Category Archives: Preventative Medicine

College students are heading back to campus for the first time since the monkeypox outbreak gained traction in the United States, and many health experts say their schools need to develop plans for handling potential cases.

Several schools, including West Chester and Bucknell universities in Pennsylvania, experienced cases earlier this summer. More monkeypox infectionsare a possibility given that college students commonly engage in many activities that involve skin-to-skin contact, including sex, dancing and contact sports, experts say.

Schools need to prepare strategies similar to those they implemented in response to COVID-19, experts say. That includes testing, contact tracing and clear communication on preventive measures and how students should respond if they become symptomatic.

Dr. Brett C. Gilbert, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Preventative Medicine at Main Line Health, said it's possible that monkeypox could spread on college campuses this fall.

"The prevalence and severity are unknown at this time," he cautioned. "There should be appropriate infection control policies put in place at college infirmaries."

Dr. Martin Topiel, chief of infectious disease prevention at Virtua Health, said he doesn't think monkeypox will be a major problem on college campuses, but he said people who are sexually active need to take precautions.

Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease, but it primarily spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, including during sex, hugging and kissing. It also can spread through contact with an infected person's bedding and other fabrics.

People should alert their sexual partners about any lesions or rashes they may have and avoid intimate contact with anyone who has them, Topiel said. And though this monkeypox outbreak has mostly spread among men who have sex with men, transmission is possible among anyone.

Though monkeypox also can spread through respiratory secretions, that's not viewed as a common source of transmission unlike more airborne-dependent illnesses, like COVID-19.

"While there is some concern about respiratory secretions, it appears it takes a long duration about 3 hours or more for someone to be infected," Topiel said.

Colleges need to focus on public health awareness, Topiel said. That includes educating students about how to protect themselves from infection and promoting vaccination for people considered at high risk.

Philadelphia health officials "expect there to be some level of spread to colleges and universities," said Matthew Rankin, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Health.Through Monday,Phillyhad recorded 257 monkeypox cases since the outbreak began.

"Currently, the monkeypox virus seems to have been limited to specific social networks," Rankin said. "At this time, we have not seen advancement of spread to the city at large. However, we do expect to see spread outside of these communities and possibly into colleges and universities," Rankin said.

Rankin said college students should take the same precautions as everyday residents:

"We know that this particular virus spreads in a couple specific ways," Rankin said. "It is important to know this disease does not spread through casual contact. It is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact or prolonged face-to-face interaction."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not released any specific monkeypox guidelines for college campuses. However, it has issued recommendations for congregate settings. They include:

The American College Health Associationreportedlyis working on drafting best practices for preventing and containing monkeypox infections on college campuses. Many schools in the Philadelphia region have begun preparing for potential cases, including the possibility that infected students will need to isolate.

West Chester University is finalizing its monkeypox protocols for the fall semester with the help of the Chester County Health Department and the CDC, spokesperson Nancy Santos Gainer said.

The university's student health services has monkeypox test kits on hand and is prepared to answer students' questions and provide testing, if needed, Gainer said. Comprehensive educational information, including FAQs, will be included on its website. The Chester County Health Department also will be conducting collaborative training with student health services and different on-campus groups.

"When the vaccine becomes available for the university to access, there has been talk with the Chester County Health Department about the university's willingness to provide the vaccine on a voluntary basis," Gainer added. "The university is committed to following the guidance of the Chester County Health Department and the CDC, and have students self-isolate should they contract monkeypox."

Temple University is focused on educating students, testing people with symptoms and helping high-risk people get vaccinated.Thomas Trojian, assistant clinical director at Temple's Student Health Services, emphasized that monkeypox can be spread as soon as a person develops a fever, feels unwell or has a rash or lesions. Infected people can continue to spread monkeypox until the lesions have scabbed over, fallen off and new skin has grown back.

The University of Pennsylvania is working with health agencies to "continually assess" the risk monkeypox poses to the university community and access to vaccines and treatments, spokesperson Mary Kate Coghlan said. "Risk on campus remains extremely low," Coghlan added.

AtLa Salle University, Assistant Vice President of Student Wellness Scott Cook sent out a message linking to campus resources and preventative information.

Holy Family University is "preparing an education and awareness campaign to ensure that students and the broader community are armed with the information they need to prepare, prevent, and stay safe," spokesperson Sherrie A. Madia said.

The U.S. declared monkeypox a public health emergency earlier this month. As of Tuesday, there were 15,433 confirmed cases in U.S., including 422 in Pennsylvania and 420 in New Jersey, according to theCDC.

In previous monkeypox outbreaks, the spread of the virus was very limited. Scientists are trying to determine why it has spread more broadly during this outbreak. They believe the virus hasn't changed, nor has the way it moves from host to host.

In West and Central Africa, where the virus has been endemic for decades, a single case or small cluster occasionally occur, primarily among hunters and people who handle or are bitten by infected animals. But it rarely spread widely within communities. In this outbreak, scientists believe the social networks the virus has found may be helping it spread more widely.

The good news, infectious disease experts say, is that monkeypox is not good at infecting humans, so it requires high amounts of the virus for a person to become infected. The three most common ways to contract the virus are direct skin-to-skin contact with a lesion, touching contaminated objects and close contact with respiratory secretions, like saliva from a person with lesions in the mouth or throat.

It remains unclear whether urine, feces, blood, semen or vaginal fluids can spread the virus and whether asymptomatic people can still infect others. It is also not clear how big a role inhaled respiratory particles may be playing in the latest outbreak.

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Colleges need to prepare for monkeypox to spread among students, infectious disease experts say - PhillyVoice.com

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Aug. 25, 2022 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) The Black Hollywood Education Resource Center is proud to welcome an incredible lineup of Films, Filmmakers and Healthcare Professionals to the stage of speakers for our 28th Annual Film Festival and First Annual Health Conference: SUPLLEMENTALLY: Mastering Mental and Brain Health After the Pandemic Across the Globe: Recovery, Healing, Hope, Reimage, taking place August 27, 2022, Cinemark 18 & XD, 6081 Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA., 90045 and virtually.

Image Caption: Event poster, 28th Annual Film Festival and First Annual Health Conference.

Just-announced special experts:

historical, intergenerational, interpersonal and community trauma. She also hosts the

podcast Healing is the Revolution in which her guests share and explore their healing journey through their traumas.

During the Black Hollywood Education Resource Centers Annual film festival, we will bring together a distinguished group of mental health experts, affiliates, peers, providers, government officials, media, and key stakeholders to talk about what it means to recover mentally from the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to see the increasing number of people experiencing anxiety, depression, psychosis, loneliness, suicide, mass shootings and other mental health concerns these past two years, in addition to the largest number of opioid deaths in our history.

The historical landscape and experience of mental health among the African American Community has and remains to be characterized by current and unresolved trauma and violence. To address the impact of mental and brain health in diverse and marginalized communities across the globe, the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center will also present its first Health Matters Film Block, featuring films focused on mental health.

This years films will help us reimage therapeutic treatments and models of mental health care and to determine ways that we can adequately address the complex challenges of mental illness in marginalized communities, which accounts for approximately one-third of mental illness globally, stated Dr. Shirley Evers-Manly, Dean and Professor, Alcorn State University, who will moderate the session.

During the festival and beyond, participants will discuss alternative ways to heal from trauma and explore the intersecting equity issues that exist. These events unequally affect many African Americans, communities of color and marginalized communities the most, placing them more at risk of a mental health crisis.

