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Renown Health President and CEO Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, discusses efforts nationwide to develop a more effective and efficient way to deliver care. explains the benefits of Renown Health’s population health study with the Desert Research Institute and 23andMe.

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As the Healthy Nevada Project expands to 50,000 study participants, researchers are sharing the health insights gleaned from the pilot phase of the project.   Air pollution is a major health factor affecting northern Nevadans, according to data gathered by researchers in the pilot phase of the Healthy Nevada Project, one of the largest population health studies in the country. Today, the project — which began 18 months ago as a partnership between Renown Health and the Desert Research Institute — is expanding to add 40,000 additional participants bringing total enrollment to 50,000 Nevadans. “We are thrilled to share the first insights from our 10,000-person pilot phase and discuss how we will begin using those results to improve patient care,” says Anthony Slonim, M.D., Dr.PH., FACHE, president and CEO of Renown Health and president of Renown Institute for Health Innovation, a collaboration between Renown and DRI. Healthy Nevada Project Pilot Phase — and What Happens Next The pilot phase of the Healthy Nevada Project proved Nevadans are excited to know more about themselves and want to contribute to research that could improve health outcomes for the entire state. The pilot phase enrolled 10,000 participants in less than 48 hours and DNA sample collection from each participant was completed in just 69 working days. Based on pilot phase data, researchers have seen increased use of regional healthcare services correlated with fluctuations in air quality and so-called “bad air events” such as wildfires and atmospheric inversions. In phase two, Renown IHI will evaluate possible links between genetics and increased susceptibility to respiratory ailments. Study researchers also announced care providers and scientists will begin working on a number of clinical programs and scientific studies focused specifically on Washoe County’s high age-adjusted death rates for heart disease, cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease. Collectively, these conditions among local residents stand at 33 percent above the national rate. In the coming months, Renown IHI will begin providing advanced calcium score screenings to pilot phase participants at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. This will allow researchers to examine the link between genetics and calcium buildup in the heart. Researchers are also evaluating future studies focused on age-related macular degeneration and breast cancer risks in northern Nevada.   Pilot Phase Insights Fifty percent of pilot study participants responded to a comprehensive, socioeconomic survey, which revealed: High rates of lower respiratory disease in northern Nevada and co-morbidities such as diabetes and hypertension suggest air pollution in northern Nevada is a confounding and significant factor in health. Study participants had parents who died from cancer and heart disease at a higher rate than the age-adjusted national average. Study participants exercised less than recommended by the American Heart Association and expressed interest in receiving help with behavior modification using diet/nutrition and weight loss tools. In phase two, if study participants choose to complete a follow-up survey, they will have the chance to pick an additional health and wellness app specific to their individual genetic results. Learn More To see if you are eligible to participate in the study, to sign up for study updates and for full details on the Healthy Nevada Project, please visit HealthyNV.org.

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You can still have a healthy pregnancy and baby if your pregnancy is high-risk. Learn what steps you can take to give your baby the best start possible. A “high-risk” pregnancy is one that threatens the health or life of the mother or her fetus. Women with high-risk pregnancies should receive care health care specialists to ensure the best possible outcomes. Some examples of a high-risk pregnancy include: Maternal age, women 35 and higher or 17 and younger Lifestyle choices, including smoking, drinking alcohol and illegal controlled substances Existing medical history, chronic hypertension, diabetes and breathing issues Multiple gestation, pregnancy with twins or triplets Overweight and underweight  Remember: You can still have a healthy pregnancy and baby if your pregnancy is high-risk. Some ways to promote a healthy pregnancy: Schedule an appointment with your OBGYN Eat a balanced diet Avoid substances Prenatal care Healthy weight gain Reduce stress Exercise  Pregnancy & Childbirth at Renown | 775-982-KIDS (5437) When you are expecting a new baby, you can depend on Renown Children’s Hospital for all your mom and baby healthcare needs. We can help you find the right doctor and tell you what to expect during your stay. We offer childbirth education classes and tours to help you prepare. Be sure to check out our virtual tours of our Labor Assessment Area.

