American Academy of Family Physicians.
American Academy of Family Physicians.
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Handwashing and COVID-19
Handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of illnesses including COVID-19. Use soap and water or… Proper handwashing not only reduces the spread of COVID-19, it can prevent the spread of other illnesses such as cold and flu. Handwashing requires five…
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Dealing With Hep B and C During Pregnancy
Women who are pregnant and have hepatitis B or C are at risk for passing the virus to their baby… Path to improved health Because hepatitis is a viral infection, it is contagious. It is most often transferred through blood or body fluids. It also…
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Perimenopause
Perimenopause is a stage in a woman’s reproductive years that occurs just before menopause… pregnancy. Symptoms of perimenopause There are many symptoms a woman will not see during perimenopause. For example, estrogen (the female hormone) will fluctuate. And a woman’s ovaries will slowly stop releasing…
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Edema
Edema is a swelling or puffiness of part of the body, usually the feet, ankles and legs. It sometimes occurs… to feel uncomfortable. It can even restrict the range of motion in your ankles and wrists. Causes Edema is caused by extra fluid that builds…
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Ultrasound During Pregnancy
A fetal ultrasound is a test that uses sound waves to create an image of your unborn baby on a… for problems with the baby’s development. Also, you might have one late in your pregnancy to make sure you have enough fluid in your uterus…
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HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the body’s immune system. A healthy immune system is what keeps you from getting… Cough Shortness of breath Unintended weight loss What causes HIV? HIV can only be passed from person to person through infectious body fluids, such as…
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Morning Sickness
Morning sickness refers to the nausea and vomiting that some people have when they become pregnant. Morning sickness is very… hurt my baby? Morning sickness can only become a problem for your baby if you can’t keep down any foods or fluids. It also may…
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Debunking Common COVID-19 Vaccine Myths
new. It has been extensively studied and used in cancer research. Additionally, mRNA vaccines have been studied for other infections including Zika, flu, and HIV. Read more from the CDC. The clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccines were done with the same strictness as…
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Which Vaccinations Do I Really Need?
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine is a priority, but it’s still important to get all of the vaccinations your family doctor… recommended that she should get the pneumococcal vaccine. It protects against pneumonia. Also, I urge all of my patients to get a flu shot every…
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Keratosis Pilaris
Keratosis pilaris is a harmless skin condition that causes small bumps to appear on the skin. They can appear anywhere… What is keratosis pilaris? Keratosis pilaris is a common, harmless skin condition that causes small bumps to appear on the skin. These bumps can…
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Labor Induction
A walk through the labor induction process – what it is, why doctors may need to do it and what… Babies are not always born on their due dates. In fact, fewer than 5% are born when predicted. Many babies arrive earlier. It’s the…
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Dysmenorrhea
What is dysmenorrhea? Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for pain that women have before or during menses (known as their period). It usually is not serious. Symptoms of dysmenorrhea Menstrual cramps can feel like a dull ache or a shooting pain. They most often…
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The Truth About Energy Drinks
Energy drinks are not regulated by the federal government and overuse can lead to many health problems like heart issues… Energy drinks were first sold in the United States in the 1990s. Now, there are hundreds of options. Related products have been made, like energy…
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Common Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections spread by sexual contact… Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections spread by sexual contact. These infections are usually passed from person to person through vaginal intercourse. However, they also can be passed through anal sex, oral sex, or skin-to-skin…
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Shingles
Shingles is a painful skin rash. It is also called zoster or herpes zoster. It is caused by the same… What is shingles? Shingles is a painful skin rash. It is also called zoster or herpes zoster. It is caused by the varicella zoster…
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Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease)
Metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease is formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. It is a a buildup of fat in… What is metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASLD)? Metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, is a buildup of fat in…
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Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is a heart condition where people are born with an extra electrical pathway in their heart. This changes… What is Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome? Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is a heart condition. People who have WPW syndrome are born with an extra electrical pathway in…
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I Tested Positive for COVID-19. Now What?
If you have—or suspect that you have—COVID-19, you should follow the CDC’s recommendations for isolation to stop the spread of… COVID-19, the illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is extremely contagious. If you test positive for COVID-19, or suspect that you have it, it…
