Osteopathy, as we know it today, was originally developed by Andrew Taylor Still, an American physician, who, after witnessing many preventable deaths, forged a different path in medicine. Osteopathy is a complementary method to allopathic conventional medicine by employing gentle manipulations of the musculoskeletal system (Burns & Burns, 1997). The...
I want to tell you about a patient of mine who came in last year right around the time we started offering Thermography at SF Advanced Health. For patient confidentiality, this patient’s name will be “Clara”. “Clara” was a 48 year-old female who felt super nervous all the time. She...
Advanced Health has been innovating for years to discover ways to help our patients overcome various ailments and improve their lives. We have a team of specialists to address everything from joint pain to autoimmunity. Last year, we added Thermal Digital Imaging, or Thermography, to our suite of health services....
Cancer doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process that takes several years before one begins experiencing symptoms. If one catches cancer early enough, they can save themselves thousands of dollars in healthcare spending and innumerable pain and suffering. Early detection is ultimately what we need to better control and prevent cancers...
I have written extensively on the type II diabetes epidemic the world is currently up against. For some background information, check out my previous posts: Healthy Guide To Living With Diabetes 5 Most Common Health Problems for Seniors The Truth About Diabetes and How Common It Is Remember, approximately 200...
Do you or someone you love have a thyroid disorder? This disorder, often diagnosed as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, is becoming more and more common. I have written extensively on Hashimoto’s (linked below) and how to treat the root cause since it is a specialty of mine: Understanding Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Bad Guys...
There are a plethora of food additives on the market. Food additives are classified based on the function that they have in food. For example, there are anti-caking and antimicrobial agents, nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners, stabilizers, emulsifying agents, flavorings, and natural and artificial colorants. Food additives are often intended to...
A majority of the scientific literature supports the notion that longevity is associated with low-calorie diets. Yet, the physiological mechanisms behind why low-calorie diets are so therapeutic are only just being understood. You may have heard about “Fasting,” “Intermittent Fasting,” or “Fasting Mimicking Diets.” Technically, fasting can mean any period...
Menopause is a natural process of the human body. It occurs when the ovaries begin to change their function and structure. The follicles of the ovaries begin to dwindle, and we see a shift in the woman’s hormonal balance. Estrogen decreases, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) increase, which...
Advanced Health has been innovating for years to discover ways to help our patients overcome various ailments and improve their lives. Recently, we have added Thermal Digital Imaging, or Thermography, to our suite of health services. Thermography is instrumental in early cancer detection, as well as the diagnosis of chronic pain...
What is happiness and how can we get and keep it? Can happiness be pursued, or does it have to do with our inborn temperament, gender, or race? It's possible that throughout our history, the primary aim of all men has been how to get and keep happiness, and how...
Did you know that healthy breathing is absolutely critical for deep and restorative sleep? It goes without saying that the human body is a powerful machine, capable of achieving incredible things. Cells constantly need oxygen, yet cannot store oxygen for future use (unlike with carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins). Only when...
Healthy diets are known to reduce the risk of developing a host of chronic diseases, running the gamut from metabolic syndrome to cancer, and overall mortality (Esposito & Giugliano, 2005). Adherence to an anti-inflammatory diet like the Mediterranean, for example, is associated with a significant reduction of all-cause and cause-specific...
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). As an IBD diagnosis suggests, there is a marked increase in inflammation within the digestive tract of people with Crohn’s. The inflammation often spreads deep into the layers of affected bowel tissue. The inflammatory nature leads to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea,...
What Does Self Improvement Look Like in the 21st Century? In a world of haves and have nots, it’s natural to grow up desiring what you do not have at a young age. The want for more lingers like a heavy cloud into adolescence, ultimately permeating the day’s thoughts into...
Last month, I wrote briefly on the marketing history and impact of one food item: dairy and estrogen-sensitive cancers. This week, I want you to understand that at the intersection of nutrition and cancer, other dietary factors must be considered. Blood sugar: Both elevated glucose and insulin levels (remember, insulin...
There’s nothing more physically debilitating than pain. Being unable to bend your neck, flex your elbow, or turn your head are extremely unwelcomed experiences in life. Thankfully, at SF Advanced Health we have a multifaceted team that decreases our patient’s pain with a multi-faceted approach. The #1 thing you need...
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) has been one of the most commonly used herbs as the first-line of defense for preventing influenza. But another herb gaining a lot of attention--and for all the right reasons--is black elderberry. Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) has been used for centuries and is another excellent supportive...
We at Advanced Health have been innovating for years to discover ways to help our patients overcome various ailments and improve their lives. Thermal Digital Imaging, or Thermography, is the latest edition to our toolkit. Thermography is instrumental in early cancer detection and with autoimmune disorders, and detecting underlying areas...
Cancer is a deeply personal subject for many people. We all know someone who has developed cancer, or at the very least, has had a cancer scare. But cancer doesn’t spring out of nowhere. There are myriad warning signs that surreptitiously slip by even the most trained eyes. Consider a...
It is well known that the gut is strongly connected to other bodily organs. Increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”) and dysbiosis can cause a myriad of health complaints beyond the gut, and this will be what I focus on at SF Advanced Health’s upcoming seminar on October 16th at 6:30...
Understanding nutrition’s impact on the prevention of allergic diseases, to put it mildly, is biochemically complex and temporally dependent. For example, we know that even before conception, maternal consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids, pre-, and probiotics have a protective role in preventing allergic diseases. In other words, if you really...
Let’s talk about Valsartan. Sold under the trade name Diovan (among others), Valsartan is a medication frequently used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), heart failure, and diabetic kidney disease. Valsartan can also come packaged with other drugs if it’s not enough to treat hypertension: Valsartan + Hydrochlorothiazide, trade name...
While we know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, physicians still debate what causes atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). This “stiffening” gives rise to what we see clinically as heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Approximately one-half of all Americans have...
In an age of misinformation and mistrust, it can be hard to discern reality from make-believe. Yet, we can learn a lot from simply looking at history. Historical facts (i.e. numbers, trends in data, economic profits, etc.) tend to be immune to fabrication. This is true in any context, especially...
