Dr. Thomas G. Hopkins, MD

11/02/2025

I receive many questions from my patients about Parkinson's disease, and it's understandable why.

As a life-altering and debilitating condition that is unfortunately rising in the US, concerns about lowering risk are real.

While it can be frightening, there are simple lifestyle changes that can help you protect your brain health. This post offers four tips to help lower your risk of Parkinson's.

https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/4-tips-help-lower-your-risk-parkinsons-disease

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 the early phases, symptoms develop slowly, are mild and possibly overlooked. For in...

10/26/2025

Every flu season, I see patients who struggle—some bounce back after a week, while others end up hospitalized for several weeks.

A weaker immune system, not just underlying heart or lung conditions, can lead to serious complications from the flu.

Want to know how to lower your risk of serious illness? Focusing on boosting your T-cells can make a profound difference. Here’s what you need to know.

https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/does-flu-knock-you-out-weeks-boost-your-t-cells

10/19/2025

It's a fact that most cancer cases have a higher survival rate when detected early.

However, with over 200 types of cancer but only five standard early screenings, more than half of all cancers are diagnosed in advanced stages. A new technology is emerging to fill this gap.

Multi-cancer early detection blood tests—or liquid biopsies—are helping provide a more comprehensive approach. If you're curious about this test, let's talk at your next appointment.

https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/what-are-multi-cancer-early-detection-blood-tests

10/12/2025

For years, I've talked to my patients about the benefits of a Mediterranean diet, and olive oil is a key ingredient.

With the recent boom in popularity, there are so many options to choose from that it can be a bit overwhelming.

But don't worry, picking the right one doesn't have to be confusing! Here are some simple tips to help you make an easier, more informed choice.

https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/3-tips-buying-olive-oil

You may have noticed how big the olive oil section of your supermarket has become. Olive oil consumption almost doubled from 1990 to 2021 and brands are offering olive oil at different price points and styles to keep up with the demand.Its popularity as a cooking oil began taking off in the 1980s af...

10/05/2025

I've had a few patients tell me they're skipping their flu shot this year because it didn't seem to work for them in the past.

It's true that a flu shot isn't 100% effective, but it's still the best way to lower your risk of getting sick. So why doesn't it always prevent the flu?

I'm breaking down three key reasons in this post:
https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/3-reasons-you-might-catch-flu-despite-getting-flu-shot

Have you (or someone you know) sworn off getting a flu shot because it didn’t work? Sometimes, flu shots aren’t 100 percent effective, but they are considered the best method of flu prevention, lowering your risk of getting sick between 40 and 60 percent. Why aren’t flu shots completely reliab...

09/28/2025

You've probably heard the term "cognitive impairment" before, and sadly, it's something many of my patients are dealing with.

What you might not know is that there are different types of impairment. This post offers a brief overview of the different forms.

If you're concerned about your cognitive health, let's talk about it at your next appointment.
https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/different-types-cognitive-impairment-mci-dementia

Learn more about the different types of cognitive impairments and how these brain health issues can impair a person’s ability to function.

09/21/2025

I often remind my patients that their overall health is directly tied to their gut health. When your gut isn't properly cared for, you may gain weight, get sick more often, or have digestive issues.

Your gut has so many responsibilities, and factors like stress, poor nutrition, and dehydration can affect how it functions.

Want to learn more about the profound connection between your gut and your total well-being? Click here!
https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/how-your-gut-health-influences-your-overall-health

It makes sense that if we have an unhealthy gut, we’ll have gastrointestinal issues. But sometimes we forget that what we eat affects our entire body – not just our gut. How does the gut have so much influence over our health?

09/14/2025

A healthy gut is more than just what you eat! While diet plays a crucial role, three other key factors influence your gut health. Watch this video, where Dr. Andrea Klemes, chief medical officer at MDVIP, reveals the surprising connections between your gut and your lifestyle.

https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/3-things-besides-diet-can-improve-gut-health

Learn how sleep, exercise, and stress management can transform your digestive health. Watch the full video to discover how to nurture your gut from the inside out!

The food you eat is key to your gut health — but it’s not the only important thing. Exercise, sleep and stress also play an important role. Watch the video above to find out how.

09/07/2025

I want my patients to exercise, eat gut-friendly foods, and get enough rest—yet, they still struggle with gut health issues.

Why? I think in some cases, it’s the medications they take. Do you take medicines that upset your gut health? Click here to find out: https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/these-medications-mess-your-gut-biomes-0

Gut health is a relatively new line of research. As more and more studies are published, experts realize that gut microbiota function like an organ. And like other organs, it’s affected by what you ingest. While you’re probably aware your diet can affect biomes, you may not have thought about me...

08/31/2025

My patients complain to me that the high temperatures and stifling humidity of summer can make exercising outdoors much more difficult. If outdoor workouts are your "thing", here are five tips that I share with my patients to beat the summer heat and make your outdoor workouts safer!

https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/5-tips-survive-hot-summer-workouts

It’s mid-summer, 90 degrees and humid, but you want to work out and you prefer doing it outdoors. Treadmills really aren’t your thing – you feel like a hamster walking or running on one. You’re probably aware summer heat raises your risk for sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat str...

08/24/2025

Struggling with gut health? The answer might be on your plate! I talk to my patients all the time about the power of food to transform gut health, and it's incredible the difference it can make. Prebiotic and probiotic foods are key players in building a healthy gut microbiome.

Wondering what to eat? Think beyond yogurt and fermented foods!
Want to learn more about foods that can make a real difference? Watch the full video to get more tips for a healthier gut.

https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/foods-encourage-gut-health

Over the last few years, you’ve probably heard a lot about gut health and the microbiome – the collection of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in our gut. Science is just starting to understand the importance of multiplying the good bacteria in our gut, which help with decreasing infla...

08/10/2025

Struggling to get a good night's sleep? For many Americans, that's directly tied to stress, as a recent Gallup poll highlighted. The combination of insomnia and stress can be really problematic. If stress is keeping you awake, please talk to me about it, and check out these helpful tips.

If you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, chances are you’re stressed. Stress is another public health issue plaguing America. In fact, more than 25% of American adults reporting being so stressed that they can’t function, according to a poll conducted by the American Psychological A...