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Treating COVID-19 Syndrome Health Tip October 13, 2020 In the spring we discussed how COVID-19 was increasing blood clotting activity and how this was leading to surprising health complications by affecting blood flow in many organs throughout the body. We are now more than six months into COVID and have learned much more about how people respond to this novel infection, not only during the infection but also following recovery from the infection. Though we think of COVID as... a respiratory infection, it turns out that more than 40% of those infected quickly develop neurological problems. One-third of these individuals develop cognitive impairment that is, loss of memory or decision-making ability. How COVID affects the brain is not yet fully understood, but autopsies performed on those who have died from COVID-19, show that a lack of oxygen flow to the brain was a critical factor. Moreover, memory loss, confusion, difficulty focusing, dizziness, and language loss, are increasingly being reported among those who have recovered from COVID. These symptoms are occurring in relatively large numbers of those who have had COVID. In a recent study on over 3900 survivors of COVID, half reported having difficulty concentrating months after recovery. Memory problems, dizziness, and confusion were reported by over a third of those in the study. Physical challenges also remain after recovery. Chronic fatigue, muscle pain, and headaches are all common post-COVID symptoms, and these symptoms last for months. Survivors say they feel like they have been hit by a truck. The similarities between this collection of symptoms, which might be called COVID syndrome, and long-term second heart insufficiency symptoms are rather remarkable. Inadequate fluid return to the heart, as a result of second heart insufficiency, leads to fatigue, muscle pain, and headaches. As well, the drop in blood pressure resulting from reduced cardiac output leads to dizziness, confusion, loss of memory, and inability to concentrate. While we may not yet fully understand post-COVID syndrome, the symptoms lead us to suggest that enhanced cardiac output may well correct, at least in part, many of the complications associated with this syndrome. In the least, enhanced cardiac output is likely to accelerate the healing process. If you, or a loved one, are suffering from the post-COVID syndrome, consider trying out HeartPartner as a means to enhance cardiac output and reduce, or even help eliminate, the many symptoms associated with this condition. It is risk-free, as HeartPartner comes with a 30 day, money back, no questions asked, guarantee. There are few, if any other, options available for those suffering from these debilitating symptoms, and so please contact us at www.Sonostics.com and let’s see if we can effectively treat this post-COVID syndrome. See more

Today Thursday, October 15th at 10:30am Dr. Kenneth McLeod will be on WNBF 1290am Radio with Bob Joseph Please join our discussion about Post COVID symptoms and cognitive functions

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Breaking News - Dr. Kenneth McLeod will be on the with Bob Joseph WNBF 1290AM radio:... Thursday, October 15th at 10:30 AM Discussing Post Covid-19 symptoms and Cognitive functions. We are offering area residents FREE cognitive assessments at our Endicott offices. Call (607) 748-1700 to book your free screening today!

Mental Confusion This week we would like to share with you a recent post by Dr. Arnaldo Liechtenstein, general practitioner, and professor in the Department of Clinical Medicine at the University of São Paulo. Dr. Liechtenstein practices medicine in a warm climate, but in these dog days of summer, his message is very relevant even here up north. Whenever I teach clinical medicine to students in the fourth year of medicine, I ask the following question: What are the most co...mmon causes of mental confusion in the elderly? Some students offer: "Tumors in the head". I answer: No! Others suggest: "Early symptoms of Alzheimer's". I answer again: No! With each rejection of their answers, their responses dry up. And they are even more open-mouthed when I mention that one of the most common causes is dehydration. It may sound like a joke, but it isn't. People over 60 constantly stop feeling thirsty and consequently stop drinking fluids. When no one is around to remind them to drink fluids, they dehydrate. Dehydration affects the entire body. It may cause abrupt mental confusion, a drop in blood pressure, increased heart palpitations, angina (chest pain), coma, and even death. But there are more complications. Although they are dehydrated, they don't feel like drinking water, because their internal balance mechanisms are not working well. Although they may look healthy, the decline in metabolic functions can result in damage to their entire body. So here are two recommendations: 1) Get into the habit of drinking liquids. Liquids include water, juices, teas, coconut water, milk, soups, and water-rich fruits, such as watermelon, melon, peaches, and pineapple; orange and tangerine also work. 2) For family members: constantly offer fluids to people over 60. At the same time, observe them. If you realize that they are rejecting liquids and, from one day to the next, they are irritable, breathless, or display a lack of attention, these are almost certainly recurrent symptoms of dehydration. Dehydration creates many of the same symptoms as the lower limb fluid pooling we often discuss on this blog. If a family member or friend is demonstrating symptoms of hypotension, and they do not have symptoms of fluid pooling, such as swollen ankles or legs, follow Dr. Liechtenstein’s advice, and consider the possibility of dehydration. For further information, please visit our website: www.sonostics.com. And, if you know anyone who would like to receive our weekly Health Tip, have them email us at [email protected].

