'National Superhero Day'

The first fictional superhero stories were published in a comic strip in 1936 (Phantom), then in 1940 a female counterpart was introduced (Fantomah), and since then hundreds of them have been created and developed. And now, when we think of Superheroes, it’s all too common that what comes to mind is a man or woman with special powers, donning a tight, spandex suit that is often brightly colored, garishly patterned, and inevitably has the underwear on the outside.

While caped crusaders and masked vigilantes are certainly one type of superhero (and these can be super fun to enjoy and dream about in the world of fiction), these are certainly not the only kind!

Other kinds of superheroes are out there in the world, who are probably less obvious but no less important. These are the heroes who are firefighter’s, police officers, hospital workers, those that drive ambulances or Medivac Helicopters. Or, sometimes they just wear the clothes of a mother or father hard at work.

National Superhero Day is here to remind people all over the world that superheroes can come in any shape, size or color, and being one is more about valor of the heart than having actual super-powers.

National Superhero Day is the perfect time to let the heroes of this

life be identified and celebrated!



Read more here. . . .



Every year Phoenix Magazine publishes a guide featuring over 685 of the Valley’s best physicians. The doctors are selected through a peer-review survey. The theory is that medical professionals are the best qualified to judge medical professionals.

The survey asks the doctors to nominate those doctors who, in their judgement, are the best in their fields.

Once again, Dr. Lakin has been chosen as a TOP DOC among his peers.

Now standing at 22 years!

(2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003, 2001)

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Lakin!

April 28, 2024

COVID IS AT IT’S LOWEST LEVEL IN THE PAST YEAR. IT REMAINS AROUND THIS SPRING BUT IS LESSENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY…. BUT STILL …THERE ARE INFECTIONS EVERY WEEK…

ALL DOING WELL.  BE PROACTIVE TO PREVENT NEED FOR HOSPITALIZATION.

• IF YOU DON’T WANT COVID FROM TRAVEL…. WEAR A MASK IN THE AIRPORT CROWDS AND ON THE AIRPLANE (UNTIL 10,000 FEET) …. THIS IS NOT AS ESSENTIAL AS IT WAS WHEN COVID WAS MORE PREVALENT…BUT IF YOU WANT TO AVOID INFECTIONS IN GENERAL DURING TRAVEL...IT’S A CONSIDERATION.

• GET BOOSTED IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO…PARTICULARLY OVER AGE 65.  

• IF YOU WERE BOOSTED IN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER AND OVER AGE 65, ANOTHER BOOST IS WORTHWHILE THIS SPRING.  THAT SAID...IF YOU HAVE HAD COVID IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS YOU CAN HOLD ON BOOSTING.

• FLU SEASON IS OVER… NO MORE FLU SHOTS THIS SEASON

• VERY LITTLE RSV IN THE VALLEY.

IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A COLD OR RESPIRATORY INFECTION RIGHT NOW…. YOU MAY WELL HAVE COVID. PLEASE DO A COVID TEST TO CHECK AT HOME.  

ALMOST ALL DOING WELL, BUT WE ARE SEEING A FEW PEOPLE NEED THE HOSPITAL TO RECOVER. 

THE CURRENT COVID VACCINE IS AVAILABLE.

  IT IS KEEPING PEOPLE FROM HAVING A MORE DIFFICULT TIME WITH INFECTION AND KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.

I RECOMMEND THE COVID BOOSTER GENERALLY FOR THOSE OVER 65. BUT……

• I HIGHLY RECOMMEND A BOOSTER FOR THOSE 80 & OLDER.

• I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE BOOSTER FOR THOSE OVER 65 WITH HEART FAILURE, SIGNIFICANT LUNG CONDITIONS, AND DIABETES.

CONSIDER BOOSTING WITH THE NEW COVID VACCINE TO REDUCE RISK OF COVID AND TO REDUCE COVID SYMPTOM SEVERITY

WEST NILE SEASON IS COMING:

WEST NILE SEASON IS COMING.  PREPARE TO USE PROTECTION.

IF WE HEAR OF NEW CASES…WILL REPORT TO YOU.

NO WEST NILE REPORTED…. BUT PREPARE NOW BY GETTING YOUR MOSQUITO REPELLENT.

PLEASE USE MOSQUITO REPELLENT

WHEN IN HIGH EXPOSURE SITUATIONS.

