Canada Acts to Meet WHO Call to Eliminate Cervical Cancer
Pan-Canadian organization hosts Summit to Eliminate Cervical Cancer with partners from all parts of Canada's cancer system
TORONTO, Feb. 4, 2020 /CNW/ - Today is World Cancer Day and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (the Partnership) is calling on partners in health care and communities across Canada to end cervical cancer in Canada by 2040. The Partnership is leading the development and implementation of a Canadian plan to achieve the World Health Organization (WHO)'s elimination goal in this country. The plan is to reach full HPV vaccination of boys and girls; to move to primary HPV testing plus offer self-sampling in cervical screening programs; and to ensure rigorous follow up when abnormalities are identified. This will advance women's health and lead to the elimination of cervical cancer in Canada by 2040.
First Nations, Inuit and Métis women continue to experience poorer cervical cancer outcomes than other women in Canada with some women experiencing a three times higher incidence of cervical cancer compared to non-Indigenous women, and a four times higher death rate from the disease.1,2 Supporting equity is an important consideration to address barriers in accessing care, which includes access to culturally appropriate care. The geographic barriers experienced by many First Nations, Inuit and Métis women are also experienced by underserviced rural and remote communities in Canada who, according to the Canadian Cancer Registry, experience a higher incidence of cervical cancer than urban areas.
The final action plan will accelerate Canada's efforts to strengthen the core components of cervical cancer prevention, screening and treatment with a significant focus on closing the gaps in care and improving outcomes for First Nations, Inuit and Métis women with cervical cancer.
Read more about the urgent need to collaborate with First Nations, Inuit and Métis and underserviced communities to improve experiences and outcomes in cervical cancer in today's Globe and Mail.
The action plan will achieve key priorities of the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control 2019-2029, stewarded by the Partnership. The Elimination of Cervical Cancer Action Plan is an early example of how the Strategy's priorities can be met ensuring equitable access to high quality cancer care for all people in Canada that will decrease the risk of people getting cancer; diagnose cancer faster, accurately and at an earlier stage; provide culturally appropriate care closer to home; and provide Peoples-specific, self-determined cancer care.
The Partnership is hosting the Elimination of Cervical Cancer Summit today in Toronto. The event brings together provincial and territorial governments, national and international experts, cancer agencies, First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders, public health agencies, healthcare professionals, women's health advocacy groups and patients to review the draft action plan. The Summit will identify how to tangibly realize the action plan to eliminate cervical cancer in Canada by 2040.
Cervical Cancer in Canada Each year in Canada, more than 1,300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and over 400 die from the disease.3 Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is preventable through the HPV vaccine. The publicly funded vaccine is provided to male and female students in every province and territory through school-based programs.4 Regular screening of adult women is also vital as cervical cancer caught at an earlier stage has a high survival rate.5
By 2040, with an action plan that sets the following targets and achieves them, Canada will reach the WHO's cervical cancer elimination goal:
Immunization: By 2025, 90 per cent of students are fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 17.
Screening: By 2030, 90 per cent of eligible individuals have been screened with an HPV test; 90 per cent of eligible individuals are up to date with cervical screening; and no less than 80 per cent of eligible individuals in any identifiable group are up-to-date with cervical screening.
Follow-up: By 2030, 90 per cent of individuals with a positive HPV test should have a clear plan of appropriate follow-up designed and communicated to them within three months of the test that generated the positive result; 90 per cent of all individuals identified as being at elevated risk for significant cervical abnormalities have a colposcopy in a timely manner; and no less than 90 per cent of individuals in any identifiable group receive follow-up.
To learn more about the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and the initiative to eliminate cervical cancer in Canada, visit www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/cervical.
Quotes
"We need to accelerate our work in how we manage cervical cancer prevention and care in Canada. Today's Summit brings together the key players in the health system, public health, women's health and international experts to better understand our roles and responsibilities over the next twenty years to reach the goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040." -Dr. Heather Bryant, MD, PhD, Chair of the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Canada Advisory Committee and Senior Scientific Lead of Population Health at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer
"We know that cervical cancer is the most preventable cancer in Canada with nearly all cervical cancer cases being due to HPV. In fact, the Canadian Cancer Society-funded Canadian Population Attributable Risk of Cancer (ComPARe) study found that we could prevent about 5,300 cervical cancer cases by 2042 if more Canadian children were vaccinated against HPV. Today we are presented with a unique opportunity to collaborate, and we know that by working together and focusing on the promotion of HPV vaccination and supporting cervical cancer screening programs, participants in today's summit can help to reduce the number of future cervical cancer cases in Canada." -Elizabeth Holmes, MPH, Manager, Health Policy at the Canadian Cancer Society.
