Give yourself the gift of TIME
Your TIME is VALUABLE
THIS IS NOT too good to be true!

Your TIME is VALUABLE
THIS IS NOT too good to be true!
SLEEP APNEA
Did you know that daytime fatigue, trouble concentrating, headaches, and many other symptoms can be caused by sleep apnea?
Learn about sleep apnea and signs that it might be affecting your health.
Sleep apnea is commonly under-diagnosed . Education is key.
How is sleep apnea diagnosed?
Speak with your primary care physician about your symptoms suggestive of sleep apnea. An overnight sleep study can objectively evaluate for sleep apnea.
MIND over MATTER
We all lead full lives, but are we really “too busy” to prioritize ourselves first? It can be hard to prioritize our own well-being when we have so many other seemingly “more important” obligations. Sometimes, it feels like there is “not enough time” to get it all done and some might just choose to skip the self-care piece. I have been in your shoes and had that thought… “I am just too busy.”
What if there was plenty of time? What would that feel like?
Would you focus your attention and spend time on the things that brought you joy intentionally? Would the endless “to do” task list in life feel less like a “checklist” burden and instead become a source of meaning and purpose in all the activities of your day?
I understand how balancing parenting, work, and our own growth can seem impossible and leave you feeling like you cannot do a great job in one area without compromising other areas.
We all have unique challenges that serve as a catalyst for our own personal growth and evolution ….and we learn from those experiences.… but WHAT we learn is actually the most important. Alone, we are limited… we can only teach ourselves what we already know. But the brain is truly an amazing organ… it is malleable, teachable, and trainable. Our thoughts and perspective actually have the ability to completely change our lives even when our circumstances remain pretty much the same. Questioning our thoughts and beliefs about what is “true” gives us the ability to adopt new habits that help us grow and thrive rather than merely survive. Knowing that “what we focus on grows” gives us the gift of being able to gather up our experiences from the past and move forward in the direction of our dreams.
“When my thinking changed, my life changed.”
When I look at my “to do list” today, I view it as something I “get to do” instead of something “I have to do.” I prioritize time for self-care and self-development and become a more focused and productive participant in my own life. TIME is our most valuable resource. When we know exactly how we want to spend it, we can live a life filled with meaning and purpose.
Self-care is the foundation for success in all the areas of your life. Filling your own cup first so that you can serve others is not selfish…. it is necessary.
Navigating Health Care Alternatives:
Health Sharing Plans and Direct Primary Care
Insurance costs are increasing and have become a growing source of stress for individuals and families. Many are not aware there is another alternative—and it’s called health care sharing plans. Health sharing plans (HSP), also known as medical cost sharing, can save you and your family a lot of money on healthcare. We review the basics of these plans and explore how they differ from traditional insurance coverage.
Health Sharing Plans (HSP): How It Works
Members in an HSP “share” medical costs. As part of an HSP, you are responsible for paying an initial unshareable amount (IUA) each month (like a premium). There is also an “annual unshared amount” (like a deductible) that your medical expenses must exceed before the plan shares your expenses.
Health care sharing can be great for people who:
HSP vs Health Insurance
The Pros:
The Cons:
HSP and Direct Primary Care work well together
The DPC will meet vast majority of a person’s primary health care needs and any urgent care needs for a low monthly fee without copays or deductibles. DPC will ensure access to high quality low cost laboratories, medications , and consultations with specialists. You receive higher quality care with better access to your physician without waiting.
Are Medications Affordable?
Medications do not need to be expensive.
Out-of-pocket costs for medications have skyrocketed. We know patients are sick of trying to figure out how to get medications at a reasonable cost. At Roots Health DPC, we are making medications easily affordable for our patients. How?
We buy medications at wholesale cost – and pass that value to our patients…without marking them up. We remove the middleman, pharmacy benefit managers/retail pharmacies, that come between patients and their medications. We have effectively lowered the cost of prescriptions by 50% to 90% for our patients.
Here are Just a few Examples of Medications for Under $5/month
Metformin
Ibuprofen
Lisinopril
Amlodipine
Sertraline/Zoloft
Lovastatin
Sumatriptan/Imitrex
Loratadine/Claritin
A Simple Solution for a “Complex” Problem
DPC stands for Direct Primary Care – we deliver health care services, including medications, directly to our patients. We provide medications at discounted rates because we know everyone deserves fair pricing on the medications they require to stay healthy. We are uniquely qualified to partner with our patients to determine which medications will best treat their medical conditions and ensure they receive those medications at a reasonable price.
