Articles about You're 66+

It seems like there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done. And when life gets busy, exercise is usually one of the easiest things to drop. There are always excuses, and many feel completely valid because of the energy they require: work, children, commitments. But the simple, annoyingly certain truth is…

Most of us envision living into old age, but few of us like the physical changes of actually getting older. We often see patients who are distressed (either a little or a lot) about their changing bodies. And we get it! We have changing bodies, too. Here’s the thing: we don’t have an option when…

Who wants to do something they don’t enjoy? Especially when it comes to sex. Ideally, sex feels more than enjoyable…like, downright pleasurable. But with so many stigmas, expectations and misinformation about how it should feel, getting there physically and mentally can feel like an impossible-to-reach standard. And typically, your healthcare provider may be the last…

Overactive bladder is the name given to symptoms of urinary urgency (the sudden overwhelming urge to urinate that feels like you may not be able to control it), urinary frequency (when you feel like you have to go all the time) and/or urinary urge incontinence (the sudden overwhelming urge to urinate that results in uncontrollable…

Every flu season, people question whether getting the flu vaccine is truly necessary, or even safe. It’s common to think the vaccine causes side effects or the flu itself (it doesn’t!). Or assume repeated vaccination doesn’t do all that much. Some lucky few may think they’ve never had the flu before, so the vaccine isn’t…

This post was written by former WHA nurse practitioner Jacqui Quetal. Although Jacqui is no longer with WHA, we still love this advice! Hopefully your experiences have helped you realize that sex can be a fun and important part of a healthy relationship. But when sex becomes uncomfortable, unfortunately I find that my patients tend…

In my recent post, “What is Menopause,” I talked about the symptoms that women may experience in the months and years preceding and following the cessation of periods. Fluctuation in energy levels, agitation, hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty concentrating and headaches are all possible as a result of changing hormone levels. These symptoms can be…

As my patients get into their 40s and start noticing changes in their menstrual cycles, they often start thinking about menopause. Their older sisters, coworkers and friends may be lamenting hot flashes and night sweats. They may hear stories about their mother’s transition to menopause. “What will happen to my body?” “How will I change?”…

You may wonder why a practice focused on obstetrics and gynecology spends so much time discussing heart health. Not only is heart disease the leading cause of death among women, but some of the risk factors for heart disease play a role in other women’s diseases, as well, and can contribute to serious complications in pregnancy….