Canadians with chronic health conditions reluctant to seek care during pandemic, survey finds
Almost four in ten Canadians (38%) surveyed, who have been clinically diagnosed with a chronic disease, say they are avoiding the health care system altogether during the pandemic.
MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 31, 2021 /CNW/ - Canadians living with chronic diseases - like arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease or obesity - are reluctant to seek proactive care during COVID-19, a new national survey reveals. While Canadians may think they're reducing potential health risks, delaying care can increase negative health outcomes and impact demand on healthcare professionals and our medical system.
Don't Put Your Health on Hold – Canadians are encouraged to engage healthcare professionals safely and efficiently during COVID-19. Every province and territory offers telemedicine and virtual care offerings. For those who need in-person care, Canadians should feel comfortable accessing their healthcare providers who offer safe, sanitized, environments for treatment. Please visit your provincial or territory Ministry of Health website for information to safely contact your healthcare professional either in-person or with telemedicine support.
Survey results include:
Almost four in ten (38%) Canadians surveyed - who have been clinically diagnosed with a chronic disease - say they are avoiding the healthcare system altogether during the pandemic.
13% of survey respondents who have been clinically diagnosed with a chronic condition have neither visited their physician nor had a virtual/telephone visit since the start of the pandemic.
Just over half (56%) of survey respondents with a chronic condition visited their physician in-person during the pandemic.
Expert statements:
Offering virtual care is good for patients, health care providers and the system, too. Especially in this pandemic environment, virtual medicine can facilitate delivering care. It can always be beneficial for people who live in a remote area or if they have mobility limitations. Electronic consults can help primary care providers obtain the advice of specialists for their patients. Many people affected by diabetes find virtual visits to be convenient; they experience high quality clinical care and are able to access the support they need in the virtual setting. – Seema Nagpal, Vice-President, Science & Policy, Diabetes Canada
Don't delay visiting the hospital if you are worried about acute health concerns, especially if diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is suspected. DKA is a serious complication of type1diabetes that can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. In general, emergency departments and hospital wards are implementing all measures possible to prevent the spread of infection and are highly organized in terms of dealing separately with patients with established COVID-19, presumptive COVID-19, and without COVID-19. - Sarah Linklater, Chief Scientific Officer, JDRF Canada
Obesity is a serious chronic, progressive, and relapsing disease, similar to diabetes or high blood pressure, that can have a negative impact on your physical and mental health. Like any other chronic illness, long-term, continuous and interdisciplinary care is required to effectively manage obesity. We know that obesity care has been disrupted in many places in Canada. But, there are safe and reliable ways to speak to healthcare professionals during the pandemic, such as virtual care and in some cases, in-person consultations. Don't put your health on hold, speak to a qualified healthcare provider today. - Dr. Mary Forhan, Scientific Director Elect, Obesity Canada
About Survey This survey, commissioned by Novo Nordisk Canada Inc., was conducted using Leger's online panel between February 26 to 28, 2021 with 1,532 adult Canadians. 492 (35%) of the survey respondents have been clinically diagnosed with a chronic disease (e.g. arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, mood disorders, obesity, etc.). Leger estimates a probable margin of error of ±2.5%, 19 times out of 20.
About Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat diabetes and other serious chronic diseases such as obesity and rare blood and endocrine disorders. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 44,000 people in 80 countries and markets its own products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.ca, Twitter, or YouTube.
SOURCE Novo Nordisk Canada Inc.
Sanofi to build new manufacturing facility in Toronto to strengthen domestic pandemic preparedness and increase global supply of high-dose influenza vaccine
Sanofi announces investment of approximately $925 million (CAD) to build a new vaccine facility in Toronto to increase supply of its differentiated influenza vaccines in Canada, the United States, and Europe
In partnership with the Governments of Canada, Ontario, and the City of Toronto, the new facility will enhance influenza pandemic preparedness efforts and vaccine manufacturing capacity
FLUZONE® High-Dose Quadrivalent has earned recommendations for use over standard-dose influenza vaccine in individual adults 65 years and older by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) in Canadai
TORONTO, March 31, 2021 /CNW/ - Today, Sanofi announced an investment of approximately $925 million (CAD) in a new vaccine manufacturing facility at its existing site in Toronto, Canada. The investment in a new facility will provide additional antigen and filling capacity for Sanofi's FLUZONE® High-Dose Quadrivalent influenza vaccine, increasing supply availability in Canada, the United States, and Europe.
