Fall Health, Ozempic and Sudden Vision Loss, Menopause and Cancer, Skin serum coming soon

 

Is AI Making Us Feel Bad About Aging? Plus: Fall health reminders, an important question about Ozempic and Vision, what is NAION? what I learned about Menopause & Cancer, and something new coming for your Skin! Autumn is officially here — and with it comes that familiar feeling of a fresh start. New routines. Cooler weather. Fall clothes. Back-to-school schedules. And, for many of us, a renewed focus on our health. But there is something else I've been thinking about lately: Is AI affecting your self-esteem? I recently saw advertisements featuring a woman who was supposedly 90 years old — yet had the back and skin of someone who looked about 35. My first thought was: This isn't real! But people may actually believe what they're seeing — and buy what is being sold. My second thought was: What is this doing to the way people feel about themselves? We already live in a culture where photographs can be filtered, retouched and manipulated. Now artificial intelligence can create an image of a person who doesn't even exist — or make a real person look dramatically different from reality. That can create a completely unrealistic standard of what aging is supposed to look like. Please don't let AI fool you! Healthy aging does not mean looking 35 at 70, 80 or 90. It means maintaining your strength, mobility, energy, cognitive function, confidence and independence — while looking like you. I am all for looking your best. I am all for good skincare — that's why I have a few select products that I sell — healthy nutrition, hormones when appropriate, exercise and everything else that helps us age well. But let's not compare ourselves to an AI-generated fantasy. Real people have laugh lines. Real people have wrinkles. Real people have changing bodies. And real people can still look absolutely wonderful.

Your Fall Health Checklist

Fall is also a great time to make sure you are up to date on the basics. Have you: ✓ Received your recommended flu vaccine? ✓ Discussed whether you should receive the current COVID vaccine? ✓ Checked whether you need pneumonia, shingles or RSV vaccination? ✓ Scheduled your annual physical or preventive visits? ✓ Had your eye exam? ✓ Had your recommended cancer screenings? ✓ Checked your blood pressure and cholesterol? ✓ Reviewed your medications and supplements? ✓ Started getting your sleep schedule back on track? Don't wait until everyone around you is coughing and sneezing! If you're not sure which immunizations are appropriate for you, ask me. Recommendations depend on your age, health history and risk factors.



Can Ozempic Make You Go Blind? You've probably heard a lot about semaglutide — Ozempic, Wegovy and related medications. They have transformed the conversation about obesity, diabetes and weight management. But as with any medication, there are potential risks and questions that deserve thoughtful discussion. I recently came across a video featuring an eye surgeon discussing sudden vision loss and the question of whether medications such as Ozempic could be involved. What I found particularly interesting is that he doesn't just discuss this rare complication of semaglutide — he also explains how the risk may be reduced or prevented in some people. I'm sharing it because I think it's important to hear the concerns directly from someone who specializes in the eye. Watch the video here As always, don't stop a prescribed medication because of something you see online. If you're taking semaglutide or considering it, discuss the potential benefits and risks with your healthcare provider.

Menopause & Cancer

I recently attended the Menopause & Cancer Global Conference, and it was an outstanding educational experience. The meeting brought together experts looking at one of the most challenging areas in women's health: How do we safely and effectively manage menopause in women who have had cancer? There is so much nuance here. The answers aren't always simply "yes" or "no." Cancer type, hormone receptor status, treatment history, symptoms, age, time since diagnosis and the woman's individual priorities all matter. I came away with a lot of information that I would love to share with you if you or someone you know could benefit from counseling in this area. I will be discussing some of what I learned at the next Peri + Menopause Café if anyone is interested.

Mark Your Calendar!

Peri + Menopause Café Wednesday, October 14 • 7:00 PM ET Our last Peri + Menopause Café was wonderful! We had women joining us from different places — including someone all the way from New Jersey — and we had three women over 70 participating. I especially loved seeing women of different ages and stages of life sharing questions and experiences with one another. That's exactly what I hoped this group would become. A place where you can ask questions, learn something new, and realize: You're not the only one going through this. You don't have to have your camera on, and the Café is free and confidential. Mark your calendar now: Wednesday, October 14 at 7:00 PM ET CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Or visit my website at DrTuakli.com for the registration link. Coming Soon: Something New for Your Skin I've been working on something that I think you're going to love. I'm preparing to introduce a facial serum that combines skin nourishment with serious sun protection — SPF 50 protection in a lightweight serum that makes it easy to use every day. Think of it as skincare that does more than simply moisturize. It's designed to nourish your skin while providing daily protection from the sun, making it especially useful as part of an anti-aging skincare routine. And I'm hoping to have it available in time for the holiday season! I'm thinking ahead to Christmas gifts... A beautiful skincare product that someone will actually use — while helping protect the skin they have. I'll have more details, including how you can order it, as soon as it arrives!

Vitamin Corner

CoQ10: Supporting Your Cellular Energy Every cell in your body needs energy, and your mitochondria are responsible for producing much of it. Coenzyme Q10 — better known as CoQ10 — plays an important role in mitochondrial energy production and also acts as an antioxidant. CoQ10 has attracted a lot of interest in the healthy-aging and longevity world because our bodies naturally produce it, and levels may change as we age. Research has looked at CoQ10 in areas including cardiovascular health and mitochondrial function. The evidence is interesting, but I don't consider CoQ10 a magic "anti-aging" pill. And that's an important distinction. The goal isn't to take every supplement that claims to slow aging. The goal is to understand which supplements — if any — might make sense for you. The foundation of healthy aging still comes first: Good nutrition + exercise + sleep + stress management + preventive healthcare. Supplements should complement those things — not replace them. If you're wondering whether CoQ10 belongs in your personal health plan, ask me at your next visit.

A Final Thought for Fall

Autumn is a beautiful reminder that change is not the same thing as decline. Our bodies change. Our hormones change. Our skin changes. Our priorities change. And yes — we get older. But getting older doesn't mean giving up on ourselves. It means learning how to take better care of the person we're becoming. And please remember: Don't let an AI-generated image convince you that you're supposed to look like someone who doesn't exist. Take care of yourself. Protect your health. Protect your skin. Keep moving. Keep learning. And most importantly, keep enjoying your life.