My patients and their families are familiar with most of the vaccines I recommend – tetanus, measles, chicken pox, and so on – but when I discuss the HPV vaccine, I find many people don’t know why I am recommending it.

Here’s what I tell my patients about HPV and the HPV vaccine:

• HPV stands for human papillomavirus, a group of more than 150 related viruses.
• The virus can be spread by vaginal,

Holidays are truly a wonderful time of the year for many of us, but the season can also be a challenging time if you are trying to maintain a healthy regimen. After all, food is usually a part of every gathering with family, friends, and co-workers.

Research has indicated that the average person gains 1-5lbs. each holiday season and the same research shows that most people never lose the extra weight.

According to the National Institute for Health (NIH), approximately 65% of the human population has a reduced ability to digest lactose after infancy. Lactose is a natural sugar commonly found in milk and dairy products. Lactase is an enzyme found in the small intestines which breaks lactose down into more simple sugars to be absorbed into the body.  When there is a deficiency in lactase, undigested lactose in the intestines pulls in water and gets fermented by bacteria which results in gas production.

Hot flashes, weight gain, and difficulty sleeping – these are all commonly discussed issues that women encounter during perimenopause and menopause. Painful intercourse is something women may be a bit more hesitant to discuss, but it shouldn’t be because it’s a problem that many women experience during this transitional time in their life. The fact is, as we age, our skin collagen decreases and this can lead to less cushioning between the skin and our pelvic bones as well as a decrease in lubrication.

With one in ten people estimated to develop them at some point in their lifetime, kidney stones have become one of the most prevalent illnesses in the United States.

Similar to a real stone, kidney stones are hard, round deposits formed in your kidneys. However, unlike a real stone, they are actually made up of chemicals from your urine that bind together and form crystals. There is no single cause but there are a variety of a factors that increase your risk of developing kidney stones,

When you think of a wart, you might conjure up the image of a cartoon witch with a large wart at the tip of her nose. But did you know you can get warts on the bottom of your feet?

Plantar warts are small, non-cancerous growths that can develop on the soles or balls of your feet. These warts, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), can be contracted through cuts or open sores on your feet,

Have you ever had a gallstone? Many people haven’t even heard of them, but they are actually quite common. Although they sometimes occur and pass without a person experiencing any symptoms, they can cause pain, discomfort, and even complications, so it’s good to know what they are and the symptoms you may experience.

First of all, it’s good to have some basic definitions. Gallstones are hardened deposits or “stones” of digestive fluid – also known as bile – that can form in your gallbladder.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the large intestine that is characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, cramping and diarrhea or constipation that has lasted at least 6 months. Women are twice as likely as men to develop IBS and it is more common in people who are in their mid-forties or younger. IBS is chronic disorder, meaning it can last for many years, but it is not a disease. Symptoms may come and go over time,

What is Trigger Finger?

Trigger finger is the common term for the condition “stenosing flexor tenosynovitis.” People who have trigger finger will report that their finger is catching, locking, sticking or snapping in a bent (flexed) position.  Sometimes, people cannot straighten the finger without pushing on it.  Pain can develop in the finger and sometimes in the palm of the hand, and there may be a nodule (bump) present over the finger or palm.

What is a Canker Sore?

A canker sore is the common term for an aphthous ulcer, a lesion inside the mouth that looks like a shallow, round, white, or gray spot, often with some redness around the edge. When there are multiple ulcers, we call them “aphthae.” These lesions are painful and can make it uncomfortable to eat, drink or chew. Canker sores are not contagious, they usually last up to 2 weeks,