Paula Kue, M.D. - It's already mid- to end-of-summer and the back-to-school blitz has started. If you still haven't gotten out much, or if you simply need reminders on how to stay healthy in the summer months, here they are! First, sun safety! Sunscreens come in all sorts of strengths and with many methods of application. Chose any of them, as long as they have UVA and UVB coverage and a minimum SPF of 15--and slather it on generously, in any case. ... Read more...

Leslie Baumann, M.D. - As a curly-haired woman living in steamy Miami, I have to deal with frizz on a daily basis. A recent visitor to the blog asked for advice on how to deal with humidity when you have curly hair. Moist, hot air swells the hair shaft, resulting in frizz. And driving a convertible, as I do, certainly doesn't help! Over the years, I've used trial and error to come up with a routine that, for the most part, leaves my hair smooth and sleek. ... Read more...

Paula Kue, M.D. - You expected to start your monthly bleed a day ago and now you're anxiously waiting. That anxiety will be present whether you wish to be pregnant or not. Of course, certain women whose cycles are always unpredictable grow used to having irregular periods and are a little more blasé when they miss one. A missed period can indicate you're pregnant If you are not in menopause, you need to buy a home pregnancy test and use it. ... Read more...

Paula Kue, M.D. - Good old Tylenol®. Maybe you use this long-trusted painkiller for your menstrual cramps, headaches, or arthritis pain. Your youngster's pediatrician likely recommends it as well for children's pain, even advising multiple doses around the clock during illnesses. But recently the FDA has called into question the safety of acetaminophen , Tylenol's active ingredient, and media reports are saying acetaminophen can damage a person's liver. ... Read more...

Paula Kue, M.D. - I got an unexpected ultrasound report in my inbox this week concerning a young woman under my care who had recently gone for a routine GYN appointment. She was complaining of some painful and heavier-than-usual menstrual bleeding, so the nurse practitioner there ordered an ultrasound for her, which—I was sorry to read—showed a very large fibroid. I care for a number of other women who also have fibroids or who have had hysterectomies to end their troubles from fibroids. ... Read more...

Paula Kue, M.D. - What a joy! You've learned you're pregnant—but how nauseating, too! Now you can't stomach anything. Morning sickness is an early pregnancy burden that can be as simple as an upset stomach and as severe as nonstop vomiting. For some women, morning sickness can be the first symptom that alerts them to the possibility that they might be pregnant, especially if they haven't watched the calendar and didn't notice a late period. ... Read more...

Paula Kue, M.D. - During the first few days of breastfeeding, you wait anxiously for the milk to come in. Then follows a few weeks or months when you've got a great supply. You may have filled the freezer with pumped milk and wondered when you'll ever use it. Then you go back to work, or are hit with some other stressor, and you watch your milk production dwindle. ... Read more...

Paula Kue, M.D. - I've had a couple of visits with my doctor recently that left me a bit lost. First, I got news of an abnormal X-ray result and then, a month later, a disappointing ultrasound result, disappointing because it didn't show what my doctor had hoped to see. This experience has heightened my awareness of how I communicate unclear or bad news to my patients, and it's got me wondering whether I take enough time to explain to patients their results and the implications of tests. ... Read more...

Paula Kue, M.D. - I got a call last week from a young, healthy woman in my practice specifically asking for a diet aid. I found myself falling into my standard speil in which I try to discourage the use of such drugs. I hate taking on that preachy tone; I much prefer to support those I care for by encouraging them to eat healthy and exercise daily. Why am I so dead set against these drugs? To put it simply: Most diet aids are stimulants and Read more...

Paula Kue, M.D. - Today, a patient asked for advice on treating his "IBS," which I took to mean his Irritable Bowel Syndrome. But then he explained that he was actually talking about "the other IBS," his "itchy butt syndrome." I couldn't help but laugh, and I appreciated the joke since many patients shy away from talking about pruritus ani (the real name for this embarrassing syndrome). ... Read more...