Author: Roseman Medical Group

The things we eat and drink make a big difference in our day-to-day lives. When life gets busy, it’s easy to fall into the habit of grabbing fast food, popping something salty into the microwave, or making a meal out of whatever’s in the vending machine. These less-than-healthy choices can quickly become habits. As a result, nutrition can take a nosedive.

Good nutrition is an important part of overall health. Eating a balanced diet full of nutrient-rich foods like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains helps keep the whole body working at its best. Nutrition affects the body’s processes and abilities by:

• Sustainably keeping energy levels high
• Strengthening the immune system to fight disease
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Keeping the heart and brain healthy

Like many things in life, nutrition builds on itself. If you feel like your choices could use a tune-up, try these simple changes:

Swap out soda for sparkling water. 

Soda, whether diet or not, is full of sugar and other chemicals that don’t do anything beneficial for you. For a hit of fizz and flavor without all the sludge, hit up the sparkling water aisle of your grocery store. The options are plentiful, and something different seems to always be hitting the shelves. With flavors from plain to dragonfruit, you’re sure to find a favorite.

Go for whole grain.

When you’re buying bread, choose whole grain instead of white. This quick habit change will boost your regular intake of protein, fiber and important nutrients like B vitamins and iron. The ingredient list must say whole wheat flour or whole grains, not refined flour or similar. Brands can make bogus claims on packaging, but the ingredient list contains the full truth.

Make some lower carb substitutions.

Too many empty carbohydrates can slow your body down. To lower your carb intake, look for plant-based wraps, corn tortillas, or large leafy grains as vessels for your sandwich or taco ingredients. And if you’re a pasta fan, try some zoodles (zucchini noodles)!

Build from a solid foundation.

A healthy meal doesn’t have to be complicated! Lots of highly nutritious foods are simple to prepare and customize. Eggs, fish like tilapia and salmon, stuffed peppers, canned salmon or tuna, and quinoa are all quick good-for-you solutions you can customize with vegetables, proteins, and spices.

Take a break from meat.

Getting your daily serving of fruits and vegetables is a lot more manageable when meat literally isn’t on the table. Is there one night a week you can go meatless? Chickpeas, lentils, eggplant, black beans, jackfruit, and tofu are all tasty options to explore. Who knows – you might find a new favorite!

Supplement when necessary.

Sometimes, you may be missing crucial vitamins and minerals. Talk with your doctor about how to safely supplement any deficiencies. If you’re concerned about your overall health and aren’t connected with a healthcare professional, the providers at Roseman Medical Group are experts in compassionate and patient-centered care.

When I was asked if I had anything to contribute to an article on Caring for Caregivers, my eyes welled up with tears in just hearing those words. 

As a newly minted caregiver, I was raw with sadness, exhaustion, and being overwhelmed with the last four months of my life. But I marched ahead with every task, trying to greet each with an equal level of enthusiasm, focus and determination. This simple question triggered an emotional response I had been burying. It was if my friend had looked deep into my soul and said, “No, how are you REALLY doing?” I had not shed a tear up until that point.

As their worlds shrink, their freedoms wane and their priorities reshuffle, caregivers don’t often recognize when they themselves need help. This balance shift is in concert with their parents’ needs growing to outsize proportions to their own needs or wants.

While I have only a few months of experience in my new role, there are already some important lessons learned:

1. People say say they want to help, but they don’t know how. Don’t be shy – ask for what you need – they REALLY do want to help and will appreciate being given a specific task or role.
2. Many people are uncomfortable – aging, death, conflict, these are topics most people avoid. Try not to feel slighted if you feel friends or family shying away.
3. Enlist helpers that have unique areas of specialty—a friend that can cook, a colleague that knows their way around Medicare, a housekeeper who can help out more in your home, a friend willing to pick up kids for you. Create a support network around you. You can’t learn the intricacies of Medicare and home health coverage overnight. (Roseman’s Medicare Call Lab has helped thousands understand and access their benefits. The Center for Medicare Advocacy is also a wonderful organization that helps people navigate the complexities of Medicare.)
4. Get back to your own basics. Take a step back and be sure you are hydrating, sleeping 6-8 hours a night, eating nutritious foods, and taking your vitamins. Keep up on your own doctor’s appointments.
5. Find a great geriatrician. Geriatricians are wonderful advocates for their elderly patients, and they do incredible work in coordinating various opinions of the many specialists you’ll likely be seeing. One geriatrician once said to me, “Some physicians are trained to focus on one organ or disease. We have to advocate for the patient and what is reasonable, tolerable and best for their overall quality of life.” Geriatricians (and pharmacists) will also be best suited to look at the complete picture as it relates to prescribed medications. Make a list of the medications your loved one is taking and observe how their mood, energy, vitals, and appetite shift throughout the day. You might be seeing something others don’t see. Keep a log of these observations and metrics.
6. Center yourself in focusing on something to which you are looking forward or something that brings you joy. Pick something positive and worship at its altar daily. Are you dreaming of recovering an old sofa, putting in an herb garden, or planning a trip? Let that bit of light into every day and allow it to anchor you.
7. Resist removing yourself from comforts. Sometimes in hard times, we subconsciously deprive ourselves of things that make us feel good. Is it guilt? Is it resentment towards others living happier moments in their life? Hug your children, celebrate your friends, listen to someone else’s story, go out to dinner and turn off your phone, take a long walk. You’ll be the better prepared for tomorrow.
8. If you are lucky enough to share the load with other family members, do. You may have a family member who is especially skilled at managing the mountains of paperwork you’ll encounter, while you are better suited to handling the doctor’s appointments and healthcare issues. Again, try to create a team where everyone’s skills are utilized.
9. Check on the caregivers who help the caregivers. Ask the caregivers that are helping you and your loved one how they are doing. Adult children are somewhat handicapped in taking care of their parents as they are so emotionally involved. Nurses and Home Health Aides are not, they have no existing family dynamic to deal with and this is their life’s work. Let them do their jobs, support them, and relish the time with your loved one spent not talking about 02 levels and blood pressure readings.

To all the caregivers out there, you aren’t alone. If only we could come together and share our lessons learned, we would be in a much better place. The National Alliance for Caregiving has lots of helpful tips and resources. I wish you all the best for beautiful moments with your parents, and for strength in your journey ahead.

Manas Mandal, PhD
Fulbright Scholar & Professor

I could not believe my ears as Longhorn (name altered to keep confidentiality) asked me one late summer afternoon in 2021, “Do COVID-19 vaccines contain the Luciferase gene? Do they carry a microchip?” I was surprised at first, then slowly asked, “Longhorn, how do you know about the Luciferase gene?” Because not many of us would know of this gene except researchers in the biotechnology field. Then came the reference of God, Luciferase the evil, and the notion that a genetic component of the Luciferase gene had been inserted in the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, taking the vaccine recipient away from God and towards evil! “Where did you learn about this?” The answer?  “Social media.”

Welcome to 21^st century America and a global pandemic! Along with a tsunami of illness, death and destruction of families, shattered mental health, destroyed relationships and friendships, and long-term COVID, we also perhaps lost our ability to sift through the vast amount of misinformation out there to find credible, accurate information. Yet, collectively we’ve learned, or rather mis-learned, many wrong words, terminologies, theories and notions which inadvertently  hurt the most vulnerable amongst us who are powerless and defenseless.

But there is hope. It’s not over yet. We can still learn the right things. We can still show care for another individual by getting vaccinated and boosted.  Scientists, clinicians, nurses, frontline heath care workers, teachers, students, people in the grocery checkout, and people from every facet our society sacrificed, worked hard and long hours without much support for over the last two years to develop the vaccines, treatments, caring for the patients, teaching and learning remotely, and filling our grocery bags so that we can have dinner.

Let’s talk about COVID-19 vaccines, how they were developed, how they work, why one needs a booster dose, vaccine-related adverse effects and long-term immune protection from vaccination.

Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective and successful interventions against infections that keep us safe and healthy. Our body naturally fights off infections through activation of immune systems and “remember” how they fought off the original infection and remain ready for protection against future infection. In summary, an ideal vaccine mimics the course of natural infection without infecting the individual. But it is a daunting task to develop a vaccine that will be protective, particularly against a new respiratory virus which is largely not understood well. Moreover, from the beginning to end, it takes about 10-15 years of extensive research and clinical trial prior to release of a vaccine in the market. But that was not the case for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Several COVID-19 vaccines have been approved by the FDA/CDC since late 2020, and mass immunization in US and worldwide started in early 2021. So far, over 211 million (64%) US citizens have been fully vaccinated in the US and over 87 million received a booster dose (26.5%). Worldwide, over 4 billion (52.2%) are vaccinated, and 12.4% received a booster dose of vaccine against COVID-19.

But what are these COVID-19 vaccines?

Many of these vaccines use genetic material from the severe acute respiratory syndrome-2 (SARS-2) virus that causes COVID-19. These genetic materials can be mRNA, found in Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, or DNA as found in Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine. Other companies developed vaccines based on whole killed or inactivated virus, such as Bharat Biotech, CanSino Biologics, Sinopharm and Gamaleya. A traditional protein-based vaccine has also been developed by Novavax, which is approved in India and was released in Australia very recently.

These vaccine formulations use different pharmaceutical ingredients. Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines are formulated with 4 different types of lipids or fats, and the J&J vaccine is packaged using human adenoviral vector. The process of vaccine formulation and manufacture is extremely complex and requires extensive scientific expertise. For example, both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines contain over 200 different components which are not easily available or manufactured.

Although COVID-19 vaccines were developed on a “fast-track” basis, these vaccines are remarkably safe and effective in preventing moderate through severe COVID-19, and hospitalization due to infection. Along with immune response and protective efficacy, vaccine clinical trials monitored patient safety, which is always an overriding concern for any vaccine development protocol, including COVID-19. These aspects were studied, analyzed, vetted and deliberated by the best scientists and clinicians in the world, individuals who possess life-long experience and expertise in vaccine research, prior to any approval and release of COVID-19 vaccines to public. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are remarkably safe and effective in all recipients, including pregnant and lactating women. At this time, both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have received full authorization from the FDA. On February 1, 2022, Pfizer submitted emergency use authorization application for COVID-19 mRNA vaccine for children six months through four years old to the FDA. It is widely expected that this initial two- dose vaccine would receive authorization after thorough expert review by early March, as “having a safe and effective vaccine available for children in this age group is a priority,” as per Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting FDA commissioner.

Vaccination stimulates our immune system (immune response) and builds immune memory without causing the infection. Vaccinated individuals develop infection neutralizing antibodies via B cell activation and generate T cell response to prevent COVID-19 infection and illness. When a significant majority of the population is vaccinated to develop “herd immunity,” the potential for COVID-19 to spread in the community is dramatically reduced. Collectively, we all remain safe and healthy, which is critically important particularly for elderly people, immunocompromised individuals, and children who are not yet eligible to receive vaccination.

In clinical trial, both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines offered around 95% protection against severe infection and hospitalization after 2 shots. Real world data also suggest that vaccination protected against Alpha, Beta and Delta variant-specific symptomatic disease at 74-88% efficacy and against severe infection, hospitalization, and death at around 95% efficacy. Yet, it has been observed that vaccine protection waned particularly against Delta variant six months after original vaccination. Both the Delta and Omicron variants carried a large number of mutations in the “Spike” protein of SARS-CoV-2, making them “stickier,” with higher infectivity and viral load in patients. Delta variant infection was particularly more deadly in unvaccinated patients. Now with the emergence of Omicron as the dominant variant strain in US and world-wide (over 99% new infections), clinical evidence is mounting in favor of decreased protection from both vaccine- and infection-induced immunity.  It has been observed that Moderna vaccine protection is reduced to 57% against hospitalization six months after vaccination, but can be boosted to 90% with a booster dose. To mitigate against the serious Omicron infection situation and to improve vaccine protection, an additional vaccination as a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine has been recommended by the CDC to all age groups six months past primary immunization. At this point, a booster dose remains our best strategy for providing most robust protection against initial infection, severe illness, hospitalization, long-term COVID sequelae, and death.