"As a leading vaccines Company, we continuously look ahead to address the fast-growing demand for those influenza vaccines that have demonstrated clinical superiority against standard-dose vaccines. This new investment to produce FLUZONE® High-Dose Quadrivalent will help ensure more seniors around the world are better protected against influenza. In addition, it will be a key resource to assist against future pandemics," said Paul Hudson, Chief Executive Officer, Sanofi. "We welcome the ongoing partnership with the Canadian authorities, who supported us to make today's great news a reality; this will make the country, which has a strong legacy in vaccines research and development, one of our key hubs in our effort to protect and improve human health across the globe."
In addition to producing Sanofi's FLUZONE® High-Dose Quadrivalent influenza vaccine, this new manufacturing facility will strategically grow Canada's bio-manufacturing sector and install industrial scale capacity to strengthen Canada's preparedness for future pandemics.
"Today's announcement demonstrates Canada's ability to attract foreign investment and to develop facilities with made-in-Canada solutions. This once-in-a-generation investment shows our government's commitment to rebuilding Canada's domestic biomanufacturing sector, focusing on both short-term strategic solutions and a long–term vision. By investing in this project, our government is helping to keep expertise in Canada, creating and maintaining highly skilled jobs, and securing the health and safety of Canadians. By fostering an environment where companies can invest and grow, leading life sciences firms like Sanofi are increasingly looking to this country to establish their manufacturing facilities." – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
"This is a critical investment as it will create 300 high quality jobs and increase Ontario's capacity to manufacture important vaccines. By supporting companies like Sanofi we will continue to strengthen our excellent pharmaceutical sector and ensure we are prepared for future public health events with Made in Ontario products." – The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario
"This historic investment in Canadian life sciences cements our place as a leading manufacturer of vaccines in Canada and worldwide," said Fabien Marino, Vice President Industrial Affairs and Toronto Site Head. "With the help of our government partners, bringing this new facility on Canadian soil will increase domestic vaccine manufacturing capacity, strengthen future national pandemic preparedness efforts and bolster worldwide supply of our differentiated influenza vaccines."
Following design, construction, testing, and qualification of the facility and equipment, the new Toronto Site facility will be operational by 2026. Currently, Sanofi Pasteur's Toronto Site manufactures millions of doses of vaccines annually that help protect against pertussis, polio, diphtheria, and tetanus, among others, for more than 60 countries worldwide – including Canada.
Additional Quotes
"It has never been more critical that we build up our domestic production capacity to supply Ontario and all of Canada with flu vaccines. Ontario is the economic engine of Canada, and we can make anything here with our skilled workforce, life sciences sector and strong supply chains," said The Honourable Vic Fedeli, Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. "This partnership will build on Ontario's bio-manufacturing capacity, save lives, create new jobs, and, help prepare us for any future pandemic emergency."
"The expansion of Sanofi's Toronto Site is a true testament to the strength of Toronto's medical and healthcare sector. This new vaccine manufacturing facility in Toronto will not only give confidence to Canadians that work is underway to address the ongoing need for vaccines now and in the future, but that Toronto is a city in which businesses can grow and thrive. I want to thank everyone involved including my colleague Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson for playing a role in bringing this partnership to fruition and helping us improve our ability to create vaccines domestically which will ensure that we are prepared in the future." – His Worship, John Tory, Mayor of Toronto
About the Sanofi Pasteur Canadian Facilities
Founded as the Connaught Antitoxin Laboratories and University Farm in 1917, Sanofi Pasteur's Canadian facility has supported numerous scientific breakthroughs while making significant public health contributions. One hundred years ago, the Toronto Site was home to some of the initial research for the discovery of insulin, as well as large-scale commercial insulin production for all of Canada until the 1980s. It also produced a highly accessible antitoxin for diphtheria, the leading public health threat to Canadian children in the early 1900s and was an important partner in the eradication of polio in North America and smallpox around the world.
