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Addressing Social Determinates of Health

A Needle in Time saves Lives

12/28/2020

 
​A Needle in Time Saves Lives
By
Dr. Richard G. Berry, MD, FACP.

I have been asked by a number of patients and family members what I will do when the COCID-19 vaccine is available. I have taken the time to think about it and research the literature available at this time. Well they, the vaccines, have arrived. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is here and the Moderna’s vaccine just got approval by the FDA and CDC. I have made the decision to take the COVID-19 vaccine in a few days when my hospital receives the doses.

There are three options for you to consider. Just three.
Option 1. This option is to disregard all the scientific research and recommendations about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and refuse to take it.
Option 2. The second option is to wait till some have taken the vaccine and see if there are any unknown side effects. (See if Dr. Berry begins to glow in the dark after receiving the injection, and then decide whether to take it or not.)
Option 3. The third option is the option I chose. To review the reputable scientific information, seek counsel from a physician you trust, pray about it, and get the vaccine when it becomes available.

If you choose option one, you are at a high risk of becoming infected by the virus, especially if you have a number of risk factors like obesity, diabetes and chronic medical problems. Over 300,000 souls have been lost so far because they did not have the antibodies to help their immune system fight off the infection. Option 1 is still your choice.

If you choose option two, wait and see, you are still as vulnerable to the deadly consequences of the infection as option one. Option 2 is however still your choice.

Option three is the only option I believe is available now for our survival. Like the Polio vaccine, MMR and Flu vaccines, mankind has been saved from many deadly infections. Literally millions of us have been protected by these inoculations.

The same is now true for the COVID-19 vaccine. Now to be completely transparent, as of the publication of this article, there are individuals who should NOT get the vaccine. In researching the literature, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are not approved (at this time) for people aged below 16, or those with severe allergies (make sure the clinic that administers the vaccine has the resources to correct any adverse reaction to the injection, like an Epipen. They must also observe you for at least 20 minutes after the injection). Also pregnant women are not eligible for the vaccines. Ongoing research by these companies, I believe, will eventually clear for pediatric and pregnancy use, but at this time, these three are not eligible.

Well how does the vaccine work? Prophecy states that in the last days knowledge shall increase. The production of this vaccine with mRNA technology (messenger Ribonucleic acid) has been a miracle in the making. As of February 2020 when the Chinese disclosed the virus, they had already deciphered the genetic sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus ( Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2). This sequence was shared with American scientists who were especially interested in the part of the virus that attaches to the human cells and facilitates injection of the viral RNA into these cells. These “protrusions” on the surface of the virus, or the clusters of red triangular projections we have seen in pictures, are called Spike proteins or S proteins. If an antibody could be developed to attack the S proteins, the virus could not penetrate the human cells and therefore would die. This is exactly what was done.

The mRNA protein sequence of the S protein is encircled in a lipid Nano molecule (because of the length of this article I will explain this at a future time) that allows this S protein to enter the cell. It never goes into the nucleus of the cell where the DNA is found. In the cytoplasm the mRNA is used to form S proteins that are eventually expressed on the surface of the cells. Your immune system sees these S proteins and produces antibodies to them. The research shows that to be 95% effective, the body needs a second injection of the Pfizer vaccine 21 days after the first.

It is important to note that after you are immunized you can still become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The difference is that you would have developed antibodies to the S protein of the virus. These antibodies would effectively prevent the virus from attaching to your cells, and therefore, you would not get very sick or die. You still however need to protect yourself by wearing an appropriate mask and physical distancing.

So there you have it. Information to aid with your decision making. Pray about it and as you have in the past, and be guided by the Holy Spirit.


June is Men's health month!

6/17/2020

 
June is Men’s Health Month. On average, men die five years younger than women, and die at higher rates from nine of the top 10 causes of death. Men are also less likely than women to be insured. All of this impacts their ability to be involved fathers, supportive partners, and engaged community members.
But there are quite a few things we can do to help dad as Father’s Day nears—and even more that all of us can do to help men all year. 
  • Encourage him to get a physical. Most of the factors that contribute to men’s shorter, less healthy lives are preventable. And that prevention starts with seeing a healthcare provider on a regular basis. Adult men in the United States visit primary care providers at lower rates than adult women. Establishing baselines for factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, and PSA (a screening test for prostate cancer risk)—and monitoring how they change over time—will enable the provider to catch potentially dangerous conditions early, when they’re still treatable. You can download a helpful chart of recommended screenings at www.healthfinder.gov.
  • Encourage him to get physical. The benefits of physical activity on health outcomes are extensive, and many people find it difficult to get motivated for physical activity on their own. Rather than simply telling your dad or husband to exercise and then hoping that he will, do it with him. Join a recreation league at your local community center, sign up for group personal training sessions to get fit together, or simply make a routine out of regular walks. Simple, yes, but not always easy.
  • Let him know you care. One reason men disregard their own health is that they’re too busy taking care of everyone else. What they don’t realize, however, is that if they die early, they’ll be hurting the very people they’ve worked so hard to protect. So remind him that you and your other family members love him and need him to be alive and healthy for as long as possible.

article by: Men's Health Network

Signet curbside & virtual medicine

4/16/2020

 

COVID-19 HAS CAUSED A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE AT SIGNET ARE STILL HERE FOR YOU. ​

To ensure the health and safety of our patients and staff, Signet Healthcare is offering two options to receive treatment, these are CURBSIDE MEDICAL VISITS & VIRTUAL MEDICINE. 

