Migraine Headaches

2024-06-17T13:00:50+00:00June 17th, 2024|Direct Primary Care, Families, Family Medicine, Family Practice, Health Care, Public Health, Uncategorized|

Is it a Migraine Headache?

Migraines typically result in throbbing pain on one side of the head and are frequently associated with nausea, vomiting, and heightened sensitivity to light and sound. These attacks can persist for hours to days, significantly impacting daily activities.

What is an Aura?

A warning sign, known as an aura, can precede the headache. An aura may involve visual disturbances like flashes of light or other sensations such as tingling in 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.

Board-certified physician care at your fingertips. Text your medical concerns when you’re not well.

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.

Do you appreciate easy access to a trusted, board-certified physician for high-quality care?

The Health Care You Deserve

2024-01-29T14:11:23+00:00January 29th, 2024|Direct Primary Care, Family Medicine, Family Practice, Health Care, Membership, Public Health, Uncategorized|

Uncovering the Source of Your Well-Being

Tired of healthcare that barely scratches the surface? Is your doctor treating symptoms without getting to the core of your health concerns? Ready for a more holistic approach?

Discover Roots Health DPC—a revolutionary, patient-centered practice committed to nourishing your mind, body, and spirit. With constant direct access to board-certified medical care and dedicated time to address the root cause of your symptoms, we redefine your healthcare experience.

In a system where the average office visit is a mere 7 minutes, why settle for fragmented care? At Roots Health DPC, your health takes center stage—the foundation for life on your terms.

Your path to comprehensive health and wellness starts now.

Why choose direct primary care?
  1. Quality Time: Engage in meaningful conversations with your physician to craft a personalized healthcare plan, considering every aspect of your health, environment, and lifestyle.
  2. Seamless Communication: Enjoy ongoing communication with your board-certified physician, easily adjusting your plan to meet evolving healthcare needs—unlimited access, both in-person and virtually.
  3. No Waiting. No Copays. Ever: Affordable, transparent pricing with a low monthly membership fee provides unlimited direct access. Collaborate as a team to achieve optimal health, benefiting from discounts on labs, medications, supplements, and imaging.

Ready for a healthcare journey that prioritizes you?

JOIN ROOTS HEALTH DPC.

Gift of Peace of Mind

2023-12-25T14:00:26+00:00December 25th, 2023|Adults, Direct Primary Care, Family Medicine, Health Care, Public Health, Uncategorized|

Give the Gift of Peace of Mind: Your Time is the Present

In the spirit of the season, give yourself and your family the gift of year-round peace of mind. Time is a precious, especially during the holidays. Managing health concerns shouldn’t add unnecessary stress to your life.

Your Time is Valuable

In the midst of holiday chaos, every minute counts. Balancing work, family, and unexpected health issues can feel like a never-ending juggle. As a working parent, I understand the challenges of carrying the mental load and strive to help you reclaim your time.

Immediate Health Support

Picture this: “My son has a sore throat and fever; I’ve reached out to his doctor’s office and am waiting for a call back.” Your health concerns should be addressed promptly. As your physician, I’m here to provide immediate answers to your health questions via text, allowing you to swiftly address concerns and get back to the joy of the season.

Make the gift of peace of mind last all year long. Discover the ease of Direct Primary Care, making healthcare straightforward and stress-free.

Effortless Healthcare Solutions

“My daughter cut open her foot. Urgent care or ER?” Waiting for a callback or spending hours in a waiting room is not an option for busy families. We handle these situations promptly, ensuring your family’s health is prioritized without unnecessary delays.

Streamlined Doctor Visits

“I’m constantly tired, but scheduling a doctor’s appointment is daunting.” We’ve simplified the process. Booking a convenient time that suits your schedule is all it takes – no waiting room hassles. This isn’t too good to be true; it’s a reality we offer year-round.

This season, take a step towards a healthier, stress-free year. Schedule a free consultation with us and experience the gift of peace of mind.

holiday stress

2024-01-20T20:07:12+00:00December 16th, 2023|Adults, Direct Primary Care, Health Care, Public Health, Uncategorized|

5 Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday Season

I am at the point in my life where I Just want soak up and enjoy the holidays with my family as much as I can. I don’t want to spend time with any negative energy.

