Charlotte Latvala

Most people associate hot flashes with perimenopause and menopause. The sudden, uncomfortable feeling of getting overheated is a classic symptom for women of a “certain age.” As many as eight out of 10 women in the U.S. experience hot flashes during perimenopause and menopause.
But there are other reasons people get hot flashes. For instance, did you know that both men and women can experience hot flashes? Men often get hot flashes when they’re undergoing prostate cancer treatment.
Here, we l...

If you’re like many Americans, you take a shower every day. But is that necessary? Would showering less often be better for you?
The short answer is: It depends. Read on for the details about how often — and how — you should shower.
How Often Do You Need to Shower?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. How often you should shower depends on your physical activity, your age, your occupation, and any medical conditions you may have.
Not everyone needs to shower every day. On the other hand, show...

Testosterone is the primary sex hormone in men. It triggers the beginning of puberty in males. But it also has many other jobs in the human body.
What Does Testosterone Do?
Men need testosterone to make sperm and maintain their sex drive. The hormone also helps you keep muscle and bone strength as well as make red blood cells. It boosts your energy levels and contributes to your overall well-being.
Here are 10 facts every man should know about testosterone:
1. Testosterone Sets Off Puberty
Te...

You just noticed a new mole on your face, or maybe your acne flared up again. However, your busy work or home schedule doesn’t allow a visit to the dermatologist.
There’s a convenient solution. Virtual dermatology (a form of telehealth) is the quickest, most efficient way to get treatment for many skin conditions. Here’s a look at how virtual dermatology works.
What Is Virtual Dermatology?
Virtual dermatology means seeing your doctor from the comfort of your home. Virtual dermatology encompas...

Since the 1980s, doctors have known about a link between drinking alcohol and developing certain types of cancer. But is alcohol a carcinogen? In recent years, scientific evidence confirms that it definitely is.
In January 2025, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a statement detailing how alcohol causes some cancers. The report states that even moderate drinking raises your risk of developing breast, liver, and other cancers.
Here’s what you need to know about the relationship between alcohol an...

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Surgery is the oldest type of treatment for cancer, but that doesn't mean our methods are outdated. We use the latest minimally invasive techniques for cancer surgery whenever possible.
What Is Cancer Surgery?
In some cases, we use surgery to remove cancer, especially when it's found in just one part of the body. But sometimes surgery is a tool to diagnose cancer or to find out how far cancer has spread.
Cancer surgery is sometimes used alone. But we often combine it with ...

Dietary supplements — vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other botanicals — are wildly popular. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 57% of U.S. adults use dietary supplements. This includes everything from multivitamins and probiotics to fish oil and ginseng.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate dietary supplements as strictly as prescription medications. Instead, companies that manufacture supplements must have evidence that their produc...

Your immune system is built to fight off germs. The healthier you are, the better it works. An immune system that’s functioning properly can help ward off colds and flu as well as protect you from chronic and serious diseases like type 2 diabetes and cancer.
Here are some simple ways you can boost your immunity during cold and flu season — and all year long.
Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. You should get most of your vitamins and nutrients from unprocessed foods. Foods high in vitamin C an...

If your child has food allergies, your doctor may recommend a food challenge.
Don’t worry; a food challenge isn’t an eating contest. Rather, during a food challenge, your child will eat a certain food in a supervised place like a doctor’s office. The results may confirm that your child is or isn’t allergic to the food.
Here’s what you need to know about food challenges.
What Is a Food Challenge?
A food challenge (also called an oral food challenge) is a medically controlled method of confirmi...

Doctors use antibiotics to prevent and treat bacterial infections. These drugs have saved many lives for decades.
But sometimes bacteria mutate and the antibiotics that used to kill them don't work as well — or at all. When they no longer work well, bacterial infections can become more dangerous and spread.
The World Health Organization says antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health today.
Call the UPMC Center for Care of Infectious Diseases to learn more or make an...

You know that snoring disrupts your sleep (not to mention that of your partner). And sleep deprivation can lead to morning headaches, daytime sleepiness, and a lack of focus. But at its worst, snoring is a sign of sleep apnea, a more serious condition.
Here’s what you need to know about this common problem — and how to stop snoring.
What Causes Snoring?
Snoring begins when you’re asleep and the muscles of your soft palate, tongue, and throat relax. As you breathe, your soft palate and uvula v...

If you have a bone infection or a wound that’s not healing, your doctor might recommend hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy. The treatment consists of breathing in pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber.
Hyperbaric Medicine FAQs
Julie Bielec, MD, is medical director of the Wound and Hyperbaric Center of UPMC Western Maryland. She explains what hyperbaric oxygen therapy wound healing is, and who might benefit from this treatment.
Q: What is a hyperbaric chamber used for?
A: For years, doctors have u...

The holiday season can be joyful and busy, but it can also be stressful. You may be under extra financial pressure, family tensions might come to a head, or you may feel less than adequate when looking at other people’s seemingly “perfect” Instagram photos. Not surprisingly, many people suffer from a case of the blues in December.
If you already have any mental health issues, the holidays can be especially challenging. Stress can ramp up symptoms of depression and anxiety. In fact, the Nation...

Deployment is part of military life. But getting assigned to serve overseas or elsewhere can majorly affect your family.
If you have children, you may be in for some challenging times as you adapt to life during deployment.
Here are some tips to make the transition easier for children of any age.
Develop a Support System Ahead of Time
Before deployment, familiarize yourself with support programs and resources available through your military branch and the larger community. Talking to other fa...