Ian D. Kleinhen, MD

06/09/2026

Practically half of my patients have high blood pressure. You’re probably aware that lowering your sodium intake can help lower your blood pressure. But you may not be aware that increasing your potassium intake also helps control it. If you’re struggling to manage your blood pressure, let’s talk. In the meantime, read this blog to learn more.

Did you know that dietary potassium, found in fruits and vegetables like bananas, sweet potatoes and spinach can help control blood pressure? Read more on our blog.

05/20/2026

Did you ever wonder why I always check your vitamin D levels and ask if you’re taking your supplements? This blog, written by my colleague, Dr. Andrea Klemes, MDVIP’s chief medical officer, explains the importance of the sunshine vitamin.

When it comes to keeping our bodies functioning, Vitamin D plays a starring role. Often called the "sunshine vitamin," it's one of the 13 essential vitamins our bodies need for growth and maintenance. Yet, despite its importance, more than 40 percent of American adults don't get enough of it. Here.....

05/12/2026

Spring and summer allergies can be rough. It’s a very common complaint in my practice. And while medications help, I find it important for my patients to limit their exposure to allergens. Here are five tips to help you do that.

After a long winter, who doesn't love a beautiful spring day? The warm air, the gentle breezes, fragrant flowers, buzzing bees and ... the sound of sneezing, sniffling and coughing. Okay, nobody likes that last part, but there is relief if you suffer from seasonal allergies.

05/05/2026

Good advice:
1. A fit man or woman after 40 tells you a lot about that person. They aren't just "into" fitness.......they're consistent, they train when they're tired and don't feel like it, when they're busy, stressed, or bored. This is doing the right thing when no-one is watching. A fit man after 40 has mastered the quiet disciplines.....he controls eating, delays gratification, practices restraint, and has a long term focus. Fitness after 40 means pushing through discomfort.....understanding that pain builds him....it doesn't break him. He lives by principle, not preference. A disciplined man is dangerous in the best way.....he's steady, reliable, a long game thinker. Being fit after 40 or 50 isn't "luck" or genetics.....it's character.
2. People treat their job like a non-negotiable commitment....yet their health.....that's optional. Too many prioritize the thing that pays the bills over the thing that keeps us alive. You'd never tell your boss "Not feeling motivated to work today, might show up if I feel like it later." Yet many do this with workouts constantly. What if your health had a performance review? (it's called lab work and body composition). Your health deserves the same commitment as your career.....block it, schedule it, show up. No motivation required.
3. Gyms, trainers, and real food cost money......but they're not an expense.....they're an investment!
4. Doctors aren't responsible for your health....you are. No-one is coming to save you....that's your job! Your kitchen holds more healing power than any pharmacy or hospital.
5. Getting older shouldn't be feared......getting weaker is what steals your independence. Strength training isn't about looking good in the mirror, it's about being able to carry your own groceries at 80 or hike at 80. By age 50, the average person has lost 10% of their muscle mass and by 70, it's 30%. Regular strength training can cut biological age by 10%, cut your risk of premature death by 48% and decrease fall risk by 34%. Aging is inevitable........weakness is optional. Fitness isn't about looking good....it's about not dying early.
6. Your body doesn't care about excuses.....it counts everything.....every drink, late night, every skipped workout.......and eventually, without fail, it will send you the bill. Fitness isn't punishment, it's preservation.
7. 20 minutes of doing something is more valuable than 20 hours of thinking about doing something.
8. Throw a bucket of water on a rock and nothing happens......a drop of water on that rock daily for a year creates a hole. Consistency beats intensity.
9. Eating healthy is actually eating normally, but most people think it's dieting.
10. "I'd die for my family." Okay, would you lift weights 3 times a week, eat a nutrient dense diet, fix your sleep habits, and stop drinking so much alcohol for them? If you'd die for them......get healthy for them.
11. Your body is your business card... wealth can be inherited, style can be bought, power can be faked......your body....that's earned. Time leaves signatures.....it rewards those who honor it and exposes those who waste it. You don't age......you collect evidence of your priorities

04/09/2026

If you’re trying to lose weight, you’ll need to take a good, hard look at your diet, starting with your protein intake. Many of my patients wonder which type of protein is better for weight control – plant-based or animal-based. Here’s what you need to know.

Plant-based proteins have been trending for at least a decade. Studies suggest foods such as chickpeas, beans, lentils, quinoa, tofu, tempeh, nuts and seeds can be healthier than animal-based proteins like red meats, eggs, fish and poultry in that they can:

01/12/2026

Happy New Year! If you set health-related resolutions such as losing weight, getting more sleep or even quitting smoking, you need to learn about cortisol. This hormone plays an important role in achieving these goals. Here’s what you need to know.

A hormone our bodies produce naturally is linked to a surprising number of adverse issues, including sleep deprivation, weight gain, headaches, acne, fatigue, muscle weakness, insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes, weak immune system and high blood pressure. The culprit? Cortisol.If you’re trying to ...

07/10/2025

In my practice, I talk a lot about heart disease because it’s been the leading cause of death in the U.S. for more than a century. Despite public health efforts to lower the rates, they continue rising. Here’s an overview of a recent report on heart disease, along with tips to help you keep your heart healthy.

It’s not news that heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the U.S. for more than a century. And despite public health efforts to lower heart disease rates in the U.S., it continues to lead in mortality causes. In fact, within the next 30 years, heart disease and stroke rates will ris...

06/03/2025

Many of my patients are very conscious about germs, regularly using hand sanitizers, wipes and cleaners at home and while on the go. But do these precautions help prevent illness? Not necessarily. Here’s what you need to know.

Many of us take active measures to control our exposure to germs. This includes carrying hand sanitizer, cleaning public spaces with antiseptic wipes and stocking our homes with antibacterial soap.

04/03/2025

Unhealthy cholesterol numbers raise your risk for heart disease. But don’t assume your heart is healthy because your total cholesterol is below 200. Half of patients with ideal cholesterol have an underlying heart condition. Read why there’s more to heart health than just cholesterol from Dr. Alan Reisinger, MDVIP associate medical director.

The year I graduated from medical school, 1982, a brave new world of cardiology was just beginning. Researchers conducting a trial of the drug lovastatin discovered it lowered cholesterol in a small group of patients with a genetic predisposition for dangerously high cholesterol. Patients with this....

03/24/2025

I have a handful of patients who frequently sleep in during the weekends to catch up on sleep lost during the week. While it sounds like a good idea, it’s been linked to a higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Here’s what you need to know.

Do you like sleeping in on the weekends? Many of us look forward to staying under the covers on our Saturdays and Sundays, especially after a late night or a long week. The extra shuteye helps us recover from missed sleep during the week. Or so we think. Unfortunately, this kind of inconsistent slee...