Newswise According to the American Stroke Association (ASA) and the American Heart Association (AHA), more than 100 million Americans have high blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure is a major avoidable cause of premature morbidity and mortality in the United States and worldwide due primarily to increased risks of stroke and heart attacks. Elevated blood pressure is the most important major and modifiable risk factor to reduce stroke. In fact, small but sustained reductions in blood pressure reduce risks of stroke and heart attacks. Therapeutic lifestyle changes of weight loss and salt reduction as well as adjunctive drug therapies are beneficial to treat and prevent high blood pressure.

Mindfulness is increasingly practiced as a technique to reduce stress through mind and body interactions. In some instances, mindfulness includes paced breathing defined as deep and diaphragmatic with slow rates typically about five to seven per minute compared with the usual rate of 12 to 14. Researchers from Florida Atlantic Universitys Schmidt College of Medicine and collaborators have published a paper in the journal Medical Hypotheses, exploring the possibility that mindfulness with paced breathing reduces blood pressure.

One of the most plausible mechanisms is that paced breathing stimulates the vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system, which reduce stress chemicals in the brain and increase vascular relaxation that may lead to lowering of blood pressure, said Suzanne LeBlang, M.D., a neuroradiologist, second and corresponding author, and an affiliate associate professor in FAUs Schmidt College of Medicine.

The researchers believe the hypothesis they have formulated that mindfulness with paced breathing reduces blood pressure should be tested. To do so, FAUs Schmidt College of Medicine co-authors are already collaborating with their co-authors from the Marcus Neuroscience Institute, Boca Raton Regional Hospital/ Baptist Health South; and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health on an investigator-initiated research grant proposal to the National Institutes of Health. The initial pilot trial would include obtaining informed consent from willing and eligible subjects and assigning them at random to mindfulness either with or without paced breathing and examining whether there are sustained effects on lowering blood pressure.

This pilot randomized trial might lead to further randomized trials of intermediate markers such as inhibition of progression of carotid intimal thickening or coronary artery atherosclerosis, and subsequently, a large scale trial to reduce stroke and heart attacks, said Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., Dr.PH, senior author, first Sir Richard Doll Professor and senior academic advisor in FAUs Schmidt College of Medicine. Achieving sustained reductions in blood pressure of 4 to 5 millimeters of mercury decreases risk of stroke by 42 percent and heart attacks by about 17 percent; so positive findings would have important clinical and policy implications.

According to the ASA and AHA, cardiovascular disease (CVD), principally heart attacks and strokes, accounts for more than 800,000 deaths or 40 percent of total mortality in the U.S. each year and more than 17 million deaths worldwide. In the U.S., CVD is projected to remain the single leading cause of mortality and is rapidly becoming so worldwide. Stroke alone ranks fifth in all-cause mortality in the U.S., killing nearly 133,000 people annually as well as more than 11 percent of the population worldwide.

Now more than ever, Americans and people all over the world are under increased stress, which may adversely affect their health and well-being, said Barbara Schmidt, co-author, teacher, researcher, philanthropist, bestselling author of The Practice, as well as an adjunct instructor at FAUs Schmidt College of Medicine. We know that mindfulness decreases stress and I am cautiously optimistic that mindfulness with paced breathing will produce sustained lowering of blood pressure.

Study co-authors are Jacqueline Brenner, first author and a seven-year B.S. to M.D. candidate at Pennsylvania State University/Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University; Michelle Lizotte-Waniewski, Ph.D., an associate professor, FAUs Schmidt College of Medicine; Patricio S. Espinosa, M.D., chief of neurology, Marcus Neuroscience Institute and Boca Raton Regional Hospital/Baptist Health South Florida and an affiliate associate professor, FAUs Schmidt College of Medicine; Andrew Newberg, M.D., an associate professor, Marcus Institute for Integrative Health at Thomas Jefferson University; and David L. DeMets, Ph.D., professor and chair emeritus of biostatistics and informatics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

- FAU -

About the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine:

FAUs Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine is one of approximately 155 accredited medical schools in the U.S. The college was launched in 2010, when the Florida Board of Governors made a landmark decision authorizing FAU to award the M.D. degree. After receiving approval from the Florida legislature and the governor, it became the 134th allopathic medical school in North America. With more than 70 full and part-time faculty and more than 1,300 affiliate faculty, the college matriculates 64 medical students each year and has been nationally recognized for its innovative curriculum. To further FAUs commitment to increase much needed medical residency positions in Palm Beach County and to ensure that the region will continue to have an adequate and well-trained physician workforce, the FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Consortium for Graduate Medical Education (GME) was formed in fall 2011 with five leading hospitals in Palm Beach County. The Consortium currently has five Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited residencies including internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and neurology.

About Florida Atlantic University:

Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAUs world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAUs existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit http://www.fau.edu.

View post:
Mindfulness with Paced Breathing and Lowering Blood Pressure - Newswise

Two integrative medicine physicians explain the benefits of breathing practices and qigong

When examining a patient for Covid-19, we always ask about the breath. Is it short? Does your chest feel tight? Lets measure your oxygen saturation. What if a secret to recovery from the virus was in the breath as well?

At the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, we have been researching which evidence-based modalities may support recovery from Covid-19. As Covid-19 research is still in the early stages, we have also examined what modalities have demonstrated improvement in lung function in lung diseases with similar pathologies.

While long-term consequences of Covid-19 are still being elucidated, the concern about development of pulmonary fibrosis in patients recovering from Covid-19 is rising. This concern stems from the development of lung fibrosis seen in patients after the SARS coronavirus outbreak in 2003.

Pulmonary fibrosis is scar tissue that forms in a patients lungs, reducing flexibility and movement and the ability to oxygenate blood. A regular practice of breathing intentionally can reverse this tendency through increased lung expansion and strengthened respiratory muscles, both of which contribute to increased ventilation (the lungs capacity to provide oxygen). Which patients will develop lung fibrosis after Covid-19 and which will recover without fibrosis is unknown at this point, so practices to aid lung recovery are a smart idea for everyone.

Diaphragmatic breathing is a good place to start. In this practice, also called belly breathing, you slow and deepen your breathing by fully expanding your abdomen. This breath is most easily learned laying down, but it can be done in any position. To give it a try, place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest. Begin breathing deeply into the belly region so that your hand rises as the belly fills with air. Ideally, the hand on your chest remains still. Now flex your abdominal muscles and exhale slowly and fully; notice that your belly fall back toward the spine while your chest remains relatively still. If you purse your lips as you exhale, this slows the breath even more; this is sometimes called pursed-lip breathing.

There is evidence to suggest diaphragmatic breathing, pursed-lip breathing, and yoga breathing are all viable techniques for improving lung function. All three have been shown to improve breathing capacity in pulmonary fibrosis patients and the ability to walk longer distances in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Covid-19 recovery recommendations developed by rehabilitation experts at Loma Linda University in California include these breathing exercises. They suggest people recovering from Covid-19 begin breath work as soon as they no longer require oxygen or their severe shortness of breath has improved.

One breathing practice popularized by Dr. Andrew Weil is called the 4-7-8 breath. This practice originated as a yoga breathing practice. In addition to slowing and deepening the breath, it helps reduce stress. In Weils words, This is the most powerful relaxation technique I know. It takes little time, requires no equipment, costs nothing. You must practice it twice a day. With practice, it lowers heart rate and blood pressure, improves GI function, promotes good sleep, and counteracts anxiety. The 4-7-8 breath can even be practiced by someone on oxygen therapy. This breath is effective even for COPD patients with extreme shortness of breath and oxygen dependence and can be learned in a few minutes.

Canadian researchers recently issued breathing exercises for Covid-19 recovery and suggest they should be practiced one to three times a day for up to 10 minutes each time. Singing is considered another form of effective breath work and is recommended by doctors in the U.K. Singing for Lung Health programs are offered across the U.K. for lung health and have also been shown to improve mood.

In China, the potential therapeutic benefit of qigong in people recovering from Covid-19 is already under review.

One incredibly useful practice that may prove therapeutic for recovering Covid-19 patients is qigong. Qigong originated in China more than 4,000 years ago and is a mainstay of traditional Chinese medicine. Like yoga or tai chi, it is a practice of synchronizing breath with movement. Qigong translates to life energy mastery and includes exercise, movement of qi ( energy), and improved blood and lymphatic flow.

Research suggests that qigong improves health by decreasing stress, reducing inflammation, strengthening respiratory muscles, increasing lung capacity, and improving immune function. Each of these mechanisms can help restore lung function after Covid-19 infection.

Years prior to the coronavirus pandemic, a study of Japanese women in their sixties who were prescribed a daily 20-minute qigong routine (as well as exercising together once a week) yielded notable results. At the end of 12 weeks, the women had increased lung capacity and walking speeds. Qigong has been shown to improve lung function as measured through the amount of air inhaled in one minute or forcibly exhaled. It has also been shown to improve the distance a person (if practicing regularly) can walk in six minutes.

In China, the potential therapeutic benefit of qigong in people recovering from Covid-19 is already under review. One such small six-week feasibility study on 20 recovering Covid-19 patients provided 12-minute videos for practice at home. All participants who completed the exercises reported such a significant decrease in shortness of breath and increased physical ability and quality of life that they continued to perform the exercises twice daily after the study was over.

Qigong is, in part, such a promising convalescence therapy because it is so readily available. Qigong exercises can be done in as little as five minutes. Practicing one to three times per day is optimal. The form that qigong masters recommend for lung recovery entails tapping the chest to stimulate blood flow and energy flow and uses movements to expand the ribs and chest. This form of qigong is similar to the lung physiotherapy used by physiotherapists for recovery from lung infections and is recommended for Covid-19 recovery.

Finally, it is important to mention the unspoken fear that the experience of the pandemic carries with it. The physiological experience of fear is detrimental to well-being. Feelings of fear cause us to breathe faster and feel short of breath and can even prevent our lungs from fully inflating. Therefore, even those of us who are perfectly healthy may benefit from practicing intentional breathing and qigong exercises as we all navigate life in a pandemic.

Excerpt from:
Breathing Practices And Qigong Can Help Recover From Covid-19 - Technology Times Pakistan

Now that were in the middle of a pandemic, more people than ever are experiencing anxiety, especially those who struggled with mental health issues before COVID-19. And to make things even worse, many of our coping mechanisms, like going to the gym or hanging out with friends, have been taken away.

In todays show, our host, Gabe Howard, talks with Dr. Jasleen Chhatwal, who helps explain why so many people are having anxiety symptoms and what we can do about it.

We want to hear from you Please fill out our listener survey by clicking the graphic below!

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD, is Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Mood Disorders Program at Sierra Tucson, a premier residential behavioral health treatment center. Dr. Chhatwal also serves as Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Board certified in Psychiatry and Integrative Medicine, she is well versed in psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy, psychopharmacology, neuromodulation including ECT & rTMS, and various emerging modalities.

