Jennifer Brown, MD

Nearly 12% of US adults have Type 2 diabetes, while one in three US adults has prediabetes — abnormally high blood sugar levels that aren’t elevated enough to be classified as diabetes but are still worrisome. That’s an astounding 136 million people in the US who are affected by high blood sugar.I’m a family physician practicing in West Virginia, which has the highest rate of diabetes in the country. One of the most vital aspects of my job is identifying patients with elevated blood sugar levels...

Menopause wreaks havoc on the lives of many women. Soaking hot flashes, restless nights, and inexplicable mood swings become the new norm for many during midlife.On top of that, declining hormone levels alter women’s body composition, leading to excess abdominal fat and a loss of muscle. All these changes are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and early death.As an obesity medicine doc, I frequently hear frustration about weight gain from my menopausal patients: “I sw...

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...

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...