Concierge Medical Care Blog

The CDC just released updated guidelines for people who test positive for Covid.

Welcome to 2024! You can be sure more than just gifts have been exchanged during the holidays….

Sleep studies are important tests that we use to diagnose and manage sleep apnea. 

This week, articles appeared in the media about the possibility that the Covid vaccine administered with the flu vaccine may increase the risk of strokes in people over the age of 65. While this may cause alarm and deter people from getting these vaccines, neither is a necessary reaction. Let’s take time to walk through the facts.

I hope you are well and enjoying the fall weather. Our Bring-A-Friend lecture series has been a success! We enjoy the opportunity to educate our patients on new health trends and to introduce our patients to other like-minded medical providers. If you have not had a chance to join us, then I encourage you to come to our next lecture on January 30.

Last fall and winter we experienced a “tripledemic.” 3 different, serious viruses (influenza, COVID, and RSV) spread rapidly and caused a significant number of illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths. 

We are excited to announce another new service at Concierge Medical Care.

After a very long, dark, and snowy winter, I am happy to report Spring has sprung! While all this sunshine is a welcome change, let’s remember the sun poses a few health risks. In this blog, let’s talk about the dangers of sunlight to our eyes. 

At our practice, we pride ourselves on staying up-to-date with medical literature, evidence-based guidelines, and ever-changing COVID vaccine recommendations. The WHO just made an update to their COVID booster recommendations a few days ago and I would like to share our thoughts with you.

One of the biggest advantages of being a patient in our Concierge Medical Care practice is easy and timely access to medical care. Most of the time, we treat our patients here in the office. There are occasions, however, when going to an urgent care or emergency room is preferable. What are the differences between an urgent care and an emergency room?

I’m excited to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you. My name is Dr. Chris Griffith. I joined Kevin at Concierge Medical Care last month and I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be here. What started with a simple phone call back in June 2022, has turned into a fantastic partnership. What struck me upon my arrival was how warm and welcoming Kevin’s patients have been.

Based on the many (and welcomed) questions you are asking about COVID, it's time for an update.

Keeping Everyone Safe & Healthy During the Holidays

Here are answers to the top 5 questions all y'all are asking these days.

Just when it felt like maybe we were getting a handle on the COVID-19 situation, another virus has become a global health issue.

There is a new kid on the cholesterol-lowering medications block. 

Lung cancer is sneaky and may not cause any symptoms until the disease has spread (metastasized) and is no longer treatable. Catching this cancer as early as possible can improve the patient’s chances for better quality of life and prolonged survival. 

The key to success with cancer is finding it at an early (more curable) stage.

Based on the number of phone calls and emails we have already received, I am going to assume you have heard about a 4th COVID-19 vaccine dose being approved.

Let's review the benefits of sunshine

It will come as no surprise to anyone that the cost of prescription medicines continues to skyrocket. I am bringing you two reliable ways to reduce your expenses at the pharmacy.

Here are two easy ways to get free home testing COVID-19 tests!

You can order free rapid home tests kits for COVID-19.

Monoclonal antibodies can shorten the duration of COVID-19 illness and can reduce the chance of hospitalization by 70%.

Internal Medicine is the skillful and compassionate care of adults using the latest scientific advances.

Please get your COVID-19 vaccine booster. 

Let’s talk about antibodies and clear up some common misconceptions.

Here we go again. COVID-19 cases are on the rise .

Several scientific studies have shown a connection between dog ownership and health benefits. 

MD, DO, NP, PA…What do all these letters signify?

Hay fever is actually not a very accurate name. Hay fever symptoms are not typically triggered by hay, nor does hay fever cause a fever. The more descriptive term is seasonal allergic rhinitis.

This blog will answer the top questions from those yet to be vaccinated and those who have received both doses of their vaccine.

One single organ and tissue donor can save or improve the lives of more than eight people, helping to restore eyesight, damaged tissues or vital functions.

