Dr. Paula Estwick, MD

20/11/2025

Short on time❓️ I have some incredible news for your heart❗️ 🫀
​We often think exercise requires a 45-minute gym class or a long run. But new research from the University of Sydney suggests that short, powerful bursts of activity during your daily routine might be even more effective for preventing heart disease than a standard walk‼️ 🤯
​They call it VILPA (Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity).
​⏱️ The "One-Minute" Magic
​The study found that just 3 to 4 minutes of this vigorous activity per day (yes, per day❗️) can drastically reduce the risk of heart attacks and heart failure.
​What counts as VILPA❓️ Anything that gets you huffing and puffing for a minute or two!
​🏃‍♀️ Running to catch the bus.
​🪜 Taking the stairs two at a time.
​🛍️ Carrying heavy grocery bags to the car.
​🧹 Vigorous housework (scrubbing counts❗️).
​🐶 Playing a high-energy game with the dog or kids.
​👩 vs. 👨 A Surprising Gender Difference
​Here is where the science gets really interesting❗️ The study found the benefits were strongest for women:
♀️​For Women: Just 3.4 minutes of these bursts per day was associated with a 45% lower risk of major heart events. It seems these daily tasks often push women closer to their "max effort," turning chores into a mini-HIIT workout❗️
♂️​For Men: While incidental movement is good, the data was "less clear" for men. The researchers suggest that men likely still need to add some structured exercise (like a gym session or run) to get the full heart-protection benefits.
​💡 The Takeaway
​Stop looking for the "perfect" time to work out. If you see a flight of stairs, take them❗️ If you have heavy bags, carry them❗️
​Those tiny "micro-workouts" add up to major protection for your heart. ❤️📈
​(⚠️Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always talk to your own doctor before starting any new exercise routine❗️)
​

20/11/2025

Happy ‼️🐪
​We all know that a good night's🌙 sleep🛌 is important, but did you know the darkness of your room might matter just as much as the hours you clock❓️ 😴🌑
​A new study presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025 has found a surprising link between artificial light at night (LAN) and your heart health. 🫀
​Here is the breakdown of why you might want to invest in those blackout curtains:
​💡 The "Light" Bulb Moment
​Researchers found that exposure to artificial light while you sleep is associated with a higher risk of heart disease.
​The Connection: It’s not just about waking you up. Ambient light (like from a streetlight 🚦 or a bright alarm clock ⏰) can cause "brain stress" while you snooze.
​The Result: This stress can lead to inflammation in your arteries, which increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.
​The Stats: The study found that higher exposure to light at night was linked to a 35% increased likelihood of a heart attack over 5 years! 📉
​🧠 Why Does Darkness Matter?
​Your body relies on darkness to do its heavy lifting at night:
​Melatonin Magic🪄: Darkness signals your body to produce melatonin (the sleep hormone).
​Blood Pressure Break: Deep darkness helps lower your blood pressure and heart rate, giving your heart a well-deserved rest. Light keeps them higher than they should be! 💓
​🛌 How to Create a Heart-Healthy "Cave"
​For the best heart protection, complete darkness is the goal. Here are some simple tips:
➡️​Blackout Curtains: These are a game-changer for blocking streetlights. 🚫☀️
➡️​The Door Gap: Block the light creeping in from under your bedroom door with a towel or draft stopper.
➡️​Eye Masks: If you can't make the room dark, wear the darkness❗️ A comfortable eye mask 🙈 is a great, cheap solution.
➡️​Ditch the Nightlights: If you need one for safety, try a motion-sensor light so it's only on when you actually need it.
​Sleep tight (and in the dark)❗️ 🌙✨
​(⚠️Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always talk to your own doctor about your heart health❗️)
​
Source: Healthline
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/light-exposure-sleep-cardiovascular-disease-risk

20/11/2025

Feeling fine? Be thankful!
It’s also the best time to check in with your primary care provider.
An annual physical can help catch issues early, keep you up to date on screenings and strengthen your care team connection. Most insurances cover it at little or no cost. Read more about the importance of annual physicals here: https://loom.ly/1wMP-20
• All ages welcome
• Convenient locations
• Schedule your visit today

18/11/2025

All three!!!! 😆 Reposted from What kind of Cation do you need??

18/11/2025

Reposted from In patients with , incretin-based therapies such as GLP-1 receptor agonists are reported to result in mean weight reductions of approximately 15 to 20% along with additional health benefits, including decreased cardiovascular risk. However, most of these therapies are administered by subcutaneous injection, which may limit treatment initiation and adherence. ⁣
⁣
In the ATTAIN-1 phase 3, adults with a BMI of at least 30 (or a BMI between 27 and 30 plus at least one obesity-related condition) who did not have diabetes mellitus were randomly assigned in a 3:3:3:4 ratio to receive once-daily oral orforglipron at a dose of 6 mg, 12 mg, or 36 mg or placebo as an adjunct to a healthy diet and physical activity. The primary end point was the percent change in body weight from baseline to week 72. ⁣
⁣
In patients with obesity, treatment with orforglipron for 72 weeks resulted in significantly greater weight loss than placebo, with an adverse-event profile consistent with that of other GLP-1 receptor agonists. ⁣
⁣
Read the full ATTAIN-1 trial results and Research Summary at NEJM.org (link in bio). ⁣
⁣

18/11/2025

Reposted from On secondary causes of high blood pressure!

