Mark J. Fleschler, MD, FACP

02/06/2024

Catching the flu may have more serious consequences than a few weeks in bed: It can trigger heart attacks, according to a study published by The New England Journal of Medicine. Here’s what you need to know.

Catching the flu may have more serious consequences than a few weeks in bed: It can trigger heart attacks. Medical experts have long suspected a connection between the flu (and other respiratory illnesses) and heart attacks for years but weren’t able to confirm it until a recent study published by...

02/06/2024

I encourage my patients to exercise and manage their stress to control their blood pressure. But a recent study suggests you can accomplish the same by just thinking of your significant other. Happy Valentine’s Day! Read more about this study.

Stress -- you can’t escape it. And it can wreak havoc on blood pressure. Exercise, meditation and hobbies are common, effective stress busters. So is having a social support system of friends and relatives. But if they’re not available, having your significant other present – even if it’s on...

01/28/2024

Arthritis is a debilitating condition that involves inflamed joints. There are many types of arthritis; however, the two most common types -- rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) – can be eased with selfcare. Here are a few suggestions.

Arthritis is a condition involving inflammation of the joints that can cause debilitating pain. There are many types of arthritis; however, two of the most common include rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).

01/28/2024

Respiratory infections are on the rise this winter. While flu and COVID numbers are increasing so is a lesser-known virus -- respiratory syncytial virus (or RSV). You’re probably familiar with flu and COVID complications. But what do you know about RSV?

Learn more about the Tripledemic Virus and explore ways to prevent the illnesses. Guard your health by taking precautions against the Flu, RSV, and COVID.

12/31/2023

12/31: If you have a history of drinking a little too much as you ring in the new year, you might plan on easing your throbbing head, bed spins and sick stomach with a hangover patch. If yes, here’s what you need to know.

It’s 5 o’clock on a Friday and a long-discussed pub crawl with friends kicks off in a few hours. Someone suggested a few breweries to check out. A trendy new bar made the must-visit list, too, along with a few old favorites. The more you think o

09/23/2023

08/12/2023

I advise many of my patients to take vitamin D. When most people link vitamin D with bone health, as they should. But this nutrient also contributes as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotector, which means it can contribute to brain health. In fact, a recent study linked low vitamin D levels to dementia and stroke. Here’s what you need to know.

Discover the important functions that Vitamin D provides to your body. Explore tips to avoid dementia risks that Vitamin D deficiency can lead to. Learn more.

08/12/2023

Many of my patients complain about exercising. But it’s a key ingredient of your lifespan and health span, which refers to the years of our lives we live without chronic disease and are in good health. Learn how working out can help you feel better each day.

While any exercise is important for good health, discover how research shows that altering your exercise routine can increase your lifespan. Learn more.

07/31/2023

Most of my patients are coffee drinkers and some of them wonder if it’s harming their health. Coffee can cause insomnia, raise heart rates and upset stomachs. But it’s also tied to a lower the risk for type 2 diabetes, skin cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, liver disease and obesity. And if you take it unsweetened, it may lower your risk of death. Before you quit coffee, here’s what you need to know.

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the United States. Americans drink about 400 million cups of coffee every day. That’s more coffee than soda, juice and tea combined.

07/21/2023

I’m a big proponent of walking. Walking helps control various conditions. But many of my patients often ask me if they really need to walk 10,000 steps a day. Where did this number come from? Here’s what you need to know.

Walking an average of 7,000-10,000 per day can help manage weight, lower blood sugar, lower blood pressure & strengthen your heart. Helping you live longer.

07/21/2023

Type 2 diabetes is very common. In fact, about 10 percent of Americans, including some of my patients, have it. Unfortunately, it can have profound consequences. Genetics are involved, but it’s largely a lifestyle disease. Getting exercise and eating a healthy diet, in particular, can delay and often prevent it. Here’s more information.

Type 2 diabetes is one of the biggest public health issues. About 1 in 10 Americans have type 2 diabetes and a third have pre-diabetes, which if left untreated will become type 2, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The good news is: Eating a healthy diet can lower your...

