Brian Elkins, M.D.

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United States
Alexandria, LA
Brian Elkins, M.D.

Board certified in Family Medicine and in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

01/11/2024

If more of us ate “real food” as described here, we would have less of all the health problems that plague us, from high blood pressure and diabetes to heart disease and cancer.

12/11/2023

Today we are seeing a significant increase in cases of the flu (Influenza A) in Central Louisiana--along with ongoing high activity of all the common respiratory viruses. If you have a "common cold" (sore throat, runny nose, cough, maybe fever in the first day or two), it's OK to tough it out at home and treat your symptoms as needed (and please avoid sharing it with others, especially older people). Contrary to the belief of some, we still do not have a cure for the common cold! But if you have fever with body aches and/or other more severe symptoms, you might want to be evaluated and possibly tested for the flu.

11/08/2023

Happy wellness Wednesday!

08/31/2023

In case you are wondering: yes, there's a significant wave of COVID occurring right now. Those at risk should be aware and take reasonable precautions; and if you are sick, please avoid exposing those at risk, especially older people. Although most people are experiencing mainly anything from mild cold symptoms to moderate flu-like symptoms, older people are bearing most of the brunt of serious illness. The graph below of daily hospitalizations for COVID in Louisiana stratified by age should help you understand the impact of age on that risk.

For those worried about mask mandates, I doubt that will be an issue since the new variants are so contagious that mask mandates, as they tend to be practiced (very poorly), don't reduce their spread significantly. That's not to say that individuals who are at risk won't potentially benefit from wearing a well-fitting mask, especially an N95 mask, in crowded settings or around sick people, or that sick people shouldn't wear a mask around others, especially those at risk.

04/05/2023

is back! When we are feeling anxious or scared, we tend to breathe quicker, shallow breaths. These emotions lead to a lower concentration of carbon dioxide in our blood, causing us to feel lightheaded, clammy, sweaty, and have tingly fingers or toes. Next time you are feeling anxious, scared, or upset, try this:
· Sit comfortably. Close your eyes if you want to.
· Breathe slowly and steadily through your nose for a count of 4.
· Hold your breath for a count of 2.
· Breathe out slowly and steadily for a count of 4.
· Repeat for a few minutes.

01/21/2023

Here’s a great team that I’m privileged to work with. They are a gifted group doing good work!

12/30/2022

We have definitely seen a significant bump in Covid cases since Christmas. Please take care not to expose the vulnerable, especially older adults or the immunosuppressed or those with chronic conditions, if you are sick.

12/27/2022

Good news: as of a week ago, flu activity was declining significantly in Louisiana; COVID activity remained at modest levels and was also slightly declining, as were hospitalizations for COVID among people 65 and older; and RSV activity has declined to the point that RSV season appears to be over.

We could still see a bump in any of the above following Christmas and New Year's. Anyone with a fever and respiratory illness should continue to take steps to prevent transmitting it, especially to those at risk (65 and older, or with chronic health conditions). Also, it wouldn't surprise me to see a second peak of flu, which could come at any time between now and April, especially after this recent bout of very cold weather.

Happy New Year!

12/12/2022

Flu activity is still very high in Louisiana. Please take care to protect those who are vulnerable--with flu that's children under 5 (and especially under 2), adults 65 and older, and those with chronic health conditions or immunosuppressed.

COVID activity is moderate in our area, and most cases are not severe, but this graph illustrates what concerns me the most: hospitalizations for COVID-19 are significantly up in the 70+ age group. Please take care to protect the vulnerable among us and keep away from them if you're sick, even if it's mild, since what's mild for you could become serious in a more vulnerable person. If I could get two messages across to everyone in our area right now, they would be:

** Don't go to work or be around others if you're sick with a cough or fever.

** Stay away from the vulnerable elderly if you're sick even with something you think is just a cold; if you must be around them, wear a medical-grade mask or an N95 mask and keep the time as short as possible.

12/07/2022

Is it too late for a flu shot?

While it would have been more ideal to have gotten it sooner, it's not too late--even if you have already had the flu this season, since there are multiple strains circulating, and some people get the flu twice or even more in a single season.

Don't judge your prospects for this season based on your experience with flu seasons of the past 10 years. This one is already more active than any in the past 10 years and is still ramping up. Your personal chance of getting the flu is much higher this year than it has been any time in the past 10 years, and that's likely to be true whether you get your flu shot or not--but the flu vaccine can reduce (though not eliminate) your risk.

The flu vaccine provides coverage against four strains of influenza, and there's a high degree of match this year between the vaccine and the strains that are circulating. Although the protection against infection is far from perfect (40-60% effectiveness on average in the past), when you consider the number of people who have had and will have the flu this season, reducing that number by 50% can make a big difference for your family, your community, and your local hospitals.

Flu shots are quite safe. I've had a flu shot every year for the past 30 years. I don't recommend things to my patients that I wouldn't do for myself and my own family.

Address

N Bolton Avenue
Alexandria, LA
71303

Website

http://www.brianelkinsmd.com/

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