By Latha Raja Shankar, M.D., MBA, Chief Medical Officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico Preventing Falls in Older Adults Did you know that falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related deaths in the United States? Falling is especially problematic...
By Shellie Rosen, Ph.D., Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)®, DOM, L.Ac. The neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) can benefit anxiety, depression, insomnia, or nervous system disorders. GABA inhibits nerve cell communications to reduce excessive stimulation and is often...
By Eli Follick September is National Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Month, a celebration of some of the most healthful foods you can eat and a time designated to raise public awareness about the health benefits of consuming these nutrient-packed foods. Though vegetables...
By Dr. Gerard Muraida Falls among older people are common, often preventable, frequently unreported, and too often the cause of injury and death. In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults age 65 and older, and according to the Centers...
Early detection is key to controlling this potential killer By Dr. Jaren Trost Optum New Mexico Senior Medical Director Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States. Despite the danger, 97 percent of men...
By Brooke Parish, M.D., Medical Director, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico The term behavioral health is often used interchangeably with mental health but is a broader term that encompasses our well-being, our thoughts, biology, interaction with others,...
By Eli Follick Summertime vacations usually involve copious amounts of food. For my family, that usually meant visits to places like Disneyland, the Grand Canyon, and other sight-rich, activity-oriented, and calorie-laden destinations. There were also a few excursions...
By Dr. Shellie L. Rosen, Ph.D.,Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)®, DOM, L.Ac. The ever-evolving science of “nutrition” rarely celebrates life-sustaining classics like artisan bread. Artisan bread is a satisfying, culturally significant food. It undergoes a long fermentation process...
By Dr. Gerard Muraida Primary and secondary insomnia are two common types of sleep disorders that affect the senior population. Insomnia refers to difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing non-restorative sleep. In older people, insomnia can have...
By Mykel Kirkpatrick Community Outreach Coordinator, Optum New Mexico New Mexico is on course to having among the oldest populations in the country within the decade, bringing a rise in illnesses and associated health care costs. As of 2022, 18.5 percent of the New...