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Deciding you’re ready to start a family is a big decision for any couple. So once you’ve decided – what are the next steps for both moms and dads-to-be? And what should you know if you’re struggling to conceive? Dr. Myron Bethel, OB/GYN with Renown Women’s Health, offers key insights about fertility. What’s the first thing couples should do when they decide to start a family? For the mom-to-be, it’s important to meet with your obstetrician before you get pregnant. This appointment gives you an opportunity to discuss your family medical history, any past or current health problems, immunization history, medications you’re taking and any issues with previous pregnancies. Your doctor can also provide helpful tips to ensure your body is ready for a healthy pregnancy and help guide you on how to monitor your period, basal resting body temperature and other important factors to help you get pregnant more quickly. How can couples who are trying to get pregnant make sure they’re healthy to conceive? Of course it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle all the time, but it’s especially important if you’re trying to get pregnant. There’s no magic pill or single food, but women should start focusing on nutrients they’ll need during pregnancy. Before trying to conceive, start taking folate and folic acid to help prevent birth defects. You can get good sources of these nutrients from cereal, spinach, beans, asparagus, oranges and peanuts. Lifestyle changes can also help improve fertility. For both men and women, extra weight can reduce fertility. Both sexes can increase their chances of conception by not smoking, not drinking alcohol and exercising regularly. And for men specifically, take a daily vitamin containing zinc and selenium to support healthy sperm. What is the average timeline for conception, and what do you suggest for couples who may be struggling to conceive and start a family? First, remember getting pregnant can take longer than you expect. Do not to get stressed out about it or place blame. Seventy percent of couples conceive within six months and 85 percent within one year of trying to get pregnant. To help improve your chances of pregnancy, monitor your ovulation closely. You can do this by tracking your period, watching your body closely and logging symptoms, logging your basal body temperature or using ovulation kits. If you still aren’t sure when you’re ovulating, try to have sex every other day to improve your chances of conception. If you’ve been trying for nine months to a year, you can talk to your OB about options and discuss meeting with a fertility specialist.

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Watch as two dads look back on their newborn adoption process. They reminisce about discovering their newborn was on his way — and how Renown Health subsequently helped them navigate the process.  During Memorial Day weekend, Chris Mulhern and his husband, Jeffrey Bodimer, learned a set of birth parents chose them to parent their unborn baby boy. After writing a letter to the birth parents, they were chosen over other applicants in a private adoption. The adoption agency took care of many details, like connecting Mulhern and Bodimer to the birth mother and dad. In fact, they could participate in nearly all the phases of the pregnancy. The mother's prenatal care and delivery took place at Renown Health, where Mulhern and Bodimer attended her appointments and took childbirth classes. "Our experience was wonderful at Renown," says Mulhern. "We thought it was absolutely incredible how nice and accepting everyone was." The Nuances of Newborn Adoption Their son, Bradley, was born via cesarean section. And the adoptive parents got to see him an hour after he came into the world. The labor and delivery nurses even helped coordinate everything between them and the birth mom. Mulhern and Bodimer stayed in a room at The Inn at Renown. The closeness of the facility on the Renown campus made it possible to feed Bradley every two hours. Incredible Nurses "They were great, the nursing staff. If we weren't sure about doing something right, about burping him right they would say 'It's okay. He's not going to blow up. He will eventually do it'," says Mulhern. The nurses also made arrangements for the two dads to participate in skin-to-skin contact with their newborn baby. Experts agree parents and babies should be in direct contact for at least the first 1–2 hours after the birth. Taking Baby Home Chris and Jeffery took Bradley home after three days at Renown. “It was the most joyful thing to be chosen as his parents, even before we met him,” says Chris.

Read More About Two Dads and a Newborn Adoption: "Our Experience Was Wonderful"