In 2018, Sanofi made another historic investment at the Toronto Site, to establish one of the most advanced vaccine bulk manufacturing facilities in the world. At the time, this was the largest investment ever made by Sanofi globally into a single facility, more than $500M (CAD). This manufacturing facility will produce seven antigens: five-component-pertussis, plus diphtheria and tetanus, to help meet global demand for more life-saving vaccines for children and adults worldwide. License approval for Canada and the United States is expected in 2024 for the five-component-pertussis and in 2025 for diphtheria and tetanus. Link to press release.
About FLUZONE® High-Dose Quadrivalent
FLUZONE® High-Dose Quadrivalent influenza vaccine is available in the US and some European countries and will be available in Canada in 2021 for use in adults 65 years and older. FLUZONE® High-Dose Quadrivalent is also approved in Australia. This vaccine has received marketing authorizations in 25 countries in Europe (under the name Efluelda™ outside of the UK). Older adults have an elevated risk of pneumoniaii, heart attackiii and strokeiv following influenza and are at the greatest risk of influenza-related hospitalization and death. The high-dose influenza vaccine has four times more antigen than standard-dose vaccine and is intended to give people 65 years and older a better immune response and therefore, better protection against influenza.v NACI has recommended that high-dose influenza vaccine should be used over standard-dose influenza vaccine for individual adults 65 years and older.i
Sanofi Pasteur's commitment to improve influenza prevention
Sanofi Pasteur is committed to researching and developing differentiated solutions to protect people of all ages and risk groups against influenza and its complications.
As the largest manufacturer of influenza vaccines in the world, Sanofi Pasteur produces influenza vaccines each year across five international sites: Swiftwater (Pennsylvania, United States), Pearl River (New York, United States), Val-de-Reuil (France), Ocoyoacac (Mexico) and Shenzhen (China).
About Sanofi
Sanofi is dedicated to supporting people through their health challenges. We are a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health. We prevent illness with vaccines, provide innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. We stand by the few who suffer from rare diseases and the millions with long-term chronic conditions.
With more than 100,000 people in 100 countries, Sanofi is transforming scientific innovation into healthcare solutions around the globe.
Kwong JC, Schwartz KL, Campitelli MA, Chung H, Crowcroft NS, Karnauchow T, Katz K, Ko DT, McGeer AJ, McNally D, Richardson DC, Rosella LC, Simor A, Smieja M, Zahariadis G, Gubbay JB. Acute Myocardial Infarction after Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza Infection. N Engl J Med. 2018 Jan 25;378(4):345-353.https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa1702090?articleTools=true
iv
Warren-Gash C, Blackburn R, Whitaker H, McMenamin J, Hayward AC. Laboratory-confirmed respiratory infections as triggers for acute myocardial infarction and stroke: a self-controlled case series analysis of national linked datasets from Scotland. Eur Respir J. 2018 Mar 29;51(3):1701794. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29563170/
v
FLUZONE® High-Dose Quadrivalent Product Monograph. Sanofi Pasteur Ltd. June 2020.
SOURCE Sanofi Canada
COVID myth spreaders not who you might think, new OMA research shows
TORONTO, March 31, 2021 /CNW/ - Almost six per cent of Ontarians online are spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic, and the vast majority of them are older men and women, according to exclusive new research conducted on behalf of the Ontario Medical Association.
Ontarians ages 55-64 are the most engaged online across all COVID hoax topics, with men (52 per cent) and women (48 per cent) almost equally involved. While men who engage in spreading misinformation online tend to talk about government using COVID to further its own interests, women who do so are focused on variants and government as the source of COVID-19 and why the vaccine is to be feared. Both men and women ages 55-64 believe in the misinformation they are sharing, and are not on social media to dispel the myths.
