Posts in family health
7 tips to manage seasonal allergy symptoms
Posted on August 18, 2017
Allergies can make even the nicest day feel miserable. Use these tips to feel better during allergy season.
3 tips for parents to talk with tweens and teens about their bodies
Posted on July 14, 2017
The teen years are a period of intense physical, mental and emotional growth. How to build trust between teens and their parents and doctor.
Can marijuana use during pregnancy harm a baby?
Posted on May 16, 2017
By Crystal Grimes, NP, APN, MSN, Obstetrics & Gynecology Nurse Practitioner in Revere, Mass. Many women don’t think using marijuana while pregnant or breastfeeding is a big deal, but early studies show it can harm baby.
Marijuana is a hot topic, as new debates about its safety and legalization crop up every week. I have conversations with my patients every day about marijuana use during pregnancy.
Overcoming language, cultural barriers in health care
Posted on January 10, 2017
By Jennifer Powell, D.O. Family Medicine in Malden, MA Patients need to feel comfortable talking openly about their health for doctors to provide care that gets to the root of the problem. However, that requires a lot of trust. We have to show patients that we really want to get to know them. That […]
Birth control and cancer: Can oral contraceptives prevent ovarian cancer?
Posted on September 13, 2016
Does birth control reduce the risk of ovarian cancer? Dr. Muenzer discusses two major preventive methods — birth control & tubal reduction.
What Boston women need to know about Zika virus
Posted on September 6, 2016
By Matthias Muenzer, M.D. Ob/Gyn and Women’s Health in Medford & Melrose, MA Sept. 6, 2016 update: A few things have developed with Zika virus in the United States and Massachusetts since I shared my original blog post below in July 2016. Massachusetts has the fifth highest number of Zika cases in the nation. And […]
Fight the bite: Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases
Posted on August 23, 2016
By Edward Butler, M.D., Traveler’s Health and Infectious Disease Services at Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford and Melrose Wakefield Hospital You may not see them. But they’re out there. Ixodes scapularis, more commonly known as the deer tick, is a parasite that lives on many animals in Massachusetts and throughout New England. Ticks carry a host […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
Integrating the “M” words: Meditation and medicine
Posted on April 12, 2016
By Marie Angeli Adamczyk, M.D. Hallmark Health Medical Associates If, along with giving you a prescription for medication, your doctor suggested you also try meditation, would you leave their office thinking they were crazy? Over the past years, I’ve paid close attention to the mounting research that has shown mindfulness meditation improves nearly every aspect […]