Dartmouth-Hitchcock providers Dr. Sanders Burstein and Dr. Dale Vidal talk about why some people get intimidated in going to the doctor, and emphasize that patients should feel comfortable asking questions of their providers. Dr. Burstein says, "An empowered patient is one that's involved. Who feels that they have control and choice and understanding. Is willing to ask questions when they don't understand, and asserts their choice in whatever decisions being made." To learn more about being...

Dartmouth-Hitchcock provider Dr. Dale Vidal describes how patients and providers can have different ideas of what's important to a patient, and why it's crucial to have good communication when facing a decision. Dr. Vidal says "It's really important that you share your expertise about what's important for you, what your life is about and that the doctor takes that into account when replying to questions about the medical decision you're facing." To learn more about being a good advocate for...

Dartmouth-Hitchcock provider Dr. Dale Vidal explains why it's a good idea to do research on your disease or treatment. Dr. Vidal says "I highly recommend that you go out and collect as much information as you can on your own and sit down and write the questions out that you have for your doctor and try and make sure that you get through those questions in the consultation." To learn more about being a good advocate for yourself in health care decisions, visit http://bit.ly/dh_advocacy.

Dartmouth-Hitchcock providers Dr. Sanders Burstein and Dr. Dale Vidal explain how best to prepare for an appointment with your health care provider. Dr. Vidal says "It's a great idea to have your questions prepared ahead of time and it's also a good idea to bring a friend or a loved one along to help with collecting the information. A second set of ears is invaluable." To learn more about being a good advocate for yourself in health care decisions, visit http://bit.ly/dh_advocacy.

Dartmouth-Hitchcock provider Dr. Bonny Whalen explains the benefits of breastfeeding, and how it's possible to make your own breastfeeding plan. Dr. Whalen says "even if it's just for a couple of weeks, breast milk is an amazing health benefit to your baby. So any amount breast feeding that you can do is healthy for your baby but also healthy for you." To learn more about breastfeeding, visit http://bit.ly/dh_breastfeeding.

Dartmouth-Hitchcock lactation consultant Lisa Lamadriz talks about overcoming some of the challenges breastfeeding mothers face when they return to work. Lisa says, "Very often a mother's milk production decreases when she returns to work. So we encourage her to breast feed the baby when they are together. Spend a lot of time skin-to-skin on her off days, try to rest and relax as much as she can, and usually she will recover her milk production." To learn more about breastfeeding, visit...

Dartmouth-Hitchcock providers Dr. Bonny Whalen and lactation consultant Lisa Lamadriz talk about how to get prepared for breastfeeding success. Lisa says, "One of the most important things for a woman to do to prepare for breast feeding is to set up her support network before she delivers. Find friends, nurses, and lactation consultants that have breast fed successfully and that she knows that she can call upon once the baby's here." To learn more about breastfeeding, visit...

Dartmouth-Hitchcock providers Dr. Bonny Whalen and lactation consultant Lisa Lamadriz talk about how new mothers can gain confidence with breastfeeding. Dr. Whalen says, "You can help a mom feel confident in how much breast milk her baby is getting by the way her baby behaves while breast feeding. If her baby is content during the breast feed and then if they fall asleep after breast feeding that's a nice, content baby and they got enough breast milk." To learn more about breastfeeding,...

Dartmouth-Hitchcock providers Colleen Olson and Dr. Adam Pearson explain how staying fit can help you recover from - and maybe even avoid - lower back pain. Dr. Pearson says that "the best thing people can do for their back is to keep both their back and overall body in good shape. Maintain a reasonable weight, don't smoke: those things all make it easier to recover if you do have an episode of back pain." To learn more about taking care of your back, visit http://bit.ly/dh_backpain.

Dartmouth-Hitchcock providers Colleen Olson and Dr. Adam Pearson explain why the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Spine Center rarely schedules MRIs for patients with short-term lower back pain. Olson says, "the descriptions of back conditions in an MRI can be very scary. But most of those things are pretty typical findings for anyone over the age of 30. And you don't need an MRI unless you have a worrisome symptom such as nerve type pain, a fever, or an infection." To learn more about taking care of...

Dartmouth-Hitchcock providers Colleen Olson and Dr. Adam Pearson explain why patients rarely need surgery for lower back pain. Dr. Pearson says that lower back pain that has been going on for less than three months will improve on its own, "no matter what you do" in more than 90% of cases. "The vast majority of patients with short-term lower back pain do not need surgery," he says. To learn more about taking care of your back, visit http://bit.ly/dh_backpain.

Dartmouth-Hitchcock providers Colleen Olson and Dr. Adam Pearson explain why you shouldn't stay in bed if you have lower back pain. Dr. Pearson says that "people have studied the effect of bed rest, and bed rest does not help your back pain. It will simply prolong how long it takes to go away." To learn more about taking care of your back, visit http://bit.ly/dh_backpain.

From our Healthy Highlights series: Dr. Eva Rzucidlo, a vascular surgeon at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), talks about living with Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD), sometimes known as Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD).

From our Healthy Highlights series: Dr. Eva Rzucidlo, a vascular surgeon at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), talks about the signs of Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD), sometimes known as Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). Because PVD is a narrowing of the blood vessels within the arteries of your le

Dr. Lynn Butterly, Director of Colorectal Cancer Screening at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, talks about when to start colorectal cancer screening, and how often one should undergo screening.

Dr. Lynn Butterly, Director of Colorectal Cancer Screening at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, talks about the options patients have for colorectal cancer screening.

Dr. Lynn Butterly, Director of Colorectal Cancer Screening at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, talks about ways to gauge your risk for getting colorectal cancer.

In this episode, Dr. Lynn Butterly, Director of Colorectal Cancer Screening at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, talks about preventing colorectal cancer.

Dr. John Hollister, a pediatrician at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Manchester, talks about some questions parents may have about immunizations.

Dr. John Hollister, a pediatrician at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Manchester, talks about ways to help prepare children for immunizations.

Dr. John Hollister, a pediatrician at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Manchester, talks about the flu vaccine and the HPV vaccine.

Dr. John Hollister, a pediatrician at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Manchester, describes the importance of childhood immunizations.

Dr. Ira Byock, director of the Palliative Care Program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, discusses how to open the conversation about end-of-life planning.

Dr. Ira Byock, director of the Palliative Care Program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, discusses the importance of developing an Advance Directives document.

Dr. Ira Byock, director of the Palliative Care Program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, discusses the concept of "dying well."