Diet, exercise, calcium, and vitamin D are always important, but women at high risk for fractures may need drug therapy, too.

If you're over age 50, you have an even lifetime chance of breaking a bone because of osteoporosis. This disorder weakens bones, leaving them vulnerable to fracture even without a serious fall or other trauma. The risk increases with age in both sexes, but postmenopausal women are at special risk because bone loss is accelerated by the decline in estrogen at menopause.

In 1994, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed criteria for diagnosing osteoporosis based on a measurement ...

Underactive thyroid is the most common thyroid disorder in women.

Midlife can bring subtle changes to skin, hair, weight, energy, and even mental outlook. Before you attribute these changes to menopause or aging, it's a good idea to make sure they're not caused by an underactive thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism. This condition is five to eight times more common in women than in men.

The thyroid is a tiny butterfly-shaped gland that influences virtually every organ system in the body. The hormones it secretes are vital for the regulation of metabolism — the rate at which our bodies convert ...

Analysis of data from the Nurses' Health Study found that women who got the most physical activity and practiced other healthy habits were half as likely to develop colon cancer.

Evidence has long suggested that psychological factors can influence our risk of physical illness and death. Now, in the largest investigation so far to examine the possible health effects of optimism and cynical hostility in postmenopausal women, researchers have found that optimistic women are less likely to develop heart disease or die from any cause than pessimistic women. They also found that a high level of cynical hostility (harboring hostile or mistrustful feelings toward others) increases a woman's risk of dying from all causes. The study appeared in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association (Aug. 25, 2009).

The study ...

A five-year study hopes to determine whether vitamin D and omega-3 fats have an effect on rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other illnesses.

A friend was recently diagnosed with whooping cough. Her doctor told her that everyone, no matter what age, should be vaccinated for the disease every 10 years. Is that true?

Q. 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?

A. It sounds as though you have a condition called laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). This occurs when stomach contents, including acid and enzymes, back up into the esophagus and injure the tissues of the larynx (voice box) and pharynx (throat). The cause is malfunctioning of the upper and lower esophageal sphincter muscles. These muscles are supposed to keep food moving in the ...