Originally published August 2017. Reviewed and updated August 2026 to reflect current guidance from The Menopause Society, the American Urological Association and the FDA. Being a woman practitioner, I take care of a lot of women, and menopause is one of the most common conversations I have. Almost every time, the patient says some version of: “Nobody tells you it’s … Read More
Protecting Your Eyes from the Sun: Sunglasses, UV Damage and Eclipses
Most of the sun damage your eyes take doesn’t happen during an eclipse. It happens on ordinary days — driving, fishing on Table Rock, working outside, sitting on a dock in July. UV exposure adds up over years, and by the time it shows up as a cataract or a growth on the surface of the eye, the damage is … Read More
Breastfeeding: My Real Story, and What I Tell New Moms
August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month, so I want to share my own breastfeeding story — not the tidy version. I usually keep these posts scientific, and there are medical facts and tips at the end. But first I want to tell you what it was actually like, because I think new moms hear the polished version far too often. My … Read More
Poison Ivy: What Actually Works (and What Doesn’t)
Around 85% of people are allergic to poison ivy, oak and sumac. Only about 10 to 15% seem genuinely unable to react. Here are the facts and the fictions, because there is a lot of confident misinformation about this plant. FICTION: “I’ve never gotten it, so I’m immune.” This is the one that catches people out. The reaction is an … Read More
Nutrition and Weight Loss Support at Tri-Lakes Family Care
Want to learn how to eat better? Looking to lose weight? Nutrition is one of the most powerful tools we have — and one of the hardest to use alone. What you eat plays a central role in managing weight, blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. For many of our patients, the right changes to a daily eating pattern do … Read More
Lyme Disease in Missouri: How Common Is It Really?
The lone star tick — the female’s single white dot makes her easy to identify. This is the tick behind most of Missouri’s tick-borne illness. Summer in the Ozarks brings lake days, hiking, yard work — and ticks. Every year patients come in worried after finding one attached, and the first question is almost always the same: “Can I get … Read More
Skin Cancer: How to Protect Your Skin and What to Watch For
Summer in the Ozarks means lake days, gardening, and a lot more time in the sun. It is also a good moment to talk about the most common cancer in the country — and one of the most preventable. About 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70. The good news is that when it is caught … Read More
Diet and Zero Sugar Sodas: Are They Actually Helping?
If you switched from regular soda to a diet or zero sugar version to cut calories, you have probably also seen a headline telling you those drinks are linked to stroke, dementia, or weight gain. So which is it? Here is what the research actually says — and what it does not. First: “zero sugar” and “diet” are the same … Read More
Virtual Visits: See Your Provider Without Leaving Home
It’s 6 p.m. on a Friday. Your 3-year-old has a 102°F fever, a runny nose, and a slight cough. Do you load up the whole family and head to urgent care, or wait out the weekend and hope you can get in Monday with your regular provider? Or maybe you have diabetes, your blood sugars are fluctuating more than usual, … Read More
Welcome to Our Health Articles
Welcome to the Tri-Lakes Family Care health articles — practical, plain-English guidance written by the providers and staff who care for Branson families every day. We started this collection to answer the questions we hear most often in the exam room: How do I treat a fever at home? When should I get screened? What does my insurance actually cover? … Read More
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