Dr. Mark A. Scheperle, MD

During office visits you may have heard me mention triglycerides, a type of blood fat. They often take a backseat to cholesterol, but they can raise your risk for heart disease. Here’s what you need to know.

How to Lower Triglycerides | MDVIP Triglycerides are a lipid that can increase your risk of heart disease. Here’s what you need to know about triglycerides and how you can lower them.

Dr. Mark A. Scheperle, MD updated their address.

In my practice, it’s often my female patients who ask for help for with depression. However, I know men also struggle – they just don’t ask for help. Because men’s depression symptoms vary from women’s, their relatives don’t recognize that they’re depressed. Here’s what you need to know.

Depression in Men Looks Different than It Does in Women | MDVIP Depression also affects men and in large numbers — about six million American men struggle with depression. However, it usually goes undiagnosed.

Bone thinning is predominantly a problem for women. However, there are men in my practice with osteoporosis. A risk factor for men is a loss of muscle mass. A recent study found that maintaining lean body mass can help men forestall osteoporosis. Here’s what you need to know.

Lean Body Mass Can Help Forestall Osteoporosis, Particularly in Men | MDVIP Most men aren’t too concerned about their own bone density. Understandably so. Bone thinning affects far more women than men. Take hips for example. Hip osteopenia is prevalent in 56 percent of women and 18 percent of men and hip osteoporosis affects 16 percent of women and 2 percent of men, accor...

The typical American diet is laden with sugar and wreaks havoc on our heath. Many patients wonder why sugar is such a problem, how much sugar is OK, and of course, how can they cut back? Here’s what you need to know.

Why is Sugar Bad for You? 68& of processed food contains some added sugar. Sugars cause a chemical response in the brain associated with addiction and can cause health problems.

A few of my patients have IBS – a condition that affects the large intestine, causing abdominal pain and digestive issues. For years I warned IBS patients to avoid gluten; however, new evidence suggests gluten might not be a trigger – it’s FODMAP foods. Here’s what you need to know.

MDVIP | Gluten May Not Be A Trigger For Your IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome is triggered by certain foods. Discover a study that showed gluten might not be a trigger & learn which foods you should try to avoid.

You’re probably familiar with the typical risk factors of heart disease – high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol, obesity, stress, poor nutrition, sleep deprivation and sedentary lifestyle. But a commonly overlooked risk factor is oral health. Learn more about the heart health – dental health connection from Alan Reisinger, MD, FACP, MDVIP associate medical director.

Bad Teeth & Heart Disease | MDVIP Having bad teeth has been linked to heart disease. It is important to practice good dental hygiene and schedule regular check ups with your dentist.

In January, the media coverage of two high profile cardiac arrests led to an onslaught of questions from patients. It’s important to understand what causes and how to prevent cardiac arrests. Here’s what you need to know.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest: Survival Rates in Men vs. Women | MDVIP What are the differences between cardiac arrest and heart attack. Find out more and learn why it's more common in men, yet women also see lower survival rates

Right now, I’m preaching the importance of a strong immune system to my patients. Why? We’re in the middle of a tripledemic. It’s still flu season. We’re still dealing with COVID. And RSV cases are higher than usual. Influenza and COVID have vaccines; however, RSV doesn’t. This means prevention relies on lifestyle. Here’s what you need to know.

RSV: Take Precaution Against the Tripledemic Virus | MDVIP Learn more about the Tripledemic Virus and explore ways to prevent the illnesses. Guard your health by taking precautions against the Flu, RSV, and COVID.

I get a lot of questions from my middle-aged patients about their shifting hormones. Many of them associate menopause and andropause with weight gain but don’t realize the effects waning hormones have on their heart. Here’s how aging and hormones can affect your heart.

Heart Disease Linked to Low Estrogen and Testosterone Levels | MDVIP Low levels of estrogen and testosterone play a role in the development of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death among Americans.

I’ve always been on the fence regarding alcohol and health benefits. Some studies suggest light to moderate drinking may be heart healthy. But I’ve had a few patients go overboard with the “heart healthy” drinking, which is detrimental. If you’re social drinker, talk to me about alcohol. In the meantime, this blog explains what you should know about alcohol and your heart.

Alcohol and Heart Health: What You Should Know | MDVIP Is alcohol good for your heart? Studies repeatedly show an association between good heart health and regular, light-to-moderate drinking. Read more.

