Tired, Foggy, and Numb?

Vitamin B12 deficiency May be Making you tired, foggy, and numb…

 

TIred?

Fatigue is one of the most common complaints I hear from my patients that unfortunately can be caused by many things. Vitamin B12 is one of those causes and it is quite common.  Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in energy as it aides the conversion of our foods to energy for the body.

 

Foggy?

Patients often complain of difficulties focusing, forgetfulness, and just a general fuzziness.  Vitamin B12 helps in cognition with overall brain health. Deficiencies can also lead to general mood disorders, depression, and insomnia due to its role in production of certain natural brain chemicals.

 

Numb?

The classic presentation of B12 deficiency is a “stocking-glove distribution” of numbness.  The hands and feet are described as numb or tingling.   Vitamin B12 is utilized by the body in the maintenance and repair of the nervous system.

Other Symptoms?

• pale skin
• tongue changes–smooth, burning, or red
• heart palpitations
• shortness of breath
• diarrhea or constipation
• vision difficulties

Am I deficient?

If you have any of the above mentioned symptoms it is worth getting a simple blood test to evaluate your levels.

Risk Factors:

• age
• vegetarian/vegan
• medications that decrease absorption–classically antacid medications
• disease processes that affect absorption such as pancreatitis and inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis
• gastric surgery for weight loss

Vitamin B12 Dietary Sources

The human body doesn’t make vitamin B12 so dietary sources are essential.  Common dietary sources:

• meat
• poultry
• seafood
• dairy
• eggs

Vitamin B12 Supplement Options

Vitamin B12 supplements come in pill form, sublingual tablets, nasal sprays, and injectables.  Many people can’t absorb vitamin B12 through the gut so nasal absorption, oral absorption, or injections are often preferred.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is easily detected and easily treated if you look for it…

 

Ann Riggs, DO

Patient-Driven Affordable Healthcare

 

 

Cold Laser Therapy

Cold laser therapy is a novel, non-invasive approach to treating inflammation and promoting healing.

It is FDA approved and has been utilized in America for over 16 years.

Contrary to its name it is not cold at all–it is a pulsatile, low-level laser that will not burn.

 

Cold laser therapy has also been referred to as:

• low-power laser
• low-light therapy
• soft laser
• biostimulation laser
• therapeutic laser
• laser acupuncture

We introduced cold laser therapy in our office over 6 months ago.  We have been impressed with its results for back pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain, heel pain AKA plantar fasciitis, and much more.

The cold laser is thought to work by decreasing inflammation and thus pain by decreasing the following:

• prostaglandin E2
• prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2
• interleukin 1-beta
• tumor necrosis factor-alpha
• neutrophil granulocytes
• oxidative stress
• edema
• bleeding

The greatest advantage is that there are NO serious side effects.  It is a great option to try to avoid medications and surgery.

While insurance is variable on recognizing cold laser therapy as a reimbursable treatment, we are pleased to announce we have had patients receive reimbursement for this service at Direct Medical Care.

 

In as little as 2-4 treatments per week, we have seen 80-90% improvement in symptoms.

 

If no improvement by the 4th treatment alternate treatments can be utilized. Combining therapies can maximize healing and return to health.

Ann Riggs, DO

Patient-Driven Affordable Healthcare

 

Sun…friend or foe?

So it’s summertime right?  …time for the beach, lake, swimming pool, water park, and baseball games.  You pack up all your gear and head out to have some fun in the sun.  And sometimes it’s hard to remember to pack the sunscreen, apply it, not to mention reapplying it all-day-long.  Then there’s that nice tan glow we all love to have in the summer.  But…..

“More than 3.5 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed in the US each year, and more than 73,000 cases of melanoma are expected to be diagnosed this year.”

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, melanoma being the most deadly form.  In fact, an estimated 9,940 people will die of melanoma in 2015.  Prevention is obviously key when it comes to skin cancer.  Daily use of a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher reduces your risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by 40 percent and melanoma by 50 percent.

It’s an easy thing to over-look…I mean it’s the sun, we go outside, we go inside, it’s our world, and therefore easy to forget.  But trust me, for those of you that have been blessed to not have gone through it in your life, there’s nothing scarier than hearing that your best friend, your 36 year old sister, has been diagnosed with Stage II Melanoma.  And there’s no time that is longer or goes by slower than the time it takes for lymph node biopsy results to come back.  There’s no exposure, from the sun or tanning bed that is “better” for you or less harmful than the other.  Sunless or “spray tan” is a good option to consider if you feel like you need some color or that summertime glow.

Another important step is having annual skin checks, as well as watching for any changes to existing or new moles on your body.  This one, to me, is a no-brainer.  Skin cancer is the one form of cancer that allows you to see your tumor…right there, in plain sight, on the outside of your body.  The woman with the lump deep in her breast, guy with a tumor on his kidney or deep in his brain, or child with cancer in their bone marrow didn’t have that chance.  It was hidden inside, not able to be seen, causing harm, just waiting to be found.  So take advantage of the chance to have this particular cancer identified and stopped in its tracks as soon as possible.

“Each year there are more combined incidences of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, and colon.”

There are some key characteristics, known as the ABCDEs of skin cancer, that you can look for to help identify a potentially dangerous mole.

 

 

• Asymmetry
• Border
• Color
• Dimension
• Evolving

 

 

 

So get outside this summer and have a blast enjoying this time of year and all the activities that go along with it!  Just remember to drink plenty of water and make sure to wear sunscreen to protect yourself from the harm that our sun’s rays can cause….and hey, take heart in knowing that you’re preventing all those future wrinkles.

Submitted by Kim Moppin

Patient-Driven Affordable Healthcare