The importance of Vitamin D We are often asked how long it should take to rebuild the soleus muscles so that circulation returns to normal. This a good summertime question as to the answer, in part, relates to sunny days. The soleus muscles are deep postural muscles. A good comparison is your neck muscles. If you think about how you maintain your neck muscles, you quickly realize you never deliberately exercise them. Yet, they generally work just fine. How is this possible? W...ell, you get up in the morning, pick your head up and hold your head up for the entire duration of the day, finally relaxing your neck muscles when you lay down again at night. The soleus muscles require a similar type of long duration usage to stay in shape. If you squat instead of sit whenever you are resting, you will have no problem getting the required exercise to maintain your soleus muscles. For most of us, though, using a passive exercise device like the HeartPartner is much easier than squatting, or doing toe stands, for hours a day. It is important to recognize that training the soleus muscles does not mean you are trying to make them stronger. The goal is to make them more fatigue-resistant, that is, to alter the muscle fiber type. As everyone who has eaten poultry knows, animals have two types of muscle fibers, red meat, and white meat. Your soleus muscles should be composed primarily of red muscle fiber. Red muscle fibers are fatigue-resistant and can continually contract throughout the day. White muscle fibers are strong and quick, but fatigue quickly. When you do not maintain your soleus muscles, the fibers convert from red to white. Sustained stimulation of your soleus muscles will convert the muscle fibers from white to red, but only if you have sufficient vitamin D in your system. Your skin makes vitamin D for your body, but you need about an hour a day of exposure to the midday sun with your arms and legs uncovered to obtain adequate amounts for the body. This can be difficult to achieve in many geographic locations, so a diet high in vitamin D can also help you achieve normal vitamin D levels. Overall, to maintain good circulation, make sure you exercise your soleus muscles regularly and maintain adequate levels of vitamin D for effective muscle rebuilding. Get out into that beautiful summer sun whenever possible. When that is not practical, be sure to take a vitamin D supplement to ensure healthy soleus muscles. For further information, please visit our website: www.sonostics.com. And, if you know anyone who would like to receive our weekly Health Tip, have them email us at [email protected].

Having memory or other cognitive issues? GET TESTED!!! It cost NOTHING. This is a totally free service we offer to the community. The test takes 10 minutes and will assess your brains functionality. ... Call us today and schedule your cognitive assessment. Yes... TODAY!

Workplace Health Health Tip With the aging of the workforce, a new set of health concerns are more commonly being experienced in the workplace. These health issues affect not only quality of life, and therefore employee wellbeing, but also workplace productivity. Many of these age related health issues are circulation based, and so can be readily corrected by improving circulation. ... While exercise can be helpful in accomplishing this, periodic exercise bouts (10 minutes of walking following every 20 minutes of sitting is commonly recommended) are not generally well accepted by either employees or their employer. Alternatively, passive exercise, such as that provided by the HeartPartner, is simple and convenient, and associated with high compliance and effectiveness in improving circulation. Common health concerns facing older workers, which enhanced circulation can improve, include: 1. Improved glucose management for those with Type II diabetes a. Resulting in significant reductions in insulin use and therefore reduced medication costs along with delayed development of diabetes related health complications 2. Reversal of Mild Cognitive Impairment (memory lapses, confusion, declines in executive function) a. Increased venous return to the heart leads to increased cardiac output and therefore increase brain blood flow 3. Improved sleep a. Water excretion during the day reduces sleep interruptions due to a full bladder b. Reduced occurrence of sleep apnea (swelling of the soft tissues in the throat when lying down) c. Elimination of the pain associated with night-time leg cramping 4. Correction of poor thermal management associated with insufficient peripheral blood flow a. Chronically cold hands/feet b. Numbness in the toes (idiopathic neuropathy) 5. Chronic fatigue a. Improved energy levels resulting from increased cardiac output. HeartPartner can easily be used in the workplace when an individual is performing desk work, or in the home for those individuals who are not in an office setting during the day. For further information, please visit our website: www.sonostics.com. And, if you know anyone who would like to receive our weekly Health Tip, have them email us at [email protected].