It's not clear why this age group now is responsible for so much misinformation on social media, but it is concerning, given that many of them are now eligible for COVID vaccines.
"This new data demonstrates this ongoing issue of misinformation needs to be addressed in every community and demographic group," said OMA President Dr. Samantha Hill. "The best antidote is to provide clear, consistently high quality, factual information. Ontario's doctors have been combatting COVID misinformation throughout the pandemic, and these new insights make us even more committed to providing evidence-based facts to stamp down the misinformation on social media."
The research found that in many cases, Ontario's COVID-hoax theorists have been accessing right-leaning websites and blogs focused on U.S. politics. Twenty-six per cent of misinformation came from one website.
The new data was collected by Advanced Symbolic Inc., which used artificial intelligence methodology to build a representative sample of Ontarians from publicly available social media and glean insights into what people are saying about COVID.
Other findings:
COVID fears had been declining but are again increasing
Social media misinformation about COVID is also high among men in the 45-54 age range
There has been a rise in conversation about frustration over the vaccine rollout, and it coincided with the rise of concern about variants and the Third Wave.
Women are more likely to engage in online conversations about the Third Wave, while men are expressing their frustration about the vaccine rollout.
"We encourage everyone to seek facts from credible sources like doctors," said OMA CEO Allan O'Dette. "It's only by separating the facts from the fiction that we will make sound decisions that will protect us, our loved ones, and our communities."
About the OMA
The Ontario Medical Association represents Ontario's 43,000 plus physicians, medical students and retired physicians, advocating for and supporting doctors while strengthening the leadership role of doctors in caring for patients. Our vision is to be the trusted voice in transforming Ontario's health-care system.
SOURCE Ontario Medical Association
Struggling With a Regular Exercise Routine? Here Are 4 Ways to Get Started
Exercising is one of the best ways to remain limber, fit, and healthy for years and even decades to come, regardless of your current age. Ensuring you provide your body with enough physical exercise can help you to find physical relief while also allowing your body to remain limber and flexible with ease. If you are struggling with sticking to a regular exercise routine, there are a few ways to get started that can help you to stay on track.
Set and Stick to a Daily Routine
If you are adamant about sticking to your daily exercise routine, create a daily routine and start your day off right each morning. Creating an early morning exercise routine is a way to help start your day off with a motivation and confidence boost. Rising early can also help you to feel as if your day is much longer, providing you with more time to exercise and complete other tasks that are important to you.
Invest in Exercise Equipment for Your Home
One of the best ways to ensure you stick to a new regular exercise routine is to invest in exercise equipment and tools for your own home or workout area. Whether you prefer indoor cycling, weight lifting, or even following cardio exercises using videos and visual guides, the options are virtually endless when it comes to creating a home gym and exercise location of your own.
Learn About Routines That Are Right for You
If you are unsure of where to begin when it comes to exercising and setting up a routine at home, conduct a bit of research. Research fitness experts and influencers that align with your own line of thinking and current way of life to determine the best methods to help set up a workout routine at home that is genuinely beneficial and right for you.
Set Aside Time Each Day
Are you having difficulties focusing or committing to your exercise routine(s)? Set aside time each day where you no longer have access to your smartphone, computer, or other forms of technology to help remain focused and on track. Use tools to keep yourself from becoming distracted or interested in other projects, tasks, and even household chores. Minimizing distractions is key to building and carving out new routines, especially ones that include physical exercise.
Knowing how to start a regular exercise routine may seem challenging at first, but once you begin making the effort, you can create and stick to any routine that is beneficial for you and your health.
The Ontario Brain Institute Marks Ten Years Of Excellence In Brain Health
OBI brings together a community of experts through collaborative research, commercial innovation and connected care
TORONTO, March 25, 2021 /CNW/ - Established in November 2010 with funding from the provincial government, the Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) marks a decade of excellence in brain health – improving the lives of the 1 in 3 people impacted by brain disorders.
