Your genetics decide your eye colour and your height. They also influence how your body processes medications — which is part of why one person does well on a particular antidepressant while another feels awful on the same dose, and why some people tolerate a statin while others get muscle aches. The science that studies this is called pharmacogenomics, often … Read More
Cervical Cancer Screening: How Often You Really Need a Pap
“How often am I supposed to get a Pap smear?” is one of the most common questions I get, and the honest answer is that it’s more complicated than it used to be — because screening got better, not because anyone is being difficult. Here’s where things stand. First: it may not be a Pap anymore For years, screening meant … Read More
Health Insurance 101: What the Terms Mean and How to Choose a Plan
Open enrollment comes around every year, and every year patients ask us the same thing: how do I tell whether a plan is any good? So here is a plain-English explanation of what the terms mean, and how to actually compare plans. The terms, decoded Premium. What you pay every month to keep coverage active, whether you use it or … 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
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