January was all about tackling real health challenges—from heart attacks and fitness injuries to social media myths and insurance headaches. Here’s what we covered: - Having a heart attack when you’re alone? Time is muscle—here’s what to do before help arrives.
- Is “adrenal fatigue” real? Social media says yes, but science says no—here’s why it matters.
- New year, new gym routine… and injuries. How to stay on track and avoid common workout pitfalls.
- Eating more plants (without going full vegetarian or vegan). Small changes, big impact—no “right” way to do it.
- GLP-1 drugs: The latest breakthroughs. Two new FDA approvals—one for sleep apnea, one for kidney protection—are changing the game.
- Prior authorization battles. A former insurance executive reveals the step-by-step strategy to getting the care you need.
- Caring for someone with a chronic illness isn’t easy. A nurse—and mother—shares how love, expertise, and sacrifice helped her son stay hopeful. It's a perfect listen on Valentine’s Day.
Let’s dive in! Links are red, underlined, and bolded. |
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Heart Attack: What TO DO IF you Are ALone |
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If you're CPR certified—fantastic! But here's something they don’t cover in training: what to do if you’re the one having a heart attack and you’re alone. I sat down with Megan Newquist and Chris Egert on MN Live on January 13—yep, the same day the Vikings played the Rams. And that timing wasn’t random. Big sporting events (especially when the home team is playing) see a spike in cardiac emergencies. But a heart attack doesn’t wait for a crowd. It can hit when you’re driving solo, relaxing at home, or just going about your day. The key thing to remember? Every second counts. So, what should you do if you’re alone and experiencing chest pain? |
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ADRENAL FATIGUE: FACT OR FICTION? |
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Social media—especially TikTok—is at it again, bringing back an old diagnosis trend: adrenal fatigue. The idea is that too much stress wears out your adrenal glands, leaving you with low cortisol, no energy, and a laundry list of other symptoms. Sounds legit, right? Well… not so fast. A review of 58 studies says otherwise. The science just doesn’t back it up—24-hour cortisol tests show no difference between people with these symptoms and those without. But here’s the real concern: self-diagnosing or getting treated by an alternative medicine practitioner for something that isn’t real can mean missing what’s actually going on with your health. Leah McLean and I unpacked the science behind this claim. |
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NEW GYM RAT? Don't Get InjurED |
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New gym memberships skyrocket in January – as do gym injuries. It's a bummer because they hurt AND disrupt the exercise habit you're trying to establish. My early January segment focused on the most common injuries, recognizing the early warning signs that you are doing too much and prevention techniques that will help avoid injuries altogether. |
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The ROI of A Plant-Forward Diet |
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A plant-forward diet doesn’t mean going full vegan or vegetarian—it just means shifting the focus to more plant-based foods while still enjoying meat if you want to. Think of it as flipping the script: instead of meat being the star of your plate, let vegetables, fruits, legumes, and grains take center stage. The best part? There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to do it—it’s all about finding a better balance that works for you. And even small changes can have a big impact. A University of Michigan study found that tiny tweaks to your diet can make a real difference. Worried about feeling full and getting enough protein? I cover that in the segment as well. |
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2 New INDICATIONS FOR OZEMPIC-LIKE DRUGS |
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Are you tired of all the news about GLP-1 drugs (aka Ozempic-like medications)? It’s not just media hype—there’s a steady stream of new news and groundbreaking updates. This time, I covered two major FDA approvals: - Zepbound became the first-ever drug treatment for sleep apnea in people with obesity—makes sense, since weight loss can improve symptoms.
- Ozempic was approved to help protect kidney function in people with diabetes—but here’s the cool part: it’s not the weight loss doing the work, it seems to be Ozempic’s anti-inflammatory effect. Check out the graph above to see how it slows disease progression.
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Do You Love SomeOne Who's NoN-Compliant? |
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"Just love them." That was Cherri Furness’s advice when I asked how to support someone with a chronic illness—especially when they’re not taking care of themselves. Cherri isn’t just a nurse who coordinates care for patients with chronic kidney disease—she’s also a mom navigating the same struggle with her own son, Jeff, who’s on dialysis. In our conversation, she shared how she’s kept Jeff on track with his treatment, and why she made the incredible decision to donate a kidney to give him hope. My takeaway? Cherri isn’t just a great nurse or a great mom—she’s an angel. |
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AN Expert's Recipe For Navigating Prior Auth |
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Health insurance companies aren’t ditching prior authorization anytime soon—despite ongoing legislative and policy efforts to cut through the red tape. So, in the meantime, what can patients do? I sat down with Dr. Lee Newcomer, a fellow former Chief Medical Officer at UnitedHealthcare to break down the pros and cons of prior authorization—okay, mostly cons. True to form, Lee laid out a step-by-step game plan for getting the care you need. The biggest takeaway? Escalate. And keep escalating. Catch our full conversation on Speak Up For Your Health. |
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Thanks for reading. You can find previous editions of ArcHealth on my website. |
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Until next month, Archelle |
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P.O. Box 91
Hopkins, MN 55343, USA |
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This newsletter is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. |
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