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Holidays can present special challenges for those who live with diabetes, particularly as people look for ways to either avoid temptation or make better choices while they navigate all the indulgences of the season.

Whether its dealing with busy schedules, extra stress, family gatherings or holiday eating, the holiday season brings many extra gatherings, social events and shopping, which leave us with even less time for healthy lifestyle habits such as exercise.

Towards the end of the year, many people really do celebrate a holiday season with multiple holidays occurring from October to January, many of which have a heavy focus on foods that are often high in sugar, sodium, fat and calories. Since research shows that weight gained during the holidays doesnt usually come off later in the year, its important to focus on weight maintenancethrough quality diets and physical activity during the holidays.

This not only helps our waistlines, but also helps us manage other health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

With that in mind, Jenny Lobb, a specialist with Ohio State Extension Service, and other food and nutrition experts offer the following tips to help you enjoy the holidays while managing your diabetes:

Manage your stress. Stress causes our bodies to stay in a constant state of fight or flight. In response, our bodies release hormones that affect the way our bodies release and use glucose. This can cause blood glucose (or blood sugar) levels to remain high and be more difficult to manage. Exercising, relaxing, meditating and yoga with deep breathing exercises are good.

Dont take a holiday break from physical activity. A regular exercise program improves blood sugars, decreases the risk of heart disease and helps you lose weight. Thirty minutes a day five times a week is good. Every day is better. You dont have to do it all at once. Break it up throughout the day.

Plan ahead. Stick to your healthy meal plan, plan menus in advance and take diabetes-friendly foods to gatherings.

When eating a holiday meal, try to consume only the amount of carbohydrates that youd normally consume, and dont skip meals or snacks earlier in the day to save carbs for later. This will make your blood glucose more difficult to control.

Keep desserts in check. Share a dessert, make desserts that youve modified to be healthy or politely decline dessert when you know youve reached your limit.

Watch your meal portion sizes.

Kathy Smith is a Texas A&M AgriLife extension agent.

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Diabetes and the holidays | Columns - Weatherford Democrat

In the last nineteen years almost 50 thousand people have died from diabetes in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Since 2019, a little more than 24 thousand people have lost their lives as a result of diabetes, a disease that in 2018 showed a slight decline compared to last year, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) reported.

Although Yucatan, Campeche and Quintana Roo are among the 11 states with the lowest mortality numbers due to this disease, the figure remains alarming.

Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by increased blood glucose levels and that without control, can lead to severe complications such as blindness or even death.

Symptoms include the excessive need to urinate; excessive thirst; excessive hunger; weight loss or gain without apparent cause, and sudden changes in vision.

From 2000 to 2008, 24,326 deaths were recorded in the Yucatan Peninsula, due to complications of this degenerative chronic disease, whose historical maximum was 3,290 deaths in 2016, while the minimum was 2,107 people died in 2011.

In 2018, a total of 3,014 died from this disease in the peninsula, 4.7 percent less than the previous year, when 3,161 died.

The federal Ministry of Health stressed the importance of carrying out dietary control, as it favors the reduction of blood glucose concentrations, indicating that diabetes is under control.

According to information from Inegi, in 2018, 101,257 deaths due to diabetes were registered in the country, with a decrease of five percent over the previous year, when the total was of 106,525.

The Yucatan Times Newsroom

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Since 2000, almost 50 thousand people have died of diabetes in the Yucatan Peninsula - The Yucatan Times

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body doesn't produce enough insulin to function properly, or the body's cells don't react to insulin, which causes a rise in blood sugar levels.

Insulin is a hormone that made by the pancreas that allows the body to use sugar (glucose) from carbohydrates in the food that you eat for energy or to store glucose for future use but but it also plays a crucial role in stopping blood sugar levels from getting too high.

Consistently high blood sugar levels, if left unreated, can cause life-threatening risks, such as heart disease and stroke, so it is important that people with type 2 diabetes find alternative ways to control their blood sugar.

Diet is a key component of blood sugar management, and, as a general rule, cutting back on carbohydrates can help to lower blood sugar.

As Diabetes.co.uk explains: Carbohydrate is broken down into glucose relatively quickly and therefore has a more pronounced effect on blood sugar levels than either fat or protein.

A helpful way to distinguish between high-carb and low-carb food items is to follow the Glycemic Index (GI) - a relative ranking of carbohydrate in foods according to how they affect blood glucose levels.

Carbohydrates with a low GI value are more slowly digested, absorbed and metabolised and cause a lower and slower rise in blood glucose and,

therefore usually, insulin levels.

READ MORE:Type 2 diabetes symptoms: Noticing this sign on your skin could mean youre at risk

One food item with a particular low GI rating is chickpeas, and in addition, the legume is a good source of fibre and protein, which are both known for their role in blood sugar regulation.

Research into the effects of fibre shows that it slows carb absorption, which promotes a steady rise in blood sugar levels, rather than a spike.

Also, evidence shows that eating protein-rich foods may help maintain healthy blood sugar levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

In one study, 19 people who ate a meal that contained 200 grams of chickpeas had a 21 percent reduction in blood sugar levels, compared to when they ate a meal that contained whole-grain cereal or white bread.

Another 12-week study found that 45 individuals who ate 728 grams of chickpeas per week had a notable reduction in their fasting insulin levels, which is an important factor in blood sugar control

Furthermore, several studies have associated chickpea consumption with a reduced risk of several diseases, including diabetes and heart disease. These effects are often attributed to their blood-sugar-lowering effects.

In addition to focusing on the blood-sugar lowering benefits of eating specific food items, for optimal blood sugar management, it is important to adopt a healthy, a balanced diet.

According to the NHS, following the glycaemic index can help to stave off the risk of rising blood sugar levels, but other factors must also be taken into account.

It's also important to eat a healthy, balanced diet that is low in fat, sugar and salt, and high in fruit and vegetables, advised the health body.

If you've been advised to make changes to your diet, or you need advice, a diabetes dietitian can help you work out a diet plan, says the health site.

You can ask your GP about being referred to a dietitian.

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Type 2 diabetes: Include this 55p food in your diet to lower your blood sugar - Express

In healthy people, the hormone insulin is released by the pancreas, a gland present in the abdomen. This hormone regulates the levels of blood sugar. When levels of blood sugar are not appropriately controlled and become too high this is called as hyperglycemia and are diagnosed as diabetes mellitus. Unhealthy food habits lead to weight gain and obesity, insulin resistance which in turn causes both diabetes and predisposes to infertility.

When diabetes is left unattended it can affect your chances of getting pregnant and also the health of the pregnancy when pregnant. Risks of miscarriage, C-section, still births, foetal growth issues, and need for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are all higher in diabetic pregnancies. Babies of fathers with type 1 diabetes are at an increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes. It is heartening to know that diabetic fathers do not produce more malformed children than nondiabetics, only the general genetic remains as for anybody else. Diabetes in men too can majorly wreak havoc with their fertility and hamper a chance of having a baby.

