Dr. Nicole Ascanio discusses her experiences fighting the COVID-19 pandemic as a Family Medicine doctor in Omaha, NE.  We talk about she's dealing with people who may be infected, protective equipment supplies, testing and much more.

It’s been a little over a week since our last podcast which focused on COVID-19, the so-called coronavirus, and much has changed so we thought it made sense to provide an update.

As of February 20, 2020, over 75,000 cases of COVID-2019 have been reported, > 95% of them in China, and the outbreak is linked to more than more than 2,200 deaths. As the epidemic is evolving and the situation is rapidly changing, up-to-date reliable information on the number of cases and recommendations on management of cases and preventive interventions varies.  So, how concerned should people outside of China be?

David Sinclair, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Genetics and co-Director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging at Harvard Medical School and is best known for his work on understanding why we age and how to slow (and possibly reverse) its effects. He’s originally from Australia and his Audible narration of the book is particularly enjoyable. TIME magazine has recognized him on its list of the  “100 most influential people in the world”.

According to a study in JAMA, life expectancy rates in the US have stopped increasing and have started to decrease. This is in marked contrast to the rest of the developed world where populations can continue to expect longer lives. Life expectancy is a common marker of the health of a population and societal well being, so a decrease is worrisome.  When did it start to decline?  What's causing it and can we do anything about it?

Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods’ meat alternatives have gained media attention and are increasingly available in grocery stores and restaurants. Are they a healthier option than eating red meat? Are there any studies supporting health claims? What’s in this stuff and how’s it made? Lots of questions to dive into.

(Also referred to as Integrative or Holistic medicine) The functional medicine model of care purportedly offers a system of care that works to reverse illness, promote health, and optimize function by addressing underlying causes, symptoms, and functional imbalances in interconnected biological networks.  Sounds great, but there are many people in the medical field who view functional medicine as unscientific and misleading.  

It's been said that primary care in the US is broken - Our system is bad for doc's and patients as well.  What's behind this dysfunctionality and how bad is it? And, is direct primary care a better option for both patients and providers?

A series of meta-analysis (studies of previous studies) published in the Annals of Internal Medicine October 1, 2019 indicated the advice to eat less red meat and processed meats is not scientifically valid and there’s little reason for any individual to curb their intake of these foods. Predictably, the reports have ignited a media frenzy which has also engulfed the scientific community. In a statement, scientists at Harvard warned that the conclusions “harm the credibility of nutrition science and erode public trust in scientific research.” So what are we to believe... and do?!