Novant Health Today’s Adult Primary Care

03/06/2026

Daylight saving time is this Sunday, and even though we know it’s coming, it still finds a way to sneak up on us. If the time change throws off your sleep, a few small adjustments can help your body reset and get back on track:
🌞 Get morning sunlight. Natural light helps reset your internal clock.
🥗 More fiber and protein with less sugar and alcohol = better sleep.
❄️ Keep your bedroom cool and quiet.
📵 Skip phones and laptops before bed to protect your sleep cycle.
🧘 If you can’t sleep, don’t stress. Try deep breathing or a quiet, relaxing activity

03/03/2026

With Novant Health – I just made it onto their weekly engagement list by being one of their top engagers 🎉

03/03/2026

Strength and resistance training matter more as we get older. Here’s why.
The benefits can slow aging, strengthen bones and joints, and prevent falls.

Strength and resistance training matter more with age because the benefits include building bone, preserving muscle, improving balance and reducing fall risk.

02/24/2026

Cold hands and feet this time of year?
You’re not alone — and most of the time, it’s completely normal. According to Dr. Nizar Noureddine, cold temperatures cause blood vessels to narrow, sending blood to vital organs first. That's why your fingers and toes often feel cold first.
⚠️ When to pay attention:
If your hands or feet turn white, blue or purple, take a long time to warm up or you have risk factors like diabetes, smoking or heart disease, it’s time to check in with a doctor. These can be signs of circulation issues like Raynaud’s phenomenon or vascular disease.
🚶‍♀️ How to improve circulation:
• Keep hands and feet warm
• Stay active — even short walks help
• Manage risk factors like blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes
• Avoid smoking
• Keep up with regular checkups
Bottom line: Cold hands and feet are often seasonal — but persistent discoloration, pain or swelling shouldn’t be ignored.

Cold hands and feet this time of year?

You’re not alone — and most of the time, it’s completely normal. According to Dr. Nizar Noureddine, cold temperatures cause blood vessels to narrow, sending blood to vital organs first. That's why your fingers and toes often feel cold first.

⚠️ When to pay attention:
If your hands or feet turn white, blue or purple, take a long time to warm up or you have risk factors like diabetes, smoking or heart disease, it’s time to check in with a doctor. These can be signs of circulation issues like Raynaud’s phenomenon or vascular disease.

🚶‍♀️ How to improve circulation:
• Keep hands and feet warm
• Stay active — even short walks help
• Manage risk factors like blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes
• Avoid smoking
• Keep up with regular checkups

Bottom line: Cold hands and feet are often seasonal — but persistent discoloration, pain or swelling shouldn’t be ignored.

02/12/2026

😅 Getting winded on hills — even if you work out regularly? Totally normal!

If your usual routine doesn’t include hills or stairs, your body is simply being challenged in a new way. ⛰️ New terrain = new muscles working!

A great goal is to walk at a pace where you can still hold a conversation. 🗣️🚶‍♀️
When that starts to feel easy, it’s time to switch things up and add a little more challenge.

Small changes build strength, endurance, and confidence — one step at a time! 💪✨



https://www.novanthealth.org/healthy-headlines/no-matter-how-old-you-are-you-should-never-run-out-of-breath?fbclid=IwY2xjawP7DT9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExMHN1WnhZaXY3b01DVDRZc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtmmannHOe-clAahgfi_J-q_5ZZdqX6jVUYvBbbFsHoxnm9HBk9LjA1pQmEr_aem_ofUyQHaz5-9VZ5IwVJ9R7g

When difficulty breathing gets in the way of your normal activities like walking down the driveway, it’s time to see a doctor. Learn more.

02/10/2026

High blood pressure that won’t budge? 🩺⬆️
For some patients, renal denervation may help when medications don’t.
💙 New options. New hope. Better heart health.

When blood pressure medications don’t work, renal denervation may help. Learn how this new procedure treats resistant hypertension.