Read about Jordan Stiteler, a local mom who says the Healthy Nevada Project provided insights into her family’s genetic makeup — and the likely cause of her dad and great grandfather’s deaths. Now she is changing her life due to her new diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia, which will allow her to take steps toward preventing the same fate. Jordan Stiteler’s dad died suddenly of a stroke nearly ten years ago — at only 45 years old. His grandfather died at age 40. Now through the Healthy Nevada Project’s no-cost genetic testing, she is closer to understanding why that may have happened. And she can take proactive steps to prevent the unhealthy symptoms that often lead to a stroke and heart problems. After getting her Geno 2.0 by National Geographic ancestry report, Stiteler got a call from Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health Cardiologist and Renown IHI Director of Research, Dr. Christopher Rowan. “They told me that I have FH, which is familial hypercholesterolemia,” she said. “I have genetically very high cholesterol because I have a non-functioning gene that doesn’t get rid of my cholesterol like a normal body would.” Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Simple Life Changes Dr. Rowan told Stiteler it is curable with medication and a change in lifestyle. Stiteler has embraced healthy lifestyle changes by exercising more and eating healthier. “It is so important. Being a mom, I think you have so much more to live for. Having this information has changed my life.” Stiteler feels confident FH affected her Dad. “It is helping my family realize that we need to get tested,” she said. “There were big milestones that my Dad missed. He didn’t get to see either of us get married or have our children. That was huge.” She has become passionate about sharing the need to join the Healthy Nevada Project as her way of helping to prevent other families from possibly going through what she and her family did with the early loss of her Dad. In addition to FH results, the Healthy Nevada Project is returning clinical results on BRCA 1/2 (hereditary breast and ovarian cancer) and Lynch syndrome (colorectal and endometrial cancer) to consenting study participants. To sign up for the Healthy Nevada Project, go to HealthyNV.org. Join the Healthy Nevada Project Recruitment for phase two is still open. In addition to opting in to receive clinical results, participants receive National Geographic’s Geno 2.0 ancestry app at no cost. They also have the chance to pick an additional app for health and wellness after completing a follow-up survey. Learn More or Sign Up

Read More About The Healthy Nevada Project Changed My Life: A Local Mom's Story

The Healthy Nevada Project – a first-of-its-kind population health study combining genetic, clinical, social and environmental data – has reached another landmark milestone. The study is notifying study participants at risk for familial hypercholesterolemia, BRCA and Lynch syndrome. “I took part in the Healthy Nevada Project to find out my ancestry. I didn’t even realize the test could give me so much information,” says 29-year-old Jordan Stiteler, who was recently diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia (also known as FH) through the Healthy Nevada Project. “After my dad passed away suddenly at age 45, I learned I had high cholesterol but I didn’t know it was genetic and I didn’t get an FH diagnosis until last week,” Jordan explains. “I immediately changed my diet, started walking more and doing more cardio. I also set up an appointment with my primary care physician for the first time in a while. I’ve talked with my family and even strangers about testing since my diagnosis. I hope my story will inspire others to test and can save someone’s family from going through the same loss I did.” Healthy Nevada Project Notifying Patients of Familial Hypercholesterolemia Risks Jordan is among the first Healthy Nevada Project participants to receive clinical results from the genetic study led by Renown Institute for Health Innovation (Renown IHI) – a collaboration between Renown and the Desert Research Institute Foundation. This groundbreaking population health study is now reaching out to study participants like Jordan, who asked to be notified of health risks. If study volunteers choose, the project will also provide guidance on treatment and additional testing for family members who may also be at risk. The project is starting with the return of FH risks which is a genetic tie to high cholesterol. Just a few months ago, a paper in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology recommended genetic testing become the standard of care for patients with a definite or probable FH diagnosis. Jordan says she plans to have her young son tested as well. “This is the future of health; not just reacting to sick people, but a coordinated effort between innovative technologies, data-driven researchers, and responsive practitioners to deliver personalized interventions to identify, prevent and treat disease,” says Anthony Slonim, M.D., Dr.PH., FACHE, president and CEO of Renown Health and president of Renown IHI. “As care providers, we often don’t see patients until they’re already sick and that’s a difficult problem. By embracing personal genomics, we can accelerate the ability of researchers to access data and apply those learnings back to our health system sooner.” In the Months Ahead: Notification of BRCA1/2 & Lynch Syndrome Risks The Healthy Nevada Project will start notifying study volunteers at risk for other CDC Tier 1 conditions including hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (BRCA 1/2 genes) and Lynch syndrome in the months ahead. These conditions are the key focus for the Healthy Nevada Project. The reason: Because early detection and treatment will save lives, and these conditions are some of the most common. “This research allows us to look into cancer, cardiac, respiratory illness and beyond to identify underlying causes, assess real risks and eventually initiate appropriate preventive actions much earlier. Human subject research is often intangible to participants – we are treated as subjects. The Healthy Nevada Project is creating actionable information for our participants while engaging in leading-edge research on health determinants,” said Joseph Grzymski, Ph.D., associate research professor at DRI, principal investigator of the Healthy Nevada Project and chief scientific officer for Renown Health. Landmark Population Health Study Continues to Expand Since launching two years ago, the Healthy Nevada Project has quickly evolved and expanded. The pilot project enrolled 10,000 participants in just 48 hours in September 2016. In March 2018, phase two of project expanded to an additional 40,000 participants with genetic testing partner, Helix. Helix’s genomic sequencing provides participants and researchers greater depth and quality of DNA data. With this, they can gain further insights to improve health. During a recent media roundtable announcing the return of clinical results, the Healthy Nevada Project also announced plans to complete testing of 40,000 people by the end of 2018. This will bring the project’s total enrollment to 50,000 people – approximately 10 percent of northern Nevada’s population. The Healthy Nevada Project hopes to reach more than 250,000 people in its next phase. The ultimate goal is to offer genetic testing to every Nevadan interested in learning more about their genetics and health. Join the Healthy Nevada Project Recruitment for phase two is still open. In addition to opting in to receive clinical results, participants receive National Geographic’s Geno 2.0 ancestry app at no cost. They also have the chance to pick an additional app for health and wellness after completing a follow-up survey. Learn More or Sign Up