Dr. Chhatwal is active in the mental health community, advocating for her patients, colleagues, and profession through elected positions with the Arizona Psychiatric Society and American Psychiatric Association.

Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. To learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com.

Editors Note: Please be mindful that this transcript has been computer generated and therefore may contain inaccuracies and grammar errors. Thank you.

Announcer: Youre listening to the Psych Central Podcast, where guest experts in the field of psychology and mental health share thought-provoking information using plain, everyday language. Heres your host, Gabe Howard.

Gabe Howard: Hello, everyone, and welcome to this weeks episode of The Psych Central Podcast, Im your host Gabe Howard and calling into the show today, we have Dr. Jasleen Chhatwal. She is the chief medical officer and director of Mood Disorders Program at Sierra Tucson, a premier residential behavioral health treatment center. Dr. Chhatwal, welcome to the show.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: Thanks for having me. Im delighted to be here.

Gabe Howard: Well, we are super excited to have you here today because youre also an anxiety expert, and many people who arent used to feeling the effects of anxiety are because of COVID. I want to start with, are you seeing people that never had anxiety and stress issues before suddenly developing anxiety disorders because of the global pandemic?

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: I am noticing that there are a lot of people who notice anxiety type symptoms, and since theyve never really experienced them before, theyre really taken aback and they dont really know whats going on. And so I feel like one of our big duties at this time is to help people become more aware, because I think once you can name the beast, then its a lot easier to tame the beast. And I think a lot of individuals will have a hard time if they dont know what to call it or what to do with it.

Gabe Howard: The Psych Central Podcast has been on the air for almost five years, PsychCentral.com has been around for 25 years. So we are well versed in mental health advocacy. And for the most part, its always sort of been in its own little corner. Theres the people that have a mental health issue or a mental illness and they understand it. Theres people who develop one or have a loved one who develops a mental health issue or a mental illness, and theyre searching for information. But by and large, the majority of the population was not discussing this openly. Weve seen that change dramatically in the last six months where suddenly its sort of mainstream news about how adults that never had any mental health issues before are suddenly suffering from the symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and on and on and on.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: So a lot of people talk about anxiety like its a pathological thing. I really try to explain to people how anxiety is normal. You have to have the neurobiological fear response to be safe as a human being. Like youre going to the Grand Canyon and walking over the skywalk, the fact that we dont just climb over the rail and try to jump down is because we do have a biological response to anything thats not within the normal human experience or scope. If you think about having a snake by your chair, you want to have an anxiety response so that you can quickly panic and run. And what will happen if you dont have that fear response is you will die because the snake will bite you or youll have some pretty negative consequences of that. How can you not have anxiety when youre being told all day on the news that you need to take all these extra precautions to just be safe, to not fall sick, to make sure your loved ones dont die. That is something that just normally will cause some degree of anxiety. The difference between that type of anxiety and what can be called a DSM anxiety disorder ends up being that it becomes overwhelming to the point that you cant function. And what we start to see is people who may have had a higher level of anxiety before, but were being able to do things to help themselves, like going to the gym to work out or going for a run outside or spending time with loved ones. All those people, their coping skills have been taken away. And that is where you start seeing that they now fall into more of that clinical anxiety disorder category. If you look at most mental health conditions, they are on a spectrum. And it just really depends on how far along the spectrum you are today. It could be that today its a disorder. But, you know, a week ago or two weeks ago, it wasnt quite meeting the criteria.

Gabe Howard: One of the themes that runs through The Psych Central Podcast is we try to explain that mental health and physical health actually are, they have a lot in common. Meaning most people have good physical health most of the time. But you can still get a cold. You can still get injured. And thats a very temporary problem. But you can also have, for example, diabetes, which is severe and persistent and lifelong. Mental health is the same way. I think a lot of people think that you either have good mental health or youre mentally ill and that theres nothing in between. Do you believe that because of the pandemic, people are starting to realize that everybody has mental health and that you can have the equivalent of a cold, which in this case is stress and anxiety or panic? Do you think this is helping to educate people that we all have mental health and anything can trigger bad mental health?

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: Yeah, I think reading a lot more content about that in very popular channels. Maybe your podcast or me like this is our world, but other people

Gabe Howard: Sure, yeah.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: For whom this is not their world, we are seeing them talk more about mental health. And in my own world, I try not to talk about somebody having just mental illness. I think about mental health on a continuum. You can do things every day to improve your mental health and you can do things every day that may not really be serving it well. The kind of food that you eat, the places that you go to, the people you spend time with, each of those things can help build up that mental health.

Gabe Howard: Dr. Chhatwal, thank you so much for establishing that more people are suffering from anxiety and that its a very real thing. Weve been doing this work for a long time, so were not surprised by this. But I think that the general population is and one of the hallmarks of being surprised by something is that you dont know what to do about it. Do you have advice for listeners who are overwhelmed, anxious and filled with stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: The one thing that we can all do and maybe do a little bit better is starting to become more aware. Naming what is going on for you is really important and naming not in the sense of saying, oh, I have so-and-so disorder or diagnoses, but more naming like how does it feel for me? How am I feeling in my body? What are the signs that Im seeing for myself? What are the changes that Im seeing in my behavior? So recognizing that youre not as engaged, youre not as motivated or fulfilled to saying, OK, well, I dont really feel like doing my work or when my children ask me a question, I feel exasperated and want to roll my eyes that that can be a step to saying, OK, something is definitely going on. And now let me sit and think how Im feeling physically. What are the emotions Im feeling? Some of us have a broader language for emotion and some of us have a narrower language and words for emotion. And thats OK. Even being able to identify I feel good, I feel bad. That may be a great place to

start. And then starting to look at what are really options for you to start to change things that make you feel bad? Is it something related to your job, like either the hours are now feeling too much or the workload is feeling too much. Talking to your human resources department, or when it comes to your home life maybe getting together with your partner or people who live in the household with you, or if you live alone connecting with friends and starting to really talk through this and asking for the support that you might need. Another strategy can be then to start to follow some degree of a schedule, because we hear a lot about pajama sales are on the rise or that people are doing the zoom uniform with the formal top and shorts at the bottom.

Gabe Howard: I love that.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: Yeah, its comfortable and it can also give your mind a signal that youre just supposed to be relaxing. However, what youre doing is sitting in front of your computer and working. So now your mind is really confused. Its like, well, Im supposed to be feeling relaxed, but Im doing work. So what were hearing from people is that theyre working longer hours because now theyre just connected on the computer all the time. They still have to take care of their children and now they have to go pick up their groceries and wipe them all down like everythings become just a tiny bit or a whole lot more complicated. And so trying to at least get your life into a little bit of a schedule may make you say, OK, I start my workday at eight and then I am going to end it at five, just like I would normally clock out.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: And then maybe in that evening time you can start to recognize what are pleasurable activities that you can do in your home environment? Im hearing from people that they cant work out, but I can tell you, like doing push ups doesnt take a lot of equipment. And so it may be deciding here right now I can only do five pushups a day. Within the next two weeks or a month, Ill get up to ten. So setting realistic goals that make you feel like youre being able to achieve something and that are in a direction of something. For myself, I think two or three months ago I was feeling like, oh, Im just at home going to work, coming back. But I got myself an easel and canvas and I picked up something I hadnt done in about a dozen years. I made a painting. Its not great. Im not going to sell it, but I did something that was enjoyable. Finding anything that you can do that serves your soul is really very important at this time.

Gabe Howard: When all of this started, we sort of had this mindset that, OK, we just need to hunker down and get through it, its only going to be a couple of weeks or even a couple of months. Now, here we are and were starting to learn that we dont really know when this is going to be over.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: Yeah.

Gabe Howard: So now were sort of in this kind of like a limbo state where we dont know if we want to make new habits that we want to last for years or if we should still stay in this, oh, things are going to get back to normal tomorrow. The example that I always use is, look, if I lost my job, I would understand that that jobs not coming back and I would prepare for a new future. But if I was laid off from that job and they told me that as soon as things pick up, well call you back. Well, now what do I do? Do I look for a new job? Do I wait for things to pick up and they call me back and I resume my life? We dont know when this is going to end. We dont have that hard stop.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: My advice to people and my thought for myself and my loved ones is that this is maybe a time for us to really start reinventing and reconsidering what our new normal is going to be. We know that not only has the pandemic obviously affected our way of life drastically but also that theres a potential financial crisis thats brewing. So really looking at restructuring our lives and seeing are we really on the right path? And even as a human species is the direction that were going really the direction we need to go? In all the things that we cannot control, the thing we do get to control is how were going to react and how were going to start to make our own decisions in our lives. Connection is fairly important. Make sure that there is a regular way to connect with other human beings, even if youre working from home. Ive heard these amazing stories about families that do Zoom sessions every week or who will play card games on Zoom or might even just turn on something like a video platform and have conversations throughout the day.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: Weve done things like with my in-laws and family where we watch a movie at the same time. Also, I think, starting to look in terms of employment and what are sustainable ways to work, because as a culture, we work a lot. And I think a lot of companies are now realizing that maybe people dont need to be clocked on or on site as much as we previously thought they needed to be. So starting to really see if that is OK for you, because for some people, like telework does not work, and for others, telework seems like the best thing since sliced bread.

Gabe Howard: Youve hit on a very interesting point there with your example of telework, some people absolutely love it other people absolutely hate it. Were seeing this a lot with anxiety. Some people are handling this pandemic no problem. They have literally zero anxiety. Other people are falling apart at the seams. Why is it hitting some people harder than others? And then theres this tendency, if youre one of the people who anxiety is hitting you really, really hard to find somebody whos managing this global pandemic like gangbusters and compare yourselves to them. And I imagine that makes it much more difficult to manage the anxiety and move forward.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: Comparison has always been one of those things that kills your drive and really starts to make you feel deflated because we dont know what that other persons life looks like. We dont know what their life experiences have been. In mental health, now, weve noticed for a long time that our early lives have a huge impact on how we respond later on. And some people who are more anxious than others either at this point dont have access to their usual coping strategies or the other thing could be that a person who has more anxiety likely had more adverse childhood experiences or early life trauma. Some of that trauma can get relived when youre isolated, alone, dont have support. And then finally, it can also sometimes be that youve had a really comfortable and quote unquote, normal life. And when suddenly something comes and upends your way of life, it may be your first time really facing something that feels overwhelming. So you may not have had practice at managing that before. So the more we think that others are doing well, the more likely it is that were more focused on them rather than ourselves. Rather than just sitting and saying, well, you know, Tom seems to be doing really well and I see that

Gabe Howard: Right.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: Gabes kind of killing it, being more connected with yourself is probably your best bet in being able to find that new normal and move forward post pandemic.

