Living Well Blog

The new coronavirus is taking its toll on our collective mental health. Worn out, angry, worried, confused: These are just some of the emotions my patients feel. I’m sure these apply to many of you and your loved ones, too. What I tell my patients, and what I hope to impart to a broader audience… See more

In order to achieve rapid testing for COVID-19, the Food and Drug Administration is shifting some responsibility to states and providing more specific details for commercial and laboratory manufacturers. The FDA is adapting as the situation evolves.States can now be responsible for tests… See more

Everybody everywhere seems to have a friend, spouse or colleague who claims to know “the truth” about COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. But right now there are probably just two truths you can count on. First: Information is quickly evolving. Second: You’ll find a lot of… See more

The number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. are in the tens of thousands and rising — at this point, all 50 states have reported cases. Because it is spreading fast – and testing has lagged – many people may already be infected. Many people may be infected with virus but are not showing signs… See more

It’s been a difficult month for patients and physicians alike. As a doctor, a mom and a daughter, I’ve been worried about a lot of different people. My 85-year-old mother, for example, lives in New York, about 1,300 miles from us. At first, I was worried about whether I should fly up to see her or… See more

You’re probably hearing a lot about different drugs that are being used to treat coronavirus. For example, choloroquine and its brand-named cousin Plaquenil were recently in the news.While you may see these drugs and others on TV or in your Facbook feed, it’s important to remember that… See more

The coronavirus is interrupting much of our normal routines right now, and most of us are spending a lot more time at home. Fortunately, many of your MDVIP benefits are still there for you — like having tools to support healthy living 24/7, inside and outside of the doctor’s office.Reach… See more

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the term social distancing has become a buzzword. Social distancing means remaining out of group settings (like church, small groups and restaurants), avoiding mass gatherings (like concerts, sporting events and festivals) and maintaining distance from… See more

You probably don’t think much about heart disease if you’re under 50 years of age. But heart disease is a killer – in fact, it’s the number one cause of death in the U.S. Your lifetime risk for developing heart disease after age 40 is nearly 50 percent if you’re a man and 32 percent if you’re a… See more

For the last few years, fasting diets, which restrict calories through periods of abstinence, have become very popular. They fall into different categories (alternate day fasting, modified fasting regimens, intermittent fasting, etc.), but all contain phases where participants do not eat for a… See more