Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. But until recently, it was illegal in most of the United States. States have only started recognizing the benefits of cannabis and legalizing it recently, but more and more people are considering this option for their health needs. Medical...
Nearly 75% of women experience pain during sex, or dyspareunia, at some point in their lifetimes. Dyspareunia ranges from mild discomfort to severe pain and can develop before, during, or after sexual intercourse. Recurrent pain with sex can be incredibly frustrating. Worse than that, it can seriously impact your sexual...
You deserve to look and feel your very best, no matter your age. But if the years have left fine lines and wrinkles sinking into your skin, you’re not alone. Loss of collagen, elastin, and facial volume are the top causes of aging skin. While these changes are natural, they...
Hormones are chemicals your body makes that control nearly every function of your body, from your heart rate to your menstrual cycle. Humans have more than 50 different hormones, and each one is in constant flux. It’s normal for hormone levels to vary from day to day and throughout your life....
Urination is one of the ways your body eliminates waste. Your kidneys make urine by filtering extra water and waste products from your blood. The urine travels from your kidneys through your ureters and your bladder, then exits your body through your urethra. While everyone is unique, most people urinate up...
Every woman should get an annual well-woman exam. These visits cover your overall health and well-being along with your reproductive health, but if you’re nervous about going to the gynecologist, you’re not alone. Heather Auld, MD, and our team at SWFL Integrative Medicine in Fort Myers, Florida understand that many women feel...
Laughing until you have tears in your eyes? Good! Laughing until you feel urine leakage? Not so good. Leaking urine when you laugh suddenly or heartily is common, but it’s never normal. In fact, it’s a telltale sign of urinary incontinence, a condition characterized by loss of bladder control. Up...
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that support healthy function in your body. The three main omega-3s are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Omega-3s are vital for brain function, eye health, energy, and much more. You get most of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients your...
Facelifts are consistently one of the top five cosmetic surgeries in the United States. The popular procedure lifts sagging skin and erases wrinkles, but the fact remains: it’s an invasive surgery that requires an uncomfortable recovery period. The good news? You have other options to achieve a more youthful complexion. Heather Auld, MD,...
Collagen and elastin are two key building blocks of youthful skin. They give your skin structure and vitality but unfortunately, collagen and elastin production decreases over time. The loss of collagen and elastin is a major contributing factor in the development of fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, and other signs...
Fine lines and wrinkles as well as morning aches and pains are some of the more obvious signs of aging. But did you know that aging causes sexual health changes too? As the years go by, your vaginal tissue and skin can change along with the rest of your body....
If you experience pain, dryness, or discomfort when you have sex, you may no longer be enjoying yourself. Though it might be hard to talk about, it’s important to recognize that painful sex isn’t normal — and you’re not alone. About 75% of women experience pain with intercourse at some point in...
Did you know that women are twice as likely as men to develop urinary incontinence? Pregnancy, childbirth, and the hormonal changes that accompany perimenopause and menopause weaken your pelvic floor muscles as well as your bladder and reproductive organs. Over 40% of women age 65 and up experience either stress...
Exercise is another staple of New Year’s Resolutions. The benefits of exercise far outweigh the typical expectations of weight loss and really should be the goal instead of weight alone. While weight to a certain extent can be a marker for health, with exercise and proper diet, weight loss will...
2020 was a difficult, yet enlightening year. Many of us realized what genuinely matters, as well as the priceless value of our health. As we continue to reflect on the year and think ahead for what we envision 2021 to look like, remember to make optimal health as one of...
The current coronavirus pandemic has us all asking questions, many of which we don’t yet have answers to. Thus far, we know many people are being affected, but at different degrees of severity. According to the CDC, the currently known risk factors that increase the chance of worse cases includes...
Cold and flu season is active and upon us. It is time to take preventative action now. We know it is easier to prevent actually getting the flu or a pesky cold than it is to treat it, or miserably wait for it to take its course. Some of the...