These circumstances call for radical change in the paradigm and practices of mental health care, including improving standards of clinician training, and revisioning current models of mental health care delivery. Upon completion of this conference, participants will enhance their knowledge of evidence-based practices to improve the behavioral and clinical skills of nurses, social workers, and other health care professionals who care for persons and families of all ages and cultural / socioeconomic status living with mental illness across the globe through the lens of film and the sound of music.

REGISTRATION AND TICKETS

Event registration is available online at https://bherc.org/bherc-health-matters/

In Person Registration

$50.00- General Admission (4 CEU Credits & Breakfast) | $20.00- Student / Senior(Breakfast)

Live Virtual Attendance

$30.00- General Admission (4 CEU Credits) | $25.00- General Admission | $20.00- Student/Senior

Virtual Attendance

$30.00- General Admission (4 CEU Credits) | $25.00- General Admission | $20.00- Student/Senior

About Black Hollywood Education & Resource Center

Founded in 1996, by Sandra Evers-Manly, BHERC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public benefit organization designed to advocate, educate, research, develop, and preserve the history and future of African Americans in film and television. BHERC programs include film festivals, mentoring, book signings, script readings, film and animation contests, scholarships, and other programs and special events. BHERC recognizes the contributions of African American men and women in front of and behind the scenes in the entertainment industry.

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SPEAKER BIOS

:: Shirley Evers-Manly, PhD, RN, FAAN is the founder and President of All Health Care, Imanis in Oakland, California and Interim Dean Alcorn State University School of Nursing, in Natchez, Mississippi.

She earned a PhD from the University of California, San Francisco, Bachelor of Science Nursing degree and a Master of Science Nursing degree from Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, California. Dr. Shirley Evers-Manly, has more than 35 years of experience developing and implementing clinical, academic, and community-based health promotion and prevention programs; as well as working with vulnerable populations and speaking about diversity locally and abroad. She served as the Principal Investigator for the Aim 2 Care Multiple Chronic Conditions training grant, Bridges to the Doctorate and Song Brown Student Success grants.

She has won numerous prestigious awards for her accomplishments and contributions to improve clinical practices, inpatient and community health outcomes, and academia success and was awarded Congressional Recognition for Outstanding Community Service by the California State Senate and United States Congress. In 2014, she was given the prestigious honor of induction into the Inaugural Leadership Hall of Fame, Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing, Alpha Eta Chapter (UCSF).

:: Dr. Evers-Manly is an internationally recognized expert in oncology and health disparities throughout the life span. She has made significant contributions in advocating to eliminate health disparities and inequities throughout the world. She gives voice to those who feel they have no voice.

Dr. Evers-Manlys understanding of underserved populations brings a humanistic approach to strategic, safe, high quality and cost-effective healthcareshe has leadership assets and skills from which the health care arena will benefit.

For her significant contributions in the areas of service, scholarship, community, and leadership, she was inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, which was established to serve the general public and nursing profession by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis and dissemination of nursing knowledge. Dr. Evers-Manly is on faculty at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing, is a former Regional Chair for Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor society where 26 nursing honor society chapters reported to her. Currently she serves as member of the National Black Nurses Association and is the Chair of the Associations Ad hoc Committee on the Global Health.

:: Dr. Denese Shervington has an intersectional career in public health and academic psychiatry. She is the Chair of Psychiatry and Professor at Charles R. Drew University. Dr. Shervington has held Clinical Professorships in the Departments of Psychiatry at Columbia University and Tulane University. A graduate of New York University School of Medicine, she also received a Masters of Public Health in Population Studies and Family Planning from Tulane University School of Public Health. She completed her residency in Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco and is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. A Fellow of the American Psychiatry Association (APA) she is a recipient of the APAs Award for Excellence in Service and Advocacy; prior to which she received the Jeanne Spurlock Minority award. Dr. Shervington is also a member of the American College of Psychiatrists and serves on the Psychiatry Resident-In-Training Commission. Dr. Shervington has testified before the United States Congress on Childhood Trauma and co-chaired the New Orleans City Council Taskforce on Childhood Trauma. She is a member of the Scientific Board of the Centre for Society and Mental Health at Kings College, London. Dr. Shervington has authored several papers in peer-reviewed journals addressing health disparities, the social determinants of health and resilience in underserved communities.

Dr. Shervington is the author of Healing Is the Revolution, a guide to healing from historical, intergenerational, interpersonal and community trauma. She also hosts the podcast Healing is the Revolution in which her guests share and explore their healing journey through their traumas. She is the proud parent of two amazing children Iman and Kaleb, and three grandchildren Ayelet, Haddassah, and Yoav.

:: Dr. Clyde E. Glenn is a native of Cleveland, MS. He graduated from Alcorn State University and completed his medical school education at The University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1990. He completed residency training in Psychiatry at The Ohio State University in 1994 and is Board Certified in Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Glenn is the founder and proprietor of Rehoboth Psychiatric Services in Ridgeland, MS. He has over 30 years of experience of psychiatric practice in both outpatient and inpatient settings and treats children and adults across the spectrum of psychiatric disorders. He is president of the Essie B. and William Earl Glenn Family Foundation and the ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Awareness Foundation of Mississippi.

:: Dr. Stephanie A. Patterson, JD, DNP, MBA, MPA, MSN, RN-BC, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC, PHN, is a Lifetime Member of the Council of Black Nurses-Los Angeles, a chapter of the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA), Inc. She is a practicing healthcare provider in California and a nurse scholar with a passion for providing high-quality, appropriate, patient-centered psychiatric care to clients who are from traditionally underserved and/or historically marginalized communities.

As a nurse leader, Dr. Patterson serves on the NBNA Ad Hoc Collaborative Committee on Mentorship, a program aimed at helping NBNA nurses/student nurses at various levels of their development. She enjoys mentoring nursing students through the NBNA Collaborative Mentorship Program, for the purpose of increasing the number of BIPOC nurses in the workforce.

Her long history of academic achievements, community-based accomplishments, as well as a demonstrated history of excellence in the clinical setting while improving client outcomes, makes her stand out. A highlight of some of the awards Dr. Patterson has received in the recent past include the 2022 Nurse Practitioner of the Year Award (San Francisco Bay Area), 2017 Millennial Nurse of the Year Award, 2016 NBNA Under 40 Award, and the 2015 NBNA Student Nurse of the Year Award. She also served as a Student Board Representative while enrolled in nursing school.

:: Tia Delaney, MSN-Ed, RN, CCM Born in Boston, MA, Tia currently holds a masters degree in nursing with an emphasis in education and

is a certified clinical case manager. As a registered nurse, with over 28 years in the healthcare industry, and having previous roles within those organizations as Director of Patient Care Services, Chief Operating Officer, and Administrator, Tia has overseen the various facets required to deliver quality and competent clinical care to thousands of home health, palliative, hospice, and hospital-based clients. With a focus on the baby-boom and geriatric population, she understands the current healthcare plight America is facing and remains a passionate and dedicated advocate for the enhancement of healthcare services to the frail, vulnerable, and elderly members within the community.

Her direct observation of the healthcare inequities, social determinants of health, and lack of clinician diversity within the Los Angeles population that she served, has led her to collaborate with various organizations to design policies, procedures, regulations, and resources, to improve the health-related outcomes of the marginalized and underserved. Innovation, leadership, and initiative are just a few of the qualities that define her work-ethic.

As Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Alzheimers Association, her goals are to cultivate relationships with diverse communities which includes sharing time, talent, resources, and exchanging ideas to ensure neutrally fair access to opportunities, resources, and fiscal support. Additionally, she oversees the organizations mission of creating and maintaining a culture of inclusivity to its diverse constituents and ensure interests and needs are welcomed and fully considered within its multiple communication platforms, mission activities, and business practices. As a commitment to paying it forward, Tia is a clinical instructor teaching both theory and clinical skills to our nations future nurses. Additionally, she volunteers her time providing community-based health & wellness seminars which focus on providing education and resources to empower others in areas such as chronic disease management, preventative care, and holistic-health awareness.

:: Dr. Pedro E. Morante DNP, LNC, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC, NP-C, GERO-BC, MEDSURG-BC, PMH-BC, is a mental health advocate and a dual board certified as Family and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Brain Health USA and Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing. He holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice with subspecialty of PMHNP from Brandman University. He graduated from Charles R. Drew University with his MSN focusing on Family Nurse Practitioner track. He is also a dual board certified through AANP and American Nurses Credentialing Center as a FNP as well as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) through ANCC.

Dr. Morante has cared for adolescent and adult patients in a variety of settings, including in-patient hospitals, community group homes, and out-patient practices. He has dedicated much of her nursing career to working with individuals with geriatric and psychiatry across lifespan.

Dr. Morantespecializes in behavioral health and treating adults with i complex medical and behavioral conditions. In addition, he is the CEO of Morante and Associates Training Center. As both a clinical practitioner and professor, he has gained extensive experience delivering telehealth services to patients and educating nurse practitioners on using telehealth to improve access to care.

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Caption: Event poster.

News Source: Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center

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BHERC Presents Its First Health Matters Film Screening and Panel Focused on Mental Health During The 28th Annual African American Film Marketplace and...

This remarkable compound is racking up an impressive list of research-backed therapeutic credentials

Quercetin has a wide range of benefits, which has made it useful for a variety of different health conditions. In the past two years, the antiviral benefits of quercetin have been the focus of many studies. However, there are other, lesser-known benefits, including the effects as a senolytic agent against senescence-mediated cancer growth.

Cells become senescent as we age. They stop dividing and enter a kind of stasis. Instead of dying off as cells normally do, senescent cells persist but change shape and size and secrete inflammatory molecules that cause other nearby cells to become senescent. This process is one of the hallmarks of human aging and senolytic agents used to induce the death of senescent cells.

Quercetin is perhaps most well-known as a strong antioxidant and antiviral. For example, Elderflower extract, which is rich in quercetin, is a traditional tonic used to boost immunity. In supplement form, quercetin has been used to prevent and treat the common cold and influenza.

According to Mount Sinai, quercetin should be used with caution as it may interact with certain antibiotics by reducing the effectiveness of the drug. It may also enhance the effect of some blood thinners, which can increase your risk of bleeding. In addition to these, it may interact with corticosteroids, digoxin, cyclosporine, and fluoroquinolones.

A paper published in August 2022 in Nutrition Research analyzed the pro-apoptotic effect that quercetin has on aging cells. Apoptosis is the normal, healthy way cells are supposed to die. The paper reviewed preclinical and early phase data using quercetin as a senolytic agent and found the data showed it was effective in preventing or alleviating cancer formation.

The authors reviewed the importance of cellular aging in the development of cancer cells and the effect that quercetin may have on the suppression of cancer cell proliferation. Research has found that cellular aging can suppress tumor development, but paradoxically can also enhance cancer development.

Cellular senescence is a dynamic and multi-step process that is associated with alterations in metabolic activity and gene expression. This can compromise tissue regeneration and contribute to aging. On the other hand, by removing senescent cells, age-related dysfunction can be attenuated and potentially extend the lifespan.

One mini review published in Cancer Letters in 2008 looked at previous research and found that animal studies had demonstrated quercetin could prevent chemically induced cancer growth and epidemiological studies found it was associated with preventing lung cancer. One study focused on the effect that physiologically attainable doses of quercetin had on the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. The researchers believed their study demonstrated quercetin had chemopreventive properties.

Lab studies have also demonstrated that quercetin is a strong antioxidant and has pro-apoptotic effects on tumor cells, with the ability to block growth at different phases of the cell cycle. Research has also demonstrated that quercetin can promote the loss of cell viability and autophagy through several pathways, including those involving mitochondrial function and glucose metabolism.

Data indicate that quercetin could play a role in cancer treatment as it reportedly has synergistic effects in combination with chemotherapy agents or radiation therapy. Quercetin also has shown promising results with chemoprotective and radioprotective properties, by protecting normal cells against the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

One paper identified some of the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiproliferative properties quercetin has that enhances breast cancer treatment, while another18 evaluated its effect on the treatment of ovarian cancer, which is a serious cancer growth and threat to womens health.

The strength of the antioxidant properties of quercetin is likely one factor in the ability to improve mood-related behaviors in animal studies in which the subjects underwent sleep deprivation. A study published in 2022 used a sleep deprivation model using 30 male albino mice. The mice were split into five groups.

The intervention groups received either astaxanthin or one of two doses of quercetin. Their activities were monitored, and brain samples were later collected. Researchers found that during persistent wakefulness, the animals experienced anxiety and depression-like behavior. In the sleep-deprived group, brain samples showed increased prooxidant activity. Prooxidants induce oxidative stress.

In the group pretreated with quercetin, these behaviors were reversed. The researchers found that quercetin could reduce anxiety caused by sleep deprivation in the animals. The structure of this study was similar to another published in 2021, in which the researchers split the animals into five groups that received the same intervention and sleep deprivation just described.

The researchers hypothesized, and the data showed, that quercetin ameliorated the effects of sleep deprivation on memory performance, depression-like behavior, and against the loss of prefrontal cortex neurons. Researchers have been interested in how the powerful antioxidant effects of quercetin might mitigate the damage and impairment commonly found following sleep disruption.

In one study published in 2016, the researchers hypothesized that quercetin could reduce the manic-like behavior induced by 24 hours of paradoxical sleep deprivation in mice. Paradoxical sleep is another name given to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the deprivation of which has led to chronic conditions such as obesity and stress disorders in people.

In the animal study, the researchers found that quercetin blocked hyperactivity that was induced by sleep deprivation. In another study, researchers hypothesized that the deficits in the hippocampal area associated with sleep deprivation could be ameliorated with a preparation of grape seed polyphenol extract, concord grape juice, and resveratrol.

They found the preparation improved sleep deprivation-induced memory deficits and quercetin, found in grape seed extract and grape juice, was an important factor in attenuating cognitive impairment caused by acute sleep deprivation.

Quercetin has been studied for its antiviral effect and has proven to inhibit the early stages of a flu infection. It is also a promising agent against the Epstein-Barr virus, Zika virus, Hepatitis B, and rhinovirus, the virus most often responsible for the common cold.

It was only logical then, as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, that researchers would investigate the efficacy of quercetin against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In the early months of the declared pandemic, a review was published that found the administration of bromelain, quercetin, vitamin C, and zinc showed promising results in improving clinical outcomes among COVID-19 patients.