Read More About Healthy Nevada Project Returning Clinical Results to Participants

We asked, you answered: Moms and dads who have been there, done that offer up 10 pregnancy surprises. These are the things they wish they knew before, during and after their pregnancy. Check out these real examples of insights that would have proved helpful and enlightening to these parents and parents-to-be. When you’re pregnant or considering becoming pregnant, it seems the unsolicited advice runs rampant. You’ll hear people tell you what kind of Boppy Pillow to buy. You’ll have people tell you that you should “definitely” have a natural birth or a pool birth or a doula or a therapy dog present. And you’ll definitely hear about what kinds of foods to induce labor, what kind of tea to drink to reduce nausea during your pregnancy and what kind of underwear for less “chafing.” But something you might not hear as often: Some of the symptoms and side effects, both before and after giving birth, that were totally unexpected. These are the ultimate pregnancy surprises. So we asked the question of moms and dads who have been there, done that: What do you wish you had known would happen during your pregnancy — you know, during the time you were supposed to be all sweet and beautiful and glowing? Here is Part 1, featuring 10 real-life, crowdsourced pregnancy surprises from parents. And yes, there are multiple parts to this post, because people are passionate about sharing their wisdom! We’ll publish the second part later this month. Pregnancy surprises: What do you wish you had known about pregnancy? “The only symptom I never heard anyone talk about is extra blood flow making me feel all sorts of weird feelings in my head. I feel like I’m in a dream half the time. I looked it up online when it started happening, and tons of women have the same symptom.” — Anna K. “For me it was an after-birth surprise. I had no clue your tummy doesn’t just spring back to where it was pre-pregnancy. It was a rude awakening in the hospital when I had to have my husband go home and get a pair of maternity sweatpants to get dressed to go home in. I’d hoped to dress in my old cute jeans…. nope!” — Suzanne M. “I didn’t know that while you’re pregnant, friends and strangers would tell you their nightmare delivery stories. Oh — and that complete strangers will, uninvited, touch your baby bump. I didn’t know that you’re in the safety zone while pregnant and that men and women openly adore you. I didn’t know that besides the mother, the nurses do most of the work. I didn’t know that even though they’ve obviously seen hundreds of deliveries, nurses and doctors cry too once your baby is out. I didn’t know even though I thought they must be crazy to send a tiny human home with me, that you instinctively know how to parent. I didn’t know what it meant to love something more than myself and how that changes everything.” — Cathy B. “I had no idea the weird things that it does to hair. My bangs stuck straight out for months, and I just had to go with it. There wasn’t enough product that would make them lie down.” — Heidi P. “That you may not go home with your child if there are any complications. That was a sad day. But 22 years later, we are blessed, because everything turned out fine.” — Kristine F. “I didn’t know people would opine out loud to you, that you must not have purposely gotten pregnant with Baby #2 or 3, etc., implying you failed basic high school biology and that you should have known better than to have more than one kid.” — Jessica L. “I didn’t know that near the pregnancy’s end, as the hips widen, that those bones could begin to separate. I was sore and achy. And I wish I’d slowed down and rested more in the last few weeks.” — April C. “I had heard about food cravings, but no one told me food aversions were also a thing. I bought a whole load of groceries for the week, and by the time I got home, I suddenly couldn’t even look at the ground turkey (that’s not an exaggeration), let alone cook it and eat it. I didn’t throw up necessarily, but my body told me to avoid most meats and vegetables. I pretty much lived on plain bagels and cereal for half my pregnancy.” — Danielle S. “Morning sickness is SO not just in the morning! All-the-time sickness is what I experienced. And why didn’t anyone warn me about butthole pain during and after birth?” — Stephanie C. “The juiciness. Every possible secretion was in hyper drive.” — Jane F. Giving Birth at Renown At Renown Regional Medical Center we have the skill, expertise and technology — along with a friendly environment — to make your experience a memorable one. Pre-register for childbirth, take virtual tours of our rooms and facilities, and learn more about our labor and delivery offerings at the link below. Explore Our Services