"Cancer agencies and programs across the country are continuously looking to improve access to, and increase participation in, cervical cancer screening and prevention programs that they oversee. We look forward to helping to develop and implement an Action Plan for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Canada. We are excited to work with all our health system partners to make Canada a global leader in eliminating cervical cancer by 2040." -Dr. Eshwar Kumar, Board Chair, Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies (CAPCA)
"Cervical cancer was the second most common cancer in Canadian women after breast cancer, but routine HPV immunization and screening programs have greatly contributed to the decline in incidence of this disease. Canada can be among the first countries in the world to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 with the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control. To eliminate cervical cancer, we need to improve HPV vaccination coverage among Canadian children by age 17. HPV immunization is a safe and effective public health measure for reducing the spread of HPV, and one of the best things we can do for women's health is to boost immunization rates to ensure the next generation of Canadian women are cervical cancer-free." -Anne Pham-Huy, MD, Chair, Immunize Canada
"The Federation of Medical Women of Canada is a proud partner of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and has heeded the call to help Canada engage in a path to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. We are happy to participate in Elimination of Cervical Cancer Summit. This will be an important day to identify how we can all work together on the implementation of the Action Plan for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Canada. Since 2017, the FMWC has led HPV Prevention Week to raise awareness amongst Canadians and policymakers of HPV-related cancers and the benefits of vaccination against HPV. We will continue our efforts and look forward to working with the broader partnership to achieve the goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040." -Clover Hemans, BScN, MD, MScQIPS, CCFP, FCFPC, President, Federation of Medical Women of Canada & Vivien Brown, MDCM, CCFP, FCFP, NCMP, Chair, HPV Prevention Week and Prevention & Awareness Program, Federation of Medical Women of Canada
"For Canada to achieve 90 per cent vaccination, 90 per cent screening and 90 per cent treatment, a firm government commitment and overt endorsement in concert with non for profit organizations (NGO's), and public and private sector stakeholders will be imperative. To reach the WHO's objective of cervical cancer elimination, messaging around the elimination of cervical cancer needs to be clear, cohesive and tailored. Further to this, databases linking vaccine and screening, and invitation letters for screening, as well as a rapid investment in a Canada-wide HPV testing capacity will be critical. We have the science and we have the tools, including strategies for communities and involvement of advocacy organizations such as HPV Awareness. We need commitments from all stakeholders now!" -Dr. Marc Steben, Co-President, HPV Awareness
"Robust immunization and screening programs are important public health interventions. National and international goals, such as the targets set by the WHO's call to action to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, can help us rapidly improve cervical cancer prevention, screening and treatment. We are excited by this work, including the role of HPV vaccination in preventing cancer. We will not achieve these goals however without considering the inequities in our system and adopting concerted efforts to work with underserved populations in Canada. The Public Health Physicians of Canada strongly supports the action plan to eliminate cervical cancer and its priority to increase the equity of cancer care in Canada." -Public Health Physicians of Canada Executive
About World Cancer Day World Cancer Day takes place every year on February 4 and is the single initiative that allows the world to unite to raise the profile of cancer in a positive and inspiring way. Coordinated by Union for International Cancer Control, World Cancer Day is this year taking place under the tagline "I Am and I Will" and celebrates the power of individual action to reduce the global burden of cancer. It is a chance to reflect on what you can do, pledge your support, and take action against cancer.
This year, World Cancer Day will be recognized across Canada with the following landmarks lit in orange and blue on February 4, 2020:
Calgary Tower, Calgary, Alberta
Canada Place Sails of Light, Vancouver, British Columbia
CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario
Confederation Building, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Halifax City Hall, Halifax, Nova Scotia
High Level Bridge, Edmonton, Alberta
Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls, Ontario
RCMP Heritage Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan
The Forks Winnipeg Sign, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia
About the World Health Organization Call for Elimination of Cervical Cancer In May 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced its global call to action towards eliminating cervical cancer based upon the political will to make elimination a reality. Calling stakeholders to collaborate toward reaching this goal, the WHO developed a global strategy to accelerate cervical cancer elimination, setting targets for the period of 2020-2030 which will help countries eliminate cervical cancer. In May 2020, a draft strategy for the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem will be shared for the World Health Assembly's approval, outlining the threshold that cervical cancer will have been eliminated as a public health problem when all countries reach an incidence rate of less than four cases per 100,000 women.6
About the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer As the steward of the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control (the Strategy), the Partnership works with Canada's cancer community to ensure fewer people get cancer, more people survive cancer and those living with the disease have a better quality of life. This work is guided by the Strategy, which was refreshed in 2019, to drive measurable change for all Canadians affected by cancer from 2019 to 2029. The Strategy's eight priorities will tackle the most pressing challenges and include three Peoples-specific and self determined priorities and actions for First Nations, Inuit and Métis, which are represented for the first time in the Strategy, reflecting Canada's commitment to reconciliation. The Partnership will drive forward the priorities collaboratively with organizations and individuals on the front lines of cancer care – the provinces and territories, healthcare professionals, people living with cancer, those who care for them, First Nations, Inuit and Métis governments, organizations and communities, and its funder Health Canada. Learn more about the Partnership and the refreshed Strategy at www.cancerstrategy.ca.
New federal drug pricing rules already delaying product launches and costing jobs, survey reveals
Company executives unanimous about unprecedented serious negative impact, contrary to federal government's claim of no downside to changes
TORONTO, Feb. 3, 2020 /CNW/ - The federal government's new price controls for patented medicines in Canada are already resulting in delayed product launches in Canada and in losses of jobs in the pharmaceutical industry, according to senior executives polled and interviewed for a comprehensive survey conducted for Life Sciences Ontario.
The 46 respondents included the leaders of 36 pharmaceutical companies, who were unanimous in saying the new federal price controls will have a negative impact. The executives were from both Canadian companies as well as Canadian affiliates of global pharmaceutical companies.
The most significantly impacted areas of business are in product launches and supply of products to the Canadian market, as well as in employment.
"We intended to launch a new medicine in early 2021. Now that it's clear our price will be dramatically reduced, we suspended our regulatory submission because the original business case and pricing assumptions have been challenged," one executive said during in-depth interviews conducted as part of the survey. "It has a compounding problem. If not launched in a timely way, it will have impacts on staffing, training, hiring support and patient programs."