Let me be frank. There’s not a day in my practice when I don’t see a patient with multiple health diagnoses. It’s very common, but not overwhelming when you understand the underlying mechanisms of what’s going on. Let me tell you about a recent patient named Susan. Susan came to see...
A recent review has discovered an association between low-dose Aspirin and an increased risk of intracranial bleeding, in individuals with no symptomatic cardiovascular disease. While Aspirin has long been prescribed as preventive against cardiovascular events, the utility has been called into question, and remains controversial, because the risk of intracranial...
Many of us can relate to the idea of not having enough hours in the day. Our task lists and inboxes continue to grow, and many of us are used to feeling as though we’ve been spread too thinly to meet the needs of the day. At Advanced Health, many...
Treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease A 42-year old female patient (hereafter called “Ada” to ensure confidentiality) sought the help of Dr. Payal Bhandari M.D. because she was having severe chronic gastrointestinal discomfort. Ada came to Advanced Health with a desire to learn more about the nutrient-dense foods she could safely incorporate...
Reversing Chronic Pain A 56-year-old male patient (hereafter called “John” to ensure confidentiality) came in to see Dr. Bhandari with chronic hip pain that severely impacted his right hip for over a decade. John knew how to enjoy himself and had a great work-life balance. He usually drank a few...
Reversing the Formation of a Blood Clot A 54 year old male patient (hereafter called “Jack” to ensure confidentiality) was recently diagnosed with a large deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his entire left leg. Jack engaged in daily physical activity, taking his dog on trail walks, visiting the gym weekly,...
There are plenty of reasons why meat alternatives are being developed. Many consumers pursue vegetarian or vegan lifestyles, and for them a faux meat burger is an alluring option. As well, factory farming practices are terribly inefficient, often cruel, and environmentally devastating, so finding plant alternatives is a logical step....
A San Francisco civic ordinance, file #190312, signed by Mayor London Breed effectively bans the sale of e-cigarettes in the city. Unanimously passed by the board of supervisors, this landmark legislation is the first of its kind in the United States. Even though the ruling will not be enforced until...
Historically, plants were the cornerstone for producing medicine. In Western culture, we consider medicine as a product of the pharmaceutical industrial complex. In many other parts of the developing world plants are still primarily used to address health concerns and have often shown to reverse many illnesses without causing side...
Happiness stems from perception: a positive outlook reframes any circumstance, no matter what life throws your way. However, changing your outlook is easier said than done. It's hard and takes a lot of mental work, but practice is key--like anything, of course. And some people are better at being happy...
There are a ton of DNA tests out there that impart information about ancestry, health and wellness, and genetic traits. You’ve likely heard of 23andMe, from either a relative or coworker, at some point. Although the results from tests like this are informative, a true analysis of your genes is...
Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, both associated with pain and fatigue, are chronic conditions requiring ongoing treatment and management. Although these treatments differ, the benefits are effective in managing both conditions. What Are Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia? Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia cause extreme chronic pain and fatigue....
When people think of “hormones” they tend to associate them with times of change, like puberty or pregnancy. It’s true hormones are responsible for those extreme changes, but they also affect multiple body functions at all times. Hormones are chemical messengers carrying signals from one part of the body to...
Osteopathy is a naturopathic healing art that operates under the philosophy that the body is fundamentally capable of healing itself from illness or injury without the addition of medicines or the removal or destruction of bodily tissues through surgery or other invasive intervention. While its focus is on a specific...
There is an old proverb that says the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. In practical terms, this means that cooking for someone is a way to show love and care. In reality, what we put in our mouths and how we care for our teeth and...
Inflammation is a painful, damaging condition with a number of different causes. Inflammation indicates that the body is in the process of repairing injury or attacking an invader. As the resources of the body are consolidated in a particular location, they build up, block fluid pathways, and prevent regular detoxification...
The Primary Health Concern Priya’s primary health concern was dry skin attributed to eczema. Eczema presents with symptoms such as dry, cracked, bumped, or scaly patches of skin. It is a medical condition linked to an autoimmune response to an irritant and associated with internal inflammation. Eczema can be aggravated...
We’ve all heard the old adage “you are what you eat.” This refers, of course, to the practice of eating high quality food to achieve high quality nutrition. Another newer saying “you are what you eat, ate” is more accurate. In the case of consuming animal protein, we are affected...
Advanced Health is now offering a wider range of diagnostic tests through a partnership with local provider Genova Diagnostics. This partnership is giving Advanced Health’s healthcare providers broader, and more effective, options to help our patients on their path to lifelong wellness. In our post today, we’ll be explaining some...
Advanced Health has been innovating for years to discover ways to help our patients overcome various ailments and improve their lives. Recently, we have added Thermal Digital Imaging, or Thermography, to our suite of health services. Thermography is instrumental in early cancer detection, as well as the diagnosis of chronic...
The liver may not be the CEO of the body, but it is still sitting in one of the corner offices. For an organ that measures just two to four inches and weighs two to three pounds, the liver has two titles (organ, gland) and more than 500 roles to...
Millions of people struggle with their weight, their digestive system, and their overall health. It is incredibly frustrating to eat a meal only to have discomfort and painful symptoms afterward. For many people, the root cause of the problems may be allergies, intolerance, or sensitivity to certain foods. Unfortunately, doctors...
A person's lungs are one of the most critical organs in the human body, but they aren't often cared for the way they should be. There are plenty of ways to keep lungs healthy and improve respiratory health. It’s important to keep track of potential irritants in the air you...
A breast cancer diagnosis can be enough to uproot your entire life, requiring you to change your regular routine to combat the condition. Fortunately, as medical technology continues to improve, more and more people are able to detect on time, recover and return back to normalcy, especially if the cancer...
If you have had inflammation in your body for some time now, you’ll no doubt be experiencing some discomfort and are likely feeling very annoyed at the whole thing. Depending on where the inflammation is, perhaps your clothes are not fitting properly like they were before, or you are finding...
What is an Autoimmune Disease? The body’s immune system is made up of cells, tissues, and organs that have the job of protecting the body. The immune system acts as internal armor against infectious invaders. When the digestive tract, which holds 85 to 90% of the immune system has become...