The National Cancer Institute reports that tobacco smoking causes about 9 out of 10 cases of lung cancer in men and about 8 out of 10 cases of lung cancer in women.

Shingles is caused by the chickenpox virus. Once you have had chickenpox, the virus stays inactive in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain. Years later, this same virus can reappear as shingles.

Yes, COVID Fatigue is a real thing. We’re all experiencing feelings of frustration, uncertainty, doubt (of others and ourselves), fear, anxiety and depression.

Feeling sleepy? You’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on any given day as many as one in five adults suffers from an insufficient amount of sleep.

Stuck indoors, worried about an uncertain future, concerned for your family or friends: the pandemic is a stressful situation for anyone to contend with.

Older men whose testosterone levels have dropped over the years should only be given testosterone replacement to treat sexual dysfunction, according to new guidelines from the American College of Physicians (ACP).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are sharing challenging times. In response to the increased complexity of caring for patients while practicing social distancing, I have introduced Telemedicine appointments for my patients.

With so much hype about the novel coronavirus, let’s talk about the basic facts.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the single most important thing we can do to keep from getting sick and spreading illness to others is to wash and dry our hands.

Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer of the reproductive organs among women in the United States. It can often be cured, especially when diagnosed early.

A brain aneurysm is a weak or thin spot on a blood vessel in the brain that balloons or bulges out and fills with blood. It often looks like a berry hanging on a stem. Every brain aneurysm is unique in location, shape and size.

Do you ever remember going skiing up at one of the resorts in the Rocky Mountains and you had a headache all day and didn't sleep well that night? You may have had altitude sickness.

Maintaining your teeth isn’t only about looking good. Keeping your oral and dental hygiene in check can help prevent gum disease, tooth decay, bad breath and can help you retain your teeth as you grow older.

Personality disorders are deeply-ingrained, rigid ways of thinking, feeling and behaving that deviates from the expectations of the culture, causes distress or problems functioning, and last over time. 

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that can cause patients severe disturbances in their eating behaviors, as well as related thoughts and emotions

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks and function independently

The concept that physical activity helps keep us healthy is very old news. We have all been told time and time again that exercise is good for you, and it’s true. It’s good for a lot more than just losing weight and building muscle.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. It is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Breast cancer screening can find signs of cancer before symptoms begin, when it is more likely to be curable.

According to the Surgeon General, quitting smoking is the single most important step a smoker can take to improve the length and quality of his or her life.

GERD, also known as acid reflux, is a digestive issue that occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not close properly and stomach contents leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus.

MS is a chronic neurological condition that affects the central nervous system, which is comprised of the brain and spinal cord. Stay with me, we’re going in deep on this.

While your next ski or snowboard trip probably will not leave you with a serious injury, the risk is always there.

The pituitary controls the function of most other endocrine (hormone) glands and is therefore sometimes called “the master gland.”

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that affects more than 7.5 million people in the U.S. It typically develops in patients between 15 and 35 years old according to the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Brace yourselves: Flu season is coming, which typically lasts from October to April. So, it seems like the right time to round up a list of common misconceptions and questions about the flu vaccine and some information to set folks straight.

The plantar fascia is a long, thin ligament present along the bottom of the foot that supports the arch of the foot. When this becomes swollen or inflamed, it is called plantar fasciitis.

Obesity and overweight are terms used to describe a level of excess weight that’s considered unhealthy for your body size.

The word “fall” does not usually strike fear in the hearts of most people. But it should. Falls are all too common in the elderly population and should be taken seriously. Did you know that one in four older Americans falls every year?

Medicus curat, natura sanat—the doctor treats, nature heals.

Summer time is approaching and with warmer weather, the time when the outdoors calls to us.

When blood flow to part of the brain stops for a short period of time it is called a transient ischemic attack, abbreviated as a TIA. Some people may call it a “mini-stroke” because in many ways it appears to be a stroke.

Colorectal cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the colon. These cancerous cells form tumors, which usually take years to develop.