Other areas that will be negatively impacted, the survey shows, are three important means by which Canadian patients get early or better access to new medicines: clinical research (91%), patient support programs (73%) and compassionate access programs (70%).
The therapeutic areas most threatened by the changes will be cancer medicines, biologic medicines and rare disorders.
"This survey refutes the federal government's position that there will be no negative consequences for Canadians from its new drug pricing policy," said Dr. Jason Field, President and CEO of Life Sciences Ontario. "LSO strongly supports efforts to ensure affordable drug prices for Canadians, but not at the expense of a completive life science environment that supports clinical research and makes new, innovative medicines available to Canadians. The complex new rules and uncertainty of how they will be applied directly contradict the government's stated goal of building a competitive knowledge-based economy in Canada."
"In my years of doing research I have never seen such unanimity about the impact of a new government policy," said Rachelle Deshaies, Senior Market Research Executive and Principal at Research Etc. "I was also struck by the consistency of the comments and business rationale about why this new policy will impact pharmaceutical companies and their ability to launch medicines in Canada."
About the survey The survey was conducted by the independent firm Research Etc. for Life Sciences Ontario. Online surveys were completed by 46 pharmaceutical and life sciences executives in Canada between Nov. 19, 2019, and Jan. 17, 2020. Thirty-six executives were in senior-level positions at pharmaceutical companies (27 at Canadian affiliates of global companies, six working directly with a parent company outside Canada, and three with a parent company based in Canada). Ten executives were from life sciences companies, including those involved with clinical research, patient support programs, healthcare IT and non-profits. Qualitative research was also conducted, comprised of ten 30-minute in-depth follow-up telephone interviews completed between Jan. 21 and 30, 2020. Of these interviewees, six were from large global pharmaceutical companies and four from smaller companies, including those that are Canadian-owned and headquartered.
About Life Sciences Ontario Life Sciences Ontario is a member-driven organization that represents and promotes the province's vibrant and diverse life sciences sector. Ontario is currently home to one of the largest life sciences clusters in North America, contributing $58 billion to Ontario's GDP, and providing almost 200,000 direct and indirect jobs for Ontarians. About 1-in-13 jobs in Ontario are in life sciences or supported by its activity. LSO collaborates with governments, academia, industry, and other life science organizations in Ontario and across Canada to promote and encourage commercial success throughout the sector. Membership in Life Sciences Ontario includes individuals, students, emerging companies, investors, service providers, and companies with marketed products. LSO is dedicated to promoting Ontario's life sciences sector internationally. Visit lifesciencesontario.ca for more information.
The world of advertising and social media has brought physicians' names to the public continuingly. Years ago, if a doctor called him/herself a cosmetic surgeon, the patient knew precisely what that term meant. Doctors in various sub-specialties such as dermatologists, gynecologists, ophthalmologists, and even dentists are performing cosmetic surgery procedures. This can leave prospective patients utterly confused about how to find the best and most qualified surgeons But how, wonders Dr. Manish Shah who is an Ivy League educated Board- certified Plastic Surgeon in Denver, "is a prospective patient to know who is a diligent, excellent, caring physician and who is a charlatan?" Dr. Shah wants to disseminate information the public can use and heed as caution when selecting a cosmetic surgeon in a country now brimming with doctors who call themselves "cosmetic surgeons."
"Public law and policy do not necessarily protect us from unreasonable and untrue claims," says Dr. Shah. "A physician needs to be licensed in medicine -- which means earning a recognized medical degree, From that point, he or she can hang out a shingle in any specialty he/she chooses; the state does not control what area of medicine he/she practices or which type of specialist they claim unless there are complaints and they are brought before the Office of Professional Medical Conduct. Often, by then, it is too late."
What can we look for before placing ourselves under a physician's care to ascertain the qualities and qualifications of that physician? There are four basic areas that must be investigated to determine the qualifications of physicians. These are: a physician's training; a physician's certification; a physician's associations; and a physician's attitude toward his or her patients and the medical community at large.
"A physician should have and be willing to provide evidence that he or she has trained in the area of their expertise," says Dr. Shah. "For example, patients want to locate a plastic surgeon who trained in plastic surgery, which means a post-surgical residency fellowship in the sub-specialty. Each residency or fellowship program gives a certificate certifying the dates of service as well as the hospital and department in which the physician trained." Physicians are usually quite proud of their achievements and keep these and many other framed diplomas in their offices. If they are not available, then at least a curriculum vitae or a brochure describing a doctor's training should be available and should be carefully examined by the patient. "If a physician is either unable or unwilling to disclose this information, it becomes a clear issue of 'medical consumer beware,' says Dr. Shah.
After training in their chosen field, each medical or surgical sub-specialty has a certifying board that is approved by the American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS). After spending the requisite number of years training, a physician has to take an examination in order to be certified. After being certified, a surgeon often applies to the American College of Surgeons for a fellowship. These credentials can be checked in libraries, hospital libraries, and online.