Our patient is a 37-year old male banker named, for privacy, “Sam.” After completing his MBA, Sam built a very successful career keeping him very busy. Now that he is ready to create a family with his wife, Sam wants to first resolve many of his chronic health issues. ...
There are many ways that your relationship with food may have become imbalanced. Irregular work hours, stressful circumstances or trauma, underlying emotional or psychological disorders, poverty, complications from diseases, and plenty of other causes may have left you with an unhealthy relationship to food, and these are rarely easy or...
Approaching middle age can feel like walking around in a brain fog, especially among women. According to Pauline Maki, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and psychology and director of women’s health research at the University of Illinois at Chicago, memory loss is a common occurrence among women as they approach menopause....
Alzheimer’s Disease is a degenerative neurological condition that accounts for about 60-80% of dementia cases. As the disease progresses, it gradually impairs cognitive function to the point where it can make daily life all but impossible. It impacts behavior, cognition, and memory. While it typically affects persons over the age...
“Carving out space for nourishment each day is a meditation on abundance and attunement rather than scarcity and deprivation.” - Katie Schmidt, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Holistic nutrition is a philosophy that recognizes health is multidimensional, comprising the physical, chemical, mental, emotional, and spiritual bodies. In daily life, health...
Healthy choices and practices begin at home. From the moment you wake up, the decisions you make set the course of your day. Your decisions are form the rituals and habits of your life. For that reason, it’s important to make choices that will support your mind and body. There...
Cancer, like many other diseases, is something that you want to catch early so that you have the best chance possible of beating it; the earlier it's caught, the less likely it is to advance. But that still leaves questions as to how you can improve your cancer risk reduction...
As the new year gets under way, many people are trying to make good on resolutions that included "getting healthy," but what does that mean, exactly? Getting healthy means different things for different people; however, most people will be making it a point to break harmful habits and replace them...
Dr. Payal Bhandari, M.D., was visited by a 54 year old male patient (hereafter called Jack to ensure confidentiality) who had just been diagnosed with a large deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his entire left leg. Jack engaged in daily physical activity, taking his dog on trail walks, visiting the...
There’s a very clear difference between food sensitivity and food allergy. The nuance can mean the difference between life and death. Many people experience discomfort, gastric distress, pain, inflammation, congestion, or other symptoms when they eat certain foods, but in most cases this is the result of food sensitivity rather...
B vitamins, as a group, comprise a class of water-soluble nutrients that help with cellular metabolism. While each has a slightly different function and specialty, each of the B vitamins is either a coenzyme in itself, or a precursor to one that the body needs to synthesize itself.B vitamins are...
The Northern California Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California’s history. It was also the deadliest wildfire in the United States since the Cloquet fire in 1918--as well as the sixth-deadliest U.S. wildfire overall. Although the rain has brought back our clean air, the Camp Fire...
Dr. Payal Bhandari, M.D. received a visit from a 56-year-old male patient (whom we will call “John” to preserve his confidentiality) with chronic hip pain that severely impacted his right hip for over a decade. John knew how to enjoy himself and had a great work-life balance. He usually drank...
The question of weight loss is a tricky one. Many people are under the impression that losing weight will always lead to better health, but for many people that isn’t the case. Some body types will naturally carry more fat than others, and that isn’t necessarily an indicator of ill-health....
As the old saying goes, “you are what you eat.” That bit of conventional wisdom is just as true today as it was when your great grandmother used to say it. Food fuels the body, especially plant-based foods created by photosynthesis. It creates the chemical energy which our cells use...
Cortisol, sometimes called the “stress hormone,” has been much maligned in the media recently. There is quite a bit more to cortisol than the standard explanations everyone hears. Let’s explore how cortisol protects our body and what happens when the demand for cortisol becomes too high. What is Cortisol?...
A 42-year old female patient sought the help of Dr. Payal Bhandari M.D. because she was having severe chronic gastrointestinal discomfort. Patient Ada came to Advanced Health with a desire to learn more about the nutrient-dense foods she could safely incorporate into her diet. She wanted to stop experiencing recurrent...
A healthy, well-balanced diet can help prevent eczema flare-ups. Making simple shifts in how and what you consume can have a dramatic impact in improving your skin health and lessening the severity of eczema flare-ups. To understand the impact of diet on skin health, it is important to first understand...
The concept of food addiction is relatively new in the medical sphere. While it’s been accepted for decades that certain substances can hijack the dopamine pathways in the brain, providing a neurochemical reward which fosters habitual, and obsessive consumption, the term has historically only been used to apply to narcotics...
Hormones can affect your memory as much as your mood. When you experience frequent outbursts of anger or find yourself crying randomly, you may want to look at your hormone levels. If you have a difficult time remembering what happened yesterday or further back in your past, your doctor may...
We are exposed to environmental toxins all the time. Even the simplest of daily routines can expose one to several common pollutants found in the water we drink, food we eat, and air we breathe. While our liver, kidneys and lymphatic system play a major role in removing biologically harmful...
Have you found yourself feeling dull, fatigued, and unlike yourself lately? You could be suffering from Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This autoimmune disorder is far more prevalent than many people realize, and plenty of people who are living with it are unaware they have it. If these symptoms sound familiar or if...
Constipation can have many causes and it doesn’t always present the same way in different people. Broadly speaking, constipation describes the condition of passing fewer than four bowel movements per week. A person with constipation might also strain when having bowel movements, or, they may frequently go but the stool...
There are any number of reasons why you might want to shift to a plant-based diet. Some people make the switch for ethical reasons, some for health concerns, and still others because they want to save money when preparing meals for a large family. Others make the shift to explore...
No matter where you live, it’s imperative that you filter your tap water. Flint, Michigan has been in the news recently for unconscionable lead pollution, but Flint isn’t an isolated incident. Impure water is a serious problem in just about every part of the industrialized world. The risk factors are...
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system speeds up the lifecycle of your body’s skin cells. These cells accumulate rapidly on the surface of the skin. As a result, the skin can appear red and scaly, sometimes even cracked or bleeding. This process produces mild to severe...
