Mark* thought managing his psoriatic arthritis was enough—until his labs told a different story. For years, Mark did everything he could to keep his psoriatic arthritis under control. He took his medications, went to medical appointments, and didn’t use tobacco products. He figured that as long as his joints weren’t flaring, he was doing okay. But as we reviewed the labs from his annual checkup, the numbers weren’t what he wanted: 📉 His good cholesterol was low.📈 His A1c was in prediabetes...
3 days ago • 2 min read
Lisa* thought she had her autoimmune symptoms under control—until perimenopause For years, she managed her fatigue, joint pain, and brain fog with a solid routine. She avoided inflammatory foods, prioritized sleep, and followed her doctor’s treatment plan. But then, things began to change. Some months, right before her period, it felt like her body was betraying her. Her fatigue became unbearable, her joints ached more than usual, and her brain fog made even simple tasks overwhelming. She...
10 days ago • 3 min read
For years, Megan* thought her rheumatoid arthritis flares were random. During a flare, she woke up exhausted no matter how much she slept. Her joints were stiff and ached every day for hours. She felt like she was twice her age due to hobbling around the morning and being slow to get going. And the bloating? Some days, it made her look six months pregnant. Her doctors said it was "part of having an autoimmune disease." By the time I met her, she was miserable multiple days each month despite...
17 days ago • 2 min read
For years, Sarah* knew something wasn’t right. She was exhausted—more than "I need another cup of coffee" tired. Some days, she struggled to get out of bed. Her joints ached, the rashes showed up at the worst times, her stomach was unpredictable, and the brain fog made it impossible to focus. Doctor after doctor told her iterations of the same thing: "Your labs are normal... Your stress levels are high… Try exercising more… go on a retreat…get more rest...” She was prescribed antidepressants,...
24 days ago • 1 min read
Misconceptions about autoimmune diseases can delay diagnosis and proper treatment. Emma* always thought autoimmune diseases were rare—until she got diagnosed with one. For years, she brushed off her exhaustion as stress. The joint pain? Normal aging. The fatigue? Maybe stress or poor sleep. Every doctor visit ended the same: "Your labs look fine." When I shared with her that she had Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, she was stunned. "I thought autoimmune diseases were rare," she said. "And aren't they...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, Sarah* sat across from me, arms crossed, frustration written all over her face. “Dr. Loden, I work out every day. I spend an hour on the treadmill or elliptical, I hit my step goals, and my Apple Watch says my heart rate zones are great. But my recent labs showed insulin resistance, and now you’re telling me my heart isn’t as healthy as I thought?” I could tell she was frustrated. She wasn’t running marathons. She wasn’t overtraining. She was doing exactly what most people are...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Dear Reader, Nathan* sat in my office, arms crossed, a skeptical look on his face. “I don’t know if I agree with you. I’ve never been overweight a day in my life. So why are you telling me I’m at risk for heart disease?” It was the same conversation I’ve had with so many patients. Nathan didn’t smoke. His prior doctors had never mentioned high cholesterol. He went to the gym a couple of times a week. By all appearances, he was the picture of good health. But his labs told a very different...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Dear Reader, Jane* sat across from me, her hands clenched in her lap. It was the first time we were meeting and she had recently experienced a heart attack. Her voice was shaky as she spoke. “I don’t understand. I’ve always taken care of myself. I eat healthy, I exercise, I don't smoke, and my cholesterol is normal. So how could this happen?” I let her words settle in the room for a moment before responding. “Jane, I hear this story all the time. And you’re right—it doesn’t make sense if...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader, I never expected to uncover my own risk for heart disease in pregnancy. But that’s exactly what happened. You can hear my story HERE in a TEDx talk I gave in 2024. During my pregnancies, I developed insulin resistance, then later preeclampsia with severe features. At the time, I was told these were pregnancy complications—but what I wasn’t told was that they were also serious warning signs for future diabetes, heart disease, dementia, kidney disease, and early death. No one...
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
Laura's ear pain was not on the agenda for her day. Let me introduce you to "Laura" (not her real name), Tom's older sister. Laura is a 45-year-old busy professional who prides herself on staying active and maintaining a packed schedule. So when she woke up with sharp pain in her left ear after a few days of battling cold symptoms, which she blamed her brother for sharing with her over the holidays, she was not happy. “It’s an ear infection,” she told herself as she pressed a warm compress to...
2 months ago • 3 min read