Pre-diabetes and diabetes are more predominant in men than in women and the incidence is rising. This is becoming a huge concern for fertility doctors. Uncontrolled diabetes is associated with increased risk of sperm DNA damage resulting in higher risk of miscarriage. Even when there is good control of the condition this risk remains higher than in non-diabetics. Semen parameters like sperm motility tends to be poorer in diabetics and abnormal sperm forms tend to be higher. Diabetes is usually associated with obesity; this contributes to lower testosterone levels and loss of libido (sex drive), thus, reducing the frequency of intercourse and chances of conception. Diabetes is associated with nerve damage and also damage to blood vessels. This results in a host of sexual issues encompassing erectile dysfunction and ejaculation issues further hampering fertility. Diabetics due to the high sugar levels are more prone to infections in general. Infection, swelling and tenderness of the foreskin also known as balanitis makes it painful to have intercourse and affects fertility.

The good news is diabetes can be effectively managed to regulate blood sugar levels. This comprises of regularly checking your levels, consuming a healthy diet, engaging in steady physical activity, consistently staying in the healthy weight range, meditation, and relaxation techniques to reduce tension and anxiety, and quitting smoking and alcohol. Your health care provider may also suggest some medications if required. Well monitored blood sugar levels can lessen the risk of all the issues enumerated above.

Precautionary measures

Preferably, diabetes should be well under control for around three months before you start actively trying. This will reduce the diabetes-related risks of pregnancy. Meet your general practitioners (GP) or diabetes specialist as soon as you consider starting a family. When pregnancy does occur, it is best to consult a doctor as soon as you find out that you are pregnant, so that the required care can be taken.

A lot is talked about diabetes and obesity together causing problems with fertility. A healthy diet, regular exercising, and regular checks for diabetic control will vastly improve reproductive outcomes.

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Diabetes may cause infertility in men; here are some precautionary measures - Business Standard

By Ruby Prosser Scully

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Your gut microbes may determine how you respond to exercise. That is according to research showing how people with certain microbiomes have better metabolic outcomes after exercise. The discovery opens the door to diabetes treatments that target the microbes in our gut.

Type 2 diabetes is a growing problem internationally. While there is no cure, it can be prevented by early lifestyle interventions, says Aimin Xu at the University of Hong Kong.

Exercise is the most cost-effective strategy for diabetes prevention, he says. However, some people do not respond favourably to exercise.

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To understand why, Xu and his colleagues studied how exercise affected the microbiome and metabolism of 39 men with prediabetes, where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to qualify for a diagnosis of diabetes.

The participants, who had never taken medication for the condition, were randomly assigned either to a sedentary control group, or to a group that undertook a three-month, high-intensity, supervised exercise training course. They were told to maintain their usual diet.

While all participants in the exercise group had similar levels of weight and fat-mass reduction, only 70 per cent had significant improvements in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, Xu found.

An analysis of their gut microbes revealed that the people who saw improvements in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity had significantly different microbiomes that were able to generate more molecules called short-chain fatty acids and break down more branched-chain amino acids. the microbiomes of non-responders were more likely to produce compounds that are harmful to metabolism.

Next, the researchers asked the study participants to provide faecal samples, and transplanted the microbes they contained into obese mice. Rodents receiving microbes from people who responded well to exercise went on to develop better insulin resistance and glucose regulation. The rodents receiving microbes from people who hadnt responded to exercise didnt see any boost to these processes.

[Our study] identifies maladaptation of gut microbiota as a culprit for those individuals who do not respond to exercise intervention, says Xu. This is one of the first interventional randomised control trial studies providing clear evidence of the role of gut microbiota on metabolic health.

The findings raise the possibility that targeting gut microbiota can maximise the benefit of exercise and could help doctors personalise treatments.

The study only included men. Gut microbiomes can differ depending on sex, so the team plans to undertake similar research into women and older people in the future.

Journal reference: Cell Metabolism, DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2019.11.001

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Gut microbes may predict whether exercising will prevent diabetes - New Scientist News

DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. - "I don't want my father to die."

But that's exactly what Mariam Charara fears the most as her dad, Median El-Moustrah is facing. Being placed in an ICE detention center since Nov. 12, El-Moustrah has a slew of medical issues. Living with liver damage, hepatitis B, diabetes, and hearing loss, El-Moustrah is now at the mercy of an immigration system that Charara says she's displeased with.

"As a United States citizen I'm ashamed of this system, I am so ashamed of this system," she said.

While his potential exit is imminent, El-Moustrah's issues actually take root more than a decade ago.

"They had asked him back in 2007 when he was in front of the judge about a marriage date and because he forgot his anniversary, they deemed it to be enough evidence to say it was marriage fraud," said Charara.

Median El-Moustrah is very ill. He has liver damage, hepatitis B, diabetes and hearing loss. And since Nov. 12, he's been in a detention center run by ICE. Facing the prospect of deportation, his daughter is working to exhaust every opportunity to keep her dad from being sent back to Lebanon.

El-Moustrah's marriage to a U.S. citizen in the 1990's was a brief one, lasting about a year. However, he was able to obtain a green card.

Years after his marriage ended, problems started to arise within the legal system after he applied to extend his green card in 2007 - and couldn't remember his anniversary date.

His first wife later stated in an affidavit that they were indeed married for love, but since that court date, he's been at risk for deportation. All of this despite having no criminal record and living in the United Statesfor 30 years.

"He's a businessman. He employees eight other people, he pays taxes every single year," said Charara.

When Charara thinks about what might happen to her dad, she thinks of Jimmy Aldaoud - the metro Detroit man who was deported to Iraq earlier this year. Having never visited the country or spoken the language and facing his own degree of health problems, he died weeks after arriving back in the country when he couldn't get the insulin he needed to survive.

RELATED:Detroit man deported to Iraq in Trump's ICE sweep, diesfrom lack of insulin

To remedy the issue, Charara has submitted letters to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement from doctors located both in the U.S. and Lebanon, stating that her father - who is awaiting a liver transplant - will not get the medical care he needs if he deported.

Her letter ends by stating El-Moustrah could "face a certain death from his illness."

Charara said her family was informed the day before Thanksgiving that their father could be deported as early as next week.

"I'm just trying to make sure I turn every stone to know I can put my head in that pillow and say I did everything I can," she said.

FOX 2 reached out to ICE for a comment, and they said they could not respond until Monday.

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'Facing a certain death;' Man with liver damage, hepatitis B and diabetes facing deportation - FOX 2 Detroit

Diabetes Symptoms: Early signs of diabetes are visible on skin

Diabetes symptoms: Diabetes is affecting many today. Early diagnosis and treatment for diabetes can help in controlling the diseases on time. As uncontrolled blood sugar levels are associated with many severe complications one need to take necessary precautions to control the disease on time. During the early stage you may experience symptoms like frequent urination, increases hunger, blurry vision, fatigue, increases thirst, tingling in hands and feet, yeast infections and slow healing of wounds. Symptoms of diabetes are visible on skin as well. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels also affect the skin of the patient. Here are some common visible signs of diabetes on skin.

During the initial stage a diabetes patient may experience patches on the skin. Patches of dark skin can form on the neck or armpits. This patch can be soft. In some cases one may experience pale skin.

Diabetes: Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can affect skin in various waysPhoto Credit: iStock

Uncontrolled diabetes mainly contributes to skin issues. Dr. Manjunath Malige explains the relations between diabetes and skin issues and also explains different skin conditions that can happen due to diabetes. All these skin complications of diabetes can be prevented with good control of diabetes.

Diabetes, particularly poorly controlled diabetes can affect the skin in many ways. Diabetic Dermopathy is a term used to describe the small, brownish spots on the skin particularly in front of the legs. Patient usually does not develop any symptoms due to these skin spots and these occur in about 55% of patients with diabetes. It is more common in older patients with long-standing diabetes. These changes in skin happen due to decrease in the blood circulation to the skin due to diabetes.

