One of my earliest memories of coffee was a warning from my mom not to drink it. “It will stunt your growth,” she said. Somewhere along my path to adulthood, however, I discovered Starbucks (and Stumptown and Coffee People and Peet’s and countless quirky independent coffee shops). Now, I love ...

Most women have heard a lot about breast cancer screenings, osteoporosis prevention, pap smears and ovarian cancer. But the #1 cause of death in women—cardiovascular disease—is responsible for more deaths than all other causes combined. More than 50% of all deaths are related to cardiovascular problems: heart attack, stroke, congestive ...

Did you know that private health insurance plans in Oregon must cover at least $500 worth in basic FDA-approved smoking cessation treatments, programs and services? There has never been a better time to make a plan to quit smoking and to be able to stick with it once and for ...

I often hear women voice concern that they are not making enough milk. One of the more common reasons moms supplement with formula or wean their babies early is the perception of inadequate milk production. Usually these moms have fussy babies who seem to want to nurse all the time. ...

In my last several blogs, I reviewed medical and surgical options for managing and treating abnormal uterine bleeding. One of the most common reasons I see patients is in consultation to determine whether they would be a good candidate for laparoscopic hysterectomy, a minimally invasive surgical technique. The ...

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Flu spreads mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. Most healthy adults can infect others starting a day before symptoms develop and up to a week after becoming sick. Flu season usually lasts October ...

As scientists learn more about exercise, we discover it is even more beneficial than we ever thought. Unfortunately, the amount of time Americans spend in physical activity steadily decreases as their age increases. This decrease in physical activity with aging results in decreased lean muscle mass and decreased metabolic rate. ...

One of my favorite things about living in Portland is the amazing food here. We are lucky enough to have world class chefs and locally-grown and raised food right here in our backyard. Although I love dining out and enjoy food, I know I must always watch what I eat. ...

Recently I’ve written about the most common causes of abnormal menstrual bleeding and the options for managing abnormal bleeding with medication. If you are not a candidate for medication or it is not working for you, then you may want to consider a surgical option. Many of the surgical ...

In a collaboration designed to give babies and their families the healthiest start possible, 17 hospitals in the region and throughout Oregon have agreed to discontinue early term elective deliveries beginning on September 1st. Before I talk about the reasons this initiative is important, let’s clarify a few things. “Early ...

Several months ago I posted about sore nipples, one of the most common complaints of breastfeeding mothers. Another relatively common complaint is breast pain. Breast pain can involve the entire breast or it can be localized to one area. The three primary causes of breast pain are engorgement, plugged ...

Abnormal menstrual bleeding, also called abnormal uterine bleeding, is one of the most common reasons for visits to the gynecologist. In my previous post, I reviewed the most common causes of abnormal bleeding. Depending on the cause, there are several treatment options. For many patients, the first option we’ll ...

Several times a week patients will tell me, sometimes in a panic, “I haven’t done my birth plan yet! Do you think it’s necessary?” To me, the word “plan” suggests intent and a certain level of control and personal determination to achieve a goal. Childbirth is not exactly like that. ...