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Your mother had breast cancer. Your uncle had colon cancer. A cousin has stomach cancer. Could yours be the next name to make the family cancer list? “Possibly,” says Dr. Robert Nathan Slotnick, MD, PhD, Medical Geneticist at Renown Medical Group. In this article, the doctor discusses the genetics behind Lynch syndrome — and how you and your family can fight it. What is Lynch Syndrome? Lynch syndrome, also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), is one of the most common genetic conditions known to increase cancer risk in individuals and families. It enables colon and other cancers to develop by causing mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes. “The genes MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2 and EPCAM normally help to repair damaged DNA,” explains Dr. Slotnick. “But when they don’t work properly, naturally occurring DNA replication errors are not repaired efficiently. These errors accumulate and cancer can be the result.” Colon cancer is just one of many possibilities. People with Lynch syndrome also have a higher risk of developing endometrial cancer (cancer of the inside lining of the uterus) as well as cancer of the ovaries, stomach, pancreas, kidney, brain, and bile duct, among others. These syndrome-enabled cancers often appear in patients before the age of 50. Family Cancer Clues The family connection to cancer is a strong one notes the doctor. “Cancer is best considered a genetic disease because it is always tied to changes (or mutations) in our inherited material: our DNA,” says Dr. Slotnick. “These DNA changes cause cells to lose control of their normal constraints on growth and metabolism and can allow abnormalities to develop.” “Although all cancers are genetic,” he adds, “not all cancers are hereditary or passed down through generations.” But because Lynch syndrome IS a hereditary condition, personal and family cancer histories provide invaluable information toward diagnostic confirmation and to a path of surveillance, prevention and treatment. Once a strong family history of cancer is confirmed, doctors and geneticists can move forward with targeted genetic testing to identify specific gene mutations. If Lynch syndrome is diagnosed, testing can also reveal your risk for associated cancers. And your results could be a wake-up call to family members. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), close relatives of people with Lynch syndrome have a 50% chance of having similar gene mutations and a higher risk of cancer. The good news is detection and prevention progress is being made. “Lynch is just one of many cancer syndromes where risk is tied to heredity,” explains Dr. Slotnick. “In the last few years, our ability to identify those at risk for this type of cancer predisposition has improved markedly, both in diagnostic accuracy and cost. This allows us to provide aggressive surveillance and prevention choices to individuals and families at risk. Healthier families and lower cost: it’s a win-win.”

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By taking our pregnancy and birth class, you will gain the tools necessary to have a safe and empowering birth experience for both you and your baby. Chris Marlo, Childbirth Educator at Renown Health explains why birth classes are important. For questions regarding classes or tours, contact Chris Marlo: chris.marlo@renown.org 775-982-4352 What is a Certified Childbirth Educator/Doula? If you are expecting a baby, Renown has a wide variety of classes to help prepare you for birth. Classes are taught by certified childbirth educators and doulas. A certified childbirth educator is a trusted resource who has a passion for educating expecting parents about childbirth, and will provide you with non-biased, evidence-based information. A doula is a professional labor assistant who provides physical and emotional support during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. As you prepare for birth, our certified educators will guide you each step of the way and ensure you receive the quality care you deserve. Why Should I Take Pregnancy and Birth Classes? For expecting parents, taking a childbirth education course is an important step in preparing for their new arrival. We cover topics such as labor and delivery, postpartum care, breastfeeding, nutrition, pain management techniques, and more. Our experienced instructors will provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions during your pregnancy and childbirth. With our classes, you can be sure that you have all the knowledge necessary to have a positive experience before, during, and after your baby’s arrival. Our classes will help ease your fears as we practice breathing, relaxation and the many tools you can utilize for birth. At Renown we understand that there is no right way to give birth, and our educators will offer a supportive environment where questions are encouraged, and everyone is respected. Childbirth Class Options: Baby and Family Suites Tour & Virtual Tour Breastfeeding Basics and Beyond Class Breathing & Relaxation Techniques for Birth Pregnancy and Birth – 5 & 7 Week Series Pregnancy and Birth Class Additional Resources: Baby Safe Class Babysitter Class Grandparents Virtual Class Infant CPR & Choking Class Newborn Care Nurturing Your Newborn Preparing for Postpartum Virtual Class