Also read:Diabetes: Turmeric Can Help You Control Blood Sugar Levels; Here's Is The Right Method To Use It

Although, this condition in itself does not require any specific treatment, this may well indicate the presence of far more serious complications of diabetes like retinopathy (eye damage), nephropathy (kidney damage) and neuropathy (nerve damage). Cosmetic camouflage maybe used to disguise the appearance of the skin spots if required. The finding of such skin spots in patients not previously known to have diabetes should prompt investigations to check for the presence of diabetes. Good diabetes control in patients with diabetic dermopathy can reduce the risk of other complications of diabetes.

Diabetes Symptoms: Dark patches are one of the earliest sign of diabetesPhoto Credit: iStock

Also read:Diabetics, Here's How Uncontrolled Blood Sugar Levels Can Affect Your Skin

1. Patients with diabetes are also at risk of developing Diabetic Bullae also known as bullosis diabeticorum, where blisters develop in the skin. These if present are distinct markers of diabetes.

2. Many patients with type 1 diabetes develop stiffness of the skin known as diabetic cheiroarthropathy. This results in restricted mobility of joints of the hands with stiff, waxy, thickened and yellow skin.

3. Necrobiosis lipoidica is a condition where yellow, waxy spots appear in the skin in front of the legs.

4. Diabetic patients, particularly if overweight or obese, can develop darkening and thickening of skin folds, thought to be due to insulin resistance. This condition is called acanthosis nigricans.

5. Apart from these, diabetic patients are at risk of developing recurrent fungal infections particularly around the private parts.

Also read:Diabetes Diet: What Is Glycemic Index? Top Foods With Low- Glycemic Index That Every Diabetic Must Know

(Dr. Manjunath Malige is the Chief and Senior Endocrinologist and Diabetologist at Aster RV hospital, Bangalore)

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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Diabetes Symptoms: Dark Patches On Your Skin Can Be A Sign Of Diabetes; Here's Everything You Need To Know About Diabetes And Skin - NDTV News

The global rise in people suffering from type 2 diabetes is expected to drive the global non-insulin therapies for diabetes market. The global non-insulin therapies for diabetes market is estimated to reach a market value of US$ 64,590.6 million in 2019 and it is expected to reach US$ 105,461.5 million by 2027, growing at an estimated CAGR of 6.3% over the forecast period.

Globally, diabetes is considered to be the most common disease and is ranked as top ten fatal disease in the U.S. Non-insulin therapies are frequently used in type 2 diabetes, accounting more than 90.0% of the diabetes cases. The rising economic burden of diabetes is substantially very high and is expected to surge in the coming future. According to statistics published by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), in March 2018, the cost to diagnose diabetes have increased to US$ 327 billion in 2017. Hence, non-insulin therapies for diabetes hold promising future in the coming years.

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The month of November is dedicated to national diabetes awareness, with the 14th of November being dedicated as World Diabetes Day. The intention is to raise awareness about a disease that afflicts 30.3 million people nationwide, nearly 10% of the United States population.

However, even with the staggering numbers and an entire month being dedicated to the awareness and prevention of such a disease, diabetes specialists and patients alike do not believe the populace gives it the attention it needs.

Tricia Dutra, a medical assistant at the University of Maryland Charles Regional Health Center who works with diabetes patients, said her office sees upwards of 30 diabetic patients daily between three doctors, highlighting the fact that a large amount of the local population struggles with diabetes.

Even with the local and national figures, Dutra said she has not seen any increased awareness due to Diabetes Awareness Month.

Everybody knows about Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is extremely important, and Heart Disease Awareness Month, but nobody ever thinks about diabetes, Dutra said. What a monster disease it is; people just dont realize how bad it is.

Of course, diabetics themselves and their immediate family members are well aware of the severity of the disease. Diabetes prompts not only the patients, but their families, to make adjustments in their lives to compensate for their predicament.

Heidi Jackson, a patient at Charles Regional Health Center, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at age 40 and her daughter, Heather Oliver, has been her caretaker since.

Jackson said she was not aware of the severity of the disease upon diagnosis which in turn led to her needing additional care.

A lot of things happen to you when you dont take care of yourself. It affects all of your organs, Jackson said. Theres a lot of people out there that are walking around with diabetes and they dont know they have it. So the public needs to be more aware of this.

Oliver agrees that the public needs to be more educated on the adverse affects of diabetes, plus preventative actions that citizens can take.

Even with having an immediate family member affected by diabetes, Oliver said the message of the national diabetes month is unclear other than the obvious fact: take care of yourself.

I think it should get as much awareness as breast cancer does, Oliver said. People need to go have their A1C checked and have that part as their yearly physical. I also think they probably could use a bit more funding because insulin is really, really expensive and there are a lot of people out there who have a hard time affording it.

Lack of knowledge and insulin prices have contributed to 23.8% of diabetes cases going undiagnosed, along with it being the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.

This is not to say diabetes is a death sentence, as plenty of diabetics lead functioning lives after diagnosis by making the proper adjustments in their daily routines.

Ray Bazil, another patient at Charles Regional, experienced a tremendous amount of impact on his daily life when he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2004, but said now things are a bit more regulated.

Bazil said he has completely restructured his diet, eating six small meals a day, in addition to staying away from sugary drinks and processed foods.

You have to monitor and be more careful about what you eat and how you eat, Bazil said. Be aware of it. Dont be fearful of it. Know that you can manage it, and know that you can take care of yourself.

Bazil mentioned that he was not aware of the message a national diabetes month presents, but credits the medical staff for helping him make the adjustments to live a functioning life with diabetes.

A reason people are not fully aware of the adverse affects of diabetes could be not having any direct or indirect contact with the disease. Through no fault of their own, people become ignorant of how important a structured diet and active lifestyle is to long term health.

Diabetes can manifest itself anywhere with anyone, it is a non-discriminatory disease that even experts on it are at risk of developing.

Such is the case with Natasha Adams, a medical assistant at Charles Regional. Adams has been working with diabetes patients for 17 years and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes this past February.

Adams used her diagnosis as a motivating factor to prompt changes not only in her life, but in the lives of her patients who may believe the disease is uncontrollable.

You have to be vested in you. Its not just based on the treatment, but you as the patient have to be willing to participate and do whats needed to make the changes, Adams said. I tell patients from my standpoint, look I get it, so I try to be a positive role model to the patients to let them know I am doing it, and you can do it as well.

Adams stated that the lack of awareness, sedentary lifestyles and prices of medication all contribute to the diabetes crisis, having an impact on both a local and national scale.

Many people cant afford medication, so now people are at the point where they debate, Do I buy my food, do I pay my bills, [or] do I get my medication? Adams said. The cost becomes extreme. The government contributing more would definitely help to bring down the numbers.

If you have it, embrace it. If you embrace it, then you try to control it, Adams said. You try to do more, you try to let other people know its not a death sentence, you can actually live with it, you can live a long life with it, too.

Dutra explained that exercise and a controlled diet can prevent the development of diabetes to begin with.

It doesnt have to be strict, you dont have to follow Atkins or Keto or anything like that, but just use basic common sense, Dutra said. Moderation is the key. Realize you have limitations.

Patients and medical staff alike agree that awareness of a preventable disease must be increased, along with the promotion of a structured, controlled diet and active lifestyle.

