L’Oréal Paris calls on Canadians to nominate extraordinary women for the 2020 Women of Worth Grant Award Program
For the fourth consecutive year, $110,000 in charitable grants will be presented on International Women’s Day to 10 Canadian women who are making a beautiful difference in their communities and the world
TORONTO, ON – L’Oréal Paris Canadatoday announced submissions for the Canadian edition of the 2020 Women of Worth Grand Award Program are open now through January 5, 2020 at http://womenofworth.ca/en.
Proudly entering its fourth year, the signature philanthropic initiative honours a diverse group of trailblazing Canadian women. The awards shine a spotlight on extraordinary women who selflessly volunteer their time to serve their communities and make a positive impact on the lives of others. Now through January 5, 2020 all Canadians are encouraged to nominate women who demonstrate commitment and leadership, make significant contributions across a breadth of causes and important initiatives and strive to create a more beautiful and accepting world for everyone.
“These remarkable Canadian innovators possess unrelenting drive, passion and commitment and inspire us by their generosity and selflessness for the crucial causes they champion,” said Milan Mladjenovic, General Manager, L’Oréal Paris Canada. “Every year, we are deeply moved by the personal motivations of the honourees and the beautiful impact their accomplishments continue to make to the lives of others and our world. These women show tremendous heart in all that they do, and we are humbled by their spirit and achievements.”
The nominees will be judged on four distinct criteria: addressing a crucial need in the community; the impact their inspiring contributions have made; their innovation on developing solutions; and their passion to evoke change and inspire future generations. The 10 select women will each receive a $10,000 donation to their non-profit cause and the chance to be recognized as a L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth honouree – joining an esteemed alumni of women who continue to make a tremendous impact in their communities. Additionally, the 10 honourees will receive an all-expense paid trip for two to Toronto to attend the notable, star-studded awards gala hosted by L’Oréal Paris on March 8, 2020, coinciding with International Women’s Day.
“I am extremely honoured to be part of the L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth alumni. As a small grassroots organization, it is difficult to receive the exposure you need to advocate for your cause,” said Lynne Rosychuk, 2019 Women of Worth Canada National Honouree. “As a result of being named the National Woman of Worth Honouree, our organization – The Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation - has gained global recognition and been acknowledged in the House of Commons by our MP, Dane Lloyd. We have also received many donations and support from new volunteers. It is difficult to talk about domestic violence and I truly appreciate the opportunity L’Oréal Paris gave me to platform the important work we are doing”.
The innovations of past award recipients have resulted in significant advancements in supporting Canadian families struggling with food insecurity; providing means for families to break free of domestic violence; increasing accessibility of cultural and tourist services for those living with limited physical abilities; evolving the preservation and protection of our environment and lifting socio-economic barriers of access to menstrual products for Northern Indigenous communities.
“How can one not feel inspired after seeing the astounding difference a few people can make to effect real change in their communities and beyond,” said Aja Naomi King, L’Oréal Paris Ambassador.
Aja Naomi King and the 2019 Women of Worth Honourees. Photo credit: L’Oréal Paris c/o Ryan Emberley In February 2020, the 10 nominees will be announced, and Canadians will have the opportunity to vote for a National Honouree to be awarded an additional $10,000 grant for her non-profit cause. At that time, the public can visit www.WomenofWorth.ca to read more details about each Honouree’s inspirational cause. Voters can cast one online vote per email address, each day until March 4th. These votes will be a contributing factor in the judging panel’s selection of the 2020 National Honouree.
To learn more about past Canadian Honourees, or to nominate a woman making a difference, please visit womenofworth.ca. About L’Oréal Paris L’Oréal Paris, the world’s no.1 beauty brand, is dedicated to empowering women and men by offering the most luxurious and innovative products and services available in the mass market. For most, the name “L’Oréal” is immediately evocative of the brand’s signature phrase, “Because I’m Worth It.”— the tagline behind the legendary advertising campaign for the Superior Preference® hair colour launch in 1973. Today, it represents the essence of the L’Oréal Paris brand as a whole, a spirit which is about helping every woman – and man - embrace their unique beauty while reinforcing their inner sense of self-worth. For more than 100 years, L’Oréal Paris has held an unparalleled commitment to advancement in technology, innovation and research, providing ground-breaking, high-quality products for women, men, and children of all ages and ethnicities in five major beauty categories: cosmetics, skincare, hair color, haircare, and men’s grooming.