Most people have what is termed “essential” or “primary” hypertension / high blood pressure, which is affected by factors such as genetics, diet, exercise, weight, and/or smoking / alcohol use. However, there are a good number of patients who have other causes!

Conditions such as , , , , and more can cause high blood pressure. I especially worry about these conditions when a patient requires 3 or more meds to get their BP

18/11/2025

repost from dr.sarah_jam If shorter days are starting to affect your mood, you’re not alone. Seasonal depression (also called Seasonal Affective Disorder) can sneak up this time of year, but there are ways to fight back. 💛

Here are a few extra tips that can help:
✨ Limit alcohol and processed sugar; both can disrupt your sleep and mood.
🕯️ Start a gratitude or sunlight journal and track what lifts your mood each day.
💡 Try light therapy. A 10,000-lux light box can help your body wake up naturally.
🤝 Stay connected. Even short phone calls or coffee dates help fight isolation.
🍲 Eat warm, colorful meals. Omega-3s, leafy greens, and lean protein support brain health.

Your mental health matters year-round. Don’t wait for spring to feel like yourself again. 🌤️

16/11/2025

Reposted from Busy schedules. Endless to-do lists. Unrealistic expectations. The holidays can be stressful. Here are 6 options to lower stress that could work for you.

16/11/2025

16/11/2025

Speaking of diabetes, I'm sure you've seen the headlines about the 'new' weight loss and diabetes medications.
I'm talking about the GLP-1/GIP agonists, known by brand names like Ozempic, Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro, Zepbound (tirzepatide).
We know they are powerful for blood sugar 📉 and weight loss ⚖️. But the big question in the medical community has been: Are they both equally good at protecting your heart? ❤️ And is one better than the other at preventing heart attacks and strokes?
Well, a major new "real-world" study was just published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine that gives us a fantastic answer.
📢What Did the Study Do❓️
Researchers wanted to see what's happening in real-world clinical practice; not just a controlled trial. They looked at the insurance data of thousands of patients with type 2 diabetes in the US who were prescribed these medications.
📢The Big Finding (The "Head-to-Head"❗️)
So, what did they find when they compared them directly❓️ Drumroll... 🥁
The study found that tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and semaglutide (Ozempic) have a comparable cardiovascular benefit.
In plain English: both drugs appear to be equally effective at protecting patients with type 2 diabetes from heart attacks 🫀 and strokes 🧠.
This is great news❗️ It shows that in the real world, both of these powerful medication classes are showing significant heart-protective benefits, supporting what we've seen in their individual trials.
This is the kind of research that helps us make better, more informed decisions with our patients every day❗️ 🩺
I saw this reported in the The Times of India, but I always like to go straight to the source. A big thank you to the researchers for this important work.
Sources:
📰 News Summary: The Times of India
📖 Original Study: Krüger, N., Schneeweiss, S., et al. (2025). "Cardiovascular outcomes of semaglutide and tirzepatide for patients with type 2 diabetes in clinical practice." Nature Medicine.
(⚠️Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. These medications are not right for everyone and require a doctor's supervision. Always talk to your own doctor about your specific health needs❗️)

16/11/2025

Good morning and Happy Sunday‼️🌞 Here’s a health tip to start your day. ☀️
Did you know your eyes 👁️ are often one of the first places to show warning signs of diabetes❓️
It's true. High blood sugar (even in the pre-diabetes stage) can silently damage the tiny, delicate blood vessels in your eyes. Catching these signs early is key to protecting your vision❗️
Here are some of the first signs your eyes might be warning you about diabetes:
🔵 Blurry Vision 🤔: This is a classic early sign. High sugar can cause fluid shifts that make the lens of your eye swell, making it hard to focus. You might just think you need new glasses, but it could be unstable blood sugar.
🔵 Frequent Vision Changes 👓: Is your vision sometimes clear and other times hazy❓️ These fluctuations can be a sign that blood glucose levels are affecting your eye's ability to focus.
🔵 "Floaters" or Dark Spots ⚫: Seeing new floaters, dark spots, or flashes of light can be a serious warning. It can signal diabetic retinopathy, which is damage to the blood vessels in the retina.
🔵 Trouble Seeing at Night 🌃: If you find it harder to see in dim light or if driving at night is more difficult, it could be due to sugar-related damage to the light-sensitive cells in your retina.
🔵 Eye Discomfort or Pressure 😫: Diabetes increases the risk of glaucoma (high pressure in the eye). This can sometimes cause discomfort, redness, or seeing halos around lights.
🔵 Slow Healing (Even on Your Eyes) 🩹: Diabetes slows down your body's healing. If you notice slow-healing wounds, frequent styes, or redness around the eyes, it's worth getting checked out.
The Bottom Line
Your eyes are windows to your overall health❗️ 🪟 If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, don't wait. An eye exam (especially a dilated one) can spot evidence of diabetes, sometimes even before you have other symptoms.
Early detection is the best way to protect your sight‼️
(⚠️Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always talk to your own doctor or eye doctor if you have concerns about your vision or health❗️)

The Times of India
SOURCE: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/diabetes-the-first-signs-your-eyes-might-be-warning-you-about-diabetes/photostory/125315847.cms