Dr. Sunny Sharma

11/26/2025

I made a whole series of memes using the same picture… because honestly, this image was made for evidence-based humor.

Swipe through for the most accurate representation of my daily life as a physician:
✔️ Evidence-Based Medicine vs… everything else
✔️ Calorie deficit (the math everyone hates but still works)
✔️ Weighted vest enthusiasm
✔️ Red Dye 40 hysteria
✔️ Forever chemicals quietly doing the real damage
✔️ My vaccinated patients thriving
✔️ Whole-food, plant-based wins
✔️ Fiber doing 90% of the work
✔️ TikTok diet “experts” saying wild things
✔️ Saturated fat plotting against arteries
✔️ My kid vs my white shirt
✔️ Public health (the unsung hero)
✔️ Beans being the real MVP of the Blue Zones
✔️ Me asleep by 9 pm because health
✔️ Chicago sports breaking all our hearts
✔️ Whatever I’m eating → my dogs
✔️ Bluey → my kids
✔️ An empty gym = my natural habitat
✔️ Exercise being therapy AND medicine
✔️ Lifestyle interventions with patients (the best part of my job)

If humor helps people learn something, reflect on their health, or even just smile for a second, I’ll take that as a win.

Science + memes: the perfect lifestyle medicine combo. 🩺😄
More coming soon—because TikTok isn’t slowing down, and neither is misinformation.

11/26/2025

11/25/2025

Today is National Play With Dad Day — basically the perfect excuse for dads everywhere to act like oversized children with legal responsibilities. 😄

And yes… it’s also Day 25 of No Shave November.
New facial hair. Same dad.
Just a little more aerodynamic on the sides. (My kids say I now look like a “detective who solves snack-related crimes.”)

I’m wrapping up in the office early so I can spend time with my kids today — park time, indoor pool time, dance party time… basically all the things that remind me I’m not as young as the beard makes me look.

I’ll officially be out of the office from this evening until Monday, but don’t worry, patients — I’ll still be reachable for messages, refills, and the occasional medical crisis that pops up while I’m pretending to be a human slide.

Why this day matters:
👨‍👧‍👦 Kids who play with their dads show stronger emotional regulation, confidence, and social development.
💪 Dads benefit too — lower stress, better mood, deeper connection.
🌱 Play is an evidence-based lifestyle intervention. Joy counts as medicine.

No Shave November update:
We’re raising funds for men’s health and we are only $50 away from our $500 goal.
If you’d like to help us cross the finish line, the link is in my bio.

New mustache. Same mission.
Healthy dads → healthy families → healthy communities.

Happy National Play With Dad Day, friends.

11/24/2025

Day 24 of No-Shave November… and yes, this is officially a mustache, not a beard. It’s reaching that phase where my kids are wondering if I’m auditioning for a 70’s detective show — but hey, it’s for a good cause and a healthier community. 😄

With flu + COVID cases rising again, I want to share what the evidence actually says about vaccines this season:

⸻

🦠 Flu Vaccine — What the data shows
• In kids/teens, the 2024–25 flu vaccine was 32–60% effective at preventing lab-confirmed flu in outpatient settings, and 63–78% effective at preventing hospitalization.
• In adults, effectiveness was 36–54% for outpatient visits and 41–55% for preventing hospitalization.
• Historically, flu vaccination has also been linked to a 31% reduction in death and fewer ICU admissions.

⸻

🛡 COVID-19 Vaccine — Updated protection
• For adults ≥18, the updated COVID-19 vaccine was about 33% effective at preventing emergency/urgent-care visits.
• In adults ≥65, vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization was ~45–46% in immunocompetent individuals and ~40% in those immunocompromised.
• Protection against hospitalization/death was about 57% at 4 weeks, tapering to 34% by 20 weeks — still meaningful protection.

⸻

🎯 The key point:

Vaccines aren’t 100% protective — but choosing not to get them gives you 0% protection.

Just like my mustache: imperfect, but doing important work.
Vaccines reduce the severity of illness, lower hospitalization rates, and save lives.

