From the time we’re little kids, any mention of bowel habits can trigger giggling embarrassment. We’re not sure why that is, because the intestine is simply another organ in the body. Nevertheless, our concierge primary care doctors in Jupiter know that talking about bowel disorders can be uncomfortable for our patients.
If you think your allergies have been getting worse over the last few years, you’re not imagining it.
There are so many reasons we love our pets: companionship, loyalty, entertainment, and unconditional love. It’s estimated that at least 68 percent of American homes have at least one pet.
As we’ve just passed the second-year anniversary of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, our concierge primary care doctors in Jupiter think we should take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come in dealing with this often-deadly disease.
It may not seem like it, because we still have to wear masks many places and haven’t fully returned to pre-pandemic life, but we have made progress.
For instance, we know more about how it spreads (through the air, especially in enclosed spaces), and how to protect ourselves (safe, effective vaccines and high-quality masks). And even though we’re still in the grip of of this still-relatively new coronavirus, and we’ve also found effective ways to treat it (monoclonal antibodies and anti-viral drugs).
And, believe it or not, the omicron variant of the virus may have turned out to be relatively good news, even though over 2,000 Americans a day are still dying from it.
But because it appears less lethal than its predecessors, omicron may make the pandemic more manageable.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the results of a study late last month showing that the omicron variant—which is now the dominant variant both here in the U.S. and around the world—causes less severe illness, fewer hospitalizations, and requires less time in isolation following exposure.
This is partly due to the large numbers of people who have been vaccinated and/or infected with COVID-19, as well as to the fact that the virus appears to concentrate its effects in the upper airways instead of settling deep in the lungs.
The downside is that omicron is far more transmissible than earlier variants or the original virus. This is why so many people are catching it, and why—due to the sheer numbers of infections— hospitals are still being overwhelmed and an average of 2,200 people a day are still dying from the coronavirus.
But an NBC News analysis of COVID-19 case numbers at the end of January showed that Florida is one of the many states where omicron is no longer surging.
And chief White House medical advisor Anthony Fauci said in an interview with ABC’s “This Week” that he expects the wave to subside in “most” states by the end of February.”
“As we get into February . . . it is very likely that most of the states in the country will have turned around with their peak and are starting to come down with regard to cases and then obviously hospitalizations,” he said.
While cautioning that “our work is not done,” Hans Kluge, regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Europe, released a statement two weeks ago that offered a glimmer of hope to a pandemic-weary world.
“The pandemic is far from over, but I am hopeful we can end the emergency phase in 2022 and address other health threats that urgently require our attention,” he said in a statement.
“This pandemic, like all other pandemics before it, will end, but it is far too early to relax,” he added.
One recent setback in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 was the finding from the CDC, confirmed by the drugs’ manufacturers, that two of the most common monoclonal antibodies used to keep at-risk individuals out of the hospital do not work against the omicron variant.
But again, there’s good news on that front, as well, because one monoclonal antibody—sotrovimab—is effective, and is still available at most hospitals even though Florida’s outpatient centers have closed.
Those who have mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 (fatigue, cough, loss of smell or taste, fever) or have underlying risk factors (those over 65, diabetes, obesity, kidney, heart, or lung disease or those who are immunocompromised) can check with area hospitals to see whether they’re offering this treatment.
In addition, other effective weapons in the arsenal against COVID-19 include the intravenous antiviral treatment remdesivir and the newly authorized oral antiviral drugs, Paxlovid or molnupiravir.
Two years in, we still don’t have all the answers, and until more people in this country and around the world are fully vaccinated, SARS-CoV-2 will not be fully manageable.
Each person who remains unvaccinated not only puts themselves at risk, but others around them, as well. And each infection offers the virus another chance to mutate.
Speaking of mutations, you may have heard of another new mutation of the omicron virus that some are calling “son of omicron” or “stealth omicron” because it’s so difficult to detect in PCR tests.
The new variant, designated BA.2 (omicron is BA.1), was first reported in California in November. It has since been seen in isolated cases in Texas as well as other countries. However, while remaining cautious, at this point most virologists don’t think it’s more dangerous or more transmissible than omicron BA.1. We’ll let you know if we learn otherwise.
Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder. But our primary care doctors at MD 2.0 in Jupiter find our patients often don’t let us know when they’re having trouble sleeping. They either decide it’s not a big deal or they think the only remedy we can offer is sleeping pills.
While you might need to use medication in the short term, advances are made every day in the treatment of this potentially harmful condition.
It’s easy to make healthy resolutions for the New Year. We’re almost compelled to, because the flip of the calendar offers the promise of wiping the slate clean and starting a whole new life for ourselves.
But often, our best intentions fall by the wayside by the end of January. So our concierge primary care doctors in Jupiter would like to suggest a few healthy resolutions you can make that will be easy to stick to but can still make a significant difference in your health in the coming year.
Due in part to the pandemic, sales of plant-based foods have soared recently. One survey reported 77 percent of U.S. shoppers bought at least one type of plant-based food in the last six months. Of those, 30 percent said this was a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some respondents said they wanted to make a conscious effort to eat healthier to improve their immune systems. Others said it was because they had more time at home to experiment with new food choices.
Our primary care doctors at MD 2.0 in Jupiter certainly applaud this trend. At the same time, we noticed one of the main drivers of plant-based food sales is the meatless burger. You can now find it on grocery store shelves and many restaurants.
So are plant-based burgers healthier than their meat-based inspiration? The answer seems to be, not necessarily.
Study after study has shown that the best way to stay healthy is to eat a plant-based diet. That doesn’t necessarily mean strictly vegetarian. Consider a meal plan focused on natural foods, especially plants, and minimal meat, processed foods, and dairy products.
One fruit that our concierge primary care doctors would like to suggest you incorporate into your diet is the avocado. (And yes it is technically a fruit, even though people often think of it as a vegetable.) That’s because there’s a wealth of health-giving nutrients packed into one avocado. From heart health to improved digestion to better eyesight, avocados have long had a reputation as a powerhouse superfood.
One thing our primary care doctors in Jupiter were not sad to lose during the pandemic was the ancient tradition of handshaking. It’s not because we’re anti-social. Quite the opposite, in fact. We love meeting new people, as well as seeing people we haven’t seen in awhile.
When people avoided each other, wore masks, and bumped elbows instead of shaking hands when they did meet, the incidence of other communicable diseases plunged. Science says the reduction in handshaking played a big role in that.
Our primary care concierge doctors in Jupiter have told you many times about the dangers inflammation poses to your health. Often, the best way to reverse these dangers is by participating in an anti-inflammatory diet.
Inflammation is necessary to keeping the body healthy. But when your body is repeatedly assaulted by various harmful stimuli such as pathogens, injuries, or poor lifestyle habits, the inflammation never ends and can eventually cause long-term damage.