Gabe Howard: I really like what you said there about if were paying attention to others, were clearly not paying attention to ourselves and anxiety is not going to clear up by convincing it that Bob or Jane is living their best life and therefore I should be living my best life as well. It involves more nuance and work than that. Which leads me straight into my next question of how can I know if Im being realistic about the risks and dangers and when Im letting anxiety just simply get the better of me?

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: Anxiety can get the better of anybody. It is a neurobiological response. We have this tiny area in our brain called the amygdala, whose job it is to give us fear signals. Its really once you start feeling like you cant quite function in your life, youre not really being able to do the things that you typically can get done, or especially if you start having thoughts about suicide or not wanting to live or starting to feel like your life is not worth it. Those are danger signs and those are times I would say dont even think, go seek help. Theres really no harm in seeking help. And if nothing else, most of our communities have what we call warm lines. And you can call those and speak to somebody and see if that starts to help you, because a lot of us may not be able to clearly think about whats happening to us till we start speaking about it. I usually say, you know, if you go to a therapist, you can always decide you dont go for the second visit. Its not like theyre going to force you to come by. You at least start to tell your story and start to try that out as an option for if thats going to help you or not.

Gabe Howard: Well be right back after these messages.

Sponsor Message: Gabe here and I wanted to tell you about Psych Centrals other podcast that I host, Not Crazy. Its straight talk about the world of mental illness and it is hosted by me and my ex-wife. You should check it out at PsychCentral.com/NotCrazy or your favorite podcast player.

Sponsor Message: This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.com. Secure, convenient, and affordable online counseling. Our counselors are licensed, accredited professionals. Anything you share is confidential. Schedule secure video or phone sessions, plus chat and text with your therapist whenever you feel its needed. A month of online therapy often costs less than a single traditional face to face session. Go to BetterHelp.com/PsychCentral and experience seven days of free therapy to see if online counseling is right for you. BetterHelp.com/PsychCentral.

Gabe Howard: Were back discussing COVID-19 anxiety and stress with Dr. Jasleen Chhatwal.

Gabe Howard: Now, Sierra Tucson has started a program called Health Care Heroes, and thats specifically designed to treat doctors, nurses, and other frontline health care workers coping with the trauma of disease and death from coronavirus. How can you help health care workers heal from this tragic experience? Because up until now, weve been talking about just lay people managing the pandemic, but theyre literally on the front lines.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: Health care workers are already at a greater risk of fatigue, burnout, suicide, and that was pre-pandemic. Most of us generally go to school and do years of training with the goal of helping other fellow humans. And so now that the pandemic has really challenged our own lives and weve also had to go to work with having increased anxieties about being exposed, most of us may also know fellow health care workers who may have contracted coronavirus and may even have lost their lives to coronavirus. From a health care worker perspective, I feel like life is more stressful than it has ever been. You are being called to really show up and help people. However, we also havent quite had all the tools that we typically need, for all the shortages of PPE, shortages of ventilators, increased hospital bed capacities. People are working longer hours. There is more expected of them and theres less reward because we are losing our patients. We are seeing people be sicker. Health care workers themselves are experiencing helplessness. And there has been so much stigma around seeking mental health support for even lay people and then for health care workers, its compounded because we then have to start reporting it to our boards or we need to start telling people that were getting mental health treatment. A lot of health care workers are used to kind of putting on their armor and saying, Im OK, I can work long hours, I can do what needs to be done. So, Sierra Tucson as a group, when we started looking through, how could we show up and help our community and help our people, we decided to try to create this program which we want to make it OK for people to say Im not OK. Thats the message that were trying to give. Its OK to need support. And were here for you. We are also health care professionals and were experts in trauma healing. And were uniquely positioned at this time to support our fellow health care professionals with a nurturing environment, trauma focused therapies, and then also additionally peer support. So finding ways to help them get back on that spectrum of mental health, to move closer towards mental wellness and further away from having a mental health diagnosis or mental illness. There are health care workers who already live with mental health conditions prior to this. So making it OK for them also to know that they can take time off and really care for themselves because theyre the most important person.

Gabe Howard: From my perspective, it doesnt serve the greater society to have a health care worker who is so stressed out, so overwhelmed or is suffering from a mental illness or a mental health condition, not seek treatment, because how beneficial are they going to be to my care if they themselves are in crisis or potentially in crisis? So, do you want health care workers who know that theyre at risk for a mental health issue, not seek help because theyre afraid of the stigma, the discrimination, the judgment? That doesnt serve the greater good. Are people starting to realize that? Do you see a shift both in terms of health care workers being willing to seek help and in the general society understanding that, hey, health care workers are people too?

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: Interestingly, it seemed like maybe the pandemic has helped, that people are more accepting that, oh, this is traumatic and youre hearing the word trauma a lot more. I would like to say its slowly improving. And I think the more the general public accepts mental health conditions, the easier it will be even for health care workers. But its still very hard. Its still not a good place. Were not doing well by our people. I think the big piece of that is that were separating physical and mental health and you just cant do that. One thing affects the other. Even with something like anxiety, which is what

weve been talking about, you have physical symptoms. You feel like your heart is beating. You have chest pain. People show up to the E.R. thinking theyre having a heart attack when theyre having a panic attack. Unless we as a society, the health care system, insurance companies in their own areas start to really marry the two together and say its whole health, we really cant get away from stigma. Like we said right in the beginning, everybody has mental health and everybody has physical health. And like the WHO says, there is no health without mental health. So weve got to get them together.

Gabe Howard: I completely agree with your assessment that the pandemic does seem to be helping mental health understanding because so many people are in the exact same boat. They themselves are suffering from anxiety because of COVID. So therefore, theyre less likely to be judgmental against somebody else whos suffering from anxiety. Also, if a global pandemic doesnt cause anxiety, I dont know what will. For some reason when somebody says Im anxious, our first question is why? And then we decide if thats a good reason, thats very unfair. Right? To determine if somebody is allowed to be anxious based on the reason that they give anxiety doesnt work that way. Is that correct?

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: Youre exactly right, Gabe, anxiety can only be assessed by a persons own barometer. So, myself, Im not scared of heights. I used to skydive, but I have a friend. We went together to the Grand Canyon and they have a walkway on the Nevada side. And we were walking over it and she was like, nope, not doing it, not doing it. And I was like, oh, come on, well walk and well, Im trying to hold her hand. And she just couldnt. So I cant say she is more anxious than I am because its not the same for everything. She may not be anxious in a lot of other situations that I may be anxious in. And so anxiety is per your own context, and it is per the lessons youve learned in life for things that are fearful to you, the stories you tell yourself. And its usually from early life experience, youve either had a negative experience with something, so youre more fearful of it, or youve been told stories about that thing that make you more worried. So there are all those components which fall into the nurture category. And then some people do have just a slightly higher sensitivity.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: And that becomes the nature element, which is your genetics, how your amygdala, which is the fear center, like how thats tuned. And some people just have a more sensitive amygdala. Their fear response is greater. And then we also know that having negative experiences early on in life will make it that your fear center kind of reacts a lot quicker or may start to be easy to get stimulated. So if youve had a lot of early life trauma, its almost like your fear muscle is stronger so you can react a lot quicker and that is an evolutionary mechanism for human beings to keep themselves safe. So when we were hunter gatherers, if we were roaming around dangerous areas and there were going to be javelinas chasing us, then our fear around javelinas would need to be a lot more to protect ourselves. And for your listeners who dont know what javelina is, you can Google it. Its a wild animal. Its a wild boar that we have here in Arizona. So thats really my

Gabe Howard: Oh, wow.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: Closest context. Theyre mean looking creatures.

Gabe Howard: Dr. Chhatwal, I have one more question, which is kind of an ironic question, and thats why I saved it to the very end. All of the content surrounding COVID-19, it can be overwhelming. It can be disturbing. It can be hard to listen to. How can our listeners balance staying informed with the information that they need to stay safe like this podcast, for example, but also not be overwhelmed by this onslaught of negativity brought on by just constant COVID-19 information? Much of it scary, quite frankly.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: It really is. Ive recommended and I practice this in my own life to take sort of a news break or a news holiday to stop listening to the news. Because when people are sitting at home, theyre just listening to the news channels all day sometimes. So really giving yourself a sliver of time when you look at whatever content that you want to look at and then put it away. Also looking at platforms that maybe present this news in a more palatable format. So maybe like your podcast.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: Everybody can tune in to Psych Central. You have a great sense of humor and you try to make it approachable. Some people listen to the late night comedy shows which will give you the information you need, but with a chuckle. You can also subscribe to news outlets now have daily newsletters that they can send you with the headlines. So maybe that you say, Im not going to read all the news, Im just going to get a newsletter and look at it once in the day. So thats one way of reducing your exposure, not only in quantity, but also just in intensity. And then its good to balance it out with positive things, things that bring you pleasure, things that make you feel better about your world. I hope your listeners will do something to add value to somebody elses life. And that may be in the form of helping out their neighbors who are elderly with their grocery shopping and may be checking in with their friends who are also stressed out. Creating some sort of a book club, whatever it is that is part of their own interest, but a way to start feeling better about yourself, because whenever we give value to somebody else, thats really our best way of getting some positive back to us. That can be a way to move forward at this time with more kindness in our world and really being able to rebuild our communities in a more wholesome way and going in a direction, as a country, as a human species that will take us all in a positive direction with the lessons that weve learned from the pandemic. We cant let these lessons go to waste. That would be a waste of a pretty awful condition. And usually, I think if theres adversity, you want to try and get something out of that adversity, learn a lesson, build some resilience so that in the future you have more skills to move forward in your life.

Gabe Howard: We want to find the silver lining in the cloud.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: Definitely, yeah.

Gabe Howard: Thank you so much for being here. Where can folks find you online?

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: Im present on LinkedIn, which is one of the places Im trying to get better at. Im also on Twitter. I havent quite gotten the hang of Twitter yet, but I just started last week. Thats my goal for the next month. Im going to try to learn this. And if any of your listeners are excellent at Twitter then I would say, please send me tips and I will help you with mental health education and sending you interesting information about mental health.

Gabe Howard: That sounds like a great deal. Once again, thank you so much for being here. We really, really appreciate it.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD: Thanks so much, Gabe, it was so wonderful to talk to you.

Gabe Howard: All right, everybody, my name is Gabe Howard and Im the author of Mental Illness Is an Asshole, which is available on Amazon, or you can get signed copies for less money by going to my website at gabehoward.com. You can also subscribe to the shows Facebook page just by going to PsychCentral.com/FBShow. Please remember to subscribe to the podcast. Share us on social media. Rate, rank and review. Use your words. Tell people why they should listen and remember, you can get one week of free, convenient, affordable, private online counseling any time anywhere, simply by visiting BetterHelp.com/PsychCentral. Well see everybody next week.

Related Articles

Read the original:
Dealing With Anxiety in the Time of COVID-19 - PsychCentral.com

I am really careful about taking supplements as I know that more is not always better. As a physician, I often see people experiencing side effects or adverse reactions from taking supplements and medications because they're either taking too many or self-prescribing the wrong kind. Studies really don't support taking a significant amount of supplements, especially if they are not tailored to your health!