Overall, vaccination protected us against original COVID-19 infection, reinfection and related hospitalization. And with the emergence of variants of concern like Alpha, Delta and currently Omicron, scientific evidence suggests decreased protection from both vaccine- and infection-induced immunity. Still our best protection against the Omicron variant can be achieved with widespread administration of a booster dose which will also curb the transmission and flatten the infection curve. According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to the President of the United Sates, with “sufficient control” of the infection we can have “a level of control that does not disrupt us in society, does not dominate our lives, not prevent us to do the things that we generally do under normal existence.”

While the race towards the vaccine continues to the finish line, “vaccine hesitancy” in certain United States populations remains as a barrier defeating the pandemic. Along with a booster, new antiviral drugs, proper mask wearing, and physical distancing where appropriate can make COVID-19 an “acceptable respiratory virus infection.” But building public trust and confidence in COVID-19 vaccine is necessary to win over the pandemic.

Nutraceutical products can be considered non-therapeutic dietary supplements used to promote general well-being.

The term “nutraceutical” combines the two words of “nutrient,” which is a nourishing food component, and “pharmaceutical,” which is a medical drug. The name was coined in 1989 by Stephen DeFelice, founder and chairman of the Foundation for Innovation in Medicine, an American organization located in Cranford, New Jersey.

Hippocrates, known as the Father of Medicine, said, “Let food be our medicine” – or, as it is in one area of nutraceuticals, let natural substances like essential oils assist in maintaining health.  While essential oils are not food, they can be applied topically, ingested orally, or inhaled through a diffuser, a nebulizer, or by simply being breathed in.  

The global Nutraceutical market has exploded, expected to reach $441.7 B market cap by 2026. In 2021, the US reached $104.5B market cap while accounting for a 34.57% share in the global market. Increasingly, Americans are turning to what they consider to be “natural” products, with nearly every consumer category offering “natural” alternatives. COVID-19 has helped drive this in part, with consumers looking for natural alternatives, vitamins and supplements to increase immune health and wellness.

Meet Tim Le, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences in Roseman University’s College of Pharmacy. Dr. Le’s life work as a researcher has been in the diagnoses and treatment of cancers. How does a cancer researcher end up interested in the rosemary bushes that line the hedges outside of his office window? Dr. Le became increasingly interested in the potential of essential oils to improve health when dōTERRA, a leading manufacturer of essential oils, founded in 2008 and headquartered in Pleasant Grove UT, tapped Roseman University to evaluate the biochemical efficacy of its oils. dōTERRA’s ethos is centered on bringing an exceptional standard of quality oils to market. From its sourcing, manufacturing, bottling, packaging and quality control practices, dōTERRA set out to provide only the highest quality and purest essential oils. Roseman’s patented technology analyzes the oils in what Dr. Le calls a “physiological lie detector test” to ensure their quality. 

At the same time, Dr. Le was working on his own projects and discovering new innovations in testing and evaluating compounds that fight or prevent metabolic disease and cancer.  Together, Dr. Le’s team and the dōTERRA team are looking at new ways to unlock the potential therapeutic benefits of these oils.  

Dr. Le’s lab is an olfactory treat for any visitor, as he joyfully shares some of his favorite essences of rosemary, orange, lavender, and cinnamon. He reminds us however that while Mother Nature has created these oils, they are not to be underestimated. Powerful, pure, and even potentially dangerous if not handled correctly, essential oils benefit in ways we are just beginning to understand.  Dr. Le’s research will hopefully lead to new discoveries in the detection and prevention of disease. Roseman Medical Group patients, a part of Roseman’s College of Medicine, benefit from being part of an academic health practice associated with a university conducting this kind of groundbreaking research.

