Black Friday: Treat Yourself & Others! 🎁
This holiday season, give the gift of wellness—and don’t forget to treat yourself too! From now until Monday, December 2nd, take advantage of our Black Friday specials and receive a $25 gift card to spend on wellness services, supplements, or Hugh & Grace products.
✨ Discover Your Options!
I remember when I was little and especially during those teenage years when my parents always wanted to know who I was hanging out with. I thought they were so nosy and judgy. Why did they want to know everything about my friends? Did they think I was so passive that I would just do whatever my friends were doing without using my judgment? Well they probably kind of did. And I probably kind of did.
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What’s the most common phrase you hear this time of year? New Year, New You. Well, I say zip it with the New Year New You… Hear me out! Rather than jump right into New Year New Me, let's pause this time of year. Let's take a minute to intentionally think back on the last year (or even just days/months/weeks!).
What went WELL for you? What fired you up? What excites you?
Don't just think about nutrition and fitness though - think about every area of Whole Health. Yes some Physical Health components - nutrition, fitness, sleep, supplementation, but also think about Emotional Health, Mental Health, Relationships, Finances, Your physical environment.
And PS - I am typically a BIG New Year's Resolution person, so it's hard for me to put the brakes on to do this step, but let's do it!
If you would like to work through this process in more detail within a worksheet that I put together, click here to access it within our free online community, Signature Health Club.
Okay so now that you have a list of kudos, what GENERAL area would you like to work on? Let's ease into our intentions for next year. Again, Physical health, Emotional Health, Mental Health, Finances, Relationships, Physical Environment...what are you excited about improving and WHY?
Lastly, what's your first Messy Microchange of 2023?
You know how your brain tells you all the BIG things you want to do in 2023? That's great. I LOVE dreaming big. We deserve to optimize every area of our health and happiness - not just be okay.
HOWEVAH...those big dreams can't happen in grand overhauls. I know...it would be so much more glamorous and shiny. Nope that is not the way life works (fortunately or unfortunately) however you decide to look at it.
Life changes happen in small layered steps with a lot of rerouting and getting up. I like to think of them as messy microchanges? What is ONE SMALL thing that you can start with? One thing that seems so simple and easy that your brain tells you "Seriously. This is never gonna do anything." Yep - that is what I want you to start with. : )
And what next?
One messy microchange at a time. If you need help with knowing where to start, what will give you the “most bang for the buck”, what to do next…that is what we are here for!
Do you need to be perfect at it? Nope. I’m not. Nobody is.
Do I "break" my resolutions? Sometimes. Everybody does.
Do I care? Not on a day when I am managing my mind well. Because I know that progress is much more important than perfection.
That might be cliché at this point, but I am still here for it.
And I hope you will be too! Cheers to 2023!
We are so excited to incorporate acupuncture as one of our many wellness services at SPC&W! Don’t let the needles scare you! Acupuncture does involve the insertion of very thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body, but they are SO tiny! It’s a key component of traditional Chinese medicine, from treatment of pain to overall wellness promotion and many things in between.
Acupuncture is often associated with pain control, but in the hands of a well trained practitioner it has much broader applications.
The World Health Organization recognizes the use of acupuncture in the treatment of a wide range of medical problems, including…
Digestive disorders
gastritis and hyperacidity, spastic colon, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
Respiratory disorders
sinusitis, sore throat, bronchitis, asthma, recurrent chest infections
Neurological and muscular disorders
headaches, facial tics, neck pain, rib neuritis, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, various forms of tendinitis, low back pain, sciatica, osteoarthritis, post-operative pain
Menstrual problems
amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, PMS
Drug, alcohol and nicotine addiction
Urological and reproductive problems
Your first visit begins with a thorough review of your past medical history and chief concern. Traditional Chinese medicine methods of diagnosis can include taking your pulse, examining your tongue, and palpation for tenderness on the abdomen and at various acupuncture points. It is important for us to address both primary and acute issues, as well as the underlying cause of your signs and symptoms. Then a treatment plan will be developed and implemented. Needles are inserted into various points to help regulate and balance the flow within the meridians to re-establish the body’s natural, inherent healing capability.
Have a light meal or snack 1-2 hours prior to your treatment. It's best not to come to your appointment hungry or too full. Don't participate in heavy exercise or consume alcoholic beverages right before or after the treatment. Also, avoid caffeine immediately before your appointment. Please wear loose and comfortable clothing that allows your lower arms and legs to be easily exposed.
Most say absolutely not! Pain is a relative experience of course - some clients are very sensitive, and some are not though. Some patients have needle phobia. We support each patient and maintain proper needling technique. The majority of people feel very little to no pain. The needles are extremely thin, and are not hollow like the ones given when receiving traditional injections. Most people feel a tiny prick upon insertion, and that is all.
Once a needle reaches its intended depth, you’re likely to feel a mild, dull ache or a slight tingling sensation. This may be a sign that the treatment is working and the acupuncture point is being activated. You may also feel a heavy or electric sensation. Feelings of warmth may arise at the acupuncture points and your body may feel temperature changes.
If you feel anything that’s a severe or sharp pain, you should let your acupuncturist know. Most of the time sharp pain or discomfort will be fleeting and last only a few seconds.
The most common needling experience is a profound sense of relaxation, and after the treatment a generous increase in energy.
This depends on the severity and duration of the health condition being addressed, the frequency of treatment, as well as the patient’s lifestyle and dietary habits. Generally speaking, a standard course of treatment for a chronic condition consists of ten treatments over the course of ten weeks. This is the most commonly prescribed treatment protocol. Although, some clients respond after only 2-3 treatments while others may require consistent treatment for 3-6 months. Many patients schedule regular appointments for balance and continued health maintenance even after the initial condition has resolved.
Acupuncture is an extremely safe method of natural healing when performed by a professionally trained practitioner. On occasion there can be slight bleeding or bruising, and muscle soreness post treatment as a result of the needling method, or body area where the needles are placed.
There are also times when patients go through a healing response in the form of an aggravation of symptoms, a positive sign that the condition is improving. Some clients may feel the need to rest or sleep after a treatment, also a positive sign that the body is healing. It is advised to have at least an hour post treatment for integration.