Ontario ranks in the top five globally for science productivity, is home to over 1000 neuroscientists, world-class brain research centres, a vibrant neurotechnology cluster, and an engaged and empowered patient community. In recognition of the world class community of experts, OBI was formed to harness this talent to improve brain health in Ontario.
Working in partnership with Ontario's brain health community, OBI has integrated research, commercialization and care into a learning healthcare system that accelerates discovery and spurs innovation. Some of the system-wide changes have been focused on advancing knowledge of brain disorders, sharing unprecedented levels of data through Brain-CODE, increase in clinically validated neurotechnology and the creation of tools and services to help manage brain health and wellness. OBI's positive impact on research, commercialization, and brain health from the last 10 years are captured here.
"Since our inception, OBI has championed collaboration within the brain health community. And thanks to the exceptional support from our partners, we have been able to produce quality results directly impacting the community through our translational work", said Tom Mikkelsen, President & Scientific Director of OBI. "Currently, living through a health crisis, we can fully appreciate the importance of teamwork, something OBI began a decade ago – and we look forward to the next 10 years with this renewed confidence."
OBI's work is grounded by its three pillars: research, commercialization and care with the end goal of moving research from the lab into the community. In the last decade alone, OBI has created a network that represents 192 researchers, 89 partners, 61 entrepreneurs, 163 interns, 81 portfolio companies and 29 community organizations. Together they helped leveraged $389 million, facilitated 128 open data requests, gathered data from 20,954 participants, brought 21 products to market and published 248 tools and resources.
"OBI has achieved some remarkable results over the last 10 years; and on behalf of the Ontario government, I'd like to congratulate them on this exciting milestone," said Ross Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities. "Over the years, OBI has been successful in aligning with our province's priorities of improving the health and wellbeing of Ontarians diagnosed and living with brain disorders, enhancing collaboration in research and technology, and driving the province's long-term economic competitiveness through innovation and intellectual property commercialization. Through their hard work, dedication and collaboration with various research partners, OBI has successfully enhanced research and technology development in the brain health sector to improve the lives of Ontarians impacted by brain disorders."
OBI's strategic investments in bringing lab to life have been supported by its various programs and initiatives to build a system of integrated care. OBI's Brain-CODE, a state-of-the-art neuroinformatics platform was designed to promote open science and safe data sharing; the ONtrepreneurs Program offers support to early-stage entrepreneurs whereas NERD is built to help de-risk neurotech investments; OBI-GEEK supports community-led programs to spread and scale while the Priority Setting Partnerships with the community are meant to take community priority needs and questions back to research and policy experts.
Marking 10 years of accomplishments, OBI is set to continue its work with renewed rigour and to continue to improve the lives of the 1 in 3 people living with a brain disorder. For more information on OBI and its work, please visit the website here.
About the Ontario Brain Institute The Ontario Brain Institute is a not-for-profit organization that accelerates discovery and innovation, benefiting both patients and the economy. Our collaborative 'team science' approach promotes brain research, commercialization and care by connecting researchers, clinicians, industry, patients, and their advocates to improve the lives of those living with brain disorders. Welcome to Brain Central. Funding provided, in part, by the Government of Ontario. Visit www.braininstitute.ca for more information. Follow us on Twitter (@OntarioBrain).
SOURCE Ontario Brain Institute
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre to Deploy Novari Medical Imaging Requisition System
KINGSTON, ON, March 25, 2021 /CNW/ - Novari Health has announced that it has executed an agreement with Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) to implement its medical imaging referral management software technology.
The Novari Medical Imaging Requisition Management (MIRM) software is being implemented at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. The software as a service (SaaS) technology is being provided as an electronic means to manage the processing and workflows associated with inbound referrals for medical imaging. Individual workflows for MRI, CT, mammography, nuclear and other imaging modalities are complex and still paper based at most Canadian hospitals. The Novari MIRM system's workflow capabilities can be configured to accommodate unique workflows for each modality and eliminate risks inherent in paper-based processes. The Novari technology provides front line staff and management with accurate and real-time data on the volume of requisitions, the status of every patient's referral and bottlenecks in the system.
