It used to be that turning 50 wasn’t just an age milestone – it was a sign that you needed to schedule a colonoscopy.

Colon cancer affects the large intestine (colon) and rectum. Until recently, the only effective screening tool was colonoscopy, which many people avoid or put off because of discomfort, embarrassment or fear.

Times change. Now, medical guidelines call for earlier screening (age 45) for colon cancer, or colorectal cancer, due to a rise in diagnoses among people younger than 50. Fortunately, there are new, less invasive ways to screen for the disease.

Age, sex, genes, muscle mass, level of physical activity, sleep, stress and mental health are all factors influencing your metabolic health. Some of these you can control and others, like your gender and age, you can’t.

Most Metabolic disorders are inherited genetic conditions that impact any aspect of the complex biochemical process of metabolism – from missing or dysfunctional enzymes, which break down and absorb nutrients to impairments in the efficiency of how cells use energy to fuel our complex body functions.

People often blame their metabolism for weight gain and stalled weight loss. It’s not that simple. Metabolism plays a role when we’re trying to manage our weight, but gaining and losing weight is still mostly determined by how many calories we take in versus how many calories we burn.

The role metabolism plays comes down to a simple measurement: How many calories do we burn when we’re at rest? This is called our Basal Metabolic Rate or BMR. BMR, which is typically expressed in calories, fuels everything from cell division to blood circulation.

Fundamentally, your metabolic health is about how well your body responds to and processes food. Our metabolism’s job is to convert what we eat and drink into energy to power your body’s functions. When everything is working well, your body has the energy to do a range of amazing things – from breathing to circulating blood to creating and repairing cells to movement and exercise.

People have always turned to herbs and spices as home health remedies. Today, 24 percent of Americans use herbal medicines, supplements and tea to boost their health, according to Statista.

One herb that gained a lot of popularity is turmeric (also known as Indian saffron). Turmeric has been used for centuries to flavor food and as an ingredient in mustard, medicines and cosmetics and as coloring agent in some butters and cheeses.  

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now requires breast density to be included in mammogram reports. Dense breasts are problematic because they make it more difficult to detect cancer and raise the risk of developing it. In fact, women with extremely dense breasts have four times the risk for breast cancer as women with fatty breasts do, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Concierge programs vary when it comes to commercial insurance coverage and Medicare. Some concierge medical practices take insurance, and some do not. Some submit claims for their patients, while others leave it up to their patients. 

Many concierge doctors will charge an annual fee to patients for being members of their practice and also submit insurance claims for the care they give you. Other practices may charge patients a membership fee for services that insurers do not cover while billing only for services insurance carriers do cover. 

When it comes to care decisions, there are not many differences between primary care physicians operating in traditional fee-for-service models and concierge primary care physicians, who charge a membership fee for their practice. 

The experience, however, can be completely different.;

How Modern Primary Care Works

In a traditional primary care setting, patients join a physician’s practice. When they go in for a sick visit, they may see their physician or another medical provider, like a different doctor, a nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

Legendary National Football League quarterback Brett Favre was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), a progressive and debilitating nervous system disorder that affects cognitive and motor abilities. In its early stages, symptoms develop slowly, are mild, and can be overlooked. For instance, people with PD may experience an occasional tremor in their jaw, finger or foot.

However, as time progresses, Parkinson’s will rob them of their facial expressions, their arm swing as they walk, and their normal speech patterns. Additional symptoms include:

Why sexual health is so important

Women's sexual health is not only important for reproduction, but it contributes to overall emotional wellbeing by contributing to women's sexual drive and a sex life that is pleasurable and satisfying. It can also impact overall health because it can lead to lowered blood pressure, improved immune system and heart health, better sleep, improved mental wellbeing and stress reduction.