Movember and No Shave November – What's all the hype?
Is it an excuse for us not to shave for a month? A reason to grow that incredible mustache? ... You know, the one your spouse tells you to trim during the other 11 months of the year. Is it a chance to channel your inner Viking? Perhaps a vintage tribute to your pops in high school? ... Of course, it's all of those things!
Yet, more importantly, it's a time for us as men to take a conscious look at our health. Initially, the "Movember" and similar "No Shave November" movements began in the 2000s (2003 and 2009, respectively) as a creative way to increase men's cancer awareness and help fund cancer research through charities that support the cause. The movements have since evolved into a full force men's health campaign, raising awareness for not only prostate cancer but all types of cancer including testicular, colorectal and bladder. Discussions have also been started on other important men's health topics that are often difficult to address. These can range from low testosterone and sexual dysfunction to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. There has also been a much-needed emphasis on psychological health, including topics of depression, substance abuse, and suicide.
The movements have gained traction through social media and continue to improve annual awareness. The result? More and more men visiting their health care providers. Guys coming to see us means more prostate and testicular cancers diagnosed early and treated earlier with better outcomes. It means depression diagnosed before the unthinkable. It means better high blood pressure and cholesterol management to prevent that heart attack, stroke or kidney failure. It means ordering a brain scan for that persistent headache with left sided weakness that would have diagnosed that brain tumor earlier. This is a huge step in men's health, changing the male perception of medicine.
The movements have started to bridge the gap between our stoic grandfather's perception of medicine and our own. If you could ask your grandfather, right now, "When should you go to the doctor?" What do you think he would say? Odds are, in his post-war mindset, he would likely compare illness to weakness, and liken emotional instability with vulnerability. He was raised in a time where expressing physical complaints and discussing emotions were taboo. Which, retrospectively, could be why he unnecessarily struggled with a very treatable illness. We need to convert this generational perception of weakness and vulnerability to one of prevention and healthiness. It is imperative for our health and the health of our loved ones.
Stubbornness is not hereditary. Be the difference!
It's OK to be sad or angry and need help to overcome the emotions. It's OK to have testicular pain and get anxious about possible causes. It's OK use a medication to help you stop smoking or with your erectile dysfunction. None of these make you less of a man, and fortunately, all of them are treatable. You just have to start the conversation. So, get to your MD, PA or NP (we are all on the same team). Go to your clinic or get things started with LoginClinics via our easy to use telemedicine platform. Address these matters and keep the Movember movement going this year.
Remember: If you see your fellow beard growing, mustache waxing, masculine brethren on the street:
1) Compliment him on his awesome facial hair.
2) Open the discussion about men's health - go out on a limb and ask him if he got his PSA* this year, if he’s checked his blood pressure lately or if he supports any of the men's health charities. Maybe it falls of deaf ears or maybe it saves a life. Support men's health!
https://us.movember.com/about/foundationhttps://no-shave.org/
#GroAMo #Movember #JoinTheMo-Ment #NoShaveNovember
*PSA: “Prostate-specific antigen”- a blood test used to screen for prostate cancer
Author: Justin Bordeaux, PA-C
Concierge Medicine and the Virtual House Call Movement
In my first blog post for LoginClinics I talked about the current healthcare crisis; how insurance companies, lack of primary care providers, escalating costs and the busy American lifestyle have all combined to create taxation on- and frustration with- our healthcare system.
I remember when my Mom would take me to the doctor and complain about how much cash she had to fork out before we left the office. Shortly thereafter, she would fill out reimbursement papers, attach receipts, and mail the paperwork to our insurance company. She would then spend, what seemed like to me, every waking hour checking the mailbox to see if the reimbursement check came back. I thank God for my sanity that things have changed in that regard! It’s nice to let all the paperwork rest in the hands of the providers initially. Less stress… right?
The way our country’s medical system has evolved is fast, furious, exponential and complicated. From fee-for-service and indemnity plans, healthcare maintenace organizations and high deductible healthcare plans, to pen and paper charting, medical transcription, voice recognition, dictation and electronic medical records (EHRs). In addition to the way in which care is delivered, this private industry was pressured and incentivized by the government to contain and control costs and outcomes, thus came utilization management, risk management and case management, as well as laws and legislation to aid those who cannot afford- or don’t have access to- private health care.
Patients and the way they communicate with their health care providers has even changed as technology and medicine has progressed. Leaving voice messages with the receptionist have been replaced with communicating directly with your provider or nurse via a HIPPA-compliant patient portal. Through this portal, medical records can be reviewed as well as lab results, diagnostic procedures and upcoming appointments. Given all of this change and technological advancement, why do we still rely solely on in-person interactions with our healthcare providers?