Inflammation describes the hot, red, swollen, and often painful condition which results from a localized immune response from the body. Inflammation can have any number of causes, but the most common are injury or infection. As the body redirects resources to a certain spot (say, an injured joint), those resources...
At this time of year, many people are suffering from seasonal allergies. The symptoms can include itching, sneezing, congestion and runny nose, headaches, red or watery eyes, and so on. They can vary from mild to severe, acute to chronic.Seasonal allergies, sometimes referred to as “hay fever,” result from exposure...
Dr. Payal Bhandari M.D., Integrative Functional Medicine Physician, will be presenting on Wednesday July 25th, 2018 on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and the impact that stress-reduction can have on health.Our hope is to inform our readers of the beneficial effects mindfulness practices can have in helping those who experience stress, anxiety,...
The lymphatic system’s function is to remove waste fluids to the bloodstream so that they can be collected and excreted from the body by the kidneys. Lymphedema (sometimes called Lymphoedema, and a shortened form of “Lymphatic Edema”), describes the condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling as the result...
For one reason or another, a great many people live with chronic pain every day. Some of that pain results from injury, stress, lifestyle habits, or from an underlying systemic condition. But no matter what’s causing the chronic pain, many people are averse to the idea of taking medications to...
Individuals in Western societies live surrounded by an infinite number of grain-based food choices: bread in various shapes, sizes, and flavors, pasta, pastries, cakes, and pies are now a part of almost every meal and snack-time, leading to a number of health crises in America and increasingly, all across the...
On June 20th, Dr. Payal Bhandari, MD, and certified nutritionist Nicole Bianchi will be giving a talk, "Beyond a Gluten-Free Paleo Diet: Integrative Treatment for Gut Health". The talk will take place at Advanced Health on Wednesday, June 20th from 5:30 pm until 7:00 pm. We want to give some...
With Men’s Health Week and Father’s Day just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to discuss some of the men’s health questions we’ve encountered. Many men struggle with societal pressures that make it difficult to admit to health concerns or to ask for help. Part of men’s health week...
Preventing Cognitive DeclineCognitive decline eventually happens to almost everyone as they age. It’s a difficult part of senescence, which many people have experienced through caring for a loved one. It results from a combination of life habits, genetic factors, trauma, injury, or even just the gradual wearing-out of one’s cognitive...
As any mother will tell you, pregnancy comes with a whole host of changes to a mother’s body. More than just the expected changes, there are a variety of other complications, and interrelated processes tugging on each other and causing a watershed of effects in virtually every one of the...
Massage therapy is one of the most versatile, most effective, and most comforting forms of treatment available. Everyone enjoys a good massage, and many of the benefits are pretty commonly understood. Massages are relaxing, for instance. They relieve structural issues in the body, and can treat muscle imbalance.But beyond these...
Advanced Health is very proud to announce the opening of a new, and expanded clinic, specifically to focus on providing Predictive and Age Management Medicine, as an expansion and a supplement to our continued Integrative and Functional Medicine practice. At the new Institute for Predictive Medicine & Longevity, Dr. Lonnele...
Nutrition misinformation is a common form of health fraud in the United States right now. Owing to a variety of factors, there is a prevalence of nutritional misinformation among the general population. Reasons for this misinformation include: industry lobbying for more lax regulatory practicesthe very real fiscal incentives for peddling...
Eating well isn’t something we easily make time for. Whether we eat sporadically, around a tricky work schedule, maybe grabbing whatever is convenient on the road, or we don’t pay enough attention to the particular nutrients we consume in a day, the plain fact is that the Western lifestyle puts...
Of the roughly 40 trillion bacteria living in your body, the vast majority reside happily in your intestines. While some of these can cause illness, the vast majority of your gut bacteria pay rent by keeping your body healthy, aiding in digestion, helping to keep your body rhythms in check,...
Integrative health and functional medicine are two relatively recent developments in the practice of Western medicine. At heart, these schools of medicine are two sides of essentially the same coin. They each take a lot of inspiration from Eastern traditions, and each is practiced with more or less the same...
The patients and practitioners at Advanced Health are learning a lot from Ms. Audrey Dombroski, an herbalist and clinical researcher who studied at UCSF medical school. Audrey’s professional interests focus on the uses of both natural and holistic healing techniques to improve both a patient’s physiological and spiritual well-being.As an...
Though the gut is one of the most important parts of the human body, it's something that people typically do not think about until they begin exhibiting symptoms. A condition called leaky gut can occur because of the foods that people eat and because of the environmental toxins and pollutants...
Seeing a massage therapist is one of the very best things you can do for your body. As a treatment, the proximate and long-term healing benefits of massage are hard to overstate. That’s why Advanced Health is so proud to be working with Andrew Castellanos L.Ac. A practitioner of both...
The heart is one of the most important organs in the human body. If you have a family history of heart disease and/or heart attacks, you have a greater risk of suffering from heart-related problems. Heart disease can reduce your lifespan and make life challenging. Even if you think that...
Menopause is your body's way of telling you that you reached the end of your reproductive journey. It means that you can no longer have biological children. Menopause can also be associated with a number of symptoms. You may experience hot flashes, mood swings, general aches and pains that make...
An autoimmune disease is a disease that changes the way the human body views a specific part or feature of the body. It can actually cause the body to change its immune response and to send blood cells to fight off an infection that does not exist. Many people today...
The popularity of acupuncture, an ancient Chinese healing tradition. The benefits of acupuncture are proven by numerous scientific research results that now name it as one of the most viable and effective alternative methods to use for well-being and healing. Age-old Chinese wisdom views the physical body as a collection...
Each evening, millions of Americans experience the very real struggle to fall asleep — or to remain asleep — in order to get an adequate amount of rest our human physiology and emotional well-being requires every day. With as much as 30 percent of the population facing insomnia for at...
There are many healthcare options in a city like San Francisco. While this is a good thing, it can be difficult to know which options are best for your lifestyle. When looking for a San Francisco family physician, there are certain qualities to look for to ensure that you receive...