In this paper, the researchers identified the antioxidants ability to inhibit proinflammatory cytokines and to clinically block human mast cell cytokine release as an important property in the fight against severe COVID-19 disease, which is associated with increased levels of cytokine production. They also identified the independent actions that bromelain has in activating a healthy immune system.

However, bromelain and vitamin C play another role in the administration of quercetin. Because quercetin generally isnt soluble in water, it can be poorly absorbed. When administered with bromelain or vitamin C, it increases the absorption and bioavailability of the antioxidant.

Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme found in the stem of the pineapple plant. Independently, it has been used as a supplement to help reduce swelling after surgery or injury, or in the nose and sinuses. Its also applied topically to help treat burns.

The combination of quercetin with bromelain or vitamin C has also been a part of several successful protocols used to treat COVID-19. Quercetin is a zinc ionophore, which helps improve the cells ability to absorb zinc where it is effective as an antiviral.

Dr. Vladimir Zelenko was among the first physicians to discover and implement a treatment that has been credited with saving millions of lives around the world. His early protocol used hydroxychloroquine, another zinc ionophore. However, as research data showed that quercetin was as effective as hydroxychloroquine, his early treatment options for low-risk patients included quercetin with vitamin C and zinc.

Sadly, Zelenko died on June 30, at the age of 48 after a long battle with cancer. While treating patients, he oversaw the treatment of roughly 7,500 people using his protocol, during which time only three patients died.

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory health benefits of quercetin likely contribute to the other lesser-known benefits of this supplement. The anti-inflammatory effects of quercetin are crucial since inflammation is at the root of many diseases, including autoimmune disorders, heart disease, and cancer.

One review of the literature found quercetin is a strong anti-inflammatory weapon that may be used in the fight against inflammatory diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Another revealed that supplementation could reduce systolic blood pressure, and a third animal study demonstrated that supplementation with quercetin and exercise could reduce atherosclerotic plaque formation.

Quercetin has also shown promise in relieving the symptoms of allergies. It works by inhibiting histamine release and decreasing proinflammatory cytokine production and leukotrienes creation. The combination of quercetin and bromelain or vitamin C has also been promoted to help improve athletic performance based on the antioxidant potential of both flavonoids.

Quercetin has also been studied for the positive health benefits it has on:

Considering the wide-ranging benefits that quercetin has on human health, it could be a useful supplement for many, whether its used to treat an acute or chronic condition or as a long-term preventative measure. Its one of the supplements I recommend keeping in your medicine chest for times when you may be feeling as if youre getting an upper respiratory infection. If youre prone to colds and flu, consider taking it for a couple of months before the cold and flu season hits to support your immune system.

If you feel as if you have a cold or flu, consider using quercetin with bromelain or vitamin C in addition to zinc. Over-the-counter zinc lozenges make it easy to consume zinc for the short time its needed when youre feeling ill. Be sure to eat before taking zinc as it can make you nauseous.

On a long-term basis, quercetin has been useful for those with metabolic syndrome. However, it is much better to address fundamental issues to deal with metabolic syndrome, such as fixing a poor diet or getting enough exercise, and use a supplement only as an adjunctive therapy. If you have one or more conditions that make up metabolic syndrome, you would be wise to limit your total sugar intake to 15 grams per day.

For comparison, the American Heart Association61 reports that the average adult consumes 77 grams of sugar each day, which is more than three times the recommended amount for women. The number for children is even worse, with the average American child consuming 81 grams of sugar per day. Sugar-laden beverages are the leading source of added sugars in the diet.

Quercetin can function in several pathways to help reduce your risk of cancer. In addition to reducing the inflammatory response in your body and thus your risk of obesity and obesity-related cancer, it also promotes apoptosis at the cellular level to prevent cancer. When combined with exercise and reduced sugar consumption, you are making strong steps toward taking control of your health.

Sources and References

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The Antitumor Effects of Quercetin - The Epoch Times

Babies are being put at unnecessary risk of death and disability because the Governments recommended dose of folic acid for pregnant women is far too low, a leading scientist is warning.

The current daily intake needs to be 10 times higher than the 0.4mg currently advised in a change that would save hundreds of UK lives a year, according to Professor Nicholas Wald, an expert in preventative medicine.

Taking 4 milligrams of folic acid supplements a day would have a significant effect in preventing serious birth defects and associated stillbirths, neonatal deaths, miscarriages, elective terminations of pregnancies and the physical disability from spina bifida, Professor Wald said.

This amount of folic acid, taken from before conception to the 12th week of pregnancy, reduces by 83 per cent the risk of the foetus developing neural tube birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord that can also cause anencephaly, in which a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull and encephalocele, another very serious skull defect; Professor Wald says in a new paper in The Journal of Medical Screening.

About 1,000 foetuses a year in the UK and 300,000 worldwide develop neural defects, with most women in Britain choosing to have a therapeutic abortion when they are identified through anti-natal screening. The defects are usually caused by a deficiency in folate, the natural form of vitamin B9.

Professor Wald said it was unlikely any women would already have high enough levels of folic acid and not need supplements since the blood levels of folate are really relatively low by any standards this is a vitamin deficiency disorder that is endemic throughout the world, including rich countries.

Dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, romaine lettuce and broccoli, whole grains and beans are among the foods that are rich in folic acid. But the academic says eating them wont be enough to compensate.

To get the levels that will provide the maximal possible protection is extremely difficult to do just by changing diet and changing diet is pretty difficult, Professor Wald said.

At the moment, the biggest dose folic acid pill that is generally available is 0.8mg, which can be found in health food stores so taking five of these a day would be ideal, he said.

But even two or three a day would still be extremely worthwhile and provide most of the benefit, the expert advises.

A bit less will accomplish most of the protective effect, Professor Wald said. You get most from the first 0.8mgs. So you should certainly use at least one 0.8mg pill and if you want added effect you could take two, three or four additional ones.

He also recommends that women start taking the supplement before they know theyre pregnant.

If you wait till you know you are pregnant before you start taking folic acid there is probably no benefit because the neural tube develops in the first few weeks of pregnancy, he said.

Professor Wald led the landmark Medical Research Council Vitamin Study, that in 1991 definitively established folate deficiency as a cause of neural tube defects.

He dismisses as outdated, concerns in some circles including among some government advisers that larger doses of folic acid might mask signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy, which can lead to problems such as premature births.

The concerns about folic acid masking stem from the fact that folate or Vitamin B9 deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency both cause macrocytic anaemia, a blood disorder that happens when your bone marrow produces abnormally large red blood cells.

Folic acid can, in large enough doses, correct the anaemia of vitamin B12 deficiency without mending the neurological damage that it can also cause.

This effect of folic acid has been referred to as masking vitamin B12 deficiency. But Professor Wald says the term is misleading because there is no evidence that a folic acid could lead to delayed or missed diagnosis.

He says that anaemia is not needed to diagnose the problem. Separate tests for measuring folic acid levels in blood and vitamin B12 have been available for decades.

However, the Government does not share that view.

A government consultation on the proposed fortification, in September 2021, noted concerns that consistent high intakes of folic acid from supplements could potentially increase the risk of masking (hiding or disguising) vitamin B12 deficiency in people with a condition known as pernicious anaemia.

And it indicated there were concerns about a daily folic intake exceeding 1mg just a quarter of Professor Walds recommendation.

Professor Wald also says there is no evidence to support concerns that a higher dose of folic acid could be neurotoxic.