⸻

🌍 It’s not just about you

We vaccinate for:
• older adults
• cancer patients
• newborns
• people with chronic disease
• our friends, coworkers, and neighbors

Community protection is real. Prevention is powerful.

⸻

📌 My asks today:
1. Check if you’re due for your flu shot or updated COVID-19 vaccine
2. Talk to your clinician if you’re unsure
3. If you’ve been following along with my mustache journey for No-Shave November, consider supporting my fundraiser — every bit helps us elevate men’s health and public health ❤️

Let’s protect ourselves and the people around us.
That’s lifestyle medicine. That’s community care.

11/23/2025

This Thanksgiving week, I’m thinking deeply about what it means to support the people who protect our collective health — and why public health professionals deserve our full backing now more than ever.

Public health experts prevent disease, educate communities, shape policy, and protect populations — not just individuals. But right now, their role is being threatened.

The U.S. Department of Education is proposing a redefinition of “professional degrees” that excludes public health degrees like the MPH and DrPH, potentially limiting access and undermining the field’s legitimacy. This is unacceptable at a time when public health leadership is needed more than ever.

At the same time:
• The CDC website was updated in a way that reopens debunked vaccine–autism narratives.
• The EPA approved two pesticides recently that raise forever-chemical concerns.
We need public health scientists, epidemiologists, and environmental health experts involved in these decisions.

And public health isn’t just infectious diseases — it’s food security. Public health workers help families access nutritious food, connect to resources, and address root causes of chronic disease.

So during this week of gratitude, I’m raising money for Feeding America to help ensure families in our community have food on the table.
👉 https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participant/DrSunnySharma

And yes… today is Day 23 of No-Shave November, and I’ll be sharing the annual mustache update 😅 — a reminder that men’s health, mental health, and advocacy matter too.

💙 Stand with science. Stand with community. Stand with public health.

11/22/2025

I’m honestly stunned.
The U.S. Department of Education just announced that several essential degrees will no longer be considered “professional degrees.”

That means lower student loan limits…
Harder access to graduate training…
And a direct blow to the future of so many critical professions.

Here are the fields that were removed:
Nursing, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Physical Therapists, Audiologists, Architects, Accountants, Educators, and Social Workers.

These aren’t “optional” careers.
These are the people who:
❤️ keep us healthy
🏥 care for our aging population
📚 teach our children
🧠 support our mental health
🏛 design our buildings
📊 protect our finances
🙌 lift up vulnerable communities

Stripping these degrees of “professional” status undermines the very workers who uphold public health, education, safety, and community well-being.

We should be investing in these professions — not devaluing them.

Swipe through the carousel as I stand with every one of these fields.
This matters. It affects access, opportunity, and the future of our workforce.

IStandWithTeachers IStandWithPTs IStandWithSocialWorkers HealthcareEquity EducationMatters SupportProviders PublicHealth HigherEducation StudentLoanReform FutureOfHealthcare FutureOfEducation

11/21/2025

Today I’m speaking up—not because I created this account to fight internet misinformation, but because sometimes silence becomes part of the problem.

Recently, a wave of misinformation has spread online after a controversial CDC-related post created space for false narratives linking vaccines and autism. And while many of us know the science hasn’t changed, moments like this give oxygen to voices who want to push fear over facts.

Let me be clear:
🔹 Vaccines do NOT cause autism.
🔹 This has been studied exhaustively, globally, and repeatedly.
🔹 The science is solid, the evidence is consistent, and the consensus is overwhelming.

This isn’t just “wrong information.”
It’s dangerous.

It harms public trust in life-saving vaccines.
It fuels fear among parents who deserve clarity, not chaos.
And it hurts autistic individuals and the people who love them.

Autism is not a disease.
Autism is not something to be feared.
Autism is not something to “fix.”

Autism is human variation—a part of the beautiful spectrum of neurodiversity that makes our communities richer, kinder, more creative, and more whole.

