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Lori Barrette

Stories

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6 Steps to Better Sleep

  • Jul. 2, 2024
If you toss and turn your way from midnight to morning, you’re missing out on some of the great health and wellness benefits of sleep. Here are tips to help you sleep better.
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Is BMI Accurate? New Evidence Says No

  • Jan. 8, 2024
For years, BMI—body mass index—has been the go-to tool for plotting our weight into categories. If your BMI number is 25 or higher, you fall into the overweight or obese category. So, does that mean ...
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Is it a Cold or an Allergy?

  • Mar. 21, 2023
That first sneeze and sniffle prompts you to reach for a tissue. The second and third—perhaps fourth and fifth—may send you to the medicine chest for relief. But, is it a cold? Or is it a spring ...
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What is Alopecia?

  • Mar. 30, 2022
You may not have heard of alopecia, but it is likely that we all know someone who suffers from this condition, which includes all forms of hair loss. Dermatologist Mary Gail Mercurio answers common ...
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Colds and Flu: Do You Need Antibiotics?

  • Jan. 5, 2022
COVID-19 has significantly changed the way we consider even minor coughs and cold-like symptoms. UR Medicine Primary Care's Dr. Michael Gavin offers advice on what to look for, when to call to your ...
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Could Your Snore Mean Something More?

  • Mar. 7, 2019
There’s a difference between making sounds in your sleep, and being a sound sleeper. When snoring is a sign of sleep apnea, that difference may have serious health implications. Learn more about ...
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Beat the Blues: 5 Tips for Tackling SAD

  • Jan. 18, 2019
When it’s cold and drab outside, some people start feeling bad inside. This could be a sign of SAD—Seasonal Affective Disorder—that commonly strikes during the winter months. Psychiatrist Dr. Justin ...
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6 Simple Steps to a Healthier You

  • Dec. 31, 2018
A new year brings a fresh start, when many of us vow to make changes for the better. Unfortunately, those promises are often forgotten by February. UR Medicine Primary Care’s Dr. Lou Papa shares ...
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Do Coffee Drinkers Live Longer?

  • Nov. 13, 2018
Good news, java junkies—it turns out that coffee drinking may have some real health perks. Registered dietitian April Ho filters out some facts from a recent study that suggests that drinking coffee ...
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5 Facts on Vaccines and Pregnancy

  • Oct. 19, 2018
Getting vaccinated against flu and other contagious illnesses is one of the most powerful ways a woman can protect herself and her baby, before and after it’s born. UR Medicine pregnancy specialist ...
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Q and A: Breast Cancer Screening

  • Oct. 3, 2018
It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which annually sheds light on the importance of early detection. UR Medicine women's imaging specialist Dr. Avice O'Connell answers a few questions women commonly ...
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Flu Shots: What, Why and When

  • Oct. 2, 2018
Flu season is rapidly approaching and ads for flu shots are popping up everywhere. Should you get one? Will it work? UR Medicine vaccine expert Dr. Ann Falsey explains what's new this year and why ...
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A Fresh Take on Leafy Greens

  • Aug. 31, 2018
Does your family flee when leafy greens crop up at the table? Registered dietitian Sue Czap of UR Medicine’s Wilmot Cancer Institute offers advice on which greens to choose and shares some tasty ways ...
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Temper Your Workouts in Extreme Heat

  • Jul. 3, 2018
We look forward to summer all year long, aiming to make the most of warm weather for our outdoor sports and workouts when the sun is shining. UR Medicine Sports Medicine specialist Dr. Sandeep ...
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Chill Out: Help When the Heat Hits

  • Jun. 29, 2018
Summer can bring some blistering temperatures that make it hard to keep your cool. UR Medicine Urgent Care's Dr. Michael Kamali shares ideas for beating the heat and offers advice for when it impacts ...
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5 Tips for Safe Summer Theme-Park Thrills

  • Jun. 26, 2018
Amusement parks are mainstays of summer family fun, attracting 375 million Americans annually. If you’ll be among them this year, heeding these tips from Golisano Children’s Hospital’s Dr. Elizabeth ...
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Hepatitis C: What You Need to Know

  • Jun. 18, 2018
When it comes to hepatitis C, what you don’t know can hurt you. That’s because most people who have the liver infection don’t have symptoms, so may not even know they have it. UR Medicine clinical ...
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Tasty Tips for a Healthier Heart

  • May. 17, 2018
If you enjoy a nibble on dark chocolate to satisfy a craving, you’re also helping your heart with every bite. The tasty treat is known to improve blood flow and reduce blood pressure. URMC ...
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Tinnitus: The Noise Only You Can Hear

  • May. 14, 2018
Whether it’s a barely noticeable hum or a continuous buzz, if you’re hearing something that others around you aren’t, you may have tinnitus. UR Medicine Audiologist Dr. Kristin Geissler describes ...
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How Can We Prevent Elder Abuse?

