Dr. Melissa Rosso

06/12/2026

🥵 Heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke — do you know the difference?

One is serious. The other is a medical emergency. Sharing this graphic because knowing the difference could save a life.

The biggest thing to remember: heat stroke means call 911.

Confusion, no sweating despite the heat, and a very high body temperature are red flags that the body has lost the ability to cool itself.

Heat exhaustion can often be managed with rest, cool water, and getting out of the heat — but if symptoms don't improve quickly, get medical help. When in doubt, err on the side of caution. 🙏

06/11/2026

🚨 Are you in a higher-risk group? Read this.

Most people think heat only hits hard if you're outside all day. But certain groups need to take action even sooner — at "orange" on the CDC Heat Risk Index, not just red.
That includes:
🧓 Older adults — aging reduces your ability to sweat and regulate temperature
👶 Infants and young children — smaller bodies heat up faster
🤰 Pregnant women
❤️ People with heart disease or chronic illness
🏗️ Outdoor workers and athletes
💊 People on certain medications — some drugs impair sweating, reduce thirst, or affect heart function

Not sure if your medication is on the list? Ask your doctor or pharmacist — this one surprises a lot of people.

Check your local heat risk level at the CDC HeatRisk tool. 🌡️

Check the HeatRisk forecast for your area and find out what you can do to stay safe.

06/10/2026

🌡️ It's not just hot. It's dangerously hot.

This week, 48 million people face "major" heat risk and 100,000 face "extreme" heat risk across the U.S. And here's what most people don't realize: the number on your weather app doesn't tell the whole story.

When it's hot AND humid, sweat can't evaporate — your body's built-in cooling system stops working the way it should. That's when heat illness happens fast.

Stay tuned this week — I'm sharing everything you need to stay safe. ☀️

06/05/2026

☀️ Summer is here, Kansas — and so is the sun.

Sunscreen is great, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. Sharing this graphic from Your Local Epidemiologist because it’s such a good reminder that full sun protection is a five-step game.

Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide. Say it with me. 😎

Your future skin will thank you — and so will your ophthalmologist (those wraparound shades protect your eyes too!). 👓

What’s your summer sun protection non-negotiable? Drop it below! 👇

06/04/2026

💉 Is it time for your spring COVID vaccine?

COVID-19 levels are low right now — but we typically see a summer wave pick up July through September, which makes this a good time to think about where you stand on vaccination.

Here’s the current guidance:

👴 Ages 65+, immunocompromised, or high-risk? The CDC recommends a COVID vaccine twice a year — fall and spring. Vaccine protection fades over time, and a spring dose can cut your hospitalization risk by roughly 50% heading into summer. Staying current on vaccines is one of the most impactful things you can do.

🧑 Healthy adults and kids? An annual fall vaccine is recommended to reduce your chances of a significant illness and keep you off the sidelines.

COVID isn’t gone — it’s just more manageable. And keeping up with vaccines is still one of the best tools we have. 💪

06/03/2026

🌿 Tick season is here, Kansas — here’s what you actually need to know.

Spring and summer mean more time outside, which also means more tick exposure. Kansas has a lot of lone star ticks, and while Lyme disease is rare here, other tick-borne illnesses like ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever do occur. The good news: a little prevention goes a long way.

Before you head out 🥾

• Light-colored long sleeves and pants (tuck those pants into your socks — yes, really)
• EPA-approved repellent on exposed skin (DEET or picaridin work well)
• Permethrin spray on clothing and gear
• Stick to the middle of trails, away from tall grass and brush

When you get back inside 🚿

• Full-body tick check — scalp, behind ears, armpits, groin, behind knees. Check kids and pets too.
• Shower within 2 hours
• Toss clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes

Found a tick? Here’s how to remove it 🔍
Fine-tipped tweezers, grasp close to the skin, pull straight up with steady pressure. That’s it. No Vaseline, no matches, no twisting — those old remedies can actually make things worse. Save the tick in a bag and write down the date — helpful info if symptoms develop.

Call your doctor if you develop 🌡️
Fever, rash, headache, fatigue, body aches, or nausea in the days to weeks after a bite. Early antibiotic treatment is very effective — don’t wait it out.

Most tick bites don’t cause illness, but a quick check after every outdoor adventure is one of the easiest things you can do for your family’s health this summer. 🌻

Questions? Drop them below! 👇

05/22/2026

🍉 Free meals for Manhattan kids this summer!

Any child ages 1–18 can grab a free breakfast and lunch at several locations across town — no strings attached. Starting May 26th through July 31st. Just show up!

📍 Bluemont, Frank Bergman, Northview, Ogden, Theodore Roosevelt Elementaries & Manhattan High School

Make it an adventure — walk or bike over if one’s in your neighborhood! 🚲☀️

05/16/2026

🦴 Bone health is whole-body health — and a new study just reminded me why I keep bringing this up with patients.

Research published this month in Menopause found that postmenopausal women with osteoporosis had up to a 47% higher risk of mortality compared to those with healthier bone density. Osteoporosis is often called a “silent disease” — and that silence is part of the problem.

The good news? There is a lot within our control. Here’s what I talk about with patients:

🥦 Eat calcium-rich foods — Dairy, leafy greens, fortified foods. Food sources are preferable to supplements when possible.
☀️ Get adequate vitamin D — Essential for calcium absorption. Ask your doctor whether your levels need checking.
🚶‍♀️ Move with purpose — weight-bearing exercise — Walking, hiking, strength training, and balance work all matter. Resistance training builds both muscle and bone.
💊 Talk to your doctor about hormone therapy — For many postmenopausal women, HRT is an evidence-based option that protects bone density — along with other benefits.
📋 Screen early — don’t wait for a fracture — A DEXA scan is quick, low-dose, and tells us a lot. Guidelines recommend screening at age 65, earlier if you have risk factors.

Bone density is a window into systemic health — cardiovascular risk, frailty, longevity. It deserves more than a checkbox at your annual visit.
If you’re postmenopausal, or caring for someone who is — let’s talk about what proactive bone health can look like for you. 💬

04/28/2026

Yoga tonight cancelled🥶. We’ve added on an extra flow 6/30☀️✨

04/24/2026

American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists - ACOG just released a new menopause resource: Menopause: What Your Ob-Gyn Wants You to Know.

I love seeing more evidence-based, trustworthy information finally reaching women🩷

Get the go-to book on menopause from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).