The Ontario Ministry of Health, Ontario Health and hospitals across the province have been working to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients. Having a modern medical imaging wait list management and electronic workflow system complements these efforts for all patients including those waiting for surgical consults, surgery and other procedures.
Novari Health's innovative and unique access to care technologies are live and being implemented at dozens of hospitals and regional health authorities across Canada.
"Each medical imaging requisition represents a patient moving through the healthcare system whose care is dependent on imaging services. Streamlining the processing of these referrals and the use of state of the art wait list management technologies helps ensure that every patient receives timely care." - John Sinclair CPHIMS-CA, President of Novari Health.
About Novari Health
Novari Health designs, builds, and implements award-winning enterprise scale SaaS solutions that improve access to care, coordination of care, and the delivery of healthcare services. Based in Kingston Ontario and with offices in Vancouver, Australia, and New Zealand, Novari has become one of the largest Canadian based digital health solution providers. ISO 27001 certified, Novari Health is a Microsoft Gold Partner, with software solutions hosted on Microsoft Azure Canadian and Australian cloud data centres. For more information visit www.novarihealth.com.
SOURCE Novari Health Inc.
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Throughout the last year as this country battled Covid 19, quarantines, loss of amenities, and freedom, fitness routines were some of the many things that suffered. Sure, a privileged few had the time, money and motivation to equip their homes like full gyms, but most didn’t. What resulted for many were more sedentary lifestyles and weight gain. As we all start to come out of a pandemic haze, many are wondering how to regain their pre-pandemic fitness routines, motivation, and shed “pandemic weight.” We turned to certified fitness NYC fitness trainer Jessica Mazzucco founder of www.thegluterecruit.com for some tips.
TAKE IT EASY
Don’t overdo it when you return to the gym, your trainer, or wherever you exercise. You can’t expect to snap back to your pre-pandemic level of fitness right away. It takes time and must be done gradually. Doing too much too soon will overwhelm you, you will risk injury and possibly burnout
Safe Ways To Resume
One of the safest ways to get started is to try brisk walking (or some other low-impact activity) for a time span of 10 minutes. Aim for a pace where your breathing and heart rate are elevated but you can still speak in sentences. This is called moderate intensity. Then try building up from one round of 10 minutes a day to two rounds of 10 minutes. You can do it all at once or break it into two sessions during the day. Start doing this every other day and work your way up. If 10 minutes a day seems too easy, start with longer, but you should still move up gradually. You can increase the time, intensity or both if you’re up to it. Ultimately your goal should be to do 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity exercise every week, unless you were doing more than that pre-pandemic. If you can include some higher intensity exercise once you have increased your endurance, you will reap even more health benefits.
Schedule
Not everyone is a morning person who can be up and exercising at 6 am. If that’s not your circadian rhythm, attempting that schedule as a lifestyle will fail. Perhaps your workouts need to be scheduled at a lunch hour or post-work. Maybe it’s not practical for you to do 4 days a week but 3 is doable. Think about your life and the free time it realistically affords, and schedule in the frequency and times of day/evening that best suit your life. Keep in mind that the body responds to consistency over time. Results will be achieved more rapidly if you keep a regular frequency and pattern.
Beginner Exercises to Know
It’s also always a wise idea to make sure you have the basics down before easing back into a regular workout routine. Basic strength training exercises like planks, lunges and squats have many different variations in various workouts. Make sure you know the fundamentals of these exercises. If you don’t have a personal trainer, you can google how to do them properly with illustrations, watch Youtube videos, learn them from fitness apps, or ask a trainer on duty in your gym to show you proper form.
Yoga is a great way to start an exercise program and you can perform it at various levels of intensity and in the comfort of your own home. Stretching and other moves improve flexibility and strength. Yoga is also a great form of stress relief.