Skin Care Routines: The Lowdown on Retinoids
As we age, collagen production slows… causing wrinkles and signs of aging. Eating a diet rich in anti-oxidants, staying hydrated, using daily facial sunscreen and moisturizer are all critical components for a healthy skin care routine. Today we look at retinoids as a basic foundation for anti-aging skin care routines.
What are retinoids?
A derivative of vitamin A, retinoids can tackle everything from fine lines and pigmentation to acne. They achieve this by boosting the turnover rate of skin cells. Retinoids accelerate the rate of skin cell division and new cell growth which helps thicken the top layer. Retinols and other retinoids also work deep in the skin’s dermis layer to stimulate collagen and elastin production. These skin proteins naturally decrease with time, leading to thinning skin and other visible signs of aging. Boosting their production, then, allows retinoids to offer pro-aging support.
What’s Retinol?
When it comes to retinol and retinoids, plenty of people get a little confused — but with good reason. These two anti-aging ingredients aren’t entirely different. In fact, retinol is a sub-type of retinoid.
From reducing the appearance of wrinkles to easing the effects of sun damage retinoids can offer plenty of skin benefits. Retinoids most often describe more powerful prescription products, while retinol generally refers to weaker over-the-counter (OTC) formulas. OTC formulas tend to be less drying but they are still effective… if used consistently over long periods of time.
Should you use retinoid or retinol?
Before deciding, you’ll want to consider your skin type and the severity of the problem you’re trying to treat. Retinols are generally recommended for dry skin as they tend to be less drying and often are formulated with hydration ingredients.
Side effects of retinoids including irritation, redness, burning suggest an overly aggressive routine and can occur if you do not “ease your way” into retinoid use by starting slowly.
Contraindications to all retinoids include pregnancy, lactating, or trying to conceive.
How to use retinoids?
WHEN to put them into your skin care routine: at night after washing with a gentle cleanser. Start 3 nights per week and increase to daily after a few weeks if your skin can tolerate.
HOW to apply: use a pea-size amount when face is dry. Apply moisturizer afterward to avoid irritation. Using sunscreen on a daily basis is a MUST while applying retinoids.
ANYTHING ELSE? Check the ingredient list of your other skin care products, as retinoids can interact with other formulas and should not be used with benzoyl peroxide for example.
Combining retinoids with ethyl alcohol or acidic products, can dry out your skin and lead to redness and irritation.
If you have dry skin, creamier formulas can offer more hydration. If you have normal, oily, or combination skin, you might prefer a thinner gel consistency.
Treating Migraines: What works?
What medicines can help relieve migraine pain?
There are 2 main categories of medications for migraine treatments: abortive and preventive.
Abortive treatments focus on stopping the headache from becoming severe and relieve the headache pain. These treatments are best started as soon as the migraine is first noticed to be starting.
Preventive treatments are medicines that are taken daily to reduce how often headaches occur and aim to decrease the frequency of migraines.
Migraine diagnosis and treatment planning is unique and individualized based on symptoms and co-existing conditions.
Once you have identified migraine triggers and made lifestyle changes, if your migraines are still affecting your well-being there are a plethora of options to review with your physician. We review a few of them briefly here.
Abortive Medications: Medications used to relieve migraine pain work best when taken at the first sign of an oncoming migraine — as soon as symptoms of a migraine begin.
Abortive medications include:
-Over the Counter Migraine relief medications that combine caffeine, aspirin and acetaminophen (Excedrin Migraine) may be helpful against mild migraine pain.
-Triptans: Class of meds including sumatriptan (Imitrex) and rizatriptan (Maxalt) treat migraines and are taken as pills, shots or nasal sprays.
-Dihydroergotamine (Migranal): Available as nasal spray or injection.
–Others: Lasmiditan (Reyvow) an oral tablet, Gepants class including Ubrogepant (Ubrelvy), and Zavegepant (Zavzpret) a nasal spray.
Preventive medications. These types of drugs are taken regularly, often daily, to reduce the severity or frequency of migraines.
Preventative Options include:
-Blood pressure-lowering medications: beta blockers such as propranolol and metoprolol. Calcium channel blockers such as verapamil.
-Antidepressants. A tricyclic antidepressant, amitriptyline.
-Anti-seizure drugs. Valproate and topiramate (Topamax).
-Botox injections. Injections about every 12 weeks help prevent migraines in some adults.
–Others: Calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies are newer medicines given monthly or quarterly by injection, some gepants are used daily.
Is it a Migraine Headache?
Migraines can cause throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head. These headaches are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Attacks can last for hours to days, and the pain can interfere with daily activities.
What is an Aura?
