Camping

It's good to get away from electronics and modern technology life at least every few months if possible. A suggestion is to go car camping at a state park or campground. Here are some suggested items to bring:

1. Car
1. First-aid
2. Car emergency kit
2. Clothes: enough clothes + one day
1. Sandals / shoes
2. Hats / sunglasses
3. Toilettries
3. Swim materials:
1. Swimsuits
2. Towels
3. Goggles
4. Inflatables + pump
5. Life jackets
6. Umbrella
4. Bicycles + locks + helmets
5. Tent
1. Lawn chairs
2. Table
3. Foam pads / sleeping bags / pillows / blankets
4. Lanterns / flashlights
5. Shovel
6. Food
1. Snacks
2. Firewood
3. Lighter
4. Cooler
5. Trash bags
6. Water filter
7. Books
1. Bible
2. Board games

Try to Incorporate Physical Activity into Everything

• Walk when you can.
• Bicycle when you can (safely).
• Incorporate body movement throughout your day and between scheduled events.
• Plan for "margin" in your day and take time to move your body.

How to Deal With a Messy Spouse

FIRSTLY, review principles:

1. The Lord in His mercy, saved you from sin and gave you new life! Let us be grateful and keep that perspective!

2. Love your spouse with Christ's love: The Lord is incredibly patient and laid down His life for us.

3. Don't be a Martha! Cleanliness, as nice as it is, does not have eternal significance. Focus rather on the love and person of the Holy Spirit, and set your sights on heaven and eternal treasure.

4. Remember your blessings! He who finds a wife finds a good thing. Husbands, remember your wife is a gift from God to give you love, companionship, children, and a home. She's not perfect, but she is good. Sorry ladies, I don't know of an equivalent verse that says a husband is a good thing 😂 -- but jokes aside the principle still applies -- your spouse is a blessing.

When Your Spouse is Grouchy

If your spouse is grumpy, this is your opportunity to love and serve them when it's not easy and honor God. Here are some tips/reminders:

An Appeal to Elected Officials

There are numerous benefits to copying smarter practices from Japan and parts of Europe to make our lives better and more healthy.

Financial Tip: Real-Estate Investment & Tax

Arthur Martens is a specialist in investment real-estate and he has developed a system taking advantage of recent changes brought about by the OBBBA Act. If you are paying 100k or more per year in taxes, you can significantly decrease your tax burden by taking advantage of new legal and tax provisions that make investment properties far more worthwhile than they have historically been. 

Jesus is the Great Physician of the Soul

From Pastor Craig Bode’s newsletter.

People think all they need is the solution they imagine to their problems or needs, when in fact, on our own, we have little awareness of what our real problems and needs are. There is only One who can accurately diagnose us and help and heal us, the One who created us and sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem and restore us, in order that we "have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10—NIV) 

Jesus is the Great Physician you need who invites you today: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30—NIV) 

Don't settle for easing your aches and pains when Jesus offers you rest for your soul!

Lifestyle Medicine

We’d like to shine the spotlight on the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM). The ACLM has developed the “Six Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine.” They are good for all of us providers to review and incorporate into helping our patients achieve their best health. They are: 

1. Optimal nutrition: whole foods, minimally processed, plant-predominant diets. 
2. Physical activity: aiming for at least 30 minutes of activity per day, but better yet incorporating physical activity into one’s life throughout the day. 
3. Stress management: mindfulness and stress management throughout the day. 
4. Restorative sleep: high-quality sleep each night getting at least 7-9 hours. 
5. Connectedness: regular time in relationships and community. 
6. Risky substance avoidance: avoidance of unhealthy habits such as smoking and too much alcohol. 

Healing for Human Hearts

From Pastor Craig Bode’s newsletter. 

There are "heart problems" that no cardiologist or surgeon can begin to treat, cure or even diagnose, despite their amazing skills and knowledge. Isaiah speaks of this ailment when he tells God's people: "Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted." (Isaiah 1:5—NIV) 

The deepest hurts, problems and pains of people lie beyond the healing hands of any doctor or therapist, out of reach to all, except the Great Creator, Physician, Healer and Restorer of the human heart, Jesus Christ. Allow Him to get to the heart of your problem today and bring the help and healing only He can give.

