October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and as a women's health physician assistant at Western OB/GYN, A Division of Ridgeview Clinics, part of my job is to help my patients determine what approach to breast cancer screening is right for them.

I’m writing this piece about meditation not as a well versed, practicing for years, can float-in-the-air guru. I’m writing this as a wannabe. Because, come on, all the cool kids are doing it.

Food is fuel for your body! Your “fuel” choices influence how well your body will handle the stress of your workout, activity or competition. Timing of refueling also has an impact on your body’s ability to maximize the effect of your food choices. In other words, not only does it matter what you eat but when you eat and how much you eat.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and as a women's health physician assistant at Western OB/GYN, A Division of Ridgeview Clinics, part of my job is to help my patients determine what approach to breast cancer screening is right for them. In recent years, different organizations have offered sometimes conflicting recommendations in terms of when to start screening, how often to screen and which screening method to use.

The hormones produced by your thyroid gland influence almost all of the metabolic processes in your body. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped, endocrine gland that sits low on the front of the neck, just below the Adam's apple. The thyroid secretes several hormones, collectively called thyroid hormones. These hormones influence and regulate metabolism, growth and development and body temperature. Thyroid disorders are caused by either too many or too few thyroid hormones.

In addition to a heart-healthy diet, there are several steps you can take to ensure you're doing everything you can to avoid a cardiac event, such as knowing your risk factors. Unfortunately, many patients who experience a cardiac event never suspected that anything was wrong in the first place.

Heart disease is a top killer of women. It's not just a man's disease. Unfortunately, studies show barely more than half of women recognize that heart disease is their number one killer. One contributing factor is the symptoms of heart attack can be different between the genders and not recognizing the symptoms can lead to greater risk of not surviving a heart attack.

You may have heard the phrase "know your numbers" before but what does it really mean to you and your primary care provider? The numbers primary care providers discuss with patients include blood pressure, height and weight, triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose. These numbers, known as biometrics, can provide the information you and your health care provider need to make the right decisions for a healthier life.

The word's "Midwife" and midwifery" can both sound a little odd until you know their true meaning. The word midwife dates back to the year 1303 and literally means "with women." Being "with women" is the core of midwifery. Midwives are "with women" throughout their lifetime, from adolescence through menopause, through pregnancy, labor and birth and everything in between.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, it’s important to manage your weight gain. Once you deliver your baby, it will be just as important to lose those extra pounds — but you need to do it wisely. These nine tips will help you lose baby weight in a healthy way.