Hearthside Family Health

03/03/2026

Do you ask open AI medical questions? (If you do, you are not alone as 230 million people ask ChatGPT health questions every week). But Please rethink that...
AI has the capability to provide accurate information but ONLY when the sources it uses are limited to reliable sources. Open AI, on the other hand, uses everything it can access to locate the string of words that it "thinks" you want to hear. This may include Sally's Instagram channel and Marty's website for "Remedies you can find in your cleaning cabinet".
AI is NOT compiling research and summarizing those results; it is looking for language predictions only. Chat GPT Health came out earlier this year but think of this more as a "personal health organizer" . It uses access to your medical records and health apps like MyFitnessPal or Peloton to help synthesize that information into an organized set of questions to discuss with your healthcare provider. Again, it is NOT a medical expert. And I'm putting aside security issues about sharing your medical records for now.


----A new study in NATURE shows how well it can TRIAGE:

Researchers published a study last week in Nature Medicine testing ChatGPT Health, a new consumer health AI tool, on a basic but critical task: triage. Given a set of symptoms, could it correctly tell you whether to stay home, schedule a routine appointment, get seen urgently, or go to the ED?

The results were mixed, and concerning at the extremes:

For people who didn’t need a doctor at all, it sent them to one 65% of the time. A waste of time and money.

For routine visits, it correctly recommended seeing a doctor 95% of the time.

For people who needed emergency care, it only recommended the ED about half the time. It handled classic emergencies well, like allergic reactions or stroke, but struggled to recognize how sick someone was about to become, like the early stages of a diabetic complication.

More detailed medical data improved accuracy, but adding irrelevant information confused it. For example, when normal lab results were included alongside a note that a patient was suicidal, ChatGPT got it wrong. That’s obviously deeply concerning.

What this means for you: For straightforward health questions, AI tools can genuinely help and can certainly supplement a visit with a clinician. Add more details for more accuracy, but proceed with caution and certainly do not use it for emergency health issues.

01/08/2026

We are often being asked "EVERYONE I know is sick. Is there something unusual going around?"
Unusual? No.
The usual suspects are all at play this time of year, though. Influenza A activity is VERY high right now. RSV is circulating. Covid is fairly quiet, relatively speaking, but Norovirus is also having a moment.

It is NOT too late to get a flu shot. Flu activity often extends to March. The virus, unfortunately, mutated during it's travel from the southern hemisphere but the flu shot still reduces severe illness and hospitalization. There have been 5,000 deaths in the US this flu season already, including at least 9 CHILDREN.

Norovirus: WASH, WASH, WASH YOUR HANDS. Hand sanitizer does not kill Norovirus so use soap and water and bleach-based cleaners for surfaces.

01/06/2026

One size does not fit all....
Science matters....
Talk to your trusted doctor or nurse practitioner!

12/07/2025

Why the changes recommended for Hepatitis B vaccines at birth??
(sorry, I said JFK instead of RFK. No disrespect meant to JFK)

11/07/2025

Want to know how to modify your risk for later dementia? It starts NOW! Address your blood pressure, cholesterol, social interactions. Stop smoking, move more. It all really does add up! If you have multiple goals, pick ONE and set a small personal goal. (I'm going to smoke 9 ci******es per day this week and 8 per day next week. I'm going to walk for 10 minutes after dinner on Monday, W, F with my neighbor. I'm going to stop bringing chips into the house because I can't resist them....) Once you make some progress, celebrate that and pick a NEW small goal.
[slide from PriMed East, Brain Check: Promoting Brain Health and Detecting Cognitive Impairment. Amy Clouse MD and Andrew Hudson MD]

10/30/2025

We have more and more patients using AI to research their medical concerns and bringing us the results of this research. I sometimes find it difficult to articulate HOW open AI works and WHY this "research" is often so medically/scientifically so inaccurate.

Dr. Peter Lin gave this talk at our recent conference and it REALLY helped me understand how this misinformation is produced from a patient search. I hope it will help some of you. It's all about how AI pulls information (searching for word patterns) and the ever-expanding sources available online.

If you want just a tid-bit, watch 21:01-31:00. I think he explains these so-called AI Hallucinations very simply and
concisely.

Is Artificial Intelligence as good as Human Intelligence ? Did you know that it's intelligence is created by algorithms and Data collection by AI companies?...

10/18/2025

Did you know that you can save 30% on supplements (and get free shipping on orders >$50) by using our practice link to Fullscript? Since supplements are not reviewed or certified by the FDA, you should always look for evidence that your brand has been reviewed for safety and quality.
DID YOU KNOW that a 2023 study published in JAMA Network Open, found that only 11% of nearly 60 tested dietary supplements contained an accurate amount of key ingredients listed on the label? The remaining 89% were mislabeled, with actual quantities ranging from 0.02% to 334% of the amount advertised.
AND The same study found that 40% of the supplements tested did not contain a detectable amount of the ingredients claimed on the label.

FullScript uses only products that follow GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) to ensure that products are labeled and packaged accurately, and are produced without contamination.

