Author: Jacob Thiede

Staying Healthy During Flu Season

As we all know, we are in the middle of a global pandemic, and as we are now entering flu season, there is a good chance things are going to get even more confusing. The two viruses are alike in many ways, and numerous people are going to end up in a situation where they are unsure if they have Covid-19, or just the flu. On top of that, our immune systems are going to need as much help as they get. Today we are going to talk more about strengthening our immune systems, ways to help ourselves avoid getting sick, and some of the similarities and differences between the flu and coronavirus that you may need to know.

The Flu and Covid-19

As respiratory illnesses, it’s no surprise that the two viruses share many similarities. It all begins with how they are transmitted, and unfortunately, they are both pretty easy to catch. Both diseases are caught through respiratory droplets that are released into the air or onto surfaces by an infected person. From there, the diseases share several symptoms, which is the main reason that it can be so difficult to discern between the two. The symptoms for both often include fever, fatigue or weakness, chills, and a dry cough, but they both may cause less common symptoms like diarrhea, sore throat, and a runny or stuffy nose. The flu comes with aches and pains more often, especially body and headaches. Symptoms like shortness of breath and loss of taste and/or smell are associated with Covid-19, but are rarely, if ever, associated with the flu. 

Severe complications like pneumonia, myocarditis, brain damage, and damage to other organs is also possible with both diseases, especially among the elderly or individuals with chronic conditions like asthma or diabetes. Children are also at a higher risk for a severe case of the flu, but seem to be much less likely to experience a severe case of Covid. A major difference between coronavirus and the flu is when the symptoms appear. With the flu, you will usually begin to experience symptoms within a few days of exposure, while it can take up to two weeks for coronavirus symptoms to show themselves, and sometimes symptoms may not occur at all. 

Currently, the biggest difference is probably how we are able to combat each of them, mostly due to how new Covid-19 is. We are very experienced at handling the flu, with vaccines and treatments that we have developed over the years that greatly reduce the impact of the flu to the point that we barely worry about it. We are still learning about how coronavirus operates, and are figuring out the best way to treat it, all while attempting to develop a vaccine. 

Don’t Get Sick

The good news is that the same precautions will help prevent both diseases. Wearing masks, thoroughly washing your hands, disinfecting surfaces, and maintaining distance from others will reduce the likelihood of contracting either virus. If symptoms do surface, you should proceed with isolating until you are able to seek testing and medical attention. 

Inevitably, not everyone is going to be successful in avoiding contact with either virus, making it a very good idea to help your immune system be as strong as possible. An easy start to strengthening your immune system is to practice healthy habits like frequent exercise, staying hydrated, and getting an adequate amount of good quality sleep. Sleep is one of the best things we can do to help our immune systems, so if sleep is something you struggle with it may be a good idea to read our blog on sleep hygiene. Stress is another factor for our immune systems, and trying to reduce the stress we endure can work wonders for preventing sickness.

Something that we cannot overlook is diet. It’s no secret that people with unhealthy diets get sick more often, both from chronic conditions and everyday diseases, so cutting out unhealthy fats and high amounts of sugar is a good start on improving immune health. From there, eating more fruits and vegetables will boost your immune system even. Making sure you get the proper nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Zinc will not only help stop you from getting sick, they can also make it easier to recover if you do get sick. It’s a good idea to consider immune support supplements if you want to make sure you are getting enough of those key nutrients. One example of the effects they can have come from studies that have shown that taking 200mg of Vitamin C a day can reduce the duration of cold symptoms by 8%. 

It’s important to remember that while physical distancing and face coverings are important in the midst of a pandemic, we shouldn’t rely on those things alone and make sure that our bodies are as prepared as possible for anything that comes our way. After all, castles were built with moats and high walls, but they also had soldiers within fighting for them as well. 

If you are interested in reading more about immune health, or learning about the immune support supplements that we offer, check out our page on immune health

Low Testosterone

We can’t talk about men’s health without covering one of the most important components of it: testosterone. Testosterone is important not just as the primary sex hormone in men, but for also affecting almost all the important functions of men’s bodies, from cognitive functions, to our bones and muscles, to our metabolism. It’s no wonder why having low testosterone can have such a large impact on a man’s overall health. 