01/30/2026

✅ “Natural” Doesn’t Always Mean Safe — Stay Smart This Sick Season
✅ Natural Remedies: Helpful or Harmful? Let’s Talk
✅ Cold & Flu Season: What’s Safe and What’s Not?
✅ Feeling Sick? We’ve Got You Covered — Safely

https://www.novanthealth.org/healthy-headlines/which-natural-remedies-to-take-and-avoid-for-colds-flu-and-covid-19?fbclid=IwY2xjawPpkq1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFqNmFWbWdiSVFZWjJIcVpPc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHitVAUxk_vnfne_NY_wfY1vKwY2e4-vUA9NIBXxfAo5VyDQbHgkxowoM-CTZ_aem_DLzph3ek0msig9LboEHq7g

Here are the natural remedies that evidence shows can actually help when you have a respiratory infection.

01/29/2026

🚶‍♀️✨ Small steps = big health wins! ✨🚶‍♂️

Ever heard of micro-walks? These are short, frequent bursts of walking throughout your day — and they can make a big difference!

Family nurse practitioner Tore Flavin shares that even brief movement helps wake up your muscles, support healthy glucose levels and boost your daily energy burn. 💪

Not everyone can hit 10,000 steps — and that’s okay! Micro-walks are a realistic, lifestyle-friendly way to add more movement into your routine. A few quick walks between tasks can break up sitting time and help lower the health risks of being sedentary.

Micro-walks—short, frequent bursts of walking throughout the day—can help break up prolonged sitting and support better metabolic health.

Family nurse practitioner Tore Flavin says emerging research shows that even brief movement can stimulate muscles, improve glucose levels and increase overall daily energy expenditure.

While the classic 10,000-step goal is a helpful benchmark, it isn’t realistic for everyone. Micro-walks offer a practical way to build movement into your day and work toward a step goal that fits your lifestyle.

Taking a few short walks throughout the day may help reduce the health risks associated with sedentary behavior—and make staying active feel more achievable.

01/21/2026

✨ What if better health was simpler than you think? ✨

What if you could lower your risk of chronic disease by up to 80% just by changing a few daily habits? 👀
Dr. Alicia Beal reminds us that we have more control over our health than we realize! 💪

This year, focus on the 6 Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine:
🥗 Eat more plants
😴 Prioritize sleep
🚶 Get moving
🧘 Manage stress
🤝 Stay connected
🚫 Avoid risky substances

🌱 Small steps = big wins for your health. Start today!

https://www.novanthealth.org/healthy-headlines/6-natural-doable-ways-to-better-health-no-pills-necessary?fbclid=IwY2xjawPdtwZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFnY0FmWnJ4MHBONGFDV0FGc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjrBaoXRC0p6E-B0NGkB9-qm5AweKT-iptWSJbDztur5PookITDA7xzZeYgL_aem_-uMQZ550zvYefc5puOa8EA

Want to avoid prescriptions and lots of doctor visits? These basic lifestyle changes are a great start. A specialist in lifestyle medicine explains.

01/15/2026

🌟 Don’t stay silent about what matters.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
We’re here to listen, support, and stand with you every step of the way. 🩺🤝💬

01/12/2026

Through every challenge and every triumph, “in sickness and in health” tells a powerful story of lifelong love and resilience 💕✨

https://www.novanthealth.org/healthy-headlines/in-sickness-and-in-health-a-lifetime-of-love-and-resilience?fbclid=IwY2xjawPR5GBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFSYWxjZDQ0WXBMNzhac0sxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhSnJrd8qo384N4e5BRrK6PeNXq2DTsaJ7Wh27JesbgVAAYNabiN2aZ-9yBS_aem_zJNjRf-Bn-sVnKv74DEjRQ

An elderly husband regains mobility after complex spine surgery at Novant Health, allowing him to continue caring for his wife and navigate major life changes with renewed strength. Read their story here.

01/08/2026

Prediabetes can be a silent threat — most people don’t even know they have it. Without intervention, it can progress to type 2 diabetes, which increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and more.
https://www.novanthealth.org/healthy-headlines/prediabetes-is-reversible-with-lifestyle-changes-heres-your-action-plan?fbclid=IwY2xjawPM1ppleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFIYVd3NHNlS3c3dUp3eExJc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHu0Cko-LE8K9RRyP0N_93wL5vsHX-sBWcaXi2AOnjq0UrvDWexbVU4Tv4S1R_aem_716TUIu1T61NpcNK3kl9tg

A certified diabetes care and education specialist shares tips for reversing a prediabetes diagnosis before it turns into Type 2 diabetes.