Marta Long MD House Call Physician

Did you know the trending diabetes medications, GLP-1 agonists, which are also used for weight loss, can have detrimental side effects? Examples of GLP-1 agonists include semaglutide (Brand name Ozempic, Wegovy) liraglutide (Victoza, , Saxenda), tirzepatide (Mounjaro), dulaglutide (Truliicty), and exenatide (Byetta).

GLP-1 agonists may lead to lean muscle loss. In a 2020 randomized, double-blind trial, individuals with diabetes mellitus taking once-weekly semaglutide injections lost an average of only 11 lbs in one year, of which 40% was lean muscle mass. The researchers noted that despite the significant amount of lean muscle mass loss, the overall proportion of lean muscle mass relative to other tissue increased. (McCrimmon et al., 2020) A 2021 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving individuals with a body mass index ≥ 30 also found similar results. (Wilding et al., 2021).

In other words, a GLP-1 agonist may help you lose 11 lbs, of which only 6 lbs is fat and 4 lbs is muscle. This means that in exchange for a small amount of undesirable fat loss, a loss of desirable muscle that increases your metabolism will also occur. With aging, loss of muscle mass is associated with osteoporosis, falls, and fractures, so this adverse effect is not insignificant. This is worth taking into consideration especially with the cost of the medication, and the amount of time required to achieve the small amount of average weight loss.

Although body composition improved overall, semaglutide may not be appropriate for all patients looking to lose weight (e.g., individuals with sarcopenic obesity). Efforts should be made to reduce the risk of lean muscle mass loss as much as possible.

Other undesirable side effects include triggering the immune system to form antibodies against the medication, which means your body rejects the medication. How common is this? The incidence of antibody formation was up to nearly 70% of patients with some GLP-1 agonists. We do not understand this well at this time, and what the long term implications are.

Pancreatitis is another common side effect which may require hospitalization. In one study, the risk of developing pancreatitis was 32 times higher for patients taking a GLP-1 medication compared to patients who did not. The risk of pancreatic cancer increased by 1.7 in one study, which means you are almost twice as likely to get pancreatic cancer with GLP-1 agonists than if you did not take the medication.

Lastly, there is ¨Ozempic face¨, a side effect referring to significant facial fat pad loss in the head, which includes sunken eyes, wrinkles on the face, a hollowed look, and changes in the size of lips and cheeks. This unsightly side effect may be due to a faster pace of weight loss in the face compared to the rest of the body, and may require plastic surgery for aesthetic enhancement.

However, the most benign and common side effect was nausea, which occurs in about 50% of patients. It may be no wonder you would lose weight!

It´s good to know this and understand that the decision to begin a GLP-1 agonist requires a personalized discussion with your physician that should include both the benefits in addition to risks.

Dr. Long was asked recently what she thought of these medications. While they can be useful in the treatment of obesity and diabetes, in her real life experience the weight loss has not been significant and does not justify the cost. Typically when one is dealing with weight struggles, there are multiple underlying causes that also need to be addressed, and the solution is not as simple as prescribing a medication. There are excellent holistic strategic approaches to weight loss that are cheaper and less risky. Schedule your consultation with Dr. Long today to begin your weight loss journey.

We're in the midst of flu season. The cases are coming down in California. Is it too late to get your vaccine? No, it's not. We expect to see cases of influenza through the end of March.

Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report Learn more about the weekly influenza surveillance report (FluView) prepared by the Influenza Division.

Currently the best treatment against Covid hospitalization and death is Paxlovid. Here's more information about Paxlovid.

13 Things To Know About Paxlovid, the Latest COVID-19 Pill Paxlovid is an oral antiviral pill used to treat COVID-19. Yale Medicine provides 13 things to know about this COVID-19 treatment.

Did you know you can have a simple blood test to find out if you are at risk for Alzheimer's? About half of Alzheimer's patients carry this biomarker, called ApoE, and when detected early, you can talk with your physician about what you can do to prevent Alzheimer's. ApoE is a primary brain lipoprotein that can be found in the blood or cerebrospinal fluid. The presence of an E4 allele is associated with both earlier onset of Alzheimer's, as well as an overall higher risk of Alzheimer's when compared with those without ApoE4. If Alzheimer's runs in your family, you may benefit from a one time testing to find out if you have this biomarker.

Did you hear about the
new RSV vaccine for seniors?

We appreciate your trust, and that's why we're offering our patients unmatched savings on healthcare’s best supplements and wellness products from September 13 – 14! Make sure you’re signed up for our Fullscript online dispensary to save on wellness

Fullscript - Marta Long MD's Dispensary

Providence Hospital offers the community truly wonderful resources!

