Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Lice
Human head lice are tiny, wingless ectoparasites that choose humans exclusively for their real estate needs. That means your child can get lice, but your dog cannot. Like all parasites, these human-centered bugs need a host to survive. Some parasites infect the blood or GI tract, but lice prefer to hang out in the yard…
Influenza 101
Although the first influenza virus was not isolated until the 1930s[1], there is evidence that influenza coexisted with humans long before we knew what it was. Historians have documentation of a likely influenza outbreak as early as 1510, but researchers believe it has been hanging around with humans since the 9th century.[2] Perhaps the most infamous…
Causes of Vomiting and How to Treat It
Vomiting is the involuntary expulsion of your stomach contents out of your body through the mouth. Throwing up is usually partnered with nausea, but not all nausea will result in vomiting. Rarely does vomiting present without nausea. By itself, it is not a disease but rather a symptom of an illness, syndrome, or other condition.…
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Most people, young and old, will experience some form of acid reflux in their lifetime. In most cases, it remains nothing more than an occasional nuisance. Acid reflux occurs when food and acid inside the stomach flow in the wrong direction. Also known as heartburn, it may be uncomfortable, but it is rarely a cause…
Estrogen vs. Combination Hormone Therapy
Historically, the physical strains on women entering menopause were dismissed as part of an inevitable transition. With new treatment options, menopause does not have to be punctuated with hot flashes or plagued by mood changes. With an abundance of options, improved quality of life during the aging process is the norm. In the past, weight…
Connection Between Hormones and Obesity
People who deal with obesity at any point in their lives know the most challenging part can be the judgment hurled at them from society. Plenty of information reminds people what obesity can cause, like heart disease and high blood pressure, but not much information about what causes obesity. If you ask someone the risks…
FTM Top Surgery
Female to male (FTM) top surgery is a surgical procedure meant to masculinize the chest. Nipple and areola resizing and reshaping may also be necessary. Top surgery changes a persons physical appearance to better represent the gender they already are. For many trans men and nonbinary individuals, this may be the only surgery they choose…
Gender Confirmation Surgery
Gender confirmation surgeries are any surgeries performed to alter a transgender person’s physical appearance to resemble attributes socially accepted as the gender they identify with. Gender affirmation surgery provides individuals the ability to physically look, function, and move through society in a way that aligns with who they are. Not all transgender people choose to…
Understanding the Different Types of Breast Implants
Understanding the Different Types of Breast Implants Breast augmentation surgery is common and involves inserting implants into the breast tissue. Patients who want to increase satisfaction with breast appearance in size, shape, or both often seek breast implants. Breast augmentation performed on patients who have suffered a loss of breast tissue due to injury or…
OBGYN Care
Finding time to get into a well-women exam is hard enough. Finding the right obstetrician-gynecologist to meet a patient’s specific healthcare needs can be even more challenging. The right OBGYN in Leesburg makes individuals feel safe, comfortable, and cared for regardless of age or OBGYN needs. Leesburg OBGYNs offer care for many phases of life,…
Ovarian Cystectomy
Many women will have or have already had an ovarian cyst. Most cysts go unnoticed and clear without any interventions. However, in some cases, cysts will persist, enlarge, and result in symptoms requiring treatment. If you suspect you are experiencing difficulties associated with ovarian cysts learning about your options for ovarian cystectomy in Leesburg is…
Myomectomy
Uterine fibroids, also known as leiomyomas, are fibrous growths inside the uterus. They are noncancerous, nor do they increase a patient’s risk of uterine cancer. Many uterine fibroids go unnoticed and require no treatment. Most cases are not dangerous, even if symptoms do occur. They can, however, cause discomfort and affect quality of life, so…
Endometriosis Resection Surgery
If you have been diagnosed with endometriosis, you have likely dealt with terrible pain and heavy menstrual bleeding. Cramps associated with menstruation are normal, but the pain usually found with endometriosis can be unbearable. The endometrium is the tissue that lines inside the uterus. Endometriosis occurs when endometrium tissue grows outside of the uterus resulting…
Male Plastic Surgery
Although cosmetic procedures have never been gendered, it is no secret women make up most consumers in this industry, but men are catching up. Male plastic surgery in Maryland is more mainstream than it has ever been before. As a result, more and more men are feeling comfortable going under the knife. They realize they…
Traveling and the Breastfed Baby
With the holidays quickly approaching, many families are wondering how they will travel comfortably with their breastfeeding sidekick. Grandma and grandpa can’t wait to meet the new baby, aunts and uncles anxiously await your arrival, and cousins are thrilled to have a new buddy. Families with babies of any age might choose not to travel,…
Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex
You sit down to nurse. You’re tired and looking forward to relaxing with your squishy new baby snuggled comfortably against your chest. You can’t wait to hear those reassuring sounds as he sucks, swallows, and breathes. You are ready. Ready to soak up the warm touch of your baby’s smooth skin, to stroke his back…
The Importance of Colostrum
When a mother brings her baby to the breast, many things happen concurrently with breastfeeding. Skin-to-skin contact occurs every time the baby sucks at the breast, which helps warm the baby up and stabilize the heart and respiratory rates.1 Oxytocin is released, decreasing mom’s chance of hemorrhage immediately after birth and increasing bonding as mom…
Definition of a Migraine
The pain and associated symptoms of migraines are often debilitating and can impede daily life. Migraines do not discriminate and affect people of all races, economic backgrounds, ages, and genders. As such, the definition of migraine in San Diego will look like the definition from anywhere in the world. Simply put, a migraine is defined…
Mothering Your Nursing Child: Myths, Facts, and Planting Seeds
Four and a half years ago, I was told by a dear friend it was disgusting I was still nursing my eighteen-month-old son. I was relatively new to the world of mothering and was unsure how to handle such negative comments about my breastfeeding relationship. It cut deep. The implication my son could do anything…
Meghan Crovo Johnston 