Bothersome Leg Veins

People with varicose veins may dread wearing beachwear and other clothes that expose their legs. With the arrival of summer, this may be a good time to do something about that. But it's not just a cosmetic consideration. Varicose veins can cause pain and discomfort and even, in rare cases, bleeding leg sores. Treating enlarged leg veins can relieve discomfort and prevent complications

4 Things Women Should Be Doing in Their Training

If your workouts consist of doing light weights and steady-state cardio, you might be in for some bad news: These things alone won't likely get you the results you're after. To increase your fitness level, burn fat, and improve muscle tone, you've got to step up your game. Here are four things women tend to skip that can deliver serious results

Lumpectomy Not Likely to Affect Breast-Feeding

One year ago, I had a lumpectomy, but no cancer was found. I am 25 years old and three months pregnant. Will I have any issues with breast-feeding?

You Can Fight Menopausal Spread

Three different women; three similar journeys through menopause. Is the menopausal weight issue an inevitable annoyance, or can it be avoided? Here's a look at the science on the complicated issue of weight gain during menopause

Beware Free Trials of Anti-Aging Products Sold on the Web

A flood of cosmetics and other elixirs advertised as magic against old age is pulling in consumers on the Internet these days, often to their later dismay

The Beauty Nutrition Makeover

Most of us have a pretty good idea which foods we should eat to make us healthy on the inside (even if we don't always eat them). But what if your insides are working pretty good, and you'd like to focus a bit more on the outside? So savor these top diet recommendations for gorgeous hair, teeth, skin and eyes

Oral Contraceptive Shown to Reduce Risk of Ovarian Cancer

Oral contraceptives have been shown to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in women who carry the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. Some research has also indicated that oral contraceptives may increase the risk of breast cancer

Phyllodes Tumors Are Uncommon and Unpredictable

Last month, I had a partial mastectomy for a high-grade malignant phyllodes tumor. I can find very little information about it. My oncologist said it's up to me if I want radiation, since it's only recently being used more frequently for this type of cancer. I want to be proactive to prevent a recurrence. What do you recommend?

Pregnancy, Babies and Cats

Pregnancy is a time of joy, but for many women, a time of unprecedented worry. Along with the admonitions about caffeine, lunchmeat and wine, many pregnant women are told they should get rid of their cats because of health risks. With a few basic safety precautions, the Centers for Disease Control states that pregnant women do not need to give up their cats

Women Face Greatest Risk For Gallstones

Gallstones are one of the most common digestive problems treated in women. More than 25 million people in the United States have gallstones, and 65 percent to 75 percent of them are women. Fortunately, for most people, gallstones are 'silent' -- they don't cause major symptoms. When they do act up, there are effective ways to address the problem

5 Habits to Help You Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep can do more than lift our spirits. Research shows that lack of sleep wears down our immune systems, making us more susceptible to colds and even raising our risk for obesity and heart disease. Many of our daily habits -- from when we shower to what we snack on -- can sabotage our slumber. Make the following tweaks to your routine

Many Options to Consider Before Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

I'm considering breast reconstruction after my mastectomy. What things should I consider? Will I have the same breast size and shape I had before?

The Surprising Cause of Women's Oral Cancer

It's scary stuff: Head and neck cancer is on the rise, particularly among young women. As you may expect, men and women who smoke and drink heavily are at special risk for these cancers. But here is the surprising fact: Women without these risk factors are still more likely to develop the disease than men who steer clear of alcohol and tobacco

How to Properly Eat Your Veggies

It's a fact: Only one out of four adults (26 percent) in America are eating veggies three or more times a day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That makes it an unfortunate fact for us health-wise. Here are a few of my favorite tricks to go from veggie whatever to wow in minutes

Top 10 Surprising Facts About Smiling

Most likely, the last thing you think about when you're posing for your latest Facebook shot is the science behind your smile. But the truth is, there's a lot more to a smile than meets the eye. Read on for 10 little-known facts that will have you beaming

Have Glowing Skin for All Seasons

Regardless of where you live and how you live, there are a few tips to help keep your skin looking and feeling healthy as you transition through all the seasons

How to Turn Setbacks into Bounce-backs

It turns out that resilience -- the ability to deal with and adapt to stressful or traumatic events -- is a combination of attitudes and behaviors that help people overcome adversity. Even if your life is going smoothly now, remember these four important ways to build resilience, and you'll be able to clobber any curveball life throws your way

