Brett A. Brechner, DO

11/05/2025

10/20/2025

Alcohol consumption can affect medications, weight and overall health, which is why I commonly ask my patients how much alcohol they drink. However, answering this question is more difficult than it seems; many factors are involved. If you’d like to understand how much you’re really drinking, here’s what you need to know.

Many people are unaware of the health effects of alcohol on the body. Educate yourself on how much alcohol you are really drinking and one drink consists of.

10/14/2025

Some of my patients ask a lot of questions about Parkinson’s disease, which is understandable. It’s a life-altering, debilitating disease that’s been rising in the US. Here are four tips to help lower your risk of Parkinson’s.

Legendary National Football League quarterback Brett Favre was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), a progressive and debilitating nervous system disorder that affects cognitive and motor abilities. In the early phases, symptoms develop slowly, are mild and possibly overlooked. For in...

10/01/2025

Summer Outing 2025. We had an amazing time with our staff and family at the Chicago Air and Water Show this summer.

10/01/2025

Your metabolism’s function is to convert food and beverages into energy to power your body’s functions such as breathing, circulating blood and exercising. Sometimes, abnormal chemical reactions occur in your body that interfere with your body’s metabolism. A metabolic disorder can affect your overall health, including weight. This is one reason why I am adamant about staying on top of screenings. Here’s what you need to know about maintaining metabolic health.

Fundamentally, your metabolic health is about how well your body responds to and processes food. Our metabolism’s job is to convert what we eat and drink into energy to power your body’s functions. When everything is working well, your body has the energy to do a range of amazing things – from...

10/01/2025

Learn how my practice helps busy professionals invest in their health.

MDVIP’s primary care model goes beyond traditional concierge medicine, providing patients with more attentive, personalized care. Learn more about the MDVIP difference.

09/18/2025

You deserve a better healthcare experience.

Learn about the MDVIP approach to patient centered primary care. Discover the benefits of seeing private doctors & being part of the MDVIP wellness program.

09/17/2025

I talk about prebiotic and probiotic foods with my patients, particularly those struggling with their gut health, because adding these foods to your diet can make a difference. If you would like to learn more about foods that encourage gut health, watch this video.

Over the last few years, you’ve probably heard a lot about gut health and the microbiome – the collection of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in our gut. Science is just starting to understand the importance of multiplying the good bacteria in our gut, which help with decreasing infla...

08/25/2025

Many women in my practice use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to ease menopause symptoms. Of course, HRT is not right for every woman, particularly if breast, ovarian or endometrial cancer, stroke or blood clots are a risk. If they are, you might instead take supplements. But should they? Do you use menopause related supplements? Do you think they’re effective?

In 1942, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals introduced the first hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women going through menopause. Over the intervening decades, doctors have gone back and forth on the safety and efficacy of using HRT to treat symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal discomfort.

08/13/2025

Many of my patients are dealing with stress-induced insomnia. But they’re not alone. A recent report found that American adults are more stressed and sleeping less. Here are some tips and tricks that I’ve taught my patients that can help ease your stress and get better sleep. Do you struggle with insomnia? Do you have advice for others?

If you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, chances are you’re stressed. Stress is another public health issue plaguing America. In fact, more than 25% of American adults reporting being so stressed that they can’t function, according to a poll conducted by the American Psychological A...

08/05/2025

I’ve spent years teaching my patients how to read nutrition labels, primarily focusing on serving sizes, calories and grams of sugar. But there’s more on a label than those three things. Ingredients matter too, especially preservatives added to processed foods to sustain shelf life. Many preservatives are deemed safe, but some should be limited or even avoided, such as the five listed in this link. Are you concerned about preservatives? Do you ever notice the five discussed in the blog on your labels?

Processed foods can be a double-edge sword. On one hand, they’re easy, convenient time savers. But they are often made with questionable ingredients, from high fructose corn syrup, excessive salt and added sugars.