Ever found yourself dealing with that uncomfortable, burning sensation in your chest after a bowl of rice? You’re not alone. Heartburn after eating rice might seem unusual at first glance, but in my time working in a busy gastroenterology clinic, I’ve come across more patients than you’d think who face exactly that. Rice might be…
If you’re anything like the patients I see in clinic every week, you’re probably tired of the ups and downs of arthritis. One day, you’re fine, and the next—bam!—your joints are stiff, swollen, and just not cooperating. As a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve had more conversations about flare-ups than I can count. But here’s the…
If you’ve ever felt a burning sensation creeping up your chest after a hearty meal, chances are you’ve brushed against the unpleasant world of GERD symptoms. I’ve worked as a medical assistant in a gastroenterology clinic for a good chunk of my career, and let me tell you—GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) is one of the…
When you think about lifting weights, the first thing that pops into your mind probably isn’t hypertension. But as an internal medicine doc who’s spent years managing blood pressure in patients from all walks of life, I can’t count the number of times I’ve been asked, “Is it safe to lift weights if I have…
If you’re like many of my patients—and honestly, like some of my own family members—you’ve probably typed “Rheumatoid Arthritis relief” into Google more than once, hoping for something real. I get it. As a rheumatology nurse practitioner who’s been in the trenches for years, I’ve seen firsthand how relentless RA can be. The stiffness, the…
If you’ve ever wondered whether high blood pressure and hand numbness are connected, you’re not alone. I get this question often from patients in my internal medicine practice—especially those managing chronic hypertension. It’s easy to dismiss hand numbness as something minor, like sleeping wrong or overusing a keyboard. But when it happens frequently or alongside…
As a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand how chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can significantly affect a person’s quality of life. One of the most challenging symptoms of RA is the persistent joint pain, which can make even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming. While traditional medications play a vital role in managing pain,…
When patients ask me about natural ways to manage their blood pressure, one question I hear more often than you’d expect is, “How does peppermint tea affect blood pressure?” It’s not just trendy health blogs bringing this up—my own patients, from busy professionals to retirees managing their meds, are curious if this refreshing herbal tea…
Can asthma cause chest vibrations? It’s a question I’ve actually been asked a surprising number of times in clinic, and if I’m being honest, it’s not always straightforward. As a pulmonary nurse practitioner, I’ve seen countless patients walk in feeling uneasy about weird, unsettling sensations in their chest. Some describe it as a flutter, others…