Twitter: @RyanVollandIndy

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Diabetes Awareness Month reminds of a growing problem - SoMdNews.com

Garlic

Garlic is a source of allicin which lowers blood pressure, cholesterol and makes arteries more elastic, plus ajoene which helps to lower blood glucose levels," said Dr Brewer.

She added: "Aged garlic also contains potent antioxidants such as sallylcysteine. 2.7g/0.1oz fresh cloves per day (two to three cloves) can lower LDL-cholesterol enough to cut your risk of a heart attack or stroke by 25 percent.

"Ajoene can lower glucose levels by 25 percent. Aged garlic inhibits formation of glycated proteins. Recent research suggests that garlic oil improves glucose tolerance and can decrease protein loss through the kidneys.

Ginger

Ginger contains gingerol, zingerone and essential oils. Gingerol reduces blood clotting, boosts circulation and lowers blood pressure," said Dr Brewer.

"Research suggests ginger increases insulin secretion and increases insulin-sensitive glucose uptake in fat (adipose) cells. Preliminary research suggests it may also reduce diabetes-related kidney damage.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit contain antioxidants, with red grapefruit having a higher flavonoid and anthocyanin content.

"Grapefruit interacts with several prescription drugs, including statins check medication insert sheets. Both blond and red grapefruit lower LDL-cholesterol (7 percent for blond, 15 percent for red), while red grapefruit lowers triglycerides by 17 percent (5 percent for blond)," said Dr Brewer.

Grapes

Grapes, especially lack grapes, are rich sources of antioxidant anthocyanadins such as resveratrol.

"Compounds found in red grapes can significantly increase levels of protective, antioxidant glutathione in pancreatic cells and increase insulin production in type 2 diabetes," said Dr Brewer.

Jerusalem artichokes

Jerusalem artichokes contain the enzyme, inulase, and a complex sugar, inulin, made up of units of fructose giving it a low glycemic index. Inulin and inulase may help to stabilize glucose levels, especially when combined with higher GI foods," said Dr Brewer.

Olive oil

Olive oil is a good source of monounsaturated fats and antioxidants: vitamin E carotenoids and polyphenols," said Dr Brewer.

She added: "A diet rich in olive oil has been shown to reduce blood pressure, and the risk of coronary heart disease by 25 percent.

"Following an olive-oil rich Mediterranean-style diet is predicted to prevent over 90 percent of type 2 diabetes, 80 percent of coronary heart disease and 70 percent of stroke when combined with regular physical activity and not smoking.

Oranges

Oranges especially the red blood oranges have high levels of antioxidant vitamin C, anthocyanidins and flavones.

"Cyanidin-3-glucoside and delphinidin-3-glucoside found in red oranges were recently shown to promote insulin secretion to improve glucose tolerance," said Dr Brewer.

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Type 2 diabetes: Best foods to include in your diet to lower blood sugar - Express

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As people around the world commemorateWorld AIDS Day, in many countries, the disease is still cutting lives short at an alarming rate.

Of the770,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2018, almost two-thirds occurred in Africa and the Middle East where infected people have little access to treatment.

In their constant work to reduce the number of HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, researchers face significant challenges,Dr. Carlos del Rio, told CNN's Michael Holmes on Wednesday. He is the director for clinical sciences and international research for the Center for AIDS Research at Emory University and the executive associate dean for Emory School of Medicine at Grady Health System.

Del Rio said researchers are challenged with inadequate health care systems, in addition to a lack of a preventative vaccine or a cure for the disease.

"We need to strengthen healthcare systems, so people with HIV continue receiving medication in an appropriate way," del Rio said.

Of the nearly 38 million people living with HIV worldwide -- including 1.7 million children younger than 15 years old -- just 24.5 million have access to treatment therapies,according to UNAIDS.

People with HIV may take a combination of drugs called antiretroviral therapy, or ART. ART reduces the amount of the virus in a person's body, allowing them to live healthy lives and reducing their chances of transmitting HIV to others,says the US Department of Health and Human Services.

HHSalso saystaking ART regularly and keeping consistent medical appointments is key to staying healthy.

Many people living with HIV in Africa and the Middle East, however, don't have regular access to ART services.

UNAIDS reports that 32% of people in the Middle East and North Africa are accessing the treatment. Similarly, of those living with HIV in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, only 38% are accessing these lifesaving treatments.

In western and central Europe and North America, however, nearly 80% of people with HIV have access to ART, resulting in extremely low AIDS-related death rates compared to other world regions.

Though there are many HIV prevention methods on the market, scientists have not yet developed a safe and effective preventative vaccine.

Del Rio told CNN that a vaccine will be a "critical tool" in preventing HIV transmission.

The vaccine would be given to people without HIV to prevent them from being infected in the future.

While there are no licensed preventative vaccines on the market, there are therapeutic ones. Therapeutic HIV vaccines are given to people who already have HIV to strengthen their immune systems' response to the infection already in the person's body, according tothe National Institutes of Health.

Significant advances in treatment and medication are allowing many people with HIV/AIDS to live longer lives, but scientists have yet to find a complete cure.

"We need to be able to, at some point in time, not have to treat people for the rest of their lives," del Rio said.

Some scientists are searching for what is known in medical literature as a "functional cure," in which a person wouldn't have to continue to take antiretroviral medicines. Scientists hope to create an additional kind of treatment that would suppress the HIV virus toundetectable levelsin the body. With this kind of approach, the virus would still be present but it would not make a person sick, according to Avert, a United Kingdom-based charity dedicated to providinginformation about HIV and AIDS. Avert also says other scientists are searching for a different type of cure that would eradicate the virus from the body completely.

"A patient once said something to me that I always remember and I always like saying," del Rio said. "It's that while HIV infection is no longer a death sentence, it's still a life sentence. You still have to take medications for the rest of your life. So we have to find a cure."

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World AIDS Day: Some of the Biggest Challenges Hindering HIV/AIDS Research Today - KTLA Los Angeles

As cybersecurity threats to healthcare grow in number and severity, artificial intelligence is helping providers detect vulnerabilities and respond to data breaches faster and with greater precision.

Given that 63 percent of organizations of all types dont have enough staff to monitor threats 24/7, according to a 2019 Ponemon report, the added defense is crucial. Its arguably even more important for the healthcare industry, whose data is often considered more valuable than Social Security and credit card numbers.

As a healthcare tool, AI can help predict falls in seniors and identify early signs of sepsis. Its also poised to shape many other facets, from disease detection to administrative tasks. As an IT defense mechanism, however, AI may be employed to recognize network behaviors unlikely to represent human action, keep watch for fraud threats and predict malware infections based on previously identified characteristics.

Such intuitive IT capacities offer preventative medicine, helping prevent the infection in the first place, says Rob Bathurst, an adviser for anti-virus software firm Cylance, in a recent white paper about AI and healthcare infrastructure.

Although most people might consider patient- and provider-facing uses as more common AI applications in healthcare, protection is gaining steam: AI-enabled security is among Gartners Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2020. An Accenture report forecasts that AIs value in healthcare security will reach $2 billion annually by 2026.

Moreover, 69 percent of organizations believe AI will be necessary to respond to cybersecurity threats, a July 2019 report from Capgemini found.

MORE FROM HEALTHTECH:Learn how healthcare organizations should respond to a data breach.

