Category: Women’s Health

Visceral (abdominal) fat can increase the risk for diabetes and heart disease. Exercise and diet are effective ways to reduce visceral fat.

Generic drugs are designed to have the same quality and effectiveness as their brand-name counterparts. Yet many patients believe there is a difference.

Angina-chest pain caused by a reduction in blood flow to part of the heart-is often diagnosed differently in men and women. This difference stems, in part, from the words women use to describe their chest symptoms.

People with the apolipoprotein E4 gene variant who also have high blood pressure tend to have a greater number of beta-amyloid plaques in their brain. Lowering blood pressure might help slow the development of Alzheimer’s, researchers say.

Sunless tanners are generally safer than tanning. Women who use sunless tanners should apply a sunscreen whenever they go out in sunlight.

Many Americans eat too much sugar, which contributes to obesity, heart disease, and an increased risk for death.

Surgery called partial meniscectomy has been the traditional way to correct a torn meniscus in people with osteoarthritis. However, new research suggests people with this condition may be able to try physical therapy before resorting to surgery.

Prescription sleep aids can help women fall asleep, but they can also have side effects. To improve sleep, women can try lifestyle changes such as going to sleep at the same time every day and cutting back on caffeine and alcohol.

Women are doing less housework today than they did in the 1960s. This reduction in household activity may be contributing to weight gain.

Increasing time pressures have forced many doctors to resort to a practice of “cookbook medicine.” In their new book, When Doctors Don’t Listen, Drs. Leana Wen and Joshua Kosowsky teach patients how to be better advocates for their own health.