CBS LA: Doctor Discusses New Cedars-Sinai Clinic Focused on Fitness, Health and Aging

CBS LA recently interviewed Sara Espinoza, MD, professor of Medicine and medical director of the Cedars-Sinai Healthspan Clinic, about healthy aging and the clinic’s focus on helping patients improve their long-term wellbeing.

“People are naturally curious about what they can do to improve their health with aging. It can be a little confusing for people,” Espinoza told CBS LA co-anchors Sheba Turk and Jamie Yuccas. “That’s the reason we wanted to launch this clinic … to provide some evidence-based recommendations to the patients, individualized to what they can do to improve their health with aging.”

Although genetics plays a role in how people age, Espinoza considers lifestyle factors—including physical activity, sleep, diet and mental health—more important because they can be modified and nurtured.

“As we age, there is an increased risk for depression, anxiety and mental health issues,” Espinoza told Turk and Yuccas. “So, it’s important to keep your eye on those things and seek help if needed.” She added that the new Cedars-Sinai Healthspan Clinic provides mental health screening for patients and will offer referrals when needed.

Espinoza told Turk and Yuccas that the Healthspan Clinic accepts patients 18 and up but it is especially useful for people who have reached middle age.

“What we really want to do is help people before they have the impacts of a lot of chronic diseases, if we can,” Espinoza said. “But I do want to say, it’s never too late to make positive changes to improve your health.”

Watch the complete video from CBS LA.