Harvard Health Content API

A 2026 study suggested that menopausal women who used estrogen-only hormone therapy were less likely than women who didn’t use hormone therapy to develop Alzheimer’s-related brain changes or be diagnosed with dementia.

Each year, about 600,000 American women undergo hysterectomy—surgery to remove the uterus and sometimes other reproductive organs as well—most often to alleviate symptoms rather than to save lives. Women opt for hysterectomy for conditions such as excessive uterine bleeding, pelvic pain, and fibroids.

A 2026 research review and meta-analysis suggests that regular stair climbing may lower people’s risks of dying of cardiovascular problems or any cause, as well as reduce the risks of heart attack, stroke, or heart failure.

Some people who are losing weight judge the success of their efforts solely by the number on the scale. But an array of “non-scale victories” include having more energy, less joint pain, lower cancer risks, improved cholesterol and triglyceride levels, lower blood pressure, and better sleep.

While starting hormone therapy to curb menopause symptoms is considered safest before age 60 and within 10 years of menopause, there’s no defined age at which women need to stop using it. Various factors should be considered when deciding whether to continue, including age, overall health, and medical history.

Women are less likely than men to experience loud snoring or pauses in breathing witnessed by a bed partner, two classic symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that occurs when throat muscles relax during sleep, partially or completely blocking the airway.

Walking pneumonia is a mild form of pneumonia that typically doesn’t stop people from undertaking normal daily activities. Early symptoms can include sore throat, fatigue, mild fever or chills, headache, and a runny or stuffy nose. As it progresses, people may develop a persistent dry cough, chest discomfort, and shortness of breath with exertion.