Chat GPT and Your Health: How to Use AI Wisely
Artificial intelligence is changing how we search, learn and even care for ourselves. From ChatGPT to Co-Pilot, AI tools are…
Healthy Habits in Middle Age: Stay Strong and Active for Years to Come
Your 40s and 50s aren’t just a time to “get through.” They’re a prime opportunity to set the stage for…
Men’s Health: Why Waiting Isn’t a Winning Strategy
When it comes to business, most men wouldn’t dream of leaving things up to chance. You’d never coast through the year without a plan, avoid financial projections or skip your quarterly reviews. So why treat your health any differently? Rick Sanders, MD, family medicine specialist at St. Francis Medical Group, suggests men treat their health…
Rest Is Not a Luxury: Why Women Need Sleep to Thrive
When your days are packed with meetings, carpool duty, errands, dinner prep and maybe just a moment to catch your…
How to Protect Yourself and Your Family from Measles
Learn why keeping your child up-to-date with their vaccines is crucial to their health.
The Screening That Could Save Your Life
When it comes to preventive care, we may think of annual checkups, vaccines and managing blood pressure. But one of the most important – and often overlooked – screenings is for colorectal cancer. Why Colorectal Cancer Screening Matters Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the U.S., but it is also one…
Primary Care vs. Urgent Care vs. ER: When to Go Where
Know where to go when you need healthcare.
Protecting the Most Vulnerable: Why Pregnant Moms and High-Risk Groups Need the RSV Vaccine
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is more than just a common respiratory infection. For certain populations — infants, expecting moms, the elderly and others with compromised immune systems — RSV can lead to severe complications, including hospitalization or even death. Fortunately, recent advancements in RSV vaccination offer a powerful line of defense, particularly for pregnant mothers…
Seven Ways to Embrace Small Changes for a Healthy Tomorrow
Robert Brault once wrote, “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” This quote resonates deeply with Curtis Chastain, MD, director of Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group Men’s Health and Executive Wellness Center. “It encapsulates a vital truth we teach at Lake Men’s…
Why Establishing a Relationship with a Primary Care Provider is Crucial at Any Age
Getting set up with a primary care provider is the smart move, even if you’re feeling perfectly healthy right now. …
The Importance of Listening in Healthcare
There’s always a little bit of anxiety and discomfort involved when you make the trip to the doctor’s office. Will they understand your concerns? Will they take the time to listen? Will you feel comfortable speaking openly about what’s bothering you? The power of listening in healthcare is a transformative experience for patients, and it’s…
What Screenings Should Men Get?
We know that men sometimes avoid going to the doctor — often until it’s too late. But starting a relationship with a primary care provider now can set you up for a lifetime of good health. That relationship is also the key to getting the right health screenings at the right time based on your…
Primary Care is for Everyone
Your primary care provider is more than just a healthcare professional — they can become your health’s best friend, guiding…
The Power of Primary Care
Take the first step to take care of your health and start a relationship with a primary care provider. It’s…
Is it a Migraine? Sinuses? Your Guide to Understanding Headaches by Their Location
Headaches can ruin your day. They can pull your focus and concentration during an important meeting. They can stop you from enjoying yourself during a family outing. And they can derail your plans for a night out with friends. But knowing what type of headache you are dealing with just might be the key to…
Primary Care for Parents: 5 Reasons Why Grown-Ups Need Doctors, Too
Parents often prioritize the health and well-being of our children above everything else. From regular check-ups to emergency visits, we make sure our little ones have access to the best care available. However, in the midst of managing children’s health needs, it can be all too easy to overlook your own. Adults may neglect the…
Why Every Woman Needs Both a PCP and an OB-GYN
Regular check-ins with an OB-GYN are essential for women’s health. But we also know women have other medical concerns that need to be addressed. You are more than the sum of your lady parts. Even with regular well-woman exams, annual primary care visits are important for women’s health and well-being. Establishing primary care ensures women…
Understanding Barrett’s Esophagus: A Comprehensive Guide
Barrett’s esophagus is a condition that affects the lining of the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach, and may cause difficulty swallowing, chronic cough and other issues. While it may sound intimidating, understanding this condition is crucial for those who may be at risk. What is Barrett’s Esophagus? Barrett’s esophagus is…
A Real Person’s Guide to Establishing Yourself With a Doctor
So, you know having a primary care provider (PCP) is important, but how do you actually get started? We’ve got you covered with a seamless process that makes establishing care a breeze. Step 1: Explore Your Options Head over to our online directory of providers, where you can browse profiles based on location, gender, language preferences…