Causes

Low T, or hypogonadism, can occur for a number of reasons. Many of these can be internal, like problems with the thyroid or pituitary gland, kidney or liver issues, inflammatory conditions, illnesses, metabolic disorders, birth defects, and excess estrogen levels. External forces and habits also have an effect on testosterone levels; things like overuse of alcohol, drug usage, and injuries, especially to the head or testicles, are all possible contributing factors to Low T. Medical treatments like chemotherapy or certain medications may also lead to decreased testosterone production.

Testosterone levels naturally decrease by about 1% per year starting at the age of 30, so age is usually the most important factor. Low T is more common the older you get, with about 40% of men over 45 suffering from it, but younger men can suffer from it as well, with about 25% of men over 30 being affected by low T. The condition isn’t common in men under 30, but that doesn’t mean that it cannot occur at that age. 

Low T and Chronic Conditions

Chronic conditions in men have a close relationship with low testosterone. In fact, having low T is one of the top risk factors for many chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, depression, and high blood pressure. Obesity is not only another risk factor for these chronic conditions, it is also a common culprit behind low testosterone. This is in part because of the typical lifestyle choices like inactivity and poor diet that are part of the risks associated with both conditions, but also because fat is able to metabolize testosterone into estrogen, which obviously means that higher amounts of fat in the body will lead to more testosterone being converted and create a recipe for disaster for a man’s health. Most of the time the obvious answer is to eat better and workout more to shed weight, but this becomes more difficult with low testosterone, sometimes making it almost impossible to turn our health around without testosterone treatment. 

Symptoms of Hypogonadism

Many of the well known symptoms are of course related to sex. Low T can lead to problems like low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and even infertility, but the bedroom isn’t the only place symptoms can appear. Decrease in muscle and bone mass is possible, as well as hair loss, fatigue, and sometimes more serious issues like anemia. These symptoms can also occur on the mental side, and those with low T may experience reduced confidence, moodiness, irritability, depression, worsened memory, and reduced cognitive sharpness. 

Symptoms aren’t always severe, and it’s actually common for them to be mild enough that you may not even know you have them. This leads to many men ignoring the problems or attributing them to old age or just difficult times in their life. This mindset can be dangerous, especially if a man is already at risk for the chronic conditions that can be related to low testosterone. This is why it is so important to understand the causes and signs of low T, and to understand that it is always best to be safe and get your testosterone levels checked out instead of ignoring the problems. 

Treatment

There are ways to naturally boost testosterone, like exercising (especially lifting weights), getting plenty of good quality sleep, avoiding stress as much as possible, and eating a healthy diet with all the necessary nutrients. These methods often aren’t enough, especially in older men, and testosterone replacement therapy is necessary to correct the problem. Luckily, modern testosterone treatment comes in many forms, so there are many options to choose from when figuring out the best one for you. Some forms of testosterone treatment are designed to coax your body into producing more testosterone on its own, while others just directly replace the testosterone that your body isn’t producing. There are also a variety of delivery methods, from injections to implanted pellets, and even creams or oral medications. 

At Ways2Well, we will help you determine if low testosterone is affecting you, and also help you with a customized treatment plan that is best for you. With virtual appointments and home delivery of treatment, we make it easier than ever to combat the negative impact of low testosterone, so you can get back to being the best version of yourself.

Many men accept the side effects of low T as reality of life, but you don’t have to be one of them.

Staying Healthy During the Holidays

The holiday’s are a chaotic time. Between all the shopping, traveling, food, and time with family and friends, it can be easy for us to forget about taking care of our health. Since we know how difficult it can be during the holiday season, we have put together a few tips to help keep you healthy and safe for the rest of 2020.

Food

One of the biggest holiday challenges we face is with food. The large feasts where we gorge ourselves on everything from mac and cheese to pecan pie may get the most attention, but they aren’t the only temptations we face. Those cookies piled with frosting and the pretzels that we pick up at the mall while Christmas shopping add to the problem, and don’t count out a few servings of holiday nog! Limiting treats can go a long way if you want to avoid adding a few holiday pounds, but being mindful of portion sizes and overdoing it on sugar during the holiday season can make all the difference. The best thing you can do is make sure to maintain a healthy diet year round, and enjoy the spoils of holiday cooking and family feasts in moderation!

