Don’t Lose Focus on Vision Health During COVID: Glaucoma Expert Shares His Tips for Healthy Eyes
New York, NY, September 9, 2020 — The COVID-19 pandemic may have changed the way we visit our doctors, but it shouldn’t prevent us from staying up-to-date with our usual health care appointments, including vision checkups.
“During the coronavirus pandemic, people should guard their eyes with glasses or face shields to protect their eyes from virus infection," says Dr. Daniel Laroche, Director of Glaucoma Services and President of Advanced Eyecare of New York. People also need to know, even though there are many concerns about COVID-19, common-sense precautions can significantly reduce the risk of infection, he says, adding:“Wash hands frequently, follow good contact lens hygiene and avoid rubbing or touching our mouth, nose and especially our eyes.'' Dr. Laroche is also affiliated with the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, Island Eye Surgical Center and New York University.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also changed the way people visit their doctors. For patients over 60, Dr. Laroche advises it's better to stay home and do telehealth over the phone or video consultation until the pandemic flattens. He also encourages people to wear face masks on visits and maintain social distancing, even if they are in a health clinic.
“Eyesight or human vision is one of the most important senses. As much as 80 percent of what we feel comes through our sense of sight. By protecting the eyes, people will reduce the chance of blindness and vision loss while also staying on top of any developing eye diseases, such as glaucoma and cataracts. A healthy brain function requires a healthy vision. The brain is our most essential organ, and it allows us to control other organs. Normal and healthy vision contributes to improved learning and comprehension for a better quality of life,” says Dr. Laroche.
Dr. Laroche says there is another critical issue that COVID-19 has brought to the forefront and that is the issue of health care disparities among Black and Brown people. “Nationally, African American deaths from COVID-19 are nearly two times greater than would be expected based on their share of the population. In four states, the rate is three or more times greater. In 42 states, plus Washington, D.C., Hispanics make up a greater share of confirmed cases than their share of the population. In eight states it’s more than four times greater,” he says, adding: “In stark contrast, white deaths from COVID-19 are lower than their share of the population in 37 states.”
Dr. Laroche says there are several things that can be done to not only address but to help combat this issue:
1. Increase the number of Black and Afro-Latino physicians worldwide.
2. Implement universal health care.
3. Increase wealth and education which produces better health.
4. Provide a living income stipend for poor people to access food and reduce malnutrition.
5. Eliminate racism to reduce stress.
6. Identify white supremist organizations as terrorist groups.
7. Recommend all corporations have people of color in the top management and leadership positions.
8. Eliminate sole reliance on standardized testing as the criteria to be used at entry to magnet schools.
9. Provide more funding to reduce homelessness and for mental health.
10. The government should also require medical school, research and hospital funding to diversify and benefit people of color.
About Dr. Daniel Laroche
Dr. Laroche is an exceptional glaucoma specialist in New York. He studied and received his bachelor's degree from New York University and a medical doctorate with honors in research from Weil Cornell University Medical College. He underwent a medical internship at Montefiore Hospital and finished his ophthalmology residency at Howard University Hospital in Washington D.C., where he was the chief resident in his third year. He later completed his glaucoma fellowship at New York Eye and Ear.
For more information about Dr. Laroche, please call 212-663-0473 or visit: www.advancedeyecareny.com.
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Canadians' mental health declines in August, reversing the trend of improvement since April
Morneau Shepell's Mental Health Index™ for August is -11, which indicates a decline from the pre-pandemic benchmark of 75
TORONTO, Sept. 9, 2020 /CNW/ - Morneau Shepell, a leading provider of total wellbeing, mental health and digital mental health services, today released its monthly Mental Health Index™ report, showing a consistent negative mental health score for the fifth consecutive month and a decline from July's score of -10. The findings indicate that Canadians' mental health continues to be affected by the impact of COVID-19, including concerns about a second wave, ongoing economic uncertainties, and the added concern of students returning to school.
The Mental Health Index™ score is -11. The score measures the improvement or decline in mental health from the pre-2020 benchmark of 75. The Mental Health Index™ also tracks sub-scores against the benchmark, measuring the risk of anxiety (-12.9), depression (-12.7), optimism (-12.7), isolation (-12.1) and work productivity (-11.1). All sub-scores worsened when compared to the improvements seen the previous month, excluding work productivity, which remains unchanged.
"The financial and economic impact of the pandemic can't be ignored, however, there also needs to be more attention to the ongoing toll the pandemic is having on the mental wellbeing of Canadians. This decline is cause for concern," said Stephen Liptrap, president and chief executive officer. "Canadians' initial feelings of optimism as we started to reopen does not erase the impact of the pandemic. To avoid further declines, public health officials and all levels of government must take the necessary steps to provide support where it's needed most and continue to put the mental health of Canadians first."
