Proven approaches include healthful habits and some do-it-yourself strategies.

If you're over 50, you've probably noticed some changes in your ability to remember things. Maybe you've gone into the kitchen and can't remember why, or can't recall a familiar name during a conversation. You may even miss an appointment because it slipped your mind. Memory lapses can occur at any age, but we tend to get more upset by them as we get older because we fear they're a sign of dementia, or loss of intellectual function. Mostly, we fear Alzheimer's disease. The fact is, when significant memory loss occurs ...

Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D.

The release of updated breast cancer screening guidelines from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in November 2009 sparked a heated national debate about how best to use screening mammography. Many of my patients are still asking questions about their own breast cancer screening strategies.

The USPSTF asked an expert panel to re-examine the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of breast cancer screening in women ages 40 and older who are at average risk for developing breast cancer. The panel reviewed clinical studies published since guidelines were last updated, in 2002, and it applied new ...

This condition is less well known than Parkinson’s disease, but it’s far more common.

For many, the late actress Katherine 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 United States manifest symptoms of the condition, which variably causes the hands, head, and voice to shake.

For women with essential tremor, holding a coffee cup, writing a note, buttoning a sweater, and applying makeup can all be challenging and sources of frustration or embarrassment. When the condition interferes with independent living or holding a ...

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. The most likely explanation for these good effects is that the cocoa bean is rich in flavonoids — naturally occurring antioxidants found abundantly in certain fruits and vegetables, tea, and red wine. A study suggests that the flavonoids in chocolate may be good for the heart in yet another way.

...

Q. I’ve had pain and burning near the entrance to my vagina for a long time. My doctor says it’s probably vulvodynia. What can you tell me about this condition? How is it treated?

A. Vulvodynia is a chronic pain syndrome affecting the vulva — the outer tissue surrounding the vagina and urethra. Women with vulvodynia describe burning, stinging, or aching pain that may occur spontaneously or be triggered by touch or activities such as sexual intercourse.

The condition can be frustrating for both patient and clinician. Discomfort is obvious, but there may be no physical signs apart from mild ...