Health-e Woman celebrated its third anniversary this summer and our readership continues to grow rapidly. During the past three years we have published articles on everything from acne to Alzheimer’s and the Mediterranean Diet to mammograms. Our goal is to offer practical, readable health information for women of all ages. We have received terrific responses and suggestions from readers -- who now total in the thousands.

This month, Health-e Woman is starting a “new chapter” with the merger of Banner Health and Sun Health. The merger of these two outstanding companies is complete and beginning this month the two hospitals that were part of Sun Health will become Banner Boswell Medical Center and Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center. And, Health-e Woman will become part of the Banner family too.

It is estimated that more than 1.8 million women have been assaulted by an intimate partner in the preceding twelve months. Anyone can be the victim of domestic violence. Recognizing the characteristics of an abuser and having a safety plan in place can save your life.

Shortly after their wedding, Bill began to criticize and insult his wife, Ann. Over the next few years his comments became almost constant. He then began making fun of her in public and hitting her at home. Sometimes he'd physically force her to have sex. When she wouldn't do what he wanted, he'd threaten to hurt their young daughter and son.

by Sue Jantzen is manager of Clinical Services at Banner Behavioral Health Hospital-Scottsdale

Question: What is teen-dating violence?

Answer: Teen dating violence is a romantic relationship that centers on aggressive, abusive and controlling behavior.

Question: What warning signs indicate teen-dating violence?

Answer: Telling their partner what to wear, who to hang out with and what to do. It can also involve:

Menstrual periods today aren't the hassle they once were, thanks to changes in attitudes and better feminine hygiene products. But what if you only had to menstruate four times a year? And what if it was better for you?

Certain researchers—from medical experts to anthropologists—believe that women weren't meant to menstruate for the many years we now do in the industrialized world. Early menarche (the onset of menstruation), fewer pregnancies, and shorter duration of breastfeeding have subjected the female body to waves of hormones that make women vulnerable to health risks, they say. These researchers also believe that the solution for less frequent menstruation is readily available—by way of the birth control pill.

by Mystie Johnson, MD, Banner Estrella Medical Center

Question: I have very heavy bleeding with my period. Are there options that will help me control the bleeding to be more manageable while allowing me to retain fertility?

Answer: There are many answers to this question based on your definition is of the words “very heavy”. For instance, does your menstrual cycle keep you home from school or work? Are you regularly ruining your clothes? You also need to determine why and when you want to retain fertility. Are you currently trying to get pregnant or is it more that you might want a child or another child in the future?

October is National Breast Cancer awareness month and with so much information available on this important topic we want to give you, the Health-e Woman subscriber, a jump-start on this information with this article. There will be much more to follow in next month's issue of Health-e Woman so please, stay tuned. 

As the most common cancer among women and the second-leading cause of malignancy death among that gender, breast cancer generates significant physical and psychological damage to women of all ages.

It is, however, the source of considerable myths and misconceptions that often causes the female psyche to ignore the risks and sometimes even the symptoms of this dreadful disease.

Findings from the Nurses Health Study II stirred the pot once again on an old topic: the impact of diet on your complexion. According to the study, women who said they consumed two or more daily servings of skim milk as a teen were also 44 percent more likely to say that a physician had diagnosed them with severe acne during their teen years than those who reported drinking one or fewer servings per week. We decided to see what else the literature had to say about the connection between diet and acne.

If you have aging parents, grandparents or find yourself in the "senior" category you know that growing older is no picnic, however, a regular fitness routine can jumpstart your memory, your metabolism, and your state of mind. 

With all the advances in medical technology, people are living longer and pursuing a better quality of life which begs one to ask the question "Is there really such a thing as growing old gracefully? According to the US Census Bureau, the 85 plus age group will soon be the fastest growing segment of our population.

The traditional Chinese martial art, tai chi, has been around for more than 600 years. Ancient Chinese philosophy asserts that tai chi improves the flow of “qi” (pronounced “chee”), which is the life energy thought to sustain health and calm the mind; imbalances of qi are believed to lead to ill health.

Today, people practice tai chi for a variety of reasons, including physical activity, relaxation, and an overall sense of well-being. Tai chi is believed to promote memory, concentration, digestion, balance, and flexibility. It’s also thought to offer emotional and spiritual benefits. But is there any scientific evidence that tai chi is in fact beneficial to health?

What Is Carbohydrate Counting?

Carbohydrate counting is a method of keeping track of the number of carbohydrates you eat at each meal. This is important if you need to manage your blood sugar levels, since your body turns carbohydrates into blood sugar, or glucose.