Posts

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Overview for Patients

We wanted to provide a new update related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). As you are aware, this is a rapidly evolving situation, so the steps we are outlining below, may continue to change as more information becomes available. We will keep you updated as we have new information. There have now been confirmed cases in each of the states that R-Health operates. Although the risk is still low, R-Health continues to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for evaluation of patients who may be at risk of developing COVID-19.

Members of our clinical leadership team are communicating with the state and local departments of health to monitor and respond to this evolving situation.

Patients who have appointments should be assured that all operations continue as usual, and our practices remain ready to provide care to all our patients. The only change is that when scheduling appointments, you will be asked some additional screening questions to determine if you are at risk for exposure or symptoms of COVID-19.

 

Signs & Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of infection with COVID-19 may appear two to 14 days after exposure and can include:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

The severity of symptoms can range from very mild to severe, even death.  Importantly, most patients with COVID-19 have only mild respiratory symptoms and do not require hospitalization. However, it is important to limit contact with others to prevent further exposure.

 

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

Call us right away (do not immediately come into the office) if you have symptoms of COVID-19.

Call us first and ask to speak to a healthcare provider to tell us about your symptoms, recent travels, and possible exposure before you make an appointment or before you go to the ER. Coming into the office in person may spread the virus to others who are already sick.

 

Virtual Care

One of the benefits of R-Health is our access to virtual tools for patient communication. This includes the Spruce mobile app and the Elation Patient Passport. We encourage you to use these virtual communications tools, along with the phone, to communicate with the practice or have a virtual appointment, if medically appropriate. Call us if you need information on how to download Spruce or access the Elation Patient Passport.

 

Preventing the Spread

Please note that even if you are not experiencing symptoms, we each have an important role to play in preventing the spread of COVID-19.  Simple hygiene can be very helpful in preventing transmission of many illnesses. This includes

  • Washing hands frequently (with soap for 20 seconds)
  • Utilizing hand sanitizer when soap and water are not readily available
  • Covering a cough/sneeze with shirt sleeve or tissue (not hands)
  • Avoiding touching your face

In addition, social distancing is an important protective measure. This includes avoiding mass gatherings, avoiding crowds, and staying home if you’re not feeling well.

 

Additional Information

Additional up-to-date information is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

 

Updated March 12, 2020

 

Right Track to a Healthy Heart

Cardiovascular disease, also known as heart disease, is the leading cause of death in this country. Just as there are many misnomers, there are many different views of what causes heart disease. While focusing on heart disease from a different lens in hopes of discovering the true culprit, it’s important to acknowledge that science is always being tested and retested; hence, today’s tips and insights may change over time, in the overall effort to get it right. The views below are my views and those of a growing number of physicians and healthcare professionals.

Typically, one of the first questions I often hear is, what causes heart disease?

Fat is one idea often mentioned as a cause behind heart disease, but that’s not always the case.

It is also believed that cholesterol contributes to heart disease, but that is also in doubt.

I am happy that I am not the only one saying this.

The Telegraph also discussed their extensive research in debunking cholesterol’s role in heart disease, stating “Lowering cholesterol with medications for primary cardiovascular prevention…is a total waste of time and resources.” Primary prevention is classified as preventing the first episode of an illness. So primary prevention for heart disease is preventing the first heart attack. Secondary prevention would be aimed at people who have already had a heart attack.

So what does cause heart disease? I believe it’s a lifelong energy imbalance, what you eat and what you burn, combined with how well your body safely processes and stores energy. A major part of this process has to deal with the hormone insulin. One of Insulin’s most important jobs is to store excess energy, as mostly fat, which can be used in the future when you’re low on energy (i.e. illness, fasting, exercising, etc.). The problem however lies with excess fat. Excess fat from both the fat in foods, and the carbohydrates you eat can be stored in fat cells. Interestingly the excess carbohydrates are converted to fat to be stored.

However, our body’s ability to store fat is not unlimited. When fat cells reach their storage limit, they begin to resist any more energy intake, from the likes of insulin, which lead to what we call Insulin Resistance (IR). Short term insulin resistance (IR) isn’t harmful and may even be protective for the body, however long term IR can be extremely harmful.

The following may occur if you have chronic Insulin Resistance:

Obesity
High Blood Pressure
Diabetes
Heart Disease
Dementia-Alzheimers
Fatty Liver
Many, many others but the above items account for much of what most physicians treat in their practices.

When the body deals with long term IR, this excess fat, as a result of high insulin intake, leads the fat to dangerous places in the body where it was not meant to be.

Where can this fat go?

Retinas – Which can lead to vision issues
Liver – Can lead to fatty liver, obesity, diabetes, and cirrhosis
Kidneys – Can lead to reduced kidney function, which can ultimately lead to dialysis
Skin – Can lead to skin infections, skin tags, and/or old skin
Pancreas – Can lead to diabetes, pancreatitis
Artery walls – Leads to heart disease

The last might be the worst of all. Excess fat in artery walls leads to plaque, which in turn can build up, thicken, and stiffen artery walls, which makes blood flow through your arteries to your organs and tissues very challenging. Unbalanced diets that increase levels of insulin, coupled with lack of exercise, and unhealthy habits like smoking, all rapidly increase your chances of heart disease.

However, the first step in prevention is to alter your diet and lifestyle to reduce insulin resistance.

How do you do this?
• Eat fewer carbs
• Eat less often (consider Intermittent Fasting) (IF)
• Exercise more (start burning your stored-up energy) – this allows for more safe energy storage.
• Sleep better with normal day-night cycle – this balances your cyclical hormones
• Reduce your stress
• Avoid cigarettes
• Keep alcohol moderate to low

If you’re interested in more ways to keep your heart safe, or any of the other disease processes that Insulin Resistance causes, and would love some counselling on how to prevent/reverse these disease process from starting or advancing, don’t hesitate to call your R-Health doctor and schedule and appointment.