Blog Archive
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered dramatic changes throughout everyday life — and in the medical community as well. Not only are providers across the country postponing elective procedures, but many are also encouraging people to avoid in-office appointments to reduce their risk of exposure to this highly contagious coronavirus.But what...
Welcome to the Early Winter Wellness Newsletter The leaves have changed and are falling, the first frost has reflected the early morning light and daylight savings time has thankfully ended for at least a few months. Nature is visibly slowing down and we are inclined to do likewise, snuggling into the warmth of our homes and...
Recently, a panel of experts that issue guideless about preventative care (known as the US Preventive Services Task Force), has recommended that all women start routine breast cancer screening at age 40 and then get a screening every TWO years, although some medical organizations like the American Cancer Society continue...
For most Americans, the threat of coronavirus has declined dramatically. Like the flu, the coronavirusnow requires few precautions. However, for older people, and the immunocompromised, thecoronavirus remains a significant risk. Those who are over 70 years old and have impaired immunesystems make up the vast majority of the roughly 300...
Gut Microbiome What is my gut’s job and why is it important to keep it healthy? Your intestinal tract and the trillions of bacteria, viruses and fungi that inhabit it, is known as your gut microbiome. At the most basic level your gut has the simple but vital job...
The Food and Drug Administration’s advisers recently concluded that a birth control pill should be made available without a prescription. A final decision will be made in August, and there is still a chance that the FDA will not follow the recommendation of its advisers (it is non-binding recommendation), but...
Over half the calories that the average American eats now come from ultra-processed foods. In other words, over half the amount of food that most people eat is derived from an industrial formula that combines large amounts of sugar, salt, oils, fats and other additives. These highly processed foods are...
When you are having trouble getting The Thing done, use this to see why you’re having trouble and what to do next. (here is the caveat that this is aimed at adults and older teens, and may not be the appropriate tool for all forms of procrastination or all people)...
Folks with executive function difficulties often worry about whether they are procrastinating a task out of laziness, mental health struggles, or if they are simply being a jerk. Executive functions are critical in getting-things-done infrastructure, so if the problem is brain based rather than laziness, knowing what they are can...
Ozempic is one of a newer class of medications that is designed to help combat diabetes and weight loss. Ozempic is approved for the treatment of Diabetes. Wegovy is approved for weight-loss. Ozempic is called a GLP-1 and goes by the generic name, Semaglutide. Brand-names for Semaglutide include: Ozempic, Rybelsus...
Including resistance training as part of one’s weight loss program offers benefits There are many factors that contribute to weight loss and weight gain. Living with an unhealthy weight isn’t just a matter of an energy imbalance — taking in more energy than is expended. Now we know that weight...
Reducing TOTAL Calories May Be More Important For Weight Loss Than Intermittent Fasting A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that meal frequency and size were more important predictors of weight loss than just meal frequency. No association between weight change and the size...
Stress is another obstacle in the journey of patients with obesity. A survey conducted 2017 by the American Psychological Association found that moderate to high levels of stress affect the majority of Americans. Much attention was given to the physiological and genetic mechanisms behind unhealthy weight and less attention...
What Are The Common Telltale Signs Of PCOS? Irregular menstrual cycle Hair on the face or chin Acne on the face, upper back, or chest Hair loss or thinning hair, baldness Weight gain or difficulty losing weight Skin darkening on neck creases, underneath breasts, or around the groin What Causes...
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common form of diabetes and in simple terms, means your body is not using insulin properly. More often than not, type 2 DM evolves from some state of insulin resistance, where cells are desensitized to the effects of insulin. This resistance causes...
A 2020 study found, consuming more than half a tablespoon of olive oil a day lowers the risk of heart disease. The Journal of the American College of Cardiology also reported that it lowers the rate of premature death from cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and others compared to those who...
Why Do People Follow The Keto Diet? Keto persuaded the world for two main reasons. First- It works. The diet leads to weight and fat loss and reduced cravings. Second –it makes you feel great. People on the diet state they have increased mental functioning and are leaner, happier, and...
Affecting over 40% of the United States population, obesity is a severe and widespread health condition. The World Health Organization defines obesity as “abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health.” Body Mass Index (BMI), is one screening tool used to measure body size based on height...
Most Americans experience back pain at some point in their lives, especially people who are obese and rarely physically active. This combination can exacerbate the strain that causes and leads to muscle spasms, and bulging or ruptured discs. Back pain is a common and costly condition that nearly 80 percent...
What is your A1C? Your Hemoglobin A1C level shows the average of your blood sugar over the past 3 months. Hemoglobin is a protein found in your red blood cells which carries oxygen throughout our body. Sugar gets stuck and crystallizes on the red blood cell, which then becomes known...
We all aspire to be flawless, or at least the best version of ourselves. But what happens when we make a minor or large mistake? We become extremely disappointed and can't stop thinking about it and blaming ourselves, believing that we should have done this or that. According to a...