Back-to-school anxieties heightened as a result of the pandemic
Safely reopening schools and getting children back into the classroom has been top-of-mind for parents, teachers and youth across the country in recent weeks. The Mental Health Index™ found the mental health scores of individuals with one (-15.2) or two (-13.0) children are significantly lower than those with none (-9.9). Surprisingly, individuals with a full house appear to have adapted well to the pandemic; a score of -8.6 was reported among those with three children or more.
The mental health of those working in the education sector declined to -11.6 from a score of -11.1 in July. Post-secondary students have the largest drop of any group, decreasing from -23.7 to -28.5. Post-secondary students have also consistently had the lowest score of any group when compared to all industries across the country.
"September will be a particularly difficult month for Canadians, as they face another major change in routine and new challenges," said Paula Allen, senior vice president of research, analytics and innovation. "As we navigate several uncertainties over the coming weeks, it's critical that all Canadians continue to be accountable for their health, maintain open communication, and actively invest in their own mental wellbeing."
Paradigm shifts from concern over work and finances, to anxieties about personal life
The "new normal" has become a household term since the pandemic began, however, Canadians are still having difficultly adapting to their new routines. When considering the areas that have been most challenging, the Mental Health Index™ found that adjusting to changes in one's personal life was more difficult than in their work life or finances. Thirty-four per cent of respondents stated they were undecided or felt they had adapted poorly to changes in their personal life or routine, and 30 per cent believed they had adapted badly to both changes in work and finances respectively.
The results show that while the first few months of the pandemic brought forward many questions about employment and financial security, the paradigm has now shifted. Canadians have begun to regain some control in areas that were initially challenging and instead, are now facing increasing insecurities in their day-to-day life as restrictions ease across the country and isolated outbreaks occur. Despite respondents saving more and feeling more in control over finances, the most commonly reported concern of Canadians remains the pandemic's ongoing impact on finances and the economy (49 per cent).
"While the economy continues to be top-of-mind for all Canadians, those who indicate high levels of uncertainty (-26.8) and those who most believe we will not return to a pre-pandemic state (-19.6), have the lowest scores. It is important to understand that even as some people are adapting, others are not," said Allen. "The importance of collective responsibility goes well beyond wearing a mask in public. We each need to look for changes in our friends and family, and offer support for those needing professional help."
About the Mental Health Index™
The monthly survey by Morneau Shepell was conducted through an online survey in English and French from July 21 to July 31, 2020, with 3,000 respondents in Canada. All respondents reside in Canada and were employed within the last six months. The data has been statistically weighted to ensure the regional and gender composition of the sample reflect this population. The margins of error for the survey are +/- 3.2 per cent, valid 19 times out of 20. The Mental Health Index™ is published monthly, beginning April 2020, and compares against benchmark data collected in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The full Canada report can be found at: https://www.morneaushepell.com/permafiles/92996/mental-health-index-report-canada-august-2020.pdf
About Morneau Shepell
Morneau Shepell is a leading provider of technology-enabled HR services that deliver an integrated approach to employee wellbeing through our cloud-based platform. Our focus is providing world-class solutions to our clients to support the mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing of their people. By improving lives, we improve business. Our approach spans services in employee and family assistance, health and wellness, recognition, pension and benefits administration, retirement consulting, actuarial and investment services. Morneau Shepell employs approximately 6,000 employees who work with some 24,000 client organizations that use our services in 162 countries. Morneau Shepell is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.
SOURCE Morneau Shepell Inc.
The Rise of the Wellness Staycation
Since the global pandemic has showcased the importance of mental and physical health, wellness staycation bookings have boomed, and domestic holidays are becoming the wellbeing break of choice. With this newfound awareness for immunity and fitness, and the frequently changing travel corridors, Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holiday specialists has already seen bookings for UK retreats increase by 18% on the same point last year. Whether it’s a healthy break to de-stress or an active holiday to boost our physical wellbeing, wellness staycations are proving to be the perfect opportunity to kickstart, or maintain a healthy lifestyle and boost our immunity, all from the comfort of our own country.
