This is the time of year when we like to picnic and cook and eat outside.  I thought we should talk about germs and illnesses that might come from food, especially if food is not cooked or stored correctly. There are many different germs that can contaminate foods.  In fact, we have identified more than…...

A migraine is a specific type of headache that can cause severe, throbbing pain, often on one side of the head.  Approximately 18 percent of women and 6 percent of men in the United States have migraine headaches.  Migraine headaches can last anywhere from hours to days.  The pain can be severe enough to keep…...

Last week, we talked about migraine headache symptoms and possible triggers.  This week we'll talk about how the diagnosis is made, and what treatment options are available. How does your doctor make the diagnosis of migraine? The first thing your doctor will do is get a good description of your headaches.  The doctor will use…...

Last week we talked about osteoporosis, including risk factors and complications.  This week, I wanted to talk about things that you can do to try to prevent osteoporosis.  We will also talk about ways that it can be treated, if it does develop, in order to decrease the risk of complications. As I mentioned last…...

Osteoporosis is a medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile as a result of loss of tissue.  This is typically a result of hormonal changes, or deficiency of calcium or vitamin D.  The complications of osteoporosis, including hip fractures and spinal fractures, can cause significant disability.  We'll talk today about this condition,…...

Recently four major health organizations came together to support the first-ever consensus recommendation about healthy drinks for kids. There are so many drinks available in stores these days, and many of them are advertised as kid's drinks. Unfortunately, many drinks that are advertised for kids are not actually healthy for kids. I know it was…...

Last week we talked about poison ivy and some of the ways that you can be exposed to it.  This week, we'll talk about how to prevent a poison ivy rash, and how to treat it once you have it. How can you prevent a poison ivy rash? Avoid the plants - Learn to identify…...

We may not typically think of poison ivy this time of year.  It really seems like more of a summer worry.  However, it's the time in which we are usually doing a lot of yard clean up.  You can be exposed to poison ivy raking leaves, picking up brush, stacking firewood, or even bringing firewood…...