Have you found yourself growing increasingly frustrated with the current state of allopathic health care in the United States? If so, you are the part of the frustrated, wary, and disillusioned majority of Americans who perceive that our current gold standard of conventional medicine is simply no longer working. In...
Always take care of your heart. Over the years there has been an emphasis on prescription drugs to treat heart disease. While this may be necessary for some, there is a tendency for it to be the only treatment sought, a magic solution in the form of a pill. However,...
If you don't watch what you eat, it can be easy to accumulate high cholesterol. There are a lot of myths about cholesterol that San Francisco primary care physician Dr. Payal Bhandari wants to clear up so that more people can take a proactive approach to their health.First, it’s important...
Recently, the United States celebrated World School Milk Day to encourage children to think of milk as healthy and necessary for their growth. But the reality is that children and their parents are not told that dairy consumption increases the risk of health issues, from obesity to cancer and even...
Have you checked in with your primary care physician about how to stay healthy this holiday season? The end of this calendar year is drawing upon us fast. It can't mean anything else but the schedule of the coming weeks and months inevitably being filled with joyous family reunions, friendly...
It is a staggering fact that over 70 percent of adult Americans are now overweight, with nearly 40 percent being considered clinically obese. With a booming weight management industry worth over $66 billion, these numbers seem almost incomprehensible, sending a warning sign to struggling individuals and the medical community alike....
Our cardiovascular system is an intricate network of blood vessels that continuously delivers nutrient-rich blood to and from the heart. This system is one of the core structures of human physiology. Its health and well-being is the cornerstone of the proper working and balance of our body. When optimally functioning,...
Throughout the decades of adult life, hormonal balance provides the cornerstone of physical well-being for both genders. Male health is a delicate system, with a large number of physiological processes working in sync to maintain the proper functioning of a man's body, including physiological health and reproductive processes. As the...
Inflammatory bowel disease, a group of chronic conditions that cause prolonged and painful inflammation of the digestive system, is an emerging health concern in the United States, as well as worldwide, especially in more developed countries. Its most common type, Crohn's disease, may affect over half a million Americans alone,...
Many adults are painfully familiar with the uncomfortable and persistent burning sensation that often occurs after a delicious, heavy, and spicy meal, leading to more sleepless nights than we care to admit. When acid reflux emerges only occasionally, it is usually not a cause for concern. However, if the frequency...
When someone experiences physical indicators of an acute breathing problem, understandably their very first concern might be whether they are experiencing asthma attack symptoms. An asthma attack is a frightening yet extremely common medical emergency associated with asthma, a chronic and long-term respiratory condition that affects approximately 25 million people...
Why Have a Primary Care Physician?Developing a partnership with a medical practitioner has incredible benefits, especially in a big city like San Francisco. In smaller towns, people tend to have family doctors that they’ve worked with since birth. In San Francisco, where people are often transient or new to the...
A healthy lifestyle can increase your lifespan, boost your self-confidence, help you perform better at work, and make you feel better about your relationships. As someone living in the San Francisco area, you might find yourself using excuses like:you don't have timeyou aren't sure what to dochanges take too much...
When you're a young woman and learning about your period, you seldom hear about irregular menstrual cycles and what those cycles mean. You know that being a few days late can be a sign that you're pregnant but not what it means when you have cycles that come every few...
Studies have consistently shown the same bitter truth: men are much more likely to die of any chronic disease than women, and male mortality rates have slowly but steadily risen over the past decades, as well.Traditional allopathic medicine often has no choice but to focus on the treatment of already...
If we want to maintain long-lasting health and well-being, it is clear that stress management needs to be a priority in our hectic lives. Even a slight decrease may prove to be extremely beneficial in the long run. While there are many ways to combat stress and its adverse effects,...
Anxiety is a real condition, just like asthma or heart disease. When people with anxiety manage their symptoms with integrative health care, they can prevent their condition from worsening while living productive, happy lives.According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 18 percent of the US population has some...
A well-balanced, happy, and wholesome life has many important components, including having emotionally and physically satisfying relationships with ourselves and with our partners.When sexual problems arise, individuals often find themselves struggling with complex emotional responses: anger, frustration, depression, and embarrassment. A sense of failure and profound grief are common, potentially...
Most health-conscious Americans strive to follow the dietary guidelines published by government health professionals, based on the latest discoveries made in the field of nutrition science. Daily 6-8 servings of grains, with half of them coming from whole grain sources such as wheat, is a relatively straightforward recommendation and easy...
The Integrative Approach to Chronic DiseaseMost of us like to imagine what perfect, ideal health may look and feel like: sensing the rush of abundant energy as we go about our days, confident that we can do anything that we need to accomplish. We experience a zeal of...
Did you know that endometriosis is one of the most frequently occurring disorder of the feminine reproductive years, estimated to impact about 10% of American women?Delicate and powerful, our female bodies go through many wondrous changes throughout life, especially during the reproductive years, when a variety of hormonal processes completely...
The sun keeps us alive and makes us feel good but too much sunshine can put your health at risk. Nearly 10,000 people are diagnosed with skin cancer in the United States every day, making it the most common type of cancer. If you don’t think it’s worth the worry,...
Every year, approximately 20-30% of the population experiences seasonal allergies. They can hit you like a brick out of nowhere and the worst part is that if you get them, they won’t just go away. However, you don’t want to avoid enjoying the summer because of your allergies! We get...
Have you been dragging your feet more than usual lately? Chronic fatigue is a common red flag that something is wrong. Stress significantly impacts both our mental and physical health and can be expressed by our bodies in different ways. The adrenal glands, located on the top of each kidney,...
No one really likes wearing sunscreen, but it’s one of the best ways to prevent skin cancer. After all, we’re not invincible! Our skin may seem strong, healthy and impervious to both skin cancer and sun damage, but that damage builds up over time. Bad habits can slowly damage your...
It’s hard to be the skin you’re in, and sometimes quite literally. Chronic skin conditions can affect the quality of life for people of all ages. From acne to mysterious rashes our skin shows us signs of irritation, infection, and inflammation in the most unpleasant ways. Constant itching and scratching...
