Expert Health Articles

  • Why Finishing Antibiotics is Important
    Have you ever forgotten to take a couple of doses of your antibiotics? Have you ever saved your antibiotics “just in case” you need them in the future? Have you ever taken someone else’s antibiotic? Answering yes to any of these questions contributes to increased antibiotic resistance, which is a worldwide issue.
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  • Eating Well for Diabetes & Low-Carb Meals on a Budget
    As the cost of living continues to climb, many families are looking for ways to maintain a healthy diet without breaking the bank. For individuals with diabetes, it’s especially important to manage blood sugar levels through balanced meals while being mindful of food expenses. One strategy that is both cost-effective and health-conscious is choosing seasonal, low-carb whole foods. As we move into the cooler months, there are many ways to build nourishing, diabetic-friendly meals that support glucose control and your wallet.
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  • The Prevalence of Chronic Pain
    Pain management care team members are dedicated to educating the community on the impact of chronic pain. The purpose of highlighting pain awareness is to instill a greater understanding among healthcare professionals, individuals, and families who are struggling with pain management. The same applies to the business community, legislators, and the general public, as pain is a serious public health issue.
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  • Understanding Addiction
    As a peer recovery supporter, I share my story to educate others and reduce the stigma around addiction. Addiction is not simply a matter of choice—there are biological, psychological, and environmental factors that contribute to substance use disorder.
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  • Knowing the Signs of Sepsis
    Sepsis is a public health crisis unfamiliar to many people, even though 1.7 million are diagnosed every year, and sepsis is the number one cause of death in U.S. hospitals. Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming response to infection. It leads to over 350,000 adult deaths and almost 7,000 pediatric deaths annually. Sepsis is the number one cost of hospitalization and skilled nursing care at an estimated $62 billion annually.
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  • When and Where to Seek Medical Care
    With so many medical professional options available today, a common question we have all found ourselves asking from time to time is what type of medical professional should I see and when should I go see them. Some of the common options are primary care, urgent care, and emergency room care. This is a great question that likely arises many times for individuals and families.
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  • Explaining & Treating Chronic Vertebrogenic Low Back Pain
    For many people, chronic low back pain originates from the space between the disc and the vertebra, which is known as the vertebral endplates. This type of pain is known as vertebrogenic pain. Of the 30 million people in the United States with chronic low back pain, one in six is likely to suffer from vertebrogenic pain.
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  • Treating Insomnia and/or Sleep Troubles
    Do you frequently have trouble falling or staying asleep? Taking longer than 30 minutes to fall asleep or being awake for more than 30 minutes after falling asleep may be abnormal when persistent and associated with daytime impairment such as fatigue.
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  • How a Birth Plan Can Benefit You Before & After Delivery
    Preparing for childbirth can feel like an enormous task. A written birth plan can help the birthing person organize their thoughts. If you or your loved one is considering writing a birth plan for an upcoming delivery, what should you know?
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  • The Role of a Hospitalist
    Often when patients are admitted to the hospital, they have questions such as, “Where is my family doctor?” or “What does a ‘hospitalist’ mean?” My common response to them is, “A hospitalist is serving like a family doctor for you while you are in the hospital.” Once the patient is discharged from the hospital, the family doctor usually resumes care.
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  • Addressing a Child's Fever
    Fever. A common question for many parents is, “What is considered a fever?” Fever in children can be scary, but just because there is a fever should not always be a cause for alarm.
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  • What to Know About Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy
    Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) account for 32% of maternal deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One in seven hospital deliveries may be affected by this complication of pregnancy. What are these disorders? How are they managed during and after pregnancy? Can a person do anything before becoming pregnant to decrease their risk factors?
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  • What to Know About Recreational Water Illnesses
    Summer is here, and now is the time to enjoy the weather and get into the water. But many do not know that while you are in the lazy river or perfecting your cannonball, you are coming into contact with bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Most of these will not cause you to become sick, but some can cause what is known as a Recreational Water Illness (RWI).
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  • Virtual World, Real Problems: Social Media’s Impact on Developing Minds
    After almost two decades in the healthcare field, I have noticed several themes that cause concern not only for teenagers but also for young adults. The concerning topics are driven by direct connections between technology/social media platforms and mental health, as well as the developing brain in general.
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  • Flea and Tick Safety in the Summer
    Warmer weather and sunshine bring people outside for cookouts, swimming, hiking, and all-around fun. While enjoying the outdoors, we need to be mindful of those annoying little critters known as fleas and ticks. They can be harmful to humans as well as pets.