5 Reasons You Need a PCP, Especially if You’re a Woman
Welcome to the world of adulting, where taking charge of your health becomes essential. You may have heard the term “PCP” or “GP” floating around the healthcare space. Primary care physician, or PCP, simply means a doctor who handles your general health needs, from routine check-ups to managing chronic conditions. GP, or general practitioner, internist,…
7 Tips on How to Be Heard at Your Next Doctor’s Appointment
When it comes to a doctor’s appointment, one of the biggest concerns is making sure we get all the important information from them and understand what they want us to do. But what about making sure your doctor understands and hears you? There are so many things we want to say, some things we’re unsure…
Don’t Let Daylight Savings Mess with Your Sleep
Losing one hour of sleep can be a pain. It can also take a toll on your health if you aren’t careful. Each spring, daylight saving time means we turn our clocks forward one hour (it falls on Sunday, March 10, in 2024). We lose an hour of sleep, but we also gain an hour…
Prevent Strep Throat: Five Expert Tips for a Healthy Season
Strep throat, that pesky bacterial infection causing sore throats and discomfort, often seems to strike during colder months with drier…
Boost Your Immune System This Flu Season
As the seasons change and we look for cooler weather, it’s essential to arm ourselves against the flu and its…
All the Easy Ways You Can Access Our Care
Let’s face it. Your health needs can happen at the worst times: after hours, on the weekends, when you’re on…
Ringing in the Ears: Why It Happens and What You Can Do About It
Have you heard ringing in your ears, buzzing, whistling or other sounds that don’t come from an outside source? If so, you may be one of many people in the United States — estimates range from 10% to 25% of adults, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders — with tinnitus.…
How the Art of Listening Leads to Personalized Primary Care
Over time, listening forms a bond of trust between a patient and their healthcare provider, leading to more personalized care and long-lasting relationships. Mary Kathryn Edwards, NP, works at the St. Francis Primary Care Clinic and shares her approach to providing primary care with an emphasis on listening in this episode of our podcast, The…
Healthy Aging with Technology
The aging process is inevitable, and some people are more susceptible to declines in health than others. However, everyone can take certain steps to maintain better health as they age—and many people are doing it with the help of technology. New medical technology has revolutionized doctors’ offices and hospitals for well over a century, and…
Family Medical History: Building Your Family Tree
Genealogy, or the study of family history, is a hobby that has fascinated millions of people for countless generations. Knowing where we come from and understanding those that preceded us help us to shape our understanding of who we are today. And while many genealogists spend their time researching life elements like the profession, military…
What Men Should Know About Concierge Medicine at Our Lady of the Lake
Keeping up with a busy schedule is difficult for many of us. For men in high-powered positions or with major business responsibilities, it’s next to impossible. That’s why men’s health needs often fall to the bottom of the to-do list. What’s alarming is that men are twice as likely as women to suffer from chronic…
Serious Falls at Work Are Common, Here’s How to Avoid Them
We all slip up every now and then. But falls can be serious business in the workplace—for you and for your place of work, too. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, 15% of all accidental deaths are due to some sort of slip or fall. Michael Brown, APRN, FNP-C, of St. Francis Medical…
When Should Men Start Worrying About Their Prostate?
There are some routine medical exams that are just, well, unpleasant or uncomfortable. A throat swab, a cardiac stress test, a pelvic exam. For men, a prostate exam is pretty high up that list. But as the physicians at Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group Men’s Health and Executive Wellness Center tell their patients,…
What Type of Care? It’s Tricky, But We’re Here to Help
Without fail, your child will start coughing or spike a fever at the least opportune time, like a Friday evening after a long week at school or bright-and-early on a holiday morning. It can be hard to know the difference between what can wait and what needs emergency care. Ashley Lucas, MD, medical director of pediatrics…
Why It Gets Harder for Men to Lose Weight as They Age
Checking your weight is the first thing a primary care provider will do when you go in for a checkup. “It’s truly that important,” says Curtis Chastain, MD, of Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group Men’s Health and Executive Wellness Center. Small fluctuations in weight are normal, but your doctor is always on the…
Don’t Wait to Find the Right Primary Care Physician for You
A primary care provider, or PCP, is a doctor you see yearly for your annual checkup and more often if needed. Many people put off finding a primary care doctor because they don’t feel sick. Others aren’t sure how to find a PCP. Whether it’s been years since you’ve had an annual exam or you…
What Is Age-Related Memory Loss?