Class Registration

The Irvine Police Department (IPD) will be participating in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Unwanted medications can be dropped off at Hoag Health Center located at 16405 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine, CA 92618. This free service, which allows the public to discard prescription medications anonymously, addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.

Happy Valentine's Day! Is your love sweeter than honey? Read about the Ten Ways Honey is Better Than Sugar.

New Blog Post Valentines, is your love sweeter than honey?

About 10% of adults in the United States have suffered from tinnitus during the past year. Tinnitus is buzzing or ringing in the ears, and may have many causes. A variety of treatments may help, including acupuncture for neurological causes. Relaxation techniques and mindfulness-based stress reduction also may prove beneficial.

Happy Holidays!

Good Tidings In Comfort & Joy We hope this season brings you and yours a reason to share and celebrate. I'm immensely grateful to you for entrusting me with your health. Thank you for the good word you shared with your family and friends about your experience with me, and the house call based practice everyone is grateful for. A...

Ready for flu season?

Fall Vaccines are here! Should you get your flu vaccine? Should you get the new Covid vaccine?

Apple harvest time is here! Are you eating apples wrong?

Do you peel your apples? Eat them whole? Do you cook them, or eat them raw? Which is the healthiest part of the apple? The flesh or the skin? Well, that depends! The flesh contains water, fiber, and nutrition, however, the skin is very valuable, too. A raw apple with skin contains up to 332% more vitamin K, 142% more vitamin A, 115% more vitamin C, 20% more calcium, and up to 19% more potassium than a peeled apple.

Quercetin conjugates are present entirely in the apple skin. Due to the presence of more antioxidants such as quercetin in the apple skin than in the flesh, the apple skin may be considered to have higher antioxidant capacity.

Are you eating the skin of the apple, too?

Good to know

I found pills in my child's room; how can I figure out what the pill is? If you are having trouble identifying prescription, OTC, generic, and brand name pills and capsules, you can you a Pill Identifier Tool online. All you need to do is search ‘Pill Identifier Tool’ in your web browser and fill out the questions which will ask color, shape, and imprint number.

We acknowledge how difficult it is to follow good medical advice when it involves eating right, taking every pill, seeing the specialists, and even getting surgery. We don't take lightly how challenging it is to have an illness, and the arduous journey to wellness. We've had the pleasure of working with highly motivated patients willing to do what was necessary to get well, with stellar results that made all the effort worth it! Congratulations to you!

Should you worry about Monkeypox?

The Dangers of Monkeypox Monkeypox. The name is easy to remember, like chickenpox. Why do the CDC and WHO want to change the name of this virus? The virus's moniker Monkeypox seems perfect, reminding us to stay away from monkeys! But wait...is it the monkeys we should be concerned about? The fact that most of us never come....

We love 💕 City of Hope! Welcome to Irvine.

A Place To Help Patients Feel Beautiful, Inside And Out: Hope Boutique At Lennar Foundation Cancer Center At City Of Hope Orange County This is the fifth installment in Glimpses of Hope, our monthly look at the inspiring people and events helping us bring Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County to life. This month, we get a glimpse of the cancer center’s Hope Boutique.

Are your supplements considered safe? There are companies that will do anything to enter the billion dollar supplement industry, but misleading their consumers with deceptively adulterated products is not the way to do it!

What should you look for as a symbol of safety? First, use only supplements sourced from USP verified, and reputable companies. Being verified by the USP means that the labels claim the correct ingredients in its correct amount and correct potency, does not contain any harmful levels of contaminants, will break down and release in your body in the specified amount of time, and is manufactured following current GMP (good manufacturing practices). The supplement bottle will prominently display the distinctive USP Verified Mark. You may be surprised that some supplements are considered pharmaceutical grade, and are owned by companies including Pfizer, Bayer, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble, and Clorox.

Second, take steps towards discussing your supplements with your physician, to avoid unsafe interactions with your medications, by influencing their metabolism and increasing or decreasing their levels.

Warning Letters to Companies for Selling Adulterated Supplements FDA sent warning letters to multiple companies for selling adulterated dietary supplements.

Vitamin B12 injections are in! Included in your Membership is an optional Vitamin B12 injection. Vitamin B12 is critical for the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), all the nerves in the body, as well as many other functions. About 6% of adults are deficient, and this increases with age (more than 80% with certain risk factors), with restricted diets, and may develop with the common stomach acid-reducing medications. If you are a Member, call us today to schedule yours.

March 17 is St. Patrick's Day.

What is St. Patrick's Day?

Is it about wearing shamrocks, dressing up green as a leprechaun, or finding a four leaf clover or a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow?