Let us help you live a stress-free life.

Check out Roots Health Direct Primary Care!

The following are by best tips for doing just that:

1. Adjust Expectations:

Don’t aim for perfection. Families evolve, traditions change. Feelings are not facts…focus on what truly matters and allow yourself the space to process those feelings.

Maintain Healthy Habits:

Keep basic routines intact to avoid holiday chaos. Prioritize:

  • Sufficient sleep
  • Balanced meals
  • Moderate alcohol consumption
  • Regular physical activity
  • Any relaxation techniques: breathing, meditation, or yoga.

2. Prioritize Self-Care:

Carve out time for yourself first. Engage in activities that bring joy, be it a walk or getting a massage. This rejuvenating practice can give you the boost you need to handle holiday demands.

3. Learn to Say “No”:

It’s okay to decline invitations or activities beyond your capacity. Remember, ‘No’ is a complete sentence. If overwhelmed, remove less essential tasks from your agenda to free up time for more self-care.

4. Seek Support:

Reach out to trusted friends, family, or even a therapist. Utilize coping tools to process feelings. Remember, you’re never alone.

Habits

2023-11-27T14:32:43+00:00November 27th, 2023|Uncategorized|

Habits: Directing Your Life Intentionally

Our brains are the most amazing organ. It organizes and integrates an incredible amount of data quickly… allowing us to operate on “auto-pilot” for much of our day. Our brains create well worn pathways so that we can do routine tasks without shifting our focus to them. How to harness the strength of this amazing gift and create the life we want? By understanding HOW to intentionally form our habits.

What is a habit?

Habits are behaviors we perform on a regular basis where some component of the behavior is considered “automatic.” Forming new habits requires repetition.

Developing desired healthy habits is something we can direct our brain to do.

Dr Diaz works with patients to help them build habits and reach their goals.

Habits are pathways in the brain that have formed through repetition. The repetitive pattern starts with a cue from the environment which triggers a behavioral response and is reinforced with a reward. The well known Pavlov’s Experiment demonstrates the principle.

In order to create a new, healthy habit—or even to break a bad habit—you must be as intentional as possible with all three parts: cue, behavior, reward. Manipualting our environment to introduce cues to intentionally associate with a desired behavior and reinforce with a reward is the foundation.

Changing your life habits can be simpler than you may think. With a few tricks, you can gain or lose any habits you’d like.

Understanding these tips will help you stick to healthy habits and break bad ones as you work toward your health and wellness goals. Focus on the cue.

In order to create new habits, we need to focus on the cue, NOT the behavior.

Let’s say you want to start practice daily meditation. Instead of focusing on time meditating, focus on developing the routine around the practice of meditation.

Choose a cue that already occurs regularly in your daily life, such as drinking morning coffee. While developing your meditation habit, focus effort on getting ready to meditate while you brew the coffee. Meditate for 2 minutes. Reward yourself with the coffee afterwards.

Develop the habit of prepping for meditation. Don’t focus on the behavior… you can start with 2 minutes and gradually build up to your targeted time.

After a while, you’ll start to notice that when you get up to get coffee (environmental cue), it takes little to no effort to mediate (habitual response).

You may even start to look forward to it…and feel something in your life is off when you do not meditate…. And that’s the power of habit!

HABITS VS GOALS – Don’t confuse habits with goals.
Goals are great, but putting habits in place that move you toward your goals are key. The goal is the destination and the habit is the journey. Build healthy habits by starting today.

Are you looking for a wellness solution that encompasses all your health needs?

Space is limited.

Sore throat

2023-11-20T14:17:53+00:00November 20th, 2023|Adults, Family Medicine, Family Practice, Health Care, Public Health, Uncategorized|

Soothing a Sore Throat…. Be in the Know this Winter.

Pharyngitis, commonly known as a sore throat, is a symptom that signals an infection involving the back of the throat.

