While AI has been around for decades, it feels like it has really taken off in just the last year or two. From planning a travel itinerary to perfecting emails, the possibilities are seemingly endless with AI. But with any new technology comes the power to use it for good and to abuse it. One area of concern for me and other health experts is AI’s role in healthcare…
Read MoreWe’ve all felt intimidated walking into a doctor’s office. It’s a vulnerable experience, fraught with expense and sometimes discomfort and fear. It can be smoother and more successful when we have clear expectations before we even make the appointment. Here are nine things we can do to make healthcare experiences more comfortable and less nerve-racking….
Read MoreThere’s a lot of buzz about Ozempic and newly approved prescription weight-loss medications on the market. While these GLP-1 agonists were originally created as effective ways to manage type 2 diabetes, the weight loss side effect (caused by early fullness and less hunger, leading to consuming less food), has consumers requesting these meds in droves. Several medications in this class have now been FDA-approved strictly for weight-loss for those with comorbidities of obesity. We’re seeing exciting results, but these medications are not without their issues, including a supply shortage causing diabetics to be denied access….
Read MoreEvery person assigned female at birth has their own natural vaginal odor. Your vagina contains billions of bacteria whose makeup changes daily. So, it's normal for your vagina's odor to change often. But if you notice that your odor is a little more potent than usual, bacterial vaginosis (BV) may be to blame…
Read MoreRecently, I had the privilege of talking to Dr. Denise Johnson-Miller, medical director of the breast program of El Camino Hospital in Northern California. As a leader in her field for more than thirty years, Dr. Johnson-Miller has practiced as a surgical oncologist, professor, and program director at many distinguished programs across the country including Rutgers and Stanford….
Read MoreIn the United States, 99 percent of women who have been sexually active report having used some form of contraception at some point in their lives. As a result, birth control is championed as a groundbreaking innovation that provides women with reproductive freedom to prevent pregnancy or manage period symptoms. But with the Supreme Court's recent decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade, the landscape for reproductive liberties has shifted….
Read MoreMy name is Sarah Zimmerman, PA-C and I am a freelance writer and Physician Assistant. I recently started working in a breast center, and The SEAM editors have kindly asked me to write a regular column on all things breast cancer… The fact is, breast cancer is very complicated, and it’s easy to feel lost in the myriad diagnoses, tests, and treatment options. So often, when we’re given a cancer diagnosis, all we hear are alarm bells going off in our heads, and the specific and foreign medical jargon is too much. I’m here to try to make it all clearer….
Read MoreElizabeth “Brianne” Lovin underwent a double mastectomy with breast reconstruction, a hysterectomy and a removal of both of her ovaries and fallopian tubes at age forty-one, not because she had cancer, but in order to prevent cancer. She is one of the approximately 0.25% of the population that carries a BRCA gene, a hereditary gene mutation that prevents normal tumor suppression…
Read MoreNever heard of pelvic floor therapy? Or are you just curious about how it all works? Don't worry; we've got it covered. Here is your guide to pelvic floor therapy and what to expect during treatment…
Read More“I wish people understood the reality of long-haul COVID. It’s hard to fathom going from perfectly healthy to completely debilitated in a few short weeks or months, but it is happening all over the world. This is going to pose such a challenge to health care and economies for many years to come”…
Read MoreThere are so many myths and inaccuracies when it comes to contraception. Even though various methods are available and 72 million women in the United States use birth control, rumors about their safety and effectiveness persist. If you are hoping to delay pregnancy for a few more years or avoid it altogether, you should understand all of your choices. Unfortunately, this can be a little more than challenging when separating fact from fiction. So, let's set the record straight. Here are some common birth control myths and the truth behind them….
Read MoreDr. Brittany L. Siontis is a medical oncologist with a specialty interest in sarcomas. What are sarcomas? Sarcomas are a rare, insidious, and little-understood cancer that can affect adults and children alike. Often misdiagnosed, sarcomas can begin either in the bones or in the soft tissue. For that reason, they are very difficult to catch in their early stages. Dr Siontis currently serves as the Principal Investigator of several active clinical trials at Mayo Clinic through the Sarcoma Medical Oncology Group and works closely with the non-profit Rein in Sarcoma, a resource for patients and families touched by this disease….
Read MoreFrequent bathroom runs, the constant urge to go, or that burning feeling when you pee. Ugh! These could all be signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI), which women commonly experience. Whether this is all new to you or you've had your share of infections, here is a guide to help you make sense of urinary tract infections…
Read MoreTell me if this sounds familiar: you go to the doctor with a specific complaint. They order blood work; everything comes back normal. The doctor sends you on your way. You’re relieved your results came back “normal,” but you don’t exactly feel “normal.” You still suspect something is off but don’t know where to turn….
Read MoreBreast cancer is the second most common type of cancer in women. In fact, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. But, with early detection, women have a survival rate of 86 percent. So, get to know your breasts, and don't ignore any unusual changes.
Read MoreLarge, heavy breasts negatively impact women’s health and lives. Excessive breast tissue, or macromastia, can cause back, neck, and shoulder pain, hand, and arm numbness from impact on nerves, abrasions or indentations on the shoulders from bra straps, and skin infections under the breasts, among other problems….
Read MoreAs the coronavirus pandemic begins to dwindle in some (but not all) parts of the United States, we may see a rise in yet another epidemic: sexually transmitted infections. In fact, sexually transmitted infections have been on the rise for several years now…
Read MoreMost people haven’t heard of sarcoma. After all, sarcomas are rare, comprising less than 2% of all cancers in adults and accounting for about 16,000 new cases in 2019. Misdiagnoses of sarcomas, however, are extremely common…
Read More