ARIZONA IS THE PRIME USA LOCATION FOR WEST NILE DUE TO HIGH WEST NILE VIRUS LEVELS IN RAPTOR BIRDS WHO ARE IMMUNE TO WEST NILE ILLNESS, BUT NOT IMMUNE TO CARRYING THE VIRUS. THIS CAN RESULT IN ARIZONA MOSQUITOS WITH PARTICULARLY HIGH VIRUS LEVELS WHEN THEY BITE.

H5N1 INFLUENZA

THERE IS A LOT OF NEWS ABOUT THE ‘BIRD FLU’….H5N1, AS IT HAS BEEN FOUND IN LARGE QUANTITIES IN COWS MILK IN THE USA.  THIS IS NOT INFECTIOUS IN MILK, BUT IT DEMONSTRATES THAT THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF THIS SUB-TYPE IN THE COUNTRY.

IT IS NOT A WORRY, BUT IS SOMETHING THAT IS TO BE MONITORED, AS WIDESPREAD INFECTION IN HUMANS WOULD CAUSE A VERY LARGE INFLUENZA OUTBREAK OR ANOTHER PANDEMIC…THIS TIME OF INFLUENZA.

THAT SAID, THE RISK REMAINS PRESENT BUT LOW.  WE SHOULD NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT THIS IN OUR DAY TO DAY LIVES, BUT WE WILL KEEP MONITORING AND KEEP YOU AWARE.

H5N1 IS A SUB-TYPE THAT IS DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE NORMALLY CIRCULATING FLU AND ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE AN IMMUNIZATION FOR THIS IF IT BECOMES WIDESPREAD IN HUMANS, THERE IS LITTLE NATURAL IMMUNITY TO THIS FORM OF FLU AND IT IS FELT THAT H5N1 HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR PANDEMIC EFFECTS.

TOP PODCAST DONE WEEKLY

BY DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM

(UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA)  

He is a world-renowned epidemiologist who was credited with first elucidating TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME in the 1980’s.

He provides comprehensive and understandable/actionable ideas related to COVID.

Dr. Osterholm Update: COVID-19 Podcast

April 18, 2024

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/episode-155-brighter-days-ahead

(Same as last week's... New podcast next week.)

"Brighter Days Ahead"

In "Brighter Days Ahead," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the latest national and international COVID trends, recent research on long COVID, and measles cases in the U.S. Dr. Osterholm also shares the latest "This Week in Public Health History" segment and interviews two members of the podcast team.

According to Dr. Osterholm……

• GET YOUR LATEST AVAILABLE BOOSTER IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD COVID OR IT’S BEEN LONGER THAN 4 MONTHS SINCE YOU HAD COVID YOURSELF
• A GOOD MASK, N95 OF KN95, DOES HELP REDUCE TRANSMISSION…. USE IT AT HIGH-RISK LOCATIONS
• GOOD VENTILATION IN ROOMS/HOME/BUSINESSES IS A GREAT WAY TO PREVENT TRANSMISSION
• VACCINE, VACCINE, VACCINE…THIS IS OUR PROTECTION.  ALL VACCINES ARE EFFECTIVE AND WITH TIME WE ARE SEEING THAT THE J&J VACCINE IS PICKING UP STEAM AND GIVES SOLID LONG-TERM PROTECTION.
• BOOST, BOOST, BOOST…THIS WILL BE NECESSARY TO PREVENT RECURRING SURGE AND TO RAISE ANTIBODY LEVELS IN THOSE ALREADY SET WITH THE PRIMARY COVID VACCINE SERIES.
• ANTIGEN TESTING IS USEFUL, BUT OF LIMITED VALUE. DON’T DEPEND ON IT…BUT USE IT.

Know that unvaccinated remain a source of potential infection.  Avoiding unvaccinated persons will reduce your risk of COVID.

The West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes. The West Nile virus can infect humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses, and some other mammals. In very rare cases, the virus can spread in transfused blood, a transplanted organ, or through the placenta to a fetus.

West Nile virus infections occur in mid- to late summer and early fall in mild zones. It can also occur year-round in southern climates. Most often, the West Nile virus causes no symptoms or a mild, flu-like illness. But the virus can cause life-threatening illnesses, such as:

• Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
• Inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
• Inflammation of the brain and its surrounding membrane (meningoencephalitis)

What causes West Nile virus?

West Nile virus is spread to humans through the bite of an infected female mosquito. The mosquitoes get the virus when they bite an infected bird. Crows and jays are the most common birds linked to the virus. But at least 110 other bird species can also carry the virus.

