MORE BLOG POSTS
The Hidden Costs of Menopause: Economic Impact, Personal Costs, & the Search for Natural Relief
Posted by Lena Edwards MD on
Menopause is a natural stage of life, but for millions of women in the U.S., it comes with moreΒ than just hot flashes and night sweatsβit carries a heavy emotional, professional, and financialΒ toll. From reduced productivity at work to rising out-of-pocket costs for symptom relief,Β menopause is quietly draining billions of dollars from the U.S. economy each year. And yet, itΒ remains one of the most overlooked public health and workplace challenges today. Β The Annual Cost of Menopause in the U.S. Β According to a 2023 Mayo Clinic study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), menopause-related symptoms cost...
Got Stress ?
Posted by Lena Edwards MD on
β¦If not, you are definitely in the minority! In fact, over half of all Americans reportΒ experiencing chronic daily stress. This is a 16-point increase over the past two decadesΒ and the highest level recorded to date! This is a major problem because chronic stress poses significant health risks. The human body was never designed to withstand chronic stress. Have you everΒ watched an episode of National Geographic and seen an animal frantically runningΒ away from its predator? Once the chase is on, it can only end in two ways. Either theΒ animal succumbs to its predator, or it successfully escapes to live another day....
Pharmaceutical-Grade vs. Regular Nutritional Supplements: Key Differences
Posted by Lena Edwards MD on
Did you know that over 85% of Americans spend over $30 billion annually on nutritionalΒ supplements?! If you are one of the 85%, then youβll want to make sure that youβreΒ spending your hard earned money wisely! When choosing nutritional supplements, you may come across terms likeΒ pharmaceutical-grade, medical-grade, or regular supplements (also called over-the-Β counter or commercial supplements). Understanding these distinctions is extremely important if you want to purchase safe, quality, supplements that actually work. Β Β Overview of Pharmaceutical-Grade vs. Regular Supplements Β Pharmaceutical-Grade Supplements Β Β Pharmaceutical-grade supplements must meet higher purity, potency, and bioavailabilityΒ standards than regular supplements. They are often...
Cancer Prevention Part II
Posted by Lena Edwards MD on
Did you know that over 2 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer last yearΒ alone? Β Many people mistakenly believe that cancers are hereditaryβ¦but in fact, only 5-10% ofΒ cancers are attributable to genetic factors. A whopping 90-95% of cancers are actuallyΒ caused by lifestyle and environmental factors. Here are some of theΒ main causesΒ ofΒ cancer-related deaths: Β Β Β 25β30% are due to tobacco use Β 30β35% are linked to diet Β 15β20% are due to infections Β 20-25% are due to other factors like radiation, stress, physical inactivity, andΒ environmental pollutants. Β In Part 1 of this two-part series, I discussed the top five most commonly diagnosedΒ cancers in...
Cancer Prevention Part I
Posted by Lena Edwards MD on
We all shudder when we hear the βCβ word, and rightfully so. Over two million peopleΒ are diagnosed with cancer each year. Thatβs almost 5,500 new cancer diagnoses eachΒ day. The good news is that over 50% of cancers are preventable. Β According to the American Cancer Society: Β β’ The rate of cancer diagnoses has risen and reached an all time high in 2024 β’ Of all cancer deaths in people under the age of 50, colorectal cancer is now #1 inΒ men and #2 in women. β’ The incidence of four screenable cancers is rising (colorectal, breast, prostate,and cervical). Β In...