Dear Dr. Jen, What should my goal HDL or “good” cholesterol be? Answer: The higher, the better! For men, the HDL cholesterol should be 40 or higher. For women, the HDL cholesterol should be 50 or higher. HDL cholesterol helps remove bad cholesterol, so healthy amounts of HDL cholesterol is good for the heart. On […]
Dear Dr. Jen, What can I do to improve my HDL “good” cholesterol? Answer: Eat more foods rich in HDL cholesterol, such as certain nuts, fish, and seeds. I’ve included a picture here, detailing more foods that help increase HDL cholesterol. Also, exercising regularly and losing weight can help improve your HDL level. Omega-3 supplements […]
Dear Dr. Jen, The flu is still going around. Is it true that you aren’t contagious if you take Tamiflu? Answer: If you have the flu, you are contagious starting from one day PRIOR to symptoms, and up to SEVEN days after the onset of symptoms. If you take Tamiflu, it does not make you […]
Dear Dr. Jen, What is a healthy weight for my body? Answer: There are a lot of different parameters you can measure- waist circumference, body fat percentage, body mass index, etc. Body mass index is the most commonly used gauge for assessing whether or not your weight falls in a healthy range. It is based […]
Dear Dr. Jen, I am a former smoker. Will Medicare cover lung cancer screening? Answer: Medicare Part B covers a lung cancer screening with Low Dose Cat Scan once per year. Criteria include: You are age 55-77. You don’t have signs or symptoms of lung cancer. You are either a current smoker or have quit […]
Dear Dr. Jen, I was told my fasting blood sugar of 105 is just borderline high. Should I be worried? Answer: Yes. Your fasting blood sugar falls in the range of prediabetes! A fasting blood sugar between 100-126 is considered to be in the prediabetes range. Prediabetes puts you at increased risk for diabetes, heart […]
Dear Dr. Jen, What can I take for my insomnia? I want to take something natural. Answer: Melatonin helps! Melatonin is a hormone made by the pineal gland, which is in the brain. Melatonin helps your body with the sleep/wake cycle. As the amount of ambient light decreases, your body makes more melatonin. Melatonin levels […]