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  • Understanding and Treating Facet Joint Pain
    Back pain is one of the most common medical complaints, affecting millions of Americans every year. While conditions like herniated discs, stenosis, and pinched nerves are often the suspected culprits, in many cases, the true source is facet joint pain.
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  • The Importance of Self-Breast Awareness & Education
    As we go through different phases of life, our bodies are constantly evolving. Self-awareness is one of the keys to early detection of breast cancer, as well as self-breast exams, clinical breast exams, and screening mammograms. Detecting breast cancer early will lead to a better prognosis, as breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the world today.
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  • The Many Benefits of an Obstetric Hospitalist Program
    Hospitalist care first started in the mid-1990s. The OB hospitalist is present in the labor and delivery unit 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This model was developed as a way to help provide more immediate and efficient care to patients who present to the hospital.
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  • The Significance of Pride, and How We Can All Be Better Allies
    Welcome to June, the beginning of summertime, and Pride month. Pride celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and the folks within that community. LGBTQ+ is an acronym meaning: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer; the plus allows space for a wide spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities. Pride celebrates the LGBTQ+ community in a positive, affirming way, promoting dignity, equality, and visibility.
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  • Sunscreen and Summer Care: Essential Tips for Healthy Skin
    As the summer sun calls us outdoors, it's crucial to remember that while soaking up those rays can be delightful, it also comes with risks to our skin health. One of the most effective ways to protect our skin during the summer months is by incorporating sunscreen into our daily routine.
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  • The Difference Between Acute and Chronic Pain
    Pain is a universal human experience, serving as a vital signaling mechanism alerting the body to potential injury or harm. However, not all pain is alike, and understanding the distinction between acute and chronic pain is paramount for effective management and treatment.
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  • Stress Management Around Medical Testing/Procedures
    Medical testing and procedures can sometimes present a challenge both physically and mentally for a patient and their caregivers. Understanding those types of stressors and having tools to help manage them can help patients have a more positive experience
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  • Children and Anxiety: What Parents Need to Know and When to Seek Treatment
    Anxiety is a normal emotion essential for survival and functions as our brain’s inherent response to perceived danger. It facilitates the avoidance of danger in many scenarios, meaning it is adaptive and not necessarily pathological.
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  • Navigating Age-Appropriate Milestones & Potential Signs of Autism
    “Autism,” is one word that strikes fear in the hearts of parents, but your pediatric providers are here to help you navigate age-appropriate growth and development. In general, most children reach specific developmental milestones at certain ages. For example, a child has a time frame to master gross and fine motor skills as well as social and communicative skills.
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  • Read Your Footprints and How You Roll
    Read your footprints and discover how you roll! Like a good detective story, your bare footprints can leave clues to your foot health and drop hints about possible problems.
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  • How to "Dress for a Success" & Prepare for an Imaging Exam
    If you have ever had to have an imaging test, you may have been asked to change your clothes, remove jewelry, take out hearing aids, etc. Let’s review how to “dress for success” and other steps you will want to consider prior to arriving for your next imaging exam.
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  • Pneumonia Risk Factors & Preventative Measures
    Pneumonia is a common lung infection caused by germs, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It can be a complication following the common cold, flu, COVID-19 infection, sick contact, travel history, exposure to certain farm animals, or certain environmental risk factors.
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  • Milestones Matter: Keeping Track of a Child's Development
    It is important for a child’s cognitive, social, and physical growth to reach developmental milestones appropriate for their age. However, every child develops at their own pace, and some may need a little more time to reach certain milestones. As a parent, you know your child best. Trust your instincts and consult with your pediatrician or primary care provider for guidance and support.
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  • Back to the Basics: A Balanced Approach to Pain Management
    In the world of modern medicine, where cutting-edge technology and innovative treatments often take center stage, it’s easy to overlook the fundamental principles that underpin healthcare. There is power in returning to the basics, where the foundations of compassionate care, thorough patient examinations, and patient education play a pivotal role in patients overcoming their chronic pain.
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  • Ensuring Eye Safety During a Solar Eclipse
    The residents of Hancock County will have a front-row seat for the total eclipse of the sun on Monday, April 8, 2024. For many, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With proper preparation and precautions, it is possible to safely observe the eclipse without damaging your eyes.
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