Wellness Blog
Why ‘doctor’s orders’ aren’t enough for weight loss
Posted on December 29, 2015
By Matthias Muenzer, M.D. Hallmark Health Medical Associates A couple years ago, I decided enough was enough. I needed to lose weight. Many of my OB/GYN patients were battling obesity, and I was giving them weight loss advice, but I wasn’t following it myself. It was time. Several years ago, I noticed that weight gain […]
IUDs, implants, and shots: What’s the best long-term birth control?
Posted on December 22, 2015
Elinor Milder, M.D. Hallmark Health Medical Associates For years, women have had limited options for birth control. The pill works, but you have to remember to take it every day. It’s easy to forget if your schedule is disrupted (which happens way too often). Condoms can break or simply come off during intercourse. Some people […]
Ah-choo! Is it the flu? Facts you should know this flu season
Posted on December 15, 2015
By Rebecca Tharaud, M.D. Hallmark Health Medical Associates Ugghhh…the flu. Many of us have gone through it in the past, and none of us want to re-live that experience. Every year we experience an influenza epidemic. It causes millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and thousands of deaths annually in the United States. […]
Snowman Smiles: Life after heroin addiction
Posted on December 8, 2015
By Meredith Enright, N.P. Hallmark Health Medical Associates Heroin is an intense, life-consuming drug. In fact, Middlesex County has the highest rate of death by accidental heroin overdose than any other county in Massachusetts. I’ve watched heroin ruin the lives of countless young people, ripping them away from their families and roping them into self-destructive […]
How the heroin crisis exploded around Boston
Posted on December 1, 2015
By Meredith Enright, N.P. Hallmark Health Medical Associates The other day I found myself talking to my nieces and nephews about heroin and pain pills. One is 10 years old, and the oldest is 12. Unfortunately, now is the time to have that conversation. We are in the middle of a heroin crisis, especially here […]
What happens during a colonoscopy, and when do I need one?
Posted on November 24, 2015
By Brian Clark, M.D. Hallmark Health Medical Associates Would you want to lower your chance of dying from a disease by 50 percent or more? That’s a no-brainer, right? Colon cancer is preventable. The best way to ensure you never get colon cancer is to get a colonoscopy. While some people may need to start […]
When should I take my daughter to the OB/GYN?
Posted on November 17, 2015
By Bernard Logan, M.D. Hallmark Health Medical Associates From an early age, young women must learn about their bodies and understand the waves of change that happen as they develop and mature. One need is constant from adolescence through every stage of adulthood: the need for gynecological care from an OB/GYN. Many women think of […]
The common cold: How sick is too sick to work?
Posted on November 10, 2015
By Jessica Stevenson, M.D. Hallmark Health Medical Associates Getting a cold is pretty miserable. You have to miss out on fun with family and friends, and you may feel compelled to stay home from work. But the good news is taking a sick day may not be necessary. The common cold is one of the […]
3 surprising ways men benefit from weight loss
Posted on November 3, 2015
By Laura Carman, M.D. Hallmark Health Medical Associates Every day, new articles are published featuring the hottest tips for women to lose weight and feel better. But what about men? Guys, it’s important for you to keep your weight under control, too. Even if you don’t care what you look like, hauling around a hefty […]
What is a Pap smear and how often do I need one?
Posted on October 27, 2015
By Pamela Schwedler, N.P., M.S.N., NP-C, R.N., R.N.C. Hallmark Health Medical Associates Let’s be honest. Few women get excited about a Pap smear or pelvic exam. There’s fear about whether it will hurt, and what if they find something abnormal? As a nurse practitioner, I know how important these tests are and why they are […]
Expectant moms, have you received the whooping cough vaccine?
Posted on October 20, 2015
By Mary Helen Darcy, N.P. Hallmark Health Medical Associates Expectant moms know the routine all too well—appointment after appointment, trip after trip to the doctor for checkups. It can be daunting to sift through all the information you receive to help you have a healthy pregnancy. But there’s one important recommendation we ask that you […]
Get active to avoid type 2 diabetes
Posted on October 13, 2015
By Michael Cheney, N.P. Hallmark Health Medical Associates, Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate at Hallmark Health System Patients often ask me what medications they can take to help them avoid type 2 diabetes. My response often takes them by surprise because the prescription is so simple: 30 minutes of activity every day. It may be hard […]
The one number to track to lose weight – it’s not calories!
Posted on October 6, 2015
By Matthias Muenzer, M.D. Hallmark Health Medical Associates I’ve met with patients who come into my office in tears, frustrated because yet another diet plan has failed. Many of these patients come in weighing more than they did when they started their diet plans. I feel for them – I also was overweight not too […]
Your family history doesn’t control your weight
Posted on September 29, 2015
By Matthias Muenzer, M.D. Hallmark Health Medical Associates I’m big boned. I come from a long line of large women. My mother has always been heavy, but she’s pretty healthy at age 60. Every day, one of my OB/GYN patients shares with me the genetic reasons that she’s carrying extra weight. Often, the patient has […]
Paul’s story: Celiac disease symptoms aren’t always obvious
Posted on September 22, 2015
By Michael Newman, M.D. Gastroenterology in Melrose and Wakefield, MA People with celiac disease can’t tolerate gluten – a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and oats. For most celiac patients, the symptoms are obvious: gas, bloating, and stomach distress. But some patients exhibit symptoms they’d never guess were linked to celiac disease. My patient, […]