What is harmful?
People who insist on promoting narratives that strip autistic individuals of dignity.
People who push conspiracy instead of care.
People who believe feelings override facts.

Facts > Feelings.
Evidence > Emotion.
Science > Fear.

To everyone affected by autism—whether you are autistic yourself or love someone who is—your existence is not a problem to solve. You deserve acceptance, respect, and truth.

Swipe through the carousel below for evidence-based sources, what actually happened, and how to stay grounded when misinformation spreads.

11/20/2025

Today is Hug a Runner Day AND Use Less Stuff Day — two holidays that have absolutely nothing to do with each other… until you realize they’re basically a wellness crossover episode.

Running? Great for your heart.
Using less stuff? Great for your brain.
And hugging a runner? Great for… them, probably. (Ask for consent first. Runners are sweaty.)

🏃‍♂️ Hug a Runner Day:
Regular running has been shown to lower all-cause mortality by up to 25–30%, even at short distances and slow speeds. And guess what? The #1 barrier to exercise for most people is not having the right gear. Running solves that. You don’t need fancy equipment. You don’t need a high-tech tracker. You don’t even need matching socks.
You just need:
✔️ A pair of shoes
✔️ Comfortable clothes
✔️ Mild to moderate existential motivation

♻️ Use Less Stuff Day:
Using less is good for the planet and your mental health. Clutter increases stress and anxiety (yes, there’s data on this!). Decluttering can free up brain space, lower stress hormones, and even improve sleep.

And today is a perfect excuse to do a closet clean-out → donate what you don’t need → and help someone who needs it right now.
Food items. Clothes. Home goods. All of it counts.

💛 Speaking of giving…
Today is Day 20 of No-Shave November, and yes—my mustache has now entered its “character actor in a 1980s detective movie” phase.
I’m raising money to provide meals to people in need, and every $1 = 10 meals. (Link in bio.)

Let’s run more, own less, hug responsibly, and grow facial hair for a good cause.

11/19/2025

Happy International Men’s Day!
And yes… it’s also Day 19 of No Shave November, where my mustache continues its heroic journey from “patchy optimism” to “respectable 90s detective energy.” 🕵️‍♂️😂

But today isn’t just about facial hair—it’s about men’s health, especially mental health, which is too often overlooked or minimized.

📊 Some important reminders:
• 1 in 10 men experience anxiety or depression each year.
• Yet less than 50% will seek help.
• Men die by su***de at a rate 3–4 times higher than women.
• Lifestyle-related diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension continue to disproportionately affect men, especially as we age.

That’s why November—No Shave November, Movember, International Men’s Day—all exist:
To remind us that strength isn’t about staying silent, and health isn’t something you “tough out.”

As a physician, I see firsthand how powerful early prevention is.
As a man, a husband, a dad, and someone who’s been through life-changing health challenges myself, I know how important it is to show up for yourself—physically, mentally, emotionally.

So today, I’m showing up… mustache and all.
If you’re a guy reading this:
✔️ Get your check-ups
✔️ Talk to someone
✔️ Move your body
✔️ Nourish yourself
✔️ Don’t carry everything alone

And if you love a man—check on him today.

Here’s to healthier men, stronger conversations, and one more day of this mustache growing into its final form. 💪🧔‍♂️

