Articles

By Anna Rider, Nurse Practitioner, Flourish Healthcare Why Cardiometabolic Health Matters Your heart, metabolism, and hormones are all part of the same system. When one is out of balance, the rest feel it. Many people come to us after years of “managing” chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or cholesterol — but still not feeling well. The truth is, monitoring isn’t the same as healing. At Flourish, we believe it’s time to reimagine what “care” means for card

How Functional Lab Analysis can help uncover areas of risk What Is a Cardiac Risk Assessment? A cardiac risk assessment is a structured evaluation that helps estimate your likelihood of developing heart disease in the next five to ten years. It brings together key information such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, family history, and lifestyle habits like smoking, physical activity, and stress.We may also include measurements such as  waist circumference, bo

How Functional Lab Analysis can help uncover where the problem lies Your body needs the right fuel to thrive. But even when you eat well, hidden nutrient deficiencies can leave you feeling less than your best. Low levels of vitamins, minerals, or key nutrients can cause fatigue, brain fog, brittle hair and nails, frequent illness, and mood changes. In men, nutrient deficiencies are often tied to low energy, reduced muscle strength, sleep disturbances, and even decreased testo

How functional blood analysis can help identify what’s causing your inflammation Inflammation is your body’s natural defense against injury, stress, or infection. But when it lingers too long, it can disrupt your health. Chronic inflammation has been linked to fatigue, weight gain, digestive issues, joint pain, headaches, skin conditions, and even long-term risks such as heart disease and diabetes. The challenge? Inflammation often hides beneath the surface, making it difficu

The Hidden Process That Is Key to Health Methylation may sound like a complicated scientific term, but at its core, it’s one of the most...

Practical Ways to Boost Your Immune Health A healthy immune system is your body’s first line of defense against illness, fatigue, and...

Different Skill Sets To Support Your Health Journey Do you know the difference between a Naturopathic Doctor and a Nurse Practitioner? Have you ever wondered how these two medical specialties compare? The key distinction lies in training and scope of practice. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses with advanced education and extensive experience across a variety of clinical settings within the health care system. NPs are licensed to diagnose conditions, order and in

Breath Work That Will Change You “Just breathe.” Maybe someone has said this to you—or you’ve said it to yourself. It may sound overly simple, but research shows it works. When you’re under stress, your body reacts in powerful ways. While everyone experiences stress differently, there are common physical responses: your nervous system releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, your heart beats faster, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises, breathing becomes shall

Understanding your hormone health (and why it’s essential!) The DUTCH test (short for Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) is a...

Stress can have serious impacts on our health and wellness. Below, we look at what’s happening in the body when we feel stress and practical tips to manage our body’s response. Benjamin Franklin once said there are two certainties in life: death and taxes. We’d argue there are three: death, taxes, and stress. In this article, we’ll unpack stress’s impact on the body and explore practical ways to manage it when it shows up. First, let’s normalize stress—you are not alone. Most

Have you ever wondered what inspired the name Flourish Healthcare? Founder Anna Rider, NP, explains the story behind the name Flourish Healthcare. The word flourish means to grow abundantly—to thrive. Something that flourishes is healthy, active, and developing strongly. A plant or animal flourishes when the conditions are right for growth and well-being. But what about you? Have you ever thought about the conditions you need to flourish? For some, it might be a tidy workspac

Questions and steps to start you on your health journey You’ve probably heard the expression: “The best offense is a good defense.” When it comes to health, this principle rings especially true. Protecting what you already have before trying to build on it is a wise approach. We often think about insuring our homes, cars, or even our lives—but how often do we think about protecting our health in the same way? Do you see your health as an asset? Something priceless, and nearly