LINK : https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/sbenham/store-start
This link is also on our website under Services-->Participating health/wellness partners

Visit our website today:
https://dpc.hearthsidefamily.com/home-page

10/08/2025

Rapid fire recent health information that may be relevant to you:

-Covid vaccines are now available for those 6mo and older under "shared clinical decision making with a health care provider". Basically, it's recommended for those at highest risk (under 2yo, over 65yo or those with risk factors for more severe disease). Everyone else can still access it after considering their personal options. The CDC website lists health care providers who can be involved in discussing vaccines with patients. They include anyone else who provides or administers vaccines, including primary care physicians, specialists, pharmacists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and registered nurses.

That means a person doesn’t necessarily need to make a doctor’s appointment to get a vaccine.

-If the ACA tax credits are not extended and your insurance is through your state marketplace, expect to pay more. See the calculations below based on data release by the government.

-Food recalls this week (check your fridge or freezer): Scott & Jon's Shrimp Scampi with Linguine sold at Walmart, Kroger, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Publix. Possible Listeria contamination
-Hillshire Brand:
State Fair Corn Dogs
State Fair Turkey Corn Dogs
Jimmy Dean Pancakes & Sausage On A Stick
possible wood fragments in batter
(Sold at Walmart and Sam's Club)

Known risk factors for more severe Covid disease:
Age, particularly for those 65 and older.
People who are unvaccinated or not up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations or have no past natrual immunity
Underlying medical conditions:
Cancer: Especially blood cancers, which can prolong illness or lead to more severe disease.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD): Particularly for patients on dialysis.
Chronic lung disease: Includes moderate to severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, and interstitial lung disease.
Chronic liver disease: Including cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, and autoimmune hepatitis.
Diabetes: Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes increase the risk of severe illness.
Heart conditions: Such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, and cardiomyopathies.
Obesity: The risk of severe illness increases significantly as the body mass index (BMI) rises. Risk starts to rise at BMI= 25
Immunocompromised status: Conditions or treatments that weaken the immune system, including certain medications, solid organ transplants, and HIV.
Disabilities: People with certain disabilities, including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disabilities, are at increased risk.
Mental health conditions: Including mood disorders and schizophrenia.
Substance use disorders: Such as alcohol or opioid use disorder.
Pregnancy: Being pregnant or recently pregnant increases the risk of severe illness.
Smoking: Both current and former smokers have a higher risk.
Cerebrovascular disease: Conditions affecting the blood vessels in the brain, such as stroke.

09/23/2025

Annual FLU CLINIC for our patients:

09/05/2025

Yes, PERTUSSIS (or Whooping cough) is in Peterborough and surrounding parts of NH. [see video below of what this cough is like for a child]

Yes, MEASLES cases have occurred this summer in New England (VT and RI). These diseases are NOT gone. The best protection against them is vaccination.

NONE of us want to see our kids suffer and we all want what is best for them. As a family practitioner of 23 years, I would NOT give your child something that I haven't given my own children. I fully support the childhood vaccine schedule endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (as well as the AAFP, ACOG and MANY other well-established medical societies)

Talk to your own pediatrician, family doctor or nurse
practitioner. Do you have concerns? ASK your provider about them; often an honest and open conversation can address those concerns.
If your child is unvaccinated or under-vaccinated, it's never too late to get them started!
-Dr. Golden

RELATED CONTENT➡️ Cervical Cancer Signs -- https://youtu.be/C-yYg1T-ap0➡️ Pediatric Rare Hepatitis: https://youtu.be/NYu0tzeZrF8➡️ ALL About Monkeypox: https...

09/04/2025

We have September appointments available! Julie has extensive experience in Pediatric Pulmonology as well as primary care- does your child have asthma? allergies? Imagine getting primary care and specialty-level care in the same place! All ages welcome.
Call today: 603-312-1600, extension #4 Kent can give you information...
*Julie cannot accept Medicare patients at this time*

08/11/2025

DID YOU KNOW? The 10,000 steps per day recommendation originated in Japan in the 1960's as a marketing campaign for a pedometer?? Over time, this became a widely-adopted fitness target.
BUT, you don't need to hit 10,000 steps/day to see benefits. ANY movement is better than none.
When researchers studied HOW many steps are of benefit, they found that even a small increase in daily steps can lead to significant benefits. This was ESPECIALLY true in the previously-sedentary group. In the study, the group of patients could be divided into 4 groups based on how many steps/day they walked: 1) up to 3500 steps/day, 2) up to 5800 steps/day, 3) up to 7800 steps/day and 4) up to 10,900 steps/day . Moving to a more active quartile showed a progressive DECREASE in mortality risk with the highest steps/day group showing a 40-53% lower risk of death than the lowest group.

So, just walk! If you barely move, aim for 3500 steps/day. Try to move up to a more active goal if you are already walking. Check your iPhone or device of choice to get an idea of how many steps/day you walk on average.
How to motivate yourself?? Walk with a friend, listen to music, listen to an audiobook, reward yourself for hitting your daily goal (try non-food rewards). You can also divide this into several shorter walks/day. Get creative! Get moving!