11/18/2025

🎉💪 Injury Prevention Day? More like Injury Prevention PLAY Day! Today we’re celebrating National Injury Prevention Day — but at our practice, it’s every day.
⁠
📊 Did you know? Injuries are the leading cause of death and hospitalization for people ages 1-44.  Every day in the U.S., roughly 20 children die from preventable injuries. 
⁠
Here at my office in Hoffman Estates, we believe injury-prevention isn’t just about helmets, seatbelts, or lighting buildings green (though those matter!). It’s also about keeping your body strong, balanced, and resilient as you age.
⁠
🧠 Key message: While many people worry more about getting injured when exercising, the bigger culprit is actually not exercising. Weak muscle mass, poor balance, and declining cardiorespiratory fitness all raise your risk of injury — especially as you get older.
⁠
🔑 At our practice we emphasize:
• Resistance training to preserve muscle mass around your joints → better stability, less strain.
• Balance/flexibility drills to reduce fall risk as you age.
• Cardiorespiratory fitness so you’re not just fit — you’re robust.
• A whole-food, plant-based diet (we live this!) to support muscle repair, joint health, systemic inflammation control, and optimal healing.
⁠
So today, let’s commit:
✅ Move (even just 10 mins) to activate muscles.
✅ Practice a balance exercise before brushing your teeth.
✅ Pair a nutrient-rich plant meal with your motion.
✅ And remember: Prevention is proactive — not reactive.
⁠
Here’s to staying strong, agile, and injury-free for all the years ahead.

11/17/2025

This weekend, I had the privilege of attending “Beyond the Scoreboard: A Night of Champions & Mental Health” — featuring former 2016 World Series MVP and Cubs legend Ben Zobrist.

My good friend and former 2005 White Sox World Series Champion, Brian Anderson, brought me to this incredible event — and I’m so grateful he did.

What struck me the most wasn’t the championships, the resumes, or the highlight reels…
It was the vulnerability.

Hearing athletes, leaders, and community advocates open up about their mental health — even when life looked “perfect” from the outside — was powerful.

It reminded me of something we all need to hear:
👉🏽 It’s okay to not be okay.
👉🏽 It’s okay to be vulnerable.
👉🏽 It’s okay to ask for help.

Ben shared something that will stick with me forever.
He talked about how he tracks his wins and losses by the “W” and “L” flags hanging in his office.
But the lesson wasn’t about baseball.
It was about life:

SHOW UP.
Show up for yourself.
Show up for others.
Show up in the wins — and in the losses.

He also reminded us of the difference between “fair weather friends” and what he calls “foggy weather friends.”
Those who walk with you through the fog.
Check in on you.
Sit with you in the storms.
Help you find your way back to the light.

So here’s your gentle reminder:
Check in with your friends.
Check in with yourself.
Be a foggy day friend.

This message aligned beautifully with the original purpose of No-Shave November — raising awareness of mental health, especially for men who are often expected to be stoic and silent.

I was lucky enough to meet Ben at the end, talk about his playing days, our shared struggles, and tell him about my mustache fundraiser. He told me he was touched by what I was doing — because it aligned exactly with the mission behind his work with Champion Forward and the many ways he’s giving back.

And today is also International Survivors of Su***de Loss Day — a day for remembrance, compassion, and connection. If you’ve lost someone, please know: you’re not alone, and you matter.

Let’s keep showing up.
For ourselves. For each other.
Through the wins.
Through the losses.
And especially — through the fog. 💙

11/16/2025

Day 16 of No Shave November, and this mustache is becoming its own personality trait.
Post–one-hour workout → sauna session → sweating like I’m being slow-roasted — all in the name of staying physically and mentally well.

With the days getting shorter, colder, and darker, it’s common to feel a dip in mood. Seasonal Affective Disorder is real — and so is the temptation to skip movement altogether. But I push myself to still show up, even when it’s intense, because I’ve never once regretted a workout.
Not once.

Physical health and mental health aren’t two separate things.
They’re just health, period.

And the science backs this up:

🏋🏽 Exercise decreases symptoms of depression by 30–45% in clinical studies.
🧠 Boosts serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, and BDNF — all crucial for mood and brain health.
🔥 Even 10 minutes of movement can lower anxiety and improve mood for hours.
💪 Strength training reduces cortisol and increases emotional resilience.

And since it is No Shave November…
I’m also raising funds to support people facing food insecurity.
So far we’ve raised $325 toward my $500 goal — which means 3,250 healthy meals will be provided to people in need. The mustache is doing more than scaring my children… it’s feeding families.

If you’d like to donate and help us hit the goal, the link is in my bio.
Thank you to everyone who has supported so far — it means more than you know. 🙏🏽