West Nile virus isn't spread between humans. But there have been a few cases where it has spread through organ transplants. The risk of getting the virus from an organ is unknown. Not all organ donors are tested for West Nile virus. All blood is screened for the virus. The risk for getting West Nile virus from blood is much lower than the risk of not having any procedure that would call for a blood transfusion.

What are the symptoms of West Nile virus?

Most people infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms. They won't know they had the infection.

About 1 in 5 people who become infected will develop West Nile fever. This is a flu-like illness. These are the most common symptoms of West Nile fever:

• Fever
• Headache
• Body aches
• Skin rash on trunk of body
• Swollen lymph glands

The more severe form of the West Nile virus affects mostly older adults. It occurs when the virus crosses the blood-brain barrier and can cause:

• Headache
• High fever
• Neck stiffness
• Impaired consciousness, extreme lethargy, and reduced reactivity to outside stimuli (stupor)
• Disorientation
• Coma
• Tremors
• Convulsions
• Muscle weakness
• Paralysis

Many of these symptoms can be caused by other health problems. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

Who is at risk for West Nile virus?

Certain things can increase the risk for getting West Nile virus. You are more likely to get the virus if you are exposed to mosquito bites during the summer months.

Most people who are infected have a minor illness and recover fully. But older people and those with weak immune systems are more likely to get a serious illness from the infection.

How is West Nile virus diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will order a blood test to check for antibodies to the West Nile virus. They may also do a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to test cerebrospinal fluid for signs of infection.

How is West Nile virus treated?

Treatment will depend on your symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how bad the condition is.

There's no specific treatment for West Nile virus-related diseases. If a person gets the more severe form of the disease, West Nile encephalitis or meningitis, treatment may include intensive supportive therapy, such as:

• Hospital stay
• IV (intravenous) fluids
• Breathing machine (ventilator)
• Prevention of other infections, such as pneumonia or urinary tract infections
• Nursing care

What are possible complications of West Nile virus?

Usually, the West Nile virus causes no symptoms or only mild, flu-like symptoms. But the virus can cause life-threatening illnesses, such as

• Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
• Inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
• Inflammation of the brain and its surrounding membrane (meningoencephalitis)
• 
  

Can West Nile virus be prevented?

At this time, there's no vaccine available to prevent West Nile virus. The CDC recommends taking these steps to prevent mosquito bites and West Nile virus:

• Use EPA-registered insect repellent when you're outdoors. These include DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. If you spray your clothing, there's no need to spray repellent on the skin under your clothing.
• When possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants treated with repellents containing permethrin, DEET or another EPA-approved product for clothes, since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. Don't directly apply repellents containing permethrin to exposed skin.
• Think about staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening. These are peak hours for mosquito bites, especially those mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus.
• Limit the number of places for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. To do this, get rid of standing water sources from around your home.

Mosquitoes are drawn to people’s skin odors and the carbon dioxide you breathe out. Repellents work by helping to prevent mosquitoes from biting you. But they only work at short distances from the treated surface. So mosquitoes may still be flying nearby. Always follow the directions on the insect repellent to find out how often you need to reapply repellent. To boost your protection from insect repellent, remember:

• Sweating, or water may call for reapplication of the product.
• If you aren't being bitten, you don't need to reapply repellent.
• Use enough repellent to cover exposed skin or clothing. Don't apply repellent to skin that's under clothing. Heavy application isn't needed for protection.
• Don't apply repellent to cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.
• Don't spray aerosol or pump products in enclosed areas.
• Don't apply aerosol or pump products directly to your face. Spray your hands and then rub them carefully over the face, staying away from your eyes and mouth.

Repellents vary on lengths of protection. Read the directions to find out how long your product will last.

Use care when putting insect repellent on children:

• Use an EPA-approved product for children. Use products with the lowest concentration of DEET, and no more than 30%. Do not use products with OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old.
• Repellent is not advised for infants under 2 months of age.
• When using repellent on a child, apply it to your own hands first. Then rub them on your child.
• Keep the repellant away from a child's eyes and mouth. Use the repellent sparingly around their ears.
• Don't apply repellent to children's hands. This is because children tend to put their hands in their mouths.
• Don't allow a young child to apply their own insect repellent.
• Keep repellents out of reach of children.
• Don't apply repellent to skin under clothing. If repellent is applied to clothing, wash treated clothing before wearing again.

Always contact your healthcare provider for more information.



When should I call my healthcare provider?

Most people infected with the West Nile virus will have no or only mild symptoms. But if any of these serious symptoms occur, get medical care right away:

• High fever
• Severe headache
• Stiff neck
• Confusion
• Muscle weakness
• Vision loss
• Numbness
• Paralysis
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Coma
• 
  

Bitten by a tick?

