Blog Archive
What’s the most important thing you do for your children? Keeping them safe is right at the top of the list, and one of the best ways to do that is by protecting them from potentially life-threatening diseases with up-to-date immunizations. Staying on track with those immunizations is sometimes harder...
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2023, almost 14,000 new cases of cervical cancer will be diagnosed, and more than 4,300 women will die from cervical cancer. These numbers are sobering, but they’re also a significant improvement from the past — cervical cancer used to be one of the...
You know the symptoms: body aches, chills, fever, sore throat, and the inability to get out of bed. The flu can knock you down each fall and winter, and most people recover well, but the battle is harder for some. According to the CDC, up to 41 million people get...
As men get older, their testosterone levels naturally begin to drop. In fact, 1 in 4 men over the age of 30 has low testosterone. Also called low T or testosterone deficiency, low testosterone can increasingly affect a man’s daily life until he becomes aware something isn’t quite right. As their partner,...
More than 37 million people in the United States have diabetes, which means they must make a concerted effort to keep their blood sugar stable. But even people who don’t have diabetes need to manage their blood sugar to keep their energy high and limit their risk of developing diabetes or other...
During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth appointments surged across the country. Telehealth, also known as telemedicine, refers to using technology to provide health care services remotely, usually through video conferencing technology such as Zoom. Even though the worst of the pandemic has passed, many providers continue to use telehealth appointments with...
If you suspect someone you know and love is struggling with depression, it can be hard to know what to do. Are they just sad as a normal reaction to circumstances? Or are they truly going through a difficult season in their life? Almost 10% of Americans deal with depression each...
Depression is a mental health condition that can cause those who suffer from it overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and sadness. It can affect every aspect of your life. Unfortunately, depression is a widespread condition. The World Health Organization estimates it affects almost 4% of people worldwide; more than 280...
The flu has resulted in 9 million to 41 million annual cases in the United States since 2010. If you’re one (or more!) of those cases, you know how rotten you can feel when the flu comes to visit. The flu is a viral infection that can cause cold sweats,...
We’ve all heard the word “vaccine” quite a bit in the last couple of years as COVID-19 vaccines have been given to millions of Americans. As these vaccines have been promoted, though, the rates of children and adults receiving vaccines not related to COVID-19 have declined. These vaccines include measles, smallpox,...
A Pap smear is a screening tool for cervical cancer. As with any cancer, the earlier you detect it, the better your prognosis. With cervical cancer, a Pap smear offers the best chance to catch it early. If you’re not familiar with the importance of getting a Pap smear, this...
If you’re a parent, you might worry anytime your child has a fever. The concern is understandable. You don’t know what might be causing the fever, and your mind tends to run to worst-case scenarios. In most cases, though, a child’s fever isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It usually means...
Like eating and drinking, sleep is a fundamental need humans can’t live without. Yet, 1 in 3 adults in the United States reports not getting enough daily sleep, and 50 million-70 million Americans have chronic sleep disorders. These numbers represent a problem not just because people are going through the...
What if we told you we could prevent 7.5 million people from getting the flu each year? What if we told you we could also prevent more than 6,000 deaths related to the flu? Well, that’s what the flu vaccine does every year: It keeps millions of people from getting...
So you’ve decided your family needs to develop some healthier habits. Great! The team of providers here at Arlington Family Practice applauds your determination to make life better for yourself and your kids. We see far too many patients who’ve neglected their health, so we’re proud of you for taking...
Every minute of every day of your life, your heart beats, pumping blood throughout your body, giving you energy. Most of the time, you aren’t even aware this is happening — you’re just going about your business. How can you know, then, if your heartbeat is normal? The team at Arlington...
No one likes getting the flu, but it seems worse when young children have it. In fact, infection rates are highest among kids. Millions of kids get the flu every year, and an average of 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized each year due to flu complications. The flu’s a big...
More than 75% of people with depression have some form of sleep disorder. Figuring out which came first, though, isn’t always easy. When you’re dealing with depression and sleeping issues, one exacerbates the other. Either your depression has led to problems sleeping, or your inability to get adequate rest each night has...
When you hear the word “cancer,” you automatically get worried, and with good reason. But the words “cervical cancer” shouldn’t strike as much fear in your heart these days. That’s because the rate of death from cervical cancer has dropped by almost half in the past few decades, thanks to ramped-up prevention...
How do you keep yourself in good health? Whatever your answer, one component that everyone should include is a regular physical exam. A physical serves as an essential part of preventive health care and it also gives you a chance to ask your doctor about any health concerns you might...
There are certain topics most people don’t like to talk about. They feel embarrassed, or the topic is too private, or they just want to deal with it on their own. When it comes to men and their health, this problem can be even worse. But the stakes are even...