"For example, The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery is not approved by the American Board of Medical Specialists and neither are a host of other so-called 'boards,' advises Dr. Shah, who is board-certified with the American Board of Plastic Surgery which is the only plastic surgery board recognized by the ABMS. A gynecologist, ENT or general surgeon may be an exquisitely trained physician--but if they did cosmetic surgery, where did they learn to do it? Was it on-the-job training, or an online or weekend course? How often do they go for a refresher course? Are they affiliated with a certified hospital in case of an emergency? "
Dr. Shah advises the would-be medical consumer "not to be impressed by a P.C. after the physician's name--it only means that they are incorporated. Jane Doe, M.D., F.A.C.S.', on the other hand, actually tells one something about the qualifications of the physician." It means, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons) It indicates to the patient that the surgeon has passed a thorough evaluation of both professional competence and ethical fitness.
If patients are still confused, Dr. Shah advises them, "check a third area: A physician's associations and affiliations. If a physician is on the staff at a well-respected local teaching hospital in the department that is appropriate to their qualifications, then patients at least know that his or her qualifications have been appropriately researched by the hospital's committees and should therefore be valid and current. "Today, however, because of skyrocketing hospital costs, the trend is toward more out-patient surgery and care," says Dr. Shah. "Because of this, physicians have moved further away from the hospital. This may be good for the patient from a cost standpoint, but a well-qualified physician--especially a surgeon--should maintain a relationship with a hospital just in case there is a problem with a patient that requires hospitalization." Dr. Shah further advises patients to remember that, "when a physician is outside of an institutional setting, there is no quality control or peer review other than what the physician sets for himself."
Patients must look into many areas of a physician's training, especially certification, association, and personality prior to allowing a medical professional to manage their health care. "If you do your homework well," says Dr. Shah, "you should end up with a compassionate well-trained competent physician with whom you feel totally at ease and in whom you have the utmost confidence."
Since 1937, the ABPS has issued 9,499 certificates to plastic surgeons who met high standards in training requirements and successfully passed the examinations covering the breadth of Plastic Surgery. Approximately 6,900 are actively practicing.
About Dr. Manish Shah
Plastic Surgeon Colorado | Dr. Manish Shah, M.D. | Denver
Manish Shah, M.D., F.A.C.S. was born in Canada and raised in the Washington, D.C. area. He graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania, receiving a degree in biomedical engineering. He then completed his medical training at the University of Virginia, earning his Medical Doctorate. During this time he also completed a one-year fellowship in microsurgery research at the New York University School of Medicine / Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. As a prelude to his plastic surgery training, Dr. Shah completed a rigorous five-year training program in General and Trauma Surgery at Emory University and the Medical College of Georgia. His formal training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was completed at the Univ. of Tennessee College of Medicine – Chattanooga Unit. After completing his plastic surgery training, he moved to New York City when he was selected for the prestigious Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship at Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital. He underwent extensive, advanced training in aesthetic surgery of the face, breasts, and body at the hands of some of the most renowned cosmetic surgeons in the world. This fellowship is widely considered to be the best of its kind in the world. Dr. Shah is one of only a select few plastic surgeons in the country who have undergone formal post-graduate training in aesthetic surgery.
Dr. Shah’s specialties include revision facial aesthetic surgery, rhinoplasty (“nose reshaping”), and aesthetic surgery of the breast (breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction). He is, however, well-trained in all areas of aesthetic surgery.
Dr. Shah’s aim is to obtain a natural appearing transformation that complements the real you!
Dr. Shah is a past Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center based at Denver Health Medical Center, the Rocky Mountain region’s only academic Level I trauma center. He is a past Chief of Plastic Surgery at Denver Health Medical Center. He also maintains a private practice in Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery on the Dry Creek Medical Center campus (DTC/Denver) and up in the Aspen Valley (Basalt – in the office of MDAesthetics – Tim Kruse, M.D.).
Dr. Shah is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Shah is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Coronavirus outbreak can drastically impact the technology road map for 2020, says GlobalData
The coronavirus outbreak is now entering a crucial phase with the WHO declaring it as a global health emergency. While the economic impact of the outbreak will be dependent on how long it ultimately lasts, its impact on technology markets across the world is already beginning to come to the fore, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Several technology companies, including Amazon, Microsoft and Apple have now imposed travel restrictions to and from China, whereas Google has altogether suspended its office operations in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
While the temporary closure of offices in China will definitely have an impact on the product offerings and development initiatives targeted at the domestic audience, the closure of manufacturing plants will have a much larger impact on the product release and the roadmap of these technology giants.
Surely enough, most of these technology giants have their manufacturing hubs in China, and a range of devices including PC components and peripherals, and consumer devices like iPhones, Echo smart speakers, Xbox and PlayStations are made in China.
Thankfully though, a majority of the manufacturing hubs for these devices are still functioning, for now at least. Foxconn, a major manufacturer for several big technology companies including Apple, Intel, Microsoft and Sony, has insisted that it will not be adjusting any manufacturing timelines or closing its factories due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Similarly, Pegatron, another prominent manufacturer of PC components and peripherals, has also so far not indicated any negative impact on its manufacturing facilities in mainland China.
Nishant Singh, Head of Technology and Telecoms Data at GlobalData, says: “The manufacturing of these devices and components is via an intricate supply chain which traverses the region, and hence a prolonged outbreak can drastically affect the manufacturing obligations - this will in-turn impact the product release roadmap of these technology giants. Even if factory operations for these technology hubs are temporarily suspended, like it has happened with Tesla’s Shanghai plant, the impact of the reduced production might cascade through to the rest of 2020.”
While the technology markets in the other geographies might eventually bounce back and recover from the aftermath of the outbreak, especially in the second half of the year, the impact of the coronavirus outbreak will be drastic for the domestic technology market in China.