TickCheck can determine if your tick carries pathogens that cause Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. CLICK HERE

After you received your COVID or any other vaccination outside our office, please let us know!

We would like to document this information into your chart.



What we need:

1. Your name
2. Name & date of vaccination received
3. Brand name
4. Lot number if available
5. Which dose you have received

**Email your vaccine info HERE

Monitoring of Exposed Workers

CDC is working with USDA and state partners to monitor for infections in exposed persons in the states where detections in poultry, backyard flocks, or other animals have occurred.

• People who have been exposed to infected birds, poultry, or other animals are actively monitored for 10 days after exposure.
• Public health departments are working to monitor people who were exposed to birds/poultry or other animals infected with A(H5N1) virus.
• People monitored who show symptoms are subsequently tested for novel influenza A and seasonal flu viruses along with other respiratory viruses.
• CDC is engaging public health partner organizations to share information and ensure preparedness for any potential human infections.

CDC continues to support surveillance, contact tracing, and other steps to monitor for and reduce spread in jurisdictions where human infections with A(H5N1) virus are identified.

Read more here. . . .

Stanford Researchers Make Critical

COVID-19 Discovery

After 5 years with COVID-19, health experts say there is still much to learn about the virus that causes the disease. At the height of the pandemic, hospitals were overwhelmed with patients with severe cases of the respiratory virus including life-threatening complications. It was believed that a certain type of lung cell made some people more susceptible to severe infection but now that is no longer the case. KTVU's Heather Holmes speaks with Stanford scientists Catherine Blish and Mark Krasnow about their critical new research that found a different suspected source of vulnerability.

We Are Here to Take Care of Your Healthcare Needs.

We Are Here to Serve!

Our office is using all techniques to reduce exposure to a minimum during your visit. These include: 

·       Temperature checks of all patients and staff.

·       Masks for all people in the office.

·       Cleansing of hands and surfaces repeatedly.

·       Multiple Super-HEPA filters to filter out potential virus and particles in the office.

·       High Level UV light air cleansing in the office to eliminate bacteria and viruses in the air.

OUR OFFICE SCHEDULE

DOORS OPEN     

7AM - 4PM Monday through Thursday

7AM - 11AM Friday

IN OFFICE

APPOINTMENTS: MONDAY – THURSDAY

7AM – 11:15AM & 1PM – 3:30PM

APPOINTMENTS: FRIDAY

7AM – 10:30 AM

DR. LAKIN WILL CONTINUE ‘TELEHEALTH’ VISITS WITH FaceTime, WhatsApp or ZOOM WHEN NEEDED.

SUMMARY OF A COVID KIT & CHECK LIST:

This is what you should have at home to prepare for possible COVID, to monitor yourself if you were to get infected:

DIGITAL ORAL THERMOMETER: MANY BRANDS ARE FINE…HERE IS ONE EXAMPLE:

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Thermometer-Reading-Waterproof-Indicator/dp/B087T3S4TR/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=THERMOMETER&qid=1597159324&sr=8-6

PULSE OXIMETER:  TO CHECK OXYGEN LEVELS. MANY BRANDS ARE FINE...HERE IS ONE EXAMPLE:

https://www.amazon.com/Innovo-Fingertip-Oximeter-Plethysmograph-Perfusion/dp/B07YVGZPRZ/ref=sr_1_20?dchild=1&keywords=PULSE+OXI&qid=1597159388&sr=8-20

OTHER ITEMS FROM THE HOME MEDICAL KIT:

·       TYLENOL, ADVIL, OR ALEVE

·       Sudafed 30mg tablets

·       Chlorpheniramine 4mg tablets

·       Robitussin DM syrup

·       Imodium AD

"10 Amazing Superheroes

Who Were Actually Real People"

When it comes to the fantastic, weird and wonderful world of comic book characters, it's easy to think that they're all entirely fictitious and created solely from the imaginations of talented writers. In some cases, that may well be true, but there are also some very real inspirations behind a lot of them.Obviously there's nobody in the real world who can lift a building, travel around the world in ten seconds or take a bullet to the eye without suffering a horrific injury, but the personalities, appearances and lifestyles of many comic book characters are very much based on people who have really existed.

This notion applies to superheroes, super villains and indeed supporting characters and we’ll look at some examples of all those in this video.

Here are 10 comic book characters you didn't know are based on real people.

Stay Safe!