Giving your mind and body time to rejuvenate and recharge is essential in our current climate, and booking yourself a wellness holiday on home turf enables you to eat well, drink well, exercise, and indulge in immunity boosting treatments without the worries of travelling abroad. As you take time away from home to prioritise exercise, sleep, and nutrition, you’ll benefit from lower stress levels, improved resilience to stress, and boosted immunity, all of which are crucial to our recovery as a country. The UK offers some spectacular destinations, from the idyllic Yorkshire countryside to the popular British coastline, so you don’t need to travel far to boost your mental and physical health, with incredible spa, fitness, and wellness breaks right on your doorstep.
Paul Joseph, Founder of Health and Fitness Travel, says “The demand for wellness tourism has been rapidly growing since we launched Health and Fitness Travel in 2010, and with a huge demand for UK summer wellness and fitness staycations this year, and so many forward bookings for next Summer, we are now increasing our UK wellness retreats for 2021. The current pandemic has merely proven how crucial good mental and physical health is, and staycations are now the ideal opportunity to maintain wellbeing, begin a fitness journey and boost immunity, to help in the fight against future viruses.”
Although staycations appear to be the favourable option right now, the gradual relaxing of Covid-19 restrictions, and our progression towards normality, will bring with it an increase in overseas travel. Island breaks and private villas are set to become the popular choices, with plenty of space for social distancing and privacy making them the ideal Covid-friendly holiday destination. European breaks are also lined up to be a post-Covid holiday hub, with just a short flight from home to the sunshine making them the more appealing option. But, whilst we manage the uncertainty of the current situation, staycations can offer nutritional guidance, workouts, and natural therapies for a quick, stress-free escape from the mayhem.
Discover the Best Wellness, Fitness and Spa Breaks in the UK:
Immerse yourself in energising workouts and restoring spa treatments on a luxury break in the rolling hills of Yorkshire. The state-of-the-art gym caters for all your fitness needs, with an underwater treadmill, cryotherapy chamber and 3D body scanners to give you the ultimate body reboot. The Three Grace’s Spa puts luxury and comfort as the number one priority, and combined with the exciting activities and nourishing meals, you can have your perfect wellness, fitness, and spa holiday right here in the UK.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Grantley Hall from £1475pp. Price includes breakfast, a wellness programme and return transfers.
Rid your body of toxins and stress with a detox retreat in the UK that combines interchangeable diet plans, refreshing spa treatments and goal evaluations to give you the relaxing holiday you deserve. You can give your body the attention and TLC it needs through nutritious meals specified to your requirements and preferences, and complimentary use of the extensive gym facilities. This luxury break gives you the chance to rest and recuperate, providing you with the tools to make a long-term positive change.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Glass House from £1,450pp or £1,815 for single occupancy. Price includes full board and a detox programme.
Kickstart your healthy living journey on a bootcamp retreat that pushes your mental and physical limits in the wildlands and hedgerows of the English countryside. With a mix of balanced healthy meals, iron man drills and assault courses, you will form a feisty female army to help each other through the week of hard work and fitness challenges. Strengthen your mind and body on this women-only break that will put you through your paces for an escape you will never forget.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Gi Jane Bootcamp from £995pp. Price includes full board and a bootcamp programme.
Health and Fitness Travel is a global luxury wellness travel company that originated in the UK in 2010 and is committed to providing healthy holidays that enhance and change lives. Created by Paul Joseph as a result of his passion for health and fitness travel and offering bespoke holidays to improve people’s well-being to lead happier and healthier lives.
Health and Fitness Travel offers clients a tailor-made seamless service with the very best health and fitness holidays, handpicked by its expert team, together with exclusive and added value packages with the best deals. As leading specialists, Health and Fitness Travel has also created their own collection of trademark healthy holidays in various destinations which include Fusion Fitness™, Mindful Triathlon™, BodyBreaks™ and Discover Recover™, offering clients the best value and holiday experience. For more information visit:www.healthandfitnesstravel.com
(UNDER EMBARGO) Study: BrainHQ in Combination with Other Interventions Reduces Alzheimer’s Risk
(San Francisco, CA) – A newly published study from Australia found that an eight-week multimodal program — combining dementia education with lifestyle changes in diet, physical activity, and cognitive engagement — significantly improved cognitive performance and reduced Alzheimer’s risk among seniors with pre-dementia conditions. The study used the BrainHQ app from Posit Science for its brain exercise component.
Participants in this 119-person randomized controlled trial were over the age of 65, had computers and internet access, and were either diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or reported subjective cognitive decline (SCD). People with MCI and SCD are considered to be at elevated risk for Alzheimer’s.
Study participants were assigned to either an active control group or an intervention group.
The active control group engaged in online learning every other week in four modules: Alzheimer’s lifestyle risk factors, Mediterranean diet, physical activity, and cognitive engagement. In the week following the online learning, participants in the active control were asked to take concrete steps to implement what they had learned.
