Posts in women’s health
What to Know about Migraines
Posted on March 18, 2019
Migraine headaches are a common neurological disorder affecting as many as 40 million Americans. Migraines are recognizable by the intense pain, usually on one side of the head, and a number of side effects including throbbing pain, nausea, sensitivity to light or a visual aura. A migraine may last for anywhere between one and 72 […]
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.
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 […]
No more breast stress: What you need to know about breast pain
Posted on August 30, 2016
By Vicki MacLean, N.P. Melrose & Wakefield – Women’s Health – Breast Surgery Tingling, burning, zinging, tender — these are just some of the words my patients use to describe breast pain, a common condition in women of all ages. By the time they come to see me in my Melrose office, most women have […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
HPV vaccine’s benefits too great to ignore
Posted on April 26, 2016
By May-Tal Sauerbrun, M.D. Medford and Malden OB/GYN I see a lot of teenage and young women in my OB/GYN practice. They and millions more across the country are at risk for contracting HPV, or human papillomavirus. In fact, about 79 million people in the United States have HPV, and many don’t even know they’re […]
Mammogram guidelines: Which should women follow?
Posted on April 19, 2016
By Catherine Tucker, M.D. Medford and Stoneham – Surgical Oncology – Breast Surgery If you’re unsure about when you should get your first mammogram and how often you should get them, you’re not alone. Even the organizations responsible for setting those guidelines can’t agree. I’ve reviewed the guidelines as they’ve been updated over the years, […]
Ready for labor and delivery? 3 frequently asked questions
Posted on April 5, 2016
By Parul Nagar, D.O. Hallmark Health Medical Associates You’re nearing the end of your pregnancy and heading into an exciting – albeit uncomfortable – time. You’re looking forward to seeing your new baby’s sweet face and finally holding that bundle of joy in your arms. You’ve been eating right, keeping physically active, and getting plenty […]
How we treat the 4 main types of urinary incontinence
Posted on March 29, 2016
By Roy Epstein, M.D. Hallmark Health Medical Associates Do you scout out the bathrooms every time you enter a new building? Avoid road trips because it takes so long to get somewhere because you have to stop for bathroom breaks on the hour? Dread long work meetings because of the urge to “go”? I hear […]
Urinary incontinence is common, but doesn’t have to disrupt life
Posted on March 22, 2016
By Roy Epstein, M.D. Hallmark Health Medical Associates Cough, sneeze, laugh, or move – don’t forget to cross your legs! If this is a daily occurrence in your life, you’re far from alone. Approximately 60 percent of women will experience some amount of bladder leakage – incontinence – in their lives. This problem is very […]