A warning symptom, an aura, can occur before the headache. An aura might be visual disturbances, such as flashes of light, or other disturbances, like tingling on one side of the face, arm or leg or even difficulty speaking.
Risk Factors for Migraines
Family history: If you have a family member with migraines, then you have a good chance of developing them too.
Sex. Women are three times more likely than men to have migraines..
Age. Most people have their first migraine during adolescence, but migraines can start at any age, usually before age 40.
Hormonal changes. Headaches can begin around menstruation. They can change during pregnancy or menopause. Migraines generally improve after menopause.
Triggers for migraines
Certain Drinks and Foods . Alcohol and excess caffeine can trigger migraines.
Stress triggers migraines. Stress includes feeling overwhelmed at home or work. But you can also become stressed by exercising too much or not getting enough sleep.
Senses: Loud sounds, bright lights , or strong smells may trigger migraines.
Hormonal changes. Fluctuations in estrogen, such as around menstrual periods, pregnancy and menopause can worsen migraines.
Illness. Infections, such as the cold or the flu, may trigger migraines, especially in children.
Weather changes. A change of weather or barometric pressure can prompt a migraine.
Medications. Some medications, including oral contraceptives, can trigger migraines
Keeping a Journal of your migraine symptoms can be a key to treatment planning.
Health Insurance ≠ Health care
“I pay high monthly premiums for health insurance… shouldn’t it cover my health care costs?”
The reality is… it does not.
If you are like many, you are frustrated with the fact that you wait days to weeks to be seen and have additional out of pocket expenses every time you need to use your insurance card. These additional costs come in the form of copays and deductibles that can really add up quickly. Out of pocket expenses often approach thousands of dollars every year before your “insurance” will cover any costs. For example, if you need an MRI… you could end up paying thousands of dollars before your insurance will even start to cover any costs.
What is insurance for then?
Like any insurance product… it protects against catastrophe. If you have an accident or illness that causes you to be hospitalized, you will need to be covered. What coverage you choose… whether a high deductible plan or a health share plan or other options is something that you, as a savvy consumer, will want to take the time to understand.
Auto insurance is an illustrative example. You would not use it to fill up the gas tank or change the oil. Why? If you made an insurance claim every time you filled up the gas, your car insurance premiums would sky rocket. The health insurance industry is one of the most profitable industries in the world for this reason. They have sold America on the belief that they need to use their health insurance card to get health care and this allows them to increase the premiums every time you pull out that card.
Insurance has become unaffordable for many. The number one leading cause of bankruptcy in the US is medical bills. Think about that. If values were aligned to provide people with products that kept them healthy… would the “thing” that is supposed to keep them well cause them financial ruin?
The reality is that Health Insurance does not equal health care.
There are many ways to insure against catastrophe that do not cost an arm and a leg. Better health care does not need to be expensive. DPC provides a simple straightforward health care solution that aligns the incentives to keep you well and get you the care you need. The care is higher quality: a direct relationship with your physician without all the “go-betweens.” The care is convenient: you have care when you need it without waiting. The care creates significant savings on out of pocket costs: Labs, medications, and imaging are provided at discounted pricing with MRIs starting at $250.00 and basic labs under $5.00 each.
Self Care is not Selfish
We all lead full lives, but are we really “too busy” to prioritize ourselves first? It can be hard to prioritize our own well-being when we have so many other seemingly “more important” obligations. Sometimes, it feels like there is “not enough time” to get it all done and some of us might just choose to skip the self-care piece. I have been in your shoes and had that thought… “I am just too busy.”
What if there was plenty of time? What would that feel like? What if you were able to focus your attention and spend time on the things that brought you joy intentionally? What if you did not just complete an endless “to do” task list but instead found meaning and purpose in all the activities of your day?
I understand how balancing parenting, work, and our own growth can seem impossible and leave you feeling like you cannot do a great job in one area without compromising other areas.
We all have unique circumstances and challenges that serve as a catalyst for our own personal growth and evolution ….and we do learn from those experiences… but WHAT we learn is what allows us to move forward in the direction of our dreams. The brain is an awesome organ… it is extremely malleable, teachable, and trainable. Questioning our thoughts and beliefs about what is “true” grants us the ability to adopt new habits that help us grow and thrive rather than merely survive.
“When my thinking changed, my life changed.”
When I look at my “to do list” today, I view it as something I “get to do” instead of something “I have to do.” I prioritize time for self-care and I become a more focused and productive participant in my own life. TIME is our most valuable resource. When we know exactly how we want to spend it, we can live a life filled with meaning and purpose.
Self-care is the foundation for success in all the areas of your life. Filling your own cup first so that you can serve others is not selfish…. it is necessary.