Well, spring has sprung, and even though it feels different this year without the snow, new plants are popping up, and spring veggies are on the way! This time of year, the produce we can get is really remarkable – green onions, asparagus, sugar snap peas, strawberries, fresh greens, baby carrots and the list goes on! Fresh vegetables are some of the most nutrient-dense foods per calorie - naturally low fat, high in fiber and high in plant-rich antioxidants and anthocyanins.

Spring in the Rocky Mountains is beautiful — but it also brings one of the most common questions I hear this time of year: "Is this allergies… or am I getting sick?" In our area, spring allergies are very common, especially with triggers like sage, grasses, dust, and changing weather patterns. These symptoms can sometimes feel very similar to a cold, which makes it confusing. Here’s a simple way to tell the difference: Likely Allergies Sneezing Itchy eyes, nose, or throat Cle

One of my favorite parts of working in Direct Primary Care is hearing what patients love most about their experience. Many people tell us they didn’t realize healthcare could feel this different. Here are five things we hear most often: 1. Longer Visits Patients love having time to talk, ask questions, and not feel rushed. Visits are focused on you — not the clock. 2. Easy Communication Need to ask a quick question? Patients appreciate being able to call, text, or message the

Karen Casey and Amanda McIntosh I’m super happy to announce that Leadville really showed up for our steps contest – thank you. Our two winners were Janelle Stefanic and Amanda McIntosh.  Janelle kept a beautiful written record of her activity said that what motivated her was that she really wanted to win, and she did (but she declined a picture). Do you recognize the name Amanda McIntosh? Well, you should! Amanda is the only woman to win the Leadville 100 two consecutive year

Stress is one of the most common health concerns providers see today, even when patients come in for something else. It isn’t just “in your head.” Your body reacts to pressure the same way it would react to danger. Hormones rise, muscles tense, and your nervous system goes on alert. When this happens occasionally, it’s manageable. When it happens constantly, it can start to take a toll. Physical Signs of Stress Stress affects the entire body. Common symptoms include: Headache

Bringing your medications to an appointment at RMFP might seem like a small step, but it’s one of the most important ways we keep you safe. Over time, prescriptions change, specialists add treatments, and supplements get added. Without regular review, outdated or duplicate medications can remain on your list. A medication review allows us to confirm that every medication still has a purpose, check for interactions, and make sure doses are correct. Sometimes we even discover a

Introducing gentle, mindful movement into your routine can significantly improve strength, mobility, and body awareness. As we sleep each night, the body becomes still and the fascia — the continuous web of connective tissue that surrounds and supports every muscle, bone, organ, nerve, and blood vessel — can temporarily stiffen. Intentional movement helps rehydrate and mobilize this tissue, reducing stiffness and improving range of motion. With consistent practice, we begin t

Nutrition care is not only about eating the right foods, but it is also about community, and how through our unique community of people we support each other and provide equitable access to fresh, healthy, balanced food.   Supporting the Current Community This month I will be hosting a FREE – Open to the Public - educational event at Colorado Mountain College about proper nutrition for outdoor winter recreation! In addition to providing some critical information about hydrati

Direct Primary Care is designed to make health care simpler—and more accessible—than many people are used to. Let’s take a moment for a refresh on the services available at Rocky Mountain Family Practice of Leadville. Your DPC membership covers much more than quick office visits. Members can schedule same-day or next-day appointments, communicate directly with their care team by text or phone, and enjoy longer, unrushed visits. Your membership also includes care such as: Well

In today’s health care system, many patients are used to rushed visits—quick checklists, short conversations, and feeling like there wasn’t enough time to fully explain what’s going on. When medical providers have the time to listen, care becomes more thoughtful, more accurate, and more effective. At Rocky Mountain Family Practice, we have time to listen – this unhurried approach leads to better outcomes in these ways: Time Leads to Better Understanding Unrushed visits allow

Feeling more tired in the winter is incredibly common. Shorter days, colder weather, and changes in routine can all affect energy levels. But if fatigue feels persistent, overwhelming, or different from your usual “winter sluggishness,” RMFP can help you take a closer look. There are several common—and treatable—health issues that can contribute to ongoing fatigue: Anemia: Low iron levels or anemia can leave you feeling drained, weak, or short of breath. A simple blood test c

Happy New Year and welcome to peak citrus fruit season! In addition to being a popular football tradition, did you know the New Year’s Day Orange Bowl tradition was originally designed to advertise the peak harvest of Florida navel oranges? Here are a few other citrus fruit stats you may not know. One single orange is a powerhouse of nutrients – packing ¾ of your daily vitamin C. A fresh, whole orange also contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, vitamin E, potassium, mag

Sometimes the healthiest resolution is simply starting the conversation. Every January, people feel pressure to completely reinvent themselves—to eat perfectly, exercise every day, lose a certain amount of weight, or never miss a workout. While those goals often come from a good place, they can also be overwhelming and hard to sustain. Let’s make it simpler. What are your healthy goals for 2026? Do you know the values of your key health metrics like blood pressure, fasting gl

Life gets busy — work, family, errands, appointments — and it’s easy to push your own health to the bottom of the to-do list. But your annual physical  is one appointment that truly pays off. Think of it as a yearly investment in your long-term well-being. A Preventive Check-In An annual physical gives you and your care team the chance to step back and look at the “big picture” of your health. Even if you feel perfectly fine, these visits can catch small issues before they be

¿Por qué mi dietista me pregunta sobre el ejercicio? La respuesta es porque la condición fisica va de la mano con la nutrición, y para tener una salud óptima necesitas ambos. Cualquier objetivo de composición corporal que implique ganar músculo o fuerza requiere tanto una nutrición equilibrada como ejercicio. Piensa en la fórmula como nutrición (macronutrientes) + ejercicio = resultados. Las mujeres, en particular, necesitan entrenamiento de fuerza durante toda la vida para m

La vida se vuelve ocupada: trabajo, familia, recados, citas, y es fácil dejar tu propia salud al final de la lista de tareas. Pero tu examen fisico anual es una cita que realmente vale la pena. Piensa en él como una inversión anual en tu bienestar a largo plazo. Un chequeo preventivo Un examen físico anual te da a ti y a tu equipo de atención médica la oportunidad de dar un paso atrás y mirar el “panorama general” de tu salud. Incluso si te sientes perfectamente bien, estas vi

Why does my dietitian ask me about exercise? The answer is because physical fitness goes hand in hand with nutrition – and in order to have optimal health span you need both.   Any body composition goals that involve gaining muscle or strength requires both balanced nutrition and exercise. Think of the formula as nutrition (macros) + exercise = results. Women, in particular, require strength training – for life - in order to maintain proper bone and muscle mass. Some of the a

Karen Casey, MS, RDN Some of my patients have heard me say – nutrition science is a young science! New discoveries are happening every day – changing the recommendations for which foods and nutrients we use to treat and prevent disease.    There are entire classes of very complex metabolic diseases that are treated by restricting certain vitamins or nutrients – similar to how Type 2 diabetes is treated by restricting sugar. In the last 10 years, groundbreaking research in foo

The holidays can bring true moments of joy and contentment – or they can feel heavy with obligations. Is your calendar jam-packed? Are you feeling pressure to please everyone? Maybe I can help by sharing how I prioritize my health during this season. Check in with myself  - you may feel calm today and stressed tomorrow. If I am stressed, I breathe in for four, out for six. It’s a nervous system reset button. Move  – I take stretch breaks, park a little farther away from the s

“Can I eat a cupcake, or is that a bad food? Carrots are good for me, right?” These are great questions—and the answer isn’t as simple as good or bad. It really depends on what your body needs.