First New Retinoid Molecule Approved in Over 20 Years
Next-generation retinoid, AKLIEF® trifarotene cream 50 mcg/g is proven effective in both facial and truncal acne treatment
THORNHILL, ON, Nov. 28, 2019 /CNW/ - Galderma, a global leader focused on meeting the world's increasing skin health needs, announced today that Health Canada approved AKLIEF® trifarotene cream, 50 mcg/g (AKLIEF) for the topical treatment of acne of the face and/or trunk in patients 12 years of age and older.
AKLIEF is the first new retinoid molecule to receive Health Canada approval for the treatment of acne in more than 20 years.1, 2, 3, 4 It is the only topical retinoid that selectively targets retinoic acid receptor (RAR) gamma, the most common RAR found in the skin.5,6,7 Also, AKLIEF is the first topical treatment specifically studied and proven to treat both facial (forehead, cheeks, nose and chin) and truncal (chest, shoulders and back) acne, offering healthcare professionals and Canadian acne patients another treatment option.3
"This new approval marks an important milestone in effectively treating acne in Canada, especially truncal acne," says Dr. Melinda Gooderham, a dermatologist and Medical Director at the SKiN Centre for Dermatology and the SKiN Research Centre in Peterborough, Ontario. "This next generation retinoid is exciting news for physicians and patients. The clinical evidence demonstrates that AKLIEF reduces inflammatory lesions on the face, back and chest while delivering low systemic levels. This ensures efficacy, safety and tolerability which makes AKLIEF particularly useful for the treatment of acne lesions that appear on large surfaces of the skin, like the back and chest of some acne patients."
About the Phase III Clinical Trials The Health Canada approval of AKLIEF is supported by data from the two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials of once-daily AKLIEF in patients with moderate acne on the face and trunk.3 The two identical 12-week, randomized, multicenter, parallel group, double-blind, vehicle-controlled clinical trials of 2,420 patients showed that AKLIEF significantly reduced inflammatory lesions as early as two weeks on the face and four weeks on the back, shoulders and chest compared to vehicle (p<0.05).3 AKLIEF was well tolerated when used on the face, back, shoulders and chest.3
"The approval of AKLIEF is consistent with our intent to change the paradigm of how even the most common and frustrating skin diseases are treated, including acne," said Thibaud Portal PhD, Galderma Global Vice President, Prescription. "We are pleased to add this new treatment option, with proven efficacy in facial and truncal acne, to our innovative and differentiated portfolio of acne treatments."
AKLIEF is expected to be available in Canada in January 2020 by prescription only. It will be provided in a 75 gram pump.
About Acne Acne is the most common skin disease in Canada, affecting up to 5.6 million Canadians annually and approximately 80 per cent of young people.8 It occurs when pores become clogged by dead skin cells resulting in accumulation of sebum, an oily substance produced by oil glands.7 Bacteria within pores, called Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes), can contribute to pore blockage and inflammation – visible as redness, swelling and pus that may accompany acne spots.7 Acne on the face is the most common and often the most visible presentation of the disease. More than half of people with facial acne (52 per cent) also have truncal acne.9 Adult acne tends to affect women more often than men and adult-onset acne is becoming increasingly common in women in their 20s and beyond.10 "Back acne" was once thought to be a predominantly male disease, has been shown to be prevalent in females.7,8,9,11 Acne can trigger feelings of depression, poor body image and low self-esteem.7,10
About AKLIEF® trifarotene cream, 50mcg/g3AKLIEF is a retinoid indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris of the face and/or trunk in patients 12 years of age and older.
The full AKLIEF Cream Product Monograph for Canada is available here.
About Galderma Galderma, the world's largest independent global dermatology company, was created in 1981 and is now present in over 100 countries with an extensive product portfolio to treat a range of dermatological conditions. Galderma is a leader in the research and development of scientifically-defined and medically-proven solutions for the skin. Partnering with health care practitioners around the world to meet the skin health needs of people throughout their lifetime, the company aims to change the way the world thinks about skin health. For more information, please visit www.galderma.ca.