The intervention group participated in the same online learning; however, they were assigned specific tasks to help them implement what they had learned — including meeting with a dietician to set up a nutrition plan, meeting with an exercise physiologist to set up an exercise plan, and using the BrainHQ app for brain training.
The research team found that the intervention group had a significantly larger reduction in Alzheimer’s risk — using the Australian National University Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Index — than the control group over the duration of the study. The size of the risk reduction was clinically significant – similar to the difference in Alzheimer’s risk between a person who has diabetes and one who doesn’t. Further analysis of the Alzheimer’s risk index indicated that there was no change in lifestyle factors (e.g., cholesterol, smoking) – the improvement was driven by changes in protective behaviors (e.g., physical activity, cognitive activity).
The researchers also found that the intervention group had significant improvement in overall cognitive function, using the ADAS-Cog Plus, a standard measure of cognition employed in studies of MCI and SCD.
In their journal article, the researchers conclude “The main findings from this study were that a multidomain lifestyle intervention was able to significantly decrease exposure to lifestyle risk factors for Alzheimer’s Disease, and significantly improve cognition in a group experiencing cognitive decline, relative to a control group.”
This “proof of concept” study is the first to report findings of several larger and longer-term multimodal studies (using BrainHQ as the cognitive component) which are currently in progress, including the US POINTER trial, the Japanese MINT trial, the Latin American LATAM trial, and the Australian ARROW trial.
These study results build on the 10-year dementia findings of the ACTIVE Study, which reported that healthy seniors who were assigned 10-18 hours of BrainHQ training had a 29% risk reduction, and that those assigned 18 hours of training had an up to 48% incidence reduction (compared to the control group) over a 10-year follow-up period. They also build on seven published journal articles on studies with older adults with pre-dementia impairments similar to those in this recent Australian study, which have found a variety of significant improvements from the training — including improved cognition, improved mood, improved functional abilities, increases in hippocampal volume, and improvements in efficiency of cortical networks.
“These are exciting and noteworthy results,” said Dr. Henry Mahncke, CEO of Posit Science, the maker of BrainHQ. “Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent — sadly, without success — in the search for a drug to prevent or slow the onset of dementia. Yet, there is a growing mountain of evidence that the solution is right in front of us — promoting evidence-based brain health behaviors like physical exercise, a proper diet, and an effective cognitive training program like BrainHQ. We should be funding more research in this area, and also funding community-based brain health programs to ensure that this science is accessible and used by everyone to improve their brain health.”
123Dentist appoints Dr. Mark Hamanishi as Chief Orthodontic Officer
VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 9, 2020 /CNW/ - 123Dentist, one of Canada's majority dentist-owned community of dental practices, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Mark Hamanishi as Chief Orthodontic Officer to further our teams commitment to clinical excellence, optimal patient care and team collaboration.
Dr. Hamanishi will provide clinical leadership and hands-on mentorship to our dental teams by leading our iTero and Invisalign programs. The aim is to ensure our teams have the knowledge, skills, tools and confidence to deliver a best-in-class patient experience and optimal patient care. "We are thrilled to welcome Mark to our 123Dentist family. His approach, his philosophy and his clinical excellence is very much in line with our vision, mission and values at 123Dentist" said Dr. Amin Shivji, Founder and CEO of 123Dentist. "Having a respected and respectful leader like Mark on our team will ensure that our practice teams get the support and mentorship they need to deliver optimal patient care."
"I am looking forward to providing mentorship and support to my peers, working with our practice teams and our partners at iTero and Invisalign to deliver best-in-class programs that meets the unique needs of Canadians and our patients. Identifying, educating, converting and treating our patients – and then seeing the results of a healthy smile – makes it all worth it" said Dr. Hamanishi.
About Dr. Mark Hamanishi, DMD, FRCD(C): Dr. Hamanishi is a Registered Specialist in Orthodontics. He grew up just outside of Vancouver and attended the University of British Columbia where he received a BSc. in Nutritional Sciences. After his time at UBC, he moved to Boston and attended Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine where he earned his DMD. After graduating, he moved from Boston to Pittsburgh, PA for a three-year Orthodontic residency at the University of Pittsburgh. Once becoming an Orthodontist, he stayed in Pittsburgh and worked as an associate to gain more experience and hone his skills. In 2014, he decide to move his family back to Canada where he settled into Calgary, AB. He completed the Canadian dental specialty exam, obtained his Fellowship with the Royal College of Dentists of Canada in 2014 and became a registered specialist in Alberta.