Experts not involved in Professor Walds study are backing his recommendation.

I would strongly advise all women who might get pregnant in the near future to take 4mg/day of regular Folic acid 4mg/day, said Dr Miles Mack, chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland and a GP in the Highlands town of Dingwall.

Dr Jonathan Sher, a senior fellow of the Queens Nursing Institute Scotland, said 4mg a day was safe and effective in preventing approximately 80 per cent of neural tube defects.

Lord Rooker, a former chairman of the Food Standards Agency and Minister of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under Tony Blair, said: Four mg per day appears sensible.

In the longer term Professor Wald and others want to see folic acid added to flour and grains in quantities that would mean most pregnant women would automatically be well protected against neural tube defects without having to resort to supplements.

The Government is proposing to fortify non-wholemeal wheat flour or typical white bread with folic acid. But it would be in amounts which Professor Wald says are woefully inadequate, because the Government regards 1mg a day to be its upper limit because of concerns about masking, with flour concentrations to be determined accordingly.

The UK governments proposed folic acid fortification policy is seriously inadequate, not evidence-based and certain to fall well short of full effectiveness, Professor Wald and Professor Joan Morris, of Queen Mary College of London, argue in an opinion piece published yesterday in the British Medical Journal publication Archives of Disease in Childhood.

The exclusion of potential mothers with a diet that is not covered by the fortification policy is socially divisive and should not be acceptable. All flour and grains, such as rice, should be fortified at a sufficient level to achieve fully effective fortification across the whole population. It is not too late to do the right thing, they said, pointing out that the proposed fortification would only reduce the risk of neural tube defects by 8 to 12 per cent compared to more than 80 per cent at higher levels.

Of the Governments proposals to introduce folic acid fortification in white bread, guided by the notion of a 1mg ceiling, Dr Sher said: I see no wisdom in the UK government choosing to do too little for too few women and children when doing it properly is easily achieved.

Dr Mack said: I am extremely glad that the issue of folic acid fortification is finally being looked at but I am extremely concerned that the opportunity to maximise the benefit to the entire population will be missed if the level of fortification is set too low. The next generation deserve better from policy makers.

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Why 4mg of folic acid will dramatically reduce the risk of birth defects during pregnancy - iNews

Preventive health care is not a magic bullet that is the responsibility of the Health Ministry alone. The paradigm shift from a sick to a sick free society needs all stakeholders to be persuasive advocates to elevate Malaysias status to a healthy nation.

For decades, health care support was aboutcuring an ailing society and not about effectively keeping people out of hospitals. This is the right time for health care reform to fix what is broken and build on what works.

The health of a nation is measured through three key components mental and physical health, health infrastructure and the availability of preventative care.

The management costs of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes exceeds RM9.65 billion yearly. Some of these disease can be prevented with successful intervention in early detection, as well as with investments in prevention and wellness programmes.

The institutionalisation in health care reform is an ongoing process, where programmes and policies become an ongoing routine. It will only become sustainable with the coordination and cooperation of all stakeholders, and with integration prevention modules in long term policies.

The White Paper on Health will be an exercise for our own existential reform with a fundamental shift from a curative model to a preventive one. We will focus on public health surveillance, policy development, research, regulation, monitoring, and evaluation, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin at the recent Health Policy Summit 2022.

Better integration between the public and private health care sectors would reduce pressure on public facilities to seamlessly endorse prevention whether in the public, private, or non-profit sector.

It is indeed going to be a long road when you consider that even hospitals have fast food outlets as cheaper and easier options, indicating what fuels a ballooning epidemic of obesity, diabetes, andvarious other health issues.

According to the National Health andMorbidity Survey (2019), one in two Malaysian adults are overweight or obese, three in 10 adults have hypertension, while in four in 10 adults have elevated cholesterol levels.

In 2020. the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that coronary heart deaths in Malaysia reached 36,729 or 21.86 per cent of total deaths. Heart diseases kill about 17.9 million people in the world annually, and Malaysia ranks 61st.

For starters, food quality regulators, advertisers, and schools should be mindful of the pervasive marketing schemesof school sport events that are sponsored by companies that manufacture junk food, fizzy drinks, and sweets.

Exercise as a medicine or as therapy has been prescribed both in mental and chronic diseases.

Town planners should designate parks for children within every housing estate. The present trend of cutting down trees to approve high rise condominiums should be monitored.

In place,thereought be well-designed and equipped playgrounds, football fields, and safe cycling lanes. Such facilities should be attractive enough to draw children away from their smartphones.

Schools should delegate more hours for sports and physical activities to diffuse the stressful environment of examinations and grades.

Essentially, it will be the efforts of the Ministries of Sports, Education, and Housing and Development, and the institutionalisation of all agencies to push the prevention agenda.

For workers, there should be schemes to appraise the health risk through the Employment Provident Fund, social security, and the Employment Insurance System.

Getting an annual health check-up is the most reliable test of our health.

The Health Ministry will screen about 1.5 million people who had never undergone health screening, including tests for colorectal cancer and breast cancer at public and private clinics, said Khairy.

The National Health Service in the United Kingdom offers free testing once every five years for the 40 to 74 age group without a pre-existing condition, and a discussion with a health care professional. Health risk assessments can help people get care they need before problems escalate.

A hallmark of Malaysias health care system should be subsidised and affordable check-ups for preventable ailments for the poor.No one should be denied a medical test or examination that can prevent or detect disease at an early stage.

As it is, our limited national expenditure on health infrastructure means that many cannot receive intensive care in public hospitals, unless they can afford exorbitant private hospital fees.

This will also have a tremendous impact on congested hospital services to be freed up to focus oncomplex curative cases.

It is more effective to have a preventive model than injecting money to maintain curing the sick. The curative model is becoming increasingly expensive for the majority of the population. It is not financially viable, and is never-ending.

I want to increase the annual budgetary allocation for public health care to 5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) over the next few years. And that increase must be ring-fenced in every subsequent budget, Khairy affirmed.

However, health care allocation as a percentage of GDP has not moved much over the last decade. In 2011, the health care allocation, which comprised both development and operating expenditures, worked out to 2.4 per cent of GDP.

By 2022, health care made up only 2.59 per cent of GDP.

The White Paper on Healthcare Reform will be tabled in November, covering wide-ranging proposed changes to health care financing, among other issues, spanning a 15-year period. It is recommended that a Health Reform Commission supervises the reform.

The government is considering gradually increasing the health care budget up to targeted levels over a number of years while working out funding structures to make the system more sustainable and progressive., said Khairy.

Khairy advocated using science, data, and technology to identify and intervene proactively and help people sustain their health and wellbeing.

Part of this work requires the sharing of patient records across facilities and providers, and initiatives to pilot and scale up electronic medical records will be critical, he explained.

Finally, it is about the people. We cannot reimagine a world of good health unless we play a major role in the prevention process.

As consumers, it is important for us to get to know the different types of products that are available in the market, whatever the marketing might tell us. Market logic cannot be all legitimate when profit is the bottom line.

A simple measure for us is to read labels on how much fat, salt, or sugar each food product contains, and how do we process this information.

Most importantly, getting an annual health check-up for everyone above 40 is the most reliable test of our health.

