Dr. Sharon A. Scanlon, MDVIP

09/11/2025

Today we reflect on the victims of 9/11 and their families.

09/09/2025

For years, I’ve encouraged my patients to adopt a Mediterranean style of eating, which includes olive oil. However, olive oil consumption almost doubled between 1990 and 2021, leading to brands offering olive oil at different price points and styles to keep up with the demand. The overwhelming number varieties has made it difficult to select the most appropriate olive oil for you. Here are some tips to make buying olive oil easier. https://bit.ly/42bX3SU

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...

09/04/2025

I talk about prebiotic and probiotic foods with my patients, particularly those struggling with their gut health, because adding these foods to your diet can make a difference. If you would like to learn more about foods that encourage gut health, watch this video.

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 i...

09/02/2025

Many of my patients are dealing with stress-induced insomnia. But they’re not alone. A recent report found that American adults are more stressed and sleeping less. Here are some tips and tricks that I’ve taught my patients that can help ease your stress and get better sleep. Do you struggle with insomnia? Do you have advice for others?
https://bit.ly/4mhrSgK

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 co...

08/28/2025

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 medications that upset your gut health?

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 affec...

08/26/2025

I always encourage my patients to make a healthy diet, exercise and stress management part of their everyday lives. However, I realize these wellness tactics are difficult and huge commitments. Fortunately, there are some easier wellness tactics that are just as important and that you can take to help maintain your wellness beyond 60. Share your favorite personal wellness tactic.

We often think of prevention from the perspective of youth. If we had started eating healthy in our 20s, if we had built strong exercise habits in our 30s, if we had maintained a healthy weight in our 40s ... While we can do a lot of good -- or bad -- w...

08/21/2025

I have many conversations with my patients about heart disease. Afterall, it’s the leading cause of death and the number of cases is rising. In fact, heart disease should affect 60% of American adults by 2050. But it’s a largely preventable condition. Here are some tips to lower your risk factors for heart disease.

It's not news that heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the U.S. for more than a century. And despite public health efforts to lower heart disease rates in the U.S., it continues to lead in mortality causes. In fact, within the next 30 y...

08/19/2025

Many women in my practice use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to ease menopause symptoms. Of course, HRT is not right for every woman, particularly if breast, ovarian or endometrial cancer, stroke or blood clots are a risk. If they are, you might instead take supplements. But should they? Do you use menopause related supplements? Do you think they’re effective?

In 1942, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals introduced the first hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women going through menopause. Over the intervening decades, doctors have gone back and forth on the safety and efficacy of using HRT to treat symptoms like hot fl...

08/12/2025

When I talk to my patients about gut health, their first thoughts are about foods that can affect it. And they’re correct, the food you eat plays a huge role in your gut health. However, there are at least three other variables that also make a difference. Watch this video, featuring my colleague, Dr. Andrea Klemes, chief medical officer, MDVIP, to learn more. https://bit.ly/46LesVF

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 i...

08/07/2025

Our cognitive skills decline as we age. Our brain processes and retrieves information at a slower pace, and our memories falter. But there are tactics you can use to keep your brain healthier for longer. Here’s what I tell my patients.

Keith Richards once described getting old as “fascinating.” “The older you get, the older you want to get.”Richards, who recently turned 80, may be fascinated, but many of the rest of us are worried about aging and the challenges that come with it. In f...

08/05/2025

I warn my patients to limit their processed foods. Many brands use questionable ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, excessive salt and added sugars. There’s also a wide range of preservatives used -- some are deemed safe, while others should be avoided. Here are five preservatives that may have ties to cancer.

Processed foods can be a double-edge sword. On one hand, they're easy, convenient time savers. But they are often made with questionable ingredients, from high fructose corn syrup, excessive salt and added sugars.

07/31/2025

If you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, there’s a good chance it’s related to stress. In fact, the combination of insomnia and stress is problematic for many Americans, according to a recent Gallup poll. If stress is keeping you up at night, talk to me about it and check out these 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 co...