Family Health Blog

Your annual doctor’s visit and checkup is a good opportunity to be an active partner in your care. Rather than simply sitting through your weigh-in, blood pressure check, and flu shot, now is the time to be proactive and ask your doctor key questions that can help you build a health and wellness strategy. If... Read More

Sugar cookies and eggnog, latkes and sufganiyot, pumpkin pie and candied yams. At home, at work, at parties—everywhere you look this time of year, there are tempting treats. All too often, holiday indulgences lead to weight gain, New Year’s regrets, and diet resolutions. While some Americans put on between five and seven pounds during the... Read More

Your cough hasn’t gotten better in two weeks, but your doctor’s office doesn’t have same day appointments. Or maybe you’re out of town visiting relatives when your one-year-old starts showing the signs of another ear infection. For many people, the next move would be to seek care at a retail clinic in a pharmacy, grocery... Read More

If you’re overweight, losing even a relatively small amount of weight has many health benefits, from lowering blood pressure and the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer to decreasing joint and back pain. Diets that promise fast weight loss may be tempting, but they’re often not safe or evidence-based and don’t... Read More

Do you know which health screenings you should get and when and how often to get screened? Screenings are an essential part of a strong preventive care strategy and can help you detect a wide range of health problems as early as possible. The first step is to talk with your primary care physician. While... Read More

One of the top pieces of advice that nutrition and exercise experts share is that regular exercise is an essential part of any plan to lose weight and keep the weight off. But even if you’re already at a healthy weight, getting exercise regularly is important for your overall health and wellbeing. One study published... Read More

During perimenopause (the period of time that leads up to menopause) and menopause (when a woman has not had a menstrual period for more than a year), the ovaries try to maintain normal levels of the hormones progesterone and estrogen. This effort, however, actually causes fluctuations in hormone levels. And those fluctuations are the cause... Read More

It seems like every few weeks, there’s media coverage of new health trends that promise to help you lose weight, lower your risk of health problems, or increase your longevity. What the articles and celebrity physician interviews often don’t include is reliable scientific evidence to support these promises. In some cases, the news is based... Read More

The number of people with prediabetes has grown to 86 million in the U.S. That means 1 in 3 adults has blood sugar that’s higher than normal but not yet high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. Of that 86 million, 9 out of 10 are not aware they have the condition. If left untreated, prediabetes... Read More

As you age, your risk of becoming disabled because of a chronic health problem or an injury like a fall can increase. But studies have found that there are four proactive steps you can take at any age that can help decrease your risk of disability and improve your overall health, wellbeing, and longevity. Step... Read More