There are common symptoms women should never ignore when it comes to gynecological health. Among them are painful periods, heavy periods and pain during sex, which could be signs of fibroids, which are noncancerous tumors, or endometriosis, where the lining of the uterus grows outside the organ.

We've all heard of people who appeared to be healthy dying suddenly of a heart attack in their 50s or 60s. They had no idea they had heart disease. A new test can reveal a heart attack waiting to happen.

In a recent interview for WhatToExpect.com, Mercy Medical Center board certified pediatrician Dr. Ashanti Woods responded to questions concerning whether it is safe for a baby to sleep in a crib, when to make the transition from crib to bed, and on other related topics. Here are the highlights from Dr. Woods’ interview.

Providing primary care and award-winning specialty care to the Howard County region, Mercy Personal Physicians at Columbia includes main offices at 6011 University Boulevard, off of Route 100 and Snowden River Parkway, with an additional location at 10700 Charter Drive, in the heart of Columbia.

The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy has been granted a 3-year, Full Accreditation renewal by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), marking 10 years Mercy’s center has held this designation.

The Center for Endocrinology at Mercy Medical Center has earned CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Full Recognition for its Diabetes Prevention Program, a distinction which remains valid through Oct. 31st, 2020. Reserved for programs that have effective delivered a quality, evidence-based program that meets all of the necessary CDC standards, the Full Recognition designation is one that payers and employers look for when selecting providers.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the United States than all other cancers combined, and one in five will develop it by age 70.

Dr. Jonathan Rich, D.O., of Mercy Medical Center, says there's a simple way to know if you're hydrated enough.

As many women know firsthand, particularly those who have given birth, bladder leakage is a very common problem.

Mercy Medical Center has been awarded an ‘A’ in fall 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing Mercy’s achievements protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care.