My Blog
Don't Let the Winter Make You S.A.D.
December 14, 2022 -- When temperatures start dropping as snow starts falling and the days get shorter, often we can spend too much time inside hunkering down, like hibernating bears. This can lead to feeling cooped up, irritable, lethargic, sleepy and being unmotivated which are symptoms of cabin fever — a term dating back to the 19th century when early US settlers spent long winters stuck in their log cabins essentially snowed in until the spring thaw.
Optimism is Linked to a Healthy Heart
November 23, 2022 -- A surprising connection between optimism and a healthy heart has been found in several studies. This Thanksgiving, maybe we should adopt more optimism along with its cousin gratitude.
Using “Blue Spaces” to Fight the Blues
October 3, 2022 -- We know being in nature and “green spaces” has beneficial effects both with our physical and mental health. However, “blue spaces” those near water sources have an added serenity that contributes to our well-being. Studies find that living around both green and blue spaces can even decrease all-cause mortality.
Take a “Nature Bath” To Relieve Stress: Celebrating National Parks Days
September 23, 2022 - With September 24 being National Public Lands Day, I thought it would be perfect time to share what I've learned about nature. Did you know that spending time in nature lowers stress and delivers a wide range of psychological and physiological health benefits. Mounting scientific research suggests spending two hours in nature a week, promotes good health and psychological well-being. Click Read More for the details.
Why the Heart, Body and Mind Need to Relax
August 17, 2022 -- In the most comprehensive scientific review conducted by the American Heart Association, anxiety, chronic stress and social stressors are linked to increase rates of cardiovascular disease. But stress affects more than just the heart. In fact, stress has far-reaching negative effects on virtually every system in the body. Consider this exhaustive list of stress-related symptoms which in turn can lead to various illnesses:
What An Ankle Brace Taught Me About How NOT to Handle Stress
April 25, 2022 - RACE DAY ARRIVED DURING my high school track days. As schools of runners, jumpers, throwers and pole vaulters competed on that sunny day during a high school track and field meet, anxiety started running through my veins because the 100-meter dash was coming up, and I was one of the racers. Even though I was fast, I had one of the most common knee problems seen in adolescent girls, subluxing patellas after years of playing sports growing up.
What Stress Looks Like Physiologically
March 20, 2022 -- To understand what stress looks like in the brain and body, we have to open the hood and see what happens in our brains and bodies when we experience a stressful event. It begins in an area in the brain called the amygdala. This is the area that regulates and processes our emotions and responses to fearful, threatening stimuli and works to help us detect real threats and activate the appropriate fearful responses to dangers.
Back Away From the Yoga Pants!
February 1, 2022 - So far it's been one month and I have been keeping my one and only New Years resolution and that has automatically kept me on track with my weight, exercise and getting organized. This is my New Year mantra… back away from the yoga pants... all day!
Time to Talk About "Our Girls:" 5 Facts About Breast Cancer
October 1, 2021 -- It’s October, and time to talk about our “girls” again. Even if they are on your mind at other times, October is the month that is ok to talk about our breasts in mixed company!
Physicians Need to Speak Up About Their Stress
April 20, 2021 - This pandemic has magnified the constant stress my Emergency Room (ER) colleagues and I have dealt with for years. Physicians have one of the highest rates of suicide of any profession. Male doctors die by suicide at a rate that is 40% higher than the general population. Female doctors die by suicide 130% higher than the general population.
Pepper Spray: What Is It?
March 20, 2021 -- I have recently been asked a lot of questions about pepper spray, as protests rise across the nation. What makes pepper spray so uncomfortable when in contact with the eyes and skin, is its active ingredient, Oleoresin Capsicum. This oil is found in many hot peppers, yet most pepper sprays are synthetic as opposed to extracts from natural hot peppers.
Can Cannabis Be Used To Treat Cancer?
February 22, 2021 - At the present cannabis is only used to treat the symptoms from the side effects of cancer therapy. In the U.S. today, in many states, cancer therapy may include cannabis, used as an adjunct therapy to treat the side effects of chemotherapy. Cannabis’ antiemetic properties treat nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy as well as appetite-stimulating properties to treat weight loss related to anorexia associated with chemotherapy.
Series: Women, We Can Be Our Own Worst Enemy
January 20, 2021 -- I am continuing this series of articles about taking control of your health because of the questions and frustrations I see with my friends, family and patients. This is your body and you need to own it especially when it comes to your health. I realized it can be scary and many patients do feel out of control. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Series: Take Back Your Health, Understanding Medications
December 15, 2020 - I am starting this series of articles about taking control of your health because of the questions and frustrations I see with my friends, family and patients. This is your body and you need to own it especially when it comes to your health. I realized it can be scary and many patients do feel out of control. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Cold or Flu? What to Know, What to Do
November 10, 2020 -- I break down the age-old question, "Is it the cold or the flu?" There can be similar symptoms, and quite different ones. Here's how to tell the difference, and what to do for both of these common illnesses.
Diabetes Not Affected By Lifestyle Intervention?
October 15, 2020 - A recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine looked at lifestyle intervention and diabetes with some surprising results. This study was a meta-analysis, which means researchers reviewed all prior studies that looked at lifestyle intervention from databases from 1980-2013. They included studies that looked at interventions dealing with diet, exercise and at least one other component such as smoking cessation or counseling.
Angelina Jolie Did It, So Should You?
September 10, 2020 -- Kudos to Angelina Jolie for bringing the breast cancer gene mutation topic into the forefront, as well as showing us that our breasts alone don’t define what makes us sexy, feminine and beautiful! Before having preventive surgery like Angelina, here's what you need to know.
Pregnant and Clueless...Really?
August 15, 2020 - On the Today Show, I watched a story about a woman who after a 9-mile training run for a half marathon, she is taken to the hospital with horrible stomach pains only to give birth to a baby girl. Can someone be pregnant at full term and not know it? Strange but actually true, it is called unknown concealed pregnancy.
Summer Smarts: 5 Top Myths, Tips About The Heat
July 10, 2020 -- This summer much of the US is experiencing a heat wave. All the way from South Dakota to the eastern seaboard, we have been experiencing record breaking and potentially dangerous temperatures.
The good news is that heat-related illness and death is completely preventable. In general, according to the CDC about almost 6,000 people a year are seen in ER for heat-related injury.
The good news is that heat-related illness and death is completely preventable. In general, according to the CDC about almost 6,000 people a year are seen in ER for heat-related injury.
Be Sunscreen Savvy
June 15, 2020 - The FDA has finally taken action against labeling and claims made by sunscreen manufacturers. Guidelines from 1978 have changed after review of the abundance research. Manufacturers are now held accountable to provide and implement new testing to assure the reliability of their SPF claims.
Mediterranean Diet Lowers Heart Disease Risk
June 10, 2020 -- Anecdotally in the past, it has been noted that people who live in the Mediterranean region seemed to have less heart disease. Aside from the beauty and sunshine, which melts the stress of all vacationers there, it was presumed their diet might have something to do with it.
Now the first relatively large study was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine to examine this belief.
Now the first relatively large study was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine to examine this belief.
New Autism Rates Startling
May 15, 2020 - I discussed the alarming rates of autism with Jenna Lee on Fox New’s Happening Now. The CDC released new rates for autism. Reports now show, that 1 in 88 kids can be identified as having some disorder on the autism spectrum. That is up from 1 in 110 with the biggest jump in Hispanic and African American children.
Can Coffee Prevent Skin Cancer?
April 10, 2020 -- Starbucks lovers rejoice! A new study presented this past month at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) found drinking coffee could prevent skin cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) there are 1 million new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer each year.