At Florida-based Halifax Health, a firewall employs AI to detect attacks based on the wrapper that cybercriminals place around their malware payloads. This function, as CDW cybersecurity expert Alyssa Miller notes, enables Halifax to protect against even zero-day threats that target undiscovered weaknesses.

The AI strategy isnt taken lightly. At the end of the day, cybersecurity is a war, Halifax CIO Tom Stafford said earlier this year at HIMSS 2019 in Orlando, Fla. There are people trying to attack you and your data.

And consequences can be deadly: Ransomware and data breaches are linked to an increase in fatal heart attacks, an October 2019 study by Vanderbilt University found. The reason: Breaches prompt heightened cybersecurity measures for care teams, taking time away from quick treatment.

As a result, vendors are implementing AI in numerous security tools, Miller notes. This includes Cisco Systems, which employs the technology in its next-generation firewalls, its Cloudlock cloud access security broker solution, cognitive threat analytics and Cisco Advanced Malware Protection, among other solutions and services.

IBMs Watson, which uses AI, is helping expedite routine security assessments, reduce response times and false positives, and provide recommendations based on deep analysis, Healthcare Weekly notes. Thats a plus for stretched healthcare IT staffs.

AI has been a powerful tool for Boston Childrens Hospital, whose patient records in 2014 were targeted by the hacking group Anonymous. The technology has since helped the hospital strengthen existing security structures and protocols.

By using AI, we can do a better job at being more prospective and staying one step ahead and starting to be able to detect that anomalous behavior or activity as its happening, Dr. Daniel Nigrin, the hospitals senior vice president and CIO, said in a podcast interview with Emerj, an AI market research firm. Attacks change constantly.

Such behaviors, he noted, might be a user trying to access logs from the West Coast, or 500 doctors who attempt to view a patient record simultaneously.

As Boston Childrens AI strategy evolves, Nigrin advises his peers to follow his lead and cast a wide net when implementing their own defense.

We are looking at other industries to see what theyve done using AI, he said. I am eager to go outside my healthcare world to third parties and other verticals to see how theyve addressed the problem.

READ MORE: Can AI Help Patients Take Control of Their Care?

For the many positives that can result from implementing AI as part of a healthcare security strategy, the effort isnt foolproof. This is because cybercriminals are recognizing the growth of these defense mechanisms and leveraging them to their advantage.

Ron Mehring, CISO of Texas Health Resources, and Axel Wirth, former distinguished technical architect for Symantec, spoke about the threat at HIMSS 2019. AI can help hackers engage in sophisticated social engineering attacks tailored to specific targets, as well as realistic disinformation campaigns, Miller reports in her blog for CDW.

AI also can be used by hackers to find new vulnerabilities or to thwart an organizations AI-fueled defenses. Its what Richard Staynings, chief security strategist for biomedical Internet of Things startup Cylera, calls offensive AI intelligence that mutates to learn about a targeted environment and make detection harder.

That can trigger a host of unease: Did a physician really update a patients medical record or did Offensive AI do it? Can a doctor or nurse trust the validity of the electronic medical information presented to them? Staynings asked in an interview with Healthcare IT News. This is the new threat, and it is best executed by AI.

Organizations, then, must realize that AI-enabled security cant be left on autopilot after implementation, according to Reg Harnish, executive vice president at the Center for Internet Security. More important, a thorough risk evaluation should come first to best determine how AI can solve specific problems facing a hospital or clinic.

Otherwise, as Harnish told Healthcare IT News, if your job is cutting the board in half, no amount of hammers is going to help you do that effectively.

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How Healthcare Organizations Use AI to Boost and Simplify Security - HealthTech Magazine

Rather than a self-fulfilling prophecy of a nation of economic hypochondriacs, the recession-watch may actually serve as preventative medicine. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Everyone is on recession watch. There are so many eyes staring at our economic pot that, ironically, the pot may not come to boil anytime soon.

As monotonous as the chorus of prognostications has become, as a small business owner, investor, consumer and American, I appreciate the attention everyone is paying. Why? Because the amount of attention were paying may generate just enough vigilance to keep it from happening.

SEE ALSO: How Digital Currency Could Be Chinas Ultimate Soft-Power Tool

2008 shocked everyone, save a rare few from The Big Short. In the years leading up to 2008, most business leaders, economists and government officials werent exercising the kind of economic vigilance required to see the crisis coming. When it came, its magnitude and penetrance were so surprising, so destabilizing and so fraught with uncertainty that everyone (the government, businesses, consumers) was shocked. And as a result, the economy, as a whole, took a big hit, as everything required for commercefrom individuals to businesses, from supply to demandcut back.

By contrast, a recession in the coming years would shock almost no one. Yes, some arguably vulnerable contentment seems to be set in based on, for example, CEO sentiment, but the data from week-to-week varies so much that a Google search for a recession is coming or a recession is not coming produce (surprise!) equal volumes of steadfast prognostications.

Many argue that recession-worry can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. One could also argue that a certain threshold level of worry boosts our recession immunity. Certainly, like death, a recession is coming, one day. Worrying to the point of paralysis about a recession (or death) is counter-productive, but a healthy level of vigilance, a level we may have right now, is absolutely healthy. (If I were a budding economics Ph.D. right now, I would be studying the correlation between worry about recession and likelihood/occurrence of recession.)

As you can see on the charts below from two indicators of consumer and retailer confidencediscounts requested by shoppers and discounts given by retailerswhile subject to normal seasonal and other variations, both remain relatively stable over recent years, including the 2016 and 2018 elections and the incessant drumbeat of six years of contradictory economic headlines.

Discounts requested by shoppers and discounts given by retailers, while subject to normal seasonal and other variations, both remain relatively stable over recent years. Data Courtesy of PriceWaiter

So, the answer, perhaps unsurprisingly, would be that everyone should plan to focus more on long-term sustainability than on short-term predictions about potential instability. That is, try to design the business plan itself to be sustainable through the inevitable recurrence of ups and downs in the economic and political landscape versus specific ups and downs.

For instance, some digital marketing agencies, thrive in good times when ad spending is growing, as well as when companies are trimming down and need to outsource their digital marketing to a more efficient source. Other consumer facing companies, base their models on things like negotiation to thrive, even when consumer or business confidence may be taking a hit.

To base business decisions on predictions of what will happen or when it will happen involves too much guessworkarguably akin to market-timing in stock trading. Not unlike what I would imagine Warren Buffett might say: with a short-term outlook, you may get lucky from time to time, but you will also get unlucky likely more than half the time. Getting the basics right in a business model is challenging enough, so planning based on additional speculative externalities would be a lower priority (if one at all) compared to building a long-term strategy on a resilient model.

The recent actions and statements surrounding the Fed cuts suggest were still, perhaps tenuously, clinging to a Goldilocks set of economic conditions, at least here in the U.S. Not surprisingly, there are those clamoring for deeper cuts and those cautioning against them.

Similarly, there are those who believe our governments current tack on tariffs is the right course, while others fear they are undermining the economy in objective and subjective ways.

With impeachment inquiries and a new round of elections just past, one could argue that economic risks are mounting again; after all, anything could happen, and it is a market axiom that the market (and arguably those who drive the economy from both sides) hates uncertainty.

Fair enough. But the market and the economy have shown remarkable resilience to longer and shorter term shocks. By most measures, despite having to weather an extended recession, were better off than we were before the 2008 market crash. Furthermore, many people were generally surprised by the presidential election results in November 2016, with some predicting a market crash, yet the markets tanked for about eight hours, after hoursand then shot up.

