Over the last few years, there has been near non-stop media and social media coverage of the "new weight loss drugs," GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) and GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound). In reality, GLP-1 receptor agonists have been available for many years for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (Victoza, Trulicity, etc) and for weight loss (Saxenda), while tirzepatide is new in the last few years. These medications have powerful effects in the treatment of diabetes and reduction of risk for cardiovascular disease, but they are ..read more

September is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Awareness Month. This condition is common in general, but it is something I see particularly frequently in my practice. There is a lot of misinformation on the internet and on social media about this condition, so I wanted to share more information to help better explain this condition and what it means. What is PCOS? Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS, is a hormonal disorder that affects people with ovaries, and generally starts to produce symptoms during their reproductive years. It's named "polycystic" because it involves the development of s ..read more

Often when a patient comes to me wanting to improve their health, they have put most of their focus on making changes to their diet and exercise. While nutrition and physical activity are certainly important for overall health, they are only one part of the big picture. One commonly neglected area that I would argue has an even bigger impact on health is SLEEP! In the modern world, and particularly in the United States, we are very focused on productivity and efficiency. Taking time to rest is often viewed as lazy or wasteful. I am sure we have all heard the common refrain "I can sleep when I ..read more

As a primary care physician, I see many patients who struggle with their relationship with food. In the US, we live in a society where there are a lot of mixed messages about nutrition in the media that are heavily influenced by diet culture and the idealization of thinness. The patients that I see are often highly motivated to take good care of themselves to prevent or control a chronic disease. However, because of the misinformation about nutrition and weight loss that is shared throughout society, they can end up falling into unhealthy, disordered eating patterns or even develop an eating ..read more

This week, February 27-March 5, 2023, marks National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. As a person who has recovered from an eating disorder and a physician who treats many patients who are in recovery, I think it is extremely important to take advantage of this week every year to spread awareness. If you or someone you love is suffering, I hope tha t this information will help you find the resources you need to find recovery. Eating disorders are considered mental health conditions but they affect every aspect of a person's health. There is no one "cause" for eating disorders- a combination of ..read more

As a family physician, I spend a lot of time with patients focusing on how to best take care of themselves to prevent or manage chronic disease. Often when I meet a patient who is taking steps to improve their health, the first thing that they do is make changes to what they are eating. There is a lot of conflicting and inaccurate information out there about nutrition, so in many cases these patients end up following a fad diet or excessively restricting their intake which can actually backfire and worsen their health, both mentally and physically. Good nutrition is certainly important for ov ..read more

El cáncer de mama es el segundo cáncer más común en mujeres en los Estados Unidos (después de ciertos tipos de cánceres de piel). Si bien los avances en el tratamiento han mejorado enormemente las tasas de supervivencia del cáncer de mama, todavía perdemos más de 42.000 mujeres cada año a causa del cáncer de mama en los EE. UU. Las mujeres negras tienen más probabilidades de morir de cáncer de mama que las mujeres blancas. Es increíblemente importante garantizar que todas las mujeres, y especialmente las mujeres negras, tengan acceso a información precisa y servicios de salud para ayudar a co ..read more

In order to take good care of your children, you have to take good care of yourself first! If your physical and/or mental health are suffering, your ability to be present and attentive to your children's needs will be limited. Many parents feel guilty about taking time away from their children for themselves, especially if they are working and have limited time with their children to begin with. However, self-care is not selfish and there is no reason to feel guilty. In fact, self-care is a vital part of being a good parent. As a physician and mom, I experience a lot of the same feelings and ..read more

As parents, one of our main roles is to keep our children safe. The world can be full of hazards that we never recognized before becoming parents, but once your little one arrives you suddenly notice danger everywhere! We can't prevent our children from every bumped head and skinned knee (nor should we- that is how they learn!), but we can prevent serious harm. Here are my top 5 baby safety tips as a physician mom. Safe sleep: One common worry for new parents is SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). While all causes of SIDS are not fully understood, we know that there are several steps parent ..read more

The 12 week period after a child is born is known as the "4th trimester." The 4th trimester is a critical period for new parents and their newborns. The delivering parent has gone through enormous physiologic change through pregnancy and birth, their partner is adjusting to taking on new support and parenting roles, and the newborn is adjusting to life outside the womb. This period can be a beautiful bonding experience as a new family is born, but often comes with a lot of challenges. In our modern society we are often removed from the "village" of support that we as humans depend on, which m ..read more