As a woman, you may experience many unique health related issues and/or miracles throughout your life. And as you research various topics, you may see that women’s health has a jargon specific to the field. The following guide outlines three common terms linked to women’s health. What is OB-GYN? OB-GYN refers to the two fields of obstetrics and gynecology, so most people use the abbreviation OB-GYN to refer to their obstetrician and gynecologist. Gynecologists specialize in women’s reproductive health, or anything to do with your female parts. Obstetricians care for you during pre-conception

Do you know someone that continually sounds like they have a frog in their throat? If so, they may have chronic hoarseness caused by acid reflux. What is hoarseness? Hoarseness is when you have problems producing sound, often due to throat irritation. Your vocal folds could be swollen or irritated from overusing your voice, having an illness (cold/cough), or from allergies. Your voice may sound breathy, scratchy, rough, raspy or even barely audible. What is acid reflux? Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), more commonly referred to as acid reflux, is a digestive disorder. It involves

Do you know someone that continually sounds like they have a frog in their throat? If so, they may have chronic hoarseness caused by acid reflux. What is hoarseness? Hoarseness is when you have problems producing sound, often due to throat irritation. Your vocal folds could be swollen or irritated from overusing your voice, having an illness (cold/cough), or from allergies. Your voice may sound breathy, scratchy, rough, raspy or even barely audible. What is acid reflux? Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), more commonly referred to as acid reflux, is a digestive disorder. It involves

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease kills more Americans than any other medical condition. In 2016, more people died from heart disease than from accidents, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, influenza and pneumonia combined. But despite how common it is, heart disease is largely preventable. A majority of risk factors for this chronic condition are related to lifestyle choices—things that are directly within an individual's control. Last month, SIU Medicine celebrated American Heart Month by raising awareness about heart disease and educating

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease kills more Americans than any other medical condition. In 2016, more people died from heart disease than from accidents, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, influenza and pneumonia combined. But despite how common it is, heart disease is largely preventable. A majority of risk factors for this chronic condition are related to lifestyle choices—things that are directly within an individual's control. Last month, SIU Medicine celebrated American Heart Month by raising awareness about heart disease and educating

The foods you choose to eat have a significant impact on your overall well being. Eating the right foods can help you maintain an ideal weight, as well as reverse, manage, or prevent diseases and illnesses, and even live longer! As part of National Nutrition Month, SIU Medicine is increasing awareness about the importance of a healthy diet and share ideas on what a healthy diet looks like. Of course, there's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to nutrition. But most people benefit from following a few dietary principles based on scientific research. Here's one principle everyone should follow

The foods you choose to eat have a significant impact on your overall well being. Eating the right foods can help you maintain an ideal weight, as well as reverse, manage, or prevent diseases and illnesses, and even live longer! As part of National Nutrition Month, SIU Medicine is increasing awareness about the importance of a healthy diet and share ideas on what a healthy diet looks like. Of course, there's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to nutrition. But most people benefit from following a few dietary principles based on scientific research. Here's one principle everyone should follow

An ear infection can be extremely debilitating. Of course, most people associate this condition with young children—perhaps for good reason. Amazingly, 5 out of 6 children will have at least one ear infection by the time they turn 3 years old! But older children and adults can get ear infections too, and if left untreated, these can lead to long-term consequences including pain and hearing loss. Additionally, while they can occur at any time of year, ear infections tend to be more frequent in the fall and winter months (cold and flu season). To protect yourself and your loved ones against ear

An ear infection can be extremely debilitating. Of course, most people associate this condition with young children—perhaps for good reason. Amazingly, 5 out of 6 children will have at least one ear infection by the time they turn 3 years old! But older children and adults can get ear infections too, and if left untreated, these can lead to long-term consequences including pain and hearing loss. Additionally, while they can occur at any time of year, ear infections tend to be more frequent in the fall and winter months (cold and flu season). To protect yourself and your loved ones against ear

Many women regularly experience or have experienced menstrual pain before. For some women, despite continuously seeking answers to explain this pain, their physician may not be able to easily determine the cause. Endometriosis, often a very painful disorder, is fairly common, but is extremely difficult to diagnose and treat. More than 5.5 million American women have symptoms of endometriosis, and it is estimated to affect approximately 10 percent of reproductive-aged women. What is endometriosis? Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue that normally lines the uterus, called the uterine