Ten Percent Is Nothing To Sneeze At
As you might have read recently, review of the influenza season in the Southern Hemisphere demonstrated that this year’s flu vaccine was only 10% effective there. It is too early in the Northern Hemisphere to predict whether the vaccine that we have been giving will be any more effective. We do know that the vaccine…
New Vaccine for Prevention of Shingles Approved
The FDA approved the use of Shingrix, a recombinant inactivated vaccine, for protection against shingles in patients aged 50 and older on October 20, 2017. The American Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), recommended that Shingrix be given instead of Zostavax, the currently available live, attenuated vaccine which has been on the market since 2006. Shingles…
Just One Word … Plastics
Sometimes you hear a news clip that impacts you due to where and when you hear them. A few weeks ago, I listened to a report on plastics on NPR while driving out to the Chesapeake Bay. The researchers who were being interviewed examined drinking water in developed vs. developing countries. They expected to find that advanced…
Washingtonian Top Docs issue is out – and several of our docs are featured
We’re proud to announce that many of our docs were named “Top Doctors” in the November issue of Washingtonian Magazine. We covered a broad range of fields, including Allergy and Immunology, Endocrine, Family Medicine, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Geriatrics, Infertility, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oncology and Hematology, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology (ENT), Pediatrics, Plastic Surgery, Pulmonology, Radiation…
Tips on Protecting Children from Sexual Assault and Harassment
As published in Human Rights Bulletin, by co-authors Karen Lewis, MD, FAUSA and Brooke Galloway, FAUSA As Board President and the Assistant Director of SASHAA , Sexual Assault Support and Help for Americans Abroad, we are frequently asked about sexual assault prevention, often from parents who desperately want to protect their children as they grow into mature…
Jody Miller’s Wellness Wisdom for the Month
** Intrinsic Motivation Ask yourself… Are you making changes because you think you “should” or because someone else tells you to do so? Long term change stems from making changes because you WANT to and choose it for yourself – self-directed and self-initiated. Nutrition & Fitness: ** Nutrition – Added Sugar – Recommended intake: Women 6 teaspoons…
What’s New with Flu (2017-18)
The autumn months bring temperature changes and remind us of the influenza (flu) season that will occur soon. Influenza is a highly infectious virus that causes 20,000 preventable deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations annually. The seemingly low protection (45%) of last year’s flu vaccine spells uncertainty for most of us when deciding to vaccinate for flu…
Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
Many women experience discomfort in the peri- and post-menopausal period. The complaints vary but may include vaginal dryness and irritation, painful intercourse, lack of sensation with intercourse, leaking of urine, urinary urgency, recurrent urinary and vaginal infections, and even vaginal bleeding. The changes that occur are due to declining estrogen levels and estrogen receptor levels…
Is it true what they say about coconut oil?
There had been so much advertising and new product development around coconut oil – and all things coconut – that I thought I would let you in on what the medical literature says. Looks like it should be a short-lived fad if science has anything to do with it! Despite the fact that there are…
Tips for the Eclipse
The Great American Solar Eclipse will be darkening our skies on August 21, 2017. The area of totality is in a narrow strip of the country from Oregon to South Carolina, but those of us in other parts of the country will at least see a partial solar eclipse, meaning the moon never quite completely blocks the sun. The last…