Outside of 123Dentist, Dr. Hamanishi is excited to return back to Vancouver with his wife and two toddlers. They love the water and the mountains and being active in the community supporting local clubs, teams and organizations. In his spare time, he enjoys running, playing soccer and volleyball on the beach.
About 123Dentist The 123Dentist community was launched in July 2017. The company is a majority dentist–owned, Canadian dental support organization with over 200 practices across the country and offices in Vancouver and Toronto. Dr. Amin Shivji is the CEO of 123Dentist and an experienced operator of dental practices, having opened his first practice in 1993. 123Dentist enables dentists to focus on providing optimal care to their patients, while an experienced team provides a wide range of support services. 123Dentist offers alternative partnership models to meet the unique needs of each individual dentist, including the opportunity to retain a minority interest. For additional information, dentists can visit doctors.123dentist.com and patients can learn more at 123dentist.com.
Ella Paradis Asks: Will You Wear a Mask Post Pandemic?
New Study Finds Only 6% Believe People Should Wear a Mask During Intercourse
Miami, FL - Ella Paradis, a trusted source for adult products, released a new study today examining whether Americans will listen to recent health guidelines for safe sex during COVID19, including wearing a mask during intercourse. The answers from our diverse correspondents may surprise you!
While nearly 55% of correspondents (54% men/43% female) do not believe one should wear a mask post-pandemic, 83% of our correspondents say they will not follow this new health guideline. Plus, only 18% said they would get tested for COVID19 within 5-7 days after sexual intercourse with a new partner.
“During quarantine we saw a healthy spike in sales, showing us that sexual pleasure is a fundamental part of mental & physical wellbeing. The strain COVID-19 put on many people’s romantic lives is not something people will want to experience again. The data lines up with our theory that people are not willing to give up sex, but will step into this area more cautiously than previously,” explained Ella Paradis CEO, Tino Dietrich.
"Despite the evidence suggesting that wearing a facial mask may help to minimize further spread of COVID-19,” says Relationship Therapist and Owner of CouplesCandy.com Megan Harrison. “I don't believe people will change their romantic lifestyle so significantly by wearing masks during sex. The mouth is the center of many of the fundamental components of human activity. Consumption, speech, the breath, communication, kissing - all of which play an important role within intimate relationships. Masks would drastically alter the experience and I fail to see how people would have the discipline to wear them," remarked Megan Harrison, Relationship Therapist and founder of couplescandy.com.
Key findings:
Only 6% of correspondents believe people should wear masks during intercourse post pandemic
57% of correspondents would still have sex with a partner even if they couldn’t kiss or face their partner during intercourse
54% do not believe wearing a mask will help prevent the spread of COVID19
Only 5% of correspondents will wear masks during sex post pandemic. 83% won’t
40% will wait longer to have sex with a partner post pandemic than they did in the past.
People are more concerned about contracting a STI/STD (26%) than contracting COVID19 (19%) from sexual intercourse
38% of correspondents believe the pandemic has or will hurt their romantic connections
Only 24% of those surveyed will change their dating habits post pandemic
Methodology:
This survey was conducted from June 11-16, 2019, among a national sample of 1,160 U.S. adults between the ages of 18-55.
6 Astronaut-Tested Tips for Navigating the Unknown, Overcoming Fear and Surviving a Pandemic
Pasadena, CA, Sept. 9, 2020 — Do you feel safe? Will life ever get back to normal? What will that new normal look like? As we define a pandemic, nearly everyone is grappling with questions like these. An expert on the history of spaceflight—and one of the few women in her field—Amy Shira Teitel, author of FIGHTING FOR SPACE: Two Pilots and Their Historic Battle for Female Spaceflight (Grand Central Publishing; ISBN: 978-1-5387-1604-5; $30.00; Hardcover), invites us to find a silver lining and take this moment to learn how to adapt like an astronaut. Drawing on her extensive knowledge of NASA’s history and missions going back more than 60 years, Teitel shares six astronaut-tested tips to help us face the unknown and take small steps that just might lead to giant leaps in conquering quarantine, staying in the moment, learning how to focus, keeping a positive outlook and looking forward to the future.
1. Prepare Like an Astronaut. When the space age began in the late 1950s, NASA had to figure out what challenges and dangers astronauts would face—fast—with the understanding that they wouldn’t be able to control everything. No one knew if astronauts would be able to swallow food in space or if microgravity would make them go blind. Their survival ultimately came down to the best educated guesses. Astronauts need to react quickly, without creature comforts and with limited social interactions and uncharted risks. Survival Takeaway: Expect challenges. Make peace with uncertainty. Stay informed. Be adaptable.
