Dr. Jennifer Hollywood, MD

02/24/2026

February is American Heart Month, a good time to discuss heart health issues. My patients are aware of the connection between their body composition, diet, sleep habits, fitness routine, smoking status, stress level and alcohol consumption and their heart health. What many of them don’t realize is the connection between heart disease and breast cancer. Here’s what you need to know.

It’s not news that heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of death worldwide. However, what is new is the connection found between heart disease and breast cancer, a leading form of cancer.

02/10/2026

I regularly educate my patients on the importance of good quality sleep. Sleep affects many processes, including blood pressure control. Interestingly, sleep quality affects men’s and women’s blood pressure differently. Here’s more information.

You’re probably aware getting enough sleep is essential to overall health and well-being. Sleep helps lower blood pressure and inflammation, regulate metabolism and insulin uptake and reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke. This is why sleep deprivation is linked to obesity, heart disease, ty...

02/09/2026

Observances

2/14 Valentine’s Day

I encourage my patients to exercise and manage their stress to control their blood pressure. But just thinking of your significant other also helps, according to a recent study. Happy Valentine’s Day. Here’s what you need to know.

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...

10/16/2025

Some of my patients ask a lot of questions about Parkinson’s disease, which is understandable. It’s a life-altering, debilitating disease that’s been rising in the US. Here are 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...

07/08/2025

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.

07/03/2025

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!

06/19/2025

Extreme heat can be problematic for your health, especially if you’re active outdoors. At the beginning of each summer, I tell my patients how important it is to prevent heat-related issues. Here’s what I tell them.

Summer 2023 was the hottest summer on record, according to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (more commonly known as NASA). And summer 2024 is on track to beat it.

06/10/2025

Many of my patients are very conscious about germs, regularly using hand sanitizers, wipes and cleaners at home and while on the go. But do these precautions help prevent illness? Not necessarily. Here’s what you need to know.

Many of us take active measures to control our exposure to germs. This includes carrying hand sanitizer, cleaning public spaces with antiseptic wipes and stocking our homes with antibacterial soap.

06/03/2025

Weight loss is a top concern in my practice. Many patients can drop some weight after making some simple lifestyle changes. But sometimes, lifestyle changes aren’t enough. There’s a deeper issue involved, for example, gut health. Here’s how your gut biome can affect your weight.

You’ve cleaned-up your diet, cut your calories and ramped up your workouts, but the scale still hasn’t budged. We all know that managing weight can be a difficult, complex process. And experts still don’t have all the answers. But a new weight management variable has caught the attention of re...

05/19/2025

Rice is staple in many countries, but it can be controversial in the U.S. because it's so highly processed. But rice also is gluten-free, and rich in vitamins, minerals and flavonoids – plant pigments with possible anti-cancer properties. There are many varieties, and some are healthier than others. Here are some tips I share with my patients on choosing healthier rice.

More than 50 percent of the world’s population relies on rice. It’s a staple in more than 100 countries because it’s affordable, convenient and versatile, lending itself to many different dishes and types of meals.Generally, rice is gluten-free, high in carbohydrates, with some fiber and prote...

05/14/2025

Many of my patients admit they eat junk food. While I encourage you to limit unhealthy foods as much as possible, the truth is I also indulge from time to time. In fact, most Americans do, and it’s often triggered by cravings. But there are some tips you can try to help control these cravings. Here’s what you need to know.

It’s not news that eating junk food can raise the risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, gut health issues, heart health issues, depression, some cancers and dementia.

04/08/2025

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/lower-ldl-critical-importance-reducing-dementia-risk-2025a10007yb?ecd=WNL_tp54u_JRNE_pos2_250408_etid7347005&uac=4756MR&impID=7347005

For all you statin haters, here's a study that shows lower LDL decreases your risk for dementia. It also shows that statins lower that risk even further. Statins do something that not even diet and exercise can accomplish. Goal LDL is under 70.

LDL levels below 70 mg/dL are tied to a lower risk of developing dementia in general and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia in particular.