Singh adds: “The outbreak will have a significant impact on the growth of the domestic technology market. IT purchases within China will be hit and sales are expected to drastically fall, at least for this quarter. This would affect companies that have a large exposure in China, such as Apple.”
Indeed, China is an important market for Apple - it is among the top five smartphone vendors in China (and the only non-Chinese vendor) and earns nearly 15% of its revenues from the country. Sales of iPhones within China are expected to be low at least for a month or so, which will definitely affect Apple’s next quarterly earnings.
Singh continues: “It’s not just the personal computing market that would be affected owing to the outbreak; enterprises in China are expected to drastically slow down their IT purchases, especially their capital expenditures for IT, as they grapple with depleted productivity in 2020 owing to the outbreak.”
GlobalData had previously estimated the market for enterprise ICT products and services in China to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.9% between 2019 and 2023.
Singh explains: “Before the outbreak, we had estimated an 8% growth in 2020 for the enterprise ICT market in China. The outbreak will likely shave off around 2% of this growth, as there will be limited spending in this quarter.”
The brunt of the coronavirus outbreak will however be borne by technology giants that are based out of China such as Huawei, ZTE and device manufacturers like Xiaomi corp., Oppo and Vivo. These companies have their R&D hubs in China as well, and the reduced productivity owing to the outbreak will dampen the traction that these companies had started to gain. Huawei, for example, had just managed to beat Apple to become the second largest smartphone manufacturer in the world and had managed to avoid a complete ban for its 5G network in the EU.
Singh concludes: “Ultimately, it appears the outbreak is not just a test of the resiliency of the Chinese government and its healthcare system, it will also test the ability of the Chinese technology giants to bounce back.”
Have a Fitness Goal in the New Year? Here’s 4 Ways to Stay on Track
For many people, getting in shape is at the top of their list of New Year’s resolutions. However, fitness goals can be very difficult to keep unless you know how to stay on track. If getting fit is your priority for this year, here are a few ways you can stay focused and achieve your goals.
Don’t Quit Cold Turkey
Once the holidays are over, it can be tempting to completely swear off “junk” food for good. However, many people find that cutting out sugar and carbs completely can make them tired, hungry, and cranky. Instead of dropping the junk in one fell swoop, focus on replacing one food at a time with a healthier option. Instead of reaching for cookies, grab some nuts. Making healthy swaps gradually over time will allow you to ease into healthy eating and ensure you have the energy to crush your fitness goals.
Have an Accountability Partner
Fortunately, it isn’t hard to find people who desperately want to get healthy this time of year. Friends, family, and fitness groups in your community can help you stay on track by working towards your goals together. It’s a lot harder to stay home and watch mindless television when your fitness pal is ready to go run some laps. Having a gym buddy holds you accountable to your goals, and it is way more fun than working out alone. If none of your friends are willing to partner up with you, find a fitness training facilitythat offers classes where you can meet people with similar goals.
Start Small and Be Realistic
Resolving to do 100 pushups on January 1st is a recipe for failure if you aren’t able to do one on December 31st. Start small and work your way up to bigger achievements throughout the year. Instead of resolving to lose 100 pounds, break that goal down into small, measurable progress points. If you lose two pounds per week, you’ll meet your goal by the end of the year. Two pounds feels less intimidating than 100 pounds, so you’ll be more likely to meet your goal when you break it down this way.
Track Your Habits
Tracking your habits using a journal or app is a great way to note your progress. You’ll be able to see how far you’ve come and figure out why you didn’t meet your goals on certain days. Fitness-related habits to track can include food intake, workout time, repetitions, steps, and cheat days. If you skipped a workout, be sure to note why so you can improve in the future.
Tunes for training: High-tempo music may make exercise easier and more beneficial
Study is first to find that high-tempo music may increase the benefits of exercise and reduce perceived effort, particularly during endurance training.
With the start of the new year, gyms are at their busiest and many people are trying to establish a workout routine to improve their health. Getting an edge by making exercise easier and more effective could be the difference between success and guiltily returning to the warm embrace of the couch. What if doing something as simple as listening to a particular type of music could give you that edge?A new study in Frontiers in Psychology is the first to show that listening to music at a higher tempo reduces the perceived effort involved in exercise and increases its benefits. These effects were greater for endurance exercises, such as walking, than for high-intensity exercises, such as weightlifting. The researchers hope that the findings could help people to increase and improve their exercise habits.Many people listen to music while exercising and previous studies have documented some of the benefits. For instance, music can distract from fatigue and discomfort and increase participation in exercise. However, “how” we experience music is highly subjective, with cultural factors and personal preferences influencing its effects on individuals. Music is multifaceted with various aspects such as rhythm, lyrics and melody contributing to the experience.Until now, researchers did not understand the specific properties of music that affect us during exercise, including which types of music are best suited to enhancing certain types of exercise. Understanding these specifics could help to unlock the full potential of music as an exercise enhancer.The researchers set out to investigate the effect of the tempo of a piece of music on female volunteers performing either an endurance exercise (walking on a treadmill) or a high-intensity exercise (using a leg press).The volunteers completed exercise sessions in silence, or while listening to pop music at different tempos. The researchers recorded a variety of parameters, including the volunteers’ opinions about the effort required to complete the exercises and their heart rate while exercising, as a higher heart rate would mean that the exercise was more beneficial for physical fitness.“We found that listening to high-tempo music while exercising resulted in the highest heart rate and lowest perceived exertion compared with not listening to music,” explained Professor Luca P. Ardigò of the University of Verona in Italy. “This means that the exercise seemed like less effort, but it was more beneficial in terms of enhancing physical fitness.”These effects were more noticeable in volunteers completing the endurance exercise sessions, compared with those performing high-intensity exercises, suggesting that people performing endurance activities such as walking or running may receive the greatest benefit from listening to high-tempo music.The researchers hope that these results will provide a simple way to improve levels of physical activity. While the current study involved a small group of volunteer subjects, larger studies in the future will be needed to continue exploring the nuances of how music affects our training.“In the current study, we investigated the effect of music tempo in exercise, but in the future we would also like to study the effects of other music features such as genre, melody, or lyrics, on endurance and high intensity exercise,” said Ardigò. So, you could try playing fast-tempo music next time you hit the gym for a turbo-charged workout. Otherwise, it might at least get your foot tapping while you sit on the couch and eat chocolate.
