Healthy happy you.
I feel pretty lucky, because at my doctor's office, there is also an herbalist on staff. Whatever my ailment, I get the best of Eastern and Western medicine and I feel like the best set of options are being presented to me. A few months ago I met with the herbalist to discuss natural ways for dealing with PMS. Under her guidance, I've been taking chasteberry with much success. I'm not as Read more
DrSugar is in the house, and she's answering your health-related questions. Dear Doc Sugar, Is PMDD for real? It seems like a way to use PMS as an excuse for almost everything. But if it is real, I think I might have it. I know self-diagnosis is probably not the way to go, but could you tell me what I should be looking for and what I should ask my doctor? — Feeling Bluesy and Woozy What a Read more
Three years ago I was diagnosed with PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) — it's sort of like PMS on overdrive, except way worse. Before the diagnosis I was embarrassed at how unstable I felt as my period approached, especially when all of my girlfriends seemed to be handling their PMS symptoms in a manageable way. My menstrual cycles were always preceded by feelings of severe depression, Read more
The hormonal ride we take monthly sends many of us into an emotional tailspin, clinging to a box of chocolate as if it were a life raft. Did you know that about 75 percent of all women have PMS symptoms? We have to joke about it or we'll go crazy. Somehow between the physical symptoms and the emotional roller coaster, we all figure out a way to deal. Well, most of us do. Unfortunately, two to Read more
When it comes to preventing unwanted pregnancies, it's nice to have options — including nonhormonal methods like condoms or IUDs. And even though many women opt for the pill, there are tons of brands out there. New research, however, adds more evidence to the idea that some pills come with higher risk. Papers published in the British Medical Journal show newer pills with the synthetic hormone Read more