References
_________________________________
1
British Association of Dermatologists. Topical trifarotene: a new retinoid. Br J Dermatol. 2018;179:231-232.
Tan J, Thiboutot D, Popp G, Gooderham M, Lynde C, et al. Randomized Phase 3 evaluation of trifarotene 50 μg/g cream treatment of moderate facial and truncal acne. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2019.02.044.
6
Aubert J, Piwnica D, Bertino B, Blanchet-Réthoré S, Carlavan I, et al. Nonclinical and human pharmacology of potent and selective topical retinoic acid receptor-γ agonist trifarotene. Br J Dermatol. 2018;179:442-456.
7
Fisher GJ, et al. J Biol Chem 1994;269(32):20629-35.
Gupta MA, Gupta AK. Depression and suicidal ideation in dermatology patients with acne, alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Br J Dermatol. 1998;139(5):846-850
SOURCE Galderma Canada
Joint declaration of the tripartite visit to Cameroon
JOINT FINAL DECLARATION OF THE TRIPARTITE VISIT OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AU COMMISSION AND THE SECRETARIES GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE OIF28 November 2019For immediate releaseThe Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Secretary-General of the International Organization of la Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, undertook a tripartite visit to Yaoundé, Cameroon, from 26 to 28 November 2019, in order to exchange views with the national actors on the situation in Cameroon. The tripartite mission is an extension of the visits that the leaders of the above-mentioned organizations had undertaken over the last months to Cameroon. The aim of the tripartite mission was to encourage the ongoing national efforts for the implementation of the conclusions of the Grand National Dialogue, and support the pacification of the situation, peace-building, national cohesion and unity in this important country, which is a member of the three organizations.
The tripartite mission held talks with the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul BIYA and the Prime Minister, Joseph Dion Ngute. It also met with the main political actors, religious leaders, youth representatives and other Civil Society Organizations. The Chairperson of African Union Commission, the Secretaries General of the OIF and Commonwealth welcomed the convening of the Grand National Dialogue which ushered in a new dynamic and which recommended, inter alia, the acceleration of decentralization, the special status of the North West and South West regions, and the review of the education and legal systems, including the measures taken by President Biya to defuse political tensions. Convinced that dialogue remains the preferred path to be encouraged within the present Cameroonian context, they encouraged all the stakeholders to continue on the path of wisdom and responsibility, particularly that of the government in the implementation of the conclusions of the Grand National Dialogue. The Chairperson of the AU Commission and the Secretaries General reaffirmed their commitment to support the national actors in the quest for ways and means to reach the necessary national political consensus, and the creation of conditions conducive to the conduct of legislative and local elections, particularly in the North West and South West regions of the country, in peace, national unity and in accordance with our shared democratic values. The three leaders also urged for every effort to be made in order to restore security, justice and the conditions for the resumption of normal life in the regions affected by the crisis.
REGINA, Nov. 28, 2019 /CNW/ - Lumeca Health, one of Canada's leading virtual healthcare platforms, is proud to announce the appointment of Leah Olson-Friesen to the role of Chief Operating Officer. With extensive management experience spanning over two decades, Olson-Friesen brings valuable leadership to Lumeca's executive team during a period of hyper-growth. As COO, Olson-Friesen will lead the company's finance and operational functions.
"Leah joins Lumeca with a wealth of management experience at both early-stage tech start-ups and mid-sized companies," said Shawn Hazen, Lumeca's founder & CEO. "We are thrilled to have a steady hand at the operational helm as we continue to expand our healthcare platform and broaden our customer base globally."
Prior to joining Lumeca, Olson-Friesen built and lead high performing teams in the private and public sectors across Canada. Olson-Friesen was CEO of DOT Technology Corp and CEO of SeedMaster Manufacturing. Beyond operations and finance management, she was responsible for all aspects of strategic planning, product development and customer service. Prior to the aforementioned, Olson-Friesen held successive positions as President of the Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada and Marketing and Communications Lead for Pfizer Canada. She is a board member of Ag West Bio and Intelliconn.
"Lumeca is experiencing accelerated growth with the success of its existing virtual healthcare platform and its planned expansion providing its virtual hospital unit (VHU) pilot program," said Olson-Friesen. "I am very excited to join Shawn who is an experienced entrepreneur and look forward to helping people who are looking for efficient and timely means to access healthcare services that meet their unique needs."
