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South Macomb Internal Medicine

Warren, MI

Michigan

Let’s Talk About Allergies In Michigan In 2021!

April 23rd, 2021

Let’s talk about allergies!

Allergies

Allergy season is underway here in Michigan.  Allergies that occur in the spring are usually due to trees, allergies that occur in the summer are due to grass pollen and patients who are having allergy symptoms in the fall are largely allergic to ragweed.  It’s not fun, and this article in the Detroit Free Press says Michigan allergy season is one of the worst we’ve had…

In a bit of a plot twist however, allergy experts say some of the 24 million Americans with seasonal allergies are experiencing less symptoms this year due to wearing a mask because of Covid-19!  How about you – are you noticing that it’s better this year?  Worse?  Typical?  Is your mask helping?  Vaccinations are coming along but we’re not fully there yet and for some people it’s a little scary when you get any symptoms with Covid dominating so much space in our lives.  A recent article in HealthDay helps to breakdown the differences between allergies and Covid-19, and either way be sure to follow the CDC guidelines to be safe, and get your vaccine!  We can actually help you get the Pfizer vaccine scheduled so give us a call.

Allergy Testing

Meanwhile many allergies can be diagnosed with in-office testing. We offer skin tests for many common allergies, and send away lab tests when necessary. Skin allergy tests can be a very effective and quick diagnostic tool.

Skin testing involves introducing a small amount of allergen under the skin’s surface by pricking the skin and inserting a small drop of the allergen extract. The skin test (scratch or prick test) is done with a sterile, disposable plastic prick testing device, generally on the arm or back. It garners a sensation that is described as slightly uncomfortable, although generally not painful. It is a quick testing procedure. If the patient is allergic to the substance being tested, some itching or redness may occur at the testing site.

Test results are typically available within half an hour and diagnosis and treatment plans can then be completed quickly. These are highly accurate and sensitive tests.

If you are scheduled for in-office allergy testing, please call our office to discuss any medications you are currently taking as some may prevent a diagnostic reaction.  If you are interested in more information about in-office allergy testing, please be in touch with any questions or to schedule.

If you use allergy drops to treat your allergies, we can arrange for at-home delivery through Allergen.

We hope you found this valuable and we are here to help!

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South Macomb Internal Medicine
28401 Hoover Rd.  Warren, Michigan 48093
Phone: (586) 276-7530
South Macomb Internal Medicine has been designated a Patient Centered Medical Home by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Join us on Facebook at facebook.com/SMIMdoc for updates, articles and fun!
Call us and ask to be added to our email newsletter that comes out every couple weeks!
Telehealth and virtual appointments are still available as well as nutritional services with Nanette Cameron, RDN. Don’t forget to ask us for a $25 gift certificate along with a copy of Nanette Cameron’s cookbook The Perfect Day for trying dietary services with Nanette the first time for patients who have insurance coverage! Nanette is also available virtually!
Feel free to click on the categories and keywords below to find more content as we add more to the website!

The Vaccine Is Becoming Available To All & Here Is Why You Should Get It

March 24th, 2021

By Dr. Scot Goldberg, MD

A year into the pandemic we are finally in the home stretch in terms of the vaccination rollout and getting back to a lasting bit of normalcy.  We clearly can’t let our guard down just yet with the virus currently surging in Michigan – and that’s not just some “disclaimer” – that’s serious.

But having said that the vaccine rollout is indeed rolling out – as of today 6000 doses per day are being administered just at Ford Field alone.  So we came across a great article about the vaccine(s) and with permission from the author I want to share it here and point out a few things.

The Vaccine Is Becoming Available To All & Here Is Why You Should Get It

Vaccine Is Becoming Available

 

So here is the article I’m referring to:

I’m a Doctor This is the #1 Worst Mistake You Could Make Right Now

Click the link above and give it a read.  The “mistake” is not getting the vaccine.  The doctor is Deborah Lee, MD.
This was written in February as the vaccine rollout was beginning but before it was available to vast segments of the population like it is now, so it bears repeating at this moment since more of us are able to get it.
The first few reasons are general facts about vaccines – they save lives, can eradicate diseases or at limit greatly viral infections from them and keep us from getting infected at all.  We know this.  Smallpox was wiped off the planet with a vaccine.
Every one of Dr. Lee’s 14 main points in this article are well put and important for you to read, including addressing folks who are immunocompromised and vaccine safety basics, but in the age of social media and sources of misinformation we want to call particular attention to number 11: “Debunking Vaccine Myths”.  Some of these myths are more ludicrous than others and we’ve seen worse – even in the comments of our own posts on Facebook once in a while!
Here is point #11 – from the article with permission:

