Family Health Blog
Recent health news, buzzworthy medical blogs, and personal wellness advice curated by our PinnacleCare team and our CEO, Dr. Miles Varn.
How women with endometriosis can get the right diagnosis
Approximately six to ten percent of women in the U.S. are living with endometriosis, a chronic condition that causes tissue similar to tissue of the uterus to grow outside of the womb. For women who report chronic pelvic pain, some studies have found that 71 to 87% of them have endometriosis. The number of American... Read More
Pioneering a new, individualized approach to medical cannabis treatment
We talked with Dr. Ben Caplan, one of the foremost doctors in the new field of cannabis medicine. A licensed, board-certified Doctor of Family Medicine, Dr. Caplan received his medical degree at Tufts University School of Medicine and completed his residency in Family Medicine at the Boston Medical Center. For the past two decades, he... Read More
Caregiver tips for doctor’s appointments with older relatives
If you’re a caregiver for an older parent, relative, partner, or friend, one part of your role may be taking the person you care for to doctor’s appointments. There are several steps that can help you be a respectful, effective advocate and supporter for your loved one. These steps also play an important role in... Read More
Managing these risk factors may lower your risk of dementia
Nearly 6 million adults in the U.S. are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia according to data gathered by the CDC. As the number of Americans 65 or older grows, the number of people with these types of dementias is projected to increase to around 14 million over the course... Read More
Factors to weigh when choosing substance use disorder treatment
During the pandemic, the already significant number of people living with substance use disorder increased. According to data gathered by the CDC, in June 2020, 13% of Americans surveyed said they had started using substances (not including alcohol and tobacco) or increased their use in response to the stress of the pandemic. The number of... Read More
How to bridge the gaps in concierge medicine
Concierge medicine can offer a range of benefits, but choosing a concierge or direct medical practice can also mean that there are gaps in the services and types of care you may need. A more comprehensive approach is to combine concierge medicine with the support of a health advisor to ensure you’ll have access to... Read More
How self-advocacy can lower the risk of misdiagnosis for women
A man and a woman, who are both having a heart attack, go to the emergency room. But it’s 50% more likely that the woman will be misdiagnosed than the man. If they were both having a stroke, the woman is nearly 30% more likely to receive the wrong diagnosis. Why is the woman’s risk... Read More
What to do if you don’t know your family’s medical history
Knowing your family’s medical history helps you and your doctors build a plan for screening and preventive care based on the health risks you may face. For example, if your father or mother had a heart attack at a younger age, you could be at a higher risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.... Read More
How functional medicine can help ease the experience of menopause
We talked with Esther Blum, an integrative dietitian and high performance coach, about the important role of nutrition, exercise, stress management, and sleep for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. In addition to working with patients, she is the author of four bestselling books. Her fifth book, on menopause, is currently in the works and will... Read More
Four things to consider when choosing a hospital
When they need hospital care, many people simply go to the closest hospital or the one their doctor recommends. But if you need care at a hospital, whether it’s for labor and delivery, back surgery, joint replacement, cancer treatment, or treatment for heart disease, it’s important to do some research before you choose where to... Read More