Consumers didnt stop spending money, animal spirits were unleashed and the economy continued to grow.

Will there be potentially impactful surprises involving China, the impeachment process, the 2020 elections, Russia, North Korea or something else?

Yes.

But for better or worse, in recent times (in fact, pretty much daily), weve come to expect a little more ofwellthe unexpected, which arguably should make us at least a little more resilient. Combine that with the hyper-vigilance weve been discussing and you have at least a couple of factors that suggest that rather than a self-fulfilling prophecy of a nation of economic hypochondriacs, the recession-watch may actually serve as preventative medicine.

Stephen Culp an e-commerce veteran, is the CEO an co-founder of PriceWaiterread his full bio here.

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Recession Watch: The Pot So Watched That It May Never Boil - Observer

Its a statewide concern, but its also showing up as a high priority as Countryside Public Health surveys health care providers, elected officials and members of the public in the counties it serves in the Upper Minnesota River Valley area.

Ashley Johnson, representing the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership for Countryside Health, told the Yellow Medicine County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday that the agency is currently gathering public input to set its priorities for 2020 and beyond.

Mental health is really high in our priorities in trying to look at strategies, said Johnson during a discussion with the commissioners.

Countryside Health has identified 10 health care areas to address, and is asking the people it serves to prioritize them.

Five health care issues have consistently been cited as priorities in the process, she said. They include mental health; adverse childhood experiences; parenting family systems and home structure; substance abuse including alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs; and rural health for farmers and rural people.

The other issues include infectious diseases; obesity; neighborhood environment and access to housing, transportation and health food; dental health; and uninsured and under-insured access to care.

Commissioner Ron Antony noted that rural health in the list of five largely referred to mental health issues as well, whether it pertains to farmers and the stresses they are experiencing this year or employees in agricultural-related industries. Adverse childhood experiences and parenting family systems include mental health components as well, it was noted during discussions.

Johnson said Countryside purposely separated rural health as a category of its own in an attempt to learn just how big of an issue it is in the rural counties. The agency serves Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift and Yellow Medicine counties.

The agency currently has a staff member working on making mental health resources available to farmers. Johnson said feedback to the initiative is mixed, with some wanting the resources and others not interested.

For the most part, were trying to get resources out there so they know whats available and whats not, she said.

Johnson said Countryside is certain to make mental health a priority, but here's the challenge: The range of mental health care needs is big. She asked: Do you focus on children? On adults?

She pointed out that a recent survey of students showed high numbers of teenage girls with depression and other mental health conditions. The last survey of health needs in the region led Countryside Public Health to make available to schools in the five counties a preventative health nurse.

Johnson said the agency hopes to have the health care priorities identified and strategies to meet them in place in March 2020.

In a related matter, the commissioners also met with Jennifer Lundberg, representing the Local Adult Mental Health Advisory Council. It serves to find ways to improve mental health services in Yellow Medicine, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Redwood and Pipestone counties.

She said the Minnesota Department of Human Services is completing an analysis of the gaps in services throughout the state. Lundberg said the gaps in rural areas tend to be the availability of transportation to access services, as well as the wait times to see providers.

Link:
Mental health needs emerging as priority in rural counties of Upper Minnesota River Valley - West Central Tribune

Ashley Roxanne Peterson is the youngest black Osteopathic Doctor ever, according to reports.

She started medical school at age 19 and graduated at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She commenced her family medicine residency at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA in July 2019.

At the moment, the 24-year-old is the youngest Black Osteopathic doctor ever, in modern history.

Reportedly, Peterson has a record of always being the youngest in her class. She graduated high school at 15 and also enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte at the same age.

I went into medicine knowing that I want to help underserved and minority communities and I am continuing those passions as I continue into residency. I chose my residency based on their mission statement, current leadership, and how they give back to the community, she said.

Morehouse School of Medicines Family Medicinemission statement reads: The mission of the MSM Family Medicine Residencyis to train residents to become competent and excellent family physicians toserve underserved populations. Everything comes full circle thus, never losesight of why you started!

She wanted to help people for the rest of her life just as her parents did. Even though she was resilient and focused, medical school wasnt easy for her as a young student, but she believes that if you fall nine times stand up ten.

With a special interest in global medicine, preventative medicine, minority health, media-driven health outcomes, and geriatrics, Peterson looks forward to helping the communities around her achieve their best health.

Dr Peterson started making impact and inspiring people right from medical school. She ran a medical blog called Daily Medicine which created contents aimed towards pre-medical students seeking entrance to medical school.

The platform, according to her, served as a mentoring network which has led to the direct influence of more than a dozen students gaining entrance to allopathic and osteopathic medical schools.

Three years on Daily Medicine obtained over 5,000 participants for its programs, groups, and online communities and was able to accrue over 100,000 total engagements collaborating with various leaders in medicine, across more than 10 specialties, to provide students and peers with exclusive information.

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At 24, Ashley Roxanne is the youngest black Osteopathic Doctor ever - Face2Face Africa

In his General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money (1936), the economist John Maynard Keynes wrote that when it comes to achieving progress, the difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones. For both the good and the bad, this sentiment rippled throughout Rights of Future Generations, the inaugural Sharjah Architecture Triennial. According to its curator, Adrian Lahoud, this edition is committed to radically rethinking fundamental questions about architecture, which here seems to partly involve an inquiry into what is lost when financial capital dictates design. Reflecting an ethos of adaptive reuse, the new institution, led by Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, has been set up in the Al-Qasimiyah School, a former state elementary school complex.

The site, one of the primary venues of this edition, is host to Becoming Xerophile (2019), a collaborative project between the artist duo Cooking Sections and the engineering firm AKT II, which transformed the compounds front yard into an apparatus that produces microclimates for desert fauna to flourish in. The projects title, a neologism created by combining the Greek words for dry and love, shifts away from contemporary landscape design, and its use of energy-intensive irrigation, in favour of native plant species and ancient watering methods. Xenophile adopts the sci-fi aesthetic of dusty lunar outposts by recuperating rubble from the schools renovation into inhabitable earthwork mounds and amphitheatre-like spaces that trap moisture from the air.

The exhibitions other main venue, Al Jubail Souq Fruit & Vegetable Market, hosts Priests and Programmers (2019), a series of installations ranging from films, archival documents, music, models and interactive displays that trace the history of Balis Subak rice farming heritage. This infrastructural network, active since the 9th century, spans countless rice terraces managed by priests from water temples. While the research-heavy presentations touch on many aspects of this culture, the cumulative effect is to suggest that these religious rites serve not only as metaphysical practices, but also management systems that enable sustainable farming.

Ritual technologies were also on display in the awakening ceremony that inaugurated Ngurrara Canvas II (1997), a vibrant 8 10-metre painting made by activist-artists whose ancestors traditionally occupied the region known today as Great Sandy Desert in Australia. (Ngurrara means country in the indigenous Walmadjari language.) Resembling a kind of hypnotic aerial photograph, the canvas is inundated with undulating swirls of colour forming contour-like lines that chart sacred waterholes and soaks across the desert. This iconography, an alternative system to the European cartography that aided colonization, was entered in support of an official native land title claim. Considered a tool by its makers, the canvas could be seen as a retort to considerations of art for arts sake, just as Priests and Programmers undermines the idea of ritual for rituals sake. With these considerations in mind, the curators appear to be making a necessary, if somewhat sweeping, claim for artistic and spiritual practices to be understood as a form of applied science.

