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Last week, we talked about migraine headache symptoms and possible triggers.  This week we’ll talk about how the diagnosis is made, and what treatment options are available. How does your doctor make the diagnosis of migraine? The first thing your doctor will do is get a good description of your…

A migraine is a specific type of headache that can cause severe, throbbing pain, often on one side of the head.  Approximately 18 percent of women and 6 percent of men in the United States have migraine headaches.  Migraine headaches can last anywhere from hours to days.  The pain can…

This is the time of year when we like to picnic and cook and eat outside.  I thought we should talk about germs and illnesses that might come from food, especially if food is not cooked or stored correctly. There are many different germs that can contaminate foods.  In fact,…

From last week’s Health Tip, you should all know how important it is to protect your skin from the sun.  Unfortunately, there are times when we still might end up with a sunburn, despite our best efforts.  It is important to know how to treat a sunburn correctly. Here are…

In the last few years, we have been learning more about certain carbohydrates that can cause gastrointestinal distress.  There have now been reputable studies to show that about 75% of patients with irritable bowel syndrome get significant relief from their symptoms almost immediately after starting a low FODMAP diet.  In…

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects the large intestine.  It causes a mix of abdominal symptoms, including pain.  It can sometimes cause significant symptoms, but is not associated with any evidence of underlying damage in the colon.  There are three types of IBS;…

According to a recent study, there is a simple test to predict your risk of premature death, including death from heart disease, cancer, and other causes as well.  See if you can climb four flights of stairs in under a minute, without having to stop.  This study measured the exercise…

Last week we talked about the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This week I thought we could focus on screening and diagnosis. Unfortunately, there is no specific medical test to diagnose ASD, so the diagnosis can sometimes be difficult. Doctors must look at many features of a child’s behavior…

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a disorder related to brain development which causes problems with behavior and the ability to communicate or interact with other people.  The word spectrum indicates that there is a wide variation in both the type and the severity of symptoms that different people experience.  Although…

Most people have heard about the “baby blues” that can happen after a woman has a baby.  But there is a much more severe and long-lasting form of depression that can happen after childbirth, called postpartum depression (PPD).  This is a condition caused by physical and chemical changes that happen…