Ready to try acupuncture?! Call or text us to book your appointment with Erika at 614-710-0075!
Let’s talk about anxiety and depression. First off, I hate labels. Labels of course are useful to have an agreed upon definition so we can use the same language for healthcare purposes. But, I never want people to identify too much with the label of “I have ___.” It doesn’t serve us well to attach ourselves to that. It can be validating for some, debilitating for others.
It is difficult to honor the complexity of mental health and the full spectrum on which it resides with these labels. They just have trouble capturing the full situation. Don’t get me wrong - it's tempting to compartmentalize these conditions and slap easy labels on them. Our brains love black and white. Just keep in mind that mood falls on and spectrum, is meant to have fluctuations because #life and #human. We use those terms to describe situations where the level of symptoms are persistent and have a significant impairment in your life - whether it's how you feel about yourself, relationships, work or fun.
Anxiety and depression frequently run together - up to 75% of people who carry one diagnosis have elements of both, so I frequently talk about them together. Living with anxiety and depressive disorders can be isolating if you are not seeking help or lack a support system. Right when it is the most tempting to isolate yourself is when you need to reach out the most. Don’t let your brain fool you into thinking “maybe things will get better if I just wait it out.”
Some things to watch out for:
Frequently expecting the worst in scenarios
Overthinking, obsessive thoughts
Not getting restful, enough or too much sleep
Changes in appetite
Not getting a sense of enjoyment from things you would typically enjoy
Wanting to stay in and isolate
Comparing yourself to others
Difficulty forgiving yourself when you make mistakes
Feeling mentally and physically 'sick' a lot with no particular reason why
You can think of anxiety as a worry signal to the brain that activates the body’s natural “fight or flight” side of the nervous system even though we aren’t actually truly in danger at the moment. So anything that sends a “Everything’s okay. I am safe.” signal to the body can calm it. These activities can work preventively (think training your nervous system) or in the moment.
There are many things that can send this “everything’s okay” signal, but two big categories that give you the biggest “bang for their buck” are focusing on breathing and managing your thoughts.
Breath - seems simple right. Well we all tend to breathe more shallowly than we should. Stop (go to the restroom if you need to; remove yourself from an environment) and count your breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth – in for five, out for five, five times in a row. Can you do that five times per day? 5-5-5-5 Tack it onto something you already do to make it easier - before you get out of bed, before each time you eat, before you go to sleep. Every time you stop at a stop light, use it as a reminder to stop and breathe. : )
Thoughts - Do you even know what you are thinking about? Lol. Sometimes I don’t! Those thoughts come quickly. How often are you thinking about something in the past or in the future? Practice focusing on the present. When we can do this without judging how we feel and what we think, it can be such a liberating and healthy practice. When you hear all the hype about mindfulness, this is what they are talking about. Studies show that getting in-tune with ourselves through mindfulness slashes anxiety and depression, helps us see ourselves in a truer light, and may even help keep our minds from wandering.
And when it comes to managing those thoughts directed at yourself, how often do you speak to yourself in a positive manner? Are you a “mean girl”? Are you a positive, wise coach that sees the best in you and all your potential?
Positive versus negative talk can be the difference between soothing or triggering feelings of anxiety and depression.
So what can I think at the moment? Many people find it helpful to have a “mantra” of sorts that gives them comfort...All is well, I am fine, Peace - whatever you connect with. Try repeating positive affirmations to yourself in the mirror in the morning as an intention for the day. Even if you feel silly, it works. Also do this when you feel yourself start to spiral. You can do this and check your blood pressure and pulse a few minutes later, and it’s amazing how calm your body can be...physically and emotionally.
No one thing is meant to erase anxiety and depression - if only life were that easy! But we can do things to help make it feel smaller and more manageable. If you’re ready to talk with your doctor about anxiety and depression, schedule an appointment and create a plan to start controlling your anxiety/depression so it doesn’t control you.
What’s your mantra to reduce anxiety and depression?
Yes - Spring has Sprung!
If it seems early to have allergies on your mind, it's not. Tis the season to put viruses to bed and not let seasonal allergies hold you back either. I am seeing a lot of allergy symptoms in the office and it will continue for a bit. This is a little quiz to give some guidance in case you're having mild symptoms you've been wondering about. The symptoms of allergies versus a viral illness (COVID or others) can be tricky to differentiate in early stages. This article has some good information to help tell the difference. Err on the side of caution - if you are having new, unexplained symptoms, do not expose yourself to others (work, school, social) until you run the situation by me please. We're happy to help troubleshoot from day 1!
Treatment for allergies involves avoiding your triggers, but since enjoying the outdoors is a priority too, there are safe, effective options for treatment. In general, over the counter antihistamines are very safe and effective. Benadryl is the classic one, but lasts only for about four hours and tends to cause drowsiness. There are non-sedating formulas that are designed to last all day in the form of Claritin, Allegra, Zyrtec and Xyzal widely available over the counter and by prescription. Though there are no head to head studies, Xyzal tends to be the front runner in the category (least sedating, most efficacious) in my opinion. We often combine these medicines with another type of allergy medicine called Singulair (particularly helpful for sinus congestion and lung effects) and/or medicated nasal sprays (particularly helpful for sinus congestion). Many people can combine these with Mucinex D (or a prescription only sibling) if congestion is particularly bothersome, but ask me first if you have any concerns related to heart conditions, high blood pressure or sensitivity to decongestants. For those interested in a more natural approach to support the immune system in controlling allergies, Natural D-Hist by OrthoMolecular is a great product that we can order at wholesale prices for you.
Shoot us a message if you are interested or have questions!
Plans continue to evolve as more vaccine becomes available. The majority of Americans are eligible to receive the vaccine at this point. Up to date eligibility information can be found here: http://coronavirus.ohio.gov/vaccine You may not have a choice of which brand of vaccine is available, but I would not recommend delaying the vaccine to wait for a particular brand. You can find a location at https://vaccinefinder.org/.