If you have put on weight
Many of us have put on weight due to the pandemic and that is nothing to feel ashamed of. If you are resuming exercise with added pounds be mindful of the fact, that depending on the amount you have gained, this can place greater strain on joints, especially the knees, back, and ankles. At first, it might be best to include exercise that reduces weight-bearing, such as stationary bikes, water exercise, or rowing machines. Once you’ve lost some weight and improved your cardio function, then you can add more walking or jogging to your exercise routine.
Warm-up, stretching and cool down are key
Your body can’t go from a full stop to a sprint. It must be “loosened” and warmed up. Proper warm-up and cooldown are vital for your workout in order to prevent injury and delayed muscle onset soreness. A good warm-up should include the entire body, even if the actual workout is going to focus on one area, such as legs or shoulders. The idea is to get the entire body warmed up and loose, and to get the blood flowing to all areas. A five- to 10-minute cool down, consisting of light aerobic activity, helps the heart gradually return to its resting rate and the body return to its resting temperature. The lack of a cool-down period can lead to lightheadedness and dizziness, which is caused by blood pooling in the lower extremities. You don’t want to abruptly end a workout. You need to stay in motion while gradually winding down. Stretching is more beneficial after the workout than it is before because the muscles are warm and more pliable, which offers the best chance for maintaining and improving flexibility.
Mistakes to Avoid
The biggest thing to keep in mind is to take it slow. For people who were in peak condition before the pandemic, it is human nature to want to “get back there” right away. This impatience and tendency to overdo it, will cause injury. A year with little to no exercise is a long time and it’s going to take time to get back to where you were before the pandemic. After a week or two of consistent exercise, you can bump up the intensity provided you're not losing form or feeling serious pain. Be patient with yourself in the process.
About Jessica Mazzucco
Jessica Mazzucco is an NYC area certified fitness trainer and founder of The Glute Recruit® A native New Yorker, she graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Master's Degree in Social Work from Adelphi University. The latter enables her to use skills of therapeutic communication and client centeredness to help her clients transition through change. Jessica has over 7 years of experience in the fitness industry and a a multitude of diverse fitness certifications including :
World Instructor Training Schools (WITS) Personal Training Certification
National Posture Institute (NPI) Certified Posture Specialist + Certified Resistance Training Professional
SRT (Soft Release Technique) - Lower Body Fascial Stretch Therapist
Areas of Focus
Her specialties include butt sculpt/lift through exercise, resistance, strength and weight training for women, nutrition, muscle building, flexibility, mobility, posture enhancement, and pre and post-natal workout regimens. Jess has trained celebrities such as former MSNBC Legal Analyst Mimi Rocah and country singer Jessica Lynn.
Her personal journey
Jess has helped women worldwide achieve their fitness and lifestyle goals. She embarked on her own journey toward a healthier lifestyle in 2010 when she realized how unhealthy she was physically due to poor dietary choices and lack of exercise. Her weight gain had led her to develop low self-confidence and poor relationships with food. Healthy dietary changes and slow implementation of exercise helped Jess to become physically healthier and restore her self-esteem. This success gave her the platform to pursue a career in fitness and personal training. Her mission is to educate women on how to take control of their lives and become the healthiest versions of themselves without setting unrealistic goals of an "ideal" body type.
New Study Confirms Innotech Nutrition's ColFlex Oral Spray Inactivates Human Coronavirus
Penn State College of Medicine In Vitro Study Shows Very Promising Results
WINNIPEG, MB, March 24, 2021 /CNW/ - Innotech Nutrition, a Canadian manufacturer of natural health products, is excited to release the results of a Penn State College of Medicine research study that showed the company's COLFLEX Oral Spray inactivated 99 to 99.9 per cent of infectious human coronavirus 229E.