Debunking Vaccine Myths

There are a whole host of incorrect facts being bandied about regarding the COVID vaccine. Please take a look at the following statements and rest assured these are all telling the truth:

  • The COVID vaccine will not change your DNA
  • The COVID vaccine does not contain material from a dead fetus
  • The COVID vaccine does not contain heavy metals
  • The COVID vaccine does not contain  a microchip
  • Vaccines are not a cause of autism
  • Just because the vaccine was produced in record time does not mean its not safe

If you want more details about all these points see this extremely eloquent post by Chris York at The Huffington Post.

So please, make an appointment.  Get the vaccine.  For your health and your protection.  For your fellow humans.  For the greater good and a back to normal life for all of us.

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South Macomb Internal Medicine

28401 Hoover Rd.  Warren, Michigan 48093

Phone: (586) 276-7530

South Macomb Internal Medicine has been designated a Patient Centered Medical Home by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Join us on Facebook at facebook.com/SMIMdoc for updates, articles and fun!

Call us and ask to be added to our email newsletter that comes out every couple weeks!

Telehealth and virtual appointments are still available as well as nutritional services with Nanette Cameron, RDN. Don’t forget to ask us for a $25 gift certificate along with a copy of Nanette Cameron’s cookbook The Perfect Day for trying dietary services with Nanette the first time for patients who have insurance coverage! Nanette is also available virtually!

Feel free to click on the categories and keywords below to find more content as we add more to the website!

 

Beware of Too Much Sugar – Why It’s Dangerous & 3 Tips to Limit It!

March 12, 2021

By Nanette Cameron, RDN

Certain holidays have their own traditions right?  But they all seem to have one common denominator.  FOOD, and in many cases a heavy dose of sugar.  Take Easter for example which is almost here….  Whether you celebrate Easter or not there WILL be more sugar around and right in front of you like at the checkout of your local grocery store or pharmacy for example.  Jellybeans, chocolate bunnies, and Peeps oh my!  Even chocolate eggs and who knows what other temptations they’ll come up with.  Granted there won’t be the large gatherings for this upcoming holiday perhaps, but as the year goes on and we start getting back to normal your relatives will be itching to make their famous cakes and cookies to bring to 4th of July parties and the like.

So let’s discuss why we should be more mindful of how much sugar we eat.

Sugar

As the very latest research shows there are 10 major reasons to limit your sugar intake.  Just the first three in that report alone are big time problems – inflammation, type 2 diabetes and obesity?  YIKES.

The amount of sugar that the average American consumes has skyrocketed according to the research.  It’s insane.  In a year the average American consumes 152 pounds of sugar – an ENTIRE ADULT HUMAN of sugar – the biggest culprits are soft drinks, sugary juices and yes, candy (remember Easter and jellybeans?).

3 Tips To Limit Your Sugar:

Part of the problem is simply the crave – that feeling that you just want something sweet.  So here are three tips:

  1. Add more fruit to your diet!  Fruit can indeed satisfy your sweet tooth in a much healthier way.  Fruit is good for you – it provides vitamins, minerals and fiber that the concentrated and refined sugars in jellybeans for example do not.  Don’t be as concerned about the sugars in fruit – they aren’t the problem.
  2. If you are hooked on pop try adding a water enhancer for a little flavor boost without the sugar.
  3. Moderation is key – this may sound like an obvious tip but do not buy your sugar at Costco!  If you have a massive 5 lb. bag of sugar you won’t ration it.  Believe me this will help.

So please take care of yourself and be mindful of sugar.  What other tips & tricks do you use to cut down your sugar?

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South Macomb Internal Medicine

28401 Hoover Rd.  Warren, Michigan 48093

Phone: (586) 276-7530

South Macomb Internal Medicine has been designated a Patient Centered Medical Home by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Join us on Facebook at facebook.com/SMIMdoc for updates, articles and fun!

