ISSUE 10: MAY 2025 

This month’s newsletter takes you from vaccines to values, protein to prayer, and scans to soul-searching. Here’s what we’re covering:

 

 

I hope you learn something new so that you can Speak Up For Your Health. 

You can dive deeper into each topic by linking the segment or podcast. Links are in  red, underlined, and bolded. Thanks for reading! 

2 Great reasons to Get YOur Shingles Vaccine

Want a two-fer? Get the shingles vaccine. Reason 1: Shingles is incredibly painful for the few weeks that those nasty blisters are present. And in 10-20% of people, the blisters go away but the nerve pain persists for 3 months or longer. This is called PHN- post-herpetic neuralgia. Two doses are 76% effective in preventing shingles (which also prevents PHN). Need another good reason to get vaccinated? In a large study of 280,000 people in Wales, those who were vaccinated had a 20% lower risk of developing dementia. What's the link between Shingrix (the name of the vaccine) and dementia? Hint: inflammation. Listen here. 

Protein Intake: HAS THE FDA GOTTEN IT WRONG?

I usually ignore online influencers when it comes to health information. But, this time, I learned something valuable. I have always known that the FDA Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.8 kg of body weight. What I didn't realize is that the FDA's recommendation is calculated to prevent deficiency – not optimize health. There's a wealth of convincing studies showing that the current RDA underestimates the ideal amount and 1.2 - 1.6 g/kg per day may be a better target. It will certainly keep you fuller for longer since protein takes longer to digest. Watch the segment here. 

Seizures VS Epilepsy: Know The Difference?

Big shoutout to Mike Marcotte  ("Give Me the Mike") Executive Producer of KSTP’s Minnesota Live, for turning a personal health moment (and a fabulous photo!) into public awareness about seizures and epilepsy. Mike’s seizures don’t have an identified cause—which is common. About 50% of seizures fall into the “idiopathic” category. The other 50%? They are triggered by strokes, head trauma, brain tumors, infections, medications like Benadryl or Xanax, and even high fevers. Basically, anything that irritates your brain can provoke a seizure. And, when someone has two unprovoked seizures, they have epilepsy. 

 

The seizures you see on TV or in the movies involve full-body jerking or thrashing (tonic-clonic, or more commonly, grand mal seizures). They are scary to watch so check out the image above for a quick do/don’t list if you witness this situation. But seizures can also be much more subtle. If you're curious about the signs that might not make it onto a medical drama, watch the segment here. 

CT Scans: LifeSavers and HiDDEN CANCER RISK

CT scans help diagnose everything from head injuries to appendicitis—but they may come with an under-appreciated downside. A new UCSF study has spotlighted the cancer risks tied to CT radiation, especially in children. Each year, Americans undergo more than 93 million CT scans, which researchers estimate could lead to over 100,000 future cancer cases annually—about 5% of all cancers. That’s on par with known risks like alcohol use and excess weight.

 

Scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis deliver the highest doses of radiation and are most strongly linked to lung, colon, and blood cancers. Children, especially infants, are at even greater risk. With smaller bodies but nearly adult-sized radiation exposure, their cancer risk is 10 times higher after a CT scan.

 

Bottom line? CTs are incredibly useful—but not every scan is essential. If a CT isn’t likely to change your treatment plan and is just providing “nice to know” information, it’s worth asking whether there’s a safer option. Watch the KSTP segment here.

The Role of Faith In Healthcare

Dr. Dawn Carpenter is an ethicist, financial advisor, and theologian who now leads Financial Longevity at the Milken Institute’s Future of Aging. Dawn’s academic and professional credentials are impressive—but it’s her personal story that will move you and inspire you to ask yourself questions.  This episode is about perseverance, advocacy, and spirituality. Dawn opens up about her journey adopting two daughters from Russia, the life-threatening medical challenges they faced, and why Dawn added faith to the medical treatment plan. Listen here.

Infertility is more common—and more complex—than most realize. In the U.S., over 400,000 assisted reproductive technology cycles happen each year, resulting in fewer than 100,000 live births. It’s a long road, often with no guarantees. 

 

A heartfelt thank you to Brittany Runck for sharing her deeply personal journey about infertility. It's one that many women and couples face quietly, often silently. Brittany’s honesty breaks the silence around infertility—and she hopes it will help others feel seen, heard, and a little less alone. 

 

One of the most powerful takeaways from our conversation:

Will AI Replace People? No. But…

This spring marked my seventh year moderating the Convene conference at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management—and it just keeps getting better. The 2025 theme? Responsible AI: High Impact, Low Risk Healthcare. The sessions were packed with bold ideas and honest dialogue about how to harness AI’s power without losing our humanity.

 

Two quotes that stuck with me:

“It’s not just the technology that will save lives but how you implement it.” — Dr. David Rhew, Global Chief Medical Officer, Microsoft
 

“AI will not replace people. But people who understand and use AI will replace those who don’t.” — Lou DiLorenzo, Deloitte Consulting

 

You can watch the full event here

 You can find previous editions of ArcHealth on my website. 

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.