04/05/2023

Many of my patients are on metformin. Most of them are not thrilled to have type 2 diabetes, but there’s a silver lining. Taking metformin can lower your risk for COVID-19 related complications and death. Here’s what you need to know.
https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/take-metformin-heres-bright-spot-it-can-reduce-risk-death-if-you-have-covid-19-and-diabetes

Recent studies suggest that diabetic patients taking metformin prior to contracting Covid may protect high risk individuals from complications. Learn more!

03/23/2023

You’re probably familiar with the typical risk factors of heart disease – high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol, obesity, stress, poor nutrition, sleep deprivation and sedentary lifestyle. But a commonly overlooked risk factor is oral health. Learn more about the heart health – dental health connection from Alan Reisinger, MD, FACP, MDVIP associate medical director.
https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/why-you-might-want-pay-attention-your-dentist

Having bad teeth has been linked to heart disease. It is important to practice good dental hygiene and schedule regular check ups with your dentist.

03/05/2023

You’re probably familiar with the typical risk factors of heart disease – high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol, obesity, stress, poor nutrition, sleep deprivation and sedentary lifestyle. But a commonly overlooked risk factor is oral health. Learn more about the heart health – dental health connection from Alan Reisinger, MD, FACP, MDVIP associate medical director.

https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/why-you-might-want-pay-attention-your-dentist

Having bad teeth has been linked to heart disease. It is important to practice good dental hygiene and schedule regular check ups with your dentist.

03/05/2023

Right now, I’m preaching the importance of a strong immune system to my patients. Why? We’re in the middle of a tripledemic. It’s still flu season. We’re still dealing with COVID. And RSV cases are higher than usual. Influenza and COVID have vaccines; however, RSV doesn’t. This means prevention relies on lifestyle. Here’s what you need to know.

https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/take-precautions-against-rsv-one-tripledemic-viruses

Learn more about the Tripledemic Virus and explore ways to prevent the illnesses. Guard your health by taking precautions against the Flu, RSV, and COVID.

02/08/2023

Catching the flu may have more serious consequences than a few weeks in bed: It can trigger heart attacks, according to a study published by The New England Journal of Medicine. Here’s what you need to know.
https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/flu-raises-your-risk-heart-attack-seven-days-after-it-strikes

Catching the flu may have more serious consequences than a few weeks in bed: It can trigger heart attacks. Medical experts have long suspected a connection between the flu (and other respiratory illnesses) and heart attacks for years but weren’t able to confirm it until a recent study published by...

01/24/2023

Many of my patients claim they eat a healthy diet; in fact, about 75 percent of Americans make the same claim. But
most of us are still eating too many low-quality carbs and saturated fat. Here are some nutrition red flags to watch
out for. When you’re in the office next, let’s have another conversation about nutrition.
https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/americans-still-eating-too-many-low-quality-carbs-and-too-much-saturated-
fat

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12/18/2022

http://mdvip.mymedicalforum.com/conversation/how-to-enjoy-a-lighter-brighter-hannukah-feast-infographic

Hannukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, features fried foods that recall the oil that miraculously burned in an ancient temple for eight days. You may love your latkes with sour cream. But it’s possible to lighten your menu while still keeping tra

12/12/2022

I preach to my patients to cut back on salt. But many patients have trouble controlling their salt intake because most dietary salt comes from processed and restaurant foods. That’s why the FDA released guidelines to help lower salt consumption. Here’s what you need to know.

https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/fda-introduces-recommendations-help-food-manufacturers-and-restaurants-lower-sodium-foods

Americans love salt. From shaking it on their food to gobbling up salty, prepackaged snacks to dining on sodium-rich restaurant food, it’s a staple of our diet. As a result, the average American consumes about 3,400 mg of salt each day, despite the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommending A...

11/23/2022

11/24 Thanksgiving: From our family to yours, we wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. As tempting as it may be to eat a little too much of your favorite holiday foods, you want to avoid overeating, especially if you are trying to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. Here’s why.
https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/avoid-overeating-ensure-healthier-holiday-season

Holiday celebrations are a tempting trap. Here are some healthy eating tips for anyone whose doctor has warned them to “watch what you eat."