The flu may be one of the most misunderstood sicknesses around. People use the term “flu” to cover a wide variety of conditions, but the flu is a contagious respiratory illness that travels through the upper and lower respiratory tract. Symptoms include cold sweats and chills, headaches, sore throat, a...
With more than 34 million Americans (just over 1 in 10) diagnosed with diabetes, and an additional 88 million adults with prediabetes, you might wonder whether you’re at an increased risk of developing the chronic condition. It’s a natural question, given the prevalence of diabetes, which occurs when your body...
According to the World Health Organization, about 280 million people in the world today suffer from depression. The condition affects about 5% of adults, which means it’s likely that people you know are dealing with depression right now — or maybe you yourself are depressed. At Arlington Family Practice in...
An annual well-woman visit with your doctor is one of the best things you can do to stay healthy. This is an appointment you schedule separately from a visit for a specific illness. A well-woman visit includes preventive services and screenings, and it’s a great time to ask questions. At...
With all the talk of vaccines lately, you may need a refresher on which vaccines your baby needs. Whether you have a baby, you’re about to have one, or you help take care of them, if there are babies in your life whom you love, this is important information. At...
While no woman loves getting a Pap smear, the test is important because it can detect abnormal cells in your cervix that could lead to cancer. The earlier you discover any potential problem, the better off you are when it comes to treatment options. Hearing your doctor tell you that...
Problems sleeping often go hand-in-hand with feelings of depression. Among people struggling with depression, about 75% say they have trouble either falling asleep or staying asleep. People who have insomnia may have a risk of developing depression that’s 10 times higher than people who sleep well all night. The two...
The flu is a big deal. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that annually since 2010, influenza (a respiratory illness commonly known as the flu) has resulted in as many as 45 million illnesses, 810,000 hospitalizations, and 61,000 deaths. Here at Arlington Family Practice in Arlington, Massachusetts,...
Every year, up to 10% of pregnancies in the United States are affected by gestational diabetes. The same hormones that are necessary for your body to nurture a child also make it harder for your body to regulate its blood sugar (the hormones increase your insulin resistance). While gestational diabetes...
The American Cancer Society expects almost 14,500 new cases of cervical cancer to be diagnosed in the United States this year. At Arlington Family Practice in Arlington, Massachusetts, we want to keep that number from rising even higher, so we recommend adult women receive a Pap smear (or Pap test)...
If you’re battling insomnia, you know it makes everything else in your life worse. You can only sustain the lack of sleep for so long before it catches up with you, making everyone and everything around you pay the price. Your health suffers, your work suffers, your family and friends...
Most of us likely know someone who’s died of cancer. It’s a terrible disease that’s claimed far too many lives. But we have one weapon in the fight against cancer that doesn’t always get enough attention: screenings. At Arlington Family Practice in Arlington, Massachusetts, one of our top goals is...
You probably know that osteoporosis is a condition that causes your bones to become weak and brittle due to loss of bone mass and density. This makes it more likely you’ll break a bone (most commonly your wrist, hip, or spine) even doing something minor like coughing or bending over....
When you have a bad day at work or a rough breakup, you might say you’re depressed. That’s fine — most people know what you mean. In reality, you’re sad or frustrated or unhappy, and we all feel that way at times. The more serious problem is when you become...
When will Arlington Family Practice have the Covid-19 vaccine? We are working with local, and state agencies as well as Mt Auburn Hospital to ensure that we have a supply of COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they become available to us. Vaccine distribution will be determined based on prioritization of...
When you hear the words “bipolar disorder,” you may think it’s a condition that’s fairly easy to diagnose. The truth is actually trickier. If someone’s condition follows the classic bipolar pattern of cycles of elevated and depressed moods, then yes, the diagnosis is straightforward. If symptoms don’t follow the expected...
Even during the best of times, anxiety and depression are major problems in the United States. Anxiety disorders affect 40 million people 18 and over, but only about 37% of those get the treatment they need. Generalized anxiety disorder affects almost 7 million adults, while major depressive disorder affects more...
You may not be familiar with the term “well-woman exam,” but at Arlington Family Practice, the concept is simple: We offer well-woman exams to women annually as a preventive screening for breast and gynecological diseases. Dr. Ann Morvai and our expert team are passionate about taking care of our female...
During the 2019-20 flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there were anywhere from 39 million to 56 million flu illnesses in the United States. That’s quite a few cases of the flu, and while we don’t know yet how the flu season will play out...
A woman’s heart weighs only 8-10 ounces, but the impact it has on your health and well-being is powerful. At Arlington Family Practice in Arlington, Massachusetts, our team of expert providers is passionate about women’s health. One of the most important areas we focus on for women is heart health,...