Call us and ask to be added to our email newsletter that comes out every couple weeks!

Telehealth and virtual appointments are still available as well as nutritional services with Nanette Cameron, RDN. Don’t forget to ask us for a $25 gift certificate along with a copy of Nanette Cameron’s cookbook The Perfect Day for trying dietary services with Nanette the first time for patients who have insurance coverage! Nanette is also available virtually!

Feel free to click on the categories and keywords below to find more content as we add more to the website!

 

How and Why to Get Your Vitamin D – It’s VERY IMPORTANT!

February 12, 2021

By Nanette Cameron, RDN

They call Vitamin D the “sunshine vitamin” because sunshine literally gives you vitamin D!  Well, it’s pretty tough to get vitamin D that way right now for two pretty obvious reasons:

  1. The pandemic.  We just aren’t spending as much time away from home with restrictions in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and as a result many of us aren’t getting as much sunlight as we might normally get.  You can certainly spend time outside in a pandemic, but less movement and travel naturally can lead to a little less sunlight, and besides………
  2. ……it’s FREEZING out right now.  During the winter we naturally spend less time outside and even when we do we’re bundled up so our skin isn’t absorbing sunlight.

Vitamin D

While there is some debate about this, recommendations range for you to get from 800 to more than 2000 International Units (IU) per day of vitamin D and without supplements it’s extremely difficult to get to that level consistently.

So many people are deficient in Vitamin D and it’s very important because of the following health benefits:

  • It helps with depression
  • It helps absorb calcium to help prevent osteoporosis (which is why dairy milk is fortified with vitamins A & D to help with the calcium).
  • It helps your immune system
  • It helps prevent heart disease
  • It can help prevent obesity

There aren’t a ton of obvious food choices that provide vitamin D either, so as we mentioned we highly recommend you take supplements, and be sure it’s vitamin D3 (not D2).  Without supplements here are your main options:

Sardines

Salmon – fattier fish has more vitamin D in general

Herring – and by the way herring for example has about 216 IUs per 3 oz.  Remember the recommended daily amount is as high as 2000!

Cod Liver Oil

Canned Tuna – 3 oz of light tuna has about 268 IUs

Egg yolk – Grass fed chicken eggs have more at 37 IUs per yolk – not a ton and these are pricier than non-grass fed eggs.

Milk – 115-130 IUs per cup – you would have to drink a lot of milk still not nearly enough (some plant based milk beverages are also fortified with vitamin D)

Not exactly a long list…

You can have your vitamin D levels tested at South Macomb Internal Medicine so you know if you’re deficient.  40-80 ng/ml is the healthy level of D we should have in our blood.  Oh and another tip for when the weather is nicer – the darker your skin color the less your skin absorbs vitamin D from the sun, and any sunscreen blocks it completely which is a bit of catch 22…  You need to protect your skin from too much sun but you won’t get the vitamin D when you do – which once again is why we need to supplement!

So pay attention to your vitamin D, get tested, and supplement!

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South Macomb Internal Medicine

28401 Hoover Rd.  Warren, Michigan 48093

Phone: (586) 276-7530

South Macomb Internal Medicine has been designated a Patient Centered Medical Home by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Join us on Facebook at facebook.com/SMIMdoc for updates, articles and fun!

Call us and ask to be added to our email newsletter that comes out every couple weeks!

Telehealth and virtual appointments are still available as well as nutritional services with Nanette Cameron, RDN. Don’t forget to ask us for a $25 gift certificate along with a copy of Nanette Cameron’s cookbook The Perfect Day for trying dietary services with Nanette the first time for patients who have insurance coverage! Nanette is also available virtually!

Feel free to click on the categories and keywords below to find more content as we add more to the website!

 

Why High Cholesterol Needs To Be Taken Seriously and What You Can Do About It

January 29th,2021

High Cholesterol

High Cholesterol is serious business

Cholesterol is a substance that exists in the lipids, or fats, in your blood and your body uses cholesterol to build healthy cells. However, having high cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease.

A person with high cholesterol tends to develop fatty deposits in their blood vessels, which can eventually clog the vessels and make it difficult for enough blood to flow through the arteries. The heart in this situation may not get as much oxygen-rich blood as it needs, which increases the risk of a heart attack. Also, decreased blood flow to your brain may cause a stroke.

