Ultrasounds are an essential part of ensuring a healthy pregnancy, but can too much exposure to them cause more harm than good? This is the question that has been raised by the recent rise of non-medical keepsake ultrasounds. This week on “Take Care,” Dr. Mary Norton , medical geneticist and nationally recognized expert in prenatal genetic diagnosis discusses the potential risks of unnecessary ultrasounds. Dr. Norton is also a professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the

Ultrasounds can safely help doctors monitor the progress of a pregnancy. But now some women are getting extra, so-called keepsake ultrasounds... just to see what their growing baby looks like and to be able to show friends and family that photo. But is this safe? This week on WRVO's health and wellness show "Take Care," hosts Lorraine Rapp and Linda Lowen speak with Dr. Mary Norton, president of the society for maternal-fetal medicine and an expert in prenatal genetic diagnosis, about whether

For many of us, our knowledge of what happens in an operating room may come from medical dramas on TV. But what really happens in the surgical suite after the patient is anesthesized? This week on “Take Care,” Dr. David Hoyt , executive director of the American College of Surgeons takes us inside the surgical suite. Hoyt is also Professor Emeritus of surgery at the University of California, Irvine. For those of us who have had surgery, we remember what happens beforehand. In the pre-op area, the

Is your cookware posing a hazard to your health? In recent years, some lightweight, non-stick materials have been scrutinized for containing toxic chemicals that can seep into food. This week on “Take Care,” Dr. Laura Vandenberg , assistant professor in the environmental health sciences department at the UMass-Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences, joins the program to discuss which materials are safe to use when cooking.

The chemicals used to make Teflon have been in the news in New York state this year, as one area deals with water contamination from a manufacturing plant that made pots and pans. But how healthy is the Teflon and other kinds of cookware Americans use in their kitchens every day? This week on WRVO's health and wellness show "Take Care," hosts Lorraine Rapp and Linda Lowen speak with Laura Vandenberg, professor at the UMass Amherst School of Public Health and Health Science. She is an expert on

It’s that time of year again to spread joy for all to hear—or so you’re told. Although the holiday season can create happy memories, it can also be a stressful time and leave many with feelings of depression for various reasons. This week on “Take Care,” Dr. Ken Duckworth talks about holiday depression, what may cause it, and how to support those who suffer from it. Duckworth is the medical director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and is also an assistant clinical professor

The nurse comes in to take vitals and ask some questions. Then, he or she says the doctor will be in shortly. Short. That ends up describing the time the doctor spends with you. Many have had a similar experience when going to see their doctor. But, what if that didn’t have to be the case? What if there were doctors who took more time to really dig into a patient’s problem? This week on "Take Care," Dr. Pina LoGiudice , a naturopathic doctor, joins the program to talk about who exactly those in

You may have heard the term "naturopathic medicine" as it is gaining in popularity. But what are the theories behind it? And what's the difference in a naturopathic doctor versus a traditional M.D.? This week on WRVO's health and wellness show "Take Care," hosts Lorraine Rapp and Linda Lowen speak with Dr. Pina LoGuidice, a naturopathic doctor who has taught at New York University and Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. More of this interview can be heard on "Take Care," WRVO's health and wellness

Generic drugs and brand name drugs have a number of differences. They can have different names, different colors and different prices to name a few. However, these differences do not necessarily mean generics and brand names don’t have the same effects. This week on Take Care, Dr. Elizabeth Higdon , an instructor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences campus in Colchester, Vermont, joins the program to talk about the quality of generic drugs, why

For pet owners, their four-footed companions are not merely animals -- they are family members who offer unequivocal love, often when it’s needed the most. But when a person goes under hospice care, sometimes no one is able to care for the family pet. This week on “Take Care,” Dianne McGill explains a program she founded called Pet Peace of Mind , which allows hospice patients to keep their pets and spend time with them.