Seeing blue after the little blue pill: visual disturbances in Viagra users
Study reports persistent visual disturbances in men taking the highest recommended dose of sildenafil, suggesting that first-time users should use a lower dose
Sildenafil is commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction and is generally regarded as safe with limited side effects. However, a recent study in Frontiers in Neurology has highlighted the risk of persistent visual side-effects, such as light sensitivity and color vision impairment, in men who have taken the highest recommended dose of Viagra. While these effects appear to be rare, the research suggests that first-time Viagra users should start with a lower dose before increasing it, if necessary.
Erectile dysfunction can have significant psychological consequences for men who are affected by it, and it can make fulfilling sexual relationships more difficult to achieve. Sildenafil, more commonly known by its trade-name Viagra, became available in 1998 as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. It soon became the fastest selling drug in history, demonstrating the phenomenal demand for treatments that enhance sexual performance.
Originally developed as a treatment for high blood pressure, the drug dilates blood vessels and relaxes smooth muscle in the penis, making it easier to achieve and maintain an erection. The effects of the drug normally last 3–5 hours and although side-effects such as headache and blurred vision occasionally occur, they usually disappear relatively quickly.
However, Dr. Cüneyt Karaarslan of the Dünyagöz Adana hospital in Turkey, noticed a pattern in 17 male patients who attended the hospital. In the new study, Karaarslan reports that the patients suffered numerous visual disturbances, including abnormally dilated pupils, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and color vision disturbances, which included intensely blue colored vision with red/green color blindness.
All 17 patients had taken sildenafil for the first time, and all took the highest recommended dose of 100 mg. None of the men had been prescribed the medication. The visual side-effects began once the drug took effect, and were still present when the men arrived at the clinic 24-48 hours later.
The doctors in the clinic conducted various eye tests and monitored the patients over time to see how their symptoms developed. Fortunately, in all 17 patients the symptoms had cleared up by 21 days later, but this was doubtless a difficult experience for the men involved.
“Many men use non-prescription performance enhancing drugs to help with sexual anxiety and erectile dysfunction,” said Karaarslan. “For the vast majority of men, any side-effects will be temporary and mild. However, I wanted to highlight that persistent eye and vision problems may be encountered for a small number of users.”
So, why were these men susceptible to such long-lived side-effects? It may be possible that a small subsection of the population does not break sildenafil down and eliminate it from the body efficiently, leading to very high concentrations in the blood compared with most users.
These men also took the highest recommended dose of sildenafil on their first time taking the drug. Starting with a lower dose may have meant less severe side-effects. In addition, taking the drug under medical supervision would likely have meant that the men would not have used such a high dose on their first time.
So, if you are struggling with erectile dysfunction, should you be worried about trying Viagra? In short, no. Such persistent side-effects appear to be very rare. However, it is always best practice to consult your physician first, it may be best not to start at the highest dose, and in case you are particularly sensitive, consider first using the drug under medical supervision.
“Although these drugs, when used under the control of physicians and at the recommended doses, provide very important sexual and mental support, uncontrolled and inappropriate doses should not be used or repeated,” said Karaarslan.