Signs of pharyngitis include:

  • Sore, dry, or scratchy throat
  • Pain with swallowing
  • Redness/Inflammation of the throat
What causes Pharyngitis?
The most common cause for sore throat is a virus (such as the common cold, influenza, mononucleosis, yes …even covid). Viral infections don’t respond to antibiotics, and treatment is only necessary to help relieve symptoms.
Less commonly, pharyngitis is caused by a bacterial infection. These infections require antibiotics. The most common bacterial infection is strep throat. It is imperative not to leave strep throat untreated, especially in children.
How is pharyngitis diagnosed?

Physical exam

If you’re experiencing symptoms of pharyngitis, your doctor will check your throat looking for white patches, swelling, and redness and check for swollen lymph nodes in your neck. You should report any fever or cough as well.

Throat culture

If your doctor suspects that you have strep throat, they will likely take a rapid strep test in the office which can give you a result for strep throat in a few minutes. In some cases, a swab culture is sent to a lab for further testing.

Blood tests

If another cause of your pharyngitis is suspected, your doctor may order blood work looking for specific infections, such as mononucleosis or they may perform a COVID or flu test.

We are putting CARE back in Healthcare

What can you do at home?
If a virus is causing your pharyngitis, there are things you can do at home that can help relieve symptoms:
  • drinking plenty of fluids/ pedialyte popsicles
  • gargling with warm salt water (1 teaspoon of salt per 8 ounces of water)
  • using a humidifier
  • resting until you feel better
  • throat lozenges can sooth pain
Medical treatment
For pain and fever relief, consider taking over-the-counter medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen after speaking with your doctor.
If the infection is caused by strep or another bacterial infection, antibiotics are necessary. Amoxicillin and penicillin are the most commonly prescribed treatments for strep throat. It is important that you take the entire course of antibiotics for strep throat to prevent complications such as rheumatic fever.
How can you prevent pharyngitis?
  • avoid sharing food, drinks, and eating utensils
  • avoid individuals who are sick
  • wash your hands often, especially before eating and after coughing or sneezing
  • use alcohol-based hand sanitizers
  • avoid smoking and inhaling secondhand smoke
When to Seek Care
Let your doctor know right away if you are having a sore throat so that they can guide you on the next steps for evaluation of cause and best treatment options.

Looking for a doctor that you can text to reach quickly?

Open Enrollment is Here

2023-10-30T14:03:30+00:00October 30th, 2023|Direct Primary Care, Family Medicine, Family Practice, Health Care, Public Health, Special Offer, Uncategorized|

What Your Open Enrollment is Missing!

Year after year, we pay more for our health insurance and receive less. Frustrated and overwhelmed trying to obtain the care needed and getting it covered by insurance… many have resigned themselves to the status quo. But we all deserve better. With open enrollment around the corner… now you have another choice.

Can you imagine if getting the care you needed was as easy as sending a text message to your doctor? What if you had an advocate to help you navigate and ensure your well-being was the top priority. We are putting the care back into healthcare and giving you all the power to make choices that will benefit your health and well-being. It’s time to get what you are paying for.

Direct Primary Care (DPC) DISCOVER THE BENEFITS

At Roots Health DPC, we help patients plan ahead, calculate projected yearly expenses, and choose an option that will save on out-of-pocket insurance costs while providing higher quality personalized care.

 

Direct Primary Care eliminates the hassle of traditional insurance-based care. With a low monthly fee, you gain direct access to the vast majority of your health care services. Enjoy more time with your physician, same-day and next-day appointments. No copays or hidden fees. Work directly with your DPC physician to obtain tremendous savings on all medications, labs, and imaging.

This year during open enrollment, let’s look at ALL your options.

Choose the best plan to meet your healthcare needs:
It’s your money.
It’s your healthcare.
It’s your choice.

Obtain the health care you deserve.

Don’t miss your opportunity this time around. Join the Roots Health DPC family today!