Your Body: What's Normal, What's Not

A few laugh lines, some gray hairs � you expect these sorts of shifts as you leave your 20s (or 30s or 40s) behind. But sometimes, physical changes can perplex even the most health-savvy women, making them wonder if a new symptom is a harmless part of aging or a cue that something is wrong. Here are four common cases that make you wonder too

Reducing Stress: Why It is OK to Indulge Yourself

Stress does more than make you irritable and tired. Chronic stress can lead to constant headaches, insomnia and depression. To make things worse, when moms get frazzled, healthy behaviors that can make you feel better, such as exercising and sleep, are often the first to go. So indulge in me time without guilt. Try these six easy strategies

What Your Skin Is Telling You About Your Health

Your skin is the largest organ in the body, and in many ways, it's a barometer for what's happening internally and externally to you every day

Breast Cancer Myths Busted

Do you think breast cancer is something that would never happen to you -- that you're too young to get breast cancer? Or that you can't get it because you're a guy? Here, we debunk some common breast cancer myths

How Jealous Friends Sabotage Your Health

No matter how devoted the friendship, there's often an undercurrent of jealousy or competition. In researching my book on female friendships, I found that this is particularly true of women. We compare ourselves to each other. We tell ourselves that we make more money, but her kids are better behaved; our house is nicer, but she's thinner. It's like a running balance sheet

Stay Healthy the Easy Way

Sure, eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly are two of the best ways to stay healthy. But doing them isn't always easy. There are plenty of other ways to help protect and maintain your health -- and they're a lot easier than you may think. Adopt these habits today and start feeling your healthy best tomorrow

Try Natural Solutions For Insomnia

There's nothing worse than not being able to fall sleep. Difficulty falling asleep, waking up too early, awakening during the night, or waking feeling tired are the characteristic features of insomnia. Here's natural solutions for insomnia worth trying

Regardless of Family History Tamoxifen Can Be Useful Treatment

My sister has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Her doctor recommends she take tamoxifen for five years after her lumpectomy and radiation treatment. Why is this necessary? We don't have a family history of breast cancer.

Colonoscopy: Is It Time to Go Virtual Colonoscopy

Is a virtual colonoscopy the colon cancer screening test that everybody should be getting instead of a regular colonoscopy? I thought it was kind of experimental

Hormone Changes Play Role in Development of Migraine Headaches

I'm a 40-year-old woman, and last month I experienced my first migraine headache. Friends have told me that because I've had one migraine, I'll likely get more as I get older, until I reach menopause. Is that true? If so, what can I do to reduce my risk?

Real Shortcuts to Your Dream Body

Sometimes a girl just doesn't have the time (or money) to do a two-hour workout, hire a personal chef and devote endless hours to primping. We rounded up fitness pros, makeup mavens and lifestyle experts to spill their personal shortcuts to looking -- and feeling -- their best. With these beat-the-clock secrets, you'll feel confident and wonder what to do with all that newfound free time

Good Friends, Good Health

Friends are good for all kinds of things. But did you know they're also good for your health? A study published in the Journal of Psychology showed a strong link between supportive social networks and healthy behaviors like eating well and exercising. Whether you're already surrounded by friends or you're looking to build better relationships, here's tips for nurturing your friendships -- and your health

Oral Health Risks Women Need to Know

It's not fair but it's true: Women are more susceptible to some oral health problems than men are. The reason? Hormonal changes

Best Ways to Soothe Sensitive Teeth

If you scream -- for pain, not pleasure -- when you have ice cream, you're not alone: Forty million adults in the U.S. have sensitive teeth. Sensitive teeth hurt, but you're not doomed to never eat another fudgesicle again. Here are the best ways to find relief.

Menopause Symptoms Vary in Duration and Severity

I'm experiencing symptoms of menopause, including weight gain, short-term memory loss, irritability, confusion, night sweats, and exhaustion. What are my treatment options?

Relieve Stress in 5 Minutes or Less

Who has time for a yoga class every day? Fortunately, there are several ways you can lower your stress level and protect your health fast

Advances in Breast Cancer Screening Helping to Fine-Tune Diagnosis

Although mammography remains standard for breast cancer screening, several newer technologies are helping to fine-tune diagnosis.

