Latest news with #Endocrinology
The Standard
16 hours ago
- Health
- The Standard
Survey: Nearly 60% of Respondents Reported Experiencing Abnormalities in Drinking Water Quality
(Right) Dr. TONG Chun Yip, Peter, Specialist in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism; A patient who concern the quality of water, Ha
Business Wire
17-07-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Boston IVF Expands Access to Advanced Fertility Services in Syracuse with Addition of Dr. Wendy Vitek
SYRACUSE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Boston IVF, one of the nation's leading reproductive service providers and a pioneer in IVF research, welcomed Dr. Wendy Vitek, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, to its Syracuse, New York fertility center. Triple board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN), Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI), and Obesity Medicine, her arrival underscores Boston IVF's commitment to expanding access to world-class fertility care, including IVF, egg freezing, and fertility preservation, for individuals and couples throughout Syracuse, Rochester, the Finger Lakes, and upstate New York, and reinforces the company's clinical leadership in the region. 'Dr. Vitek has extraordinary clinical skill, a deep sense of compassion, and more than a decade of experience,' said Alan S. Penzias, MD, Northeast Region Medical Director of Boston IVF. 'She is a standout in the field of reproductive medicine and her presence in Syracuse allows us to serve more individuals and couples with high-quality, patient-centered care.' Dr. Vitek also holds a faculty appointment at Upstate Medical Center and is an adjunct professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center. From 2021 to 2025, she served as Program Director of a nationally accredited REI fellowship program, where she mentored the next generation of reproductive medicine specialists, and serves on national advisory boards focused on reproductive health and medical education. She has led clinical trials, including the NatPro study, participated in FDA device research, and published research on frozen embryo transfer (FET) protocols, PCOS, obesity, and infertility. 'I'm honored to join the Boston IVF team and to serve patients in Syracuse and beyond,' said Dr. Wendy Vitek. 'Boston IVF's reputation for clinical excellence, innovation, research, and compassionate care makes this an especially exciting time to come on board. I am delighted to help individuals and couples achieve their dream of building a family—it's the most rewarding work I can imagine.' Dr. Vitek is now accepting new patients in person at Boston IVF's Syracuse fertility center. Schedule a consultation here or call (888) 300-9660. Dr. Vitek earned her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, completed her OB/GYN residency at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, and her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Women & Infants Hospital. About Boston IVF Boston IVF is one of the largest and most experienced fertility networks in the United States, with more than 150,000 babies born since 1986. Founded as one of the nation's first private practice IVF centers, the Boston IVF network has grown to include 40 reproductive endocrinologists across nearly 30 centers throughout Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, and Utah. A renowned innovator of reproductive technologies, advanced protocols, and cutting-edge research, Boston IVF has achieved numerous "firsts" in reproductive care. Its scientific and research arm continues to pave the way for breakthroughs in fertility care and its accredited REI Fellowship Program has graduated numerous reproductive endocrinologists as part of its mission to train the next generation of fertility experts. In 2024, Boston IVF joined the global IVI RMA Network, contributing to the network's management of more than 20+ labs and 60 satellites across North America. In 2025, Boston IVF was named one of Castle Connolly's Top 5 Private Practices for Top Doctors in Reproductive Medicine in the Nation, a distinction that reflects the organization's continued leadership in reproductive science, innovation, and compassionate care.