Therefore, I'm very picky and a minimalist with my personal supplement routinemy goal is to be super consistent with taking the right supplements for my body rather than putting a bunch of supplements into a routine that I know I won't stick with.

Like so many people, I've been feeling more stressed this year, and my sleep is often interruptedquarantine dreams are real! I started to think about the advice I have given my patients and friends during this time and how I could apply it to my own life (yep, even M.D.'s forget to prioritize their health from time to time!). I'm a big believer that, with the right tools, we don't have to internalize outside stress, and supplements and lifestyle tweaks are two of my go-to tools.

I decided to try Rigr Centrum's RigrPrint because I was intrigued by the idea of a holistic approach to supplementation and their claim"A revolutionary wellness tool that provides a holistic analysis, wellness plan and supplement recommendation tailored to your unique needs"really spoke to me.

This is something I always recommend my patients doget a holistic analysis before just picking supplements randomly. So, I signed up and filled out the questionnaire. It took less than five minutes, I was pleasantly surprised that it covered a lot in a short time, and at the end, they picked out the supplements that were right for me, along with suggestions on lifestyle tweaks to make.

RigrPrint chose magnesium and L-theanine for meboth of which I have tried before separately but never in combination.

Continued here:
This Integrative Medicine Doctor Put Personalized Supplement Packs To The Test - mindbodygreen.com

Aug 27, 2020 10:00 AM ET

iCrowd Newswire Aug 27, 2020

Laurel, Md. Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH) Professional Continuing Education program is pleased to announce a new partnership with Integrative Medicine for the Underserved (IM4US). MUIH and IM4US have entered this educational collaboration with the shared goal of promoting the use of holistic and integrative approaches to promote wellbeing for underserved individuals and communities. This collaboration expands MUIHs role in supporting the health and wellness of Marylands residents to a broader national reach through integrative health and medicine. MUIHs Professional and Continuing Education (PCE) Department offers a wide range of professional development courses in a hybrid format that provides the flexibility for the public, and healthcare professionals with the opportunity to sharpen their skills, develop new areas of expertise, and earn additional credentials.

MUIHs PCE program is proud to welcome IM4US as a new partner to spotlight the field of integrative health through mission-driven collaborations. Through our evidence-based, continuing education opportunities, PCE aims to support multidisciplinary team members in their professional development goals, empowering them to add to their knowledge and credentials to further support their clients and patients health and wellbeing with a whole-person approach, said Beth Romanski, director of professional and continuing education at MUIH.

In an effort to provide access to more integrative health educational resources to our multidisciplinary members, IM4US is pleased to announce a new partnership with MUIH. We will now be sharing MUIH PCE courses at discounts to our members so that they may continue to advance and update their knowledge in the areas of nutrition, botanical medicine, stress resilience, and self-care, said Udaya Thomas, MSN, MPH, APRN, Board President, IM4US.

MUIH offers masters and doctoral degrees and graduate certificates in a wide range of disciplines that prepare practitioners and professionals to support underserved individuals and communities. These include programs in acupuncture, Ayurveda, cannabis science, health promotion, health and wellness coaching, herbal medicine, integrative health studies, narrative health, nutrition, workplace wellness, and yoga therapy.

About Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH)

Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH) is a leading academic institution focused on the study and practice of integrative health and wellness and one of the few universities in the U.S. dedicated solely to such practices. Deeply rooted in a holistic philosophy, its model for integrative health and wellness is grounded in whole-person, relationship-centered, evidence-informed care.

Since 1974, MUIH has been a values-driven community educating practitioners and professionals to become future health and wellness leaders through transformative programs grounded in traditional wisdom and contemporary science. MUIH has more than 20 progressive, graduate degree programs in a wide range of disciplines, offered on-campus and online. In the on-campus Natural Care Center and community outreach settings, MUIH provides compassionate and affordable healthcare from student interns and professional practitioners, which delivers more than 20,000 clinical treatments and consultations each year. For more information visit http://www.muih.edu.

Integrative Medicine for the Underserved (IM4US)

Integrative Medicine for the Underserved (IM4US) is a collaborative, multidisciplinary group of people committed to affordable, accessible integrative health care for all. Through outreach, education, research, and advocacy, we support those dedicated to promoting health in underserved populations. Together we work to shift the current paradigm towards equity, wellness, prevention, patient empowerment, and self-care. IM4US is a leader in 21st-century healthcare and believes that the ability to heal resides in all of us and that conventional medicine and alternative models of care does not exist in opposition.

IM4US is committed to creating an equitable whole person healthcare system, working with local, regional, and national partners with similar or the same aspiration for the uninsured and underinsured in this country. IM4US also advocates for alternative practitioners to be included in reimbursement so that people have access to more non-pharmacological approaches to care. With our first national conference in 2010 and yearly thereafter and active members and committees, IM4US has offered hundreds of CME hours and hundreds of presentations and tools to integrate into practice all available on our website for members to download and utilize. For more information visit http://www.im4us.org.

Also Read:

Kionne S. Johnson Communications Manager [emailprotected]

Keywords:MUIH, IM4US, Educational Partnership, Health, Wellness, Integrative Health

See the original post here:
Maryland University of Integrative Health announces educational partnership with IM4US - Reported Times

The event will feature free acupuncture demonstrations, immune-boosting wellness shots and mini-treatments for stress reduction, as well as more than $500 in giveaways, according to a news release.

The 4 p.m. ribbon cutting, with Mayor Brandon Bocheski and members of the local Chamber of Commerce, will be followed by the drive-by healing event during which guests may receive services without getting out of their car. Guests also may choose to mingle, wearing masks, onsite.

The clinics general practitioners are Korina St. John Rongitsch and Megan Bolek, licensed acupuncturists.

Rongitsch, who holds a masters degree in acupuncture and Oriental medicine, earned the doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine degree from the Pacific College of Health and Science in San Diego, California.

Bolek earned a doctor of physical therapy degree at the University of Mary in Bismarck and a masters degree in traditional Chinese medicine from the American Academy of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Roseville, Minn.

Together, they have more than 12 years of graduate level training and 26 years of clinical experience, Rongitsch said.

Before opening the Healing Tree Integrative Health Clinic, Rongitsch operated a clinic in East Grand Forks, called Healthy Happy Whole, for several years. She partnered with Bolek to launch a clinic that provides an integrated medical approach to treating patients, many of whom have tried other treatments but nothing has worked, according to Rongitsch.

We want to provide sustained health and sustained relief," Rongitsch said.

Clinic services range from acupuncture and physical therapy, to nutrition and telehealth consultations. The most common conditions the acupuncturists address are pain, anxiety, fertility, weight loss and cancer-related symptoms.

Bolek, who treats orthopedic disorders, has completed extensive training in chronic pain and vestibular rehabilitation; the vestibular system, which is part of the inner ear, helps the body maintain balance and spatial orientation. She also helps patients with pelvic floor dysfunction regain bladder control, improve sexual function and recover after giving birth.

Bolek, an orthopedic certified specialist, has advanced clinical knowledge and skills in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, according to the website, http://www.healthyhappywhole.com.

The Healing Tree Integrative Health Clinic also employs a client coordinator, who will answer questions and schedule visits, and an intern who is pursuing a masters degree in acupuncture in the Twin Cities, said Rongitsch, whose plans include hiring other practitioners, such as a massage therapist, to provide more preventive therapeutic services.

We are excited to have a new business thats thriving, Rongitsch said. I am so grateful to be able to help people.

Read the original:
Healing Tree Integrative Health Clinic to hold drive-by healing event to mark opening - Grand Forks Herald

Faith is taking the first step even when you dont see the whole staircase. Martin Luther King Jr.

A few weeks ago, I wrote on the topic of a chronic, post-COVID syndrome, a dysautonomia affecting the autonomic nervous system. This has a potential to linger in millions of patients who are younger, women, with mild or moderate COVID infections.

Symptoms are as varied as COVID infections themselves affecting heart, brain, gastrointestinal and immune systems. Headaches, diarrhea, shortness of breath, chest pain, mood disorders, brain fog and profound fatigue with minimal exertion can characterize this condition.

One of my favorite science writers, Ed Yong, wrote a revealing article about this in Atlantic magazine on Aug. 19.

Post-COVID patients, named long-haulers since the effects of their infections have lasted for months, express frustration that many doctors dont know about this condition and dont believe their stories. Similarly, their employers sometimes consider them as lazy, unreliable or faking their real disabilities.

In Yongs article, he compares post-COVID to another condition patients and doctors have struggled with over the years. This is the chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia/myalgic encephalomyelitis syndrome that has long been thought to be an aftermath of another viral illness, mononucleosis.

Like post-COVID syndrome, fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia/myalgic encephalomyelitis syndrome has been suspect as there are no specific diagnostic tests that are reliable markers of it. In post-COVID patients, even the antibody tests showing a recovered case may be negative, casting doubt that they even ever had the disease. This can happen despite positive COVID infection test results earlier. Such false negative tests throw us further into confusion about this new syndrome.

Integrative and holistic medicine approaches may help based on core medical principles:

1. Believe and listen to the patient when she reports her symptoms (most patients are women).

2. Recognize that the condition has multiple presentations and symptoms.

3. Treat each person as a unique case accepting that the long-haul approach may involve much trial and error.

A patient I see had what in retrospect was a typical case of COVID-19 in October: three weeks of severe respiratory symptoms, fever, fatigue and diarrhea. Now, 10 months later, she suffers with new ongoing severe headaches, brain fog and intermittent diarrhea. A simple anti-inflammatory diet and acupuncture have largely relieved her symptoms.

Some potential treatments we have learned from management of fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia/myalgic encephalomyelitis syndrome that may be transferrable to post-COVID patients are:

1. Energy support for severe fatigue: CoQ10, ashwaganda, ginseng, DHEA, high potency B vitamins, carnitine and hormones.

2. Immune support: Vitamins C, D, zinc, mushroom extract, probiotics, sleep and stress management.

3. Inflammation: anti-inflammatory diet, Zyflamend, fish oil, turmeric and ginger.

4. Pain management, mood and brain issues: cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, meditation, graded mental and physical rehabilitation exercises, acupuncture, yoga, tai chi, SAMe, ginkgo, cannabinoids, magnesium and medications.

This can be a complex best guided and individualized in partnership with a trusted health professional or post-COVID clinic. You may be in for the long-haul, so stay patient, focused and hopeful. Certainly, research is needed.

Dr. Victor S. Sierpina is the WD and Laura Nell Nicholson Family Professor of Integrative Medicine and Professor of Family Medicine at UTMB.

Go here to see the original:
Long-haulers are redefining COVID-19 | Health | The Daily News - Galveston County Daily News

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the daily lives and workflows of healthcare providers across the globe.

