Category: Preventive Care

detecting colon cancer
Aug 11 2015

Higher quality colonoscopies can lower your cancer risk

Preventive Care  •  By Miles Varn

Getting a screening colonoscopy can detect cancer early when it’s more treatable. That’s why colonoscopies are considered the gold standard for detection. But a new study discovered that the experience and skill of the gastroenterologist who performs the procedure can affect your risk of being diagnosed with colon cancer or dying from the disease. The... Read More

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transfats affect on memory
Aug 4 2015

Eating trans fats may harm your memory in the prime of life

Preventive Care  •  By Miles Varn

You probably know that eating foods high in trans fats can raise your “bad” cholesterol level, lower your “good” cholesterol numbers, and increase inflammation in the body. But a recent study uncovered another reason to cut trans fats from your diet—they could have a negative impact on your memory. The study, led by Beatrice Golomb,... Read More

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health screenings
Jul 16 2015

What screenings do you need to protect your health?

Preventive Care  •  By Miles Varn

Preventive health screenings can help you catch conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer in the earlier stages when they are more treatable. But a number of studies have found that many Americans skip these screenings. According to a survey by the American Academy of Family Physicians, 55 percent of men are skipping health screenings.... Read More

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protect your vision from macular degeneration
Jun 30 2015

How to Protect Your Vision Against Macular Degeneration

Preventive Care  •  By Miles Varn

Are you taking all the steps you can to protect your vision as you get older? While macular degeneration may not be as well-known as cataracts and glaucoma, it is the leading cause of significant vision loss for people 50 and older. Because the early stages of this disease often don’t have noticeable symptoms, the... Read More

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Annual physical
Jun 25 2015

Do you need an annual physical?

Preventive Care  •  By Miles Varn

There have been a number of articles recently that explore the value of getting a physical each year to screen for potential health problems. We talked with a member of our Medical Advisory Board, George H. Sack, MD, PhD, to discuss the topic. Dr. Sack, who is board certified in Medical Genetics, is currently the... Read More

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preventing skin cancer
Jun 18 2015

Could a simple vitamin pill help prevent skin cancer?

Preventive Care  •  By Miles Varn

Every year, more new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed than the number of new cases of breast, colon, prostate and lung cancer combined. New research may have found a safe, inexpensive way to lower the risk of people who are at a higher risk of developing the most common types of skin cancer—basal cell... Read More

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doctor and patient communication information
Mar 19 2015

How to talk to your doctor to get the information you need

Preventive Care  •  By Miles Varn

An appointment with your physician is an opportunity to raise questions and gather information that can help you better manage any diseases or chronic conditions you live with and learn what steps you can take to protect and improve your health. Unfortunately, doctor’s visits can be rushed or you could be distracted by concerns about... Read More

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Women and heart disease
Feb 24 2015

Women and heart disease : An interview with cardiologist and author Nieca Goldberg, MD

Preventive Care  •  By Miles Varn

February is American Heart Month, so we talked with respected cardiologist and author Nieca Goldberg, MD. She shared her expert advice on the steps every woman should take to lower her risk of developing heart disease, the number one cause of death for women in the U.S. Dr. Goldberg is a nationally recognized pioneer in... Read More

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myths and the flu shot
Jan 13 2015

Are these myths keeping you from getting a flu shot?

Preventive Care  •  By Miles Varn

According to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 2014-15 flu season may be worse than average. If you haven’t gotten a flu shot yet, there’s still time to get vaccinated. And that recommendation is valid even acknowledging that this year’s vaccine is not as effective as past years’ vaccines.... Read More

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5 common infections among college students
Dec 2 2014

5 Common Infections Among College Students

Preventive Care  •  By Miles Varn

Though young adults finally get to be on their own, away from their parents, they still have to remember to keep themselves healthy when they move to college and spend their days on and around campus. A busy schedule doesn’t always make it easy to venture out for exercise or groceries. Combined with the usual... Read More

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