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Cure Is An Absolute, But Prevention Is The Ideal Vasanthi Ramachandran - CodeBlue

Board-Certified Pediatrician Provides Tips for Parents to Help Their Kids Prepare for Back-to-School

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

BACKGROUND:

For parents of kids of all ages, back-to-school season is the perfect time to take stock of your child's physical and mental health to help prepare them for a successful school year. Starting in a new school or classroom can be an exciting or stressful experience for kids. Parents should recognize not all stressful emotions are bad and dealing with stress is an important step in a child's developmental growth.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9060251-goodrx-board-certified-pediatrician-provides-tips-back-to-school/

TIPS ON PREPARING FOR A HEALTHY SCHOOL YEAR:

Dr. Preeti Parikh, Executive Medical Directorat GoodRx and a board-certified pediatrician in New York City, shared tips parents can use to prepare their children for a healthy school year. Dr. Parikh also discussed why staying ahead of stress by practicing mindfulness techniques with children can help avoid it manifesting into worrisome physical symptoms.

For more information please visit:www.goodrx.com/health

MORE ABOUT DR. PREETI PARIKH:

Dr. Preeti Parikh is the Executive Medical Director at GoodRx. She is a board-certified pediatrician practicing at Westside Pediatrics, is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and is an American Academy of Pediatrics spokesperson.

Dr. Parikh graduated from Columbia University and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and she completed postgraduate training at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Parikh combines her passions of preventative medicine, advocacy, and patient education to empower people to achieve their optimal health. She has contributed to media outlets including Bump.com, Parents.com, CBSNews, and many others.

Produced for: GoodRx

SOURCE GoodRx

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GET PREPPED FOR A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE SCHOOL YEAR - PR Newswire

FINDINGS

In single pollutant models and within a 20-year period, 10 out of 29 reviewed pesticides were associated with thyroid cancer, including several of the most widely used ones in the U.S. These included paraquat dichloride, glyphosate and oxyfluorfen.

Additionally, the risk of thyroid cancer increased proportionally to the total number of pesticides subjects were exposed to 20 years before diagnosis or the research interview. In all models, paraquat dichloride was associated with thyroid cancer.

The study appears in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

CONCLUSION

The authors say this study provides the first evidence supporting the hypothesis that residential pesticide exposure from agricultural use is associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND

Thyroid cancer incidence has increased substantially in the U.S. during the past 30 years, rising by 3% annually. Some experts attribute the increase to better detection methods, but other reports suggest environmental, genetic and lifestyle risk factors may also explain the upward trend. Few studies have examined environmental exposures on thyroid cancer occurrence, except those focusing on radiation exposure. Previous studies found higher risks for those working in the leather, wood and paper industries, as well as those exposed to environmental solvents, flame retardants and pesticides.

Certain pesticides are established mutagens or have been shown to induce tumor growth and chromosomal abnormalities in vitro. These include glyphosate the active ingredient in widely used herbicides and 19 pesticides that induce DNA cell damage in vitro. Pesticides also can alter thyroid hormone production, which has been associated with thyroid cancer risk.

Previous studies of pesticides and thyroid cancer have been inconsistent or had methodology limitations, including self-reporting of exposures, little or no information on specific pesticides and small sample sizes.

California ranks first among U.S. states in agricultural production. Moreover, agricultural pesticide use in California in 2008 totaled 162 million pounds, about 25% of all U.S. usage. Meanwhile, the state has seen increasing rates of advanced thyroid cancer.

This study examines the association between exposure to pesticides, including 19 that were found to cause DNA cell damage, and the risk of thyroid cancer. The researchers hypothesized that pesticide exposure may be a missing link requiring further investigation.

METHODS

The authors performed a case-controlled study using thyroid cancer cases from the California Cancer Registry (1999-2012) and controls sampled in a population-based manner. Study participants were diagnosed with thyroid cancer, lived in the study area when diagnosed and were age 35 or older. Control subjects were recruited from the same geographic area and were eligible if age 35 or older and had been living in California for at least five years before the research interview. The study sample included 2067 thyroid cancer cases and 1003 control participants.

The researchers examined residential exposure to 29 agricultural-use pesticides known to cause DNA damage or endocrine disruption. They utilized a validated geographic information-based system to generate exposure estimates for each study participant.

EXPERT COMMENTS

The incidence of thyroid cancer has been increasing exponentially over the course of the last few decades, said Dr. Avital Harari, corresponding author and principal investigator for the study. Additionally, the risk of advanced thyroid cancers, which can increase risk of mortality and cancer recurrence, has been found to be higher in the state of California as compared to other states. Therefore, it is essential to elucidate risk factors for getting thyroid cancer and understand potentially alterable causes of this disease in order to decrease risks for future generations.

Our research suggests several novel associations between pesticide exposure and increased risk of thyroid cancer, she added. Specifically, exposure to the pesticide paraquat is positively associated with thyroid cancer risk.

Additionally, exposure to other pesticides, in combination with paraquat in multipollutant models, also suggests an increased risk of thyroid cancer, she explained, and exposure to a greater number of unique pesticides over a 20-year period proportionately increased the risk.

Harari, an Associate Professor of Endocrine Surgery at UCLA Health, said additional research is needed. Our study warrants further investigation to confirm these findings and better evaluate the actual mechanisms of action.

DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgac413

AUTHORS

Corresponding author and principal investigator Avital Harari is a UCLA physician-researcher in the Department of Surgery. Co-first author Negar Omidakhsh and Chenxiao Ling are researchers with the Fielding School of Public Health at UCLA. The late Jerome M. Hershman was a UCLA physician-researcher with the Department of Medicine. Co-first author Julia E. Heck is with the College of Health and Public Service at the University of North Texas. Myles Cockburn is with the Department of Preventative Medicine at Keck School of Medicine and Department of Geography at USC.

FUNDING

This research was supported by the University of California Cancer Research Coordinating Committee Relation of pesticide exposure to thyroid cancer incidence and stage distribution. Grant # CRN-15-380517.

DISCLOSURES:

The authors had no disclosures.

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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Researchers examine link between pesticides and thyroid cancer risk in Central California area - EurekAlert

When you hear the word potassium, bananas probably come to mind. It's fairthey are a great source of potassium, after allbut this is often where common knowledge starts and stops as far as potassium is concerned. Unfortunate, seeing as potassium is both a super important mineral (and electrolyte) for a bunch of bodily functions, and only around three percent of adults in the U.S. get enough potassium, says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, registered dietitian and author of Read It Before You Eat ItTaking You from Label to Table.

"Potassium is essential for the communication between cells and nerve connections; this is important for muscle contractions and kidney function," says Taub-Dix. "Some folks don't realize just how important potassium is for the body and how much they need. People are familiar with sodium, protein, vitamin C, even antioxidants, for instance, but many are not as familiar with potassium." This is why, according to Taub-Dix, many foods are starting to list potassium on their packaging.

Potassium is part of every cell in the body," says Kaustubh Dabhadkar, MD, MPH, MBA, FACC, a North Carolina-based cardiologist with a specialization in preventative care. "It is necessary for proper functioning of muscles and nerves; low potassium levels hamper muscle and nerve functioning."

Clearly, getting enough potassium is super important for maintaining your heart health, muscles contractions, and even neurological function. "And while most Americans could stand to get more potassium into their diets, keep in mind that it's far easier to lose potassium when you exercise because it's closely related to hydration levels," adds Taub-Dix. This is even more true when spending time outdoors in warm weather.