What is insulin? Insulin is an important hormone produced in the pancreas by the islets of Langerhans which helps to transport and regulate the amount of glucose and amino acids in our blood to our cells. We need sugar as it is the basic unit of energy and plays an...
Ingredients: Lettuce Wraps: 1lb ground chicken or cubed tofu 8oz white mushrooms 2 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar 1 tsp rice vinegar 1-2 tbsp sriracha, depending on desired spice level 1 head iceberg lettuce Pickled vegetables: 1 red onion 1 carrot Other vegetables of choice 1/2 cup...
Numerous studies show that having something to anticipate improves your mood and reduces stress. It can boost motivation, optimism, and patience while also lowering irritation. Many small things can make you happy. Anticipating a sprinkling of tiny, good experiences can be just as pleasurable as anticipating a single large one. ...
Does metformin help weight loss? There is a suggestion that metformin, which is the main prescription for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, may lead to modest weight loss. What is metformin? Metformin is a drug that helps lower the amount of glucose absorbed from the intestines, decreases the glucose...
Avoid alcohol, large meals, exercise, and smoking at least two to three hours before bed Although alcohol helps you fall asleep easily, it will disrupt your sleep, cause night sweats and nightmares, and leave you feeling much less restful. Eating a large meal before going to bed can cause the...
1. Cut Out Smoking In the United States, cigarette smoking is responsible for around 80% to 90% of lung cancer deaths. Smokers die on average 10 years earlier than non-smokers. Secondhand smoking might potentially increase your risk of cancer. This is cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoke from other individuals. The...
Ingredients: 2-3 zucchinis 1 lb of ground turkey (or any protein of your choosing) ½ cup of diced tomatoes 1 onion (red or yellow) 1 can of black beans ½ tomato sauce ½ cup chicken broth 1 bunch of cilantro 1 lime 2-3 cloves of garlic 1 ½ cup of...
Getting in exercise and staying active can often times feel tedious and is easily left on the back burner. It can be especially difficult if you are unsteady on your feet and struggle with balance. However, having balance difficulty does not need to be a barrier between you and your...
Topiramate for Weight-loss Anticonvulsant drug, topiramate, is used to treat epilepsy, generalized or focal seizures, migraine prevention, and alcohol addiction. When used to manage seizures and prevent migraine, it has also been demonstrated to produce weight loss. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved this as...
Men with obesity can experience a negative association with a bone mineral density even more so than women. It is conventionally believed that being overweight or obese denoted by having high bone mineral density (BMD) may decrease the chance of getting osteoporosis. This protective effect is called the "obesity paradox", in...
1. Visualization Visualization is a kind of therapy. It can envision a serene place whenever there is stress. The distance and space are comparable to meditation but also engage the imagination in the process. It allows the mind to transform creatively, generatively, and dynamically rather than feeling uncomfortable. Based on...
For many people, low carb, high protein means lots of meat, cheese, fish, and eggs; easy low carb protein sources that are generally tasty and satisfying. The only issue is that many of these typical low carb, high protein foods are not an option for vegans or vegetarians. Adequate protein...
Good Sleep is a Reachable Dream You may have heard that sleep is one of the most important things we can do for our bodies and minds. A few weeks ago we discussed some lifestyle changes that can help us get to sleep…or get back to sleep. Personally, even when...
Spring Cleaning Your Sinuses… The first line of defense that may come to mind is to start on an over the counter allergy medication such as Zyrtec (Cetirizine), Claritin (Loratidine), Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) or even Fluticasone (Flonase). These can all be helpful, and yes, feel free to start there! In addition...
Sleep is important for MANY reasons: Sleep is one of the five basic needs of the human body, along with food, water, shelter and movement. During sleep, muscles, tissues, bones and organs (including the brain) grow and repair. Our nervous system, digestive, assimilation and elimination systems are repaired, and our...
What many might not know is that anemia is a symptom of something else occurring inyour body. What this means is that it isn’t the cause, it’s happening as a result ofsomething else. This can occur through one of three ways: 1. You might be losing more blood than you...
Food cravings are a normal part of the human experience; studies show that more than 90 percent of people have them. But how we deal with cravings can vary widely. Some people eat what they want and don’t worry about it, whereas others feel controlled by cravings and end up bingeing on...
What is a Naturopath? You may have heard that SW Family Physicians has welcomed two new Naturopathic Physicians, Dr. Khaleed Alston, ND and Dr. Alicia Hart, ND, to our practice. Naturopathic physicians are primary health care providers who are experts in the intersection of conventional practice and natural therapies. ...
There are many things you can do to help yourself age well: exercise and be physically active, make healthy food choices, and don’t smoke. But did you know that participating in activities you enjoy may also help support healthy aging? As people get older, they often find themselves spending more...