While we believe it's more important to eat your greens than to wear them, we understand that sometimes life gets busy and it's easier to take a pill.

We curated a selection of pharmacy grade supplements that are like gold. These nutrition supplements aid digestion, reduce free radicals, increase mitochondrial energy production, and enhance detoxification, all to make you feel lucky!

Wear your green! (or eat it)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Marta Long MD, Inc

Click Here for the gold: https://us.fullscript.com/u/protocols/VHJlYXRtZW50UGxhblRlbXBsYXRlLTE0MTkyMg==

Sleep apnea is common. Have you been tested?

Sleep Apnea Accelerates Aging, but Treatment May Reverse It Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects 22 million people in the U.S. and is linked to a higher risk of hypertension, heart attacks, stroke, diabetes and many other chronic conditions. But now researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have found that untreated OSA also accelerates...

Ehlers Danlos and Muscle Spasms If you have seen me in consultation for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), then you'll probably appreciate this note. Though no two patients are alike, there are some recurring themes in EDS that I encounter, and it occurred to me that perhaps it may be helpful to provide some insights into what some oth...

Share the Joy. Give a Gift Consult or ask Santa for a Gift Consult. A Gift Consult was an idea of one of our patients who wanted to give her family a detailed, and thorough internal medicine consultation.

Gift Consult! A gift filled with comfort and joy

Ever wonder why some cravings are so mysterious? It's because the human body needs more water than it often receives, leading to cravings (for water). Drinking water curbs appetite and satisfies cravings effectively.

How can water can do that? Our bodies are 60% water, and being dehydrated can make you crave for good reason! There isn't a single organ that can function well with a lack of water.

Did you know the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water, the skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%. The blood that runs through your arteries and veins are 90% water.

Secrets to Eliminating Eczema

Secrets to Eliminating Eczema Healthy and radiant skin is within reach for everyone, and doesn't need to cost a fortune. If you struggle with eczema, then read on to learn a few helpful secrets to eliminating eczema. Eczema is a medical condition Skin conditions need to be taken seriously because they are often more than skin de...

The recommended daily fruit intake is at least two fruits per day, and 2-5 fruits is ideal. How many did you eat today?

House calls are making a comeback.

Throughout the 20th century, the physician house call and its role in patient care have changed dramatically.

In 1930, physician house calls represented 40% of physician-patient encounters. This was mostly due to lack of transportations, and physicians were more likely to own a horse, or a carriage, and perhaps maybe a car. Eventually more people were able to purchase solid transportation and were willing to visit a clinic.

By 1980 house calls had decreased to less than 1% as primary care became more clinic-based.

Fast forward to 2021, and we have two major groups driving the demand for house calls. One is the frail, elder who finds it challenging getting to the clinic. The other is the younger worker who is too busy to sit in a waiting room.

Patients prefer house calls over clinic appointments, and convenience is a major factor. Would you prefer a house call in person, or a virtual consultation over telemedicine?

At Marta Long, MD, we come to you at home in person or virtually, but what makes our care different is that you reach the same doctor who knows you. Every time.

Imagine calling your doctor's telephone and being greeted by your doctor. You can share your concern, and immediately have a response. A response from someone who knows you and your preferences. If you need to be seen, we schedule a same day or next day visit in the comfort of you home.

We treat most adult illnesses. Available 24/7, and 7 days a week.

How to Prevent Hospitalization After Exposure to Covid. Is there anything you can do?

What To Do To Prevent Covid Hospitalization after Exposure Can You Get Covid after Following All the Guidelines? Let's say you're vaccinated and masked, and despite your best efforts, you become ill with Covid. Known as a breakthrough infection, this occurs because the guidelines are difficult to follow, especially with the people you live with. From the mo...

A useful resource available to California residents to access your "proof" of Covid vaccination. Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record can be accessed by clicking on this link:

https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/

This is going to be important as the latest news indicates that hospitals and some indoor establishments are requiring proof of vaccination as of tomorrow. When you received your vaccination, you also received a paper version. However, paper won't survive the day to day in a wallet unless it's laminated.

The website below will give you a QR code to show, as well as official documentation that you can access when you do not have access to the paper version. I hope this helps when you find yourself in need. Please feel free to share.

If you haven't yet received your vaccine, and are interested in being vaccinated, please visit https://occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/covid-19-vaccine-distribution-channels

Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record Get a digital copy of your COVID-19 vaccination record

Have you lost hope in getting well? It would be an honor to partner with you to restore your health. Now accepting patients who want to get well!

“Two hours with a doctor is a dose of hope” -Dr. Long Physicians should offer patients hope. Every doctor's appointment is an opportunity to make a difference in someone's healing journey.