Our Blog

Spring in Spring Valley is an invitation. A quick walk at  Spring Valley County Park , time with the kids at  Estrella County Park , or finally taking on  Dictionary Hill  for those wide open views. We love everything San Diego has to offer: beach days, Balboa Park, weekend hikes, and the next community 5K. But before the season picks up, there is one simple question worth asking. What is getting in the way of you enjoying it? Dictionary Hill Summit, Spring Valley If the answ

February brings love to the forefront: love for family, love for community, love for the people who make life worth living. This month is also American Heart Month, a reminder that the heart you use to love others needs care, too. Not just when something feels wrong, but through steady maintenance that protects your energy and your future. Let's get Love Day Ready, together. At IWC Primary Care, we take a whole-person approach. We combine functional medicine, integrative car

A Note From Your Spring Valley Primary Care Team Mood shifts, unexplained weight changes, and brain fog are often dismissed as stress, aging, or life simply being busy. Yet for many people, these symptoms may be linked to a small but powerful gland that often goes unnoticed: the thyroid. As January, Thyroid Awareness Month , comes to a close, it’s an ideal time to reflect on how thyroid health influences daily energy, emotional balance, metabolism, and overall well-being. At

Why Avoidance Happens More Than We Admit Our calendars can get full very quickly Many of us start the year with strong intentions across all areas of life. We plan to get more organized, move our bodies more, rest better, read the books stacked on our nightstands, and finally tend to the things we have been putting off. Then life happens. Schedules fill up, energy dips, unexpected challenges arise, and those good intentions slowly slide to the side. Not because we do not care

We’re happy to share some great news with our IWC Primary Care community—Nurse Practitioner Monica Cistrone returns to the clinic on January 7th. NP Monica is known for her thoughtful, patient-centered approach and her ability to make each visit feel unrushed and heard. Her calm presence, clinical expertise, and genuine care have been deeply missed by patients and staff alike, and we’re excited to welcome her back to the care team. Beginning January 7th, appointments with NP

In a time when screens compete for attention and schedules feel more crowded than ever, it can be easy to overlook the simple, powerful value of movement. Dance for San Diego's Lemon Grove community is more than an after-school activity—it is a language, a confidence builder, and for many children, a place where they finally feel seen. Right here in our community, Dance Speaks Performing Arts Academy  is quietly doing meaningful work—helping children and teens grow through mo

Featuring Dr. Lindsay L. Trottier, DACM, L.Ac . At IWC Primary Care , care is built on a foundation of functional medicine, integrative medicine, and lifestyle medicine . That means addressing root causes, not just symptoms, and supporting patients with evidence-based, whole-person care. As part of that commitment, it is important to recognize trusted neighborhood providers who offer safe, complementary services that may enhance patient wellness. One such provider is Level Ac

Why Gut Health Matters More Than You Think Gut health isn’t just about digestion—it plays a central role in overall immunity, metabolism, energy, and inflammation control. Research shows that a large portion of immune activity is connected to the gut, where immune cells continuously interact with the microbiome and nutrient environment. For many men, symptoms like bloating, heartburn, irregular bowel habits, fatigue, and frequent colds become “normal.” In reality, these are o

Celebrating National Healthy Skin Month with IWC Primary Care Your Skin, Your First Line of Defense As temperatures cool and humidity drops, many of us notice our skin feeling tighter or drier. In San Diego, the air may not freeze, but our sunny, low-humidity climate and coastal breezes can strip the skin of moisture just as quickly as cold weather can elsewhere. November is National Healthy Skin Month, a reminder that healthy skin is more than appearance; it is protection.

"Silence can be taught long before we understand what it costs.” October has been a month of awareness at IWC Primary Care, a time to highlight the connection between knowledge, empowerment, and whole-person health . We began this month by exploring health literacy and the importance of understanding your body and your care. Today, as the month draws to a close, we reflect on another kind of awareness, one rooted in compassion, remembrance, and the courage to speak about los

If you’re caring for an aging parent, you know the conversation well: “Mom, did you take your blood pressure today?”“Don’t treat me like a child—I said I’m fine.” These role-reversal moments can wear on both sides. Studies show that one in three adult caregivers report conflict with the parent they care for—most often over independence versus safety. The result is familiar: frustration for caregivers, tension for parents, and sometimes missed medications or delayed health che

Menopause isn’t the end of your rhythm — it’s the remix. It ’s a transition that asks for grace, curiosity, and a deeper connection with yourself. As estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone begin to fluctuate, your body starts composing a new rhythm — one that can lead to greater strength, clarity, and emotional awareness than ever before. At IWC Primary Care , we believe menopause is not a loss of power but a refinement  of it. This chapter invites you to tune in to your bo

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and while pink ribbons remind us to get screened, proper prevention starts long before detection. At IWC Primary Care, we believe breast health is part of whole health; our bodies, our environment, and our daily habits all play a role. From what we eat to how we move to the spaces we live in, everything matters. The Environment We Live In Our environment influences our health more than most people realize. The products we use, the air

A mother supports her toddler's first steps on the sandy beach as the ocean waves gently crash behind them, creating a beautiful and serene moment. As fall unfolds and the leaves change, it’s an ideal time to focus on your health. For San Diego residents, understanding available insurance options is essential for accessing quality healthcare. If you have Cigna PPO insurance, you’re in luck! IWC Primary Care accepts Cigna PPO plans and offers tailored, high-quality care for lo

In the world of healthcare, options make a difference. For residents of Spring Valley, knowing the ins and outs of a Cigna PPO (Preferred...

(A Holistic Perspective from IWC Primary Care in Spring Valley, California) When mental health begins to suffer, the body often feels it too. Even simple tasks like brushing your teeth, preparing a healthy meal, or getting out of bed can start to feel like heavy lifting. The truth is, when the mind struggles, the body follows. At IWC Primary Care , we recognize that health is not one-dimensional. True wellness goes beyond the absence of illness — it’s about achieving balance

Health Literacy: The Bridge to Better Care (A Reflection from IWC Primary Care in Spring Valley and El Cajon, California) Imagine awakening in a hospital room after a long recovery from a stroke. The body feels unfamiliar — heavy, uncertain. A doctor explains new medications with names that sound foreign. A therapist describes weeks of rehabilitation ahead. A case manager quietly mentions that insurance coverage will only extend so far. In that moment, the world of healthcare

In the heart of Lemon Grove, California, Spears Martial Arts is more than just a dojo—it’s a community built on respect, growth, and...

NP Lily Au-Yeung Finding the right primary care provider isn’t just about medical expertise — it’s about trust, communication, and...

Perimenopause isn't the end of your vitality—it's the beginning of your transformation. If you're reading this and wondering why you...