Access Family Medicine Dr. Tamara Powell MD

09/03/2025

Hmm.... get your vaccine!

COVID-19 Was Associated With Greater Risks For Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis, And Chronic Rhinosinusitis, Research Finds
Healio (8/22, Gawel) reported, “COVID-19 was associated with greater risks for asthma, allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis, but risks for these diseases fell with vaccination, according to” research. The findings were published in The Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology. Healio added, “The largest differences in risk were observed between vaccinated individuals who had not been infected and unvaccinated individuals who had been infected...wrote” the researchers. The findings were published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

09/02/2025

How some foods interact with heart medications
Heart medications can be affected by foods such as grapefruit, bananas, soy sauce, leafy greens, garlic and black licorice, potentially affecting drug efficacy and safety. Grapefruit can interact with statins and calcium channel blockers, while high-potassium foods can cause hyperkalemia when taken with certain diuretics and blood pressure medications.
Full Story: Verywell Health (8/21)

09/01/2025

09/01/2025

Get your vaccine!

COVID-19 tied to vascular aging, especially in women.

People who have had a SARS-CoV-2 infection, even a mild case, tend to have stiffer arteries compared with those who have not had the virus, indicating accelerated vascular aging by as much as five years. The effects are more pronounced in women and those with long COVID, according to a study in the European Heart Journal. "The good news is that this damage is easily detectable and modifiable," said lead author Dr. Rosa Maria Bruno.
Full Story: Medical News Today (8/22)

08/31/2025

Flu vaccine available soon, encouraged for 2025-26 season vaccination schedule against covid-19

Flu vaccines for the 2025-26 season are expected to be widely available by September as the school year begins, and physicians advise getting the shot, which has been updated to target new strains. Despite political discussions about vaccines, the CDC continues to recommend annual flu shots for individuals 6 months and older.
Full Story: KFF Health News (8/17)

08/31/2025

Vaccines save lives (and reduce hospitalizations, which reduces $$$ spent).

A study published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found that 29% of infants born in the US between October 2023 and March 2024 either received the monoclonal antibody nirsevimab or had immunity to respiratory syncytial virus through maternal vaccination. Coverage varied by state, with Vermont at 53.1% and Nevada at 10.8%. Factors contributing to low uptake included initial shortages, unfamiliarity with the recommendations and affordability concerns.
Full Story: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (8/22)

08/30/2025

Mediterranean Diet Reduces Dementia Risk In People Carrying Two Copies Of APOE4, Study Finds
CNN (8/25, LaMotte) reports, “Closely following the Mediterranean diet lowered the risk of dementia by at least 35% in people with two copies of the APOE4 gene, a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s, according to a new study.” Lead author Yuxi Liu said, “We followed over 5,700 people for 34 years and found those who followed a baseline Mediterranean diet with little alcohol, red and processed meat but full of vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, legumes, fish and olive oil all reduced the risk of dementia.” Liu added, “But the benefit was highest for people with the APOE4 gene, especially those with two copies of APOE4.” The study was published in Nature.

08/29/2025

Doesnt' seem right to me.....

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is set to launch a comprehensive review of COVID-19 vaccines, with a focus on the impact of repeated boosting and international policy comparisons. The review will be led by Retsef Levi, who has publicly criticized mRNA vaccines despite lacking a biomedical background. CDC staff will have limited involvement, serving only in administrative or technical roles.
Full Story: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy

08/28/2025

Study links pollution from oil, gas plants to premature deaths

A study in Science Advances linked air pollution from US oil and gas operations to an estimated 91,000 premature deaths annually, with the biggest impact on racial and ethnic minorities. "What we found was striking: 1 in 5 preterm births and adult deaths linked to fine particulate pollution are from oil and gas," said researcher Karn Vohra. "Even more concerning is that nearly 90% of new childhood asthma cases tied to nitrogen dioxide pollution were from this sector."
Full Story: The Hill (8/22)

08/27/2025

Low-cal Mediterranean diet, exercise may reduce T2D risk.

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that a combination of a reduced-calorie Mediterranean diet and physical activity results in a 31% reduction in diabetes incidence among older adults with metabolic syndrome and overweight or obesity, compared to those who received only Mediterranean diet advice. Participants in the Spanish study lost more weight and waist circumference, but adherence to the diet may be more difficult in the US because of higher costs for ingredients such as extra-virgin olive oil.
Full Story: The New York Times (8/25), MedPage Today (free registration) (8/25)

08/26/2025

08/25/2025