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February is American Heart Month. While cardiac care is crucial every time of year – especially as heart disease stays the number one killer in the United States – American Heart Month serves as a great reminder to stay on top of your heart health. We spoke with Malina Ruiz, a cardiology nurse practitioner at Renown Health, on three key ways to embrace heart-healthy living and how genetic screening can help inform you of certain genetic risks that can play a role on the cardiac life stage.  1.  Invest in a heart-healthy diet. Eating a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats (including monounsaturated fats such as avocados and polyunsaturated fats such as sunflower oil) is a key defense in protecting your cardiac health, according to Malina. While you are filling your plate with these nutritious foods, remember to keep an eye on your saturated and trans-fat intake, and try limiting foods that are high in those fats.   “No matter what age we are, maintaining a heart-healthy diet will always be important,” said Malina.    Need help finding cardiac-friendly meals? The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute makes it easy with heart-healthy recipes and tips from experts.  2.  Do an exercise audit. “Keeping an active lifestyle during our younger years is one of the most important factors that affect heart health in future years,” said Malina. Maintaining a regular exercise regimen that allows you to raise your heart rate and break a sweat can help prevent future cardiac events.     A good rule of thumb is to aim for 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise, which averages out to 30 minutes a day on 5 days out of the week.    It’s never too late to start a regular exercise routine! Exercise doesn’t have to be something you dread – leverage American Heart Month to find activities that you enjoy. The American Heart Association can help you discover new ways to move your body. At the end of the day, as Malina emphasizes, “any movement is better than nothing!”  3. Don't skip those check-ups. Regular preventative visits with your primary care provider can help you identify possible risk factors for heart conditions before they start actively affecting your life. “Check-ups become even more important as we age, along with being aware of the signs and symptoms of heart disease, heart attack and stroke,” added Malina.     There’s no time better than the present – call our expert scheduling team today at 775-982-5000 to request a preventative check-up with your primary care provider.

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In 2018, Jordan Stiteler became a Healthy Nevada Project advocate. Her DNA results revealed that she had Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH). FH is a genetic condition that can cause high cholesterol. Since then, Jordan’s taken action to lower her cholesterol and make her family aware of this potentially dangerous condition. Read Part I of Jordan’s story Taking Control of High Cholesterol Looking at Jordan, an active young mother, you would never suspect she has high cholesterol. However, because of FH, Jordan’s cholesterol levels are unusually high. She chose to take action when learning of her FH gene, in order to maintain her long-term health. Jordan started by exercising more and eating healthier. “I’ve definitely been checking all the labels to see if the food has a lot of cholesterol, trans fats, or saturated fats,” she explains. She now eats a 100% plant-based diet which helps to lower her cholesterol naturally. Additionally, Jordan partnered with Dr. Michael Bloch, a lipid specialist, to monitor and manage her cholesterol. She told Dr. Bloch that she and her husband were planning on having a second baby. With this in mind, he helped Jordan create a plan to accommodate her pregnancy. Several months after giving birth to her beautiful daughter Logan, it was time to revisit her cholesterol treatment plan. Dr. Bloch prescribed Jordan a statin called Lipitor. It successfully cut her total cholesterol by half in just three months. “I had blood work done in November 2019 and my total cholesterol was 293 (normal is less than 199). I started taking cholesterol medication in February 2020. I had blood work done in June 2020 and my total cholesterol was 149, ” Jordan shares. “My LDLs went from 219 to 78! I am so grateful that the medication worked so well and so quickly! It’s a weight lifted off of my shoulders.” Although Jordan no longer limits herself to a strictly vegan diet, she is mindful of what she eats and how it affects her cholesterol. She’s thrilled that her cholesterol is now at a healthy level!

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