IS YOUR BRAIN HARDWIRED FOR ROMANCE? Neuroscience Expert Shares How to Biohack The Brain for a Better Relationship Dating and relationships are hard work - especially in 2020. The changing face of modern romance has led to some pretty depressing stats: A recent survey found that more than 50% of sexually active individuals are dissatisfied with their sex lives; only 30% of Internet daters are in search of true love as opposed to hookups; and a staggering 23% of women aren’t happy in their relationships! It's no wonder nearly half of all marriages today end in divorce.Before you lose all faith in modern romance and turn your back on love, there may be some hope. Though some argue technology is the leading culprit in romantic demise, new tech has also given us incredible insight into love and relationships. According to Neuroscience expert Dr. Patrick Porter, there is a fascinating link between brainwaves and romance.We can't see it, but brains hum with these waves of electrical activity. At the root of all our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors is the communication between neurons within our brains. Changing our brainwaves has a dramatic effect on our physical, mental, and emotional health."Brainwave training has been found to help people who struggle with stress, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, fatigue - all of which are extremely important factors when it comes to romance and relationships..."...says Dr. Porter, who recently presented research along with Arianna Huffington at the National Biohacking Conference in Los Angeles. According to research, sleep plays a major role in relationships. When we sleep poorly, the parts of our brain devoted to emotional empathy don’t function as well. Sleep loss causes social withdrawal and loneliness and it helps us to be less angry and aggressive. Not surprisingly, anxiety and stress can also negatively impact your relationship. It can lead to inappropriate suspiciousness or paranoia, overthinking, being indecisive, and an appropriate need for reassurance and support.Though there are several methods of brainwave entrainment, one of the most effective is "braintapping" which uses auditory and visual stimulation to synchronize and balance brainwaves. As the light and sound frequency changes, so does the frequency in the brain. Brainwave training stabilizes the limbic system which is involved in motivation, emotion, learning, and memory. Your body is calmed, your breathing becomes rhythmic, your hands warm, and your muscles relax. "The light and sound stimulation boost brain levels of serotonin, beta-endorphins, and norepinephrine. These are the same chemicals that are released during attraction and make us giddy, energetic, and euphoric," says Porter. Brainwave training and biohacking have made tremendous advances in improving symptoms of mental health conditions which are closely tied to relationships. Although in the past, brainwave training and biohacking have received criticism for being unregulated, biohackers argue that's exactly why it needs to be studied and have close attention by the public. Dr. Porter is sharing the fascinating link between brainwave training and its impact on romance and emotional health and he can also explain why balancing brainwaves may improve your love life.IN AN INTERVIEW OR ARTICLE, DR. PORTER CAN DISCUSS:Brainwaves and relationships: the science of love.The fascinating link between brainwave training and its impact on romance and emotional health.Why balancing brainwaves may improve your love life.Biohacking - the latest trend in health and wellness.How to biohack your brain with light, sound, and vibration.What mainstream biohacking means for the healthcare industry. ABOUT DR. PATRICK PORTER:Dr. Patrick K. Porter, PhD, is an award-winning author and speaker who has devoted his career to neuroscience and brainwave entrainment. As the creator of BrainTap Technology™, Porter has emerged as a leader in the digital health and wellness field. BrainTap’s digital tools and mind development apps use Creative Visualization and Relaxation, a biohacking technique that has made tremendous advances in treating mental, physical, and emotional health issues. Braintap has been praised for helping people overcome stress and insomnia, lose weight, stop smoking, manage pain, accelerate learning, and much more. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: www.braintap.com
SE Health Receives National Award for Palliative Care Advocacy: Creating Accessibility and Care Improvements Across Canada
Award praises Nancy Lefebre for unwavering commitment to advancing patient and family access to end-of-life care across the country
TORONTO, Jan. 30, 2020 /CNW/ - For SE Health, care comes first at all stages of life. End-of-life care is no exception for the not-for-profit, social enterprise and one of Canada's largest health care providers. Last week, that dedication was highlighted as Nancy Lefebre, Chief Clinical Executive and Senior Vice President of Knowledge and Practice at SE Health received the Sharon Carstairs Award of Excellencein Advocacy from the Quality End-of-Life Care Coalition of Canada (QELCCC).
"The Award of Excellence in Advocacy recognizes an individual who has stepped forward to facilitate partnerships and change the health care system for the betterment of Canadians," said The Honourable Sharon Carstairs, P.C. "Nancy Lefebre is a strong voice speaking for the thousands of families caring for loved ones at end-of-life. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in helping to strengthen the resources and support in our communities, nationwide. Congratulations, Nancy."
According to the Canadian Foundation for Health Improvement, "70 per cent of Canadians do not have access to palliative care services." There are also significant gaps in care and barriers to ensuring that all Canadians have access to quality end-of-life care, when they need it.
As an advocate for excellence and quality, Lefebre championed SE Health, Social Enterprise investments – more than $5 million over the last five years – into hospice palliative care programs and residential hospices nationwide.
Through the Saint Elizabeth Foundation, Lefebre advanced education for healthcare workers, developing an Indigenous end-of-life program that educated over 500 healthcare providers in 145 Indigenous communities throughout Canada last year. She also serves as the operating partner, alongside Hospice Toronto and Inner-City Health Associates, in Journey Home Hospicefor the homeless in downtown Toronto.
With Lefebre's advocacy, SE Health has developed outstanding palliative care services; and in the last year alone, they have provided more than 10,000 patients across Canada with approximately 226,000 palliative homecare visits.
"I am so grateful for this tremendous honour and I credit the amazing teams for working tirelessly as advocates for all Canadians," said Lefebre. "At SE Health and the Saint Elizabeth Foundation, we pride ourselves on collaborating and pushing the envelope to create and uncover the highest level of care at every turn. We continue to forge ahead with palliative care as a priority and we look forward to making a big difference so that care is accessible for everyone."
About SE Health
SE Health is a not-for-profit social enterprise applying knowledge, vision and drive to impact how people live and age at home, today and into the future. With Canadian roots and 110+ years of expertise, the organization brings quality excellence and innovation to home care, seniors' lifestyle, and family caregiving. Through its team of 9,000 Leaders of Impact, SE Health delivers 21,000 care exchanges daily, totaling 50 million in the last decade alone. Visit us online at sehc.com.
About the Saint Elizabeth Foundation
When Saint Elizabeth was founded 110+ years ago, we were a group of visiting nurses caring for marginalized people in our communities. To honour our heritage, the Saint Elizabeth Foundation is committed to providing end-of-life care for those most in need throughout Canada, with a special focus on homeless, isolated, vulnerable and Indigenous individuals. We believe that health care communities are built through "in-reach," making health services accessible to individuals when and where they need them most. To find out more about how our programs and services are improving the lives of Canadians nationwide, please visit us online at sehc.com/foundation.
