About Masks …
I can’t believe we still talk about masks, two years into this Covid pandemic. It is nostalgic to think of the days when my patients and I could talk freely to each other without fearing that we could inadvertently infect each other with a deadly virus. I often wonder now, how my new patients look…
COVID update for 2022
I hope you’re doing well and staying safe during this fourth COVID wave, attributable to the omicron variant. The virus is not typed on any regular basis, but with random testing omicron accounts for 95-100% of COVID infections in Maryland, and is probably above 90% nationwide. The virus is expected to continue to mutate,…
Managing Emotions During the Holidays
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, is how the song goes. For some people, there is nothing that matches the excitement of the holidays and the focus on family and tradition. However, for others, this time of year feels fraught with expectations that other people hold. In my practice, this is the time…
To Boost or Not To Boost?
The progress and studies on COVID booster shots have been front page news for many months now, and the CDC and FDA have given recommendations on booster shots for all 3 approved COVID vaccines as of last week. Here’s the summary: For those who received an initial Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine, everyone 18 and…
Dealing with Post-Covid Weight Gain: Think Brain, Body and Behavior
The last 18+ months have been emotionally and physically draining. We have been pushed to our limits in almost every regard. Responding to an unpredictable threat like the COVID-19 pandemic evokes the stress response – which has many serious physical and mental health consequences. The American Psychological Association published a survey way back in March…
Who can have a third dose of a COVID vaccine?
I just sat in on a meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting regarding an ADDITIONAL dose for moderately to severely immunocompromised patients. There was a very broad range of experts, covering the fields of pediatrics, internal medicine, infectious diseases and immunology. Here are the main takeaways: – Yesterday, 8/12/21, the…
Pregnancy during a pandemic – here’s what you should think about
At the end of March, 2020, our country entered a lockdown phase to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Life stood still, with families huddled in uncertainty of when they would reemerge into their old, normal life. Many obstetricians predicted that nine months later, there would be an explosion of births all around the United Stated. …
Boost Yourself and Others By Staying Connected
As first published this month in Psychology Today. Covid-19 recommendations over the last year have called for social distancing measures. Masks, six feet of distance, and avoiding gatherings have all helped to reduce spread; however, they have also impacted connections with others. Warm and cozy hugs, in-person meetings, and joyful gathering rituals such as graduations…
COVID-19 Vaccine and Allergic Reactions
As COVID-19 vaccinations start, we hear a great deal in the press about allergic reactions. Serious reactions to the vaccine are very rare, despite what we hear in the news, but because this is all new, serious monitoring is being performed. It is necessary to remember that the risk of becoming gravely ill from COVID-19…