Dr. Linda Mintle

Month: January 2021

  • 6 Questions Regarding Taking the COVID 19 Vaccine

    6 Questions Regarding Taking the COVID 19 Vaccine

    Recently, I asked physician, tropical and infectious disease expert, Richard Lane, MD, MPH, TM to join me on my weekly radio show and podcast. He has spent his life in medicine and doing missionary work all over the globe. Dr. Lane is a strong man of the Christian faith, a dedicated scientist and a retired physician. I trust him to carefully review the scientific data and report the truth. And I trust him because he also views science through a biblical lens. I have been following him on Facebook for updates.

    I did this podcast to provide truthful information regarding the vaccines for COVID 19. I addressed questions from Christians who shared their concerns. Here are just a few of the questions asked . To hear more, listen to the podcast on ITUNES (Dr. Linda Mintle Show) anytime and share with family and friends.

    Question 1: These vaccines were developed in record time. Should we be worried that they were rushed to market and therefore are not safe? 

    Dr. Lane: In terms of the development of the Pfizer vaccine, their study started with 44,820 volunteers. Of that number, 1270 did not actually participate for various reasons. Another 99 were dropped after the randomization stage and not vaccinated because they didn’t sign a consent form. Overall, 21,720 were vaccinated with one dose and 21,728 received the placebo. This is considered a very large clinical trial. The end result of the study is that the vaccine is safe and efficacious. Anyone who reads this paper and understands science can feel secure in the decision to be immunized.

    The data for the Moderna and Pfizer are very similar. Both vaccines used the same biotechnology (mRNA). This report on the Moderna vaccine hints for the first time that the vaccine may prevent asymptomatic infections after the first dose.

    Question 2: I have heard that this vaccine will change my DNA. Is this true?

    Dr. Lane: This is not true. Creation Ministries International posted a good explanation of the technology. This organization affirms science and the truth of the Bible. It’s a bit of a technical read but explains how mRNA is not a DNA changer. The mRNA of the vaccine cannot even reach the part of the human cell where the DNA of our chromosomes is maintained.

    Question 3: What is the incubation time of the virus?

    Dr. Lane: Incubation time is simply the time from exposure to development of an infection, the onset of signs and symptoms of the infection. The incubation time is distinct from the time an infected person is contagious. People, who have been exposed, may develop an infection anytime, from 2 days to 14 days, after exposure. Not all exposures lead to infection. A certain viral load, or dose, is needed to cause infection. The use of masks, hand sanitizer, reduction of crowds, and other distancing measures are designed to reduce the dose of the virus during exposure.

    Additionally, not all people with an infection will develop the typical respiratory, flu-like, symptoms associated with the disease. They will, however, shed virus and test positive with the nasal swab. These asymptomatic individuals are, nonetheless, contagious to others for a period of at least 10 days from the point at which they begin to shed virus. The contagious period shouldn’t be confused with the 14-day incubation period. An infected person remains contagious from the time of symptom onset or virus detection for a minimum of ten days. The chances of transmission continues for an additional 24 hours after a symptomatic person’s fever breaks.

    Question 4: Is it really that important for people in churches to wear masks?

    Dr. Lane: Churches pose a particular risk to disease transmission because people are stationary, in close proximity to one another, for long periods of time, increasing the potential spread of viral particles from an infected person to his neighbor. Singing increases the volume of respiratory droplets and viral density within those droplets. Masks reduce the spread of those droplets. Pastors must do more to protect congregates, especially given that many churchgoers are in high risk groups for poor COVID19 outcomes.

    Question 5: Should I get the vaccine if I had COVID 19?

    Dr. Lane: I agree about the need for the vaccine after recovery from COVID19. Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 wane after three months. The levels may go low enough that some people become vulnerable to re-infection. Those individuals need the vaccine to boost specific immunity to the disease. People who recently recovered from COVID19 should wait at least 3-4 weeks after recovery before taking a shot. If you currently have COVID19, you CAN wait up to 90 days for your vaccine. If you currently have active symptoms of COVID-19, the CDC recommends you wait to get vaccinated until you’ve recovered and met the criteria for ending isolation:* At least 10 days have passed since symptom onset AND* At least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications AND* Other symptoms have improved. Two factors are involved with the need to delay vaccination after an infection. First, if you seek the vaccine during the contagious period, you pose a risk of infecting other people, while getting the vaccine. Second, you need to give the body time to recover sufficiently to have the resources to respond to the vaccine. Taking a vaccine too early can lead to a suboptimal immune response, similar to the situation from taking the second booster dose of a vaccine too early.

