VOL 18/ Issue: #4 / Autumn 2022 View as Webpage
TOP PODCAST DONE WEEKLY
BY DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM
(UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA)  
 
Dr. Osterholm is a world-renowned epidemiologist who was credited with first elucidating TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME in the 1980’s, and he provides comprehensive and understandable/actionable ideas related to COVID.

Connect with all of
Dr. Osterholm Podcasts
Fall: The season of cozy, delicious,
wisdom-inducing rediscovery
Fall is the season for all senses. The feel of cooler temperatures after a long summer. A warm, visually pleasing palate of reds, oranges and browns. The taste of pumpkin spice in everything. The sound of crunching leaves underfoot. The smell of woodsmoke.

The many elements of autumn either intrinsically deliver happiness or trigger memories of past joy from which we can keep taking bites, as from a freshly baked apple pie.
While we celebrate the seasonal joys, we should remind ourselves that they are blazes on a trail that goes deep into a beautiful forest of wisdom and meaning.

Like spring, fall is a season of transition, a reminder of the value of change, in this case from bright, buzzing, verdant summer toward the dark, quiet calm of winter. It’s a journey inward; first experiential, then intellectual and finally into the collective unconscious.

This season’s holidays remind us to be thankful for our bounty and to have fun. Our senses lead us to embrace the outdoors. Our emotions are heightened, brains kicked into gear, and our sense of time and place is nestled in big, leafy piles of autumnal joy.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month – October 2022
The National Breast Cancer Foundation reports that a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every two minutes.

Innovations in research, surgical options and clinical trials give women many more options. With early detection, a woman’s survival rate goes up.

That’s why breast self exams are an important way for women to give their “girls” a fighting chance, especially during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.


How TJ Maxx and Ross Offer Such Deep Discounts
It’s a great time to be a closeout store like TJ Maxx.

Traditional brands and retailers are overstocked on clothing, home goods, electronics and other merchandise. In July, they were sitting on $713 billion in inventory, according to the latest data from the Census Bureau.

That’s a prime opportunity for “off-price” retailers such as TJX (TJX) – the parent of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods – as well as Ross (ROST), Burlington (BURL) and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet (OLLI).

These chains have flexible buying models and are able to scoop up unwanted merchandise from suppliers at steep discounts to their initial wholesale price.

Unlike brands and stores that lock in their inventory six months to a year in advance, TJX and other off-price chains buy surplus merchandise to sell it right away. They also capitalize on orders that have been canceled or when companies manufacture too many items.

And if a designer changes the style or color of a dress, for example, off-price stores are happy to take it and sell it on the cheap.
If the price is right, these companies will also buy some merchandise and store it away for future seasons – a practice known as packaway.

By buying goods cheap and controlling costs with limited advertising budgets, off-price stores can sell designer names and mid-range brands anywhere from 20% to 60% below regular retailers’ prices.

Tom's Travels


 'STOCKHOLM:
THE GEM OF SCANDINAVIA'
To get an accurate feel for Scandinavia would be impossible without a visit to Stockholm, Sweden’s capital and the home of the Nobel Prize where the awarding ceremony takes place in City Hall. Many buildings have either a refined architectural line or else colorful folksy grouping. Either way, this city composed of islands connected by bridges is very attractive and is the setting for several recent novels and films.
As a contrast it is not unusual to see a gnome sitting outside a store or young ladies attracting a crowd by dressing in outlandish costumes and handing out souvenirs and literature about an event soon taking place. They love American jazz music and free concerts with the emcee speaking English is common since so many study and speak it.
The main tourist attraction for visitors is the Vasa (or Wasa) Museum built around a battleship that was constructed in 1626-28 to battle the Polish-Lithuanian enemies of Sweden. It only made it as far as 1400 yards before sinking due to imbalances that were overlooked. In the late 50’s it was located during construction of a shopping area, raised and even painted in places to show its worth at the time.
Before leaving a city I try to visit the most elegant hotel to take photos and have either a drink or dessert and tea in the bar. If you are dressed nicely you will be welcomed as if you were staying there and they are happy for the publicity with my photos. Its fun to experience for a moment how some fortunate travelers enjoy an atmosphere totally different from what I can afford.
Happy Travels!

