How many times have you arrived at your doctor’s office for an appointment and been asked if you’d like to see the doctor or a nurse practitioner? This question may come as a surprise; chances are you just assumed that you’d see your doctor.

These days, however, that’s not necessarily the case. Nurse practitioners and medical extenders are now providing care that was once the domain of primary care doctors, even though they lack the broad training that primary care physicians have.

What is driving this trend?

Primary care doctors play an important role in your health. They should be the center of your medical team, your starting place for most health care, and the person who has an in-depth knowledge of your medical history and any current health concerns and understands your risk factors for specific conditions.

While telemedicine isn’t exactly new, some patients are experiencing virtual visits for the first time during the coronavirus pandemic. Why? Many primary care physicians and specialists are using telemedicine appointments in lieu of traditional in-office visits to keep patients, doctors and their staff safe during this time. Doctors have also been able to offer more telemedicine visits because certain restrictions have been temporarily relaxed during the pandemic.

More than five million Americans live with Alzheimer’s dementia (AD). Nearly two-thirds are women. And scientists have spent years trying to figure out why. Turns out – women develop brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease earlier than men, according to a study published in Neurology. 

It doesn’t look like COVID-19 is going away any time soon, which means it’s important to keep your immune system strong. This means getting good quality sleep, exercising regularly, managing stress and eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats. 

 It can be difficult talking about mental health concerns. There is still a stigma attached to mental illness, which may prevent people from getting the help they need. But mental disorders are so common that 1 in 5 Americans will deal with mental illness at some point in their lives—and many of these conditions are treatable. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 47 million U.S. adults grappled with some type of mental, behavioral or emotional disorder in 2018. Only 43 percent of those patients requiring treatment received it.

For decades, coconut oil was shunned as a cooking oil because it was considered unhealthy. It’s really high in saturated fat, after all. But over the last 10 to 12 years, it has gained popularity and has even been touted as heart healthy.