Blog

Many people think of vaccines as something we get during childhood and then leave behind. But your vaccination needs can change throughout your life. As we age, our immune systems can become less responsive, and certain infections can cause more serious complications. Staying current on recommended immunizations is one important part of preventive care and healthy aging. During National Immunization Awareness Month, it is a good time to take a closer look at adult vaccination and why it matters at...Read More

Breastfeeding is often discussed as a way to nourish a baby, but breastfeeding benefits go far beyond nutrition. Human milk provides important nutrients and immune-supporting components for infants while breastfeeding is also associated with health benefits for mothers. At the same time, breastfeeding is not always easy, possible, or the right choice for every family. A healthy conversation about breastfeeding should focus on evidence, support, and informed choices, not guilt or judgment. During National Breastfeeding Month, let’s look at why...Read More

Most people think of an annual checkup as something to cross off their to-do list. If you’re not sick, it’s easy to assume you don’t need to see your doctor. As we recognize Health Center Week, August 2 to 8, it’s a great reminder that preventive healthcare is one of the most powerful tools we have for living a longer, healthier life. When I was in practice as a board-certified family physician, annual wellness visits were a big part of...Read More

Many people begin thinking more about healthy aging after turning 40, especially when they notice changes in how their body feels and functions. Maybe you’ve gained weight despite eating the same way you always have. Perhaps you’re feeling more tired, recovering more slowly after exercise, or finding it harder to build muscle. You may even notice your blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar beginning to creep up. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. As a board-certified family...Read More

As physicians, we spend years learning how to diagnose, treat, and guide patients through illness. But becoming the patient yourself changes everything. It gives you a completely different perspective on health, symptoms, and the importance of truly being heard. One of the biggest lessons I learned through my journey with primary hyperaldosteronism is this: listen to your body. That quiet voice telling you something is not right matters more than you think. https://youtu.be/Sa8MzDLZFTc When Something Feels “Off,” Pay Attention Sometimes...Read More

There is something humbling about becoming the patient when you have spent your life caring for others as a physician. You can have all the degrees on the wall, years of experience, and medical knowledge in the world, but the moment you are lying in a hospital bed after surgery, everything changes. Recovery becomes personal. Pain becomes real in a different way. And suddenly, all the advice you have given patients for years takes on a whole new meaning. After...Read More

For more than two decades, I treated patients with hypertension while quietly managing my own diagnosis of high blood pressure. As a family physician, I understood the guidelines, the medications, and the risks. But despite doing many of the “right” things, including staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, and later transitioning to a plant-based diet, my blood pressure remained difficult to control. Eventually, after years of searching for answers, I was diagnosed with a condition called Primary Hyperaldosteronism, also known...Read More

For more than two decades, I treated patients with hypertension while quietly managing my own diagnosis of high blood pressure. As a family physician, I understood the guidelines, the medications, and the risks. But despite doing many of the “right” things, including staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, and later transitioning to a plant-based diet, my blood pressure remained difficult to control. Eventually, after years of searching for answers, I was diagnosed with a condition called Primary Hyperaldosteronism, also known...Read More

What if one of the most powerful tools we have to improve our health… could also help protect the planet? It may sound like a bold claim, but it’s one I’ve come to believe deeply—not just as a physician, but as someone who has spent years helping people transform their health through what’s on their plate. The truth is, the same dietary patterns that help prevent and manage chronic disease are also among the most sustainable for our environment. The...Read More

When most people pick up a product at the grocery store, they assume the ingredients inside have been carefully reviewed for safety. It’s a reasonable assumption. But a recent investigation revealed something many consumers would find surprising: more than 100 chemical substances have been added to foods, drinks, and supplements in the United States without review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As a physician who has spent more than two decades caring for patients and now focuses...Read More