Are friendships and social networking — real life or online — as important to your health as diet and exercise? Studies suggest yes, especially when it comes to your heart. Here’s how real-life and online relationships contribute to your heart health.

The Heart Health Benefits of Being Social | MDVIP Are friendships and social networking — real life or online — as important to your health as diet and exercise? You might not think so, but science is proving otherwise. Studies published many decades ago found loneliness in old age can have significant negative effects on health and longevity.

Do you feel rushed at your doctor appointments? I don’t believe patients should be hurried. That’s why I see fewer patients in my MDVIP-affiliated practice. Fewer patients means more time for you. I use this time to tailor an approach to your wellness and to provide one-on-one coaching to help you achieve your goals.

On Call Doctors Available 24/7 - Membership Benefits - MDVIP Doctor availability is one of many MDVIP benefits, which means patients in MDVIP-affiliated practices can reach their doctor after hours and on the weekends.

New Year’s resolutions are tough to maintain. That’s why most fail before February. But there are tactics you can take to raise your chances of succeeding, such as the ones in this blog described by my colleague, Alan Reisinger, MD, associated medical director, MDVIP. Here’s what you need to know.

4 Tips That Can Help You Achieve Your Resolutions As we enter into a new year, use these 4 tips to help you stick to your goals. Remember every small success gets you closer to your bigger ones.

It’s flu season. Have you gotten your flu shot yet? Flu shots are your best defense against influenza, yet many people skip getting one. If you haven’t gotten your shot yet or have questions about it, call my office.

Should You Get the Flu Shot? - Living Well - MDVIP Only about forty percent of Americans get the flu shot every year, despite the fact that it’s the best protection against getting influenza.

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year. But financial issues, grief, family strife and health issues can really take their toll. When my patients are experiencing holiday stress, I suggest these tips.

Simple Tips To Reduce Holiday Stress - Living Well - MDVIP Even if the holiday season is your favorite time of the year, preparing for festivities can cause a lot of stress. But you can ease some of the pressure with these simple tips.

I always encourage my patients to follow the basic tenets of wellness — get good quality sleep, exercise regularly, manage stress and eat a healthy diet, limit alcohol and avoid to***co. But during cold and flu season, I tend to emphasize these concepts even more, and I add regulate salt to the list. Research now suggests that too much salt can suppress your immune system.

Too Much Salt Might Be Impairing Your Immune System | MDVIP It doesn’t look like COVID-19 is going away any time soon, which means it’s important to keep your immune system strong. This means getting good quality sleep, exercising regularly, managing stress and eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats.

Many of my patients take multiple prescriptions, which can be quite expensive. If you’re on prescriptions, here are some tips and tricks you can use to help lower your costs.

4 Tips to Help You Save on Prescription Medications - Living Well - MDVIP The United States spends almost $1,000 per person each year on prescription drugs, which is more money than any other developed nation. What can you do to save money on prescription drugs?

Many of my patients are on blood pressure medications. Interestingly, there may be more than one benefit to these drugs. Certain medications that help lower blood pressure may also help protect the brain against cognitive decline and improve recall, while other drugs may help with focus, according to new studies. Learn more about how these drugs may help your brain.

Blood Pressure Medicine & Better Memory Recall | MDVIP High blood pressure is a known risk factor for dementia. There are studies to support certain medications that can lower the risk & improve memory recall.

I’ve been getting a lot of questions from patients about monkeypox. Many people are concerned. And I want you to be informed, so here’s what you need to know.

What is Monkeypox and How Is It Transmitted? | MDVIP Monkeypox transmission has recently become a trending topic in health care. Learn more about the virus, how it's spread, and ways to avoid contracting it.

Did you know what you eat can benefit your immune system?

How to Eat to Boost Your Immune System | MDVIP The human immune system is a wonderful thing. It responds quickly when we’re injured (the swelling around a sprained joint or a small cut), it attacks microscopic invaders like viruses and bacteria, and it even stores information that helps it fight future infections. It’s a beautiful protector ...

If you’re prediabetic or have type 2 diabetes, you may have heard that eating six small meals a day instead of three big ones can help control blood sugar levels. However, a recent study suggests three larger meals may be more effective.

Learn How Meal Timing Promotes Weight Loss – Living Well - MDVIP For years, experts recommended eating smaller meals more frequently for weight and blood sugar control. However, new studies are showing that eating three meals a day including a calorie dense breakfast is more effective.