Technology has advanced and so have the medical providers that render care. Primary Care generalists are harder to find and specialists have become the rule, rather than the exception. Orthopedics for example, use to be a solitary speciality, but now it’s fragmented into micro-specialties like “hand and wrist”, “foot and ankle”, “spine”, “sports medicine”, “interventional orthopedics” … and so on. With all of these sub-specialty providers, how do you know as a patient who to bring your problem to?
All in all, the bottom line is this: The healthcare system and it’s complexities are getting harder to understand and navigate. Care is becoming more scientific, more complicated and more expensive. A general medical provider cannot handle the individualized needs of their patients in our complex system. This is the main reason why I founded LoginClinics. As your healthcare provider and mentor, I can help you navigate the healthcare system for a conservative price, and from the comfort of your own home. Our Concierge Program provides one-on-one attention, instruction, education and guidance. In addition to this, we offer longer appointments for our members as well as prompt communication via our HIPPA complaint patient portal email or text message. LoginClinics… Why walk-in when you can log-in?
Author: Jaclyn Qualter, Founder, Nurse Practitioner and Healthcare Mentor
Emotional Resiliency
What does emotional resilience mean to you? What do you think about when you hear this term? For some people, they think of adversity and setbacks. Others may think of it as the ability to cope with their circumstances and ‘bounce back’.
The American Psychological Association defines resilience as, “…the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress — such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems or workplace and financial stressors. It means "bouncing back" from difficult experiences.”
Can you think of someone who shows that way of being emotionally resilient? Who do you think of? Earlier today, I was listening to a clip from Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations podcast. It was a preview of her interview with Chanel Miller, who authored the book, “Know my Name”. It was just a clip, which then led me on a trail to learn more about this young woman, who has shown so much emotional resilience in adversity. In 2015, Chanel was sexually assaulted on the Stanford University campus. She wasn’t a student. She just decided that she would be silly and go out with her younger sister and her friends. She knew that she would probably be the oldest one there. Her sister teased her for dressing like a librarian to a college party. She had a few drinks, and then the next thing that she remembers is waking up in a hospital room with no panties on, pine needles in her hair and scratches and blood marks on her body.
She wrote a victim impact statement and read it to her assaulter in court. I encourage you to listen to it online. Emotional Resilience does not mean that you don’t feel pain or you don’t suffer. Emotional resilience means that you have found a way to cope with the circumstances that might be engulfing you. There is no timeline for this. For many, being able to find one’s voice, or stand on one’s own 2 feet, or rise out of a pit of depression, may take weeks, months, years. Does this mean that you are not emotionally resilient? No. It’s a process, and that is okay. Embrace your humanness. Remember that emotional resilience looks different in everyone.
So then, what are some of the characteristics of an emotionally resilient person? Here are some:-
Being able to set realistic goals for oneself
Being able to encourage and be encouraged
Determination and perseverance
A positive mindset
Self-compassion and in turn compassion towards others
Effective communication skills
People have asked, how can I build resilience in everyday life? The best way to build resilience is to just dive in and practice it. Don’t wait for it to happen. Here are a few strategies that you can use with yourself or even with a child, to help build resilience in your daily life:-
Build your self-compassion skills. This includes acknowledging how you feel, rather than pushing it down. Be kind to yourself. That inner voice in your head. You know which voice I am talking about. Train it to speak to you, as you would speak to your best friend, or to a child, or to a puppy.
Connect, connect, connect with others. Even when the urge is to isolate, step out of your comfort zone and connect with someone.
Surround yourself with people books, music, you name it, that inspires and nourishes you
Check your thoughts. Are they solution-focused or self-deprecating and problem-oriented?
Acceptance. Accept that change is part of life and trust. Trust the path of your life. Nurture your faith in God. Start or continue a spiritual practice, and this does not just mean going to church. Think about what nourishes you spiritually? Is it a favorite self-help book, writing your own music, a nature walk, painting, meditation, listening to your favorite music or gardening?
Get moving. Yes, exercise, but actually I was talking about finding a way to serve others. It’s amazing how much our energy can shift when we can focus on being of service to others. This does not have to be momentous. It can be the small acts, such as paying for the drink of the person behind you, taking some flowers to the elderly lady on your street, inviting someone over for dinner or mowing your neighbor’s lawn.
Self-Care. Be kind to yourself. You are precious. Be patient with yourself and set boundaries in your life where you need to. It’s also okay to pamper yourself and carve out time to JUST BE. Self-care can also mean seeking out additional support such as a church, therapist, support group or mentor.
These are just a few ideas to help you nurture the seeds of emotional resilience that are within you. It is a process, and it can be built upon. Find ways to practice it in your daily life.
“The human capacity for burden is like bamboo – far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance.” – Jodi Picoult
Sources:
- American Psychological Association website
- Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations podcast
- Time to Change website
Author: Sarah Harris, LMFT, RPT, BC-TMH
