Brian Hoeflinger, MD
A real neurosurgeon's take on health, medicine, and living well, not another wellness influencer. Science-based. In plain English. 5 minutes a week. Trusted by 65,000+ readers.
Why Life Feels Like It Is Passing You By
Why Life Feels Like It Is Speeding Up (and How to Slow It Down) By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD September 6, 2026 | #93 Forwarded this email? Sign up here Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. Medical Trivia of the Week A memory forms in the hippocampus, but that is not where it stays. Which part of the brain gradually takes over long term storage? (the correct answer is at the end of this email) A) The cerebral cortex B) The amygdala C) The cerebellum D) The brainstem In Today's...
How Cortisol Actually Works (and Why Lower Is Not Better)
How Cortisol Actually Works (and Why Lower Is Not Better) By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD September 13, 2026 | #94 Forwarded this email? Sign up here Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. Medical Trivia of the Week Roughly what share of the world's adults cannot properly digest lactose? (the correct answer is at the end of this email) A) About 35 percent B) About 45 percent C) About 55 percent D) About 65 percent In Today's Newsletter Cortisol is supposed to be high at certain hours...
How Dopamine Actually Works (and How to Use It)
How Dopamine Actually Works (and How to Use It) By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD August 23, 2026 | #91 Forwarded this email? Sign up here Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. Medical Trivia of the Week You stay in the bath too long and your fingertips wrinkle. What actually causes it? (the correct answer is at the end of this email) A) The skin soaks up water and swells B) The oils that protect the skin wash away C) Your nervous system narrows the blood vessels in your fingertips D)...
The Fitness Number That Predicts Your Lifespan (and How to Check Yours)
What Your VO2 Max Reveals About Your Health By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD August 16, 2026 | #90 Forwarded this email? Sign up here Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. Medical Trivia of the Week Four of your five senses pass through a relay station deep in the brain, the thalamus, on their way to the cortex. Which one goes around it? (the correct answer is at the end of this email) A) Sight B) Hearing C) Touch D) Smell In Today's Newsletter Most people could tell me their blood...
What are Panic Attacks?
Panic Attacks: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How to Fight Back By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD April 1, 2026 | #82 Forwarded this email? Sign up here Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. Medical Trivia of the Week The heart generates enough electrical energy in a lifetime to approximately power which of the following? (the correct answer is at the end of this email) A) A laptop for a year B) A cross-country train C) A small city for a day D) An electric car for 100 miles What...
What Your Heart Rate Variability Says About Your Health
What Your Heart Rate Variability Says About Your Health By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD August 3, 2025 | #56 Forwarded this email? Sign up here. Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. Medical Trivia of the Week Which brain region plays a critical role in error detection and adaptive behavior, often activated during moments of conflict or decision-making? (the correct answer is at the end of this email) A) Hippocampus B) Anterior cingulate cortex C) Amygdala D) Broca’s area Information...
How Memory Works & How to Make Yours Stronger
The Neuroscience of Memory: How to Improve It at Any Age By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD June 23, 2025 | #51 Forwarded this email? Sign up here. Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. New Podcast Episode: Dr. Zain Hasan: Balancing Anesthesiology, Family, and Life Click here to watch on YouTube Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts Click here to listen on Spotify Medical Trivia of the Week Damage to which brain structure would most likely cause difficulty forming new memories,...
The Importance of Strength Training and Muscle Mass as You Age
The Importance of Strength Training and Muscle Mass as You Age By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD January 26, 2025 | #31 Forwarded this email? Sign up here. Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. Medical Trivia of the Week Which myokine released by muscles during strength training has anti-inflammatory effects and is associated with healthy aging? (the correct answer is at the end of this email) A) Myostatin B) Cortisol C) Leptin D) Irisin The Importance of Strength Training As we age,...
A Personal Message: WANTING SOMETHING BACK THAT I CAN NEVER HAVE
A Personal Message: WANTING SOMETHING BACK THAT I CAN NEVER HAVE By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. I sit here at home on a Friday night thinking of my son Brian and knowing that his death can make a difference in someone’s life who is about to read this newsletter. You see, our son Brian was 18 years old and a senior in high school when his car struck a tree head on late one Friday night. He died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. We never...
A real neurosurgeon's take on health, medicine, and living well, not another wellness influencer. Science-based. In plain English. 5 minutes a week. Trusted by 65,000+ readers.