Ever wondered why your blood pressure acts weird when you’re hiking up in the mountains or spending a week at a ski resort? I’ve had patients tell me they feel completely off—lightheaded, pulsing headaches, or like their heart’s racing out of the blue. BP symptoms at high altitudes are more common than most folks realize,…
If you’ve been navigating the rollercoaster ride of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you’ve probably wondered more than once, “Is my food making this worse?” As a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve had more patients ask me about foods that trigger RA flares than almost anything else. And let me tell you—diet can absolutely make a difference. The…
It’s something I’ve seen again and again in my clinic—women, often in their 30s to 50s, coming in with symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), only to reveal they’ve recently gone through a major hormonal shift. Whether it’s postpartum changes, perimenopause, or even thyroid imbalances, there’s a *clear pattern* I can’t ignore. The RA and hormone…
If you’re anything like me, juggling work at a gastroenterology clinic and trying to feed a family with sensitive stomachs, you probably know the struggle of finding meals that *won’t* cause discomfort later. That’s why I’ve become a little obsessed with discovering easy, tasty, and GERD friendly casseroles for family dinners. They’re cozy, filling, and…
Hey there, I’m Bianca — a pulmonary nurse practitioner who’s spent countless hours with patients managing everything from chronic coughs to full-blown respiratory crises. And one thing I’ve seen over and over? Our lungs are seriously underrated when it comes to self-care. We focus on detoxing our gut, liver, skin… but what about our lungs?…
Living with GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) isn’t always a picnic, especially when you’re staring down the snack table at a party, trying to decode which dips will love you back and which ones will come with a side of heartburn. GERD safe dips and spreads might not sound thrilling at first, but trust me—there are…
If you’ve ever hobbled out of bed in the morning, cringing with every step because of stiff, aching feet, then you know the struggle is real. As a rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve seen countless patients battle the daily challenge of finding the best footwear for RA feet. Heck, I’ve even tried out a few pairs…
If you’ve ever asked yourself, can asthma cause excess saliva?—you’re definitely not alone. Working as a pulmonary nurse practitioner, I’ve had patients bring this up more than a few times, often with a tone of quiet embarrassment. It’s one of those symptoms that doesn’t get talked about much but can be surprisingly frustrating. Let’s dig…
If you’re living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you already know how important it is to manage daily tasks in ways that protect your joints and reduce pain. Cleaning the house, for example, can quickly become a challenge when stiffness and fatigue set in. From my experience as a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve seen how simple…