Immune Health

In the midst of a pandemic, flu season, and being around more people, it is incredibly important to make sure our immune systems are firing on all cylinders. The stress, lack of sleep, and general diet changes that come with the season can all put a damper on your immune health. Take steps to avoid getting sick by washing your hands often, social distancing and wearing your mask. Prioritizing rest is key to keeping your immune system healthy, as is reducing stress. While indulging in your favorite treats, make sure you still get the proper nutrients to maintain a strong immune system, whether it is through food or supplements-Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Zinc & Magnesium; just to name a few. 

If you need more help with your immune health, we have your back. Check our page on immune health for information 

Sleep

Obviously sleep is important year round, but it is another thing that we don’t get enough of during the holidays. It’s understandable, as there are a lot of things to do and even more things on our minds. Making a conscious effort to get enough high quality sleep will not only help us get all things on our list accomplished, it will also help us have a more enjoyable holiday, all while helping to maintain our mental and physical health. Giving your body the time to recover through sleep keeps you healthier and engaged – so you can enjoy the holiday season.

We can help you sleep better too. Check out our sleep hygiene blog to learn more 

Exercise

The holiday season can interrupt the daily workout grind in the best of ways; but keeping up with your workouts is key to staying on top of your health – even if you have to modify your exercise schedule. Exercising will help you negate the effects of those extra calories you consume, help with your sleep quality, alleviate stress, and give a boost to your immune system as well. Plus, it will help you maintain the habit of exercising into the new year without the discomfort of having to get back on track after a prolonged period of holiday movies and festive events.

Stress

What many call “the most wonderful time of the year” can also be called the most stressful. Worrying about travel, gifts, food, money, jobs, and dealing with family members can exacerbate stress levels and your overall mental health. Taking time to relax may be challenging, but doing so is key to maintaining our mental health, and will help our bodies stay healthy too. 

It may seem easier to put a focus on your health after the holidays are over, but trust us, it’s worth it to stay healthy all year. Give yourself the gift of better health this year – check out our Getting Started page to begin your journey to staying healthier, longer.

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Visit our blogs section and learn more about the things that could be affecting your health

Physical and mental health is very important, but did you know sexual health is also a key part of our overall health? Good sexual health can help us with our confidence, self-esteem, and can provide a good cardio workout, but just like with our mental and physical health, there are conditions that can create hurdles for us. In men, especially older men, one of the most common hurdles can be caused by Erectile Dysfunction, or ED. 

Erectile Dysfunction and it’s Signs

Erectile Dysfunction is when a man has difficulty or is unable to achieve or maintain an erection that is firm enough for sex. This definition is broad, but the signs of ED are obvious, and it’s easy to tell when they fit under the umbrella of erectile dysfunction. These signs include having a softer erection, one that doesn’t last as long as needed, and difficulty even getting one in the first place. These symptoms can be incredibly frustrating, and negatively impact other areas of our lives, like our mental health and our relationships with our partners. 

ED is very common, and men of all ages can occasionally experience its effects, especially during times of high stress. The occasional occurrence isn’t usually a cause for concern, but about 30 million American men experience it frequently enough for it to be considered a medical issue.

Causes

Many men that start having ED will blame their age, and while many of them are correct, there are many other possible causes, like the stress and anxiety. One cause of stress and anxiety can be relationship problems, meaning that while relationship difficulties are often a symptom of ED, they can also be a cause of it. Other culprits can be smoking, alcohol or drug use, low testosterone, injuries and surgeries, lack of sleep, or even prescription medications. 

Chronic conditions and erectile dysfunction may not seem like they would be related at first glance, but many chronic diseases absolutely can contribute to ED. Men with conditions like obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol are much more likely to have difficulties sexually as well. A major reason for this is that anytime blood flow to the penis is reduced, it can lead to ED. A good example is high cholesterol, which can cause buildups and blockages in arteries, affecting the flow of blood to different parts of the body. Medications that are used to treat high blood pressure, or hypertension, often cause the blood flow to the penis to be decreased, which obviously can then cause difficulty with getting or maintaining an erection. 

While erectile dysfunction is never an enjoyable experience, it can actually be a life saving one. Some serious chronic conditions like heart disease, insulin resistance, and high blood pressure have little or no noticeable symptoms the majority of the time. When ED is being caused by one of these conditions, it may be the only warning sign that is being presented to you, and is a good indicator that changes may need to be made to not only improve your sexual health, but your overall physical health as well. A disruption to your sex life is, afterall, a much better outcome than an unexpected heart attack.