2. Stay Calm Like an Astronaut. For the nation’s first astronauts, mental fortitude was mission critical. After all, no one knew how flying in space and seeing Earth from orbit would affect the human psyche. As such, candidates went through extensive psychological testing. If they couldn’t stay calm and measured in the face of sensory deprivation and boredom or, on the flip side, when faced with a slew of alarms, they weren’t considered astronaut material. Survival Takeaway: Pay attention to your mental health. Take time for yourself, and even find a new practice to help cultivate a healthy headspace.
3. Sanitize Like an Astronaut. A simple head cold gets complicated since sinus cavities can’t drain without gravity. If you get a stomach bug, well, you can’t air out a spacecraft. Astronauts have limited medication and water on board, making recovering from an illness a lot harder than if they were at home. To prevent astronauts from getting sick in space, NASA quarantines all crews, typically for a period of two weeks, before a launch. What’s more, all robotic missions have to go through intense sanitation before a flight. We don’t want to land on Mars and find that some little Earth germ stuck around and will kill the life we’re hoping to find. Survival Takeaway: Practice sound hygiene. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Take precautions to avoid spreading the virus.
4. Stay Connected Like an Astronaut. On Apollo missions, ground crews kept the astronauts connected to Earth by relaying messages from their families and reading up daily news headlines, with a special emphasis on sports scores. Though they were in the vicinity of the Moon, they were able to maintain that connection to home. Survival Takeaway: Stay close with family and friends while social distancing. Take advantage of group chat tools like Zoom. Pick up the phone. Make time to talk and really listen.
5. Stay in the Moment Like an Astronaut. For most of us, astronauts seem like the luckiest people on—or off—Earth. They get to see our planet from orbit, a stunning view most of us will only ever see in pictures. And the 24 men who traveled to the Moon got the even more incredible view of Earth from the lunar orbit and remain the only people to see the Moon’s far side with their own eyes. Though astronauts’ schedules are packed with experiments and planned events, they take the time to appreciate where they are in the extraordinary moment, even if those moments for reflection are rare. COVID Takeaway: Focus on the positive side of sheltering in place or working from home. Seize an unprecedented opportunity to enjoy your family. Cook meals together. Play games.Turn off the TV; put down your phone. Set aside time each day to just be present. In retrospect, you just might discover how truly fortunate you are!
6. Look Toward the Future Like an Astronaut. Even though missions are planned down to the minute, things can always go wrong at any moment. Astronauts are trained to adapt to any situation, to trust their training, their crewmates, and their support teams to work any problem and come up with sometimes life-saving solutions. Spaceflight is always dangerous, but no astronaut has ever assumed they weren't coming home. COVID Takeaway: When the world seems bleak and your future feels uncertain, know that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Trust your instincts, lean on friends and be excited for the day big group gatherings will be safe again.
Amy Shira Teitel is a spaceflight historian, public speaker, popular science writer and the author of FIGHTING FOR SPACE: Two Pilots and Their Historic Battle for Female Spaceflight (Grand Central Publishing; 2020). Frequently sought out as an expert on spaceflight, she has appeared on numerous TV shows and documentaries, including The Apollo Chronicles and NASA’s The Unexplained Files. Her YouTube channel, The Vintage Space, has more than 346,000 subscribers. She has a master’s degree in Science and Technology; loves punk rock, boxing, bowling and old movies; thinks fashion can be immensely powerful; and still plays her Super Nintendo. Born in Toronto, Canada, she lives in Pasadena, California, with her (adult) kitten, Pete Conrad. For more information, please visit www.amyshirateitel.com.
Veteran Treatment Clinicians Heading From West Coast to Prairies
Aurora Lands Cafik as Clinical Director, Petriccione as Counselor
GIMLI, MB, Sept. 9, 2020 /CNW/ - Aurora Recovery Centre's unwavering push to serve as one of the top substance use treatment facilities in Canada moved another step closer this week with the announcement that Anthony Cafik is coming on board as the facility's new clinical director.
Cafik, 57, arrives in Manitoba with a resume packed full of assets for those needing help in the mental health and addictions treatment field. Originally from Pickering, Ontario, Cafik has spent the past 15 years helping others at a pair of centres on Vancouver Island.
As a lead lecturer, counselor and chaplain at Edgewood from 2005-2017, and Cedars at Cobble Hill from 2018-2020, Cafik, CCAC, built a strong reputation as a compassionate, energetic and motivating clinician – one who, through his education, extensive training and personal story understands the depths of addiction and the many paths to recovery.
