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 45,000+ readers.
What Chronic Stress Is Actually Doing to Your Brain
What Chronic Stress Is Actually Doing to Your Brain By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD February 22, 2026 | #77 Forwarded this email? Sign up here Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. Medical Trivia of the Week Which part of the brain is most vulnerable to damage from chronic stress? (the correct answer is at the end of this email) A) Cerebellum B) Hippocampus C) Brainstem D) Occipital lobe Stress Isn’t Just in Your Head, It’s in Your Brain We all know stress feels bad. You know the...
Next Time You're Stressed, Remember This Story
Next Time You're Stressed, Remember This Story By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD February 15, 2026 | #76 Forwarded this email? Sign up here Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. Medical Trivia of the Week W? (the correct answer is at the end of this email) A) 100 mL B) 500 mL C) 300 mL D) 700 mL A Stressful Week Life can be stressful, and yet it all comes down to perspective. We just moved into our new house this past week. The long days and evenings of packing up your old life and then...
Neurosurgeon Explains Why You Should Always Wear a Helmet
Why You Should Always Wear a Helmet By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD February 8, 2026 | #75 Forwarded this email? Sign up here. Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. Medical Trivia of the Week By what percentage do helmets reduce the risk of severe traumatic brain injury in cyclists? (the correct answer is at the end of this email) A) 40-50% B) 30-40% C) 70-80% D) 50-60% Let Me Show You What This Looks Like In 26+ years as a neurosurgeon, I've seen and operated on hundreds of traumatic...
LIVE LIFE
LIVE LIFE By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD February 1, 2026 | #74 Forwarded this email? Sign up here. Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. Our son Brian died this exact day 13 years ago, February 1st at 11:50 pm, when his car struck a tree head-on. His life ended in that moment. He didn’t anticipate his death, especially at the age of 18. And neither did we. Our lives drastically changed from that moment on. And as you read this, I hope that my son Brian will change your life just a...
Do You Have Back Pain? Here’s What To Do (and What Not To Do)
Do You Have Back Pain? Here’s What To Do (and What Not To Do) By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD January 25, 2026 | #73 Forwarded this email? Sign up here Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. Medical Trivia of the Week What structure acts as the “shock absorber” between the bones of your spine? (the correct answer is at the end of this email) A) Tendon B) Ligament C) Intervertebral disc D) Meniscus The Truth About Back Pain Most people will deal with back pain at some point. And when it...
Why Poor Sleep Is Bad for You (and What You Can Do About It)
Why Poor Sleep Is Bad for You (and What You Can Do About It) By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD January 18, 2026 | #72 Forwarded this email? Sign up here. Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. Medical Trivia of the Week Approximately how many neurons does the human brain contain? (the correct answer is at the end of this email) A) 42 billion B) 86 billion C) 37 billion D) 121 billion What Sleep Actually Does for Your Body and Brain Most people think of sleep as rest. Something you get...
What Advice Would You Give Your Younger Self?
What Advice Would You Give Your Younger Self? By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD January 11, 2026 | #71 Forwarded this email? Sign up here. Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. Medical Trivia of the Week Which organ consumes the most energy at rest relative to its size? (the correct answer is at the end of this email) A) Heart B) Liver C) Kidneys D) Brain Ten Pieces of Life Advice Recently, I asked a simple question: “What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?” The...
Why Harder Isn’t Always Better for Your Health
Why Consistency Beats Intensity for Long-Term Health By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD January 4, 2026 | #70 Forwarded this email? Sign up here. Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. In partnership with V14 Medical Trivia of the Week Which part of the brain is primarily responsible for regulating circadian rhythm? (the correct answer is at the end of this email) A) Thalamus B) Suprachiasmatic nucleus C) Reticular formation D) Pineal gland What Actually Builds Long-Term Health Many...
The Hidden Reason Your Metabolism Slows With Age
Why Muscle Is the Key to Weight Loss as You Age By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD December 29, 2025 | #69 Forwarded this email? Sign up here. Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. Medical Trivia of the Week Which neurotransmitter is primarily deficient in Parkinson’s disease? (the correct answer is at the end of this email) A) Acetylcholine B) Serotonin C) GABA D) Dopamine Why Muscle Is the Most Important Tissue for Weight Loss What do you think is the most important tissue in your body...
How to Slow Aging With 8 Simple Health Choices
How to Slow Aging With 8 Simple Health Choices By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD December 21, 2025 | #68 Forwarded this email? Sign up here. Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice. Medical Trivia of the Week Which organ produces erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production? (the correct answer is at the end of this email) A) Kidneys B) Liver C) Bone marrow D) Spleen Simple Choices That Can Slow Aging As I grow older, I worry more and more about staying healthy. In...
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 45,000+ readers.