Treatment

With age being a major factor for ED, prevention isn’t always going to be 100% effective, but it is still a good idea to make sure you are making an effort to live well by eating healthy, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and checking for the warning signs of serious health risks. It’s also important to take care of the mental aspect of your health, by trying to reduce stress, and seeking assistance for things like anxiety or depression if you need it. Taking care of these things will naturally help you maintain a healthy sex life as well.

Prevention isn’t always going to be enough, and when it’s not, ED is actually very easily treatable, with very effective and often used treatments that are widely available. At Ways2Well we carry all the major treatments, like Tadalifil and Sildenafil, that make the treatment of erectile dysfunction simple and effective. The best part is we can ship it discreetly and directly to your home, so you can get back on your game faster than ever.

Check out our Getting Started page now and set up a free consultation with our medical provider. 

As hard as he tried, Brigham Buhler couldn’t achieve the weight-loss and fitness goals he’d set in his mid-20s. Plus, he constantly felt tired and stressed out. On top of that, Brigham’s entire immediate family has diabetes, and he was exhibiting the warning signs.

Buhler’s nutritionist recommended he get his hormones checked. It wound up taking three months to get an initial appointment with a urologist, who then recommended a comprehensive blood test.
The blood work revealed that he did, indeed, have a hormone deficiency. Subsequent hormone treatment, in addition to taking vitamins and supplements to combat various risk factors, got Buhler’s endocrine system back on track.

Born out of that frustrating situation and spurred by his more than 15 years in the medical-device industry, Buhler launched Houston-based Ways2Well in 2018. Propelled by a virtual health care platform, the company envisions a better way to treat patients by challenging the traditional health care model.

Click here to read the full article on InnovationMap.

Ways2Well, founded in 2018 by Heights resident Brigham Buhler, is a virtual preventative health care provider that uses blood lab analysis to provide data on patients’ health states.

Buhler said the company’s origin was inspired by his personal journey.

Read the full article on The Leader News.

Sometimes, it’s just too hard to find the answers you seek in health care. The waiting rooms, the parking, the forms — it’s all a bit much only to leave empty handed. This was Brigham Buhler’s experience, and finally, after months, he learned he had a hormone deficiency. Now, Buhler’s company, Ways2Well, allows patients to quickly do a blood test at a lab and receive their results digitally.

“While most virtual health care providers focus on sick care — treating patients experiencing symptoms that indicate sickness — Ways2Well is focused on preventative health care,” says Buhler.

Click to read the full feature on InnovationMap.

HOUSTON, April 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Nurse Practitioner Danese Rexroad, Medical Provider at virtual healthcare company Ways2Well, is urging Texans to get health screenings now in order to prepare for the ongoing spread of COVID-19. “There’s nothing more important than Texans being at their healthiest while we fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Texans need preventative health screenings now in order to strengthen immune systems and treat risk factors for chronic illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure and immunocompromised patients. Research shows these illnesses greatly weaken people’s fight against coronavirus, and we expect multiple waves of illness over the next 18 months.”

Click to read the full feature on Yahoo Finance.

Mom, you are living through a high speed, high stakes season of life. It feels like every single person in your world depends on you for something crucial. And you do it. You feed your family three meals a day. You sign the homework folder. You turn in the project at work on time. You remind your husband to buy a birthday gift for his mother. And you faithfully take your little ones to their preventative care appointments and sick visits when they aren’t feeling well.

But what about you? Do you ever have annoying or worrisome symptoms, and yet you or others in your life explain them away with generic excuses?

Click to read the full feature on Houston Moms Blog.

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GROW UP with home-cooked meals, healthy eating habits, and plenty of regular exercise. But the older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve found myself struggling: Restful sleep was simply not happening, and I’ve constantly felt sluggish and tired despite maintaining a healthy diet.

Right when things were at their worst, I happened upon Ways2Well, a digital healthcare platform based right here in Houston with a goal of bridging the preventative care gap we don’t receive in our regular healthcare plans. Ways2Well goes beyond the standard wellness check with a comprehensive blood analysis to determine overall wellness and ensure we’re functioning at the highest possible level.

Read the full article on Houstonia Mag here.