Hyon Ju Park, MD

05/04/2024

Nearly 33 million Americans have osteoarthritis. Experts explain how it affects the body, and why it’s so hard to diagnose.

03/07/2024

01/06/2024

We’ve learned plenty about eating well. Here’s the advice we’ll carry with us into 2024.

12/27/2023

Ozempic was everywhere, cottage cheese made a comeback and data piled up on alcohol.

12/25/2023

🎄🌟 Merry Christmas to all who celebrate from Main Line Rheumatology & Osteoporosis! 🎁❤️ Wishing everyone a season filled with good health, joy, and moments that warm the heart. As we celebrate, may your days be merry and your health be strong. Here's to a festive season filled with wellness and cheer! 🎅
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12/14/2023

We're thrilled to announce that our outstanding team at Main Line Rheumatology & Osteoporosis has been recognized as Top Doctors by Main Line Today magazine! Dr. Gary Gordon, MD, FACP, FACR, Dr. Thomas Harder, M.D., Dr. Amy Lundholm, DO, & Dr. Tanya Allawh, DO, have been honored for their excellence in care. These awards are independently selected by a reputable medical research company, connecting patients with top-tier providers. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!

12/07/2023

Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate from Main Line Rheumatology & Osteoporosis! 🕎✨

11/27/2023

Some people experience pain flares from healed injuries or chronic conditions when it’s cold or raining. Are the two actually connected?

11/23/2023

🍂🧡 Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with warmth, gratitude, and cherished moments with loved ones! 🦃✨ At Main Line Rheumatology & Osteoporosis, we're incredibly thankful for each and every one of our patients and their trust in our care.🍂

Happy Thanksgiving from our team to you and your family! 🍁
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11/10/2023

🦵✨ Are your knees feeling the weight of the world? Your knee routinely bears the force of five to eight times your body weight with every step, making it one of the most hardworking joints in your body. It's a remarkable joint designed to withstand millions of steps during a lifetime, but sometimes, all that stress can lead to knee pain and discomfort.

But fret not! The New York Times has unveiled "A User Manual for Your Knees," and it's packed with insights on how to prevent knee pain and alleviate any discomfort you might already be experiencing. 📰💡

At Main Line Rheumatology and Osteoporosis, we're excited to share the wisdom from this incredible guide to help you maintain and restore your knee health. Let's embark on a journey to keep those knees working seamlessly for years to come!

https://www.nytimes.com/article/a-guide-to-your-knees.html

Originally published on March 7, 2019

11/02/2023

Have you ever wondered if you should be taking supplements to improve your health? We're thrilled to share a recent New York Times article titled "Should I Be Taking Supplements?" that sheds light on the potential benefits of supplements.

In this eye-opening article, they mention promising research findings, including a study from 2019 showing the positive impact of supplements on various health conditions. For instance, omega-3 fatty acid supplements have shown to reduce cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, in individuals who rarely consume fatty fish. Additionally, vitamin D supplementation has been linked to a lower risk of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.
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There are thousands on the market, but relatively few situations where they’re proven to be beneficial.

09/27/2023

Weight Loss Therapy

Although treatment for weight loss has typically been done by endocrinologists, the impact of obesity is obvious in terms of cardiovascular disease, stroke as well as weight bearing joint arthritis. There is considerable data that weight loss can improve arthritis in hips and knees.

Initial therapy entails behavioral lifestyle changes, exercise, caloric restriction with as much elimination of sugar as possible. Billions of dollars are spent annually on weight loss programs. Unfortunately the success rate is poor. Bariatric surgery even for adolescents has become a growth industry and it is a generally more successful treatment than the above endeavors. However many of our patients who
have had bariatric surgery regain much of the initial weight loss as they eat smaller amounts of food more frequently.

Drug therapy has historically been problematic. Amphetamines were used 60 years ago and are still taken for weight loss. Many of you may remember “Fen/Phen” which caused weight loss but also was associated with heart valve problems.

Drugs that have been available for diabetes also can cause weight loss and have become popular in the last year. Typically they can cause a 15% weight loss which is sustainable as long as patients remain on medication. If they stop, without behavioral modification, the weight can return. The 2 most popular
drugs which are actually one and the same (semaglutide) are Ozempic and Wegovy. Ozempic is approved for diabetics with a BMI above 26 and Wegovy is approved for weight loss if your BMI is above 30. They are both weekly injections and the dose is typically increased with time. They cannot be used in people with a history of pancreatitis and there is a risk of gallbladder disease from these drugs. The
data strongly indicates that weight loss is associated with a decrease in cardiovascular related disease and stroke. The weight loss drugs, however ,do not help congestive heart failure.

The major side effect from these medications is vomiting which is related to the fact that one of the ways these drugs work is by slowing down the transit of food through your stomach. If you eat when your stomach tells you that it is full, there is literally no place for the food to go other than by vomiting. Being aware of the sensation of fullness largely corrects this problem.

Unfortunately Wegovy is difficult to get currently as it is largely out of stock but will be back by October 2023. Without insurance, these drugs are expensive at approximately $1300 monthly.

There is a more potent drug on the market, Mounjaro (terzepitide) also given by self injection. Some insurance companies have approved it for weight loss and with time, it will become more accepted by other insurance companies. Weight loss from Mounjaro can exceed 20% of total body weight; vomiting can be an issue as would be expected. More drugs can be expected to come to the market in the next
few years.

If you are interested in these medications, you should either talk to your primary care physician, endocrinologist or us at Main Line Rheumatology. 610-896-8400 www.mainlinerheumatology.com
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