Sometimes I am asked by patients “What should I do with medication that I no longer need?” I tell them that pharmacies have specific days that they accept medications back.
That time is soon! National Prescription Fall Take Back Day Announced
When? On October 25, 2025 the DEA and its federal partners will team up for the 19th bi-annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day!
Why is this important? National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a vital opportunity to safely dispose of unused or expired medications. Keeping leftover prescriptions at home increases the risk of accidental ingestion, misuse, or abuse, especially among children and teens. Flushing medications or throwing them in the trash can harm the environment, contaminating water supplies and wildlife. Returning drugs to a pharmacy or official collection site ensures they are destroyed responsibly, protecting your family and community. By participating, you help reduce the opioid crisis, prevent accidental poisonings, and keep our environment healthier. Safe disposal truly saves lives.
Breast Cancer Screening: What You Need to KnowBreast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. Finding it early can save lives. A mammogram is a special kind of X-ray that can show changes in breast tissue before you or your doctor can feel them.
When to Get a Mammogram
The American Family Physician guidelines say most women who are at average risk for breast cancer should start talking to their doctor about mammograms between ages 40 and 50. For many women, screening every two years from ages 50 to 74 is recommended. If you are younger but have a higher risk, your doctor may suggest starting sooner or having mammograms more often.
Why Screening Matters
A mammogram can find breast cancer early, when it is small and easier to treat. Early treatment often means less aggressive care and a better chance of recovery. Mammograms can sometimes find changes that are not cancer, so follow-up tests may be needed.
Who Is at Higher Risk?
You may have a higher risk for breast cancer if:
You have a close family member (mother, sister, or daughter) who had breast cancer.
You have certain genetic changes, like BRCA1 or BRCA2.
You had breast cancer before.
No cost BRCA1 and BRCA2 Genetic Screening in Northern Nevada
The Healthy Nevada Project offers no cost genetic screening for BRCA1 and BRCA2 to patients in Northern Nevada. These genes help protect you from cancer, but if they have harmful mutations/changes, your risk for breast and ovarian cancer is much higher. Knowing your genetic status can help you and your doctor make a plan for screening and prevention.
If you live in Nevada, you can sign up online at https://healthynv.org/ The test is a simple saliva sample or blood test, and your results are confidential.
As a family physician, I want to share important news that could save lives. Recent research from the American Cancer Society shows that more people between ages 45 and 49 are getting screened for colon cancer! As a result, more colon cancers are being found early, when they are easiest to treat. I like to tell my patients that colonoscopies find and excise colon polyps. It takes (most people) 10-15 years for a benign polyp to change to cancer. So, get your colonoscopy and have your colon polyps put in a jar!
Two large studies published in the medical journal JAMA found:
From 2004 to 2019, the number of new colon cancer cases in people ages 45 to 49 went up about 1% per year
After screening guidelines changed, the increase jumped to 12% per year from 2019 to 2022
Screening in this age group rose by 62% between 2019 and 2023
Why this matters:
Earlier diagnosis means better chances of a cure. Put that polyp in a jar!
According to the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians, finding colon cancer early often means it can be removed before it spreads. After it spreads, this may require chemotherapy or radiation or more extensive surgery.
In many cases, doctors can find and remove precancerous polyps during a colonoscopy, stopping cancer before it starts
Common screening options:
Colonoscopy: a doctor looks inside your colon with a small camera to check for polyps or cancer
Stool-based tests: can be done at home and mailed to a lab; if results are abnormal, a colonoscopy is needed. I prefer my patients get colonoscopies!
Guidelines for screening:
Adults at average risk should begin screening at age 45
People with higher risk, such as those with a family history of colon cancer or certain genetic conditions, may need to start earlier
Screening usually continues until at least age 75
Challenges we still face:
People without health insurance are screened at lower rates
Those with less access to education are also less likely to be screened
Efforts are needed to make screening available to everyone
What you can do:
If you are 45 or older and have not been screened, talk to your doctor
Choose the screening option that works best for you
Remember that screening can prevent colon cancer or catch it early, when treatment works best
As a family doctor who is also a Menopause Society Certified Provider, I often talk with perimenopausal and menopausal women. This stage of life brings many changes, and it’s an important time to focus on your heart health. A new study has found that only 1 in 5 women during menopause have ideal heart health, based on the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 guidelines.
