If you’re dealing with asthma for the first time, let me just say: you’re not alone, and you’re not crazy for feeling a little overwhelmed. When I first started working as a pulmonary nurse practitioner, I met so many patients who had the same wide-eyed expression the moment they were diagnosed. That sudden fear of…
If you’ve ever found yourself reaching for a warm bowl of oatmeal in the morning, thinking it’s a “safe” and gentle option for your gut—only to end up feeling that annoying burn in your chest—you’re not alone. Believe me, I’ve been there. As a Medical Assistant working in a Gastroenterology clinic, I’ve had countless patients…
Can rheumatoid arthritis affect your bladder? It’s not a question I get every day, but when I do, the look on a patient’s face tells me everything — surprise, worry, and a tinge of “why hasn’t anyone mentioned this before?” As a rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve seen first-hand how RA can show up in places…
If you’ve been dealing with rheumatoid arthritis for a while, like many of my patients—and honestly, like some of the nurses I’ve worked with too—you probably already know how something as simple as opening a jar or typing can turn into a full-on battle. One of the game-changers I often recommend to patients is finding…
Can emotional stress worsen asthma? That’s a question I’ve heard countless times from my patients—and it’s one I take seriously as a pulmonary nurse practitioner. Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how deeply our emotional well-being is tied to our physical health. Stress doesn’t just mess with your mood or sleep; it can hit your…
Can rheumatoid arthritis affect your hearing? It’s not the first question most people think of when RA comes up in conversation, but believe me—after years of sitting across from patients, I’ve learned that rheumatoid arthritis can sneak up in some pretty surprising ways. As a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve had patients walk in worried about…
If you’ve ever wondered, can asthma cause heart rhythm issues?, you’re not alone—and as a pulmonary nurse practitioner, I’ve seen this question come up more often than you’d think. It’s one of those lesser-discussed intersections between the lungs and the heart that catches patients off guard. They come in thinking their palpitations are strictly cardiac,…
If you’ve ever spent a night sitting upright on your couch, clutching your chest and wondering if that third slice of pepperoni pizza was worth it—hey, you’re not alone. Working as a Medical Assistant in a Gastroenterology Clinic, I’ve seen more than my fair share of folks asking the same thing: what worsens acid reflux?…
If you’ve ever wondered why your home blood pressure readings never quite match up with what we see in the clinic, you’re not alone. As an internal medicine physician who spends a good chunk of time helping patients get their hypertension under control, I can’t count how many times I’ve had to explain that not…