When you start to research immunizations, the amount of information and opinions out there can be overwhelming. Not everything you read is correct, though, so our team of expert providers at Arlington Family Practice in Arlington, Massachusetts, wants to pass along some knowledge to help you discern what’s myth and...
It’s summertime and the living is easy … or at least it’s supposed to be. Somehow, in these bright, sunny, warm days, depression has crept into your life. You know you should be fighting it, but it’s hard to find the strength to care. At Arlington Family Practice in Arlington,...
According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 103 million American adults have high blood pressure — almost half of all adults in the United States. When that many people are suffering from the same condition, it’s a problem. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, occurs when blood circulates too fast...
Low testosterone occurs in men when the testicles don’t produce the levels of the male sex hormone that they’re designed to produce. This can cause many problems for men because testosterone plays an important role in the male body. It helps develop sexual characteristics, maintain muscle and bone mass, keep...
If you feel an unexplained loss of interest in everything around you as late fall turns into winter each year, you might have more than just a case of the holiday blues — you may be suffering from a form of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Don’t worry,...
Every human being needs blood pressure to survive. Your blood must have some force behind it to move throughout your body. Your actual blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps out and by the amount of resistance that blood encounters as it flows through your...
Millions of men and women reach a stage in their lives where their sex hormone production plummets. This natural decline typically happens when you reach your 50s, but can occur in your 40s and sometimes earlier. You may feel tired, fuzzy and not quite like yourself without realizing that your...
Most women are recommended to get a Pap smear every year. It’s an important test that can check on the health of your cervix and identify possible problems. Most of the time, you get a card in the mail that says your results are normal. But, sometimes, your doctor says...
If you’re suffering from a traumatic event, it takes time to move on. You might feel as though your mind and body have healed, but symptoms can return. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can look and feel like depression or rage. It makes it difficult to adjust to social situations or...
There were nearly 68 thousand overdose deaths in America last year. The signs of substance abuse are not always easy to decipher from signs of a mental health issue, or even normal adolescent development. When someone you love acts differently than their usual demeanor, or you notice changes in their...
It’s hard for any parent when their child gets sick, but it’s even harder when they’re an infant. Even the healthiest babies will come down with a bug at some point. Without a fully developed immune system, it’s hard for your baby to fight off germs that older children and...
Heart disease is one of the primary causes of death in the United States, claiming over 600,000 lives a year and affecting both men and women across ethnic groups. Although the statistics are alarming, making some lifestyle changes can help. If you work hard on adjusting eating habits, exercising more,...
Every day, millions of people check their blood sugar levels. If you’re diabetic, you may know what to do if that number is too high or too low, but do you know what that number means? Dr. Ann Morvai and her team at Arlington Family Practice strives to make sure...
It seems as though you can’t turn anywhere these days without hearing or reading something about the latest diet craze. From counting carbs to denying carbs, and eating like cavemen to eating only plant-based foods, opinions about diets are everywhere. And yet, with all of these miraculous diet plans, the...
Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. When your blood moves through your blood vessels with force, it creates a pressure on the walls of the vessels, causing your blood pressure to rise. Chronic hypertension — when your blood pressure reads high on a regular basis — can lead...
There are any number of difficult situations in life: money hardships, health concerns involving you or a loved one, and relationship issues, to name a few. Often these events make you feel sad and lonely, and your feelings are normal reactions. Unfortunately, if you have depression, you may find that...
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month- Did you know that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States? Exposure to the sun’s UV (ultraviolet) rays is one of the main risk factors for skin cancer. Here’s what you need to know. Understanding Sunscreen When...
Vitamin A helps to oxidize free radicals that damage your body and skin. Not only does it help reduce fine lines, reduce and lighten age spots, and help to rejuvenate skin, it is important for your body as well. Deficiencies in Vitamin A can lead to fatigue, dry hair, cracked and dry nails,...
Here in New England, winters can be long and gray, so when the warmer temperatures and bright colors of spring begin to arrive, you’re quite understandably eager to get outside. But if you’re an allergy sufferer or you have asthma, you probably already know that those beautiful blooms are wolves...
After age 30, testosterone levels in men can decline somewhat, and this is often not problematic. But if your testosterone levels get too low, it can cause a range of symptoms and interfere with your daily life, overall wellness, and relationships. If you suspect you’re dealing with such symptoms, the...
It’s estimated that 100 million Americans have high blood pressure, and half of them are unaware of it. Also known as hypertension, elevated blood pressure often causes no symptoms. It can silently damage your body and raise the chances of causing a heart attack or stroke. What’s more, many Americans...