    Question 6: As a Christian, I wonder if this is a set up for the mark of beast discussed in the book of Revelation. What can you say about that?

    Dr. Lane: First, remember that God is in our science. He designed our bodies and all wisdom comes from Him. This vaccine does not contain a chip.  They do not contain technology to trace you. Vaccines have a large positive impact on human health. No one is being forced to take them. So please don’t confuse your personal and/or political convictions with the meaning of a biblical text. Crosswalk.com makes these distinctions in terms of the mark of the beast: 1) Identification of the mark will be deliberate, not covert. 2) It will require Christians to intentionally reject Christ. 3) It is tied to the worship of the Beast and vaccinations are not about worship.  

    Please, do not listen to fear mongering, rumors, and celebrities who are not schooled in theology or science. Seek the truth. People’s lives are at stake. 

  • Why Blame Continues and Unity Suffers

    Why Blame Continues and Unity Suffers

    “We need unity in our country!” 

    How many times do we hear the refrain? Yet, it seems to be followed up with angry blame. Lots of it!

    So I ask, is his helping to lower the temperature of anger in our culture? 

    Here is an example. As I was driving in to work this morning, I was listening to a CNN morning news anchor. She was interviewing a guest. During the interview, she tried to get the guest to blame a political party for a host of things. When the guest was reluctant to do so, she took charge of the interview, telling us we needed to go after specific people and make sure they were removed from office.

    Then she named names and said, “Memorize these faces and remember these names.” It was vitriolic and scary. And it certainly wasn’t reporting a story. A news anchor was inciting anger in her listening audience. She took it upon herself to rule as judge and jury over various people in Congress. And my question: What does this news anchor hope is the outcome of her angry rhetoric? I changed the channel. I heard enough hate and vitriol to last me for all of 2021.

    Blame has been around since Adam blamed Eve for eating the fruit. But the escalation of its use is disturbing. It’s neither a unifying nor a winning strategy. When blame focuses on people versus problems, it becomes dangerous; especially when you don’t know the person’s intent or all the details of the person’s actions and behaviors.

    Another problem with blame is that it assumes a negative motive. This is called attribution error. It happens when we judge someone by some personal characteristic and overlook the facts of a situation. In other words, we have a tendency to judge actions based on the kind of person we believe them to be rather than on the social or situational forces that might be in play. And in that process, we don’t allow for mistakes. The person is bad!

    With so much blame being thrown around with no concern for truth, let’s at least agree that blame will not solve our current problems and will not lead to growth of any kind. And certainly not unity.  All blame does is further the divide and stir up anger and defensiveness. Once people are angry and defensive, they do not listen nor work together.

    Sadly, blame damages trust, is often reactionary, and doesn’t build intimacy. Blame throws up the past and holds grudges, resulting in hurt and distance.

    So why do we do it? After all, it rarely ends well. Four reasons come to mind. First, in times of uncertainty or when we lack understanding, we look for a scapegoat. The quicker we point a finger or label someone responsible, the better we feel. We’re in control. We can take a complex problem and make it simple with blame. Find your villain and feel better.

    Second, blame keeps the focus off you and onto another person. It protects our ego and prevents self-reflection and accountability. Point the finger so you don’t have to think about how you might need to change. I see this in couple therapy all the time.

    Third, blame allows us to attack anyone with whom we’re angry. When we blame, we don’t have to regulate our emotions. We can externalize our issues and be a victim. When we feel miserable and don’t like the way something unfolds, blame! It removes our inhibitions and justifies our hurt and anger. And the more we blame, the more we reinforce those neural pathways in the brain. Blame begets blame and becomes a habit. Just look at our political leaders. Blame is their default; a habit gained from regular practice.

    Fourth, blame is easy. It doesn’t take deep thought or work to understand others. Often it is easier to lie than to deal with the consequences of the truth. It’s a short cut to really knowing another person.

    So here we are. A culture of blamers. Yet, it doesn’t work and opposes unity. You simply can’t call for unity while blaming.

    How do we stop blaming and promote unity?