Vaccine continues to be offered via public health departments, hospital systems and some private industry (pharmacies). A complete list of vaccine providers can be found here: https://vaccine.coronavirus.ohio.gov./
OhioHealth
An appointment is required. Patients are encouraged to self-schedule via their MyChart account with OhioHealth. You will receive a notification when you are eligible. You may also call (614) 533.6999 Monday-Friday 8am-4pm to schedule vaccine appointments. Learn the latest about OhioHelath vaccination efforts on their web site: OhioHealth.com/COVID-19.
Health Departments
Columbus Health Department COVID-19 and Vaccine information is located here including links to other local health departments if you fall outside of the Columbus area.
Franklin County Public Health Department information can be found here.
Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccine info is located here including links to local health department information and CDC vaccine-related information for those outside the Columbus/Franklin County area.
When it comes time to get the vaccine, there are some things that can make it more pleasant and make the immune response more comfortable...
-Be sure to get a good night's sleep the night before your vaccine. Go into the appt being well-hydrated and having eaten.
-Deep breaths and relaxing before is super helpful!
-Stay to be observed for a full 30 minutes after the vaccine (even if you are told 15).
-Stay extra hydrated the day before and a few days after. A healthy diet of lots of fruits & veggies are helpful too.
-Movement - helpful to go for a walk a couple of times per day the day of and day after - or any other gentle activity to get the blood pumpin!
-Supplements: From an integrative medicine perspective, there are some protocols that can be helpful. In general vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D, l-lysine and echinacea and elderberry are examples of well-studied supplements. We stock a supplement wholesale called Viracid that I recommend to taking the day before and a few days after (one pill three times daily). https://www.orthomolecularproducts.com/assets/1/30/OMPI-Viracid_PDN-A2.pdf
If you want to come by and get a packet, happy to provide that or feel free to compare ingredients/prices locally.
-Tylenol and Motrin: Do not take preventively, but you can use them as needed for soreness, headache if needed.
-Extra rest: No need to "just push through". Plan for extra rest, and a good night's sleep (Melatonin 3mg can be helpful if needed).
Vaccine reactions: I would expect your body to have symptoms after you get any COVID vaccine. In creating the immune response that you desire for protection, you may notice feeling more tired, headache, body aches, chills, low-grade fever especially. While inconvenient, these symptoms are not dangerous and are signs that your immune system is getting the "workout" we want in order to create a response to natural COVID infection. My personal experience was a fairly common one. After my first Moderna shot, I had a mild headache and fatigue for about a day. After the second vaccine, I had about 36 hours of feeling tired, headache, body aches, low-grade fever, chills and overall feeling like a wimp. Luckily I listened to myself, rested and woke up feeling wonderful about 36 hours after getting the shot. Be proud of your body for working hard to create those antibodies!
4.14.2021 You may have heard about the pausing of the J&J vaccine due to a concern for blood clots. I want to reassure you that this was done under a preponderance of caution as always should be, but to date there is no indication that the incidence of these blood clots are higher than we would expect in the general population. In fact, given what we know, we would expect in a group of 6 million people to find about 94 cases of blood clots and to date there have been 6 reported. As is typical for what we always see with central venous sinus thrombosis, they occur more in females of childbearing age. All of these cases occurred within three weeks of receiving the vaccine. If you have any questions about how this, please send me a portal/Spruce app message!
Be well!
Plans continue to evolve as more vaccine becomes available. The majority of Americans are eligible to receive the vaccine at this point. Up to date eligibility information can be found here: http://coronavirus.ohio.gov/vaccine You may not have a choice of which brand of vaccine is available, but I would not recommend delaying the vaccine to wait for a particular brand.
Vaccine continues to be offered via public health departments, hospital systems and some private industry (pharmacies). A complete list of vaccine providers can be found here: https://vaccine.coronavirus.ohio.gov./
OhioHealth
An appointment is required. Patients are encouraged to self-schedule via their MyChart account with OhioHealth. You will receive a notification when you are eligible. You may also call (614) 533.6999 Monday-Friday 8am-4pm to schedule vaccine appointments. Learn the latest about OhioHelath vaccination efforts on their web site: OhioHealth.com/COVID-19.
Health Departments
Columbus Health Department COVID-19 and Vaccine information is located here including links to other local health departments if you fall outside of the Columbus area.
Franklin County Public Health Department information can be found here.
Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccine info is located here including links to local health department information and CDC vaccine-related information for those outside the Columbus/Franklin County area.
When it comes time to get the vaccine, there are some things that can make it more pleasant and make the immune response more comfortable...
-Be sure to get a good night's sleep the night before your vaccine. Go into the appt being well-hydrated and having eaten.
-Deep breaths and relaxing before is super helpful!
-Stay to be observed for a full 30 minutes after the vaccine (even if you are told 15).
-Stay extra hydrated the day before and a few days after. A healthy diet of lots of fruits & veggies are helpful too.
-Movement - helpful to go for a walk a couple of times per day the day of and day after - or any other gentle activity to get the blood pumpin!
-Supplements: From an integrative medicine perspective, there are some protocols that can be helpful. In general vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D, l-lysine and echinacea and elderberry are examples of well-studied supplements. We stock a supplement wholesale called Viracid that I recommend to taking the day before and a few days after (one pill three times daily). https://www.orthomolecularproducts.com/assets/1/30/OMPI-Viracid_PDN-A2.pdf
If you want to come by and get a packet, happy to provide that or feel free to compare ingredients/prices locally.
-Tylenol and Motrin: Do not take preventively, but you can use them as needed for soreness, headache if needed.
-Extra rest: No need to "just push through". Plan for extra rest, and a good night's sleep (Melatonin 3mg can be helpful if needed).
Vaccine reactions: I would expect your body to have symptoms after you get any COVID vaccine. In creating the immune response that you desire for protection, you may notice feeling more tired, headache, body aches, chills, low-grade fever especially. While inconvenient, these symptoms are not dangerous and are signs that your immune system is getting the "workout" we want in order to create a response to natural COVID infection. My personal experience was a fairly common one. After my first Moderna shot, I had a mild headache and fatigue for about a day. After the second vaccine, I had about 36 hours of feeling tired, headache, body aches, low-grade fever, chills and overall feeling like a wimp. Luckily I listened to myself, rested and woke up feeling wonderful about 36 hours after getting the shot. Be proud of your body for working hard to create those antibodies!