It’s common for older adults to become concerned if they take longer to learn new things than they used to or when they forget to pay certain bills. It’s normal to forget things every once in a while, especially as we age. However, not all memory loss and memory troubles can be chalked up simply…
8 Questions Our Men’s Health Physicians Hear Most from Guys
“Anything else you’d like to talk about?” It’s a prompt you might often get from your doctor when wrapping up a routine visit. And it’s usually the best opportunity to bring up those questions you’ve been eager to ask—and who better to ask than the physician with whom you’ve developed a close personal relationship? Curtis…
Why Do People Use Sleep Aids?
Adults, ages 18-60, should get at least seven hours of sleep per night, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most adults get less. While many people don’t get enough sleep because they simply stay up too late, more than 50 million Americans have chronic sleep disorders. These sleep disorders can make it…
The Dangers of Self-Medicating
Mental health problems are common in the U.S., but thankfully, mental health awareness is on the rise. 52.9 million adults in America lives with a mental illness according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Treating mental illness can be difficult, especially without the help of a mental health professional. People who have mental health…
A Good Night’s Sleep the Remedy for Many Men’s Health Problems
Are you getting a good night’s sleep? Most of us struggle to achieve those seven-plus hours recommended for adults by most sleep researchers. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 1 in 3 Americans don’t get enough of it. Tyler Boudreaux, MD, of the Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group Men’s…
Infected or Healing? Learn the Signs of Infection.
Minor cuts and scrapes happen on accident all the time. For the most part, cleaning the wound and applying a bandage is enough to have it healing up in no time. But it is still important to monitor the healing process to detect signs of infection. Learn those signs with the help of our infographic…
Asthma or Anxiety?
The feeling of not being able to fully breathe can be a symptom of both asthma and anxiety, and it can be tricky to tell the difference between the two. Frank Courmier, MD, pulmonologist with Lourdes Physician Group Pulmonology in Lafayette, helps us untangle the complexity and shares what patients should know about these manageable…
Why Men Are More Likely to Avoid a Doctor’s Visit
We all know the age-old trope that men need to toughen up and avoid showing weakness. Maybe that’s also why…
Listening Well Strengthens Patient Relationships
Primary care providers are a great start for whatever your health needs are, helping establish a healthier you. Taylor Mahtook, PA, with Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s Primary Care, shares how listening plays a central role in her work as a provider by strengthening her relationships with patients. Establishing Trust Often patients come to a…
Tips on Making a Living Will Because Peace of Mind is Planning Ahead
Consider it like a jar up on the shelf. It’s filled with all your important handwritten notes and instructions and thoughts. You’ve stored it away for later, for when the time comes that your family and loved ones might have to make incredibly tough decisions about your care. They’ll pull the jar from the shelf,…
Listen to Your Heart – What Providers Hear with a Stethoscope
The humble stethoscope has been around for more than 200 years, an iconic and enduring medical tool that allows providers to listen to their patients’ hearts. What Do Providers Hear? This important listening tool is used daily to assess heart rhythm and health. Steven T. Gremillion, MD, chief medical officer for Franciscan Missionaries of Our…
Making Your Next Doctor’s Appointment More Meaningful
Whether it’s your first visit to a provider or you have a long-term, established relationship, there are things you can do to better prepare for your next primary care or specialist appointment. Here are some tips for making the most of your next appointment with your healthcare provider. Prepare for Your Visit Bring along…
How Long Does It Take to Regenerate Blood?
Learn about how your body regenerates blood, making it safe for you to donate blood.
What Happens After You Quit Smoking
Most people know the dangers of smoking, but many smokers were unaware of the risks when their addiction began. We now know it causes serious damage to your body, including increasing your risk of lung cancer. However, just because someone has smoked for a large part of their life does not mean there’s no point…
Why You Should See a Dermatologist
Should you see someone about that freckle? Find out when it’s appropriate to seek a dermatologist.
Five Tips to Prevent Heartburn
Most of us have experienced that burning sensation in our chest we know as heartburn. Despite the name, the discomfort has nothing to do with the heart, but is caused by stomach acid splashing up into the esophagus where it doesn’t belong. So, what can you do to find relief? Mark Hausmann, MD, shares five…
What To Ask Your Doctor
It’s helpful to go into doctor’s appointments with a plan of what to say, and how to say it.
What Are the Benefits of Primary Care?
Learn about why having a primary care provider (PCP) can greatly enhance your health care experience.
Primary Care Provider: Your Guide Through the Healthcare Jungle
Learn why having a primary care provider can be beneficial to your health.
A Mini-Stroke May be a Serious Warning
Learn how a “mini-stroke” may be a warning sign of larger concern.
Health Screenings by Age
Learn what health screenings you should consider for a person your age.
How Often Should You See Your Primary Care Provider?
Learn how often you should see your PCP.