  • May. 8, 2018
Many older adults live in fear and isolation, with their emotional, physical and even financial well-being at risk due to elder abuse. UR Medicine Geriatric Specialist Dr. Thomas Caprio says knowing ...
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Prep Now for a Safe Gardening Season

  • Apr. 19, 2018
If you’ve been less active through the colder months, rigorous yard work may result in aches and strains—especially back problems. UR Medicine orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Emmanuel Menga offers advice to ...
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DIY Tips: Eating Healthy Starts at Home

  • Mar. 28, 2018
When it comes to eating healthy, there may be a grain of truth in the old adage, “If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” If you’re daunted by dining at home, Registered ...
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5 Ways to be Heart Healthy Every Day

  • Feb. 8, 2018
A decision to live well often prompts personal changes—such as losing weight, eating right and exercising more—to rise to the top of our to-do lists. UR Medicine Heart and Vascular Cardiologist Dr. ...
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What You Can Do to Avoid the Flu

  • Jan. 30, 2018
The flu virus is at near-record levels and it is especially fierce. UR Medicine Primary Care’s Dr. Natercia Rodrigues offers advice to help reduce your chances of catching it.
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5 Tips for Getting Through the Flu

  • Jan. 23, 2018
The best protection from the flu is the annual vaccine. Whether you got the flu in spite of getting the vaccine, or you skipped your flu shot and are now under the weather, UR Medicine's Dr. Michael ...
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Lead Poisoning: Is Your Child At Risk?

  • Jan. 15, 2018
If you and your family live in an older home, your child could be at risk for lead poisoning—and there is no cure for this serious condition. The good news is that lead poisoning is preventable. ...
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Stay Safe on the Slopes this Season

  • Jan. 3, 2018
Wintry weather is a welcome sight for skiers and snowboarders. If you’re a fan of winter sports, learn how to avoid injury and stay safe on the slopes with tips from UR Medicine Sports Medicine ...
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Kids and Weight: What Not to Say

  • Dec. 20, 2017
Their intentions may be good but, far too often, the way people talk, think and act about obesity—especially around kids—can fuel weight stigma. Golisano Children's Hospital pediatrician Dr. Stephen ...
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Centering: A Prenatal Care Alternative

  • Oct. 3, 2017
Pregnant women often enjoy the advice and support of others who are expecting; that may be why an alternative prenatal approach called Centering is growing in popularity. Certified midwife Michele ...
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3 Food Fixes for Lower Cholesterol

  • Sep. 19, 2017
Food choices are an important part of a healthy diet and may have a direct influence on certain health measures, such as your cholesterol level. UR Medicine Registered Dietitian April Miller shares ...
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5 Signs Your Kids May Be Too Busy

  • Aug. 25, 2017
Music lessons, drama club, soccer practice, dance class…the list of youth activities goes on and on. They add a lot to our kids' lives, but when does it all become too much? UR Medicine clinical ...
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Solar Eclipse: Safety Viewing Tips

  • Aug. 15, 2017
For the first time in nearly a century, on Monday, Aug. 21, the entire country will be able to view a total solar eclipse. In this video, UR Medicine ophthalmologist Dr. Ajay Kuriyan explains how to ...
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4 Ways to Boost Your Brain Power

  • Aug. 3, 2017
There are simpler ways to sharpen your brain health than sitting through a lecture on integrated quantum photonics. UR School of Nursing researcher Vankee Lin says a few simple lifestyle choices may ...
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Lyme Disease: Prevention and Symptoms

  • Aug. 1, 2017
Lyme disease has made its way to Western New York and UR Medicine infectious disease expert Dr. Jennifer Nayak advises being extra vigilant in the summer months. She offers a few tips to help you ...
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Taking Tylenol: Does OTC Mean Risk-Free?

  • Jul. 20, 2017
It’s easy to get, relatively inexpensive and one of the most commonly used drugs in the world, but that doesn’t mean acetaminophen—best known as Tylenol®—is risk-free. UR Medicine Pharmacy Director ...
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Poison Ivy: Prevention Takes Priority

  • Jun. 16, 2017
Before heading out to dig in your garden, take steps to avoid a poison ivy encounter that might make you miserable. UR Medicine dermatologist Dr. Mary Gail Mercurio tells you what to look for and ...
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Tips to Tame Spring Allergies

  • Jun. 2, 2017
Spring can be glorious, except when it’s marred by the itchy, watery eyes and relentless sneezing that come with seasonal allergies. UR Medicine Allergist Dr. Kirsi Jarvinen-Seppo offers advice for ...
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Skin Cancer Check: Know the ABCs

  • May. 5, 2017
The bad news: there are more new cases of skin cancer than breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancers combined, according to the American Center Society. The good news: Skin cancer is almost always ...
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Every-Other-Day Diet: Does it Work?

  • May. 2, 2017
Can changing when you eat, rather than what you eat, make it easier to lose weight? UR Medicine nutrition expert Dr. Thomas Campbell weighs in on intermittent fasting and what works over the long ...