Olson-Friesen was recently nominated as one of Concordia University's top 50 under 50 shaping business for her leadership in technology and entrepreneurship. Olson-Friesen holds an MBA in Finance from Queens' University and a master's degree in Public Policy and Public Administration from Concordia University. Olson-Friesen is an avid runner and level II nationally certified rugby coach.
About Lumeca Health
Lumeca Health, one of Canada's leading virtual healthcare platforms, offering integrated healthcare services that connects people to our team of doctors, specialists, mental health professionals and hospitals 24/7.
Lumeca serves some of the world's leading employers, insurers, hospitals, pharmacies and healthcare systems while continually innovating healthcare access and improving outcomes making high-quality, patient-friendly healthcare a reality. Founded in 2016, Lumeca Health is proudly headquartered in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Health Canada approves OFEV® (nintedanib), the first and only therapy in Canada to slow the rate of decline in pulmonary function in patients with systemic sclerosis associated ILD(1)
BURLINGTON, ON, Nov. 27, 2019 /CNW/ - Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. announced today that Health Canada has approved OFEV® (nintedanib) as the first and only treatment indicated to slow the rate of decline in pulmonary function in patients with systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD).2 Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the leading cause of death related to systemic sclerosis (SSc) or scleroderma, accounting for 35 per cent of all disease-related deaths.3 This new approval changes the treatment paradigm for SSc-ILD, giving patients an opportunity to slow the progression of decline in lung function where no Health Canada approved options previously existed.
"Medical advancements, like the approval of OFEV®, are a rare thing when it comes to treating conditions like systemic sclerosis," said Dr. Martin Kolb, Respirologist at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and Director, Division of Respirology at McMaster University. "We now have the unprecedented opportunity to care for our patients in a different way that offers hope by slowing down the progression of this disease."
Systemic sclerosis is a rare disease estimated to affect up to 40,000 Canadians.4 Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the leading cause of death among people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) or scleroderma.5 Because scleroderma affects the connective tissue, symptoms can occur in any area of the body including the skin, muscles, blood vessels and internal organs, making it difficult to diagnose.6, 7, 8 More than 80 per cent of patients are women between the ages of 30 to 50.9
"When systemic sclerosis involves the lungs, it can be incredibly debilitating. For years I've watched my patients' disease progress and have been frustrated by the fact that there weren't any approved treatments to slow the disease from progressing," said Dr. Sindhu Johnson, Director of the Toronto Scleroderma Program and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. "I am excited to now be able to offer patients OFEV, which, by slowing the deterioration (or worsening) of the lungs, can help patients to continue to live well despite their disease."
OFEV® is currently approved in Canada and more than 70 countries for the treatment of patients living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and has been shown to slow IPF progression by reducing the annual rate of decline in lung function, as measured by forced vital capacity (FVC).10 Both IPF and SSc-ILD are conditions known as pulmonary fibrosis, which is when the lungs become scarred and stiff.11
"With OFEV® being the first therapy available in Canada to slow the rate of decline in pulmonary function for patients with SSc-ILD, it provides hope for these patients and their loved ones," said Dr. Uli Brödl, Vice President, Medical and Regulatory Affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. "This approval is supported by positive evidence from the Phase III SENSCIS study that showed that OFEV significantly slowed the progression of lung disease in this patient population."
The SENSCIS® Trial The approval was based on results of SENSCIS®, a Phase III double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled trial, that involved 576 patients across 32 countries, including Canada. The primary endpoint was the annual rate of decline in FVC in patients with SSc-ILD.12 Results show that OFEV® slowed the loss of pulmonary function by 44% (41 mL/year) in patients with SSc-ILD relative to placebo, as measured by FVC over 52 weeks.13
Results also showed the safety and tolerability of OFEV® in SSc-ILD patients. The most common adverse events (occurring in greater than or equal to 3%) in OFEV®-treated patients compared to placebo included: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, liver enzyme elevation, weight decreased, fatigue, decreased appetite, pneumonia, musculoskeletal pain, dizziness and hypertension.14
Both the FDA and Health Canada have granted approval for the application of nintedanib in SSc-ILD. This approval is a part of the company's ongoing commitment to improving the lives of people living with SSc-ILD.
Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. Improving the health of humans and animals is the goal of Boehringer Ingelheim, a research-driven pharmaceutical company. In doing so, the focus is on diseases for which no satisfactory treatment option exists to date. The company therefore concentrates on developing innovative therapies that can extend patients' lives. In animal health, Boehringer Ingelheim stands for advanced prevention.
Family-owned since it was established in 1885, Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the top 20 companies in the pharmaceutical industry. Some 50,000 employees create value through innovation daily for the three business areas of human pharmaceuticals, animal health and biopharmaceuticals. In 2018, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of around 17.5 billion euros. R&D expenditure of almost 3.2 billion euros, corresponded to 18.1 per cent of net sales.
As a family-owned company, Boehringer Ingelheim plans in generations and focuses on long-term success. The company therefore aims at organic growth from its own resources with simultaneous openness to partnerships and strategic alliances in research. In everything it does, Boehringer Ingelheim naturally adopts responsibility towards mankind and the environment.
The Canadian headquarters of Boehringer Ingelheim was established in 1972 in Montreal, Quebec and is now located in Burlington, Ontario. Boehringer Ingelheim employs approximately 600 people across Canada.
_________________ 1 Ofev® Product Monograph. Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. November 21, 2019. 2 Ofev® Product Monograph. Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. November 21, 2019. 3 Silver KC, Silver RM. Management of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2015 Aug; 41(3): 439–457. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4515778/ 4 Scleroderma Society of Canada. Scleroderma Overview. Available at https://fhs.mcmaster.ca/purr/documents/Scleroderma-Overview.pdf 5 Tyndall AJ et al. "Causes and risk factors for death in systemic sclerosis: a study from the EULAR Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) database." Ann Rheum Dis. 2010 Oct;69(10):1809-15. doi: 10.1136/ard.2009.114264. 6 Denton, CP, Khanna D. Systemic Sclerosis. Lancet 2017; 390: 1685-99. 7 Cottin V, et al. Interstitial lung disease associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc-ILD). Respir. Res. 2019;20(1):13. 8 US National Library of Medicine. Systemic Scleroderma. Available at: https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/systemic-scleroderma#genes 9 Scleroderma Society of Canada. Scleroderma Overview. Available at https://fhs.mcmaster.ca/purr/documents/Scleroderma-Overview.pdf 10 Ofev® Product Monograph. Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. November 21, 2019. 11 Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. Understanding PF – What is Pulmonary Fibrosis? Available at https://cpff.ca/understanding-pf/what-is-pulmonary-fibrosis/ 12 Distler O, et al. Nintedanib for Systemic Sclerosis – Associated Interstitial Lung Disease. New England Journal of Medicine. 2019; 1-11. 13 Distler O, et al. Nintedanib for Systemic Sclerosis – Associated Interstitial Lung Disease. New England Journal of Medicine. 2019; 1-11. 14 Ofev® Product Monograph. Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. November 21, 2019.
SOURCE Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd.
The Stand Ahead™ Challenge for Women's Brain Health
Turn yourself upside down to support the first Women's Brain Health Day, December 2
TORONTO, Nov. 28, 2019 /CNW/ - It is a social media challenge that will upend the way we look at dementia and other brain-aging disorders that disproportionately affect women. Literally.
Thousands of supporters of Women's Brain Health Initiative (WBHI) across Canada, the United States, and around the globe are doing headstands to support the cause and raise money for vital sex-based research and preventative health education.
The organization is launching the campaign on the first-ever Women's Brain Health Day, December 2, which has just been officially proclaimed by the Government of Canada.
Participants in the Stand Ahead™ Challenge will post videos or pictures on social media in which they speak about the importance of standing up against research bias and standing ahead for women's brain health. They do a headstand, then challenge two people to do the same within 48 hours and make a donation to WBHI. Their posts include the hashtag #StandAhead.
As part of the campaign, WBHI unveiled a powerful video in which public figures deliver passionate appeals to support the cause. Participants include Jeanne Becker, Pooja Handa, Cheryl Hickey, Sean Jones, Anne-Marie Mediwake, Dina Pugliese, Jennifer Valentyne, Paul Godfrey and Karman Wong. Watch the video here.
