The bitter, fluctuating temperatures and precipitation during winter can bring out the grouch in most of us, but believe it or not, there are a few health benefits credited to cold weather. Avinash Viswanathan, MD, an internal medicine physician with…
Many families have been schooled on the “big” summer safety issues that threaten the well-being of children including water safety around the pool, fireworks precautions and the importance of using sunscreen and sunglasses on your little ones. But what about…
Your spouse just had surgery and no longer needs their pain meds. You don’t want extra pills in the cabinet, so you toss them in the trash. Later, your curious three-year-old spots them as he goes to throw away his…
It can be frustrating to call your physician’s office only to hear it will be several weeks until you can see the doctor, especially during cold and flu season. This scenario is popping up more frequently in today’s primary care…
The flu vaccine can be an emotionally charged topic. While medical experts say it’s the single best way to prevent the flu, others question its effectiveness and worry about potential side effects. So what’s the bottom line? Influenza kills thousands…
Smoking, alcohol, drugs, sex. To parents of teenagers, they’re like the four horsemen of the apocalypse. We worry about any of these temptations causing challenges in the lives of our kids. Children are experimenting with these temptations sooner than ever,…
With the recent outbreak of measles across the United States, there has been a wealth of information published about the measles…and unfortunately some misinformation. Read on to learn what everyone should know about the measles. Is measles really that big…
After coloring on the floor with her 2-year-old niece last September, Shirley Black knew it was finally time to get serious about knee-replacement surgery. She couldn’t get up without help. Shirley, who lives just outside of Springfield and has been…
When it comes to weight management and obesity, the internet is a grab bag of conflicting information, all touting itself as accurate. Luckily, Memorial Bariatric Services, part of the Memorial Weight Loss & Wellness Center, has the facts in an area riddled…
When kids are sick, their parents and caregivers want to do whatever necessary to help them feel better as quickly as possible. It’s important to remember, however, that children are not tiny adults when it comes to over-the-counter (OTC) medicines.…