The study was conducted by Dr. Craig Meyers and his scientific team at Penn State University. It looked at both variations of Innotech Nutrition's COLFLEX Oral Sprays, examining the sprays' effect on human coronavirus 229E at a two minute contact time. The study showed promising results that the products were highly effective over that time, and were more than 90 per cent effective at inactivating the virus at a 60 second contact time.
Human coronavirus 229E is one of seven coronaviruses that can infect people, according to the Center for Disease Control in the United States (source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/types.html). It is a leading cause of common colds and respiratory tract infections. Coronaviruses are named for the crown-like spikes on their surface. Dr. Meyers' research has shown that compounds that are effective at inactivating 229E typically act similarly against other human coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 which is the novel coronavirus that causes the disease better known as COVID-19.
According to Meyers, the results with these oral sprays are promising and add to the findings of a previous study showing that certain types of oral rinses could inactivate HCoV229E in similar experimental conditions.
"The next step to expand upon these results is to design and conduct clinical trials that evaluate whether products like these oral throat sprays can effectively reduce viral load in patients," said Meyers.
As in previous similar studies, the Penn State scientific team prepared a standard laboratory test (viral inactivation assays) to replicate the interaction of the virus in the throat and oral cavities, with the oral spray product. Throat and oral cavities are major points of entry and transmission for human coronaviruses.
"We're excited by the Penn State research on our products and look forward to further research," said Wayne Friesen, president of Innotech Nutrition. "Although this study shows very promising results, it is not in any way to be interpreted as a form of prevention for COVID-19. We all use Colflex routinely with ourselves and our families, we like to think of it as an added layer of protection or another tool in your tool box. We strongly encourage everyone to continue practicing all of the public health measures that are currently in place and to closely follow the advice of your health care professionals. It may sound old-fashioned, but also don't forget your mom's common sense advice to eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, stay hydrated and keep smiling."
Innotech Nutrition's COLFLEX Oral Spray is a natural health product licensed by Health Canada and has been on the market since 2012. In a previous scientific study, conducted in 2017, the product was proven to kill staph, strep pneumonia, e-coli, and salmonella and was successfully tested for a full safety analysis at the University of Manitoba (source: Winnipeg Free Press https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/throat-spray-proven-effective-for-fighting-cold-flu-454627533.html)
When your physical and mental space is cluttered, stress takes over. With spring around the corner, it is the perfect time to declutter your home or office, but did you know this can improve your mental health as well?
Jaya Jaya Myra, former immunologist turnedmind-body wellness expert and bestselling author, highlights the importance of decluttering your physical space in order to improve your overall health and wellbeing.
“Physical clutter equals mental clutter: it’s impossible to have a clear head when your space is dirty or unorganized. When someone comes to me to learn meditation or mindfulness, one of the first things I have people do is clean their house and keep their primary living space organized and clutter-free. Eliminating external clutter makes it much easier to meditate and be mindful, and it will also improve your mood, reduce stress and anxiety and more.” says Jaya Jaya Myra.
Here’s Jaya Jaya Myra’s 3 spring cleaning tips to help reduce stress and anxiety brought on by clutter:
Tip #1: Start Small Maybe it’s your desk or the room you spend the most time in. Commit to keeping your primary work or living area clean and clutter-free. Once you do this it will become easier to tackle those other places that need more work.
Tip #2: Prioritize Positive Emotions If something you have doesn't make you feel good, for any reason, get rid of it to make space for something that does. This could be a piece or art, furniture, clothes, dishes, or just about anything. The stuff we have becomes a trigger for different emotional states, so when you choose to only have things around that evoke happiness or contentment, you create that in your life.
Tip #3: Breathe Even cleaning your space can be daunting, so take a moment to breathe deeply and focus on the space you want to create for yourself. Breathing is connected to good mental health and lowering stress levels, so take a deep breath or ten before you start. It will help you focus and get motivated.
If you are interested in learning more about how Spring Cleaning can help improve your mood and mental wellbeing with Jaya Jaya Myra, I’d be happy to arrange a phone, zoom/skype, or email interview. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
Thank you,
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