Here are some signs your body is telling you you need more potassium to keep an eye out for this summer (and all year-round), according to Taub-Dix and Dr. Dabhadkar.

"If you've been working out, exercising, or sweating in the sun, it's possible you need to re-up on potassium," says Taub-Dix. The U.S. National Library of Medicine states that slight drops in potassium may have specific symptoms that might resemble dehydration (think thirst, dry mouth, and headache), however, non-severe drops in potassium can manifest differently depending on the person.

"You may have an irregular heartbeat or palpitation because potassium has to do with how muscles function," says Taub-Dix. "If you ever feel a funny heart sensation, it may be the result of low potassium." As for most matters of heart health, if you experience sharp pains, arm pain, or any other acute heart-related symptoms, it's best to seek emergency medical care as soon as possible.

Low potassium levels can induce additional heart beats, which can lead to palpitations, says Dr. Dabhadkar. Additionally, potassium helps relax blood vessels and thus, low potassium level causes high blood pressure in the long term.

"Cramps, muscle weakness, and muscle spasms are a telltale sign of low potassium," says Taub-Dix. That charlie horse that wakes you up in the middle of the night or the back spasm that throws you out of commission when you lean to pick up a sock could be a sign that you need more potassium. This is because, according to Taub-Dix, when your muscle cells dont have enough of this mineral, they dont facilitate your muscles push and pull as easily as they would when they have enough potassium.

Believe it or not, this muscular impact of low potassium is also why low potassium can also cause constipation. With low potassium levels, the small muscle in intestine doesn't contract appropriately, says Dr. Dabhadkar. Having enough of this mineral allows your digestive system to squeeze and releasewhich is how it moves stool from your stomach, through your body, and out.

Keep in mind that severe calcium deficiency can lead to a condition known as hypokalemia, however this is very unusual among healthy folks with normal kidney functioning and is rarely caused by low dietary potassium intake alone. Hypokalemia is typically caused of the use of diuretics and other medications,but it can result from diarrhea due to potassium losses in the stool.

According to Taub-Dix, general malaise can also be tied to low potassium levels. In absence of adequate potassium, large muscles fail to contract optimally, says Dr. Dabhadkar. This means that when youre low on potassium, your muscles cant work as effectively as they normally would which can leave you feeling weaker than usual.

If you're feeling fatigued or not quite like yourself, the first step is to see a healthcare provider before trying to diagnose yourself with potassium deficiency. That being said, it's always a good idea to fit more electrolytes and potassium-rich foods into your diet.

I really recommend trying to get your potassium from food, rather than one supplement of potassium, because you can get a bunch of nutrients at once from foods, says Taub-Dix. This is particularly useful for a nutrient like potassium that needs other minerals to do its job.

The good news is that there are so many delicious sources of potassium to choose from. "Potatoes, cooked spinach, carrots, avocadoes, milk, peas, beans, peanut butter, salmon, cooked lean beef, and seaweed are all excellent sources of potassium. Believe it or not, a baked potato has about twice the potassium content as a banana," Taub-Dix says. The more you know!

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5 Ways Your Body Is Telling You That You Need More Potassium, According to a Cardiologist and a Dietitian - Well+Good

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Restore Hyper Wellness (Restore), the leading provider of proactive wellness services, announced its business performance results for the first half of 2022, with system-wide sales surpassing $60 million, an increase of 84% year-over-year. Same-store sales grew 28% year-over-year, a reflection of Restores growing momentum with consumers that want to take a proactive approach to their wellness. Restore expanded its retail footprint, opening 32 new studios in the first half of 2022, outpacing virtually any other U.S. retailer in new store openings. Restore now has more than 150 locations around the U.S. Most importantly, Restore delivered over 1 million Hyper Wellness services to clients to help them feel their best and do more of what they love.

We set ambitious goals for 2022, and Im thrilled with the progress weve made the first half of the year towards our mission of making Hyper Wellness accessible and affordable for everyone, said Jim Donnelly, Restores CEO and Co-Founder. Providing our innovative wellness experience in more than 150 locations to date proves that proactive wellness is a growing focus for people of all walks of life. Our team is proud to have achieved a strong national footprint and a foothold to continue to grow and help more people feel their best and do more of what they love.

Restores Wellness Experience

With its innovative experience and direct-to-consumer membership model, Restore is creating a new category of careHyper Wellness. Hyper Wellness is Restores framework for living a proactive, healthy lifestyle that helps you feel your best, so you can do more of what you love.

Hyper Wellness is grounded in 9 Elements everyone should incorporate into their daily life both inside and outside of Restores four walls: oxygen, hydration, nourishment, cold, heat, light, movement, rest and connection. Restore offers 12 innovative modalities under one roofeach modality supporting one or more of these 9 Elements.

Cryotherapy and IV Drip Therapy are the two most popular services offered at Restore. NAD+ IV Drips and Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy are growing in awareness and popularity, as more clients feel the results and share their experience. Restore has delivered more than 1 million whole body cryotherapy sessions, over 900,000 wellness IV drips and over 140,000 mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions since its founding in 2015.

Through its Hyper Wellness approach, Restore is creating an entirely new wellness experience and category that its members love. It is proactive, effective, transparent, social and funvalidated by Restores industry-leading 85 net promoter score (NPS).

Our direct-to-consumer, membership-based wellness model allows Restore to offer a better health care experience and develop a closer relationship with its members, said Steve Welch, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman. Members visit Restore three times per month on average, whereas half the U.S. population visits their doctor once a year or less. Our deep relationship with clients allows Restore to partner with them more closely to achieve their wellness goals.

Medical Advisory Board

Restore also announced today the official launch of its Medical Advisory Board, which provides medical oversight and direction of current and future modalities offered at Restore. The Board works with Restores medical leadership team, seven medical directors, over thirty nurse practitioners and over 750 registered nurses providing medical services in Restores wellness studios. The new Board members bring a wealth of clinical knowledge and experience that align with Restores priorities of offering a wellness experience that is proactive, effective and transparent with the safest protocols possible across all its wellness studios.

Jonathan Hemmert, MD, serves as Restores Head Medical Director. Dr. Hemmert is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine by the American Board of Emergency Medicine. He is also a World Health Ambassador working in St. Vincent and the Grenadines as an international physician volunteer. Dr. Hemmert received his Doctor of Medicine Degree from University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and completed his Residency in Emergency Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Alexandra Siojo, MSN, FNP-C serves as Restores Chief Nursing Officer. Alexandra is an experienced nurse practitioner in the areas of trauma, neurosurgery, emergency medicine and family-centric general health care. As a Family Nurse Practitioner, Alexandra performed preventative, diagnostic and treatment procedures for a variety of acute and chronic diseases, conditions, and injuries. Alexandra earned her Bachelor of Science in Registered Nursing and her Masters of Science in Nursing from University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. She is currently a MBA candidate at Baylor University.

Richard Joseph, MD is the founder of VIM Medicine, a clinical model that integrates preventive medical care with health and fitness services, a practicing clinician in the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, MA, and a faculty member at Harvard Medical School. He completed his residency in primary care/internal medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital after receiving his medical and business degrees from Stanford University. Dr. Joseph is a longtime personal trainer and fitness expert, currently conducts group-based lifestyle programs, and is a coauthor of The Lifestyle Medicine Handbook: An Introduction to the Power of Healthy Habits.

