John L. Owens, DO, Utica Park Clinic

08/20/2025

I have no voice tonight so can’t make a reel, but I wanted to thank all my prayer warriors. The news I received tonight gave me God-bumps. He never ceases to amaze me when I see his plans unfold! He’s preparing a testimony!

08/17/2025

Excess sugar may be deadlier for your heart than cholesterol itself. A landmark 15-year study published in JAMA Internal Medicine has revealed that consuming high levels of added sugar more than doubles the risk of dying from heart disease—even if you are not overweight.

The study followed thousands of adults and found the danger persisted regardless of age, s*x, weight, physical activity, or cholesterol levels. Those who got 25% or more of their daily calories from added sugar were over twice as likely to die from heart disease compared with those consuming less than 10%.

Sugar-sweetened beverages emerged as the biggest culprit, accounting for more than a third of added sugar in the average American diet. Other sources include desserts, candy, breakfast cereals, and fruit drinks. Researchers suggest that excess sugar raises blood pressure and prompts the liver to release harmful fats into the bloodstream—both of which heighten cardiovascular risk.

The American Heart Association warns that women should limit added sugar to 6 teaspoons (100 calories) per day and men to 9 teaspoons (150 calories). Yet just one can of soda can meet or exceed this daily limit. Experts recommend swapping sugary drinks for fruit-infused sparkling water and choosing naturally sweetened or unsweetened foods to safeguard heart health.

Source: Yang Q, Zhang Z, Gregg EW, Flanders WD, Merritt R, Hu FB. Added Sugar Intake and Cardiovascular Diseases Mortality Among US Adults. JAMA Intern Med. 2014;174(4):516–524.

08/16/2025

08/14/2025

hack

08/14/2025

I see many people who take Vitamin D3 10,000 units daily, or have been prescribed Vitamin D2 50,000 twice weekly by a specialist, but they aren’t being monitored. Vitamins A/D/E/K should be monitored with periodic labs while taking high dose supplementation. Studies have shown Vitamin D3 to be safe up to 5000IU daily for up to 18 months, so annual monitoring should suffice. Higher dosing of vitamin D, and the other vitamins, might warrant labs every 3-6 months.

Excessive vitamin D intake triggers severe hypercalcemia and kidney injury in otherwise healthy individuals, highlighting the risk for unsupervised supplementation. http://ms.spr.ly/6184su54m

08/14/2025

08/14/2025

08/13/2025

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08/11/2025

When you’re the only family on the plane wearing masks. I sure caught some glares.

08/09/2025

Johns Hopkins Oncology recommendations

08/08/2025

Using my nice gift from a patient to keep my records straight!

01/22/2024

Be careful out there! Due to inclement weather, our office will be opening late today at noon. Morning appointments have been contacted to transfer to video visit, when able.