Health promotion and disease prevention are the cornerstones of a healthy society. Decades of research have changed the focus of medicine and healthcare from treating illness to preventing it in the first place. We also now know that one size does not fit all in healthcare. Different groups of people have different health risks and needs. These groups may be defined by age, gender, social life, ethnicity, genetics, and many other characteristics. Women’s health is a specialized area of ... [Read More]
General
Important Information About HIV
HIV is an acronym for human immunodeficiency virus. The virus spreads from an infected person through the exchange of certain bodily fluids and attacks the body’s immune system. This large-scale destruction of the body’s T-cells compromises the body’s natural immune response, rendering it vulnerable to bacterial or viral infections like HIV. Some population groups are more likely to get HIV, due to risky behaviors such as IV drug use and unprotected sex. While there is no cure for HIV, it can ... [Read More]
The HPV Shot: Are You One Less? Here’s Why You Should Be
How much do you know about human papillomavirus (HPV)? There are 150 different strains of this virus, 40 of which can be sexually transmitted. HPV is highly communicable, easy to contract and spread. The CDC estimates that 80 million Americans are currently infected, and 14 million people become infected each year. HPV does not conform to the typical notion of ‘sexually transmitted,’ as it can be spread through simple skin-to-skin contact between areas that are not protected by a condom or ... [Read More]
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): What You and Your Loved Ones Need to Know
Have you been searching for ways to better protect yourself from HIV? Is someone you love HIV positive? It is possible now to live a long and healthy, relatively symptom-free life, as well as have deep and meaningful relationships with people who are HIV positive even if you’re not. Here is what you need to know about pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. What is Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis? Pre-exposure prophylaxis is a relatively new form of HIV prevention that has only been available in the ... [Read More]
Migraines: They’re Not Just Another Headache
Migraines are severe headaches, marked by excruciating, throbbing pain and commonly accompanied by neurological symptoms. These symptoms may include sensitivity to light, sound, smell, and touch, tingling sensation in limbs, visual disturbances such as auras, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Migraines can be an incapacitating illness; over 90 percent of migraine sufferers are unable to function in their daily lives during a migraine episode. What is causing my migraines? While the exact ... [Read More]