Menopause Symptoms

2023-02-27T14:47:33+00:00February 27th, 2023|Adults, Health Care, Uncategorized|

BEYOND HOT FLASHES: MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU

We have all heard about hot flashes and night sweats, but there are more varied and intrusive symptoms that you may not realize are related to perimenopause. Did you know that the fluctuating hormone levels associated with perimenopause and menopause can lead to joint aches, urinary tract infections, changes in your sense of taste, brain fog, and heart palpitations?

Many perimenopausal symptoms can be confused with more serious medical conditions. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to speak with your doctor to rule out other causes. Once you and your doctor agree that menopause is the culprit… you can work collaboratively to manage symptoms so you feel your best.

Do you have enough time to get the answers to all of your questions at your visit? Are you looking for a doctor who spends the time listening and really knows what is going on? Does your physician collaborate with you to create a plan that works for you? At Roots Health DPC we believe that spending time with patients is the key to providing excellent medical care. Our visits are unrushed and unlimited. Dr. Diaz is available directly via text and phone to answer the questions that inevitably come up between visits. Schedule a complimentary consultation today.

Menstrual Changes

Classically menopause has been defined as NOT having a period for a year. But during the perimenopausal time, periods can be lighter or heavier and occur more frequently or less frequently than usual. It is important to exclude other causes for irregular periods such as thyroid abnormalities that may be contributing to the picture.

Night Sweats and Hot Flashes

We all know that hot flashes and night sweats are typical perimenopausal symptoms. Estrogen reaches every organ of a woman’s body. Estrogen levels affect the brain and as they drop the thermoregulatory center that controls temperature (hypothalamus) is affected.

Body Image and Weight Gain

As estrogen levels drop, fat distribution begins to shift from the hips and thighs to the abdomen. Weight gain often occurs. During perimenopause, many women experience this increase in visceral fat along with a decrease in muscle mass which studies have shown raises the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.

Sleep Disruption

Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep are both common during the menopause transition. Fragmented or poor-quality sleep challenges many women during menopause. Chronic Sleep disruption can be alarming in it’s insidious nature and has many medical and psychological impacts.

Fatigue

Feeling fatigued or exhausted during menopause is common. This can be caused by fluctuating hormone levels, sleep disturbances, or a combination of both.

Sexual Concerns

Decreased estrogen levels leave vaginal tissue less elastic. The tissue becomes thinner and may tear, causing pain during intercourse. In addition, vaginal secretions lessen which means less lubrication. Women may experience decreased libido. This can be multifactorial and go beyond hormonal changes to include body image, stress and life changes, energy levels and a host of other factors.

Neurological Changes

Feeling unfocused and having difficulty concentrating, often called “brain fog,” is a common complaint during menopause. Sometimes brain fog is caused by the sleep disturbances or fatigue that can come with decreasing hormone levels. Estrogen supports memory function, so when it begins to decline, you may feel like you are less able to recall names and other facts.

Musculoskeletal Problems

Some experience body aches, muscle aches, and joint pain. Estrogen helps to reduce the body’s inflammation, and when it declines, joints have less of the natural lubrication that helps them move easily and without pain. Estrogen supports bone strength. Without enough estrogen your risk of osteoporosis increases. Preventing osteoporosis is key and good habits are important to cultivate.

Heart Palpitations

The feeling that your heart is racing, pounding, or fluttering is a sign of heart palpitations. Typical episodes that occur secondary to menopause are usually short lived and harmless and associated with hot flashes.

Changes In Skin, Nails, And Hair

Decreased elasticity in the skin is one of the effects of declining estrogen levels during menopause. Your skin may feel overly dry and more sensitive than usual. Less moisture affects fingernails and toenails. This can leave your nails feeling weak and brittle, and they may break or tear easily. Decreases in the amount of estrogen can also cause hair loss or thinning hair.

Taste Changes

Less moisture in the body affects saliva production. In addition to burning sensations or dry mouth, on occasion women experience changes in how food tastes during menopause. A metallic taste in the mouth can occur.

Urinary Dysfunction

Declining hormone levels can weaken the muscles in the pelvic floor. These muscles control bladder function. The result can be urinary incontinence and women can release urine without warning. Some women can develop urinary tract infections and benefit from treatment.

Education on this stage of life has been inadequate in general. We will discuss tools available to break down and manage these symptoms over the next few weeks. Women do not have to suffer these symptoms alone and they deserve the support of their physician to make informed decisions. Many symptoms can be improved with a combination of lifestyle changes, diet-modifications, and hormonal therapies when indicated. Don’t miss the next “Mondays with your MD”… let us send it you for FREE.

