Signature Healthcare • 17th December 2024

Myths Debunked and Interesting Facts About Menopause

Menopause is not an event. It’s a process that occurs naturally over a decade or so. A woman (average age is 51) is clinically diagnosed as menopausal when she hasn’t had a monthly period for 12 months.
The preliminary stage, known as perimenopause, can occur years before menopause and is often referred to as “reverse puberty.”

Priority Physicians • 10th December 2024

Live Longer and Healthier: Exercises for Longevity

What does longevity — a long, healthy life — mean to you? Are you setting goals for your later years?
Finding the right exercises for longevity today will keep you vibrant, strong, and independent into your 90s — or longer.

Signature Healthcare • 10th December 2024

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Sleep Apnea?

Did you snore yourself awake again last night? Does your sleep partner worry about your breathing lapses when you slumber?
These are signs you may have sleep apnea.
Many people believe apnea is only loud, intrusive snoring...

Signature Healthcare • 5th December 2024

Mild Cognitive Impairment: When to Chat With Your Doctor

Oops, your car keys are gone again, and it’s the second time you’ve misplaced them this week.
Losing keys is frustrating and inconvenient for anyone. But if you’re getting into your senior years, it’s common to start worrying about the possible onset of mild cognitive impairment.

Priority Physicians • 3rd December 2024

How Many Reps and Sets for Weight Loss? A Doctor’s Take

What’s “better” for building muscles: Higher weight and fewer repetitions… or lower weight and more reps? It depends.
We’ve all read or heard the baseline recommendation — three sets of 10 reps — but that’s an average answer.

Signature Healthcare • 26th November 2024

How We Monitor and Treat Type 1 Diabetes: 4 Recent Advances

Did you know that over a million North Carolinians are currently diagnosed with diabetes? That’s 12.4% of our state’s adult population.
I’m one of those affected.
As both a concierge physician and a type 1 diabetic, I make it my mission to stay updated on how to manage both type 1 (less common) and type 2 (very common) diabetes’ many facets.

Priority Physicians • 26th November 2024

Bone Health: Is Osteoporosis Genetic?

Is it our fate to become more fragile with age?
Not necessarily. Keeping your bones healthy can change your fate, helping you to live longer and stronger.
We replace bone all the time. However, degeneration occurs when the creation of new bone can’t keep pace with the loss of old bone.

Signature Healthcare • 19th November 2024

The Power of Mind-Body Therapy in Healthcare Today

Did you know yoga was introduced to the U.S. in the late 19th century?
It was considered a religious practice until the 1960s when, through the appeal of television, America became aware of yoga’s mind-body potential — the potential to increase flexibility and strength, decrease stress, lessen chronic pain, and more.

Priority Physicians • 19th November 2024

Live Longer and Healthier: Best Diet for Longevity

What does “aging well” mean to you?
Does it include being independent, healthy, active, and strong well into your 90s? Maybe even beyond?

Signature Healthcare • 12th November 2024

Is Bread Really Bad for You? A Look at Whole Grains vs. Refined Bread

Bread has been a food staple for centuries. In Jordan, archaeologists unearthed a 14,000-year-old scrap of bread, proving that people baked bread before it was even thought possible.
Much of the world’s population still eats bread at every meal, believing it’s essential to both daily wellness and longevity. But today, we also ask more questions about the bread we eat.

Priority Physicians • 12th November 2024

Your Longevity: Don’t Just Live Longer, Live Healthier!

How long do you want to live? When you envision your later years, do you like what you see?
The standard definition of longevity equates to a longer life, and today, the term can feel like a buzzword. But to your Priority Physicians, longevity isn’t just about living longer.
It’s about living healthier.

Signature Healthcare • 5th November 2024

We Diagnose and Treat Patients Faster With Point-of-Care Ultrasound

If you’ve ever had an ultrasound, it may have been a cumbersome process. Perhaps you waited several uncomfortable or anxious days for an appointment at an imaging center. And after your scan, you waited several more days before your doctor had your results to share...

