Sierra Nevada Holistic Services
Your Resource for Integrated Wellness through Holistic Medical Services, Therapeutic Massage & Energy Work
Learn what’s considered normal, as recommended by the American Heart Association. See the chart below.
Note: A diagnosis of high blood pressure must be confirmed with a
medical professional. A doctor should also evaluate any unusually low blood pressure readings.
As a healthcare provider, a patient, a family member and loved one, I try to view all sides of how a person decides to treat, heal or cure an ailment. If the treatment is effective with minimal to no side effects, then it is hailed a success; even if the real success was more attributable to the innate healing nature of the patient’s body. Thankfully science definitely plays a role in the identification of assistive and supportive measures found in medicine of all types and philosophies. It is important to understand the majority of interventions of healthcare are really meant to be supportive of the body’s innate healing. Things like medications, healthy lifestyle choices, and stress management are meant to help support and maintain the body’s balance of homeostasis. As a healthcare provider, it is important that my decisions and recommendations of care of my patients are based in science and also driven by the patient’s beliefs and definitions of what health and wellness are.
Continue reading “What’s all the fuss about this marijuana stuff?”“I’ve tried various prescriptions for this pain. How can a laser help?” Often I am confronted with this and other similar questions regarding post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) and other types of nerve pain. I have had the pleasure of seeing patients’ smiling faces when they begin having a decrease and/or resolution of nerve pain.
Continue reading “Cold Laser Therapy”Is your life all work and no play? When was the last time you did something enjoyable just for yourself? Spent the day relaxing comfortably all alone? Or spent quality 1 on 1 time with a close friend content in just being together, talking, walking, wondering about life in general? When did you last spend time reflecting on the spiritual aspect of your life, sitting in meditation or prayer, or just looking up at the stars in wonder?
Continue reading “Is your life all work and no play?”One of the biggest complaints I continue to hear from patients and clients is the issue of lack of communication with their healthcare provider, most notably physicians and mid-level providers. Communication issues seem to be related to a few categories including: inattention to the patient (various reasons), lack of empathy and/or big picture of the patient, lack of time, unacceptance of alternative health approaches by the patient, and generational views of the healthcare provider by the patient.
Continue reading “Healthcare Provider-Patient Communication”I was recently questioning a patient about why I’d not gotten results of tests I’d ordered. Her reply, “I’d like to get my labs done, but I’m still dealing with my insurance company to ensure all the right codes are used, the labs are covered, and to find out what my out-of-pocket costs will be?” How can I argue with a patient that is advocating for herself? I can’t and won’t – she’s doing as I’ve asked, being her own advocate.
Continue reading “Being Your Own Patient Advocate”As I entered the exam room of my first patient of the day, I noticed he had some papers in his hand and didn’t look all that happy to see me. As I sat down and asked what was going on, he handed over the laboratory report received from his work physical. “I’ve been put on notice about my cholesterol” he stated flatly. “I suppose you are going to put me on medication for it?” he asked. His numbers showed triglycerides in the 600’s and total cholesterol greater than 280. Generally, we look for your cholesterol panel to be: Cholesterol less than 200, Triglycerides less than 150, LDL (L for lousy) cholesterol less than 100, and HDL (H for healthy) greater than 40.
Continue reading “February Health Blog – Cholesterol”I am often asked about why I would spend time creating my own business versus just going to work for a physician or a medical group. For me, spending time creating something is more valuable and rewarding than simply going along with the flow of a “job”. Don’t get me wrong, the process is not easy, uncomplicated, cheap, or without days of me asking myself the same question.
Continue reading “Why develop your own independent primary care practice?”