Pharmacy hidden fees

2023-02-27T03:45:36+00:00February 20th, 2023|Prescription Costs, Public Health, Uncategorized|

HIDDEN FEES AT THE PHARMACY. WHY IT MAY BE CHEAPER TO NOT TO USE YOUR INSURANCE.

“I used my insurance for birth control pills and my copay was $50. The same medication is available for $11.65 when paid in cash. That’s a difference of $38.3. How can the price be so different?”

Most Americans have insurance that offers coverage on prescription drugs, but not all medications are covered. When your pharmacy collects a copay with your prescription, you can actually end up paying more for the drug than you would have paid in cash.

Why Is My Prescription More Expensive With Insurance?

Depending on your health insurance plan and policy, you may pay more for your medication if your plan requires you to pay a set copayment to the pharmacy for your medication. Regardless of the cost of your medication, you would be responsible for this copayment, but sometimes your copay could be more costly than the medication itself.

Most of us believe that a copayment on prescriptions assumes that the insurer and the patients share the costs of the drug. However, when a copayment exceeds the cost of the medication itself, the prescription benefit manager (PBM) keeps the difference as a profit. A common example would be when you pick up a standard antibiotic or blood pressure medication which cost $4 and your copay is $10.

How Insurance Prescription Coverage Works?

Prescription coverage varies by insurance plan and the list of prescription drugs covered in a health insurance plan is called a formulary. If the medication you have been prescribed is not on the plan’s formulary, you may have to pay for that prescription out-of-pocket.
The cost of your prescriptions may depend on how the costs are factored into your deductible and your actual cost of medication is not known until the prescription is sent to the pharmacy.

Another little-known secret driving up the price of your prescriptions is known as a copay “clawback.” These are prescription drug overpayments that occur when your copayments exceeds the total cost of the drug. The insurance company tells the pharmacy what to charge. The insurance company can overcharge the consumer, forcing the pharmacy to collect that amount, and then takes the extra money back as profit. This practice is carried out through a middleman, known know as a pharmacy benefit manager, or PBM. PBM’s negotiate drug prices with drug companies on behalf of your insurer. Some PBM’s then charge a co-pay that exceeds the cash price.

Nearly half of the insured individuals whose plan doesn’t cover their prescription end up not filling their prescription. Almost one-third of insured individuals across all income groups also said that they or someone in their household was told their insurance plan would not cover a drug prescribed by their doctor.

 

https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/pbm-practices-consumers-generics-savings-USC/624702/

We’re disrupting the status quo in health care. At Roots Health DPC we believe patients deserve easily accessible health care at an affordable price. We provide excellent medical care and make it easy for patients to get the medications and services they need. Schedule a free consultation with Dr Diaz today and find out how much you can save

How to Save Money on Prescriptions

Consider the following tips to optimize savings on your prescriptions:

1. Opt for the Generic Version

Opting for the generic version instead of the brand-name drug can offer huge savings. Generic medications are the same as brand-name drugs in dosage, safety, strength, route of administration quality, and intended use. The significant difference between brand name and generic is the cost. The price difference out-of-pocket comes down to the patent behind the brand name. Speak to your physician about what your options are.

2. Ask for a Different Medication

Your physician does not know which medications are on your formulary, but it is likely they are familiar with alternative drugs that are used to treat the same condition. If your prescription is not covered by your insurance and requires a hefty out-of-pocket cost, ask your physician what alternatives exist. At Roots Health DPC we help patients obtain medication at affordable prices.

3. Change Your Pharmacy

Surprisingly, the cost of your medication can vary depending on pharmacies. You can try GoodRx for your prescription if you have to pay out-of-pocket and consider changing pharmacies for a better price.

Resuming COVID-19 Testing

2025-08-04T17:32:21+00:00January 9th, 2022|Adults, Coronavirus, Covid-19 Testing, Families, Pandemic, Uncategorized|

>> CLICK HERE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT <<

As the number of COVID cases again increases, we are aware that reliable testing has become difficult to obtain. At Roots Health DPC, we have chosen to resume COVID testing for the community to ensure everyone who needs a test has access. We offer PCR testing (and rapid testing for those with symptoms as well). This service continues to be available and free of charge for our members. We will now make it available to the public (non-members) with discounted pricing for testing of families. We remain committed to the health of our community.

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