Flu ‘Gathering Speed’ Across US As Health Officials And Doctors Prepare For a Potentially Rough Season
US health officials are becoming increasingly concerned about this year’s flu season – and are already seeing signs that the virus is spreading.
As the 2022-23 flu season gets underway, one high school in California is facing a “high number of absences” among students due to possible flu cases. Flu activity in the United States often starts to increase in October and usually peaks between December and February.

“We can confirm that there is a high number of absences at Henry High School due to probable Influenza,” Samer Naji, a spokesperson for the San Diego Unified School District, said in an email to CNN on Thursday. There were about 1,000 absences Wednesday, out of 2,600 students.

Dogs Can Smell When Humans Are Stressed,
Study Suggests
There’s now scientific evidence shedding more light on one of Barkley’s impressive skills in a long list of endearing traits: the ability to smell when you’re stressed.
Dogs can smell the difference between odors from humans when they’re stressed and when they’re calm, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal PLOS ONE.

Earlier research found that canines may be able to smell when a person is happy or fearful, but this latest study eliminated other competing scents and measured its human participants’ stress levels to increase the accuracy of the results.

Researchers first collected breath and sweat samples from study participants to use as a baseline. Afterward, these people performed a mental arithmetic task, counting backward from 9,000 in units of 17 in front of two researchers for three minutes.
“If the participant gave a correct answer, they were given no feedback and were expected to continue, and if they gave an incorrect answer the researcher would interrupt with ‘no’ and tell them their last correct answer,” said lead study author Clara Wilson, a doctoral candidate at Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland.

A New Security Feature Applied To MyHealthRecord.com Patient Portal!
Hello!

As many of you may have recently noticed, there now is another security feature applied to our patient portal, MyHealthRecord.com. It requires you to verify your email address through a PIN number assigned to your account.
This is a one time only process and then your account will have an additional level of safety to ensure security and be compliant with industry standards. If you have not completed this yet, we encourage you to do so with your next login.
Here are some tips to help make the process go smoothly. CLICK HERE!

**Other helpful tips, if you are having trouble accessing My Health Record, please attempt the following before signing in:
  • Clear all cache and cookies for myhealthrecord.com.
  • Manually check under browser settings to ensure you are on the latest version of your browser.
  • Do not sign into Myhealthrecord.com using Incognito Mode or Private Browsing.

As always, if you need additional support, please contact our office.

Thank you!

Dr. Lakin & Staff
Dental Updates From Marie
Marie_1_2013
Diabetes – Its Link to Oral and Systemic Health

Introduction
Research and studies have demonstrated that common chronic diseases and problems associated with oral health have a detrimental and long-term reciprocal effect on each other. Therefore, to attain the most favorable treatment outcomes, it is crucial that general health along with oral health of patients is considered.   
The results of a recent study at the University of Helsinki confirmed an association between diabetes mellitus and chronic oral disease - including periodontitis, apical periodontitis (inflammation at the apex of a tooth root), caries, and patients having missing teeth. Also, it is known from the results of prior studies that periodontitis has a connection to many systemic chronic diseases.
This confirmed association between diabetes and chronic oral disease, which is known to adversely affect systemic diseases, is highly relevant because of the significant prevalence of diabetes among all ages.
This article includes statistical information regarding diabetes which will give an indication of the substantial population-size that is impacted. This group is at high risk for oral disease, which is already known to have a negative effect on chronic diseases and their treatment.

Diabetes in United States
According to the updated statistics from the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) it is reported that over 37 million people in the US have diabetes – that is about 1 in every 10 people. However, it is estimated that 1 in 5 people are unaware that they have it.
Ninety-six million American adults, more than 1 in 3, have prediabetes. More than 8 in 10 adults with prediabetes are unaware that they have it.


Fall Health Tips for the Entire Family
There's no doubt that autumn is a wonderful time of year. The leaves are changing color, the air is getting cooler, and pumpkin spice lattes are back on the menu! But autumn can also be a challenging time for our health. The change in season can disrupt our routines and make us more susceptible to colds and flu.