John Day, MD is a cardiologist specializing in the treatment of atrial fibrillation and other abnormal heart rhythm conditions at St. Marks Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dr. Day is the author of over 100 clinical studies that have been published in many of the most prestigious scientific and medical journals. And, he is the author of two Amazon best-selling books, The Longevity Plan and The AFib Cure. He also is the founding editor-in-chief of the Innovations in Cardiac Rhythm Management medical journal. He previously served as the president of the Heart Rhythm Society. Dr. Day received his medical degree from John Hopkins and completed his residency and fellowships in cardiovascular medicine and cardiac electrophysiology at Stanford University. Dr. John Day is board certified in cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology.

Peter Weiss, MD is a leading OB/GYN who has dedicated his life to providing women with a level of care thats unrivaled in Beverly Hills, California. He co-founded the Rodeo Drive Womens Health Center in 2004, where he has served as the Medical Director. Dr. Weiss helps women of all ages in southern California with his expertise in advanced therapies for menopausal health, such as Mona Lisa Touch Laser. Dr. Weiss has advised legislators on both sides of the aisle on how to advance womens health care issues. He was a national health care advisor for Senator John McCains (R) 2008 presidential campaign. Dr. Weiss graduated with honors in Gynecology from the University of Michigan School of Medicine. He has been an Assistant Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine for 30 years.

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Joseph, Dr. Day and Dr. Weiss to our Medical Advisory Board, said Dr. Jonathan Hemmert, Restores Head Medical Director. These physicians bring a wealth of clinical experience improving peoples lives in their medical practices. Their knowledge will help us continue to scale our operations to more locations and people in the safest and most effective way possible.

Retail Expansion and Franchising

In addition to its 150+ currently open locations, Restore has over 600 locations under development in the U.S. It sold over 80 franchise territories in the first half of 2022.

For more information about Restore Hyper Wellness, its innovative experience and franchising opportunities, please visit restore.com.

About Restore Hyper Wellness

Launched in Austin, Texas in 2015, Restore Hyper Wellness (Restore) is the award-winning creator of an innovative new category of careHyper Wellness. Restore delivers expert guidance and an extensive array of cutting-edge wellness modalities integrated under one roof. These modalities include biomarker assessments, IV drip therapy, intramuscular (IM) shots, mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy, whole body and localized cryotherapy, infrared sauna, red light therapy, compression, HydraFacial, Circadia and Cryoskin. Restores mission is to make Hyper Wellness accessible and affordable so people can feel their best and do more of what they love.

*Medical services available to clients of Restore are provided by an independently owned physician practice.

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Restore Hyper Wellness Announces First Half of 2022 Performance Results with Over $60M in System-Wide Sales & Official Announcement of its Medical...

New test panel follows a Quest Diagnostics Health Trends study with the CDC that revealed less than half of pregnant people are screened for hepatitis C as recommended under guidelines

SECAUCUS, N.J., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced the launch of a new obstetrics laboratory test panel designed to enable physicians to screen all eligible pregnant people easily and reliably for hepatitis C (HCV) with other laboratory tests typically ordered during early pregnancy.

The company developed the new test panel to include HCV antibody testing with reflex to quantitative real-time PCR in response to findings from a Quest Diagnostics Health Trends study published inObstetrics & Gynecology in June 2022. This peer reviewed study found that less than 41% of pregnant people were screened for HCV in 2021, based on Quest Diagnostic's laboratory testing of more than 5 million pregnant patients. The study also found that individuals with Medicaid health insurance were screened at rates 25-35% lower than those with commercial insurance.

"Our Health Trends research revealed that despite guidelines recommending HCV screening in pregnancy, many people are not receiving the testing they need. Individuals in underserved communities are most likely to experience this gap in care," said Damian "Pat" Alagia, MD, Senior Medical Director, Women's Health, Quest Diagnostics. "Screening for HIV, HBV and syphilis is already standard in obstetric panels, and it is no coincidence that screening rates for these diseases during pregnancy are more than double the current rate as for HCV. By adding HCV screening to our obstetrics panel, physicians will be more likely to deliver guideline-based carethat reduces HCV infection during pregnancy and fosters a positive outcome for the patient and their newborn."

"Our new test service is a prime example of how Quest Diagnostics illuminates care gaps from its uniquely large laboratory dataset and then creates solutions to improve patient care and public health," said Harvey W. Kaufman, MD, Senior Medical Director, Head of the Health Trends Research Program for Quest Diagnostics, and a lead of the study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Obstetric panels are typically performed early in pregnancy and include guideline-recommended tests, such as complete blood count (CBC), blood typing, hepatitis B, syphilis, and rubella, to help guide clinical decisions affecting the pregnancy and mother's health.i Inrecent years, hepatitis C infections have risen in pregnant people and other populations in the United States, largely due to increased intravenous drug use. Between 2020-2021, the United States Preventative Services Task Force, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine issued practice guidance recommending one-time hepatitis C screening during pregnancyii,iiiwhile the CDC issued guidance recommending HCV screening for all pregnant people except in settings where the prevalence of HCV infection is less than 0.1%.iv

Hepatitis C is the most common bloodborne infection in the United States and is a leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality.v An estimated 1,700 infants were born with HCV infection (acquired in utero) each year between 2011 and 2014.vi

About Quest Diagnostics Health TrendsQuest Diagnostics Health Trends is a series of scientific reports that provide insights into health topics, based on analysis of HIPAA-compliant, objective clinical laboratory data, to empower better patient care, population health management and public health policy. The reports are based on the Quest Diagnostics database of 60 billion deidentified laboratory test results, believed to be the largest of its kind in healthcare. Health Trends has yielded novel insights to aid the management of allergies and asthma, prescription drug misuse, diabetes, Lyme disease, heart disease, influenza and workplace wellness. Quest Diagnostics also produces the Drug Testing Index (DTI), a series of reports on national workplace drug positivity trends based on the company's employer workplace drug testing data.

About Quest DiagnosticsQuest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve healthcare management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals intheUnited States, and our 50,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives.www.QuestDiagnostics.com

iAmerican College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Routine Tests During Pregnancy. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/routine-tests-during-pregnancy. Accessed July 26, 2022.ii U.S. Preventative Services Task Force. Hepatitis C virus infection in adolescents and adults: screening: United States Preventative Services Task Force statement.JAMA. 2020;323(10):970975.https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.1123.iii ACOG Practice Advisory: Routine Hepatitis C Virus Screening in Pregnant Individuals (opqic.org)Schillie S, Wester C, Osborne M, Wesolowski L, Ryerson AB. CDC recommendations for hepatitis C screening among adults United States, 2020.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2020;69(RR-2):117.https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr6902a1.ivSchillie S, Wester C, Osborne M, Wesolowski L, Ryerson AB. CDC Recommendations for Hepatitis C Screening Among Adults United States, 2020. MMWR Recomm Rep 2020;69(No. RR-2):117.vSeo S, Silverberg MJ, Hurley LB, et al. Prevalence of spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus infection doubled from 1998 to 2017.J Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020;18(2):511513.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2019.04.035.viRoberts EA, Yeung L. Maternal-infant transmission of hepatitis C virus infection. Hepatology. 2002;36(5 Suppl 1):S106-13.

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Quest Diagnostics Aims to Close Gaps in Maternal Healthcare with New Obstetrics Test Panel that Includes Hepatitis C Screening - PR Newswire