    • Become aware of how much and often we do this. Awareness is the first step in changing a behavior.
    • When you are ready to blame, stop and think. Is this productive? Calming down the situation? Why am I doing this (see the reasons above)?
    • Take responsibility. Most often, we are part of the problem—being complicit, passive, etc.
    • If there is a problem, constructively address it. This means no name calling, pointing the finger. Again, this creates defensiveness and hinders reconciliation or even basic listening.
    • Focus on the problem, not people. You might think you know the other’s intent when you don’t. Or you far too quickly come to conclusions without facts. Better to gain a good understanding of what happened before you blame.
    • Allow for mistakes and offer grace. When you do, you create a safe atmosphere in which people, innovation and creativity can grow.
    • Find your security in God. The more you trust Him, the less you will feel the need to protect your ego.
  • Will Your Social Circle Help You Lose Weight?

    Will Your Social Circle Help You Lose Weight?

    Who is in your social circle? How do they influence your weight loss efforts? Is your buddy ready to dive into the buffet bars again? Is she content to passively play on her phone rather than get up and move? All of this makes a difference.

    Research tells us that our social circle greatly influences our health behaviors. Having the right people around you makes a difference. According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, if  you have a friend who became obese, you have a 57% chance of also becoming obese. Think about it. Are the chips and ice cream brought our during sporting events or card games? My brother is notorious for this. Card games mean a whopping bowl of ice cream will be on the table with the card deck! And if you are in the weight loss mode, watching someone snack away can be difficult. Now, you can bring your own low calorie snacks to the next football play off. It helps! But carrots versus brownies…hmmmm.

    We know from studies that if you and a friend decide to lose weight together, your chances of sticking it out increase. So teaming up with friends to accomplish a weight loss goal is a good idea. This is why so many weight loss programs encourage groups to meet. It’s all about the support and encouragement to keep going despite all the temptations to quit.

    Also, think about physical activity among your friends. Do you have a few that invite you to walk at lunch? Maybe there is a group who plays tennis or hikes on the weekends. Physical activity helps during weight loss so finding that social circle of active exercise makes a big difference. You need others to inspire you to get out there and be active. I remember when I didn’t want to walk every day, I had a friend who called and said we are doing it. I had no excuses and she kept me motivated. Otherwise, I would have talked myself out of it on most days.

    Social support can be emotional, physical, and inspirational. You might need a friend to encourage you when you are ready to give up. Or maybe a family member to inspire you to reach your goal. And as I mentioned, an exercise friend may be needed to pull you off the couch and get you moving.

    When it comes to weight loss,  think about who is in your social circle. It is easier to stick to your plan when others around you are on board. Now, it doesn’t mean you have to ditch all your friends and find new ones. You can still set your own goals. And you could look for a community group or a wellness challenge to join. Many work places have these. And if you still can’t find a group, form  your own. You might be the encouragement others need.

    So this year, when you decide weight loss is one of your goals, consider your social circle. Make sure you have the support to keep going when you run out of steam. A little help from friends is always a good idea.

  • Are You an Undiagnosed Adult With ADHD

    An adult with ADHD often goes unrecognized. Jerry is 40-years-old. He has a history of changing jobs often. He is easily bored. Jerry’s wife is frustrated with all the home projects he starts and never finishes because he is easily distracted.

    A trip to the doctor landed Jerry a referral to a psychologist for an evaluation. When Jerry was diagnosis with ADHD, it all made sense. As a child, he struggled in school despite being very bright. He lost things, forgot to turn in homework and excelled in subjects that were his passion. Because he wasn’t hyperactive and few people talked about ADHD, Jerry’s struggles were chalked up to a lack of self-control.

    Jerry’s diagnosis is not a matter of poor self-discipline, bad parenting or distractibility. He has a heritable condition that affects 4.1 % of adults in any given year (The National Institute of Mental Health). Adults with ADHD typically have it as children. However, many go undiagnosed. Now, celebrities like Justin Timberlake, will.I. am, Adam Levine, and Terry Bradshaw bring awareness to the diagnosis. They are good examples of people who thrive despite the diagnosis.

    According to the DSM-5 (the manual of psychiatric diagnoses), a person must have 5 of 9 symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity for a minimum of six months. And symptoms usually interfere with social, academic or work activities.

    Check the lists below to see if you or someone you know might need an evaluation.

