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...
