Ask Dr. Greg is where renowned health and wellness expert Dr. Gregory Charlop answers athlete's questions about diet, nutrition, sleep, supplements, mental health, and more. Dr. Greg improves the lives of athletes
with high-performance wellness solutions.
Your privacy is protected and his advice is free to all.
Help! I’m losing my hair!
Q: Dear Dr. Greg,
Help! I'm losing my hair! I'm a competitive track athlete finishing up my last year of college. Lately, I have gobs of hair on my brush or tangled up in the shower drain. Although things are very stressful now with school, family, and track, I love my sport. Could running be causing my hair loss?
Natalie | Track and Field, Class of 2022
A: Dear Natalie,
I'm glad you asked. Don't quit track over your hair loss. It turns out that hair loss is actually quite rare for college-age women from sports. Rather than leaving athletics, I recommend you get a medical evaluation for common causes of hair loss for young women athletes. Here are the most likely causes (in no particular order)…
Is there a natural way to manage my depression?
Q: Dear Dr. Greg,
Thanks to brave athletes like Naomi Osaka, depression and mental health are finally gaining the attention they deserve in the sports community. I'm a retired basketball player, and I've been dealing with depression most of my adult life. The pills I've been taking barely help. Is there a natural option I can try?
Jasmine | Retired WNBA
A: Dear Jasmine,
Thank you for sharing the story of your battle with depression. For too long, the sports world swept the dangers of mental illness under the rug. Athletes had to suffer alone. Now, it looks like things are starting to improve.
Naomi Osaka and depression
Q: Dear Dr. Greg,
I just read about Naomi Osaka withdrawing from the French Open because of depression. As a former professional golfer, I knew several players with depression. Do a lot of pro athletes have mental illness?
Kim | Retired LPGA
A: Dear Kim,
Thank you for asking about depression and mental health. Naomi’s decision to withdraw from the French Open shocked the sports world. It is a potent (and very public) reminder that depression is more common and devastating than many believe.
Can cannabis help improve my sleep?
Q: Dear Dr. Greg,
I’m having a hard time sleeping, and I wonder if cannabis might help. It takes me a while to fall asleep, and I wake up too often at night. During my playing years (I’m a former pro baseball player), coach stressed the importance of sleep. Now that I’m retired from sports, I want to protect my health and straighten out my rest. What’s your advice?
Jeff | Retired MLB
A: Dear Jeff,
I’m thrilled that you want to improve your sleep. Along with proper diet and exercise, high-quality sleep is essential to keep your body strong and mind sharp. We have some interesting new information about cannabis and sleep.
How can I better manage my stress and anxiety?
Q: Dear Dr. Greg,
I’m a retired gymnast, and I need help with anxiety. During my playing years, I had a hard time with anxiety. I was always worried about my diet, appearance, parents, and my next match. The stress didn’t stop me from competing, but it made life tougher for my family and me. Now that I’m retired, my anxiety seems even worse. Do you have any advice?
Jill | Retired Gymnast
A: Dear Jill,
If you’re feeling anxious, you’re not alone. Anxiety is common, particularly for female athletes. Women suffer from anxiety twice as often as their male counterparts, according to reports. In addition to the causes of stress you mentioned, many athletes feel anxious about injury, overtraining, forced retirement. Unfortunately, anxiety can cause injury, overtraining, and burnout…
Tired during the day with sleep issues
Q: Dear Dr. Greg,
I feel tired a lot during the day and my partner tells me that I snore. What can I do to feel better?
Fred
A: Dear Fred,
If you snore at night and feel tired during the day, you might have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). When you have OSA, the back of your throat partly closes up when you're trying to breathe at night…
Should I try CBD for pain?
Q: Dear Dr. Greg,
Since retiring from football, I have a lot of aches and pains. I don’t want to take narcotics, and too much ibuprofen is bad for my stomach. Some of my friends told me to take CBD. Should I try it for pain?
Joe | NFL
A: Dear Joe,
Pain and arthritis are common problems for athletes. Many retired football, hockey, and basketball players deal with pain every day. Surprisingly, CBD may hold the key to treating your pain…
Do I have depression?
Q: Dear Dr. Greg,
I'm a retired professional baseball player, and I think I might have depression. How can I tell?
Jim | MLB
A: Dear Jim,
Depression is more common than ever, thanks to our isolation and concern about the future. The virus and lockdowns are taking a toll on our mental health. You are not alone…
Should I try daily intermittent fasting?
Q: Dear Dr. Greg,
I'm a retired hockey player. Should I try daily intermittent fasting?
Larry | NHL
A: Dear Larry,
It depends. If you're a middle-aged retired athlete, daily intermittent fasting may be one of the best things you can do for your health…
What supplements should I take to stay healthy?
Q: Dear Dr. Greg,
I don't play competitive sports anymore, but I want to keep up my body. What supplements should I take to stay healthy?
Jessica
A: Dear Jessica,
Middle-aged athletes need to take care of themselves. As we age, our bodies are less forgiving. Many athletes in their 50s struggle with weight gain, joint problems, and loss of focus…
Managing anxiety through social isolation
Q: Dear Dr. Greg,
Social distancing has me feeling sad and anxious. It's a strange feeling for someone who used to play football. What should I do?
Bob | NFL
A: Dear Bob,
Isolation hits athletes especially hard. Players enjoy being part of a team, and your teammates and coaches are your support systems. Take them away, and it is natural to feel anxious…
Sex drive isn’t what it used to be
Q: Dear Dr. Greg,
I'm a retired athlete in my 40s, and my sex drive isn't what it used to be. Is that normal?
Frank | NBA
A: Dear Frank,
My patients ask me about sex all the time. Men have trouble with erections, and women often struggle with vaginal dryness or the inability to have an orgasm. Both sexes report that they have less desire for sex…