THE PROBLEM

Whole Life Health Care in Newington, New Hampshire, is a family practice providing conventional medicine and complementary therapies. It needed advice on best practices to adjust to life during COVID-19 and continue treating patients safely and effectively. The team needed to create rapid-fire solutions to address the changes that happened seemingly overnight.

One of the challenges Whole Life faced during the onset of the pandemic was access to a reputable and efficient telehealth system to continue care for patients. Another challenge was how to leverage its digital billing platform to respond to the rapidly changing landscape of regulations and requirements around reimbursement.

PROPOSAL

Cloud-based IT vendor athenahealth leveraged its existing online platform, the Success Community, to enable its healthcare provider clients to connect with each other and exchange ideas during COVID-19.

In addition to exchanging advice, the platform also acted as a central COVID-19 information hub with up-to-date regulatory information, workflow recommendations, and the promotion of new tools and enhancements designed to help address customer pain points related to COVID-19, said Amy Coombs, an advanced registered nurse practitioner at Whole Life Health Care and founder and creator of the integrative medical concept Whole Life Health Care.

Athenahealths clients frequently collaborated on topics such as telehealth solutions, revenue cycle management practices and ways to support their new remote patient experience, she said.

Amy Coombs, Whole Life Health Care

The athenahealth Success Community platform not only worked to alleviate COVID-19 problems, but also showed providers the strength of the healthcare community during difficult times, Coombs added.

Healthcare providers used the platform to come together and collaborate to combat similar issues, which led to empowering each other on how to address situations in a safe way, she explained. Ultimately, the platforms goal was about making technology work for providers by leveraging a network of peers and allowing them to share on-the-ground experience and brainstorm solutions.

MARKETPLACE

There are many vendors with electronic health records systems on the health IT market today, including Allscripts, athenahealth, Cerner, eClinicalWorks, Epic, Greenway Health, HCS, Meditech and NextGen Healthcare.

MEETING THE CHALLENGE

Having access to the Success Community platform enhanced Whole Lifes workflows, as COVID-19 guidance changed daily, if not hourly. The platform was helpful in coming up with solutions to help fine-tune different processes at the clinic.

Originally, starting out with different telehealth platforms such as FaceTime for virtual patient appointments, we switched to the athenaTelehealth solution for all telehealth visits in late spring, Coombs said. The team of clinicians at Whole Life thoroughly enjoys the athenaTelehealth solution as it allows us to meet with patients virtually and talk to them while having the ability to document at the same time, and offers an embedded image for video conferencing.

So instead of having two split screens one to chart and one to see the patient with athenaTelehealth, the video image is inside the image of the chart, so the provider only has to look at one screen.

The image also is movable, so the provider can reposition it, depending on what the chart view is, Coombs explained. During March, April and May, there were days our team would see 90% telehealth visits, so having a solution that was very easy helped our visits increase efficiency.

Another asset the vendor provided to Whole Life during this time was a weekly conference call for athenahealth providers to discuss tips and learn about new digital tools such as billing solutions. The vendor put together a document on the different billing rules that were changing regularly Whole Life could pull up that document when it needed to, and the vendors team was tracking this insurance information regularly.

RESULTS

At Whole Life Health Care, the advice has made a real difference, Coombs stated.

The vendors team always has had our backs as business partners and the current situation is even more proof of that, she said. The demand on time, our ability to glean the most important information and make business decisions, then communicate that with staff has never been so tested. Additionally, athenaText, the mobile communication tool that allows the staff to exchange text messages and notifications, has never been so utilized.

The combination of Whole Life staff and the support of athenahealth and its provider community helps the clinic gain ground on beating the challenges created from the coronavirus, she added.

Not only has our staff been pleased with the vendors COVID-19 resources, but our patients also have been happy with the offerings, including the athenaTelehealth solution, she said. The solution has been a lifeline to us as we navigate uncharted territory while still seeing patients in a safe way.

ADVICE FOR OTHERS

During difficult and unprecedented times, its important for healthcare providers to turn to their peers to learn from their similar challenges and best practices, Coombs advised. The healthcare community is filled with information and recommendations, and has created a strong sense of community, she said.

Additionally, leveraging your EHR partner and solution can provide unexpected, helpful resources for any practice, she concluded. The team at Whole Life has learned so much from other healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and were coming out stronger than before with new ideas on how to best serve our patients and improve safety measures.

Twitter:@SiwickiHealthITEmail the writer:bill.siwicki@himss.orgHealthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.

See more here:
What one provider learned from other athenahealth users about EHRs and telehealth - Healthcare IT News

A Sino-U.S. collaborative study has demonstrated that acupuncture regulates inflammation by activating pro- or anti-inflammatory signaling pathways, while mitigating cytokine storms in mice with systemic inflammation, the study authors reported in the Aug. 12, 2020, edition of Neuron.

The study also found that the acupuncture site, intensity and timing determined how it affected response, which has important implications for acupuncture use in inflammatory diseases and as adjunctive cancer therapy.

Acupuncture was further shown to influence how mice coped with the aberrant immune system reaction of cytokine storm due to rapid excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Our study provides an insight into how acupuncture can drive distinct autonomic pathways and modulate inflammation in acupoint-, stimulation intensity- and disease state-dependent manners, said study leader Qiufu Ma, a professor in the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the Department of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School.

Cytokine storms are a characteristic of inflammatory diseases, notably bacterial or viral infections causing sepsis, an organ-damaging, often-fatal inflammatory response.

Cytokine storms can also be caused by excessive inflammatory responses to traumatic tissue injury, some surgeries, and cancer immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibition, but currently there are no FDA-approved treatments for severe cytokine storms, noted Ma.

For cancer patients receiving immunotherapy who develop inflammatory side effects, milder symptoms might be relieved by corticosteroids, which have their own side effects, he said.

In COVID-19 patients, early pilot studies have suggested using an antibody against the cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6), but larger clinical trials are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of this approach, he told BioWorld.

A traditional Chinese medicine technique, acupuncture has become increasingly integrated into Western medicine, particularly for treating chronic pain and gastrointestinal disorders.

It involves mechanical stimulation of acupoints, supposedly triggering nerve signaling and affecting the function of internal organs corresponding to those acupoints, but acupunctures basic underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated.

In their new study, Ma and his research team investigated the use of electroacupuncture stimulation (ES), in which ultra-thin electrodes offer better control of stimulation intensity than traditional needles.

The researchers investigated two cell types secreting the neurotransmitters known to be important inflammatory mediators: adrenal gland chromaffin cells, the main producers of adrenaline, noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine, and peripheral NA neurons.

To determine the precise role these cells play in inflammatory responses, the researchers used a novel genetic tool to ablate chromaffin cells or NA neurons.

We genetically introduced the human diphtheria toxin receptor (DTR) selectively to molecularly defined sympathetic cells, such as those marked by expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY), explained Ma.

Injecting a modified diphtheria toxin that does not cross the brain-blood barrier can selectively ablate DTR-expressing cells, creating mice lacking both NPY-expressing chromaffin cells and NA neurons, or those with a more selective ablation of NPY-expressing chromaffin cells via injecting low-dose toxin only into the adrenal gland.

That allowed inflammatory response comparison in mice with and without those cells, to determine their role in modulating inflammation. The markedly different responses then identified those cells as key regulators of inflammation.

Hind-limb administration of low-intensity ES to mice with a bacterial toxin-induced cytokine storm was shown to activate the vagus-adrenal axis, inducing dopamine secretion from chromaffin cells.

We used the induction of a neuronal activation marker to show that low-intensity ES activated hind-brain vagal efferent neurons, which are known to innervate thoracic and visceral organs and tissues, said Ma.

We then showed that low-intensity ES could reduce cytokine storms and promote survival, and that these ES effects were lost in mice with transected vagal efferents or in those with ablation of NPY-expressing adrenal chromaffin cells, suggesting involvement of the vagal-adrenal anti-inflammatory axis.

Specifically, treated animals had more than 50% reductions in the cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), IL-6 and IL-1b, than untreated controls, and prolonged survival rates of 60% vs. 20%, respectively.

In addition, the vagus-adrenal axis was shown to be activated by hind-limb ES, but not by that using abdominal acupoints, demonstrating the importance of acupoint selectivity in driving specific anti-inflammatory pathways.

Treatment timing was also found to be critical, with high-intensity abdominal stimulation producing markedly different outcomes, depending on when treatment occurred.

For example, animals treated before developing cytokine storm had lower levels of inflammation during subsequent disease and their survival increased from a range of 20% to 30% to a range of 70% to 80%.

Conversely, those treated after disease onset and during the cytokine storm peak experienced worse inflammation and more severe disease.

Together, those findings suggest that ES could be a versatile treatment modality, from adjunct therapy for sepsis to targeted treatment of site-specific inflammation, such as in inflammatory intestinal diseases.

Acupuncture might also help modulate inflammation due to cancer immune therapy, which can trigger cytokine storms, and is currently used in integrative cancer treatment to help patients tolerate treatment side effects.

However, before considering any therapeutic use, those findings must be further confirmed in animals and humans, optimal ES parameters must be defined and its safety established.

Safety

High-intensity ES can drive spinal-splenic noradrenergic sympathetic neuronal pathway, potently reducing inflammation if performed before cytokine storm induction, said Ma.

However, after the first cytokine storm wave has peaked, high-intensity ES can exacerbate inflammation and increase fatality rates, due to altered NA receptor profiles in immune cells switching from anti-inflammatory to pro-inflammatory dominance.

As such, high intensity ES may be associated with unforeseen safety issues, but fortunately low intensity ES is sufficient to drive the vagal-adrenal axis and safely attenuate inflammation in a disease state-independent manner, Ma said.

In the future, he said, inflammation modulation needs to be fine-tuned, since excessive suppression could reduce the ability of the immune system to fight with infection, necessitating future human studies to optimize stimulation parameters.

Go here to read the rest:
Acupuncture shown to regulate inflammation in mice - BioWorld Online

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (PRWEB) August 14, 2020

Innovative Wellness, Inc., offers a holistic, multi-disciplinary, integrative approach to caring for patients to enhance the overall quality of life. Rachael is passionate about bringing freedom and dignity to patients who suffer from pelvic and sexual dysfunction and offers innovative treatment options to meet an array of healthcare needs.

Cliovana is a simple, completely non-invasive way to increase womens arousal levels and their orgasm frequency and intensity. Cliovana does not use lasers, scalpels, or needles, so there are no dangerous side effects. Many women want to get more out of sex but they want to do it in a way that respects their body. Cliovana is the perfect solution because it enhances arousal at the cellular level and causes your body to do more of what it does naturally - regenerate cells.

So how does Cliovana work? The body is always regenerating cells. Cliovana stimulates the body to do more of that, specifically in the genitals, and can lead to an increase in womens long-term sexual responsiveness. The technologies employed by Cliovana have been used for decades, all over the world, for a variety of health issues. The treatment is a total of four sessions at less than 10 minutes each, over the course of 2 weeks. Because it is 100% noninvasive, there is zero downtime.

