My Health 360

https://patients.healthquest.org/exercise-is-essential-for/ Dealing with the stress associated with so many unknowns due to the pandemic and accentuated by the impending opening up of Society again, it is especially important to get routine exercise safely, without risking spreading the virus. Gyms remain closed. They are relatively poorly ventilated, so it is probably a better idea to stick with what we have been doing for the past 2 months rather than exercising in an ind...oor environment. If you have been resourceful, you may have found myriad online exercise classes that keep you engaged. Perhaps you have become creative in finding dumbbell replacements like carry-on suitcases filled with books so that you can keep lifting. You might leave your yoga mat unrolled on your floor to make it easier to incorporate calisthenics in stride throughout your day. There are a lot of hiking trails open yet many are getting crowded and is getting more difficult to maintain 6 feet of distance between others. Perhaps going for a hike during less popular times would be more sensible. Whatever you do, keep moving! This article has some good suggestions. In peace and health, Dr. Matt

Medical Marijuana Certification and Telemedicine For the past 2+ years, the PA Department of Health Medical Marijuana Program has been permitting qualifying patients to get certified for Medical Marijuana (MMJ) by credentialed physicians. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has been the means by which physicians provide clinical care. MMJ is sold by the many dispensaries in PA, considered by Governor Wolf in March as "Essential Businesses." As if life ...wasn't stressful enough before this pandemic, you can imagine that the incidence and prevalence of anxiety and PTSD, both qualifying medical conditions for MMJ, have skyrocketed. There is so much existential angst in the atmosphere. In addition, many Pennsylvanians who suffer with chronic unremitting neuropathic pain (despite trials of conventional therapies with persistent suboptimal outcomes) also qualify for MMJ. In order to get certified for MMJ, one MUST have been diagnosed with one of the 23 qualifying conditions (listed on the PA DOH MMP website) AND must be able to produce medical documentation (from a primary or specialist physician) corroborating the existence of that/those condition(s). With this documentation forwarded to a certifying physician (I am one), a prospective MMJ-treated patient must register within the PA Medical Marijuana Program (clear instructions on its website). Thereafter, an appointment may be made with the certifying physician for a telehealth visit. A thorough discussion is held about medical history, logistical management, and precautions. The whole process can be accomplished within a few days. Then, a certified patient may pay for his/her ID card, which will arrive by the USPS within 1-3 weeks. Once the card is received, a patient (or caretaker) may contact any dispensary for guidance from the clinician (board certified pharmacist or physician), who provides unlimited consultation, as a patient trials various strains, formulations, and doses, in order to identify the best combination of products that optimize clinical effectiveness while minimizing undesireable side effects. In my experience, 95% of all patients seeking MMJ have virtually no interest in "getting high." MMJ is routinely dosed specifically in order to minimize cognitive blunting and sedation, so patients may remain normally functional. For anxiety, I have been recommending a long-acting 1:1 THC:CBD hybrid (combination C. Sativa and C. Indica) pill along with a higher-THC C. Indica tincture for breakthrough symptoms and for sleep at night. This is a very effective combination that restores sleep, mood, and function in many spheres of life. If you or anyone you know is suffering with any qualifying condition, and is not getting answers from medical professionals despite considerable effort, then pursuit of MMJ may, indeed, be appropriate. Feel free to contact me at my office with any questions.

https://hscnews.usc.edu/five-tips-to-prepare-for-your-first You can still get medical care despite this pandemic - safely and in the comfort of your own home! Americans are on track to have participated in 1 billion telemedicine visits in 2020! These virtual "eVisits" are real-time encounters that have limitations, but can be quite productive. While you cannot be physically examined thoroughly (I actually can check spinal and joint range of motion, coordination, gross stre...ngth, balance, and gait), you can voice your concerns, describe your functional challenges, and receive sound medical advice about diagnostic and therapeutic plans of care, all without the inconvenience of traveling to your physicians' offices and dealing with waiting room delays. The article linked reviews what you can do to have the most successful televisit. When calling for an appointment, it is best to specify what type of device (with camera/microphone/speaker) you will be using - to determine how the practitioner will initiate the linkup. Some docs use Doxy.Me, some use Webex, and others can directly link to you with FaceTime (Apple devices) or FaceBook video (Android devices). It is best to have a pen and paper, and be seated upright in a chair at a desk or table, with your device in a fixed position, propped up most vertically. Please don't be intimidated about this type of care - your needs will be met so you can continue to make gains in improving your health outcomes. In health, Dr. Matt

What it means to truly take care (of ourselves) during a pandemic Reflecting on the challenges we are all facing, we must take the best care of ourselves as possible - so we are ok ... and we can help others. How do we "put on our own oxygen masks first?" We can make sure we flip off the TV/phone/computer earlier, throw ourselves in bed, and get a good night sleep, hopefully every night. We can creatively exercise (while the gyms are closed), eat whole and clean food, and r...egularly get out into nature (safely)! We can schedule video chats frequently to maintain social connection ... and think about those in our circles who might be isolated, to have them feel connected. If we empower ourselves - we will regain reserves ... to care for others, who need us most now. Your Daily Apple - in Peace and Health - Matt