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Stress hormones: Why quick fixes won't lower our cortisol levels
It could apparently change the shape of my face, add pounds to my midriff, and even make my hair fall out. I feel like warnings about cortisol - a stress hormone I know very little about - have hijacked my social media accounts. I see posts advising me to drink a cortisol cocktail - a blend of orange juice, coconut water and sea salt, take a range of different supplements, and massage lavender balm into my knowing how high my cortisol levels are makes it difficult to know whether or not I need to lower them, but now I think about it my cheeks do seem a touch more puffy than usual and my jeans have started to feel a bit tight. Cortisol is one of several hormones that help control how our body responds to stress. Produced by the adrenal glands, it plays a vital role in everything we do - from making sure we wake up in the morning, to being able to fall asleep at it we would die - but it's a fine balance. Too much cortisol can also cause a plethora of health problems. So, if I'm stressed, and my body is creaking under the strain of too much cortisol, how do I fix that?I pick up my phone, and start scrolling through my socials. Advice on one of the first posts that pops up is to turn my phone off - it's a big stressor. And, by the way, stop doomscrolling.I didn't know about my cortisol levels 10 minutes ago - now I can feel them rising. "It is very likely that we do live with higher levels of cortisol in our systems," John Wass, Professor of Endocrinology at the University of Oxford, says, "partly because there is much more stress in the world, we can never switch off for a start."With smartphones, you can't get a moment's peace."But Prof Wass questions the direct link often being made on social media, between cortisol levels and changes in our body, describing that as "misleading"."All these changes - weight gain, face swelling - there can be so many other reasons - a bad night's sleep, certain medications, too much salt, too much alcohol for instance," he says. "It's highly unlikely that cortisol levels alone are to blame - it's a complex picture." As the managing director of a small technology company, in her late 20s Jasleen Kaur Carroll was at the top of her game. But she struggled to switch off and work became her life. Eventually things became so intense - with Jasleen feeling under constant pressure - that she experienced burnout, complete physical, mental and emotional exhaustion."I began to feel like a zombie, like everything around me was failing," the 33-year-old from London explains. "But I would tell myself, 'I am Jas, I am strong, I can keep going.'"Jasleen turned to social media for advice on how to destress and lower her cortisol levels."You name it, I tried it," she says. "The cortisol cocktail, Ashwagandha tablets, turmeric, black pepper supplements, lavender balm on my forehead - anything."But nothing worked. Jasleen's body began to shut down, and the stress she was under triggered a flare-up of an autoimmune condition she has called lupus, where the immune system spirals out of control and starts to mistakenly target healthy cells."I lost so much weight, I had severe joint pains, I was struggling to breathe because I had liquid around my lungs," she says. "I was also warned about trying to have a baby because of how poorly I was." While in hospital receiving treatment for lupus, Jasleen realised that instead of trying to fix herself using social media hacks she had to stop, take time out and get help."I was trying to fight all the symptoms of stress," she says. "Instead, I needed to tackle the cause." By having therapy she worked through trauma she had experienced in childhood and began to practice mindfulness - something which taught her to live more in the moment."Stress is a wonderful thing," says therapist Neil Shah, who runs the Stress Management Society. "Hormones like adrenaline and cortisol are vital to keep us safe from a perceived threat."The problems come when we perceive threats everywhere - and that's not helped by the 24/7 society we live in."Neil advised Jasleen to try standing outdoors, barefoot on grass. Jasleen wasn't convinced - but she decided to give it a go."At that point I would have tried anything," she says. A day after speaking to Jasleen, I'm on a video call with a mindfulness coach from Breathworks, a charity which specialises in pain and stress management. There are 12 other participants, who all want to learn how to manage stress levels and improve their overall studies suggest activities like mindfulness can have a positive effect on cortisol levels, helping to regulate the stress response focussed on the moment, rather than caught up in the past or looking to the future can also help change the structure of the brain and improve stress resilience, studies have shown. My mindfulness coach Karen Liebenguth has a warm, soothing voice. I'm sceptical when she tells me to hold a raisin and look, feel, smell, listen and - eventually - put it in my the time I chew it, I begin to understand that I am mindfully eating. My only thought is the raisin and its taste and texture. And, for the first time that day, my whole focus is on the present professor and stress resilience expert David Creswell says mindfulness is one of several techniques found to help some individuals lower cortisol levels – and exercise, journalling, nurturing