Be well!
Plans for increasing distribution of the COVID19 vaccine are rapidly evolving.
While getting the vaccine is a very personal decision, I would encourage the vast majority of you to get it. Those who are high risk for COVID19 complications (more than half the population) and those who are regularly exposed to anyone in this high risk category should especially consider getting the vaccine. The only group of people who are recommended to perhaps not to get the vaccine are those who have experienced severe vaccine-related reactions in the past.
Last week at our monthly Zoom office hours, I talked about the two vaccines and my thoughts on them. You can access the recording of that meeting here to have many of your questions anwered!
Where and When to get the Vaccine!
It looks like starting January 19th we will be able to start making appointments for the COVID vaccine at OhioHealth vaccine clinics. Starting Tuesday, January 19, those 80 years and older, will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Each week following, the eligibility age increases by five years:
January 25: age 75 and older, and those with specific high-risk conditions
February 1: age 70 and older and school personnel
February 8: age 65 and older.
COVID-19 vaccines will also be offered through other healthcare system clinics, in the local health departments' vaccine clinics and likely in pharmacies too. Those individuals haven't released their plans quite yet - or at least not to me.
Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccine info is located here including links to local health department information and CDC vaccine-related information.
Columbus Health Department COVID-19 and Vaccine information is located here including links to other local health departments if you fall outside of the Columbus area.
Keep Getting These Emails
Make sure to add drpaige@drpaige.com to your email contacts list to make sure you continue to receive our weekly emails as we will continue to send updates. Keep in mind this email is not monitored for patient questions.
Next week, we will be accepting requests to make COVID-19 vaccine appointments. Please look for our email on Monday January 18th with instructions on the best way to get signed up for the vaccine!
Invite Friends and Family to Get These Updates
If you would like me to update friends and family who aren't current patients, feel free to send this link to them and we will include them in future updates: www.drpaige.com/tips. (The first email will be the COVID19 Tip Sheet.)
How to Make Sure your COVID Vaccine is the Safest and Most Comfortable Possible
When the time comes, keep these things in mind.
The day of:
-Hydrate and eat before you go
-Relax before and after receiving the vaccine. Deep breaths!
-Be monitored afterwards for a full 30 minutes (even if you are told 15!)
-Be proud of yourself! : )
-Continue to hydrate, move your body that day to get blood pumping, sleep well.
-Use tylenol as needed for soreness, but not necessarily as prevention.
The most common normal effects of the immune response are fatigue, soreness in the injection muscle, headache and a low grade fever. Most are very mild and prevented by taking good care of yourself. Rest assured that these are signs that your body is creating an immune response that will be helpful for you in the future.
You'll do great! I'll be back in touch soon!
Best,
Dr. Paige
Studies show that the majority of Americans have suboptimal levels of Vitamin D3 all year round, but especially during the upcoming winter months. Our bodies can make vitamin D with safe levels of sun exposure, but most of us don't get that. Whether you live in an area of the country that doesn’t get a lot of sun or don’t spend as much time outside as you would like, it is very likely your body isn’t producing as much as you need.
Most laboratory ranges consider 30mg/dL and above normal. Optimal ranges start at 50mg/dL. If you have never had your levels checked, please do! Most physicians include this (or should!) as a standard part of annual wellness blood testing.
Vitamin D3 has many roles in bodily function. In fact, it acts more like a foundational hormone than a true vitamin. Vitamin D3 is involved in bone and muscle metabolism, nueurotransmitter balance, immune system regulation, gene regulation related to risk of cancer, and the list goes on and on.
Symptoms of vitamin D3 deficiency are often not present until levels get very low and can be very subtle even then. Fatigue, aches and pains, mood changes, hair and nail changes, slow wound healing, tendency for frequent infection are all associated with low vitamin D. Many people don’t notice any symptoms, unless AFTER they supplement and realize the improvement they feel.
In addition to being difficult to get through safe sun exposure, vitamin D can be difficult to get through food as well. There aren’t many natural sources of vitamin D in food and it is somewhat difficult to absorb. Natural sources of vitamin D in food can be found in fatty fish, eggs, and cheese. It is often added to processed foods such as cereals and milk also. Rather than depend on vitamin D being added to foods, I recommend that everyone consider adding a high quality supplement.
Check out more Vitamin D3 clinical info here and resources for quality supplements here.
As a physician committed to the health and safety of our community, I can’t help but notice some things that we are learning right now. When I say learning, of course, I don’t mean that these are brand new revelations or that everyone has learned these. I mean we as a community are leaning further into these concepts and growing. Tough times spur on growth, so nothing like two pandemics to make us look at our health. We know that our Whole Health is more than just our body. It also honors the influence of our relationships, resources and physical environment. All of those are being affected right now! Some of what we are learning:
Empathy is a learned skill, not a trait. While you can’t literally step into someone else’s shoes, you can relate to them and find common ground. One of the most powerful things to consider is that you don’t have to have a common experience with someone to relate to them. You have to have a common feeling with them. So if you have ever felt sad, anxious, scared, grief-stricken, ignored, devalued, unheard, disrespected, etc., you can relate to someone who is experiencing those feelings to a certain degree. Here’s the kicker though. In order to know how someone is feeling, you have to talk to them. You have to listen to them. Ask thoughtful questions with a background of compassion and then listen.
We can do more than one thing at a time and care about more than one thing at a time. This is a tough one. Sometimes you can be tempted to think that if you care about COVID19 safety precautions, then you don’t care about financial health for example. There are tough continuums of risks and benefits and complex mechanisms all over this world that require our attention with varying degrees of intensity. We won’t always agree in the grey zone, but if we continue to see things as black and white, we are assured to never agree. When I focus on your chest pain, it doesn’t mean I don’t care about your changing mole on your arm. I can make a plan that honors the urgency and risks of your chest pain AND the urgency and risks of your mole. It requires conversation, exploration of priorities, values, fears. It’s a challenge, but we can do it.