    Inattention Symptoms Checklist
    __ Fail to pay close attention to details or make careless mistakes.
    __ Trouble remaining focused during lectures, conversations, or while reading.
    __When spoken to directly, your mind seems elsewhere even in the absence of any apparent distraction.
    __ Difficulty with follow through on instructions and fails to finish work or chores.
    __Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities, so you fail to meet deadlines.
    __May avoid, dislike, or is reluctant to undertake tasks that require sustained mental effort, such as preparing reports or completing forms.
    __Can lose things you need for tasks, such as books, wallet, paperwork, or cell phone.
    __Easily distracted by extraneous stimuli.
    __Forgetful in daily activities such as running errands, returning calls, paying bills, and keeping appointments.

    Hyperactivity-Impulsivity Symptoms Checklist
    __ Fidget with or tap your hands or feet, or squirm while seated.
    __Restless in seat, such as at work.
    __Runs around where it is inappropriate.
    __Unable to quietly engage in leisure activities, such as reading or gardening.
    __ Unable or uncomfortable sitting still for an extended time, as in restaurants or meetings.
    __Often talk excessively.
    __ Answer before a question is completed, finish other people’s sentences, or cannot wait turn in conversation.
    __ Have trouble waiting your turn, such as in line at a bank or store.
    __Interrupt others by butting into conversations or activities.

    Treatment and help: Treatment makes life much easier. It can improve self-esteem, interpersonal and professional relationships. Medications approved for ADHD are stimulants, such as amphetamines (amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, and lisdexamfetamine) and methylphenidate (methylphenidate and dexmethylphenidate); and non-stimulants (atomoxetine). Check with your physician to see if one might be appropriate.

    In terms of therapy, cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) is the most effective psychological treatment. Find a therapist and learn how to be one of the people who thrives with ADHD.

  • What Does it Take to Make a Change?

    What Does it Take to Make a Change?

    Time for a change! It’s a new year! Most of us are ready to put 2020 in the rear view mirror! And with a new beginning, we often think of new goals. What do we want to focus on this year? Maybe you want to lose those 10 pounds, quit smoking, limit social media, work on being more patient, etc. We all have something we want to change, but change is not that easy. If it was, I would not be writing this blog!

    Too often, we begin the change process but quickly lose steam. Yuck, another failure. We think, why even bother? Why is this so hard? One reason could be because you really aren’t ready for change. Change might be a good idea conceptually, but readiness to change is important. So, before you diet for the 20th time, or try to limit your screen time once again, ask two important questions.

    The first question is, how important is the change? Be honest. Are you doing this because someone else thinks you should, or because you feel guilty? To assess importance of a change, rate it on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being not important at all and 10 being the most important. If your rating is low (below a 5), you aren’t ready. Lack of importance means your goal is a low priority. It’s a set up for failure. For example, I asked a patient if he wanted to quit smoking. He said, “Not really, but my wife wants me too.” The more we talked, the more he told me that quitting smoking was not an important issue for him. He wasn’t ready to give up smoking with all the stress he was experiencing and rated the importance as a 3.

    The second question is, how confident are you that you can make a change? Your motivation to change can be very important, but if you lack confidence to make the change, it is a set up for failure. To assess your confidence, use that same 1 to 10 scale. If your confidence number is low, change will be hard to make. Let’s use our patient example again. Patient #2 tells me giving up smoking is a 9 out of 10 on the scale of importance. He really wants to stop. But, he rated his confidence to quit a 3 out of 10. His reason for low confidence was due to all his previous failed efforts to stop smoking. He needed a plan for success because he didn’t want to fail again. And that plan included identifying the barriers and challenges to quitting.

    Whatever it is that you want to change, it needs to be important and you need to feel confident to make it happen. Otherwise, you probably are not ready to move into action. One way you can increase your readiness is to make a list of pros and cons for making a change. The pros should outweigh the cons. And the cons need to be considered, as they relate to your confidence.

    And remember, pray and ask God for help. You have the power of the Holy Spirit in you which should boost your confidence. God in us is a powerful change agent. If change is important, don’t get discourage or give up. If confidence is your issue, enlist the power of the Holy Spirit along with a good plan to overcome the barriers of reaching your goals. And remember, most people don’t change in a straight line, meaning there will be ups and downs to achieving success. The key is to not give up. If you relapse, get right back on track. Identify what got in your way of success and try again. Yes, it is a new year and you can reach your goals!