Good morning, my friends. It’s weird, viscerally I truly miss you, yet most of us have never met. I don’t know, hard to explain.Mind if I share a HIPAA-proofed telemedicine video call from the last couple weeks?My 10 am patient is in her 40’s-50’s with a BMI of 34.9 (5’2”, 191 lbs) and unfortunately many of the underlying illnesses that travel with that BMI (high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes type 2 and obstructive sleep apnea). At the end of our visit, like every visit, I asked if she was finding time to stay active during COVID-19. She looked back from her dining room to her kitchen and said, “No, not really.”I have to say, I’m endlessly fascinated by this.“Wendy, I really appreciate your honesty. Do you mind telling me why? Are you able?”“Oh, sure I can do it. Everytime I go and start to walk for a few days, I just don’t see it making any difference. I never lose weight. I have to walk a LOT.”“I’m so glad you brought that up, and I’m sure you’re right. But, here’s the deal. Your scale is not the jury it’s your watch.Your walking 20 minutes or more each day is improving your immunity, your brain health, fighting cancer, reducing your heart disease risk, strengthening your bones – all that, EVEN if the scale doesn’t move for a while, and it will – it just takes time.”Wendy, all that fear you have about not wanting to get the corona? Turn it into steps. That is literally a way to significantly improve your odds of avoiding it.”“Are you done, Dr. Sabgir?”“Yes, sorry I’m done.”“I’ll go walk. I have a question. Do you wear a mask when you’re walking far away from other people?”“No, Wendy, I don’t. But I do wear one when I have a chance of coming within 6 feet of other people.”I thought these newsletters were supposed to be funny?P.S. Happy Friday, It’s MAY! Mis amigos!!!!!dsP.S.S. Public Service Announcement – second verse same as the firstI’ve been on many Doctor Zoom calls (because I started WWAD they think I’m a physician and let me in). One great one (open to all) is from Dr. Michael Rocha, a wonderful leader of ours in New Bedford, MA. Please call your doctor if anything is wrong. Patients are not coming in to the hospital when we could have otherwise saved their life. Be respectful of COVID, but PLEASE don’t put off your healthcare because of it.Join Virtual Walk with a Doc! Click here for more info. Click here to receive email updates. Featuring Illustrator Milo Manara’s Collection Here |