About Dr. Tim Le

Dr. Le specializes in novel molecular imaging and proteomics technologies for clinical diagnosis of breast cancer and fatty liver disease. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley and his Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Chicago. He also completed a post-doctoral fellowship with a Ruth L. Kirschtein National Research Service Award at Purdue University. He serves as an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Roseman University of Health Sciences. Dr. Le has co-authored publications on fatty liver disease, breast cancer, and essential oils. He was awarded with multiple dōTERRA research grants to study the biological activities of essential oils. He is a member of the Society for Molecular Imaging and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Prior to joining Roseman University, he served as a faculty member at the Nevada Cancer Institute and the Desert Research Institute.

About dōTERRA

dōTERRA International is an integrative health and wellness company and the world leader in the Global Aromatherapy and Essential Oils market. dōTERRA sources, tests, manufactures, and distributes CPTG Certified Pure Tested Grade® essential oils and essential oil products to over nine million dōTERRA Wellness Advocates and customers. Through industry leading responsible sourcing practices, dōTERRA maintains the highest levels of quality, purity and sustainability in partnership with local growers around the world through Cō-Impact Sourcing®. The dōTERRA Healing Hands Foundation®, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, offers resources and tools to global sourcing communities and charitable organizations for self-reliance, healthcare, education, sanitation, and the fight against human trafficking. Through the life-enhancing benefits of essential oils, dōTERRA is changing the world one drop, one person, one community at a time. 

Heart disease is the top cause of death among Americans. It’s a serious concern, and the likelihood of cardiovascular events increases and intensifies with age. Taking the right preventative measures is essential.

In 2019, 29 million people over 40 took a daily low dose of aspirin (under 100 milligrams) to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Aspirin, an anticoagulant, keeps blood clots from forming. Heart attacks and strokes are both caused by blood clots – strokes by a clot blocking blood flow to the brain and heart attacks by a clot blocking blood flow to the heart. A daily dosage of aspirin can lower the risk of both events in someone with coronary heart disease or peripheral artery disease, or for people who have already had a stroke or heart attack.

Doctors have traditionally recommended aspirin as a reliable blood thinner. Some people take it daily even if it’s never been medically advised. However, the health risks posed by a regular dosage could outweigh the benefits.

Because aspirin thins the blood, it can cause bleeding in the brain, stomach, or digestive tract. People with bleeding or clotting disorders that cause easy bleeding shouldn’t independently begin taking a daily dose of aspirin. It also can interact negatively with blood-thinning prescription medications and even some herbal supplements like evening primrose, garlic, gingko biloba, danshen, and saw palmetto.

Drinking alcohol while taking aspirin can also increase the risk for stomach bleeding. If someone is a heavy drinker or struggling in their relationship with alcohol, a daily dose of aspirin may not be the right choice.

Only a doctor or healthcare provider can evaluate a patient’s health situation and make the correct recommendation about aspirin as a preventative measure. It’s important to talk to  your provider about any medication before beginning a regimen, even if it’s easily available over the counter. 

The providers at Roseman Medical Group can help patients make the best decisions for their health. Make an appointment at (702) 463-4040.

Hormones continue to affect the body long after puberty ends. As women enter perimenopause, which can begin around age 40, and go through menopause itself, fluctuating levels of progesterone and estrogen can cause physical symptoms. One of the most notable symptoms is hot flashes, which are rapidly occurring waves of heat within the body that occur and subside relatively quickly. They’re often accompanied by flushing, sweating, or a racing heart, and can be followed by chills.

Hot flashes are common. They affect up to seventy-five percent of women whose bodies are anywhere in the process of menopause. Doctors don’t know exactly what causes them. The good news? Hot flashes will decrease in intensity and frequency after menopause and until then, managing them is possible.

Hot flash coping tips

• Track each hot flash. What events led up to each one? Notice if certain things, like spicy food or wearing a particular fabric, seemed to make it worse.
• Keep cool air circulating. This is especially important in the bedroom if nighttime hot flashes have become a problem.
• Stop smoking. It’s a scientific fact: women who smoke are 1.5 times more likely than non-smokers to have hot flashes.
• Cut down on coffee and other caffeinated beverages. Caffeine can trigger hot flashes because it raises the heart rate and quickens blood flow throughout the body.
• Dress in easily removable layers. While this doesn’t remedy the physical symptoms, it makes coping easier and more comfortable.
• Reduce alcohol consumption. That flush from a glass of red wine can quickly turn into a hot flash.
• Avoid the heat. Hot baths, hot drinks, and hot weather may bring on hot flashes. By tracking what leads up to individual hot flashes, you can figure out which activities might need to be temporarily shelved or enjoyed in moderation.
• Amp up your water intake, since hot flashes cause sweating and excessive sweating can be dehydrating.

