Wellness Blog

How we are winning the fight against cervical cancer
Posted on August 16, 2016
By Matthias Muenzer, M.D. Medford & Melrose OB/GYN One of the reasons I decided to become an OB/GYN is because I like making complicated things simple. That’s important when treating complex conditions such as cervical cancer. It’s important for women to understand where we started regarding treatment and prevention, where we are, and how they […]

Rest is best: Get the right amount of sleep for good health
Posted on August 9, 2016
By Gary Pransky, M.D. Winthrop – Family medicine This might sound familiar: You wake up late because you overslept. You rush to get ready, drive to work with your head still in a fog, and load up on coffee before and after lunch just to make it through the day. You have trouble concentrating and […]

You’re in control: Know the facts about your birth control options
Posted on August 2, 2016
Unintended pregnancy can make life complicated. Kathleen Ammon shares a few of the most popular birth control options available.

How to handle bad news from your doctor
Posted on July 26, 2016
By Matthias Muenzer, M.D. Medford and Melrose OB/GYN It’s almost inevitable that at some point you’ll have to deal with bad news or a scary diagnosis from a doctor. While it’s easy to read articles offering “tips for dealing with bad news,” when you get that news and you’re scared, all that advice can fly […]

3 reasons why unplanned pregnancy rates are falling
Posted on July 19, 2016
By Kathleen Ammon, N.P. Women’s health nurse practitioner in Malden, MA It may surprise you to learn that nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned. However, a March 2016 study showed the rate of unintended pregnancies dropped to the lowest level in the past 30 years. In 2008, 51 percent of pregnancies […]

Tips to find a bra that fits – and boosts your health
Posted on July 5, 2016
By Vicki MacLean, N.P. Women’s health and breast surgery in Melrose & Wakefield What you wear can affect your health. And I’m not just talking about dressing properly for Boston weather. Women put on ill-fitting bras every day, and it’s causing back and breast pain, restricted breathing, headaches, and skin irritation. Surveys have shown anywhere […]

3 tips to manage heartburn and GERD symptoms
Posted on June 28, 2016
By Richard Benetti, M.D. Preventive Medicine, Hypertension, and Diabetes Management in Malden and Stoneham, MA There’s nothing like heartburn to ruin your favorite meal. But for people who have been diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), it’s more than an inconvenience – it interferes with their daily lives. It sometimes can be a challenge to treat […]

GERD is the word: What is gastroesophageal reflux disease?
Posted on June 21, 2016
By Richard Benetti, M.D. Preventive Medicine, Hypertension, and Diabetes Management in Malden and Stoneham, MA Uh-oh — you knew you shouldn’t have eaten that extra-spicy burrito, but you just couldn’t resist. And now you’re paying for it. Your chest hurts, and your throat is burning and raw. It looks like it’s going to be a long […]

Why are breast cancer rates so high in Malden and Medford?
Posted on June 14, 2016
By Catherine Tucker, M.D., and Vicki MacLean, N.P. Medford and Stoneham – Surgical Oncology – Breast Surgery The Susan G. Komen Foundation looks at every state and the stages of breast cancer diagnosed within the states. What they found within the Massachusetts state breast cancer registry was frightening: Medford and Malden have extremely high rates of […]

3 thumb-sucking and security blanket concerns that won’t hurt your kids
Posted on June 7, 2016
By Gary Pransky, M.D. Family Medicine and Geriatrics in Winthrop, MA “Stop it. That’s for babies!” I can’t tell you how many times in my 30 years as a doctor I’ve heard parents and caregivers say this to little ones who were sucking their thumbs or clutching security blankets. If you’re worried that thumb-sucking will cause long-term […]

The lowdown on controlling your high blood pressure
Posted on May 31, 2016
By Madhavi Challagulla, M.D. Internal Medicine in Wilmington, MA About one out of every three adults in the United States has high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. That’s about 70 million people nationwide. A 2011 study by the Massachusetts Partnership for Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention found nearly 30 percent of adults in […]

Obesity is not a new normal: My opinion on the ‘Biggest Loser’ article
Posted on May 24, 2016
The Biggest Loser winners nearly all regained the weight they lost. Are Americans really destined to get and stay fat? Dr. Muenzer shares why he doesn’t think so.

The hidden dangers of tickborne diseases
Posted on May 17, 2016
By Edward Butler, M.D. Traveler’s Health and Infectious Disease Services at Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford and Melrose Wakefield Hospital Tickborne diseases, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, are a major concern for us here in Massachusetts and throughout New England. In particular, people who live in wooded areas, those who enjoy […]

A sober subject: The many challenges of alcoholism
Posted on May 10, 2016
By Madhavi Challagulla, M.D. Internal Medicine in Wilmington, MA Treating some conditions can be equally frustrating for patients and doctors. Alcoholism is one of those problems. In 2014, Massachusetts treatment facilities saw about 33,250 admissions for alcohol use treatment, according to the Massachusetts Department of Health’s Bureau of Substance Abuse Services. But this is just […]

Fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, and other conditions that aren’t ‘just in your head’
Posted on May 3, 2016
By Gary Pransky, M.D. Family Medicine & Geriatrics in Winthrop, MA Years ago, I saw a cartoon in the newspaper. A woman is on the phone with a doctor, saying, “My husband’s having chest pains. What do I do?” In the next frame, the doctor says, “He only thinks he’s having chest pains.” In the final […]