We can focus on one thing at a time, without disparaging another or being distracted by another. This sounds contradictory and the same as number one all at one time. It’s really not. Hear me out. Sometimes when you hear “black lives matter.” you may be tempted to think well “all lives matter.” Sometimes when you hear “COVID19 has killed more than one hundred thousand people in the US.” you may think “Well heart disease is the biggest killer nationwide and in my family. Why aren’t we talking about that?” It’s natural for the brain to drift to what is familiar and comfortable. It again goes back to the point that there are tough continuums of risks and benefits and complex mechanisms all over this world that require our attention with varying degrees of intensity. Imagine your child comes up to you bleeding after having tripped on a toy and you turn your attention to tend to them. The younger child says “Oh I don’t matter to you now?” You would gently explain that their sibling needs your attention right now. When that hurting child says “Mom, I need attention!” your first response wouldn’t be “Well, sweetie, really ALL children need attention now don’t they.” When that bleeding child comes up to you, your first response wouldn’t be, “Well the real issue is, you should’ve been watching what you were doing. Let’s talk about your focus issue.” before stopping the bleeding. Let’s not let uncomfortable feelings distract us from addressing one issue by changing the subject to a different issue.
We evaluate the world based on our own beliefs which are formed by our experiences. If we are not actively seeking different information from a variety of perspectives, we’re getting a very distorted picture. This is a huge topic that deserves more than a little blurb of course, but consider these examples. If you are young and healthy and always recovered from illness quickly, you naturally consider the threat of a new virus differently than someone you know who “always tends to catch whatever is going around.” If you have grown up having had a few positive, respectful interactions with police officers and that is what you’ve seen others experience, you have a sense of comfort and trust with authority and may be quick to defend against anything that changes that belief. If you have grown up having been pulled over an average of 3-4 times a year for minor violations, had a gun pulled on you by one of them when you reached for your wallet after asking permission and knew multiple people with the same experience, you would think differently. Just because we haven’t had a certain experience doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist.
It’s hard to not be triggered. I am a firm believer that we are in control of our responses. Our circumstances do not have to dictate our responses. If we let the stresses around us throw us off our game, then we are constantly at the mercy of changing external forces. But #HARD! Our brain leads us in the direction of comfort and certainty and, in times that seem uncertain (spoiler alert-all times are uncertain), that reflex is even stronger. Sometimes this happens so quickly, we have little chance to avoid being triggered. Our only hope is how we respond after that trigger. Notice when you feel this way and pause to respond rather than instinctively react. Example for me. There are words that don’t feel good - white fragility, white supremacy, white privilege. I don’t consider myself fragile. I don’t walk around thinking I’m better than everybody. But we can pause and dig into the meaning of these words. They don’t have to trigger guilt, sadness, shame or defensiveness in me when I understand their systemic context. I can actively not take on a position of discomfort talking about race. I can acknowledge that I am more likely to get a quick respectful encounter at a traffic stop or not be pulled over at all as a white female. I can acknowledge that I’ve never thought twice about putting up my hood and scuffling swiftly away from a store in the rain. I can look at that experience and use it for good for others.
I am in no way an expert on race relations specifically, so why am I talking about all this to you? I am charged with helping people in my community be healthy and happy. Anything that affects your health and happiness is in my purview. Racism is a public health issue. Racism is a pandemic. Just as I am willing to step forward to share how COVID19 affects you and the community, I am willing to share how racism affects you and the community. I could share statistics about the increased incidence of infant death, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease in the black population. I could share statistics about the decreased rate of breastfed babies, vaccination, preventive healthcare and opportunities for healthy behaviors. I could also tell you unfortunate data regarding patients lack of comfort and trust in the medical system due to historical breaches of that trust and, unfortunately, continued poor patient experiences with non-Black healthcare professionals. But the most powerful is a physiologic connection that is more at the root cause of many of these phenomena and more directly related to racism itself. If one is not afforded a baseline sense of comfort and safety in this world and consistently feel unaccepted, your sympathetic nervous system will be on overdrive way more than it is designed to be. That fight or flight response is not meant to be activated to the degree that the stress of systemic racism causes. When we consider our Whole Health...remember our biochemistry, structure, mindset is affected by our environment (our relationships, resources and physical environment). Racism influences Our Whole entire Health.
So while I do not come to you as an expert, I am a huge fan of learning to be better. I try to know what I know and what I don’t know. And I know how to find and distill good information. And of course when I have good information, I am committed to sharing it with you! I humbly offer you this information that may be helpful without judgement, assumptions of where you are or where you need to go. Consider it, sit with it. Take what you see fit and leave what you do not. While I write this from the perspective or a white woman whose community is majority white, I also offer this information to my friends of color: I honor you and stand with you. Thank you for the grace that you continue to show in sharing your stories.
And I must say that this process is not specific to race relations. You can fill in the blank with just about any topic or area of life. Humans are put on this Earth to learn, grow and serve in all areas!
How can you actively diversify your environment, learn more and be anti-racist?
-If you feel yourself not wanting to talk about racial injustices, but you feel comfortable speaking out against other issues (climate change, metoo movement, animal cruelty, etc.), stop and ask yourself why.
-Reflect on your childhood and your experience with racist remarks, situations, opinions around you and consider how that may have affected how you relate to the world currently. Do they still apply to the current environment? Is there new data to take into account?
-Learn about the history of systemic oppression and privilege with an adult lens rather than our learned lens and consider how that plays a role in today’s society. Racism can be overt or covert, intentional or unintentional as it is baked into many passive systems we often don’t stop to consider.
-Notice if you feel triggered by words like white privilege or white supremacy. Most people do and it takes some time to realize that these are not personal attacks or even conscious biases. There are simply historic and enduring systems that confer advantages, big and small. When we stop taking them personally, we can move into understanding others’ perspectives.
-Stay aware. Follow a variety of resources that are as level-headed as possible. Reconciliation and justice doesn’t have to be inflammatory.
-Listen and learn about the experiences and perspectives of people of color, recognizing that it’s not up to them to teach you about racism. Recognize that this is an especially traumatizing time for everyone and these conversations need to happen on their time and interest.