Your healthcare provider can provide the best strategies for managing hot flashes, potentially including hormone replacement therapy. The providers at Roseman Medical Group are experts in patient-centered care for all stages of life. Call (702) 463-4040 to make an appointment.

When “All I Want for Christmas is You” suddenly takes over the airwaves after Halloween and every store is dripping with seasonal finery and sale signs before Thanksgiving, it’s impossible to overlook the impending holidays. That festive spirit oozes out of every aisle, speaker, and internet corner. But what if you aren’t feeling too merry and bright?

The winter holidays are laden with pressure to be joyful. Sometimes, though, that joy isn’t there. These feelings – or lack thereof – have a variety of causes. Some people might be overwhelmed with too many social obligations and expectations. Others may feel lonely, whether due to the loss of a loved ones or because they’re spending the holiday on their own or with fewer people than usual. Financial worries, health problems, and interpersonal rifts all influence how everyone experiences this heavily hyped “most wonderful time of the year.”

Here are some tips for taking care of your emotional health as the holiday season ramps up:

Make sure you’re getting the right nutrients.

Nutrition affects emotional stamina. Essential vitamins and minerals for the body’s ability to manage stress include:

• Magnesium
• Vitamin B
• Vitamin D

Your doctor can provide specific guidance about what nutrients you may be lacking and ways to supplement.

Let the sunshine in.

As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, the body reacts. Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a condition that affects many people during the winter. Symptoms include low energy, feeling depressed or hopeless, a loss of interest in activities, anxiety, irritability, and a lowered ability to concentrate.

If you or someone you know is experiencing severe symptoms of SAD, like frequent thoughts of death or suicide, contact a medical professional immediately.

To minimize mild or moderate feelings of the winter blues, try:

• Taking a walk during daylight hours.
• Opening all the curtains in your house for maximum light.
• Intentionally spending time with loved ones, whether in-person or virtually.
• Going to bed and waking up at relatively the same time each day.
• Taking time away from screens, especially scrolling through social media.
• Talking with your healthcare provider to get help feeling better.

Know your limits.

Nobody can do everything all the time. Think about boundaries you’d like to set before a situation escalates, like:

• Putting together an advance plan for handling tricky food situations.
• Saying no to ideas that feel personally unrealistic or overwhelming, whether it’s coordinating a gift exchange at work or hosting a big meal.
• Establishing an ironclad time to leave an event before you walk in.
• Enlisting a trusted family member to run offense about things you don’t want to talk about (“Aunt Phyllis, Cousin Loren is probably really tired of talking about her job hunt, but can we discuss this great sangria she made?”).

Get out of your own head – and shopping list.

Seasonal to-do lists can become overwhelming, even a little disenchanting. It’s okay to take a step back and re-prioritize. Giving back through volunteerism might be far more rewarding than shopping and wrapping on repeat. If your holiday tasks feel more like obligations than celebrations, try one of these to re-ignite your spirit:

• Donate to your favorite nonprofit organization.
• Make dinner for someone who needs help, whether they have a new baby or are dealing with an illness.
• Sign up to volunteer at a shelter, soup kitchen, or other community organization.
• Clean out your closet and bring items you no longer wear to a local coat drive.
• Drop off shelf-stable goods at a food pantry.
• Send a note to someone in your community whose work you value, like a teacher, pastor, elected official, or artist.

Take care of your whole self.

Emotional and mental health are important components of overall health. A doctor can provide tailored treatment options like lifestyle changes, medication, or therapy.  The primary care providers at Roseman Medical Group deliver patient-centered care grounded in empathy and respect. Contact us at (702) 463-4040 to schedule an appointment.