​Here's how you can access these options: 

CURBSIDE MEDICAL VISITS
  • make an appointment for your visit
  • before your visit, and if you are able, check your blood pressure, temperature, and/or blood sugar (if you are diabetic) and document your numbers
  • pull into the signet healthcare pc parking lot at your appointment time
  • stay in your car
  • a member of the Signet staff will come to your car conduct your medical visit
after your curbside visit, any passed due balances may be paid in person or online.
also, please note that there will be no restroom access given.


VIRTUAL MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS
  • call (910) 642-0300 ext. 3 to reserve a time slot for an appointment
  • you will be called for your appointment
due to the high number of appointments, time slots may vary. We ask that you be patient with us as we aim to give the best care to our patients.
please note that video appointments are ONLY available through FACETIME with apple products OR FACEBOOK MESSENGER VIDEO CHAT

CoronaVirus

3/18/2020

 

For information and updates about coronavirus, symptoms, prevention, and what to do next, please click here.

Press Here

How to Stop Smoking Seminar

6/28/2019

 

Patient Education Seminar:
​The effects of smoking

Lecturer:
Dr. Richard Berry

Where:
Premier Living and Rehab Center
106 Cameron St.
Lake Waccamaw, NC
​28450


When:
2:30 pm
June, 28th 2019

Senior Citizens Day

5/21/2019

 

May 21, 2019
at
12 noon
​

Senior Citizens Day at Columbus County Fair Grounds
Presents
Lecturer Dr. Richard Berry
"How to Live Forever"

​
Special Prize Giveaway and Lunch to be provided!

This community outreach is open to our SENIOR CITIZEN PATIENTS
We look forward to seeing you there!

​Thank-you Dept. of Aging

"Healthy Choices" Extended!

4/11/2019

 
UPDATE: Healthy Choices has been extended to end on
April 25th, 2019



​2018 is coming to a close and sweater weather is descending upon us.  During this time of year, it's easy to fall into the routine of staying indoors, lounging on the couch, and eating holiday cookies. 

But Signet Healthcare has something better in mind!
Let's end the year healthy and strong with
HEALTHY CHOICES 2018.

Come enjoy FREE: exercise classes, workouts for all activity levels, health screenings, blood pressure checks, physician evaluations, body mass index calculations, and much more. 
All from licensed Physical Therapists and
Dr. Richard Berry, M.D.


Every Tuesday & Thursday
7pm
from April 1st - April 25th

AT

Carolina Adventist Academy
3710 James b. white hwy s
whiteville, nc 28472


EVERYONE IS WELCOME
TO MAKE THE HEALTHY CHOICE!

​

Vegetarian Cooking class

2/13/2019

 
Please join us on Monday, February 18th as Healthy Choices hosts a Vegetarian Cooking Class.  

According to numerous studies (including research from Mayo clinic and Harvard University), adopting a well balanced vegetarian diet can have amazing benefits to a persons health.  

Here are 10 benefits of adopting a vegetarian diet:

  1. Increases lifespan
  2. Lower cholesterol levels
  3. Less risk of stroke and obesity
  4. Reduces risk of diabetes
  5. Gives healthy skin
  6. provides High fiber content
  7. Can reduce depression
  8. Improves metabolism
  9. Reduces risk of cataract development
  10. It is economical

You can learn this and more at the Vegetarian Cooking Class hosted by Healthy Choices on Monday, February 18 2019.


Patient Education: Flu Vaccine

1/9/2018

 

“Influenza”

The flu season is upon us again. The season starts in early November and can go as far as May of next year.  The CDC estimated that death from influenza virus was as high as 40,000 last year.  It may even be higher this year because of all the weather changes we are facing. 
When I talk to my patients about the flu vaccine, I sometimes hear comments from some like “every time you give me the flu vaccine, Dr. Berry, I get the flu.”  
 
Now let me clear up some misconceptions, the flu vaccine is a killed virus. You cannot get the “flu” from getting the vaccine. When you get the vaccine your body begins to produce antibodies that will protect you just in case you are exposed to the flu virus.  It usually takes 2 weeks for the antibodies to be made. While your body is producing the antibodies you may not feel well for a couple of days. You may have a low grade fever, body aches and a running nose.  These are the signs that your body is producing the antibodies.  This is not the flu. I recommend and give my patients Tylenol for 3 days after the injection to help alleviate these symptoms.
 
The vaccine is recommended from age 6 months and up.  Be advised that the nasal spray flu vaccine is not recommended this year again.  Remember the vaccine does not protect you from getting the flu or the 250 other viruses out there that cause the common cold.  It only protects you from the severe symptoms of influenza A and B, and Swine flu.  You may still get exposed to the flu virus by coming in contact or close quarters with someone, or an article that has been contaminated by the virus.  Your symptoms will be significantly reduced if you have had the antibodies in place before the exposure.  It is like life insurance. You get it “just in case.”  Similarly, “just in case” you are exposed to the deadly flu virus, you should have the immunization in place. It may save your life.
 
Keep up the communication with me and update me on your progress at your next appointment. Also, thank you for your questions. Keep them coming through the patient portal. 
 
 
THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE.  It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. Always consult your Doctor, PA or FNP for any problems you may be having and for more information about what you have read.
 
 
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