Priority Physicians • 5th November 2024

I Love My Job and That Means Better Care for My Patients

I once mentioned to a medical resident how much I love my job, and it surprised her! She said she’d never heard a doctor say that before.
I was equally surprised by her reaction.
I’m so grateful for the positive impact I have on my patients’ lives and the deeper relationships I build with them through direct primary care. Our Priority Physicians patients are accustomed to a higher standard of care, a level most patients in traditional healthcare can’t reach. It’s rewarding for me because it’s re...

31st October 2024

October’s Health Insights From Priority Physicians

What do alcohol, oxygen, and exercise have in common? They’re all topics the Priority Physicians team addresses as trusted advisors to our patients. In October’s blogs, we share some knowledge and tips...

Priority Physicians • 28th October 2024

Direct Primary Care vs. Concierge Medicine: What It Means for Patients

Direct primary care (DPC) limits the number of patients physicians serve. Some people think this concept is trendy, complicated, or “only for the rich.”
Let’s explore how traditional medical practices operate, compare direct primary care vs. concierge medicine, and explain...

Signature Healthcare • 22nd October 2024

Be Kind to Yourself: How to Manage Anxiety or Depression

Many people struggle with anxiety disorders, depression, or mood swings. These struggles have plagued humans for as long as we’ve walked the earth. But it’s never been as pronounced or discussed as in the modern age.
And even though the touch of a button can connect us with someone literally across the globe, many people...

Priority Physicians • 22nd October 2024

Breathing Easy: Immediate Steps to Raise Your Oxygen Level

“Just breathe.”
How often have you heard that phrase in a stressful or emergency situation?
Breathing doesn’t always come easily for people with chronically low blood oxygen levels. Knowing how to increase your oxygen level immediately is critical if you’re one of those people.

Signature Healthcare • 15th October 2024

From Cow's Milk to Plant-Based Alternatives: What’s Best for You?

The last time a storm system headed your way, did you make a last-minute dash to the store for milk?! That’s a familiar refrain in many homes — 94% of U.S. households consider milk a staple and want to be sure they never run out.
But why do we find it so necessary? Is milk good for you? Does it matter that you drink it, and if so, why?

Priority Physicians • 15th October 2024

Quitting Alcohol Cold Turkey: Is It Safe?

With cooler weather here, you may notice that you consume more alcohol — cozy indoor living and a full slate of holiday parties can do that. And maybe you’ve decided to try dialing back on alcoholic beverages this season, perhaps even abstain completely...

Signature Healthcare • 8th October 2024

Avoid the Flu: Who Should Get the New Trivalent Vaccine?

Time for your flu vaccine?
This year’s inoculation is different: It’s a trivalent, meaning it contains three strains of virus, unlike the usual four-strain quadrivalent.
So, what does that mean? Let’s address a few questions about this year’s trivalent vaccine...

Priority Physicians • 8th October 2024

Exercise: Yes, It Really Works

Less than one-quarter of American adults meet the CDC’s weekly guidelines for recommended aerobic and strength activity. And as Americans progressively put on pounds, they jeopardize both short-term wellness and long-term health...

Signature Healthcare • 1st October 2024

What Can I Take Instead of Statins to Lower Cholesterol?

“What can I take instead of statins to lower cholesterol?”
We often hear this question from patients, especially those under 45 who may suddenly discover elevated LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels...

26th September 2024

September’s Health Insights From Priority Physicians

Good morning,
A familiar maxim says: Inquiring minds want to know.
At Priority Physicians, inquiring minds inspire us. Are you one of them?
With our September blog series, we’ll expand your knowledge in areas that can impact your and your family’s well-being. Ask yourself these questions...

Signature Healthcare • 24th September 2024

Where to Get Vaccines for Travel (and Which Ones You Need)

My husband and I are serious travel fans. Our hobby is seeing the world, from visiting wineries to attending international sporting events.
As a physician, our journeys have made me savvy to the travel vaccines or medications needed to stay safe around the world. Patients often ask me where to get vaccines for travel… and how to find out exactly what shots they need.
I already know that, when we plan our trip to Antarctica (the only...