Let’s break this down simply…What are Life’s Essential 8?
These are 8 key things that help keep your heart healthy:
Keep your blood pressure in a healthy range
Eat healthy foods
Be physically active
Don’t use tobacco
Get enough sleep
Maintain a healthy weight
Keep your cholesterol in check
Keep your blood sugar (glucose) under control
Doing well in these areas helps your heart, your brain, and your whole body feel better and work better.
What did the study show?
The study looked at women going through menopause and found that only 21 percent (about 1 in 5) had “ideal” scores for all 8 areas. That means most women had room to improve. The good news? Women with higher scores were less likely to have heart problems, strokes, or diabetes later on.
The study also showed that keeping blood pressure, blood sugar, and staying away from tobacco were especially helpful. Even if your score isn’t perfect right now, making small changes in just a few areas can still make a big difference.
What can you do?
Take a walk most days. Even 20 to 30 minutes can help your heart. This can be broken up into smaller time periods during the day.
Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains AND cut back on processed foods.
Check your blood pressure regularly and take medicine if needed. Goal BP is less than 135/85.
If you smoke, quit! Talk to your doctor for support.
Try to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep nightly. Good sleep helps your heart and brain.
Know your numbers. Ask your doctor to check your weight, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
You’re not alone
Menopause can feel overwhelming, especially with all the changes happening in your body. But this is also a chance to build healthy habits that will support you for years to come. Small changes now can lead to big benefits later.
Remember, you don’t need to be perfect to be healthier. Start with one goal—maybe going for a walk after dinner or swapping soda for water. Every step counts.
Talk to your doctor, get support from family and friends, and take charge of your health. You deserve to feel strong, supported, and cared for during this important stage of life.
A new study shows that eating eggs may be good for your brain. The research looked at over 1,000 adults in the United States and found that people who ate more than one egg a week had a lower chance of getting Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s is a condition that causes short-term memory loss and changes how the brain works. It usually affects older adults and can make daily life harder over time for the individual and their family. Scientists are always looking for ways to help prevent this disease—and diet may be one of them.
In this study, people were followed for almost seven years. During that time, 280 people—about 27%—were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia. But the people who ate eggs regularly had a 47% lower risk of getting the disease compared to those who didn’t eat eggs as often.
One of the reasons eggs might help is because of a nutrient called choline. Choline is mostly found in egg yolks and helps with memory and brain function. The study found that 39% of the protective effect of eggs came from choline. This means that choline could play a big role in helping the brain stay healthy.
So, what does this mean for your diet? It’s simple: eating a few eggs each week, especially with the yolk, may be a small step toward protecting your brain. Eggs are also affordable, easy to cook, and packed with other good nutrients like protein and vitamins.
As family doctors, we know that no single food can prevent a disease. But adding healthy foods like eggs to a balanced diet can make a big difference over time. If you’re already eating eggs a few times a week, you’re likely doing your brain a favor!
Of course, everyone’s health is different. If you have high cholesterol or other health concerns, talk to your doctor before making big changes to your diet.
In summary:
Eating more than one egg per week may lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Eggs are rich in choline, which helps support memory and brain health.
This benefit is linked mostly to the egg yolk, so don’t skip it.
A healthy diet, including eggs in moderation, can be part of a brain-smart lifestyle.
This research was published in The Journal of Nutrition and shared by The Hill on July 23, 2025.
Want help building a brain-healthy meal plan? Talk with your family medicine provider—we’re here to support your health at every age.
Do you or someone you love take medicine for high blood pressure? A new study says that taking it at bedtime might help even more than taking it in the morning!
This study was shared by HealthDay and published in a science journal called JAMA Network Open. The researchers wanted to learn if the time people take their blood pressure medicine makes a difference. They looked at two groups of people. One group took their medicine in the morning, and the other group took it at bedtime.
Guess what? The group who took their medicine at bedtime had better results!
What Is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is how hard your blood pushes against the walls of your blood vessels. If it’s too high, it can cause problems like strokes or heart attacks. People who have high blood pressure often take medicine every day to help keep it safe.
What Did the Study Find?
The study found that the bedtime group had lower blood pressure at night. This is important because our hearts need to rest while we sleep.