With training in trauma therapies, in particular Acceleration Resolution Therapy, Cafik's resume includes work directly within family, individual and group therapies and a wide spectrum of addiction treatment programs. As a veteran in the industry, he has helped train many new clinicians, medical students and patients to gain a deeper understanding of substance use disorders and the treatment process.
Cafik says he was affected deeply by his first visit to Aurora.
"There is a different level of caring from the staff than I've ever seen," he said. "I felt welcomed and appreciated, and wanted to be part of that right away. It's very heart-centred and, to me, that's the beginning of healing. It's a very special place."
Because of that, Cafik says his move to Aurora is as intriguing as any calling he has ever pursued.
"It's such a worthy goal to be part of this beacon of hope, and this group Steve Low is putting together in the middle of our country. My goal is to add connection to the team, respecting each of our gifts and passions, and do our very best to guide those trusted in our care who are searching for a new way of life."
Cafik isn't the only one arriving with hope as Aurora transitions to a centre much more focused on Recovery Oriented Systems of Care: Family care. Extended care. Continuing care. Outpatient options. Supportive housing. A therapeutic community.
Clinician Joe Petriccione, M.ED, LPC has also joined the Aurora Recovery Centre clinical team. Petriccione has experience over three decades helping others in psychiatric, dual diagnosis and chemical dependency programs. He, too, arrives from Cedars at Cobble Hill, armed with extensive experience in helping individuals, couples, families and groups in Canada and United States.
Petriccione, 70, says leaving Cedars was a tough decision, but seeing the team Steve Low is putting together, which includes well-respected clinicians he has worked with in the past, means people looking for recovery have a better chance now than ever before in Manitoba and across the country. He was not about to miss out on being part of that solution.
"Just to be part of exciting treatment, to work with families, and to be an integral part of the treatment team, it's an absolute honour."
For his part, Aurora's president Steve Low expressed how grateful he was knowing his team continues to provide Canadians with a powerful option for recovery.
"These are two clinicians with a wealth of wisdom and experience – two senior counsellors in the private residential treatment world," said Low. "They are both outstanding presenters/lecturers and very gifted with group therapy. Joe has almost 50 years in the field, and is a master with experiential therapy. Anthony has been at it 15 years, and is such a compassionate, warm, insightful man. Both have incredible intuition and they bring added stability – both have a strong grasp of what recovery management systems of care look like and both fully understand systems healing approach and the significance of engaging the family into their own healing journey."
Working in close relationship with Low, Cafik will lead the clinical team at Aurora. Petriccione, who holds a Master's Degree from George Washington University, will focus on building out various aspects of Aurora's continuing care program, improving alumni engagement, and co-facilitating Intensive Outpatient Programs.
Aurora Recovery Centre is a 70-bed private addiction treatment centre in Gimli, Manitoba that offers treatment for substance use and mental health disorders.
SOURCE Aurora Recovery Centre
COVID-19 Contributes to Uptick in Opioid-Related Deaths
Baltimore, MD, September 9, 2020 — Social isolation and reduced access to healthcare during the lockdown, among other factors, have led to a rise in opioid-related deaths, experts say. And according to their estimates, it’s only going to get worse. Similarly, Authorities acrossTexas, Pennsylvania, Florida and New York are also reporting rises in overdoses during the COVID-19 crisis.
On the frontlines working to curb the impact of the opioid crisis is Dr. Paul Christo, anAssociate Professor in the Division of Pain Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
"The number of fatalities from opioid-related overdoses could be nearly 30 percent higher than reported due to missing information or incomplete death records,” he says. “The worst fear is that because of social isolation, and people are not being found or treated immediately."
The opioid epidemic today progressed in three phases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The first involves deaths caused by prescription opioids, the second, an increase in heroin use, and the third, a surge in the use of synthetic opioids or fentanyl. Experts say the U.S. is right in the middle of the third phase of the epidemic, due to the increasing availability of fentanyl and increasing rates of overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids.
According to a recent study there were 632,331 drug overdoses between 1999 and 2016. Most of these deaths (78.2 percent) were drug overdoses with known drug classification. Moreover, 21.8 percent were unclassified drug overdoses. A further investigation revealed that for unclassified drug overdoses, 71.8 percent involved opioids, translating to 99,160 additional opioid-related deaths.
There were over 70,000 drug overdose deaths in 2017, according to an estimate from the CDC. Based on findings from the new study, over half of those deaths — about 47,000 — are suspected of having involved opioids.