-Don’t be shy about calling out colleagues, friends and family when they say something racist. Coming from a posture of curiosity can help keep resistance down. Why do they think what they think/ say what they say?
-As respectful as you may be, don’t be surprised when your call-outs meet resistance. People may become defensive or try to shift focus from the issue. Forge on. You are only responsible for you.
-Learn, learn, learn. You don’t have to agree with everything you learn, but if you feel like you may have room to expand your knowledge related to others’ experiences, there are great resources. Books like White Fragilty, How to be an Anti-Racist or Let it Shine, Separate is Never Equal for kids or Netflix shows like Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap or When They See Us. Follow people online that you relate to...Emmanuel Acho, OfficialMillennialBlack, Rachel.Cargle, Nicole Walters.
-Support. Everyone is called to growth in various ways. It may be doing some thought on your own during this time. It may be having conversations with your friends and family and supporting them. It may be making a donation to CampaignZero or the American Civil Liberties Union. It may simply be befriending new people at your church or in your community. It may be shopping at new stores or inviting new people to your business.
If I know one thing about your health, it is that it is NEVER stagnant. Our thinking and mindset is not meant to be stagnant; our physiology is not stagnant; our body structure is not stagnant. We are meant for growth and adaptation and I lovingly urge you to explore your personal opportunities for growth! What is your best next step?
I have been asked many times to respond to the issues brought forth in the video “Plandemic.” In a previous post, I talked about how it saddens me to see it throwing people into a tizzy, when I believe we benefit most from focusing on health-building activities right now. Though I have watched it and reflected on it, I just couldn’t bring myself to take the time and energy to counteract all the misinformation, but am thankful to my colleagues that have and will pass along some of their thoughts that I agree with.
In some ways conversations like these are analogous to debating the philosophy of fire, the risks and benefits of fire, who starts fires, proper place to burn fires, etc. WHILE a wildfire is still burning. This obviously detracts from the important education about how to protect yourself from fire, where and how big the fire is and what to do if you catch on fire. But for that very reason, I have gathered some information to help you have some balanced information.
First as a family physician and medical educator, I have to say that I do not purport to be an expert in infectious disease, epidemiology or political theory. I do have very solid medical training and I am an expert in knowing what I don’t know, seeking up to date information from a multitude of sources and analyzing that data to have a well-informed opinion. I am first and foremost an advocate for personalized excellent medical care for every patient. I am part of a community of physicians world-wide who do the same in their various areas. In the setting of an unprecedented global pandemic, physicians and scientists with no political agenda have banded together to share information and best practices related to a novel virus that is behaving both in the population and individuals differently than we have seen in the past. There is no algorithm for the prevention and management of COVID19 and I don’t expect one. I am open to novel treatments, holistic treatments and pharmacologic treatments and make the best judgments based on the knowledge of how the body works, previous experiences that can be safely extrapolated and evolving data.
Much of the below is taken with permission from a colleague who actually turned her privacy settings back on because the conversations in her comments were getting nasty. I also would direct you to a YouTube video by Dr. Mike entitled “Doctor Fact-Checks PLANDEMIC Conspiracy” which is a thoughtful exploration. I trust that we can share viewpoints and ask questions from a place of respect in this feed.
“Plandemic”... A well-produced, well-lit film depicts now-discredited former researcher Judy Mikovits who shares a plausible-sounding narrative about the current pandemic in the setting of her new book coming out. It uses many well-known techniques of the power of persuasion and marketing to set a scene of trust that unfortunately is misused. Nearly all of her scientific statements are demonstrably false or at best misapplied.
- She states “There is no vaccine for any RNA virus that works." Incorrect: Polio, hepatitis A, measles, to name a few. (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4763971/)
- Her retracted paper was actually not about vaccines at all, even though she insinuates that it was. (Here is the article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19815723)
- She states that Ebola could not infect humans until it was engineered to do so in her laboratory. This is false. (Here is an article describing an outbreak of Ebola in 1976, long before Dr. Mikovits was conducting research: https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/214/suppl_3/S93/2388104 )
- Likewise, many other zoonotic viruses have been shown to gain mutations that allow them to infect humans. This would not be some kind of new, crazy idea. We actually predicted it years ago: we just didn’t know exactly which virus or when it would occur. (Here is an article from 2015 discussing the likely emergence of future coronavirus pandemics: https://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/…/10.…/s12985-015-0422-1 )
- She states that the US was working with Wuhan to study coronaviruses years ago, like it’s a “gotcha” moment: yes, of course we were doing this – Wuhan is a coronavirus hotspot and it makes sense to study this family of viruses where it naturally occurs. (Same article as above: https://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/…/10.…/s12985-015-0422-1 )
- She states that COPD lungs are identical to COVID-19 lungs. Any practicing physician would be able to tell COPD from COVID-19, both clinically and histologically. (One article discussing an overview of tools for diagnosing COVID19 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.0c02624, one about CT specifically https://www.tandfonline.com/…/full/10…/22221751.2020.1750307, and one about histology specifically https://academic.oup.com/ajcp/article/153/6/725/5818922)
- The statement taken out of context from the CDC death certificate recommendation reads in full “In cases where a definitive diagnosis of COVID-19 cannot be made, but is suspected or likely (the circumstances are compelling within a reasonable degree of certainty), it is acceptable to report COVID-19 on a death certificate as “probable” or “presumed”. In these instances, certifiers should use their best judgment in determining if a COVID-19 diagnosis was likely. Testing for COVID-19 should be conducted whenever possible.”. My physician colleagues are not being pressured to put COVID-19 on death certificates when it should not be there. This is the same process we always follow. (Here is the actual document with instructions for
filling out death certificates from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvss/vsrg/vsrg03-508.pdf )
- The idea that physicians are incorrectly diagnosing COVID-19 due to financial incentive is also ridiculous. Medicare sometimes bundles payments for some conditions (i.e. if you have a heart attack, medicare may pay XX for your treatment) – it’s possible the hospital could get paid $13,000 for your COVID-19 admission, but do you know what that’s based on? The fact that the average cost of a hospital admission for a respiratory condition is $13,297. This is actually a cost savings to patients oftentimes. The reason physicians and hospitals get paid more to diagnose COVID19 is because they spend more time, resources, talent and risk to treat it. (I can’t post a scientific study here, since this isn’t a scientific fact, but this article describes the procedure in detail: https://www.usatoday.com/…/fact-check-medicare-…/3000638001/ )
- She states that hydroxychloroquine has been “extensively studied in this family of viruses” – in fact, it has not been studied well in coronaviruses. It HAS been studied in malaria, which is not a virus. (Here is the one study that was performed that people like to cite, and it is an in vitro study (not in humans), of SARS (not COVID-19), and chloroquine (not hydroxychloroquine): https://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/…/10.1186/1743-422X-2-69 ). And yes, it is considered an essential medicine for the treatment of malaria. Not for coronaviruses.