Let the Church Pray for You

We want to encourage everyone to let their local church pray for them and be involved in their lives. The church and the people in the church are not perfect and probably never will be on this side of eternity. But the church is God's earthly tool to give flesh to his body. 

In our medical practice, we are so grateful to our friends at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Pierce, FL and Family Church in Jupiter, FL who regularly pray for our patients. We want our patients to not just have physical wellness, but total health in their minds, bodies, and souls.

Reflux (GERD)

Many patients complain of GERD. Remember that treatment and diagnostic steps include the following: 

1. Weight loss plan if overweight. 
2. Avoid eating within 3 hours of bed time or lying flat (especially fatty foods and alcohol). 
3. Diaphragm breathing exercises (https://www.coberhernia.com/other-services). 
4. No smoking or other inhalational agents. 
5. A short trial of PPIs or H2 blockers (e.g. Omeprazole over the counter for 2-4 weeks). 

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are very common. As a reminder, initial steps for patients with hemorrhoid flare-ups (swelling, discomfort, bleeding) are:

1. Avoid constipation — prunes, miralax, other laxatives prn. 
2. Sitz baths tid. 
3. Preparation H or hydrocortisone suppositories (remember it’s ideal to not continue this past 1-2 weeks of treatment). 
4. Aloe wipes, tucks pads. 
5. Lidocaine ointment is an option.

Surgery Updates for PCPs

Ursodiol

For patients hesitant to undergo cholecystectomy, there is often little downside to initiating ursodiol therapy. There are many dosage ranges, I often use 300mg bid or tid, and continue it for at least 3-6 months, sometimes opting to follow the patient symptomatically versus repeating an ultrasound at that time. Remember the best results are when ursodiol is combined with a healthy low-fat diet, and when the stones are not very large (e.g. > 1 cm). Ursodiol is fairly safe, there are some reports of it increasing one’s chances of enteroliths, so it should be used cautiously in Crohns patients who may have strictures.

God is Always Accepting New Patients

From Pastor Craig Bode’s newsletter:

Let me recommend to you a Great Physician who is always accepting new patients: "People brought to Jesus all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and He healed them." (Matthew 4:24—NIV)

Christ's healing extends to every area and aspect of your mind, soul and body and He correctly diagnoses the root cause of your illness to be sin and to be fatal. But in love He abundantly and effectively applies His blood shed for this disease to redeem you and purify you "from all sin." (1 John 1:7) supplying you with life abundant and eternal.

More Muscle, Less Problems

Avoid Sarcopenia

Sometimes we use Latin words to get people to take us more seriously 😉. Sarcopenia just means low muscle mass and reflects the normal aging process whereby we lose muscle over time. Multiple studies and research have shown that, in general, older folks with lower muscle mass do not live as long and are less healthy. Most of us in longevity medicine advocate for resistance (i.e. weights) training for everyone including women. 

Hernia Tip

Remember to always use proper lifting technique and not twist in awkward movements as when lifting. Engage your core muscles to take pressure off the weak points and keep your back straight. As much as we love doing hernia surgery, it is best to avoid hernias altogether! 😂

Cardio Exercise

• Aim for at least 15-30 minutes of zone 2 cardio (HR around 100-120 bpm for most people) per day.
• Be easy on your joints — rotate running, cycling, swimming, and elliptical if you can. Also trail running is softer than pavement but slow down and be careful — no rolled ankles please. 😉
• If you don’t regularly do weights, just incorporate a set of pushups (e.g. 10-20) and air squats (e.g. 20-30) at the beginning and end of your cardio.
• We encourage you to make cardio a part of your daily life if it is not already. 😄

Tell Stories

In modern technological life, perhaps it would be better if we spent less time on phones and computers, and more time telling stories.

On the Use of AI Q&A

Don't use AI Q&A so much -- talk to God, others, and give Him room to show up and show off!