We all hear how great meditation is. And at some point we may have been advised that we should be doing it. To start a new meditation practice sounds easy, but I know first hand, it is not. It can be hard to start something so out of our norm when the benefits aren’t easily apparent. If we have chronic medical conditions, especially if they are rheumatologic, inflammatory or autoimmune, it can seem as if meditation isn’t for us. That perhaps we are too far down the “sick road” to get any benefit. But that couldn’t be further from the truth! EVERYONE benefits from a meditation or mindfulness practice – but what does it do exactly and how can it benefit you?
[Read more…] about Why Meditation is the best medicationArchives for January 2021
The TPO Antibody explained
Autoimmune thyroid disease is common but can be confusing. A big component of the diagnosis is the blood test for TPO antibodies. TPO stands for Thyroid Peroxidase and it is vitally important for the production of thyroid hormone (which impacts almost every system in our body…so yeah, it’s important). Those with an antibody for TPO can then develop problems producing thyroid hormone and a slew of problems can follow.
[Read more…] about The TPO Antibody explainedPsoriatic Arthritis: The Basics
I have found most people know about Rheumatoid Arthritis (and if you haven’t, learn more here & here) and a lot of people may even know someone with Psoriasis, but not many people have heard of Psoriatic Arthritis. Understanding what psoriatic arthritis is, who can get it and what to look out for can help you know when it’s time to see the doctor.
[Read more…] about Psoriatic Arthritis: The BasicsBack pain: when to worry
Back Pain is everywhere! Most of us will likely experience it sometime during our lifetime and many of us will never know why. In fact, for most of us, when we see our doctor, we may be given pain relievers and told not to worry about it. But when SHOULD we worry about it? There are signs that doctors are trained to look for. Thinking about whether or not you have any of these will help you decide if and when it’s time to see your doctor.
[Read more…] about Back pain: when to worryFinding motivation to stay healthy
Finding motivation to do anything can be difficult. Especially when you don’t see any value in what you are trying to do or achieve. Although most of us would say that staying healthy is a top priority, why do we find motivation to make the necessary healthy changes difficult to find?
This New Year, as we turn the page on 2020 and get ready to face whatever 2021 has in store, I’m offering up some food for thought about how we approach our health and why we may be having problems staying motivated. This advice is made based on years of observation and working with a lot of patients struggling with all kinds of health issues. No one has it all figured out and everyone struggles with motivation at certain points. But what keeps one person going while another finds it hard to even get started is something I’ve been interested in my entire career.
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