High cholesterol can be inherited, and it may often be the result of unhealthy lifestyle choices. It is largely preventable and treatable. A healthy diet, regular exercise and sometimes medication can go a long way toward reducing it.  Here is a recent article from Harvard Medical School entitled 11 Foods That Lower Cholesterol.  We also have Nanette Cameron available to help – she is our nutritionist and she has even published a cookbook called The Perfect Day.  Just ask us for a $25 gift certificate along with a copy of her book for trying dietary services with her the first time for patients who have insurance coverage!  Nanette is also available virtually!

NO SYMPTOMS

High cholesterol has no symptoms. A blood test is the only way to detect it.

Cholesterol test – A blood test is taken after you have fasted for a certain number of hours. It measures your total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and HDL levels. Cholesterol’s components — LDL, HDL, and triglycerides — work together for the healthy functioning of your body. But too much or too little of these fats can lead to artery damage and cardiovascular disease.

There are three main components of cholesterol:

  • LDL (low-density lipoprotein):  L for “lousy” cholesterol, because it can damage your cardiovascular system. LDL carries most of the cholesterol in the blood to be stored away for future use.
  • HDL (high-density lipoprotein): H for “healthy” cholesterol that carries cholesterol from the body to the liver, where it is eliminated.
  • Triglycerides: The most common type of fat in your body, triglycerides, transport (carry) and store fat in the blood. When you eat excess calories, especially sugar and alcohol, they are stored as triglycerides.

There are two main ways to manage cholesterol (many patients require both): medication and changes in lifestyle which we discussed earlier. Medications are commonly prescribed if you are at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), or you are at moderate risk and have additional risk factors.

Our doctors will personally assess your individual situation and make
a plan that will help you manage your cholesterol effectively.

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South Macomb Internal Medicine

28401 Hoover Rd.  Warren, Michigan 48093

Phone: (586) 276-7530

South Macomb Internal Medicine has been designated a Patient Centered Medical Home by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Join us on Facebook at facebook.com/SMIMdoc for updates, articles and fun!

Call us and ask to be added to our email newsletter that comes out every couple weeks!

Telehealth and virtual appointments are still available as well as nutritional services with Nanette Cameron, RDN. Don’t forget to ask us for a $25 gift certificate along with a copy of Nanette Cameron’s cookbook The Perfect Day for trying dietary services with Nanette the first time for patients who have insurance coverage! Nanette is also available virtually!

Feel free to click on the categories and keywords below to find more content as we add more to the website!

Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine, Feeling Good and Ready to Care For You All!

January 8th, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine

We wanted to check in with an update to let you know as of this writing that Dr. Goldberg is two weeks and two days out from his first COVID-19 vaccine shot and he’s doing great!

COVID-19 Vaccine

 

That’s our guy!!!.

He had soreness in his left arm for one day which is actually a good thing.  A little soreness shows that the vaccine caused an inflammatory reaction – and that it’s working.  Otherwise he has been doing very well, and his second and final shot is next Wednesday!

We’re all getting the COVID-19 Vaccine!

Additionally Ascension sent an email that ALL associates and their staff can now come in for vaccines and so all of our South Macomb Internal Medicine Staff have been invited to get vaccinated!

COVID-19 Vaccine

 

We’re back OPEN and fully operational at the office – ready to serve and ready to care for you!  Better days ahead.  Everyone stay safe, masked, social distanced and well!

Stay tuned for updates and we’ll see you soon!

***************************************************************************************************************************

South Macomb Internal Medicine

28401 Hoover Rd.  Warren, Michigan 48093

Phone: (586) 276-7530

South Macomb Internal Medicine has been designated a Patient Centered Medical Home by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Join us on Facebook at facebook.com/SMIMdoc for updates, articles and fun!

Call us and ask to be added to our email newsletter that comes out every couple weeks!

Telehealth and virtual appointments are still available as well as nutritional services with Nanette Cameron, RDN. Don’t forget to ask us for a $25 gift certificate along with a copy of Nanette Cameron’s cookbook The Perfect Day for trying dietary services with Nanette the first time for patients who have insurance coverage! Nanette is also available virtually!

Feel free to click on the categories and keywords below to find more content as we add more to the website!