SOURCE SE Health
The Corona Virus—1918 All Over Again?
by Jane M. Orient, M.D.
Clusters of a dozen or so deaths may get nonstop “if-it-bleeds-it-leads” press coverage. But the lack of preparedness for the really, really big threats may be met with virtual radio silence—until panic breaks out.
The worst, possibly existential, threat is the stealthy, invisible one that multiplies exponentially—in the accurate sense of the term: 400 cases today, 800 tomorrow, then 1600, 3200, 6400, 128000, 256000, 512000, and 1.024 million after only eight doubling times. Biological threats proliferate—until they run out of susceptible victims.
In 1918, the great influenza pandemic killed as many people in 11 months as the medieval Black Death did in 4 years. Ultimately, at least 50 million may have perished. Young healthy people, especially young soldiers headed off to the front in World War I, succumbed quickly. To avoid interfering with the war effort, the U.S. government denied and covered up the threat, preventing the implementation of public health measures.
Since then, the world has gotten smaller. A virus that jumps the species barrier from animals to humans in a meat market in China can cross the Pacific in hours. And despite the expenditure of $80 billion on a National Biologic Defense, the U.S. is arguably no better prepared than it was in 1918, state Steven Hatfill, M.D., and coauthors in their new book Three Seconds until Midnight.
As in1918, we lack a vaccine or wonder drugs, but must rely on non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI), and on public health authorities to track and try to contain the spread of infection.
Accurate information is critical. Can we trust governmental authorities to tell the truth? Travel restrictions, quarantine, closing businesses, and cancelling public events have a huge economic and potential political cost.
There can also be incentives to exaggerate the threat, in order to sell poorly tested vaccines or drugs. The 1976 swine flu epidemic was almost a non-event; more people were probably injured or even died from adverse effects of the heavily promoted vaccine.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has so far declined to declare the corona virus outbreak a global emergency, although cases have been reported in more than a dozen or so countries. China reported only hundreds of “confirmed” cases—while countless additional cases were not tested because of lack of diagnostic test kits.
The New England Journal of Medicine writes, “Another Decade, Another Coronavirus.” This 2019-nCoV virus is the third zoonotic (animal) coronavirus to infect humans in two decades. The SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) were contained. Other coronaviruses cause mild cold-like syndromes.
This virus has occasioned the quarantine of entire cities, for the first time since medieval times. This could not be done other than in authoritarian China, states virologist Steven Hatfill, but even there is unlikely to be effective—especially if 5 million people had left before the order was implemented.
A report of 41 hospitalized patients in Wuhan, published in The Lancet, showed that patients were relatively young (median age 49) and fewer than half had an underlying illness. Only 66% had been exposed to the Huanan seafood market, the apparent source of the infection. One patient (2%) had no fever; all had pneumonia; 29% had severe respiratory distress syndrome; and 12% had acute cardiac injury. Most cases may be very mild, facilitating more rapid spread.
The corona virus is transmitted by droplets coming into contact with mucous membranes, including the eye. It can persist on surfaces for days. People without fever or symptoms can transmit the illness during the incubation period, which might be as long as two weeks. At present, definitive diagnostic testing is available only from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In a severe outbreak, people whose job is not critical may need to stay home. Those who do not have a supply of food, essential medications, or other needed supplies would likely end up in a frantic crowd. Personal protective gear, for people who need to be in contact with the public or care for a sick family member, is already out of stock in medical supply houses. This includes gloves, wrap-around eye protection, and N-95 protective masks—regular surgical masks are probably of little help.
Panic is never helpful; staying calm is always good advice. But failure to heed previous warnings of the need for robust disaster planning, and complacency about medical technology and governmental resources, has set the stage for potential unprecedented disaster.
Individuals need to recognize that they themselves, and not 911 or the emergency room or the Federal Emergency Management Agency, may hold the key to their family’s and their community’s survival. Local authorities need to know that they may be on their own.
For now, stock up on supplies; cover those coughs and sneezes; wash hands frequently for at least 20 seconds; avoid crowds; and stay aware, as the situation could change rapidly.
###
Jane M. Orient, M.D. obtained her undergraduate degrees in chemistry and mathematics from the University of Arizona in Tucson, and her M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1974. She completed an internal medicine residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital and University of Arizona Affiliated Hospitals and then became an Instructor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and a staff physician at the Tucson Veterans Administration Hospital. She has been in solo private practice since 1981 and has served as Executive Director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) since 1989. She is currently president of Doctors for Disaster Preparedness. She is the author of YOUR Doctor Is Not In: Healthy Skepticism about National Healthcare, and the second through fifth editions of Sapira's Art and Science of Bedside Diagnosis published by Wolters Kluwer. She authored books for schoolchildren, Professor Klugimkopf’s Old-Fashioned English Grammar and Professor Klugimkopf’s Spelling Method,published by Robinson Books, and coauthored two novels published as Kindle books, Neomorts and Moonshine. More than 100 of her papers have been published in the scientific and popular literature on a variety of subjects including risk assessment, natural and technological hazards and nonhazards, and medical economics and ethics. She is the editor of AAPS News, the Doctors for Disaster Preparedness Newsletter, and Civil Defense Perspectives, and is the managing editor of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons.
TRAIN IT RIGHT NEWSLETTER
Sign Up and get a free 7 day Train it Right HIIT Program!