- Furthermore, the data on hydroxychloroquine are much weaker than they originally appeared: the small study that was highly publicized was not a randomized controlled trial, and the only patients who died were those who received hydroxychloroquine (and these were EXCLUDED FROM ANALYSIS!). This is terrible science. Even so, we want to investigate all possible treatments, so controlled trials are being conducted on hydroxychloroquine right now. (Current recommendations and summary of research: https://www.cebm.net/…/hydroxychloroquine-for-covid-19-wha…/ ; One study published on May 7 shows no benefit to using hydroxychloroquine https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa2012410… )
- She insinuates that there is a hydroxychloroquine shortage as a result of reduced production. In fact, the shortage has resulted from an increase in demand: people who take this medication regularly are writing extended prescriptions and because physicians are using it for COVID19 patients because they have nothing else to try. (https://jamanetwork.com/c…/health-forum/fullarticle/2764607…).
- “All flu vaccines contain coronaviruses”. Nope, absolutely false. (In fact, it’s so false based on the way vaccines are made that there are no studies specifically stating this claim. It would be like trying to conduct a study to examine whether humans can live with zero oxygen. Nope, we can’t. No study needed.)
- The idea that sheltering in place somehow harms your immune system is really far fetched. There are plenty of viruses and bacteria all around us that keep our immune system busy. Your GI system doesn’t wither away when you eat less food. Your immune system is fine. A YouTube video by Dr. Mike (Doctor Fact-Checks PLANDEMIC Conspiracy) gives good info on this in more detail.
-That you may reactivate a virus in yourself by wearing a mask have been thoroughly debunked in other posts and I won’t get into the details here. Both national societies of emergency medicine have condemned the statements of these doctors, one of whom is not board-certified. Masks indeed need to be donned carefully so as not to spread droplets that may be on the mask though.
- Lastly, private companies removing false information from their platforms does not represent repression or promotion of propaganda. We have the right to free speech indeed, but we don’t have the right to spread misinformation on private companies’ platforms. I personally regret that taking down the message seems to have helped it gain steam, but it’s not our right to speak on someone else’s turf.
There is nothing wrong with taking in a variety of sources of information. I encourage it! Stay open. Know your biases. #bealeader to yourself first and foremost and then to your loved ones and community. My hope is that where you focus your emotional, intellectual and physical energy is benefiting you and not distracting you from what you would be better served focusing on.
You cannot steer a storm, but you can steer your own boat! What is YOUR plan to move forward in one area of your Whole Health - mind, body, spirit … life!
Hello!
I hope this finds you well. Some updates as the Stay Safe at Home order is extended through May 29th for many activities…
I continue to be available to you for both in-person and telehealth visits (text, phone, video chat via our Spruce app).
I continue to be available to work with you to create the healthcare experience that is the safest and most comfortable for you. I also can serve as your advocate and advisor for your work environment and other activities. Your health decisions need to be personalized to you and balance your Whole Health - mind, body, spirit...and life! Please don’t hesitate to have those conversations!
As always, I encourage you to contact me with any new symptoms that you have questions about and keep me up to date with any changing or progressing symptoms. If you don’t already have medical equipment at home, you may want to consider investing in a thermometer, a blood pressure cuff and a pulse oximeter as monitoring tools for your family.
I encourage you to take advantage of our telehealth platform (text, phone and video chat via our Spruce app) as a primary resource (ask if you aren’t already connected!). I know it’s hard to wrap our heads around at first, but a lot of care can safely take place via these technologies while decreasing your risk of exposures. This is especially important for those at higher risk (age 65 and over, those with obesity, diabetes, lung, heart, liver or kidney disease or other immunocompromised states).
Even though telehealth is prefered for most, don’t hesitate to specifically request an in person visit so we can discuss and make the decision that is right for you. Following CDC and Ohio department of Health best practices for in-person visits:
A virtual history will always be taken (by phone, video and/or questionnaire) to solidify best next steps.
Children or visitors should not come to the office unless prior arrangements are made. One patient assistant (for help navigating the office or relaying information) is always permitted as long as they are well.
Before coming to the office, everyone (patients and assistants) should check their temperature at home and report a temp of 99 or above and any ill symptoms before coming to the office.
Please arrive on time or let us know if you are running early or late, so that we can safely minimize your exposure to others.
Please wear a face covering or shield while in office if you have any ill symptoms or if you don’t have symptoms and are comfortable doing so. We commit to do the same for you. Use hand sanitizer before you come and/or when you arrive and avoid touching high-touch surfaces when possible.
Please maintain 6 foot distancing when possible in the office.
Don’t fall behind on your check-ups and preventive care! Even when we may use telehealth as a primary resource, we can still touch base on how you are feeling (physically and emotionally!). “Virtual check-ups” in this time to keep medication up to date, talk about how you are doing, share vitals that you can take at home (blood pressure, temperature, pulse, pulse ox and blood sugar for some), arrange for blood testing and imaging at low contact locations and other helpful care recommendations can still happen. So even if you prefer to stay home, feel free to have your regular “check-up” virtually!
Don’t hesitate to keep up with (or start!) your counseling appointments. Kevin is seeing clients in person and virtually while respecting physical distancing. We all need support during this time and talking with a professional is a key way to help you adapt, cope and thrive during tough times! Call or text 614-710-0075 to schedule with him.