Another study on opioid overdoses found that the number of drug overdose deaths decreased by 4 percent from 2017 to 2018. In 2018, more than 67,000 people died from drug overdoses, making it a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. Almost 70 percent involved a prescription or illicit opioid of those deaths.
“COVID 19 impacted the drug supply chain by closing borders on some regions, and it led to the higher death rate,” Dr. Christo explained. He added that drugs become more challenging to get, and the potency of overdose goes up. It also impacts the price, everything goes up, and in that sense, it becomes more deadly each day, according to Dr. Christo.
About Dr. Paul Christo
Dr. Paul Christo serves as Director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Program at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is the author of Aches and Gains, A Comprehensive Guide to Overcoming Your Pain. Dr. Paul Christo also hosts an award-winning, nationally syndicated SIRIUS XM radio talk show on overcoming pain called, Aches and Gains®. For more information about Dr. Paul Christo. Please visit www.paulchristomd.com.
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Holistic, Science-Backed Program Helps Build a Healthier Relationship with Food, Eating and Weight
San Francisco, CA, Sept. 8, 2020 — Could a dietary lifestyle that nourishes us physically, emotionally, spiritually and socially be the answer to stemming America’s rising tide of overeating and obesity?
Original research points to yes, and in Whole Person Integrative Eating: A Breakthrough Dietary Lifestyle to Treat the Root Causes of Overeating, Overweight, and Obesity, nutrition researcher Deborah Kesten, M.P.H., and behavioral scientist Larry Scherwitz, Ph.D., offer documented proof that by nourishing ourselves multi-dimensionally each time we eat, we can develop deeper, healthier relationships with food and eating that leads to attaining and maintaining weight loss. The authors’ Whole Person Integrative Eating (WPIE) program is not a diet that a person goes on … then off. WPIE is a scientifically sound, dietary lifestyle designed to be practiced for a lifetime.
"If people follow the revolutionary program outlined in this game-changing, insightful book, it may be the most helpful step they can take toward losing weight and keeping it off," says bestselling author Kenneth Pelletier, M.D., clinical professor of medicine at University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco.
Divided into three parts, Whole Person Integrative Eating begins by describing seven root causes of overeating: Emotional Eating, Food Fretting, Fast Foodism, Sensory Disregard, Task Snacking, Unappetizing Atmosphere and Solo Dining. A Self-Assessment Quiz follows, with 76 questions to help readers identify their unique food choices and eating behaviors that lead to overeating and weight gain. Part Two provides a step-by-step guide to WPIE antidotes for each overeating style. It also explains why the elements of WPIE work and how they can be incorporated into daily life. And Part Three offers over 30 recipes based on the three main criteria of WPIE: fresh, whole and "inverse,” meaning mostly plant-based foods with small or no servings of animal-based foods.
An excerpt from the Foreword of Whole Person Integrative Eating by New York Times best-selling author Dean Ornish, M.D., Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California:
“[The book] offers an evidence-based alternative to the conventional wisdom about attaining and maintaining weight loss. What’s groundbreaking about Kesten and Scherwitz’s research is twofold: They have created a scientifically sound, comprehensive, and integrative program for treating overeating, overweight, and obesity based on these principles. And in addition to what (food choices) and how(eating behaviors) we eat, they have identified seven statistically significant root reasons to explain why we overeat: what they call “new normal overeating styles” and eating behaviors that also have a profound influence on how much we eat and weigh.”
The authors’ paradigm-shifting message is that food influences not only the physical dimensions of health, but also our emotional, spiritual and social well-being. Their dietary lifestyle can build bridges between the millions who struggle with overeating and weight issues and the medical community. And it can inspire us all to re-envision our relationships with food, eating and weight, so that each time we eat, we are nourished … for life.
Deborah Kesten, MPH,is an international nutrition researcher, award-winning author, and medical/health writer, with a specialty in preventing and reversing obesity and heart disease. She served as Nutritionist on Dean Ornish, M.D.’s first clinical trial for reversing heart disease through lifestyle changes, the results of which were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. She has served as Director of Nutrition at cardiovascular clinics in Europe and on the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association, San Francisco, for 10 years.
Kesten has published more than 400 nutrition and health articles. Her first book, Feeding the Body, Nourishing the Soul, received the first-place gold award in the Spirituality category from the Independent Publisher Book Awards. Whole Person Integrative Eating has been honored with the #1 gold, best-book award in the Health category by Book Excellence Awards. She is a VIP Contributor at Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global, and is married to behavioral scientist and co-author of Whole Person Integrative Eating, Larry Scherwitz, Ph.D.
