December Newsletter
December, 2022
Welcome to the December newsletter. This newsletter aims to provide information and analysis of timely topics from recent articles published in the medical literature. I hope you find this information useful and helpful in your health journey. If you have comments or questions, please let us know. I hope you enjoy these articles!
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It's always hard to believe a year is coming to a close. The coming of a new year usually makes us think about resolutions and doing things better. I hope that you will all think about some ways to be even 1% healthier in 2023! On that note, I have chosen some interesting articles this month. The first article is a preliminary study but it has some unbelievable findings that could be useful to those of us stuck in front of a computer all day. Perhaps we can improve our metabolism without having to leave our chairs!

The second article deals with anxiety, a condition affecting all of us to an extent. We live in a 24/7 world where it is difficult to unplug which often leaves us feeling overwhelmed and anxious. We have medications that can be useful in many cases, but what about nonmedication interventions? Check out the second article for a specific intervention that was just as good as medication (with much lower side effects).

I know I have been indulging in more food and drink than usual over the past week. This can often lead to heartburn. The third article shows a simple change in behavior that can reduce our symptoms. Cheers!

I am so thankful for the many blessings my family and I have received over the past year. I have a practice that I love and a great staff and patients and I cherish our relationships. Happy New Year and I wish all of you the best for 2023!
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A New Type of Pushup
The incidence of metabolic dysfunction has been increasing for years. This metabolic dysfunction is caused by insulin resistance, which is known to cause inflammation and higher insulin (and eventually glucose) levels, resulting in fat gain, prediabetes, metabolic syndrome, and over time, diabetes. Most of us spend a good part of our days sitting, most people sitting on average 9-11 hours daily. Sitting results in a decreased metabolic rate (the rate we burn calories). Too much sitting has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and dementia. We all know we should be walking more and getting more activity. But what if there was a way to raise our metabolism for hours without fatigue? What if using only one muscle (1% of our body weight) could significantly increase our metabolic health? 
Better than Lexapro?
Anxiety is common and causes a lot of distress and can significantly impair function. It arises from thoughts that trigger an unpleasant reaction to things that are not currently happening. We all experience anxiety in some form at times but for some people, it can be disabling. Over the past 30 years, new medications for anxiety, mainly SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) have become commonly used. I’m often asked about non-pharmacologic treatments for anxiety. This study compares a treatment head-to-head with escitalopram (Lexapro) at two dosages to find out the outcome. Can anxiety be improved without medication?  
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Heartburn Fast
Heartburn, also called acid reflux, is a common malady that affects many of us intermittently. But for some people, it can be a daily or near-daily problem. There are several effective medications including antacids like TUMS, famotidine (Pepcid) which is called an H2 receptor antagonist, and omeprazole (Prilosec) which is a PPI or proton pump inhibitor. Long-term use of the PPI class of medications inhibits the absorption of iron, magnesium, B vitamins, folate, and calcium so it is best to avoid long-term use if possible. But what if we continue to have heartburn? Suffering from heartburn carries its own set of risks. This study examines a simple intervention that may be beneficial for people who suffer from even occasional heartburn. 
To Your Health...
Thank you for taking the time to read through this newsletter. We hope you have found this information useful. Feel free to pass this on to anyone you think would benefit from this newsletter.

Mark Niedfeldt, M.D.


Old-fashioned medicine with 21st Century convenience and technology