Here are some of the results:
People who took their medicine at bedtime had a 3.0 mm Hg lower top number (systolic) at night.
Their bottom number (diastolic) was also 1.4 mm Hg lower at night.
More people in the bedtime group had good blood pressure control at night — about 79% compared to 70% in the morning group.
Their body clocks, also called circadian rhythms, were working better too.
What Is a Circadian Rhythm?
A circadian rhythm is like your body’s clock. It helps you feel awake during the day and sleepy at night. It also controls things like heart rate and blood pressure. When your body clock is off, your blood pressure can stay too high while you sleep. That’s not good for your heart.
Taking medicine at night helps match the medicine to your body’s natural rhythm. It works when you really need it — while you’re sleeping!
What Does This Mean?
This study shows that bedtime might be the best time to take blood pressure pills. It could help your heart stay safe and healthy while you sleep.
But don’t change your medicine time without asking your doctor first. Everyone is different, and your doctor knows what’s best for you.
In Summary:
A new study shows taking blood pressure medicine at bedtime helps lower blood pressure better at night. It also helps your body’s natural clock work better. Talk to your doctor if you want to learn more about what time is best for you to take your medicine.
Taking care of your heart is important — even while you sleep!
I have been asked this a LOT in the office recently. And, then, into my inbox from the American Academy of Family Physicians an article illuminated this issue.
COVID-19 Vaccine Update (June 2025)
The COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. still help protect people from getting very sick, even with new versions of the virus like Omicron JN.1.
These vaccines don’t stop all infections, but they help keep people out of the hospital.
The protection from the shot is strongest in the first few months and then slowly wears off over time.
What the research shows:
People who got the new 2024–2025 COVID vaccine were:
33% less likely to go to the emergency room for COVID.
45–46% less likely to be hospitalized if they were age 65 or older and not immune-compromised.
40% less likely to be hospitalized if they were age 65+ and had weaker immune systems.
What doctors and scientists recommend:
Everyone 6 months and older should get the 2024–2025 COVID vaccine.
The shots help the most with stopping serious illness, even if they don’t always stop mild symptoms.
Why it still matters:
Older vaccines (like the XBB.1.5 version) didn’t last very long and didn’t stop infections well.
The newer vaccine works better, but protection still fades, so updates will keep being needed.
The American Academy of Family Physicians urges you to take action to support access to and public trust in vaccines, one of the most effective public health interventions in history.
In a deeply concerning move, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has dismissed all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the expert panel responsible for making science-based vaccine recommendations for the nation.
This unprecedented action threatens to undermine decades of progress in vaccine safety, efficacy, and public trust. At the same time, HHS has announced changes to COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women. These developments make it more urgent than ever to remind Congress that vaccines are safe, cost-effective, and essential to protecting public health.
Routine childhood vaccinations between 1994 and 2023 have prevented approximately 508 million cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and over 1.1 million deaths. These efforts have saved the U.S. health care system an estimated $540 billion in direct medical costs and $2.7 trillion in broader societal costs.
Vaccines save lives. That’s why the AAFP supports universal access to immunization regardless of socioeconomic or insurance status and opposes efforts by the administration to undermine access to and confidence in vaccines.
Using Democracy.io gives you a quick, targeted way to speak directly to key federal officials with minimal effort. Urge them to publicly support vaccine safety and science-based recommendations, oppose efforts that politicize or dismantle trusted public health institutions, and champion initiatives to combat vaccine misinformation and disinformation.
As a family physician, I love vaccines! Vaccines are among the safest and most effective tools modern medicine has to prevent serious illness. I’m increasingly concerned by a trend in clinics while talking with patients: vaccines are becoming harder to access—either because of availability or insurance coverage limitations.
This is a troubling development, as many critical vaccines are needed in adolescence and adulthood, not just in childhood. Delays or inability to get vaccines due to cost or supply issues may leave patients vulnerable to preventable diseases like HPV-related cancers, pneumonia, and shingles.
Let’s review what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends for individuals age 11 and up, and why timely vaccination is so important.
🔹 CDC-Recommended Vaccines (Age 11 and Older)
Age 11–12:
Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis): One-time dose, followed by a Td or Tdap (which has both tetanus and pertussis vaccines) booster every 10 years.
HPV Vaccine Series (Human Papillomavirus): A Two-dose series for ages 9–14 or it’s a three-dose series if starting at age 15 or older.
Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MenACWY): First dose at age 11–12. Booster dose at age 16.
Age 16–18:
Meningococcal B Vaccine (MenB): Shared decision-making for ages 16–23, ideally before college or before joining the military.
Age 19–49:
Flu Vaccine (Annually): For everyone age 6 months and older. This helps you not die from the flu infection.
COVID-19 Vaccine: Stay up-to-date with current recommendations, including updated boosters.
Td or Tdap Booster: Every 10 years.
Age 50–64:
Shingrix (Shingles vaccine): Recommended starting at age 50, regardless of prior shingles history. Two-dose series with the vaccine 2 months or more apart.
Pneumococcal Vaccines: Is now recommended at age 50.
Age 65 and older:
Pneumococcal Vaccine (PCV20 or PCV15 + PPSV23): One dose at age 65 or older if not previously received.
Continue annual flu vaccine, COVID-19 boosters, and maintain Tdap schedule.
🔹 Why Vaccine Access Matters
The cost of HPV, Shingrix, and pneumococcal vaccines can be substantial—hundreds of dollars out-of-pocket—if not covered. While the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program helps cover vaccines for those under 19, adults often face more fragmented support.
🔹 What You Can Do
Check your vaccination record and ask your healthcare provider what you’re due for. Don’t wait! Just get them!
Contact your insurance company to confirm which vaccines are covered and where to get them.
Advocate for access—tell your insurer, pharmacist, or clinic if you’re having trouble obtaining a recommended vaccine.
As your family doctor, I want to make it easy—not harder—for you to stay healthy. Vaccines work best when they’re available, affordable, and up to date. Let’s protect each other and speak up when those protections are at risk.
Stay curious – Medicine evolves. I tell the medical students that half of what we learn in medical school we thereafter find out is wrong. The real question is which half is wrong? And, what is the right answer. Overall, keep learning and stay updated.
Care for yourself – How can you care for others if you’re ignoring your physical or mental wellbeing?
Protect your time – Learn to say no. Boundaries are essential to avoid burnout. Get household help, if needed.
Don’t chase perfection – Strive for excellence. Perfectionism can paralyze progress and self-compassion.
Listen more than you talk– Patients will tell you what’s wrong if you let them talk. I often start my visit asking the patient “How’s life?” It lets me get to know my patients and they share what they want to share.
Document thoroughly but efficiently – Good notes protect you legally and help others care for your patients. I type as fast as I talk, which has helped finish my patient notes in a timely fashion.
You can’t save everyone – Accept your limits. Focus on providing the best care, not on outcomes beyond your control. Meet your patients where they want to be. I cannot hand the patients the medication I suggest. Truly, I give advice and the patient can do what they want.
Cultivate empathy – Treat each patient with grace. It’s healing for both of you.
Trust your clinical instincts – Pattern recognition and gut feelings are tools honed with experience. Respect them.
Don’t neglect your homelife– Your loved ones need your time and attention just as much as your patients. I always bring my cell phone into a patient room. If my husband or kids call, I ask the patient first and then I answer the phone. Sometimes it is “Where is my backpack?” or “Mom, I was just in a car accident.”
Get out of debt – Financial stability later allows you freedom and peace of mind. Live below your means.
Find mentors and be one – Learn from those ahead of you, and lift those coming behind.
Practice gratitude – Even on hard days, appreciate what a privilege it is to do this work.
Take breaks seriously – Regular rest isn’t indulgent—it’s essential. I will often ask a colleague to cover my “inbox” when I am out of town.
You will make mistakes – Own them, learn, apologize when needed, and move forward.
Know your “why” – Reconnect with what brought you to medicine when times get tough. I truly love to teach medical students and new physicians… it is a joy.
Don’t delay seeking help – For burnout, depression, or anxiety—ask for help early.
Medicine is a team sport – Respect nurses, techs, therapists, and all who make care possible. Everyone on the healthcare team has a role.
Keep hobbies alive – Your identity is more than just being a doctor. As I consider how I wind down my practice, I am figuring out what I like to do, who I like to spend time with and I thoughtfully, incrementally, am adding them to my life.
Celebrate small wins – The impact you make isn’t always visible, but it matters.
Dr. Leslie Greenberg's Blog 
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