Rachael Cabreira is the only medical practice in Walnut Creek who currently offers Cliovana treatments. Patients can find more information about the treatment as well as schedule a free consultation at http://www.cliovana.com.

Learn more about Cliovanahttps://cliovana.compractitionerinfo@cliovana.com1-888-583-5134@cliovana

About Rachael Cabreira and Innovative Wellness, Inc.Rachel has been practicing for over 20 years, specializing in obstetrics, infertility, urogynecology, female pelvic and sexual wellness. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a Minor in Psychology from University of Dominion College of San Rafael, and a Master of Science in Nursing, specializing as a Family Nurse Practitioner, from San Francisco State University, Rachael then went on to receive a Post-Mastery in Midwifery from the University of Cincinnati. She has completed and became a Certified Sexual Health Clinician from the American Academy of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine and completed her fellowship in Integrative Medicine.

In addition to her role as CEO and Founder of Innovative Wellness, Rachael is also the founder of Pure Vitality Inc., a female intimate wellness company dedicated to formulating products that have therapeutic, regenerative, and protective properties that help women reclaim their sexuality and experience the awakening of the mind, body and spirit.

http://www.innovativewellnessinc.comCall for appointment: 925-954-8209

Share article on social media or email:

Excerpt from:
Rachael Cabreira brings Cliovana to Innovative Wellness, Inc. - PR Web

The new Fitbit Sense comes the UAE mid-September 2020 Image Credit: Supplied

At its latest virtual launch Fitbit brought consumers a smartwatch with a never seen before feature. One which maybe be more pertinent than ever in 2020. Say hello to the Fitbit Sense, which is the worlds first smartwatch with an EDA sensor for stress management.

Our mission to make everyone in the world healthier has never been more important than it is today. COVID-19 has shown us all how critical it is to take care of both our physical and mental health and wellbeing, said James Park, co-founder and CEO, Fitbit.

Fitbit Sense Body and Design

The Fitbit Sense looks like a more premium version of the Versa with glass and metal all over the body. The display is a 1.58-inch AMOLED display with a 336 x 336 pixel resolution and comes with always-on modes as well as auto-dimming to save battery. The smartwatch is also water-resistant up to 50m.

Fitbit Sense Stress Management

Now while the Fitbit Sense also comes with advanced heart rate tracking, a new ECG app (no confirmation of UAE availability yet), on-wrist skin temperature sensor and six days of battery-life, its main focus is its stress management features.

The new EDA sensor on Fitbit Sense measures electrodermal activity responses. Using the EDA Scan app, you can place your palm over the face of the device to detect small electrical changes in the sweat level of your skin. Bymeasuring your EDA responses can help yourself understand your bodys response to stressors and manage your stress too. You can do a quick EDA scan session on the device to see your responses, or pair it with a guided mindfulness sessions in the Fitbit app to see how your body responds during meditation or relaxation. At the end of your session, you will see an EDA response graph on-device and in the mobile app to gauge your progress over time and reflect on how you feel emotionally.

A regular meditation practice has both physical and emotional benefits, from reducing stress and symptoms of anxiety and depression, to helping cardiovascular health such as improving blood pressure and heart rate, said Dr. Helen Weng, Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco.

Fitbit Sense Heart Rate and Skin Temperature

The Fitbit Sense comes with the companys new PurePulse 2.0 technology, with an all-new multi-path heart rate sensor and an updated algorithm. With 24/7 continuous heart rate tracking, Fitbit Sense can detect and send a notification if your heart rate is outside of your thresholds.

Fitbit Sense adds a new skin temperature sensor to detect changes to your wellbeing that may potentially be a sign of a fever, illness, or the start of a new menstrual phase. The company claims that wearing your device when you're asleep each night lets you regularly measure your skin temperature variation to see trends, versus looking at your temperature at a specific moment in time.

Wearables may be able to play an important role in the early detection of infectious diseases by acting as an early warning system for our bodies, which is critical to slowing the spread of COVID-19 and to better understanding disease progression, said Eric Friedman, co-founder and CTO of Fitbit.

Fitbit Sense Other Features

Apart from these new features the Fitbit Sense comes with an on-board GPS, 20+ on-device exercise modes, SmartTrack for activity detection and sleep tracking. The smartwatch also comes with NFC for Fitbit Pay (currently available in the UAE) and a built-in speaker to answer calls and for voice-commands.

Fitbit Sense Pricing and Availability

Colour variants for the Fitbit Sense are carbon and graphite stainless steel and lunar white and soft gold stainless steel. New members of Fitbit Premium will get a free 6-months membership when they get their hands on the Fitbit Sense.

The Fitbit Sense will be available for Dh1399 when pre-orders open on September 14th 2020 at select retailers online. The device will be available in store late September 2020.

Excerpt from:
Fitbit wants to help you manage stress with their new Sense smartwatch - Gulf News

Honeydew and cantaloupe have a similar texture and appearanceaside from color. This is because they come from the same species of fruit, Wallace explains. Both are high in vitamins A, C, and B6, as well as potassium, fiber, and folate.

Cantaloupe contains slightly fewer natural sugars and more than half the vitamin A and vitamin C levels of honeydew. However, when it comes to fruit, registered dietitianJenna Gorham, R.D., L.D., says sugar shouldn't be a deciding factor. "For those that do need to track carbohydrates for medical purposes, per cup, cantaloupe has three grams less carbs compared to honeydew," she says.

In terms of taste? "Each melon is mildly sweet with a similar firm and smooth texture," Wallace says. "However, some people find that cantaloupe is slightly less firm than honeydew.

Like most melons, these two are helpful for preventing dehydrationthey each have a 90% water content and plenty of electrolytes.In fact, registered dietitian nutritionist Carlene Thomas, R.D., recommends blending cantaloupe or honeydew with ice for a hydrating drink. "You're also still getting the fiber from the melon, so you'll get a sense of satiety," she tells mbg.

Here is the original post:
Honeydew vs. Cantaloupe: Which Melon Is Healthier? RDs Give The Juice - mindbodygreen.com

Business Wire India is the only Indian news distribution platform to partner with ANI, PTI, IANS, and UNI Testimonials - Whenever we have something important to tell, Business Wire India is often our first point of call, Rajnish Wahi, Senior VP, Corporate Affairs & Communication, Snapdeal. I define Business Wire India as a facilitator for the communications industry, Sudeshna Das, Executive Director, ComConnect. Business Wire India is very good in terms of credible and authentic news distribution to media. It adds authenticity to all content, Arneeta Vasudeva, Vice President, Ogilvy. Business Wire India is the only Indian news distribution platform to partner with ANI, PTI, IANS, and UNI The BW India team is very professional and prompt, we have been working seamlessly with BW for many years now, Prathibha Nair, Assistant Manager - Corporate Communications, Wipro Limited. Businesswire helps us in securing coverage on prominent media outlets across US, Europe and India and the detailed tracking reports allow us to monitor our press release. All members of the servicing team are cooperative and efficient and they truly augment our outreach efforts, Aniruddha Basu, PR & Corporate Communications, L&T Technology Services

Continued here:
Sangopan Launches Its Digital Consultation Platform for Mothers - Business Wire India

With COVID-19 making its impact, yoga teachers and practitioners recommend the practice of simple asanas, pranayama and relaxation techniques under the guidance of qualified gurus to boost immunity.

Yoganidra (a conscious relaxation practice) is one of the most effective practice to improve immunity, Ajitesh N.H., Head, Department of Yogic Science, University College, a constituent college of Mangalore University, Mangaluru told The Hindu.

The practice of simple asanas such as simhasana, vajrasana, parshvakonasana, paschimottanasana, pavanamuktasana, bhujangasana, ardhamatsyendrasana and uttanapadasana will help to boost immunity. Under different types of pranayama, the simple ones such as ujjayi, nadishuddhi, bhastrika, suryabhedana and bhramari will help.

Mr. Ajitesh, who obtained his Ph.D. from Mangalore University for his thesis on yoga therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease said that one can practice kriyas such as kapalabhati, agnisara, and dhauti. Any meditation like that of soham and practice of mudras such as viparitakarni also helped to boost immunity.

One requires a minimum of 90 days to 120 days of practice to boost the immunity level, Mr. Ajitesh said adding that with 12 days to 21 days of practice one can feel the changes in the respiratory system level.

A combination of yogic practices including asana, pranayama, kriya and relaxation techniques helped to get rid off impurity from the body, he added.

Gopalakrishna Delampady, a senior yoga practitioner and a referee for international and national yoga competitions, said that those having hypertension can practice makarasana, marjalasana, janu shirsasana, tadasana, badda konasana, ardha kati chakrasana, and uttita eka padasana to improve immunity.

H. Ganapathi Jois, a former teacher at the Division of Yoga, Centre for Integrative Medicine and Research, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, said that adopting proper diet also mattered in helping to boost immunity power.

The Gheranda Samitha, one of the prominent Hatha yoga texts of the late 17th or early 18th century identified by yoga researchers, has mentioned that one should have only two meals a day. Overfasting is also not good for health, he said.

You have reached your limit for free articles this month.

Find mobile-friendly version of articles from the day's newspaper in one easy-to-read list.

Enjoy reading as many articles as you wish without any limitations.

A select list of articles that match your interests and tastes.

Move smoothly between articles as our pages load instantly.

A one-stop-shop for seeing the latest updates, and managing your preferences.

We brief you on the latest and most important developments, three times a day.

Not convinced? Know why you should pay for news.

*Our Digital Subscription plans do not currently include the e-paper ,crossword, iPhone, iPad mobile applications and print. Our plans enhance your reading experience.

Follow this link:
Yoga practitioners recommend simple practices to boost immunity - The Hindu

Club Industry was not involved in the creation of this content.

If you are currently leading an organization of any size, you face three major challenges:

These are uncertain times. They demand the best that leaders can give. In this free interactive webinar, Dr Mark Tager provides a time-tested, proven system that promotes personal and team resilience in time of uncertainty. Youll discover ideas, skills, and practices that magnify your influence as a leader even in the face of danger and uncertainty.

Youll come away with five critical skills for bringing out the best in yourself and others. Youll learn:

If you are running a small health or aesthetic practice, guiding a team, having responsibility for restructuring your organizationor, if youre just trying to be a better communicator for those you love and care about, this webinar is for you.

Details: Wednesday, July 22, 12 pm Pacific

Register: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/9/v9v1yal

Webinar Promotion Video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/u5wony6k33l4pzi/LTSC2%20w%20logo%20open%20copy.mp4?dl=0

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Mark J. Tager, MDPhysician Entrepreneur

As a physician entrepreneur Markhas built companies, led high performance teams, and guided people through challenging times. Out of those experiences, Markcreated a system that hes taught to thousands of leaders in businesses large and small. He brings a laser-like focus to his training programs: no fluff, no pontification, just usable skills that are needed now more than ever.

