Jennifer Brown, MD

The rural health clinic where I practice as a family physician is located in an area with one of the highest rates of cardiovascular disease in the country. Most of my patients are women, and many of them have unhealthy lifestyles. It’s sad, but not surprising, when a woman who doesn’t take good care of her health has a heart attack.It’s more disconcerting, however, when a seemingly healthy woman has an unexpected heart attack or stroke, as I’ve witnessed too many times.The problem is, almost ha...

Last month, a patient in my clinic, who was recovering from opioid addiction, became irate after being denied a prescription for pain medication. He became verbally abusive, cursing me and threatening legal action. When asked to leave the room, he swung his cane at me (he missed), pushed me against the wall, and left, all the while shouting threats. His parting shot was “I know where you live.”Last week, a man walked into a nearby emergency room, demanding immediate treatment. As he was being tr...

IntroductionAntibiotic resistance is one of the most significant public health threats worldwide, according to the  World Health Organization. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria mutate to evade the antibiotic’s killing power, rendering the antibiotic ineffective. One of the primary drivers of this resistance is the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that around 30% of all antibiotic prescriptions in the US are unnecessary.Simply stated, ant...

As a kid growing up in the 80s, my mom always had a Kool-Aid Man pitcher full of red punch in the fridge. It was a cool refresher for me, my brothers, and all the neighborhood kids after a game of backyard kickball. Once we hit our teenage years, the red Kool-Aid was replaced with Mountain Dew. Somehow, it seemed more grown-up to drink soda instead of red Kool-Aid. At the time, we weren’t aware of the health consequences of all those sugary drinks.Many people today are still unaware. Americans,...

Snoring due to sleep apnea is one of the top reasons couples opt for a “sleep divorce”, a decision made by romantic partners to sleep in separate beds to ensure quality sleep. Meanwhile, sleep apnea — breathing pauses and gasping in those who snore heavily — is becoming more common as obesity rates soar. It negatively affects physical health, mental well-being, and the quality of relationships with loved ones.As a family doc for more than 20 years, I’ve spent my career treating chronic diseases...

When I walk up steps these days, my left knee crunches. It’s a bit disconcerting. If I hike too far or sit in the wrong position for too long, my knee swells and aches. I have osteoarthritis in that knee, but I can’t write it off as part of the normal aging process.Osteoarthritis has long been thought to be caused by repetitive mechanical stress on our joints as we age. The prevailing theory has been that the cushioning cartilage in our joints breaks down by daily microtrauma, until eventually w...