Health and Wellness

I have always recommended using distilled, bottled, or filtered water for nasal rinses. An alternative could be boiling tap water for at least five minutes. Municipal tap water should also be safer than well wa... continue reading  about  I was alarmed by an article about deaths related to using tap water in a neti pot. I have been using only tap water. Should I change to filtered, bottled or distilled water?

Fluctuation in hormones and metabolism shifts are very common in women in their 40s, which occurs before you are perimenopausal. This is the most likely cause, but I recommend you make an appointment with your ... continue reading  about  I'm 44 and am having a lot of highs and lows with energy, not sleeping well, but without hot flashes or loss of menses. My mother had a hysterectomy at 44, so her experience with menopause was cut short. Is this perimenopause or just hormone fluctuations?

While nearly anything is conceivable or possible in individual situations, it's my understanding that the pig dermis is treated to remove all cellular components, leaving just the natural, treated sterile colla... continue reading  about  Regarding stress incontinence and using the pig skin mesh sling option - is it possible for a patient to reject the sling?

Coconut oil consists of medium chain triglycerides which are saturated fats. It works like any oil-containing moisturizer and traps water in the skin creating a hydrating effect. Many people like the fragrance ... continue reading  about  I have dry skin and have read that using coconut oil can be used as a moisturizer for my face and body. Does coconut oil really have moisturizing benefits? My concern is about oily breakouts.

About 15-20 percent of women continue to have menopausal symptoms long after menopause, although they should diminish in intensity with time. There have been many research studies on non-estrogen treatments for... continue reading  about  I'm 53 and take Mimvey for hot flashes and sleeplessness. I've tried to stop but the symptoms return. Is there a "hump" to get over before they stop? How long is HRT recommended? Also, are my electrical and heart problems due to hormones? Can HRT help?

As it stands now, the AAP does not actively endorse routine circumcision, but is leaning more in favor of recommending circumcision to expectant parents of boys. Current evidence suggests the medical benefits t... continue reading  about  I chose not to circumcise my son. Now the AAP issued a policy statement that actively endorses circumcision. While my son is only two years old, I worry that I made the wrong decision. Should I have him circumcised now?

Any persistent breast pain should be evaluated by your healthcare provider. Breast cancer, which of course is our biggest concern, usually is not painful, but it can be, so your symptoms need to be evaluated. M... continue reading  about  I'm getting ready to have my 53rd birthday, and for the last two weeks my breasts (especially my nipples) has been very sore and tender. There has never been any breast cancer diagnosed in my family. Should I be concerned?

Muscle cramps are a common symptom and occur both in men and women.Cramping is caused by an electrical impulse from a nerve to a muscle. The impulse is triggered spontaneously and can be very forceful and painf... continue reading  about  I get a lot of muscle cramps. What's wrong, and what can be done?

In the past, many doctors recommended that people with diverticulitis avoid nuts and seeds. It was thought that these small particles could lodge in the diverticula and cause inflammation (which is diverticulit... continue reading  about  I've been diagnosed with diverticulitis (no longer acute) and have been told to avoid nuts and seeds. Do things like peas, beans, corn count as seeds? What is a good diet to avoid another bout of diverticulitis? (I'm also lactose intolerant.)