Give yourself the gift of TIME

2023-09-25T12:57:16+00:00September 25th, 2023|Uncategorized|

Your TIME is VALUABLE

YOUR TIME is the most valuable resource you have. Give yourself the gift of TIME.
You work hard to balance time between your career and your family. When one of your own has a health concern that “pops up” or just needs to be scheduled …. trying to figure out the how, where, and when to get the issue addressed can literally take hours, and even days, from your routine.
I get it. I’m a working mom and I know what it is like to balance work and family, to “carry” the mental load, and then…. to put “one more thing” on your plate. My job is to take that stress off your plate.
“My son has a sore throat and fever…. I have placed a call to his doctor’s office and am waiting for a call back….”
When you have medical concerns, the last thing you need is to pile on more stress. Let me help! My patients reach out to me, their physician, directly via text at any time of day. They get answers to the questions they have about their health immediately and can take the next steps and get back to their busy lives.

We also offer telemedicine so you can get care wherever you are.

“My daughter cut open her foot. Do I take her to urgent care or ER and wait to be seen?”
I don’t know anyone who has time to wait around for a return call from the doctor’s office or wait into a waiting room. We take care of this for you…. without the wait!
“I am experiencing a constant feeling of being tired… but I just put off going to see the doctor because it is so hard to get an appointment and the visit takes up half my day.”
Let us make going to the doctor as easy as booking a time that works perfectly for your schedule and then coming in to be seen. We don’t have a “waiting room.”

THIS IS NOT too good to be true!

See for yourself how Direct Primary Care works… and get all your questions answered

What you need to know about Sleep Apnea

2023-09-18T12:40:24+00:00September 18th, 2023|Uncategorized|

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.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
Snoring is the most obvious sign and more common in men. Other signs and symptoms of OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) include:
  • Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
  • Restlessness during sleep, frequent nighttime awakenings
  • Sudden awakenings with a sensation of gasping or choking
  • Dry mouth or sore throat upon awakening
  • Cognitive impairment, such as trouble concentrating, forgetfulness or irritability
  • Mood disturbances (often dismissed as depression or anxiety which can co-exist with sleep apnea)
  • Night sweats
  • Frequent nighttime urination
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Headaches

Diagnosis and treatment for sleep apnea are extremely important for your long term health.

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.

How is sleep apnea treated?
The treatment for sleep apnea is extremely individualized and based on the underlying cause. Conservative therapies targeting the underlying cause may include:
  • Weight loss
  • Sleep position changes
  • Treatment for underlying sinus or nasal congestion
  • CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines or other mechanical therapy
  • Dental appliances that keep the airway open
  • Surgical procedures are usually reserved for unresponsive cases

Want a physician who has enough time to fully evaluate your health concerns and get to the root cause of your symptoms? Schedule a FREE “Meet and Greet” at Roots Health DPC.

Discover Health Sharing Plans (HSP)

2023-09-04T13:25:27+00:00September 4th, 2023|Adults, Community, Direct Primary Care, Health Care, Public Health, Uncategorized|

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.

WE are doing health care differently at Roots Health Direct Primary Care…..

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:

  • Are generally in good health
  • Are not eligible for a tax credit based on income
  • Lack access to insurance through an employer or government program
  • Only want/need catastrophic coverage
  • Can’t afford current health insurance premiums

HSP vs Health Insurance

The Pros:

  • HCP counts as insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), even though they are not insurance. This allows for affordable healthcare benefits while avoiding the tax penalty for going uninsured.
  • HSP are provided at a much lower monthly cost.
  • The annual “unshared amount” is much, much lower than deductibles for insurance plans.
  • You have any choice of provider. There are no network requirements. If you pay out-of-pocket, health sharing plans reimburse your expense.

The Cons:

  • Health care sharing plans are not required to cover pre-existing conditions at the time of enrollment such as cancer, diabetes, or smoking. Those who have them may be declined membership or won’t have the conditions fully covered for a year or more.
  • Health care sharing also doesn’t typically cover the essential health benefits like wellness exams or mental health counseling.

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.

Experience Comprehensive Care Now at Roots Health DPC

© Copyright 2020 Roots-MD LLC, dba Roots Health DPC
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