Pap Smear Guidelines

by Kassandra Patton, WHNP / Kalispell OB/GYN When you schedule your annual well-woman exam, you may be surprised to find that your visit does not always include a Pap smear. Current recommendations on this once yearly screening have changed much over the past 5 years. But first, let’s start with the basics: What Exactly is…

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150 Minutes For Your Health

woman running with her dog

Kimberley Forthofer, ARNP – Kalispell OB/GYN Obesity Rates Are Increasing According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) position statement and the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans most healthy adults should engage in 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week. Approximately 35% of the United States population is considered obese with nearly 70%…

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Healthy Eating Simplified

Written by Kassandra Patton, WHNP – Kalispell OB/GYN Q:  I know that I am supposed to eat right, but what exactly is a “healthy” diet?  This is a question that I am asked quite frequently during routine annual exams. There are many components that factor into healthy eating habits. Protein Protein is essential for our…

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The Importance of Calcium & Vitamin D

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Adequate Calcium and vitamin D are necessary for bone health at any age. Bone is made up of calcium and protein. The skeleton is continually being renewed, a process by which old bone is removed and new bone is formed. This process requires an adequate calcium intake to maintain bone health over a lifetime. Individual…

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Self Care 101

The Office on Women’s Health is a dynamic website full of valuable information and resources regarding our favorite topic – WOMEN’S HEALTH! They have compiled a set of interviews of various women’s personal stories who are experiencing different health issues.   Spotlight on Women’s Health, is a prominent feature in, Healthy Women Today, and reaches over…

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What happens during the menstrual cycle?

Menstruation doesn’t need to be a mystery. So let’s decode this mysterious feminine cycle and find out what’s really happening to our bodies during those 28 days. In the first half of the cycle, levels of estrogen (the “female hormone”) start to rise. Estrogen plays an important role in keeping you healthy, especially by helping…

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Sugar Pills

by Dr. Thomas deHoop – Kalispell OB/GYN Question:   I am currently on oral contraception and a friend of mine told me that I could avoid having my period by beginning a new packet of pills on the day that I would normally be starting “sugar pills” at the end of the pack.  Is this true?…

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