It’s been more than a year since the beginning of the pandemic, and we are learning that there are many ways that COVID-19 can cause chronic health issues. Most COVID-19 cases recover within a few weeks, however, in certain individuals, symptoms have persisted for weeks and months. In these COVID long-hauler cases (some estimates place at 10%), damage may occur to the lungs, heart, and brain leading to an increased risk of long-term health problems. While the exact number of US long-haul cases is unknown, continued symptoms are more likely to occur in older individuals and those with serious ..read more

Updated: January 5, 2021 The large-scale traumatic event of the COVID-19 Pandemic has amplified anxiety and depression globally. A recent study found that depression is three times higher during COVID-19 than before the pandemic. Physical, emotional, and psychological burnout from the disruption of our normal lives otherwise known as COVID fatigue is playing a role. Social isolation combined with a lack of activities that bring joy is extremely difficult to process emotionally. Uncertainty, hopelessness, frustration, anger, worry, and fear are just some of the emotions that may be present d ..read more

UNDERSTANDING ARTHRITIS Arthritis has become a modern epidemic affecting 1 out of every 4 people in the U.S.* Arthritis strictly speaking means inflammation of the joints. Symptoms often include pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility.  Left untreated it can lead to permanent joint damage. We hope to help you understand the difference between two of the more common forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) and rheumatoid arthritis. OSTEOARTHRITIS Simply stated, osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease is the “wear and tear” arthritis that increases as we get ol ..read more

Most of us recall in the early days of the pandemic that we experienced long lines waiting to get tested for Covid. Then we waited several days to get the results. Now there are commercially available antigen tests that you can do at home to see if you might have an active Covid infection. Let’s take a look at the various tests available to check for active Covid infection, prior infection, and response to the vaccine. It can get a little confusing, let us try to explain the differences. Testing for Acute Covid Infection There are two types of diagnostic tests, Antigen Covid Test and PCR Cov ..read more

At the Care Group, it is our mission to guide you on your health journey. In functional medicine, we tend to do more testing than our traditional colleagues. Labs add valuable information, which allows us to pinpoint specific problem areas and guide treatment recommendations. We have created customized testing panels for our patients. One extensive profile is called the Wellness Overview Panel, which provides valuable information about your health including nutrient status, inflammation, blood sugar balance, heart health, liver and kidney function, thyroid status, celiac genes, and ..read more

As we begin to obtain some sense of normality, I would like to take some time to reflect on the past 16 months. First, I would like to thank the awesome staff at The Care Group. Yes, I would like to brag about them. They have worked hard since the pandemic began, often while we were understaffed, to serve our patients while parenting, homeschooling, and dealing with their own personal issues. I have tremendous respect for each of them. Second, I would like to thank our patients, who have given us an outpouring of support. I often begin a telemedicine visit by being asked “How are you gu ..read more

If you have taken antibiotics in the Fluoroquinolone class belonging to Cipro and Levaquin, you should read this article. If you haven’t heard of long-term fluoroquinolone-associated disability, then pay attention. Fluoroquinolones are a frequently prescribed class of broad-spectrum antibiotics that are FDA-approved to treat or prevent certain bacterial infections including respiratory and urinary tract infections. Fluoroquinolones can cause significant and sometimes permanent problems involving 2 or more organ systems that can occur together. I have several patients who are perman ..read more

At The Care Group, patients come to us with a wide range of issues-many of them have lost hope. We utilize a functional medicine approach to search for the root cause of the problem, use natural treatments whenever possible, and look at how all the organ systems interrelate. We focus on four areas to try and help our patients reach optimal wellness. These areas include nutrition, sleep, stress management, and movement. The process often begins with optimizing digestive function, in an attempt to “seal and heal the gut” and try to establish a more balanced gut microbiome. In this blog post, w ..read more

Did you know the FDA regulates dietary supplements (often referred to as nutraceuticals) as food and not in the same way they regulate pharmaceuticals?  Why is that an important point to make?  Because you must rely on the supplement manufacturer to impose their own quality standards.  Choosing high quality, professional pharmaceutical grade supplements is a good way to ensure that you’re not wasting your money. There is no substitute for a balanced, healthy diet to provide the foundation for your nutritional requirements.  Understanding your individual needs should be gu ..read more

How to Prepare for a Successful Telehealth Visit After 10 weeks of Telehealth appointments, I want to share my observations and offer suggestions to make future appointments go more smoothly. Thank you to everyone for your patience during this transition. Switching from in-person appointments to Telehealth is an adjustment for all of us. We appreciate any feedback as we continue to refine our process with this new technology. Please let me offer some advice on the process for Telehealth appointments so that you can get the most out of your time with your provider. Our goal is to treat these ap ..read more