close relationships, and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) can also all help too."Interestingly, each technique is training us to sometimes sit with discomfort," Prof Creswell says. "They are like little mini stressors - which might help us deal with the big stressors life throws at us." Experts warn some social media "quick fixes" not only fail to address the real issues many people might be experiencing, but can also prevent those who need medical treatment seeking help."We are often fed simplistic solutions to a complex and potentially more serious problem," wellbeing expert Professor Sir Cary Cooper seems taken aback when I tell him the ingredients in the cortisol cocktail I often see being touted on social media."I mean, it's not going to do any harm," he says, "but it's certainly not going to bring your cortisol levels down."Prof Carey says sudden body changes should be checked by a medical professional to make sure there are no physical health levels of cortisol can cause weight gain around the face, upper back and stomach - which could indicate a very rare condition called Cushing's Syndrome. The most common cause is taking high doses of steroid medicine for a long a small, non-cancerous growth in the pituitary gland (near the brain) or adrenal glands (near the kidneys) can also cause too much cortisol to be released. These glands help control the amount of certain hormones in your body, including you are stressed then there is "little point in just treating the symptoms", Prof Carey says. "It's all about the cause, and the cause could stem from a bad relationship, or financial worries or family problems. "Simple fixes on social media are not going to sort that." Jasleen has a new job at a large digital marketing company. Despite being warned she might not be able to conceive, she gave birth to a baby girl eight months determined not to repeat the burnout she experienced in the past so every morning without fail, she says, she carries out several exercises. Each claims to stimulate the nervous system, which helps her relax and reduce her levels of stress."I gently tap my body, grounding myself," Jasleen explains. "I hold an imaginary ball between my hands, and I dry brush my body, stroking my skin, visualising the blood flowing to my heart."Jasleen has a busy life, a successful career, and a baby girl to look after, but she says, she's much more aware of her limits. On the whole she stays clear of socials, and her life is now "calmer"."There are still elements that stress me out," Jasleen says. "But now I have a toolbox of ways to help manage it and I can embrace the chaos!"
CNA
11-06-2025
- Health
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - The Wellness Hour - Dr Vikram series (1/3) - Hormones & Her
CNA938 Rewind Play Collagen loss, weight changes, brain fog — many women face these signs of ageing without realising hormones are often the root cause. In the first instalment of our series with Dr Vikram Senior Consultant Endocrinologist and Founder of Harmony Thyroid Endocrinology and Diabetes Centre, a member of Beyond Medical Group, Cheryl Goh finds out how hormonal shifts impact women's bodies and minds, and what they can do to restore balance and age with confidence.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Norman Regional patients express concerns after staff layoffs, upcoming clinic closures
NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) — Norman Regional Health System laid off 10% of its workforce this week and also announced changes to certain services and clinic closures. Starting July 3, Endocrinology, Rheumatology Associates, Norman Regional Moore Pediatrics, South OKC Pediatrics and Oklahoma Wound Care clinics will be closed. The Ortho Stat Orthopedic Urgent Care Clinic will also be closing. 'I was very disappointed. Not in the clinic, not in my doctor, not in the doctor's staff. I was disappointed in Norman Regional. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Norman Regional Health System lays off 10% of workforce Jerrie Gronemeier has been a patient with Norman Regional for 15 years, seeing an endocrinologist for diabetes care. Gronemeier said she has a close relationship with her doctor and was shocked hearing about her local clinic closing for good. 'Like your medical records, who do you make the request to? Where are you going to get your prescriptions,' Gronemeier questioned. News 4 reached out to Norman Regional Health System about the upcoming closure and how patients can access their medical records. Our team is working to find options for our patients to have as little disruptions as possible to their care. Norman Regional's team is working with their healthcare provider to finalize plans for those affected and will communicate directly to the patient. Patients may request their medical records by visiting or calling 405-307-1366. Medical records will be maintained in compliance with state and federal law. Melissa Herron, Norman Regional Health System Gronemeier wants to warn other patients to take action and call their medical providers prior to the July 3 deadline. 'Something people need to understand, especially older people with with severe chronic diseases, we cannot afford to be complacent. You will die. You will have a diabetic problem, you will have a need for surgeries, you will need wound care. You need somebody,' she added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
