Between 10 and 25% of Americans have bunions, and up to one-third of adults in the U.S. will experience them during their lifetimes. The medical term is hallux valgus, but by any name, they can be painful and make it hard to walk. What are bunions? A bunion is a bony, painful lump that forms […]
Author Archives: Rebecca
Primary Care Doctors: Does Gender Matter?
Finding a doctor to serve as your primary care physician, or PCP, is an important step on your health and wellness journey. But does it matter whether your doctor is a man or a woman? Personal preference Polls show that most people don’t care whether their doctor is the same gender as they are. A […]
World Sleep Day
World Sleep Day is an annual event that takes place on the Friday before the Spring Equinox every year. It was established in 2008 as a way to raise awareness about the importance of sleep, and to celebrate its vital role in our lives. The theme of this year’s World Sleep Day is “Sleep is […]
Microwave Safety for Kids
Kids can have a hot snack after school or even get their own dinners if they know how to use a microwave. For many kids, it’s an easier way of cooking that doesn’t involve open flames or hot surfaces. But a recent study from the University of Chicago Medicine found that a third of all […]
Is Your Well Water Safe?
About 15% of Americans get their drinking water from private wells. Is this water safe? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends testing well water at least once a year. Private wells are not regulated by government agencies. The owners of the wells are responsible for the safety of their water. Sometimes the water might be […]
The Portfolio Diet: Is It a Good Investment?
The Portfolio Diet is a new diet designed to help lower cholesterol. With the Portfolio Diet, you invest in your health by adding healthy eating patterns to your portfolio, rather than focusing on what kinds of food you should avoid. So should you invest in the Portfolio Diet? Is the Portfolio Diet healthy? On the […]
Foot Odor and Health
Smelly feet can be embarrassing or unpleasant, but what about foot odor and health? Are stinky feet a sign of illness or a dangerous condition? Smelly feet are common; the condition even has its own medical name: bromodosis. So if you have this condition, should you feel worried? First, the good news: stinky feet are […]
Understanding Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are benign, muscular tumors that grow in the uterus. They are also called leiomyomas or myomas. Uterine fibroids are very common, affecting up to 70% of women at some point in their lives. They can range in size from small pea-sized nodules to large tumors that can distort the shape of the uterus. […]
Trisomy Awareness Month
Humans usually have 23 pairs of chromosomes or 46 total chromosomes. Occasionally someone may have three copies of a chromosome instead of two. They would then have 47 chromosomes. This condition is called trisomy. Trisomy can occur in any chromosome, but the most common type is Trisomy 21, also known as Down Syndrome. Trisomy 21 […]
Medicare Annual Wellness Visits (MAWV)
Medicare insurance pays for visits with your primary care provider or nurse to review preventive services and develop a personalized care plan to keep you healthy. Types of Medicare Wellness Visits There are three types of preventive services visits for Medicare patients. When you first join Medicare, you will have a Welcome to Medicare exam […]