It's hard to anticipate how it will hit you when it does, but when your body starts to go through menopause, it really is a life-changing experience. Menopause is a natural process that a woman’s body goes through as she ages and experiences shifts in hormone levels. It doesn’t need...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is something we’ve all heard about and chances are you’ve known several people who suffer from it. We all kind of get the general idea, but what are the actual symptoms and just how common is irritable bowel syndrome? Many people can suffer from symptoms of...
People often mistake Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for regular bouts of exhaustion, while others may consider it to be a psychological rather than a physical problem. However, the experience of chronic fatigue is unmistakably physical and debilitating. It can severely impair your day to day activities and responsibilities. Treating Chronic Fatigue...
Many of us make the mistake of assuming that arthritis is something that develops as we age and that nothing can be done about it. Since May is Arthritis Awareness Month, we thought it would be a good time to talk about a very common but impairing chronic illness that...
Life is full of experiences that provoke stressful thoughts and feelings. Sometimes it can be hard to resist dwelling on these feelings as we go about our day. We can get stuck on auto-pilot, giving little attention to our bodies or physical environment as we walk through our lives, busy...
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year. In total, more than 29 million people in the Unites States are affected by diabetes, with type 2 diabetes accounting for between 90 and 95 percent of all cases. There are...
Many of us think we live somewhat healthy enough to avoid the risks of developing diabetes. However, our modern food culture and sedentary lifestyles do not allow us to take proper care of our bodies. According to the Center for Disease Control, over 86 million people have prediabetes, the precursor...
Whether you suffer from seasonal allergies or year-round allergy symptoms, allergies can take a real toll on your body, and get in the way of everyday quality living. Allergies affect an estimated 50 million people in the United States. The rate has been increasing every year. In fact, allergies are...
We’ve all heard about inflammation—in fact, we all experience different kinds of inflammation for various reasons at any given time. However, the signs can be easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Afterall, what does inflammation even really mean? We want to help you understand why...
Consuming gluten and wheat has become a controversial hot-topic. In a recent article, we discussed the reasons for you to be mindful of your wheat consumption and discussed non-celiac wheat sensitivity. Wheat has become integral in the American diet, but many people have started questioning its impact on their health....
Everybody knows what anxiety feels like. It’s a normal emotion that you feel when you’re under pressure, having problems, or experiencing something new and unfamiliar. However, for some of us, anxiety levels can become too high and take over. Over 19 million adults in America suffer high levels of anxiety...
Wheat and grain-based foods are a staple in American diets. We love bread, bagels, pasta, cereal, pizza, baked goods, and many things that often have wheat hiding in it. Wheat has become so integral to our diets, that we can barely imagine living without them! However, many people have started...
Peanut butter has been a popular staple in the American diet, but in recent years, more varieties of nut butters have become available and are gaining recognition for their health benefits. From almond to cashew and sesame to walnut, seed and nut butters contain great nutrients and have been widely...
Understanding Popular Health MythsAlong with a slew of other pseudo science “facts” that often sound like good advice, you may have heard a few myths about protein. Repeated as fact, many people just take these popular health myths to be true. Nowadays, clickbait articles have also made it easier for...
Understanding Popular Health MythsWe’ve all heard the expression, “Feed a cold, starve a fever” along with a slew of other common health-related myths that often sound like good advice. Repeated as fact, many people just take these expressions to be true. Nowadays, clickbait articles have also made it easier for...
Understanding Popular Health MythsWe’ve all heard the expression, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” along with a slew of other common health-related myths that often sound like good advice. Repeated as fact, many people just take these expressions to be true. Nowadays, clickbait articles have also made it...
Headaches, fatigue, low blood pressure, dizziness, dry mouth and skin. We’re all familiar with the symptoms of dehydration, but drinking the recommended eight glasses of water a day can be a real challenge.It takes time to develop the habit of drinking more water. Our tips will help you build this...
A third of Americans make New Year’s resolutions each year, but not all of them see their resolutions through. About 75% of people are still on track with their New Year’s resolutions after one week, while only 46% are still keeping with their resolutions six months later.We usually have good...
During the holidays we often feel extra generous due to the gift giving spirit. Instead of spending a lot of time and money this holiday season on presents and parties, why not donate your time to make the holidays better for others that are less fortunate?Volunteering is very gratifying, and...
The holidays are often marked by higher than normal stress levels. For example, you may have a full house, there may be family dynamic challenges, or the shopping rush can be a bit too much. Without proper relief, the stress level will build up and eventually start to hurt your...
Toys are supposed to be fun and part of a child’s development, but every year many kids end up in the emergency room due to toy-related accidents.The safety of toys is regulated and monitored by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Manufacturers need to comply with the rules and...
The San Francisco area has a wealth of green spaces within city limits, breathtaking views, and great climate all year round, making it the perfect place for urban hiking adventures. No wonder San Francisco made National Geographic’s list of the “Best US Hiking Cities.”If you’re not familiar with urban hiking,...
The holiday season is a joyous time, but, unfortunately, it also brings along a rush for holiday shopping. Shopping for gifts and party decorations, accompanied by entertaining guests or visiting loved ones, can take a lot of time and can increase your stress levels. According to the American Psychological Association,...
Thanksgiving is synonymous with stuffed turkeys and stuffed bellies. Many people pack on a pound or two during Thanksgiving, thinking they will just shed the extra weight afterward, but often we keep that extra weight permanently as we go into a less active winter time.Instead of wishing you didn’t have...
The root cause of many illnesses lies in the way we eat. A healthy, well-balanced diet is crucial to our overall health and quality of life. A healthy, balanced diet can treat the underlying causes of most illnesses and reduce symptoms significantly.Last week we discussed all the healthy foods you...
Many illnesses are directly aggravated by the food that we eat. These inflammatory foods can challenge our immune system in the setting of stress and how we react to this stress. Dr. Payal Bhandari M.D. integrates a healthy eating habits as a critical component to every treatment since every illness...
The liver is the largest internal organ in the body, with over 500 different functions, including: digestion, metabolism, removal of toxins, and nutrient storage. If our liver is unhealthy, it inhibits the body to work properly, effectively digest food, and clear toxins from our body. Illness can more easily set...