The Triennials events programme also reflects this synergistic view of advocacy as both descriptive and proscriptive. A series of policy workshops assembled global leaders, including the former President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff, to draft a Sharjah Charter on the Rights of Future Generations. While their positions primarily voiced concerns about climate change and the inequities of globalisation, the addition of a controversial AIDS denialist, Thabo Mbeki, cast a disconcerting pall over the whole endeavour.

As the President of South Africa, Mbekis government recommended the use of strong garlic and beetroot as a treatment for AIDS preferable to anti-retroviral drugs. Several studies, including one from the Harvard School of Public Health, claim that this policy resulted in over 330,000 premature deaths and the infection of 35,000 infants, after their mothers were unable to obtain access to preventative medicine. Mbeki secretly authored and circulated a paper stating that the scientific link between HIV and AIDS was predicated on centuries-old white racist beliefs and concepts about Africans. Although Mbeki has tried to spin his words and deeds, historical scapegoats shouldnt give him license to escape accountability.

Lawrence Abu Hamdans lecture-performance Once Removed (2019), meanwhile, offered a stark contrast, imagining how the dead might give testimony. Hamdan told the story of Bassel Abi Chahine, a 31-year-old historian of the Lebanese Civil War who believes he is a reincarnated child solider from that conflict. Specious as this may sound, current advancements in epigenetic research have shown that life trauma can actually affect the gene expression of ones offspring. Likewise, culture is itself a kind of gene, passed on to future generations. While the Triennial claims to be forward-looking, it is most impactful when it reflects on the past.

The inaugural Sharjah Architecture Triennial continues at various locations around Sharjah, UAE, through 8 February 2020.

Read more from the original source:
The First Sharjah Architecture Triennial: Can Art Be an Applied Science? - frieze.com

Woman saved by her Apple Watch Marie Bourque and Mount Sinai Hospital cardiologist Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum talk about the benefits of tech in health care.

Consumers have been warned about the convergence of health care and technology, especially in conversation with sharing personal data.

But Marie Bourque told FOX Business' Deirdre Bolton that she might not be here today without the tech that saved her life.

Bourques Apple Watch woke her up when it detected an irregularity in her heartbeat. Turns out, Bourque was experiencing atrial fibrillation (AFib) or a quivering heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke or heart failure, according to heart.org.

Had I let it continue during the night and during the day, I would have wound up seriously in the hospital, she said. I'm more conscious of it since I've had AFib in the past. So this really alerted me earlier than normal.

Apple's vice president of Health announces new products and watch features in Cupertino, California.Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019, (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

HEALTH CARE COMPANY'S GOOGLE PARTNERSHIP IS NEW NORMAL: EXPERT

Mount Sinai Hospital cardiologist Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum treated Bourque and believes in the benefits of using health care tech as a preventative tool, especially in patients with a history of health complications.

What happened with Marie is exactly how this watch really should be used, Steinbaum said. She's had a history of atrial fibrillation. This alerted her early on that this was probably the situation and it got her help really as quickly as possible.

VR FITNESS: 5 EMERGING BRANDS THAT ARE DRIVING THE HEALTH-CARE TECH TREND

But Steinbaum said using tech like the Apple Watch should be a conversation between doctor and patient first.

You really have to have someone who can translate it for you, she said. Because sometimes it says things and it's not necessarily dangerous or scary.

I really believe the future of technology in medicine is this communication that's in real time where we can help our patients get help and the treatment they need sooner than later.

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The market for health care tech is rapidly growing as consumers remain wary of sharing personal data, but Steinbaum confidently said, we will figure it out.

There is definitely going to be a roleof technology in how we care for our patients and how patients really empower themselves, she said. So I believe that it's worth it. The benefits are greater than the risks.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

Bourque, in agreeance, said the idea of Apple withholding her personal data does not faze her.

My health is more important than what they have, she said.

Link:
Apple Watch saves a life, leads to health care tech advocacy - Fox Business

Remedy Place, LA's first social wellness club is now open in West Hollywood

The first social wellness club is now open in Los Angeles West Hollywood neighborhood. Called Remedy Place, the facility opened its doors on November 21 at 8305 Sunset Boulevard, intended to become a gathering place for those seeking to achieve a state of balance, according to the brand.

The new club, which is open to the public, is the vision of Founder Dr. Jonathan Leary, a concierge wellness doctor with a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine from Southern California University of Health Sciences and a celebrity following. Meant to help its members achieve balance throughout seven elements of balance, according to Dr. Learys philosophy, the club encompasses treatment areas, a members lounge, a meditation room and a nutritional bar. These are, Mind, oxygen, movement, nutrients, cold, heat and compression. Treatment-experiences range from infrared sauna, to ice baths, to cryotherapy and hyperbaric chamber oxygen therapy.

Of the opening, Dr Leary shares, Remedy Place is the manifestation of my lifes work which is to radically change the way society integrates education into wellness. Our current healthcare model is dependent and reactive, but I believe people should be independent and proactive. This can only be done through education. I want people to take back control, to utilize incredible technologies that exist today to keep their bodies in a healthy state of balance through preventative care that counteracts these stressors, so they dont build up and push their health over the edge. To do this, I wanted to create a place that was communal in nature, so that one can incorporate wellness into their social life because the two can and should go hand in hand.

Treatments are meant to be fast and accommodating to busy schedules of members, and include both group fitness classes, group meditation classes and recovery treatments, such as lymphatic drainage massage and movement therapy. Curated pairings of recovery treatments are also available to members, and include items such as a Post-LAX, designed to reset and rebalance after the travails of travel utilizing hyperbaric chamber oxygen therapy, infrared sauna and an ice bath with breath work, and a Morning After, to combat a hangover using cryotherapy, infrared sauna and a lymphatic drainage massage. Additionally, all services can be paired with auditory meditation journeys designed in partnership with Master & Dynamic.

Remedy Place is now open to the public and services and classes start at $30.

Read more from the original source:
Remedy Place, The First Social Wellness Club, Opens in Los Angeles - Forbes

Snow removal led to 100 deaths and 11,500 injuries that required a trip to the emergency room each year between 1990 and 2006, a study reports. USA TODAY

Winter is coming and many parts of the country have already been walloped with serious snow storms. But shoveling your drivewaycan be more than just a chore it can be hazardous and even lethal if you're not careful.

Snow removal ledto about 100 deaths and 11,500injuriesthat required a trip to the emergency room each year between 1990 and 2006,a study published in the peer-reviewedAmerican Journal of Emergency Medicine found. The most common injuries were soft tissue damage, the lower back was the most frequently damaged part of the body, and cardiac-related injuries were responsible for all of the 1,647 fatalities.

The true total of injuries and deaths may be much higher, according to Barry Franklin, director of preventative cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation at William Beaumont Health in Royal Oak, Michigan. Franklin begin researching the issue because two of his friends died suddenly after clearing snow.

"Its important that older people simply dont go out and shovel and clear heavy, wet snow," Franklin said. "Unfortunately, every year when youve got major snowfalls you hear of people who go out and die suddenly."

Here's what you need to know to stay safe while digging yourself out after a big snow storm:

Thanksgiving weather: Snow, wind could snarl travel in central, eastern USA as 55M clog roads, airports

If the forecast calls for a heavy snowfall over a long period of time, don't wait until it's over to pick up a shovel. Plan to clear the snow at least once while it's still falling and then again when the storm passes, Hope said.

