“Why am I so tired?” It sounds like a simple question. But as a physician, I know that sometimes it is one of the most important questions a person can ask. Fatigue is easy to explain away. We blame the long workday, the children, poor sleep, stress, aging, a busy schedule, or simply having too much on our plates. And sometimes, that explanation is correct. But persistent fatigue can also be a clue that something else is happening beneath the surface. The difficult part is kn

There are a few things that can get your attention faster than your own heartbeat. You may be sitting on the couch, lying in bed, or getting ready for work when suddenly you become very aware of your heart. It may feel like it is pounding, fluttering, racing, or beating differently than usual. Sometimes it feels as though your heart has skipped a beat, followed by an uncomfortable pause before the next beat. And almost immediately, your mind goes to the same question: Is some

“I haven’t changed what I’m eating. So why am I gaining weight?” I hear versions of this question all the time. And usually, there is something underneath it. Frustration. Confusion. Sometimes even shame. Maybe you’ve gained 10, 15 or 20 pounds over the past year. Your clothes fit differently. Your body feels unfamiliar. The strategies that used to work no longer seem to work. Maybe you’re exercising regularly and watching the number on the scale keep rising. Then someone say

Healthcare has changed dramatically over the past decade. Today, many people receive care from several different providers. You might have a virtual appointment for one concern, visit a walk-in clinic a few weeks later, and eventually find yourself in an emergency department for something entirely unrelated. Each healthcare professional may provide excellent care in that moment, but something important can still be missing. When no one follows your health over time, it become

We spend time maintaining the things we value. We service our vehicles before they break down. We inspect our homes to catch small problems before they become costly repairs. We review our finances to avoid unpleasant surprises. Yet many of us approach our health differently. We often wait until something hurts, symptoms interfere with daily life, or a diagnosis forces us to act. Preventive healthcare offers a different path. It allows us to identify certain health concerns b

Why Longitudinal Primary Care Still Matters in the Age of Private MRI and Self-Referred Medical Imaging Medical imaging has transformed healthcare in ways that were once unimaginable. Today, an ultrasound can detect gallstones in minutes, a mammogram can identify breast changes before they can be felt, a CT scan can reveal life-threatening internal bleeding, and an MRI can produce remarkably detailed images of the brain, spine, joints, organs, and soft tissues. These technolo

If you've been looking into ways to refresh your skin, you've come across two of the most talked-about treatments in medical aesthetics: chemical peels and microneedling. Both are trusted for good reason. They can improve skin texture, brighten a dull complexion, soften fine lines, and address concerns such as acne scars, enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, and early signs of aging. With so much information online, however, choosing between them can feel overwhelming. Social me

Let me start with a question. When was the last time you checked your blood pressure? Not glanced at it quickly during a rushed appointment while half-listening to the nurse. Actually checked it. Understood it. Remembered it. What about your blood sugar? Your cholesterol? Your HbA1c? How is your kidney function? Do you know what those numbers are telling you right now? Because here is the uncomfortable truth: many people don’t. And I’m not talking about people who are disenga

I get asked this question more often. Sometimes directly. More often, indirectly. It shows up in the pauses between sentences. In frustration. In exhaustion. In the quiet disappointment people carry after yet another rushed medical interaction that left them feeling more like a number than a person. “What is a family doctor actually for?” And honestly, I understand why people are asking. Because for many individuals today, healthcare no longer feels relational. It feels trans

Let’s have an honest conversation. Wellness has become a massive industry. It’s everywhere now. It lives in our social feeds, corporate retreats, podcasts, clinics, skincare campaigns, and carefully curated morning routines. It’s wrapped in aesthetically pleasing packaging and sold as though better health is always one purchase, one app, or one habit away. Drink the green juice. Take the supplement. Do the meditation. Buy the planner. Protect your peace. Optimize your routine

Have you ever noticed how exhausting it can be to think about food all the time? Not enjoying food. Not appreciating a good meal. Thinking about it. Planning it. Negotiating with yourself around it. Trying to ignore cravings. Promising yourself you’ll “be good tomorrow.” Wondering if you ate too much. Wondering if you should skip breakfast to make up for dinner. For some people, these thoughts come and go. For others, they are relentless. The brain feels occupied by food from

A Calgary Physician’s Perspective on Skin Health, Hormones, and the Canadian Environment Living in Canada means learning to respect the climate as much as we admire it. Here in Calgary, the landscape is breathtaking. We have bright blue skies that stretch endlessly across the prairie, spectacular mountain views only a short drive away, and winters that carry a kind of quiet beauty many people come to love. We also have weather that keeps us on our toes. Anyone who has spent t

Finding a family doctor in Calgary has become increasingly difficult. And yet, most people don’t begin that search until something is already wrong. They wait until they feel unwell. Until something doesn’t make sense. Until the discomfort, fatigue, or worry becomes loud enough to no longer be ignored. By then, the experience of care often feels rushed. Fragmented. Reactive. You’re trying to solve a problem while already under pressure. Here’s what I want you to know, clearly

For most of modern history, medicine has done something extraordinary. It has learned how to intervene. We have built systems that can diagnose disease with remarkable precision. We can replace joints, transplant organs, open blocked arteries, and treat infections that once claimed countless lives. These are not small achievements. They represent decades of innovation, dedication, and scientific progress. And yet, in the exam room, I am reminded daily that something essential

If there is one lesson I wish more people truly understood about healthcare, it is this: The most powerful medicine is prevention. Not a prescription. Not a procedure. Not even the most advanced medical technology. Prevention. And yet, despite everything we know about health, many of our systems, and many of our habits, are still built around reacting rather than anticipating. We wait. We wait until something feels wrong. We wait until symptoms become disruptive. We wait unti

There’s a phrase many of us have grown up hearing: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” On the surface, it feels practical. Efficient. Even wise. But when applied to healthcare, it quietly reinforces a mindset that can cost people their quality of life—and sometimes far more. Because the human body does not suddenly “break.” It adapts. It compensates. It whispers long before anything becomes obvious. And by the time something feels broken, the process has often been unfolding b

Credit: Getty Images If you’ve been searching online for GLP-1 medications in Calgary, Ozempic alternatives, or medical weight loss in Northwest Calgary, you may be asking a very straightforward question: “Does Dr. Tomi Mitchell prescribe weight loss medications?” The answer is yes. I have been prescribing medications for weight management; including GLP-1 medications, for many years in my work as a family physician in Calgary. But before you interpret that as a simple yes,

A Physician’s Perspective on Safe, Natural Results Over the past two decades, Botox has quietly moved from a niche cosmetic procedure to one of the most commonly performed aesthetic treatments worldwide. Despite its widespread use, many patients still approach the idea of Botox with a mixture of curiosity and hesitation. I see this often in my clinic. As a family physician with decades of experience in medicine and a longstanding interest in dermatology, skin health, and well

If you spend even a few minutes online searching for weight loss medications, you will quickly notice the same three names appearing over and over again: Ozempic Wegovy Mounjaro These medications, commonly referred to as GLP-1 medications, have moved from medical journals into everyday conversation. They are being discussed in clinics, at dinner tables, in fitness communities, and across social media platforms. And with that level of visibility comes something predictable: A

A Physician’s Perspective on Skin, Hormones, and Whole-Body Wellness in Calgary Many people think of skin concerns as purely cosmetic. Acne, dryness, pigmentation, dullness, or unexpected breakouts are often treated as surface-level problems that require creams, serums, or cosmetic procedures. And to be clear, these treatments absolutely have their place. Good skincare matters. Evidence-based aesthetic treatments can make a meaningful difference in both skin health and confid