A healthy person takes about 25,000 breaths a day. To keep our lungs healthy, we need to avoid breathing in harmful substances. We can’t all pack up and go live in the countryside, but there are other things we can do to prevent lung damage and do our share to...
Someone who doesn’t suffer from depression may have a difficult time understanding how it feels. The persistent feelings of sadness, angst, emptiness, and low mood can be difficult to explain. It can be difficult to communicate how hard it is to find the energy to look after yourself and sometimes...
Cancer is one of the scariest illnesses of our modern times. Sometimes cancer cannot be avoided, but certain lifestyle choices can increase our risk of getting cancer. The top cancers which strike women today are:#1. Breast Cancer – 26% of all cancers. #2. Lung Cancer – 14% of all cancers.#3....
Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death and while we cannot change the risk factors – like family history and age – we don’t need to accept a fate of dying too young. We all know that exercise and a healthy balanced diet can make us healthier...
Every year there are about 20 million new sexually transmitted disease (STD) infections in the United States, most of which could have been avoided if certain precautions had been taken.Anyone that is sexually active can get an STD, but statistically certain groups are disproportionately affected, like adolescents, young adults, and...
Cholesterol has worn a badge of shame for many decades. New studies indicated that what we believe about fat and cholesterol isn’t accurate. We hope that this article will clarify the facts and reshape your understanding of cholesterol.Cholesterol is found in every cell of the body and is essential for...
In 2014, the United States reached startling highs in deaths from overdoses – 47,055 deaths, which was an increase of 6.5% from 2013. About 60% of this number included overdoses from opioids. Opioids include certain prescription pain relievers and heroin, and more than half of the overdoses were from prescription...
Sight is the most precious of our five senses, and it’s crucial that we take care of our vision from a very young age. The first few years of a child’s life are the most important, as this is when they develop neural connections which form the basis of their...
People who’ve reached the age of 65 are likely to live for another 19.3 years on average, according to the CDC. This is good news for individuals who are enjoying good health, but unfortunately, only 41% of people over the age of 65 say they are in good or excellent...
Being kind is equal to being healthy. Does that sound like a statement out of a fantasy novel? It’s not wishful thinking, but rather a scientifically proven fact.In the 1950’s, researchers found a correlation between kindness and health. They studied a group of people who regularly did volunteer work, and...
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, affects about 75 million people in the United States alone. That is a third of adults over the age of 20. More people are dying from hypertension-related diseases than from the next three deadliest diseases combined.It is predicted that 1.56 billion people will be...
San Francisco, with its jagged landscape and moderate climate all year round, is the perfect place to work up a sweat. The fantastic views and agreeable weather reward your efforts and help you keep the momentum going. Plus, the many healthy and organic food options make it even easier to...
Up to 75% of our bodies are made up of fluids. If our bodies lose more fluid than what we take in, we will become dehydrated. Our bodies lose water in the following ways:Water vapor is exhaled with breathingUrine and stoolSweatingThrough damaged skinCauses of DehydrationOur risk of becoming dehydrated increases...
Panic spread across the globe in May 2015 when the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert after the first confirmed case of a Zika infection appeared in Brazil, and again in February this year after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Zika virus a Public Health Emergency...
What do you do if you want to quit smoking, but still need your fix? You turn to nicotine patches, gum, or more recently, to e-cigarettes. But there’s a heated debate going on around e-cigarettes: Are they really as safe as manufacturers like to claim? While they may help some...
It’s that time of year again. The latest summer songs are being played on an endless loop, the smell of sea and coconut hangs in the air, and winter blues are completely forgotten. It’s a time when we seek out the sun and spend lazy afternoons in nature. But it’s...
Cancer is one of the most terrifying modern illnesses, and almost everyone knows someone affected by cancer. Cancer affects millions of people – in the United States over 1 million people are affected each year. It has a high mortality rate due to the cells’ abnormal behavior. Cancer is caused...
Ever wondered what probiotics are and and how they can help you? Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts found in your intestines. They are good for your health, especially if you have trouble with your digestive system. Probiotics are also good for your pets with products specially made for cats...
Our normal sleeping patterns are sometimes interrupted by family responsibilities, pressure at work, illness, or financial stress. It's not always possible to control these factors, but with good sleeping habits, you can maximize the hours of having good, untroubled sleep.Improve your sleep regimen with these tips:Tips for Better Sleep1. Keep...
Skin cancer is one of the most common, and also one of the most preventable and treatable, kinds of cancer. Since May is skin cancer awareness month, and also the start of summer, we thought it’s a good time to talk about how you can prevent skin cancer from appearing...
Turmeric is an ancient root which was used for centuries in China and India, not only for making delicious curries, but also for medicinal purposes. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibacterial, and antioxidant qualities, making it ideal to treat a broad range of illnesses.The health benefits of turmeric have been studied...
Decreased libido affects both men and women. It’s normal for our sexual desire to fluctuate over the years. Highs and lows are common in certain circumstances, such as at the beginning or end of a relationship, during or after pregnancy, during menopause, while ill, by certain medications, and when undergoing...
Coconut oil has been classified as a “super food” – and with no surprise. The health benefits of coconut oil are almost limitless, supported by more than 1,500 medical studies.Coconut oil contains healthy, saturated fats, called medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs). The MCFAs are quick to digest and metabolize differently...
If you suffer from joint pain, whether temporarily or permanently, you’ll know how this can affect your quality of life. Our joints connect our bones, support our bodies, and help us move. If our joints are damaged due to disease or injury, it interferes with our movement and causes pain.According...
We live in a culture where alcohol consumption is part of our everyday life. Some of us know when to stop, but unfortunately, for many of us a hangover is a very familiar feeling. Not only can alcohol ensure a splitting headache the day after, but it also affects our...
It’s never pleasant waking up with a stuffy nose, itchy skin, and uncontrollable sneezing. You don’t feel sick enough to stay in bed, but these symptoms can disrupt your whole day.An allergy is your body’s reaction to an environmental trigger or “allergen”, such as pollen, dust, mold, and certain foods...