11/04/2022

I always encourage my patients to follow the basic tenets of wellness — get good quality sleep, exercise regularly, manage stress and eat a healthy diet, limit alcohol and avoid to***co. But during cold and flu season, I tend to emphasize these concepts even more, and I add regulate salt to the list. Research now suggests that too much salt can suppress your immune system.

https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/too-much-salt-might-be-impairing-your-immune-system

It doesn’t look like COVID-19 is going away any time soon, which means it’s important to keep your immune system strong. This means getting good quality sleep, exercising regularly, managing stress and eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats.

10/28/2022

on October 28 is also ! recommend celebrating with your favorite chocolate treat.

09/02/2022

Labor Day 9/5: I hope you have a fun, relaxing Labor Day. If you’re grilling out, check out these five tips for healthy summer grilling.
http://mdvip.mymedicalforum.com/conversation/tips-for-healthy-summer-barbecuing-and-grilling

When summer and Fourth of July rolls around, it’s time to fire up the barbecue grill. If you’re like most people, you love the taste of barbecued and grilled foods. On the other hand, grilling isn’t the healthiest cooking method. When yo

06/11/2022

I’ve always encouraged my patients to exercise for many reasons including a strong heart. And while the obvious choice in exercise for a healthy heart is aerobic activity, strength training is just as important and may actually be better for your heart. Here’s what you need to know.
https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/five-myths-about-exercise-and-your-heart-busted

If you’re like most Americans, you probably have a good idea on what types of exercise is good for your heart: running, swimming, bicycling. In short, cardiovascular exercise – and lots of it. But you may be surprised to learn that strength training may actually be better for your heart. Here ar...

05/12/2022

Do you know at what age you should start getting a mammogram? Do you know what pap smears really screen for? When should you get a colonoscopy? These aren’t easy questions to answer for most people. But we’ve got you covered. See what common health screenings women need at every age.
https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/common-womens-medical-tests-and-screenings-age

No woman likes blood draws, annual pap smears, & colonoscopies. However, these tests are key to detecting serious health conditions and determining risk.

05/09/2022

MOTHER’S DAY POST

5/8: The women in our lives are good at taking care of us – whether they’re our partners, mothers or daughters. But they often neglect the most important person when their taking care of all of us: themselves. When it comes to women’s health, there are four important conditions that especially overlooked. Read on to find out what they are and then share this article with the women in your life.

https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/4-health-risks-women-need-be-more-concerned-about

Outside the common health issues women are concerned about, there are 4 others that are often overlooked. Read more about other risks.

04/06/2022

Communication with your doctor is a key factor that contributes to good health. Here are 4 tips to get more out of the time you spend with your doctor.

https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/4-tips-help-your-doctor-take-your-symptoms-seriously

Why are doctors dismissive of their female patients? Learn about the common reasons why and ways to be taken more seriously. Read more!

03/20/2022

It’s been two long years since Covid-19 hit the U.S. Although the worst might be behind us, some remnants of the pandemic remain. Many patients experienced a rise in blood pressure. If you’ve had trouble keeping your blood pressure below 120/80, let’s talk. Here’s what you need to know.
https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/many-americans-deal-high-blood-pressure-result-covid-pandemic

It’s been two long years since Covid-19 hit the U.S. Routines have been completely disrupted. We’ve adopted new lifestyles that involve social distancing, wearing masks and staying home. We skipped doctor appointments, wellness screenings and routine care. Many people lost jobs and businesses. A...

03/07/2022

Many of my patients ask if I think wearing glasses that block blue light can improve their sleep patterns. It’s a fair question given most people are using devices that emit blue light such as smart phones, televisions, electronic notebooks and computers. This blog can help you determine if blue light blocking glasses are worth the investment.
https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/do-you-need-blue-light-blocking-glasses

Glasses for blue light have grown in popularity over the past few years. Discover how blue light affects your eyes and whether you need blue light glasses.

02/15/2022

2/14 Valentine’s Day
I encourage my patients to exercise and manage their stress to control their blood pressure. But apparently, just thinking of your significant other also helps, according to a recent study. Happy Valentine’s Day. Here’s what you need to know.
https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/blog/stressed-out-thinking-your-significant-other-may-help-ease-blood-pressure

Stress -- you can’t escape it. And it can wreak havoc on blood pressure. Exercise, meditation and hobbies are common, effective stress busters. So is having a social support system of friends and relatives. But if they’re not available, having your significant other present – even if it’s on...