ISSUE 17: March 2026

Welcome to the March ArcHealth Newsletter. Here are the topic I covered last month.  what caught my attention this month.

I hope you learn something new—and something that helps you Speak Up For Your Health.Links are in bold, red, and underlined. 

40 million people worldwide turn to ChatGPT, Claude and other chatbots every day for health questions. So, a new Nature Medicine study looked at how good the responses are. The answer?  AI models nailed the diagnosis 94–97% of the time — when they were given the full medical story. But when everyday people used the same tools, accuracy dropped to 34%. 

 

Why the difference?  AI isn't “bad at medicine.” Rather, users often don't include key details. In one example, the user asked the bot about “stomach pain after getting takeout food”. The bot though it sounded like heartburn. But, the real diagnosis was gallstones. Here's what went wrong: the user didn't mention that the pain was in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen and felt like waves of cramps. 

 

What this means for you:
Chatbots are great for explaining medical terms and helping you think of questions to ask your doctor. But diagnosing yourself? That requires context — and details matter.

 

When you do use AI,  ask it: “What additional information would help narrow this down?” AI is simply a tool — and like any tool, it works best with the right input.

New U.S. Dietary Guidelines: 

Progress — With Some Big Question Marks

The FDA’s new food pyramid shifts the focus to real, whole foods and cutting back on ultra-processed products. That's a win. Diets high in ultra-processed foods are linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and shorter lifespan, so this change is long overdue.

 

But three areas don’t fully align with the science:

1. Saturated fat: The guidance is vague, despite strong evidence linking saturated fat — especially from red and processed meats — to higher cardiovascular risk.

 

2. Salt: The recommendation suggests flavoring foods with “salt, spices, and herbs” — without clear limits, even though excess sodium drives hypertension.

 

3. Alcohol: Previous guidelines were specific — one drink per day for women, two for men. Now the advice is simply: “drink less.” Less than what? Excessive alcohol use is linked to a wide range of health conditions, and for the nearly 30 million Americans with alcohol use disorder, clarity about what constitutes “too much” isn’t trivial — it’s actionable guidance.

 

The part that is most disappointing to me: 
Several credible health advocacy groups (I won't name names but I know who you are) have privately raised concerns about these three areas as well. But, they are staying quiet about it. Why? Because in today’s political climate, they are hesitant to speak publicly for fear of backlash.

 

Bottom line:
The shift toward whole-food, Mediterranean- and DASH-style eating (linked to 20–40% lower mortality) is absolutely right. But when guidance gets vague on saturated fat, sodium, and alcohol — clarity matters. Nutrition policy should follow the science, not soften it.

 

Prenatal Care: Why Early Still Matters

And How Telehealth Helps

A new CDC report shows nearly 1 in 4 women in the U.S. (24.5%) are not receiving prenatal care in the first trimester. Even more concerning: the number of moms getting care only in the third trimester (or not at all) has increased by 20%.

 

The first 12 weeks are critical. It’s when the baby’s brain, heart, and major organs form and when doctors screen for genetic conditions, manage blood pressure and diabetes, review medications, and identify infections or mental health concerns. 

 

When access to OB-GYN care is the barrier
If access is the barrier, telehealth can safely bridge the gap. A study of more than 16,000 patients found telehealth prenatal care produced outcomes comparable to in-person care for preterm birth, gestational diabetes, C-sections, and NICU admissions.

 

Strong suggestion:
If you think you’re pregnant — get prenatal care early. Even if you can’t get in right away, ask about telehealth options. Starting care — even virtually — protects both mom and baby.

How Ready Are You to Age—Really?

Heart disease is still the #1 killer of women — yet women are less likely to be diagnosed correctly or treated aggressively. In my conversation with Medtronic senior executive Nina Goodheart, three moments stood out:

1. Even her own mom was brushed off. Shortness of breath was dismissed as “getting older.” Nina pushed for further testing,  and an implanted monitor revealed atrial fibrillation that could have led to a stroke.

2. Women avoid the topic. In a Medtronic survey, nearly half (45%) of all women said they’d rather talk about religion or politics than their own heart health.

3. Women’s hearts are not men’s hearts. Duh. (Sorry to be snarky!) Women's valves and vessels are smaller. That leads to different symptoms and the need for different device design. 

Medtronic ran a landmark clinical trial focused primarily on women with smaller heart valves — and found meaningful differences in how devices performed. That’s how change happens: study women as women, not as smaller men.

 

Bottom line:
Know your symptoms. Know your numbers. And if something feels off — push back.

For the full conversation (and Nina’s powerful “Letter to My Mother” initiative), listen to the podcast.

Measles: The Numbers KEEP Climbing 

As of February 26, 2026, the U.S. has reported 1,136 measles cases — and 81% are in children and teens under 19. More than half (57%) are in kids ages 5–19. Most striking: 92% are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status.

 

Measles is extraordinarily contagious. If one person has it, they can infect 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people nearby — and the virus can linger in the air for up to two hours.

 

Policy update (the good news):
FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary is urging Americans to get vaccinated. The new Acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya has also been clear: “There is no cure for measles, which is why prevention is so critical.” That alignment at the top matters.

 

The watch point:
The Surgeon General nominee, Dr. Casey Means, would not have regulatory authority — but as “America’s Doctor,” her public messaging could influence trust and behavior. Right now, her stance appears vague. 

 

Bottom line:
Measles prevention is straightforward: two doses of MMR are about 97% effective.

This outbreak is not about vaccine failure — it’s about vaccine gaps.

Healthcare advocacy isn’t one thing. It’s not one age, one diagnosis, or one outcome.

In three recent episodes of Speak Up For Your Health, advocacy shows up in very different but equally powerful ways.

 

When Amber Olsen was told there was no treatment for her child’s rare genetic disease, she didn’t stop there. Instead, she learned the science, started a non-profit to raise funds

and partnered with researchers. She spent seven years pushing gene therapy forward.

What began as a mother’s refusal became a documentary, The Zebra And The Bear, that you can watch on Amazon or Apple TV. Listen to my conversation with Amber and Patrick Olsen, the filmmaker. 

In this deeply personal episode, a physician-daughter shares what it was like to support her father’s decision to pursue medical aid in dying. Advocacy here meant: clarity,

open family conversations, and honoring autonomy. Interestingly, the only people who tried to talk her dad out of MAID were his doctor friends.  Sometimes advocacy is not extending life — but shaping its final chapter.

You can find previous editions 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.