The weather has been tricky, alternating between tropical forest humidity and heat, to chilly fall nights and mornings. Unfortunately, this leads to worse asthma and allergy symptoms for anyone who suffers from Fall allergies. Please remember “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of treatment” and come in for your allergy injections and renewal of medication.
Speaking of coming in to the office, we are giving the flu shot to everyone who takes it on a yearly basis. While the vaccine is widely available at any pharmacy, it is best to get it from your doctor. There are many types of flu vaccines, with different potencies, modes of administration, and effectiveness. This is why I recommend getting the vaccine from your medical provider who knows your medical history and needs, not the “one size fits all” from the pharmacy. In our office, we have high-grade (specifically designed for people over 60 which covers the widest variety of flu strains) and flu-zone. As always, no appointment, copay or even wait is needed, just show up when we are open.
The fall is when I finally begin to contemplate the end of yet another year. This one seems to be passing by so very fast! For me as my professional and personal life blend together so much, it means taking stock on what we have achieved, and how we should improve before the year truly ends. Although I am still reminiscing about the Summer sun (see picture below), now I am personally grateful for the blessings of a busy, and mostly fun everyday: soccer games (even for Nathan, my six year old!), music classes, reading together or even playing board games. Professionally, I am looking for ways to make our patient/provider interaction more meaningful. In an age of corporate mergers where hospitals, pharmacy chains, and insurance agencies gobble each other to create huge conglomerates, the patients become “widgets”, and medical care loses its human aspect. In response, I strive to keep my practice rather small, know my patients as individuals, and stay away from conveyor belt type medicine. This approach is difficult to maintain and implement but results simply in a healthier patient. But more about that in our next installment. For now, start digging up your favorite fall receipts, and share the best ones!
Wishing I could go back to enjoying Summer on the beach with my sons Nathan(5) and Benjamin(9).