Reducing Fall Risk In late June, Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, John Roberts, fell at a Maryland country club. He hit his head and was hospitalized for treatment of a cut, but has now recovered and is doing fine. Many others are not as fortunate. Falls are the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. for people 65 and older. Over 16% of the country, more than 55 million Americans, are in this age range, and one in four people in this age group will experienc...e an unintended fall during the coming year. The serious impact of a fall on an older individual can hardly be overemphasized. Falls often lead to loss of physical mobility for life, for example, falls are responsible for 95% of all hip fractures. Falls can also result in hospitalizations that never result in discharge a broken hip after the age of 70 is fatal, within one year, in up to one-half of individuals. Even for those with minimal injury, falling can cause a person to become fearful about falling again, leading to dramatic limitations in physical activity. While there is no single cause of falling, failure to manage chronic health conditions plays a leading role. This does not mean you have to spend more time with your physician as over 90% of healthcare happens outside of the medical care environment. You can personally help ensure that you do not suffer a serious fall. One of the more important factors which you can easily track is your blood pressure. During middle age, high blood pressure is a concern for many individuals. However, after age 60 our blood pressure typically starts falling. We have found, for example, that in women over age 50, more than two-thirds demonstrate low blood pressure (diastolic blood pressure below 70 mmHg) after just 30 minutes of quiet sitting. Numerous studies have shown that even small decreases in blood pressure can result in dizziness, particularly when standing up from a sitting position, resulting in falls. If such a fall occurs in a room such as a bathroom, the surrounding surfaces (sinks, toilets, bathtubs, tile floors) tend to be very hard, and so often lead to serious injury. Low blood pressure commonly results from an insufficient venous return to the heart. The soleus muscles play the dominant role in venous return and so maintaining your soleus muscles is essential. The soleus muscles can be retrained through squatting and toe standing exercises, or more conveniently, by using a passive exercise device such as the HeartPartner. A couple hours of daily HeartPartner use for a period of 2-3 months will retrain the soleus muscles, ensuring maintenance of blood pressure, and a reduced risk of falling. For further information, please visit our website: www.sonostics.com. And, if you know anyone who would like to receive our weekly Health Tip, have them email us at [email protected].

Chronic Fatigue Health Tip July 8, 2020 ... Summertime and the living is easy. At least for most of us. But, for up to two million Americans, life is not easy, particularly in the summertime, as they are suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Despite the common occurrence of CFS, it is not at all well understood. We do know that CFS occurs roughly four times more often among women than men and that the condition will eventually go into remission for about one-half of those who suffer from it. However, there is currently no cure. An interesting aspect of CFS is that almost everyone with this condition also experiences orthostatic intolerance, which means that they cannot comfortably maintain an upright position. An individual with orthostatic intolerance may feel fine while moving around, but as soon as they stop moving and try to stand still, or when they are sitting quietly, they feel fatigued. Orthostatic intolerance arises due to the inability to maintain normal blood pressure. The reason CFS symptoms are worse in the summertime is that individuals often become dehydrated in the hot weather. Dehydration leads to reduced cardiac output and a drop in blood pressure. In addition, in hot weather your body redirects more blood flow out into your arms and legs as a means of cooling down. This results in swollen ankles, legs, fingers, and hands, and once again, a decrease in cardiac output and a drop in blood pressure. If you have dizzy spells, feel faint, or are fatigued when standing, there is a quick and easy check to determine if orthostatic intolerance may be the cause. You, or your physician, can check your standing blood pressure. Take your blood pressure while lying down, then with the blood pressure cuff still on your arm, stand up, and continue taking blood pressures every few minutes. Your blood pressure should be near 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) while either lying down or standing. If your blood pressure drops more than 20 mmHg when standing, you have orthostatic intolerance, and this may be the primary cause of many of your chronic fatigue symptoms. Because low blood pressure when upright is usually due to insufficient venous return to the heart, the solution is to maximize venous blood return to the heart. The soleus muscles play the dominant role in venous return and so soleus muscle exercises are essential. The soleus muscle can be retrained through squatting and toe standing exercises, or through the use of a passive exercise device such as the HeartPartner. A couple of hours of daily HeartPartner use for a period of 2-3 months will retrain the soleus muscles, and summertime life should become a good deal easier. For further information, please visit our website: www.sonostics.com. And, if you know anyone who would like to receive our weekly Health Tip, have them email us at [email protected].