One of the simplest ways to improve your health is to eliminate ultra processed foods. Cutting back on white, flour, white rice, processed cereals, crackers, fries, potato/corn chips, baked goods, sweets and sodas can help to lower cholesterol and blood sugar. Here is a healthy, quick and easy recipe for...
The COVID-19 vaccine was made quickly, how can we ensure that it is safe? The federal government has worked since the start of the pandemic to make COVID-19 vaccines available as soon as possible. This accelerated timeline is unprecedented. Some patients are concerned that vaccine safety may have been...
What is insulin? Insulin is an important hormone in our body that helps us to regulate our blood sugar. We need sugar as it is the basic unit of energy that our cells use for fuel. Just like a car needs gasoline, our cells need sugar. Unfortunately, if our blood...
What is Phentermine? Phentermine is one of the oldest and most useful prescription medications for medically supervised weight loss with eligible patients. It is generic and not expensive (about $10-$20/month, depending on dose). Phentermine is therefore one of the most effective and affordable options to suppress hunger, especially when included...
What is vitamin D? Vitamin D is a necessary vitamin needed to keep your bones healthy. Calcium, which is the primary building block of bones, can only be absorbed when vitamin D is present. More and more we are finding that vitamin D also plays a role in pain, immunity,...
Losing weight is hard, and keeping the weight off can be even more difficult. However, the benefits of losing even just a small amount of weight can be incredibly beneficial to your health. In fact, research has shown that you can decrease your risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus...
Great news: Type 2 Diabetes is absolutely reversible! And the cure can be simple: weight loss. However, although the solution is simple, it is by no means easy. That is why we at Oregon Medical Weight Loss are here to help you. In a recent study, over 50% of participants...
Intro to Yoga for ALL BODIES Join Dr. Leasa Lowy, MD and Yoga Teacher for a 4-week yoga class series from January 11 - February 1, 2021. Price: $79 Start Date: January 11, 2021 LIVE 4 Monday mornings 7:30-8:30am OR access recordings at your convenience This course is for you if: You are...
Is Sugar Ruining Your Life? Food is supposed to nourish us and give us energy to accomplish our daily tasks and move us forward in life. What happens when our food habits are holding us back, or even making us sick? What if sugar is controlling you instead of you...
Why Are You Addicted To Sugar? It's Biological! Our body loves sugar; eventually the food we consume turns to glucose (a fancy word for sugar) and that is what feeds and energizes our cells. But processed sugar (white sugar and the sweeteners found in packaged foods), doesn't have to go...
Homemade Pesto Serving: Makes about 1 1/2 cups You will need: a baking tray, a mortar and pestle (pictured). If you don't have a mortar and pestle, you can use a blender or bowl and the head of a rolling pin as an alternative. Ingredients 3/4 cup...
5 Ways To Lower Your A1C What is your A1C? Your Hemoglobin A1C level shows the average of your blood sugar over the past 3 months. Hemoglobin is a protein found in your red blood cells. Sugar gets stuck and crystallizes on the red blood cell, which then becomes...
Why Choose A Midwife? A review published by The Cochrane Library shows that women who use a midwife have fewer pre-term births, are less likely to lose pregnancies before 24 weeks, and need fewer epidurals, episitomies, and assisted births. Besides having fewer of these risks, pregnancy with a midwife at...
What's the big deal about Vitamin D? Vitamin D strengthens innate immunity and prevents overactive immune responses, which may be why researchers are finding Vitamin D helpful in fighting COVID-19. (See study here) There is no research, however, that says taking a Vitamin D supplement will make you immune...
Is there really a way to make weight loss easier? How a few changes in thinking can increase weight loss success If you were aware of your state of mind and body when eating, how would that change your consumption? This process is known as eating mindfully. Mindfulness can be...
Most of us have concerns about the health and economic issues brought on by COVID-19 and the resulting circumstances. We are still discovering new information every day. The good news we already know about COVID-19 is that your likelihood of getting a serious case is relatively low and the underlying...
Wellness Visits are important for teens to learn about taking health into your own hands and getting a chance to talk about personal concerns with a doctor. Remember we're here to support and accept you, no matter what! During your Wellness Visit, your medical provider will go over these topics with...
Based on the best expert advice from the CDC, WHO and epidemiologists I will continue to keep my physical practice closed in order to slow the spread of Covid 19. Because of the fluid nature of the situation I will be updating you periodically with resources and clinic schedule changes. Besides the WHO's excellent advice I would like to share you...
Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 What is COVID- 19? • Coronavirus disease 2019, or "COVID-19" is an infection caused by a specific virus called SARS-CoV-2. The virus first appeared in late 2019 in the city of Wuhan, China. But it has spread quickly since then, and there are now cases...
What to do if you are sick with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 Follow the steps below to help prevent the disease from spreading to people in your home and community. Stay home except to get medical care Stay home: People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are...