We all know reading to our kids is a good thing—but do you know the specific advantages your toddler or preschool-age child can receive by being exposed to reading? Some of the benefits that highlight the importance of reading to your child are a stronger relationship with you, academic excellence and better communication skills.Dr. Genevieve London is here to discuss the importance of starting to read to your child at a young age.

Lead poisoning happens when lead builds up in the body, often over a period of months or years.Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust in older buildings are the most common sources of lead poisoning in children.At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal.Some of the signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in children may include: developmental delay, learning difficulties, and irritability.Listen in as Abby Markham, MD discusses lead poisoning, what to look for and possible treatments.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It is a virus that can be spread through skin-to-skin genital contact. There are many different types of HPV. Some types cause genital warts and are called low-risk. And some types can lead to cervical, anal, or oral cancer and are called high-risk. There is no known cure for HPV, but there is a vaccine that can protect against some types of the virus. Stephanie Joy, MD, is here to explaine HPV and the importance of the vaccine Gardasil for your teens.

We recognize that many parents in Maine view tooth decay as an inevitable childhood disease and yet it is nearly completely preventable. The three things that parents can do to help prevent dental problems are:1. Improve the oral health of their own mouths by getting regular dental care and brushing daily to reduce the amount of bacteria in their own mouths. Tooth decay is caused by bacteria passed through saliva.2. Fluoride - Fluoride makes teeth stronger, prevents tooth decay (cavities) and also reverses early tooth decay. Specifically:a. Parents should brush their children's teeth with fluoride tooth paste twice a day.b. Parents should ask their child's medical provider for fluoride varnish applications. Fluoride varnish applications are safe, simple and effective. They can prevent up to half of all cavities.3. Start taking their child to the dentist by the child's first birthday - or as soon thereafter as possible.Other things that can help prevent tooth decay are selecting low-sugar foods and limiting drinks for toddlers to milk and water.Dr. Jennifer Dubail is here to talk about early childhood dental care.

All kids experience sleep problems every now and then, but for those that are affected repeatedly, it can create issues during the awake hours. Their school work can suffer, as well as their extracurricular activities. Dr. Thomas Mellow, Division Director Pediatric Pulmonology at Maine Medical Partners, addresses common sleep issues among kids and what families can do to change these behaviors.

Menopause and Perimenopause can affect women at different times and the symptoms and signs can be different for everyone. Dr. Daniel Spratt, with Maine Medical Partners Women’s Health is here to discuss menopause and perimenopause. He delves into the treatments for hot flashes and many of the symptoms women experience as they go through this very important change.

Dealing with a serious or advanced illness is not easy for anyone involved. Palliative care programs can provide the much needed care and support for patients and their families but many are unfamiliar with this type of medicine. Dr. Isabella Stumpf, Medical Director of Palliative Care at MaineHealth will explain what palliative care is, what services are available, as well as the benefits for patients and families.

According to the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG), hysterectomy is the second most common surgical procedure in the US. The trend is moving towards minimally invasive surgery which can result in the same outcome for patients with the least amount of invasion or smallest incision possible. Dr. Julia Brock, a gynecologist at Maine Medical Center, will discuss this trend and benefits to patients including faster recovery times, less pain, and shorter in hospital stay.

7 out of 10 Americans say they would prefer to die at home, yet nearly 70 percent of Americans die in a hospital, nursing home or long-term-care facility. The care someone receives at the end of their life can be greatly impacted by planning ahead and having those difficult discussions with family members before it’s too late. Dr. Michael Roy, Chief of Medicine at Maine Medical Center, is here with valuable information on how families can be better prepared and how that planning can help patients and families.

Many people have limited or no experience with setting realistic goals for themselves. In the pursuit of healthy lifestyle changes, many people set themselves up for failure by not having a clear, realistic pathway to success. This can lead to frustration and self-doubt. Ellie Foster is here to help you learn how setting small, achievable goals can boost confidence and lead to lasting lifestyle change.