Mark J Tager, MD is Chief Enhancement Officer (CEO) of ChangeWell, Inc., (changewell.com) a San Diego organization that trains and coaches professionals to enhance their presence in person, on camera and online. A veteran of more than 1,000 presentations, Mark shares his skills and passion to empower those who attend his trainings.

As a physician, he is well grounded in lifestyle, regenerative, integrative and aesthetic medicine. Mark began his human resource work in the early 1980s as Director of Health Promotion for Kaiser Permanente NW Region. He founded several companies in the publishing, medical device, and training industries which went on to successful exits.

Among the ten books he has authored or co-authored, three describe learning systems for dealing with stress and change. These include:Leadership in Times of Stress and Change(with Dr. Harry Woodward),Transforming Stress into Power, andWorking Well(with Dr. Marjorie Blanchard). Dr. Tager obtained his medical degree from Duke University and trained in Family Practice at the University of Oregon Health Science Center.

See the article here:
Leadership In Times Of Stress And Change: 5 Critical Skills To Bring Out The Best In Yourself And Others - Club Industry

University Professorships recognize faculty who have demonstrated significant and sustained accomplishments in their discipline, earning them national and international recognition.

Texas A&M Office of the Provost

Texas A&M Universitys Office of the Provost has announced it will recognize four faculty members as holders of University Professorships.

Created as a new distinction in 2019, University Professorships recognize faculty who have demonstrated significant and sustained accomplishments in their discipline, earning them national and international recognition. The award also highlights the recipients commitment to inclusivity, accountability, climate and equity in their departments, colleges and throughout their service at Texas A&M.

Recipients receive an annual stipend for three years, and as faculty members in good standing they retain the title of University Professorship throughout their career at the university. Nominations for the distinction were submitted by department heads or deans, and the finalists were selected by a university committee and approved by the provost.

The recipients of the 2020 University Professorships are:

These four faculty members are outstanding and clearly serve as role models for both our faculty and our students, said Provost and Executive Vice President Carol A. Fierke.It is an honor to recognize them, as Im deeply grateful for all they do for our university.

The awards join with endeavors like the Presidents Excellence Fund and other faculty reinvestment programs to empower and advance the careers of faculty at every level.

A unique feature of University Professorships, which are funded centrally from research indirect cost returns and philanthropic support, is allowing the holder to personally name the professorship for a significant emeritus or deceased Texas A&M University faculty member who has served as inspiration or motivation for the holder.

More information about the honorees and their professorship namesakes will be featured on the Dean of Faculties website.

See the original post here:
Texas A&M 2020 University Professorships Announced - Texas A&M University Today

On this page:BasicsComplementary TreatmentAlternative Treatment EffectivenessSide EffectsCancer Cure ScansDiet and Exercise

Youve seen the headlines about natural medicine trends, from yoga to supplements to diet and exercise fads. When it comes to cancer, you want to know what will help you safely regain your health during treatment and after. But there are loads of competing, sometimes-confusing info to sift through. What can you trust? Well, you can start with us here at HealthCentral: We went to the experts to learn all the science-based truth on complementary care for cancer.

First, lets clarify how cancer comes to be: Cancer occurs when abnormal cells anywhere in your body grow out of control, due to mutations in their DNA. Normal cells divide, age and die predictably, copying DNA as they go. Cancer cells, however, dont follow those rules. Rather than die off, they mutate, replicate, and form tumors.

Whats known as the primary site of your cancer is the spot where these cells start growing, and that organ or area determines the type of cancer you have. When cancerous cells journey through your blood or lymphatic system (the network of tissues and organs that flush out toxins, waste, and other undesirables), the areas they invade are metastatic sites.

Note that a cell can be abnormal without being cancerous (also known as malignant). It could be benign (not cancer), or precancerous or premalignant (likely to become cancer). Through screening and testing, docs can determine exactly what youre dealing with.

That depends on what kind of cancer you have, what stage its in, and other factors. Treatment can include:

Doctors often try more than one treatment, spaced out over weeks and months, as they gauge how your body responds. Your doc might even start you on multiple treatments at the same time.

Youve probably heard of complementary care. Or maybe you know it as alternative care. You know a bit of what these treatments might include (youre thinking meditation, herbs, and maybe yoga?). But did you know that while complementary and alternative care are often lumped together (as CAM, Complementary and Alternative Medicine), theyre not the same?

Complementary medicine is used in addition to conventional cancer care. It can include products, practices, and healthcare systems outside of mainstream medicine. These methods dont cure cancer, but work in conjunction with conventional cancer treatments to help in a variety of ways, including pain management and emotional support. Many complementary medicine practices can be considered evidence-based medicine (scientifically studied in randomized controlled trials, the highest level of evidence that guides cancer care).

When complementary medicine works harmoniously with conventional medicine, its an approach known as integrative medicine, or integrated care, where physicians treat you holisticallymeaning caring for you as a whole patient, taking into account all facets of your cancer experience. These can include:

When integrative medicine is administered to treat cancer, its known as integrative oncology, a patient-centered, evidence-informed field of cancer care. It may include:

Alternative medicine, in contrast, is used in place of conventional medicine. Rather than going hand-in-hand with, say surgery and chemo, alternative medicine is done instead of those evidence-based cancer treatments.

A quick note: before you try any new approach during (and after) your cancer treatment journey, make sure to discuss it with your doctor.

If youve used or are considering using complementary medicine as a cancer patient, youre not alonea national survey found that 65% of respondents whod been diagnosed with cancer had used some form of it.

Theres good reason to explore complementary care if you have cancer. It can be part of your supportive carehelping where you need it, like soothing and calming your mind and body as you go through this challenging time. Indeed, research suggests that complementary medicine can assist by:

There are easily hundreds of complementary treatments for cancer, so weve selected a small sample to discuss here. Possibilities include:

Acupuncture: Theres substantial evidence that this ancient Chinese practice of using sterile needles to stimulate different areas of the body can help manage cancer treatment-related nausea and vomiting. It may also help relieve cancer pain and other symptoms, but theres not enough evidence yet to support that.

Herbs: Ginger, for instance, has been shown to help control nausea from chemotherapy when used with conventional anti-nausea medications. Just keep in mind that any supplements you consume can change your body physiologicallynothing you ingest is without the potential for adverse effects. For instance, herbs can impact blood sugar levels and the bloods ability to clot.

Massage therapy: Sure, it feels sublime, and it turns out to have additional benefits too: research suggests that massage therapy can help relieve some cancer symptoms including:

Just be careful not to have deep tissue massage near surgery sites, tumors, or any medical devices. And always tell your therapist about your cancer diagnosis.

Meditation: Mindfulness-based meditation has been shown to improve quality of life during treatment. How? Studies of cancer patients have revealed the following happiness-boosting benefits:

Supplements: Herbal supplements for cancer could potentially help manage side effects like nausea and vomiting, pain, and fatigue, but more scientific evidence is required to make safe decisions about the use of these supplements.

Yoga: Preliminary data of this ancient mind/body practice from India suggests that those who do yoga could see improvements in these areas:

Another benefit: It might help lessen fatigue in breast cancer patients and survivors. More study into the myriad benefits of yoga is needed.

Other approaches: These include hypnosis, relaxation therapy, and biofeedback, all of which might help manage cancer symptoms and treatment side effects, based on study results.

One thing to note about all of these approaches: they might not be covered by your health insurance. According to the American Cancer Society, major insurers, including Blue Cross and Medicare, are starting to cover some complementary treatments. On the list above, acupuncture is most commonly covered. Contact your insurer to see what complementary treatments, if any, are paid for. They might be able to direct you to local providers who are covered under your plan.

When the treatments we discussed earlier (and the hundreds of others that are offered) are used in place of conventional medicine, its known as an alternative treatment. Nearly 40%, or 4 out of 10 Americans, believes that cancer can be cured by alternative treatments, a 2018 survey of cancer patients and people without cancer, found. However, while research shows that complementary medicine can play an important role in conventional cancer medicine, the same hasnt been readily found for alternative treatment.

Case in point: in 2009, the Society for Integrative Oncology (the leading international organization for healthcare professionals and researchers working in the field of complementary therapies in cancer care) published guidelines for healthcare professionals when using complementary medicine.

The org reminded healthcare professionals and patients that unproven cancer treatment methods shouldnt be used in place of conventional options because delaying cancer treatment thats evidence-based and shown to work reduces the chance of remission/cure for cancer patients.

Its important to talk with your healthcare professionals about the risks of using alternative therapies so you can make an informed decision about whats best for your health.

There are definite side effects with CAM. You might think that because something is natural, its safe. But this isnt always the case. Arsenic is natural, for instance, but you wouldnt want to start taking it in large doses.

Another example: Chemotherapy has a multitude of side effects because it destroys both cancerous cells and healthy cells. Its been cited by many as harmful because its made from chemicals. But did you know, some forms of chemo come from nature? Three drugs (Vincristine, Vinblastine, and Vinorelbine) are derived from plant alkaloids and are made from the periwinkle plant (Catharanthus Rosea). Chemo drugs called taxanes (Paclitaxel and Docetaxel) come from the bark of the Pacific Yew tree (Taxus).

Know too that just because something is sold, doesnt mean its been vetted or approved for usefor safety or qualityby the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA doesnt regulate vitamins and supplements, so the onus is on us to do our best to source safe, trustworthy products.

Its vital to tell your cancer healthcare team about every treatment and therapy youre using for your cancer, whether its receiving acupuncture for nausea, going to the chiropractor for pain, adding St. Johns Wort to your supplement regime to help manage depression, or getting a massage to feel better.

If youre reluctant to be open with your doc, youre not alone: 29% of cancer patients did not disclose their CAM practices to their providers, according to one study. Secret-keeping could be downright dangerous. Lets use these four seemingly innocuous examples to illustrate why:

Being open with your doc--both before you start a complementary treatment and while youre on it--is key to helping it complement, rather than detract, from the conventional care youre receiving.

When you have cancer, you of course want a cure (as quickly and painlessly as possible, please). But that desire can leave you vulnerable to fake claims, especially in the alternative medicine space. Both the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regularly warn the public about fraudulent cancer treatments.

It can be hard to spot the signs of snake oil. Without a medical degree, how can you be wise to empty promises? Youll often see the same language used in cancer CAM scams, according to the FDA. These phrases should raise a red flag that a treatment is just too good to be true:

Heres how you can protect yourself while receiving evidence-based integrated care:

You might be wondering now: with all this talk of complementary and alternative medicine, what about food? And diet? And exercise? What role does it play in all this? Is there a cancer diet that could be a complementary treatment?