Does your mood dip down during the winter? You may have also noticed your dog may be moping around the house. Your dog and you may be suffering from the winter blues (also called Seasonal Affective Disorder [SAD]). SAD affects 25 million Americans annually. Women are still more affected than...
Six Factors to Prevent Weight GainOne in three Americans today are overweight. Carrying extra weight puts a person at risk for many health problems including diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, gout, cancer, liver and kidney damage, heart disease, and decreased self-esteem. As much as everyone talks about the need for...
Young Love: Why Early Heart Care is ImportantValentine’s Day is upon us. It’s a day to celebrate love. Let it also be a day to celebrate your heart since February is National Heart Month. If you look after your heart health while you’re still young, you’re more likely to feel...
6 Ways to Reduce InflammationInflammation is a process that is meant to heal the body, but chronic or excess inflammation has an adverse effect on your health, and can cause most chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, liver problems, cancer, dementia, and autoimmune disease like thyroid disorder, multiple sclerosis,...
Love as Therapy: Don’t Be Afraid to LoveWhat is real love? It’s the unconditional acceptance of another person. It’s when you put someone else’s needs before your own while also respecting their boundaries.Our bodies produce oxytocin when we love another, are feeling loved, or when we have a deep connection...
Our Complete ServicesPrimary and Acute Care plus Prevention for AdultsAn ounce of prevention is equal to a pound of cure. We work together to tailor your health history and specific needs. It includes urgent care, health prevention and addressing chronic issues such as nutritional and hormonal imbalances, anxiety, fatigue, chronic...
Payal Bhandari, MD is a solo independent family physician in Upper Pacific Heights focused on the patient-doctor relationship and the quality of time spent to truly help others. She takes her strong clinical knowledge and excellent listening skills to understand the patient’s needs. Through mutual respect and collaborative communication, Dr....
I am honored to participate in Doctors on the Runway, a community fundraiser at Aquarium of the Bay this Saturday, August 23rd, at 9:00 p.m. Cynique Evoule Runway Series is showcasing the Top Doctors in San Francisco and taking them out of their element by transforming them into models for...
Founding physician, Dr. Payal Bhandari, and her colleagues at My Health Medical Group won the 2013 “Patient-Centered Medical Home Practice of the Year” award from the California Academy of Family Physicians at its annual conference March 2 and 3.See More…
One in eight adults in the U.S. use prescription medications to treat mental issues.Psychiatric medications include antidepressants, antipsychotics, lithium salts, sleeping pills, anxiety-lowering pills, and stimulants. While these psychiatric medications have an important role in the management of mental illnesses, they can also cause significant short-term and long-term side effects....
Two out of three Americans are overweight or obese. Magazines and books are released every day with “fast and easy” ways to lose weight. Did you ever wonder why we have an obesity epidemic? If we better understand the root cause of why so many people are gaining weight, we...
On April 22nd, I had the opportunity to join the San Francisco Medical Society in Sacramento for Lobby Day. We effectively advocated to our state legislators to support some important health care bills currently on the ballot.I spoke to Senator Mark Leno and Assembly Member Phil Ting on a wide...
Having excellent health is a matter of choice. Barring unforeseen circumstances or medical issues, we all want to stay in control of your health. Often we become too busy focusing on our career, finances, and family that our own personal health may get placed on the backburner. We may not...
Little things we do and don’t do can exhaust us both mentally and physically.Here are the top 5 common bad habits which can make us feel tired:Sleep. Lack of sleep is the top reason sapping our energy. Sufficient sleep helps improve memory, sharpen the attention span while decreasing inflammation. It...
The 2013 Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8) guidelines on hypertension management, which raised the blood pressure (BP) target in older patients to <150/90 mm Hg, could lead to 8,000 additional cardiovascular events over 10 years compared with the older target of <140/90 mm Hg, according to recent studies.MedPage Today...
With the recent rise of infections all around us, it can be challenging to avoid sickness. In my daughter’s 5th grade classroom this week, more than one third of the children have been out sick with a respiratory infection.The best way to avoid sickness is to keep our immune system strong so...
If you could change or eliminate something about the healthcare system, what would it be? “I would eliminate insurance billing aligned with defining how ‘ill’ our patients are,” Payal Bhandari, MD, a family physician in San Francisco, said in response to one of 10 questions MedPage Today is asking thought...
Dry Skin Causes and Remedies: The Ultimate GuideLiving with dry skin is extremely uncomfortable. Some people naturally have dry skin. Others develop dry skin due to environmental factors. You may experience dryness on just about any part of your body, but the most common areas affected are the arms, legs,...
Do you ever wake up feeling tired and sluggish for the rest of the day? When I do, I promise myself I will go to bed early but find myself too busy in the evening and staying up again. I end up sleeping less than I should resulting in the...
I hope you are enjoying the warmer, longer days full of lots of outdoor activities and fun travel. Make sure you have lots of sunscreen and water on hand. The climate change is making this summer super-charged. Heat waves, biting insects, increased pollen, and bad air quality are getting worse....
The electronic medical records, ElationEMR, has helped me close the loop on patient communications – both in and out of the office. Patients are able to view their entire medical chart and easily correspond electronically with the office. Being able to communicate with patients outside the office and in the...
There is increasing medical research and popular interest today regarding the body’s health-promoting bacteria called the microflora. The microflora drives our immune system and its response – particularly inflammation. Inflammation serves as a protective role responding to tissue injury or infection.Since the gut houses over 70% of the microflora,...
Are you current with your vaccines?I hope you are enjoying summer, the fog in the city and the heat outside. This month marks the return to school and National Immunization Awareness Month. We all need vaccines to protect us from serious diseases like pertussis, measles, pneumonia, and the flu. Find out...
Leafy green vegetables are brimming with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Eating a healthy portion every day can help protect you from many diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, and can also help you live longer. Your body can feel more satisfied since it is getting the essential nutrients each...
Nothing dampens your mood more than getting the flu unexpectedly – especially before an important event or a deadline at work. Here are some great ideas to boost your immune system to prevent colds and the flu from surprising you.Keep Your Nasal Passages MoistKeep your nasal passages moist to avoid...
