Parkview Health

Hi!  I’m Mark O’Shaughnessy, MD, a cardiologist with Parkview Physicians Group – Cardiology. I’m passionate about improving the health of our communities and you are an important part of that effort! 

Well, we have made it through another Thanksgiving holiday, but how many of us used the appropriate amount of self-control and chose not to overeat?  

So, you have achieved that goal of participating in one of the Fort4Fitness events or other major organized event this year and now feel the letdown that often occurs after completion of a long-term goal. “Where do I go next?” may be haunting your mind.

With the change of seasons – longer nights and colder days – it often becomes more difficult to find that motivation to get outside and exercise as you did to get ready for that signature event.

How does one go about rekindling the flame of...

Well, she did it! Mom proudly walked across the finish line at Parkview Field on Friday night to the cheers of friends and family achieving her goal of completing the Senior Marathon event at the Fort4Fitness Wellness Events this past weekend. For those of you are new to this blog, Mom's odyssey began this spring with her continued complaints of shortness of breath and a challenge thrown down by her exasperated children to begin to exercise. When she began to walk, she could cover a grand total...

During the last several editions of this blog you have met my college age son and my seventy-something (actually almost 80 but don't tell her) mother and have learned something about my obsession with all things health, wellness and prevention.

I have tried to use realistic examples of individuals who are actually experiencing the trials and tribulations of trying to get healthy. Some could argue that these examples don’t represent the average person. My mother is retired (from raising children –...

In my last blog I introduced you to my almost-80-year-old mother, and tried to shame you into beginning an exercise program. (Click here to read “Mom's mailbox journey motivates toward marathon milestone.”

Mom has committed to participate in the Senior Marathon, a Fort 4 Fitness event taking place the last weekend of September, and is really going gang-busters with her training. The Senior Marathon is a wonderful program sponsored by Parkview Health. It’s a part of the Fort4Fitness event that has...

For the last 6 months, I have tried to be encouraging, uplifting and educational in my efforts to stimulate you begin to adopt a healthier lifestyle through improved diet and exercise choices.

I was running with my college-age youngest son this weekend and the topic of "training," specifically running training, came up.

A little background is in order. As many may know, I am an avid runner with the marathon distance (26.2 miles) being my event of choice. In order to be able to complete and compete in such events, one must put in countless miles and training consistency is a must. My son, currently starting his junior year in college, was a very talented middle distance runner in...

Well, we have covered most of the five topics we chose for our "One Year-One Healthy Change" challenge in the last several editions of this blog.

Most – but not all. I saved the best for last!

Hopefully I have convinced some of you to commit to a single change such as eating a healthier diet, manage weight and/or stress or become more physically active. By committing to a single change, hopefully we are reaping the benefits that I am confident result in these lifestyle changes.

The one change I’ve...

So, how are we doing? Still committed to that one healthy lifestyle change?

With Spring officially here it’s time to get serious about that one small change for a healthier you. Remember, small changes over time make a huge difference in our overall health. Find a single small change in your diet, one you think you can sustain over the long-haul and be amazed at the long term benefits this seemingly small, inconsequential change can make in your life. 

I’d like to hear from you – what one change have you decided to make and how’s it going for you? How does daylight...