If your driveway is far away from your house, Hope recommends starting in the middle of the driveway and working your way out until you've cleared a path wide enough for your car.

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If your driveway is very close to your house, Hope said to start at the edge closest to your home and go back in the opposite direction at the end of each pass, getting a little furtherfrom the house each time. If you're using a snowblower, turn the chute 180 degrees each time so that you're always throwing the snow away from the house.

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"Thatll obviously protect windows and siding and anybody who may be inside near a window," he said. "But it also helps ensure that any snow thats not fully thrown out of the driveway will be caught on a subsequent pass."

When shoveling, don'tthrow the snow over your shoulder or to the side because that twisting motion will stress your back, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Try to push the snow instead of lifting it.

"If you must lift, squat with your legs apart, knees bent, and back straight. Lift with your legs. Do not bend at the waist," the group said in a release. "Holding a shovelful of snow with your arms outstretched puts too much weight on your spine."

Franklin also suggests taking frequent breaks to watch for heart attack warning signs and avoid putting too much stress on your heart. Although chest pain is the most common symptom, women are more likely to experience other symptoms including shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain, according to the American Heart Association.

"Any discomfort that comesfrom the belly button on up could be an angina equivalent and would signal that you should stop shoveling immediately," Franklin said.

If you live in an area that gets constantly hit with major snowstorms, it might be safer to invest in a snowblower, according to Paul Hope, Home and Appliances Writer at Consumer Reports.

"From an injury standpoint alone, if properly used (a snowblower) has the potential to be infinitely safer," Hope said. "If they live in a really snow-heavy region, theyre essentially putting themselves at a greater risk if theyre trying to skate by without a snowblower."

There are five or six different types of snowblowers that are categorized by power source (corded electric, battery or gas) and the amount of snow they can handle (single, two, or three stage). Stage 1 machines can clear about 9 inches of snow while stage 3 machines can clear up to 18 inches, he said.

If you're shoveling when the snow is light and fresh, Hope recommends using a wide, all-purpose, plastic snow shovel. But ifthe snow has had time to get wet and heavy, Hope suggestsusinga metal shovel with sides to help break up icy patches.

Driving in snow: Tips for driving in snow without being a dangerous jerk

Franklin said that those most at risk are 55and older, haveknown or suspected coronary artery disease, orhave one or more risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure)or a habitually sedentary lifestyle.

Snow shoveling is so dangerous because itincreases heart rate and blood pressure, Franklin explained, while exposure to the cold air decreases the flow of oxygenated blood to the heart.

"As George Clooney would say, 'It's a perfect storm'," he said.

Franklin saidthe average weight of a shovel full of heavy wet snow is 16 pounds, citing a small study he published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Themen hestudiedwere able to lift 12 times perminute for 10 minutes, moving nearly 2,000 pounds of snow.

"That's the weight of a mid-size car," he said. "To ask a 50-, 60-, 70-year-old to move 2,000 pounds in 10 minutes in cold environmental conditions with the wind blowing, its not surprising that this activity triggers heart attacks and sudden death each year."

Raking leaves again this fall?: Stop right now

Franklin said people over the age of 55 with known or suspected heart disease shouldn't shovel snow at all.

"Find a local kid in the neighborhood, hire a local plow," he suggested.

If you want to hire someone to plow your driveway, book that well in advance of the coming storm to avoid having to frantically shovel yourself out, Hope said.

"If youre caught in a big snow storm and you cant get somebody to come plow your driveway and youve only got a shovel, that sort of is a recipe for injury," he said.

If you have to shovel, Franklin said to avoid heavy meals, smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol both before and after clearing snow because that can put extra stress on your heart.

TheAmerican Academy of Orthopedic Surgeonsrecommends warming up your muscles for 10 minutes with light exercise before you begin shoveling. Wear layers to provide insulation as well as a hat, gloves that will keep your hands dry and shoes that have slip-resistant soles.

Snow shovels to space heaters: 23 things that will solve all your cold weather problems

Follow N'dea Yancey-Bragg on Twitter: @NdeaYanceyBragg

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Are you shoveling your snow wrong? Here's what you need to know to stay safe this winter - USA TODAY

People who take all of their blood-pressure medication in one go at bedtime are better able to control their condition and have a significantly lower risk of death or illness caused by heart or blood vessel problems compared to those who take their anti-hypertensive medication in the morning, according to research published this month in the peer-reviewed European Heart Journal.

The trial instructed 19,084 patients to take their pills on waking or at bedtime, and followed them for more than six years during which time the patients ambulatory blood pressure was checked over 48 hours at least once a year. The results were adjusted for age, gender, Type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, smoking and cholesterol levels.

The researchers found that patients who took their medication at bedtime reduced by 45% their risk of dying from or suffering heart attacks, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure or requiring a procedure to unblock narrowed arteries, compared to those who took their medication after waking up in the morning.

The risk of death from heart or blood vessel problems was reduced by 66%, the risk of myocardial infarction was reduced by 44%, coronary revascularization (unblocking narrowed arteries) by 40%, heart failure by 42%, and stroke by 49%. However, the researchers noted there are no studies showing that treating hypertension in the morning reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Morning ingestion has been the most common recommendation by physicians based on the misleading goal of reducing morning blood pressure levels, said co-author Ramn Hermida, director of the Bioengineering and Chronobiology Labs at the University of Vigo in Spain. Allowing the medication to work before the next days activity may also play a role.

Preventative measures in early adulthood include taking statins lipid-lowering drugs and drugs to lower cholesterol, which can be more effective than merely relying on diet and exercise, particularly for those who have a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol and elevated blood pressure, experts say.

You may also like: Taking these two health precautions now can dramatically reduce your risk of heart disease later in life

Between 2008 and 2018, 10,614 male and 8,470 female adults of Caucasian Spanish origin who were diagnosed with hypertension had to adhere to a routine of daytime activity and night-time sleep. Hermida said its not possible to know whether the results apply to people who work night shifts or those from other racial/ethnic backgrounds.

One possible theory for the results: A bad nights sleep can result in a spike in blood pressure that night and the following day, separate research found. That study, published in a recent edition of the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, offers one explanation for why sleep problems have been shown to increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and even death from cardiovascular disease.

Those participants who had lower sleep efficiency showed an increase in blood pressure during that restless night. They also had higher systolic blood pressure the number in a persons blood-pressure reading the next day. The researchers said getting good sleep and quality sleep was important for a healthy heart. It also allows medications to work while the body is restoring energy.

Blood pressure is one of the best predictors of cardiovascular health, said lead study author Caroline Doyle, a graduate student at the University of Arizonas department of psychology. Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of people in the country. We wanted to see if we could try to get a piece of that story: how sleep might be impacting disease through blood pressure.

There are, of course, other ways to help reduce hypertension. A diet that helps people reduce high blood pressure may also reduce the risk of heart failure in people under the age of 75, according to separate research recently published in the latest edition of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

This Dash (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet recommends eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, poultry, fish and low-fat dairy products, while reducing the amount of salt, red meat, sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages, full cream and alcohol in your diet. Aside from the last two items, its very similar to the Mediterranean diet.

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Taking blood-pressure medication at this time every day could save your life - Sky Statement