That's why it's important to take some extra steps to stay healthy this autumn.
Here are a few tips that the whole family can follow:

Schedule a check-up
Autumn is a great time to ensure everyone in the family is up-to-date on their wellness visits.

Get outside and enjoy the autumn weather.
Spending time outdoors can improve your mood and overall sense of well-being.

Make healthy food choices.
Eating lots of fruits and vegetables will help your body stay strong and fight off infection. Make sure to include plenty of Vitamin C-rich foods in your diet, like oranges, broccoli, and kale. Limiting sugary snacks and drinks is also key to a healthy diet.

Stay active.
Though your schedule may feel a bit busier now that summer vacation is over, finding time to move your body and stay active is essential.

Be prepared for cold and flu season.
Once summer fades to fall and the kids head back to school, cold and flu season tends to ramp up. Washing your hands often and disinfecting surfaces in your home can help prevent the spread of illness.
However, getting your annual flu shot is one of the best ways to protect your family.

Focus on your mental health.
Whether it's a change in the season, a shift in your life circumstances, or for a reason you can't pinpoint — we all struggle with our mental health from time to time. Though it can be a lonely experience, knowing you have a community to support you and rely on is essential.

Improve your health through hygiene.
Autumn is the perfect time to brush up on your hygiene. The cooler weather means fewer opportunities to be outside and around other people, reducing your chances of becoming sick.
Now is a great time to look at your family's health habits and ensure everyone is on the same page.

  • By Inyo County Rural Health Clinic
Fall Events In Phoenix
Autumn days in Phoenix are warm, sunny and exceedingly pleasant. It's a great time for recreational pursuits, off-season sunbathing and serious shopping. Nights can get cool, but patio dining and outdoor events are still comfortable.

Explore our seasonal highlights, or view our full event calendar HERE!
Winter holiday travel plans: Pounce now or roll the dice for later?
The high prices, the canceled flights, the booked-up lodging and rental cars. The summer of travel chaos still seems hot and fresh somehow.
But it's time to look forward, for there's another crunch time looming less than two months away: the 2022 winter holiday travel season.
So put away your T-shirts, break out your sweaters and get ready for the winter holidays. Here's what to know:

When should I buy tickets for winter holiday flights?
Decision-making on when to buy airline tickets seems more complicated that ever. Prices change daily, even hourly. The staffing and capacity ramifications of the pandemic are still being felt.
But October is probably the best window of opportunity. In other words, NOW.

Butternut Squash Casserole
By Casey Elsass

Ingredients

  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 1/2 lb. thick-cut bacon, sliced 1" thick
  • 1 (2-lb.) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1" pieces
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 leek, halved and sliced 1/2" thick
  • 3 c. roughly chopped kale (from about 1 bunch)
  • 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp. chopped fresh sage
  • 2 tbsp. fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 c. fresh or preshredded shredded mozzarella
  • 1 c. shredded sharp white cheddar
  • 1/2 c. panko bread crumbs
  • 1 tbsp. dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil


Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°. Coat a 13"-by-9" baking dish with nonstick spray.
  2. In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 5 minutes.
  3. Transfer bacon and 2 tablespoons bacon fat to a large bowl. Discard remaining bacon fat or save for another use. Add squash, onion, leek, kale, garlic, sage, thyme, salt, and black pepper to bowl. Toss to combine.
  4. Arrange vegetable mixture in an even layer in prepared dish. Bake until a knife easily inserts into squash, about 30 minutes.
  5. Top casserole with mozzarella and cheddar in an even layer. In a small bowl, mix panko, Italian seasoning, and oil, then sprinkle over cheese.
  6. Continue to bake until cheese is melted and bread crumbs are golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes more. 

Enjoy!




Did You Know Dr Lakin Has an Online Gift Shop?
Welcome to our online store!
Thanks to CafePress.com, we can sell a number of products with unique graphics on them. Feel free to browse our store and buy anything you like!

**Please note:
100% of all profits from the shop are donated to the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, for breast cancer research.
Have a safe & happy Halloween!
Paradise Valley Medical Clinic
Douglas M. Lakin, MD
Kaitlin A. Kraemer, PA-C
9977 N 90th Street, Suite 180 Scottsdale, AZ 85258
480.614.5800 (Ph) 480.614.6322 (Fax)