The United States Prevention Task Force (USPTF) recently revised their recommendations for aspirin use to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The USPSTF concluded “with moderate certainty that aspirin use for the primary prevention of CVD events in adults ages 40 to 59 years who have a 10% or greater 10-year CVD risk has a small net benefit.” They noted that the decision to take aspirin should be an “individual one.” They also noted that individuals who are not at risk of bleeding and those willing to take aspirin daily will benefit the most by taking it.  In contrast, for people ..read more

If you would have asked me a few months ago, I would have probably guessed that EMDR was a new Briggs Meyer personality type or perhaps a type of kinky fetish I had never heard of. I would have been way off. It wasn’t until a conversation I had with a close friend, who just happens to be an EMDR therapist, that I started to learn about it. So, what exactly is EDMR? It stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. In some ways it’s similar to hypnotherapy – both attempt to distract the conscious mind to elicit subconscious and suppressed memories and/or feelings. EMDR then provides ..read more

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Don’t ever go to bed angry.” Well, there could be more to this than you think. A group of researchers at Oregon State University found that when people resolve arguments or disagreements by the day’s end, the positive emotional response they associate with that disagreement is significantly reduced or completed erased.  This reduction or resolution of feelings may actually have a “major impact on overall health.” The thought process, according to senior researched Robert Stawski, is that “resolving your arguments is quite important for maintaining well-b ..read more

You may have already heard about an injectable HIV treatment called Cabenuva, which was first approved by the FDA back in January 2021 for once monthly injections. While this was exciting news in the field of HIV treatments, some were skeptical that the once monthly injections were simply impractical for most, as it would require the patient going to their doctor or a treatment center once a month. This may sound easy but for some it can create an obstacle. That is why it was welcomed news when the FDA recently approved Cabenuva for injections once every two months.  Cabenuva contains two ..read more

We are approaching two full years of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are like me, you probably thought this would have been over a long time ago. Last summer, things were starting to look better – until they weren’t. The spike in August 2021 was definitely an unwelcome end to the summer. And here we are, yet again, at the end of January 2022, dealing with the biggest spike of the entire pandemic. Omicron has swept across the country like a raging wildfire, affecting many in her path (even the vaccinated). Granted, those who have been vaccinated and boosted have greater protection from the virus ..read more

Who needs a little boost?  Most likely, the answer is you (if you haven’t already). Should you get boosted or not? That is the question everyone seems to be asking. The CDC recently updated their guidelines for COVID-19 boosters to include everyone age 18 and older. Previously, they were only recommending boosters for those who were immunocompromised or those who work or live in a high-risk setting. For those who received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, the CDC recommends getting a booster “at least 6 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series.” For those who receiv ..read more

Much to the chagrin of health and government officials, many Americans are still not vaccinated for COVID. Reasons vary from fears about how quickly the vaccine was created to concerns about side effects from the vaccine to more sinister conspiracy theories that I dare not broach. We can say based on an abundance of data that those who are vaccinated have less chance of hospitalization and death from COVID. In fact, some studies estimate that unvaccinated individuals are up to 17 times more likely to become hospitalized than those who have received the vaccine. U.S. officials have grappled wit ..read more

Delta airlines recently announced that air travel is back up to pre-pandemic levels. As travel continues to heat up over the summer, it’s important that you remember to stay healthy (and sane) while traveling. This is by no means an extensive list but I wanted to share some of the items that are almost always on my “pack list” while traveling. Compression Socks I know what you’re thinking. You don’t have to be 80 years old or have specific health issues to wear compression socks. I honestly like to use them more as of a preventive measure than anything. I admit I like to take my shoes off du ..read more