Stasis Dermatitis We have discussed in several Health Tips how fluid pooling in the lower body can lead to swollen ankles and legs, as well as varicose veins. But the complications of fluid pooling can also occur in a third location, the deeper veins of the legs. Pooling into the deep veins of the legs will also result in swelling of the veins, but this will not be noticed by the individual with this condition. As a result, the condition will often progress until the valv...es within the deep veins, which normally prevent backflow of blood, are no longer functional, a condition referred to as venous insufficiency. The most common sign that you have deep vein insufficiency is itchiness of the lower legs or the appearance of small red spots on your legs. These spots will usually be noticed near your ankle, but then you will start seeing more spots higher up your leg. Over time, the spots will start to surround your leg and spread up towards your knee. This condition is called stasis dermatitis or sometimes, venous eczema. It is quite common, affecting more than 20% of people over age 70. Stasis dermatitis occurs because blood cells are leaking out of your veins and becoming embedded in the tissue under your skin the dermis. The blood cells themselves will be removed by the immune system, but the iron compounds within the cells the compounds which make blood cells red will remain in the tissue. This is what results in the red staining of your skin. People are often told there is little which can be done for stasis dermatitis. Recommendations are to use compression stockings to limit lower limb fluid pooling and to sleep with your feet above your heart. Sometimes medications will be offered to reduce the inflammation and itchiness, but all of these approaches are simply addressing symptoms rather than the underlying cause of stasis dermatitis. The cause of stasis dermatitis is a poor venous return to the heart. The venous return depends on the action of the soleus muscles in the calves of the legs, and so retraining of the soleus muscles is essential. This can be accomplished through toe stand exercises or squatting exercises, but for most people, a passive exercise approach is far more convenient. The HeartPartner, by Sonostics, has been developed specifically for retraining the soleus muscles. Just two hours of use over the course of each day will retrain the soleus muscles over a period of several months and your symptoms of venous stasis will disappear. For further information, please visit our website: www.sonostics.com. And, if you know anyone who would like to receive our weekly Health Tip, have them email us at [email protected].

Effectively Treating Fibromyalgia By: Dr. Kenneth McLeod, PhD Fibromyalgia may be one of the most poorly understood health conditions. Over 4 million Americans suffer from it, yet family and friends often consider the complaints of those with fibromyalgia to have more of a psychological basis rather than a physical cause. In fact, many physicians focus on the depression which typically develops in fibromyalgia sufferers and prescribes antidepressants....Continue reading

An End to Nighttime Leg Cramps Nighttime leg cramps are remarkably common among older individuals. 30% to 40% of people over age 65 report that they suffer from regular nighttime leg cramping. Moreover, one-third of these individuals report muscle spasms in the calves of the legs, though sometimes the foot and thigh muscles will be affected as well. Nighttime leg cramps prevent restful sleep and lack of regular sleep leads to a wide range of additional health complications....Continue reading

Standing Desk for Your Home Office? The economy is starting to open back up, and many people are returning to work. However, a large number of office workers are being asked to continue to work at home for the foreseeable future. Even after the COVID-19 situation is resolved, we may all be working many more hours from home than in the past, and so many are thinking about how they should be modifying their work style for the long term. The question we commonly receive concerns... the best way to maintain circulatory health when you are sitting at a desk all day long. For many, this is now a longer day than you did before the pandemic with no commute time, after-work activities, or social events. Should you be getting a standing desk for your home? Should you be walking around periodically throughout the day in your home? Standing quietly for extended periods of time is certainly something you do not want to be doing. Standing increases the fluid pressures in your lower body, resulting in greater pooling of fluid in your legs and increasing the risk of developing varicose veins and venous insufficiency. Walking around is a good option, and much easier to undertake at home than at work. However, it is important to remember that walking does not exercise your soleus muscles to any great degree, and it is your soleus muscles that are responsible for clearing fluid out of your lower body and getting that fluid back into circulation. Exercise is an excellent solution; there are a wide variety of exercises that increase aerobic capacity, and certain exercises, such as toe stands and squats, help to rebuild your soleus muscles to reduce the fluid pooling that occurs when sitting for long periods of time (causing fatigue, lack of concentration, and low metabolism leading to weight gain). Of course, we recognize that maintaining a regular exercise schedule is not easy, so you can always consider a passive exercise program. That is why the HeartPartner was developed, to help you exercise while you are sitting at work. A few hours a day of HeartPartner use will train your soleus muscles, resulting in increased cardiac output within a few months and elimination of that fatigue and forgetfulness, along with helping you maintain body weight. For further information, please check out our website: www.sonostics.com And, if you know anyone who would like to receive our weekly Health Tip, have them email us at [email protected]