Beware of Using Psychotropics During Pregnancy

A new study suggests expectant mothers who continue to take antidepressants, antipsychotics, sedatives or hypnotics during pregnancy may be increasing their child's risk of a number of birth defects

Streamline Your Daily Life

Juggling too many things leads to more than anxiety: It can actually make you sick. Keeping your life on track means balancing work, family, friends and alone time, as well as making sure everything runs smoothly. For that, look for help from these five Internet tools

New Analysis Supports Expanded Use of Statins in Women

In February 2010, the FDA approved rosuvastatin (Crestor), a cholesterol-lowering drug, for the prevention of heart disease in people with normal cholesterol levels. A report in the March 9, 2010, issue of Circulation helps to explain why this decision makes sense.

Indoor Tanning Definitively Linked to Deadliest Skin Cancer

Summer's T-shirts, shorts and swimsuits mean two things: people want to look fit and tanned. It might seem like a good idea to book a little time at the tanning salon to work on your 'base,' but a new study out of the University of Minnesota has definitively linked indoor tanning to an increased risk of melanoma -- the most serious and deadliest form of skin cancer.

Frequent Monitoring Critical to Effectively Manage Scleroderma

Scleroderma is a rare connective tissue disease characterized by hardening, thickening and tightening of the skin and other connective tissues. This progressive disorder affects women more often than men. Scleroderma is categorized into several types, and the disease's effect depends on the type of Scleroderma one has.

6 Simple Ways to Improve Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia affects about 2 percent of the U.S. population -- more women than men -- and often, those who have the condition are afraid to exercise because they fear worsening their symptoms. But experts say that regular physical activity actually helps fibromyalgia sufferers. The problem? The condition's hallmarks -- widespread body pain and fatigue -- make it tough to work out

Tests to Optimize Treatment of Breast Cancer

Please explain the significance of estrogen and progesterone positive results after a partial mastectomy. Does the Oncotype test help determine if a person should receive follow-up therapy?

Chocolate Reduces Inflammation Associated with Heart Disease

In the past decade or so, chocolate's reputation has undergone an extreme makeover, from fattening indulgence to health food. A steady stream of studies has given cocoa and dark chocolate high marks for cardiovascular benefits, including improvements in cholesterol levels, blood pressure, blood clotting, coronary artery function, and insulin sensitivity.

Fight Dry Skin and Win

When it comes to your skin, you may think that lotion is enough to keep it soft, smooth and clear of flakes. Unfortunately, lotion alone may not always get the job done. Thankfully, it takes just a few simple tweaks to enhance your skin's ability to hold in moisture and win the battle against dryness. Try these dermatologist tips for trapping moisture into the skin of your face, hands and body

Eat Smart for Healthy Hair

Healthy hair starts with a well-balanced diet. Specific nutrients play key roles in hair growth and maintenance, and if any are missing from your diet, your strands could suffer. Check out this guide to foods that encourage healthy hair, and start feeding your follicles at breakfast, lunch and dinner

Granulosa Cell Tumor of the Ovary

My wife was diagnosed with a rare granulosa cell tumor (GCT) of the ovary. Her treatment included surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries. The tumor was stage 1, but we are nervous about a recurrence. What can she or her doctors do to monitor her health in the future?

Could Hot Flashes Only Occur at Night?

I'm a woman going through perimenopause. Why do I only get hot flashes in the middle of the night?

Regular Exercise Helps Protect Aging Brains

If your New Year's resolve to become more physically active has started to flag, the findings of several studies may help renew your commitment.

Kotex Ads Take a Refreshingly Frank Approach

Most every father I know, as well as women of a certain age, can recount a funny story about the terrible timing of menstrual cycles and the consequent emergency shopping for feminine products. The tales come loaded with embarrassment and euphemisms for what is a pedestrian bodily function.

Is Puberty Affecting Your Athletics?

Puberty brings physical changes that might temporarily affect your game. But don�t go from player to spectator! Just change your strategy.

Strength Training Relieves Chronic Neck Pain

Best Stress Busters

Match the Pain Reliever to the Pain

Improve Your Memory in 7 Days

Beautiful You: Treat Hair With Care

Breast Cancer: Gain a Fighting Edge Through Diet and Lifestyle

Beating Eating Disorders

Should I get a mammogram this year?

Do oral contraceptives cause breast cancer?

Important Facts About Pregnancy and the Flu