Thank you to everyone who has been joining our Wednesday 1pm Online Office Hours via Zoom. It’s a casual drop-in environment to share information and ask questions and is open to patients and friends, so feel free to pass along the invite. These will continue in the month of May. Join Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 280 157 653 Password: Signature
I want to know how you are doing! If you are not due for a checkup and not having a concern that needs evaluated, just shoot me a note to say hi and give me an update on life! : ) I have been thinking about you!
Best,
Dr. Paige
PS - There’s a lot of talk about “Stay at Home” but I am more concerned about being HEALTHY at home (and out and about if you need or choose to be of course). As we navigate living in a community that will continue to have concerns about infectious disease, let’s turn our focus to HEALTH.
When we create physical and emotional health, we naturally become more resilient to infections AND the effects of social changes all around us. Much more info to come about how we can support each other with this!
There are many emotions around the opening up of our everyday lives again. Here are my thoughts.
The most common question I get is “Is ___ safe?” or “Will ___ be safe in the ___?” It’s a complex question to answer because it involves both a respect for public health recommendations and orders and your individual health status and tolerance for risk. So that is the process that I walk patients through to come to a decision. We often tend to see things as black and white and there is nothing black and white about personal and public health. There are no absolutes.
When you think about it, you have likely experienced this method of thinking in other decisions when it comes to your personal health. Your blood sugar is above range. What are the risks/benefits to using medication now vs working on diet & exercises vs doing nothing? What do you decide to do? You broke your arm. What are the chances of it healing on its own vs using a surgically placed pin? What do you decide to do? We have scientific knowledge of how the body works and scientific data on the effects of various interventions to guide us, but we don’t have absolute certainty on our individual outcome.
But there is added complexity here. We are not simply considering a treatment for a condition we know you already have. We are also considering your risk of getting it, the risk of other people in your community getting it from you and the health and viability of the entire healthcare system. Because of the novelty of COVID19, we don’t have the level of scientific data that we would prefer related to treatment options and outcomes. We haven’t had the testing and tracking at the population level, so we don’t have a good estimate on what your personal risk is of contracting it at any given time. And from a population health perspective, we have to consider not only your outcome, but the outcome of others in the community and our ability to treat a given population for any health concern with a functional healthcare system.
No wonder it’s a complicated topic! And when things get complicated, sometimes we are tempted to try to oversimplify. When the stress of uncertainty or fear sets in, we are tempted to oversimplify. The reality is that this is a constantly evolving situation that will continue to evolve based on the nature of the virus, your individual health decisions and population-based control measures. Some things to keep in mind…
Social distancing was never meant to eliminate the spread of the virus. It was simply meant to slow the spread. A main goal of this was to give the hospital system time to prepare for higher numbers of sick individuals, increase testing so that we can track risk better and increase protection supplies to help slow spread. This has been done to varying degrees in various areas.
There is no doubt that when reopening happens, we will experience an increase in cases proportionate to the level of additional exposures. Until enough people develop a natural immunity (get the virus and recover) or get a vaccine (a long way off), this will be the case.
There is no one way to eliminate risk. Even now you have some level of risk. Our continued goals are to keep our personal level of risk at a personally acceptable level and the population’s level of risk at a culturally acceptable level. We individually determine our personal risk tolerance with wise counsel. Our leaders determine our population’s acceptable level of risk based on wise counsel.
Our best means of decreasing individual exposure/infection that we can layer on top of one another to gain confidence in our safety are:
1 - Physical distancing (6 feet or more), either electively or by order
2 - Not touching contaminated surfaces, frequently washing shared surfaces
3 - Washing your hands frequently
4 - Not touching your face (eyes, nose, mouth)
5 - Wearing a mask with proper handling
Our best way of decreasing the population risk are:
1 - More testing (identifying current and past cases)
2 - Isolation of sick individuals
3 - Tracking and quarantining of exposed individuals
4 - Collective voluntary agreement or policies to order any of the above individual measures
So now we are back to the punchline...how you proceed revolves around a respect for public health recommendations and orders and your individual health status and tolerance for risk.
1 - Government orders are usually a minimal safe standard based on population status. Your decision may be more extreme. (Could be less also, but that would have ramifications of course.)
2 - Government health recommendations may be a higher safety standard. Your decision may be more or less extreme based on your Whole Health considerations - emotional, physical, spiritual, financial, relational, community concern, environment.
3 - Your individual health status and tolerance for risk. This requires that careful conversation about the status of your Whole Health and what your best efforts can be.
Does your physical health put you at higher risk for complications (based on age over 65), obesity, diabetes, lung, heart, kidney or liver disease immunocompromised status)?
Is your emotional health struggling despite your best attempts to adapt?
Financial health - What is the status of your basic resources - shelter, food, finances - and how is that affecting other areas?
Relational health - How much is your current level of connection with friends or family affecting your overall health? What is your level of concern for vulnerable populations in your community?
Is your current environment safe?
These are just some of the questions that might guide your decisions. The most important thing is to judge the situation from a place of calm wisdom - not fear, anger or rebellion. Seek wise counsel on what is best for you if you are struggling.
Be your best self - whatever that is.
Every single one of us has the same basic human concerns. Your Whole Health priorities are not necessarily the same as others, but everyone has these concerns. We truly are in this together, even though everyone’s individual situation is different.
Yes, there are basic governmental regulations that must be followed. Yes, our efforts affect those around us. But there is much freedom in what is best for you. You will see a lot of variation in how individuals, families, businesses and communities conduct themselves and that is okay!
You may not feel comfortable going back to work and choose to take a leave based on your risk status.
You may choose to add your siblings family into your “pod” of exposure, but continue as is otherwise.
You may return to work and commit to take extra protection and self-monitoring precautions when you are there and when you come home.
You may see your family doctor via telehealth, but see your counselor in person.
You may choose to continue to meet with your church group virtually, but meet a friend for coffee on the patio.
You may go into the grocery for the first time in six weeks with a mask. You may continue curbside pick up.
Whatever you choose today might change in two weeks or tomorrow and that is okay. The situation is evolving. Your best effort is evolving. Your resilience is evolving. Your confidence is evolving. Your wisdom is evolving. Your creativity is evolving.
Be your best self - whatever that is.
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