Turns out, theres a strong body of evidence that a healthy diet and regular physical activity are associated with a reduced risk of cancer. The scientific literature links nutrition to cancer prevention based on specific physiologic pathways, including reducing inflammation, regulating hormones, and preventing oxidative stress. Even after a cancer diagnosis, by making smart choices about what they put on their plate, patients can:

Food has power. To wield it, the American Institute for Cancer Research and American Cancer Society recommends you:

As for physical activity? While you should talk to your healthcare team about what kind and amount of exercise is safe during treatment, The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has issued guidelines for physical activity for cancer survivors, suggesting 150-300 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Exercise is a real magic pill, helping to:

As you can imagine, all of these benefits that come along with being active are particularly important when youre trying to put cancer behind you. Resistance training, in particular, has been proven to improve:

Exercise, like so many CAM options, can help you both feel stronger and respond to treatment better. Just as with other types of complementary treatments, youll want to talk to your doc about how to integrate it, so you can reap the maximum benefits both from your lifestyle changes and your conventional cancer treatment.

Researchers have found that a healthy diet is associated with a reduced risk of cancer. Even if you have cancer, it can help lessen the impact of side effects and improve your quality of life. Studies link nutrition to cancer prevention based on specific physiologic pathways, including reducing inflammation, regulating hormones, and preventing oxidative stress. All to say that food matters.

Heres the thing: there are therapies that can help you go into remission (the period when your signs and symptoms of cancer are reduced). And some healthcare professionals consider cancer cured if it hasnt returned after five years (also called complete remission). Treatments that achieve a complete remission/cure can include therapies that come from a natural source, like some forms of chemo, which are derived from plant alkaloids. But anyone promising a natural cure for cancer that doesnt have evidence to back up that claim is likely pedaling bunk.

As weve discussed, herbs can be excellent complementary treatment in oncology for things like nausea, but any claim of curing cancer should be tempered by evidence-based medicine results (meaning, proof to back up those claims).

The American Academy of Dermatology warns that black salve isnt as safe as you might think, stating that it has never been proven to work. An article on the AADs website cites reports of bad outcomes for people who tried to treat their cancer (including melanoma) using black salve. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against products that are touted as cures for cancer without evidence: The FDA urges consumers to steer clear of these potentially unsafe and unproven products and to always discuss cancer treatment options with their licensed health care provider.

Read more:
Alternative and Complementary Treatments for Cancer - HealthCentral.com

Your brain could be the road map to better health. CONTRIBUTED

Think of your brain as the road map to better health.

It can tell you exactly how to get to the root cause of nagging health issues then the best way to solve it.

Calgarys Neurvana Health uses that map to deliver results-oriented care to its patients and has since 2016. They dont want to just manage symptoms; they want to fix your health problems.

One of the co-founders and the groups medical director, Corey Deacon, who has degrees from the University of Alberta and University of Greenwich in Neuroscience and Biomedical Science, was on a mission to find answers to his own health issues.

At the time, he was a researcher, finishing up his bachelors degree.

I started getting some problems with memory and focus and attention. I started developing anxiety and it slowly worked into the point where I was getting panic attacks every day, said Deacon.

Doctors couldnt tell him why. They told him as a student he was dealing with a great deal of stress and anxiety, so here, take this pill, Deacon said.

Being a researcher, Ive been taught to figure out whats the answer, why is this happening? Deacon said.

Deacon considers himself more research based than anything else. Hes pulled together the best of different principles of medical care. Thats when he found brain mapping.

One of the most profound discoveries there are all these good doctors utilizing technology to basically figure out whats going on in somebodys brain, he said.

Once he plugged into the neurological aspect of disease, Deacon said it helped him further understand what was going on with patients health.

The brain is essentially talking to us all the time, he said, calling the brainwaves a language.

Weve just been learning how to decipher it.

Using a database of more than 5,000 brain maps, Deacon and his team can navigate a patients specific condition and deliver potential treatments.

Its called quantified electroencephalograph qEEG is easier. Its a non-invasive way to track body function based on the brains electrical activity.

It measures what MRI or CT scans cant necessarily see: Brain function.

Once a they pinpoint a potential problem, theyre able to employ a plan of action to get results.

You get an actual objective measure, said Deacon.

Deacon said they use an integrative approach to care. They provide patients with options, including naturopathic and homeopathic remedies, acupuncture, chiropractic and aromatherapy whatever achieves the ideal patient results.

Theres a place for traditional medicine, too.

The problem that Ive found is that weve taken traditional medicine and weve tried to put it into every single box, Deacon said.

And it doesnt fit in every box.

He said quite often they bring in traditional medicine when theyre working on primary conditions that take some time to deal with. Traditional medicine comes in to take the edge off, Deacon said.

Its not about ignoring conventional medicine because theres a place for it, Deacon said.

It just doesnt fix everything.

In the end, Deacon just wants to use all the tools at his disposal to find the cause and fix it. Not just manage the symptoms.

We know the body has an innate ability to heal, he said.

We just need to remove the barriers that are preventing it from getting that and give the body what it needs to heal. And it will.

If you have a nagging health issue and you want a different approach to find the root cause, visit the Neurvana Health website for more information.

Like Loading...

See original here:
Calgary's Neurvana Health maps your brain to deliver results-based wellness solutions - LiveWire Calgary

South Florida Integrative Medicine is Giving Back to Bring Balance to Community

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, South Florida Integrative Medicineis now offering anew, free therapy group for Front Line Medical Workers, led by therapistJoshua Joseph, LMHC. The purpose of this group is to provide a safe haven for healthcare professionals who treat and care for patients infected with the COVID-19 virus. Participants will process their experiences together and receive support in a safe, confidential environment.

I wanted to offer this therapy group to frontline health care workers because they are doing so much for our communities, and its important to pay it forward, said Joshua Joseph, MS, LMHC.

There have been many times during this time of quarantine when Ive felt powerless in the face of this pandemic; I hope participants in this therapy group will feel strengthened through processing their experiences together and that we will all feel empowered as we continue forward in our lives.

Doctors, nurses, technicians, emergency responders, and hospital administrative staff are invited to contact the South Florida Integrative Medicine office at 786-664-7810 orgroups@southfloridaintegrativemed.comto request a screening appointment for participation.

Please note that registrants will be required to provide valid employer identification.

Our practice has the professional expertise and capacity to offer this kind of support, so of course when Josh proposed to run this group we were full steam ahead to get out the word that we are here for others, said Reed Humphery, Director of Operations, South Florida Integrative Medicine

This private group will meet via video conferencing service for 90 minute sessions over six weeks, on Fridays. Participants may choose from two time slot options, 8:00 a.m. or 5:00 p.m. Space is limited to 6 to 8 participants per group and commitment to attend all six sessions is requested.

As are others in our community, we are strategizing on how to live and work safely at this time of pandemic, said Hugh Humphery, MD, Founder and Medical Director, South Florida Integrative Medicine. The COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing and our frontline colleagues in medicine continue to risk their health every day in order to care for others.

Connect To Your Customers & Grow Your Business

Excerpt from:
Free Therapy Offered to Frontline Healthcare Workers | Miami's Community News - Miami's Community Newspapers

Report Ocean recently published Nutrigenomics Market report which highlights the important factors that are expected to shape the growth of the Nutrigenomics Market over the forecast period. The current trends, market drivers, opportunities, and restraints are thoroughly evaluated to provide a clear understanding of the current market landscape of the Nutrigenomics Market. Technological innovation and advancement will further optimize the performance of the product, making it more widely used in downstream applications. Moreover, Porters Five Forces Analysis (potential entrants, suppliers, substitutes, buyers, industry competitors) provides crucial information for knowing the Nutrigenomics Market.

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak has led to both advantages and disadvantages for companies in the Nutrigenomics Market. With the help of our recently published report, market players can adopt innovative strategies to overcome the challenges that lie ahead of the COVID-19 lockdown period. Through our research study, companies can gain factual information about COVID-19 and how its impacting the sales of products in the global market landscape.

Request Free Sample Report athttps://reportocean.com/industry-verticals/sample-request?report_id=mai66474

The report covers exhaustive analysis on:

Market Segments

Market Dynamics

Market Size

Supply & Demand

Current Trends/Issues/Challenges

Competition & Companies involved

Technology

Value Chain

The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain in the Nutrigenomics Market. The report Nutrigenomics Market provide in-depth analysis of current market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on Nutrigenomics Market segments and geographies.

This Nutrigenomics Market report begins with a basic overview of the market. The analysis highlights the opportunity and Nutrigenomics Market trends that are impacted the market. Players around various regions and analysis of each industry dimensions are covered under this report. The analysis also contains a crucial Nutrigenomics Market insight regarding the things which are driving and affecting the earnings of the market.

The Report offers SWOT examination and venture return investigation, and other aspects such as the principle locale, economic situations with benefit, generation, request, limit, supply, and market development rate and figure.

Quantifiable data:

Market Data Breakdown by Key Geography, Type & Application / End-User

By type (past and forecast)

Nutrigenomics Market: Specific Applications Sales and Growth Rates (Historical & Forecast)

Nutrigenomics Market revenue and growth rate by the market (history and forecast)

Nutrigenomics Market size and growth rate, application and type (past and forecast)

Competitive Landscape:Key players in the global Nutrigenomics market covered in Chapter 4:DSM N.V.XCODE Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd.Nutrigenomics New ZealandBASF SENutrigenomixMetagenics, IncDNALIFEGenomix Nutrition, Inc.Cura Integrative MedicineNutraGeneWellGen Inc.DanoneGX Sciences

Nutrigenomics Market competitive landscape provides details and data information by Major Players. Details included are company description, major business, company total revenue and the sales, revenue generated in Nutrigenomics Market business, the date to enter into the Nutrigenomics Market, product introduction, recent developments, etc.

Market Segmentation:

The segmentation is used to decide the target market into smaller sections or segments like product type, application, and geographical regions to optimize marketing strategies, advertising technique and global as well as regional sales efforts of Nutrigenomics Market.

Geographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, covering North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, Middle East and Africa and Central and South America.

Study objectives of Nutrigenomics Market Report:

To provide economic factors, technology trends, and market trends that influence the global Nutrigenomics Market growth

To provide historical, current, and forecast revenue of market segments and sub-segments with respect to regional markets and key countries

To provide historical, current, and forecast revenue of market segments based on material, type, design, and end-user

To provide a detailed analysis of the market structure along with the forecast of various segments and sub-segments of the global Nutrigenomics Market

To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their market shares, core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market

Inquire or Share Your Questions If Any before Purchasing This Report:https://reportocean.com/industry-verticals/sample-request?report_id=mai66474

Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe, and Asia.

Contact Us: +1 888 212 3539 (US) +91-9997112116 (Outside US)Contact Person: Matthew SEmail:[emailprotected]

Originally posted here:
Comprehensive Report on Nutrigenomics Market by global COVID-19 impact analysis, industry trends, business strategies, opportunities and forecast to...