Not everyone can or should do a headstand, but you can designate a friend to do one on your behalf.
Here is some advice on how to do a supported headstand safely.
Here's why the Stand Ahead™ Challenge matters:
Almost 70% of people with Alzheimer's are women;
Women suffer from depression, stress, and anxiety twice as much as men;
More woman die from stroke and more women are worse off after stroke.
YET the vast majority of research into these disorders is focused on men.
WBHI is a national charity that strives to correct the imbalance. It funds cutting edge research that explore the differences between female and male brains. WBHI also creates innovative education programs, based on science, to teach us how we can best protect our brain health.
"We hope that the Stand Ahead Challenge will spark an important conversation about brain health and about how researchers need to explore the reasons why women suffer from dementia and other brain-aging disorders more than men," said WBHI Founder and CEO Lynn Posluns.
Ms. Posluns said that WBHI is deeply grateful for the support of Brain Canada, which will be matching donations for women's brain health research through its partnership with Health Canada, up to $250,000, effectively doubling the value of each contribution.
"To date, Brain Canada has invested more than $3.25 million in six research programs across Canada with a sex and/or gender component, and we are delighted to be committing matching funds for the Stand Ahead Challenge. This will enable us to expand our support of women's brain health research, through a long-standing partnership with Women's Brain Health Initiative. In addition to our focus on sex and gender, Brain Canada's goal is to consider diversity in all its forms. Only then can research ultimately benefit all of society," said Inez Jabalpurwala, President and CEO of Brain Canada Foundation.
Headstands are more than just a playground stunt for kids. In yoga this pose is known as sirsasana, the "king" of poses, an energizing inversion that strengthens the upper body and the core and is believed to improve circulation. The editors of Yoga Journal say the pose calms the brain and reduces stress.
Beverage producers to benefit if FDA attack on CBD leads to stronger regulation and more research, says GlobalData
Following the news that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has questioned using cannabidiol (CBD) as an ingredient;
Andy Morton, Deputy Editor at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, provides his view:
“In declining to define CBD as a Generally Recognised as Safe (GRAS) ingredient, and sending warning letters to 15 companies selling products containing CBD, the US FDA has seemingly thrown the nascent CBD beverage category into doubt.
“However, rather than censuring the FDA for its actions this week, CBD beverage producers should welcome the move as it suggests the organization is finally ready to define its rules for hemp-related and cannabis-related products.
“Currently, US regulation on CBD is vague and unfocused. The FDA said this week that many food and beverage manufacturers who use CBD in their products are doing so illegally - this is after the US Farm Bill, which was supposed to give clarity on the production of industrial hemp, was updated at the end of last year. This regulatory confusion isn’t helping consumers understand the ingredient, as GlobalData’s 2019 Q3 survey highlighted when 37% of global consumers claimed that they were not familiar enough with CBD when asked if they thought the ingredient was positive or negative for their health.
“Weak regulation has allowed the CBD market to become something of a Wild West, with products of questionable quality and efficacy. Yes, this week's FDA announcement is alarming, with the group even questioning whether CBD can affect male reproductive toxicity in humans, as has been reported in animals. However, much of its alarm is over the lack of research into CBD. Hemp trade groups and supporters all over the world will point to the plant's history of being ingested in various forms by humans for thousands of years with little ill-effect.
“The FDA still needs to give clearer guidance, but this week's announcement could signal better times ahead. Reputable CBD beverage firms that want to build the category with quality products can only benefit from stronger regulatory oversight and more research.”
Top technology companies manufacturing fitness trackers and smartwatches, identified by GlobalData
The wearable tech market is expected to reach approximately $54bn in value by 2023, witnessing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19%, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
The company’s latest report, ‘Wearable Technology in Healthcare – Thematic Research’, notes that over 10% of the adult population in the US are expected to adopt smartwatches in 2019, and competition in the segment is vastly increasing. Wearables collect large amounts of data and are easily paired with software systems for analysis. Big tech companies such as Google are developing algorithms that interpret large collections of data from wearable sensors.
Listed below are the leading technology companies that manufacture fitness trackers and smartwatches, where their products can be useful in the healthcare sector, as identified by GlobalData.
Apple
Apple leads the market after entering in 2015 with its first smartwatch. The company has since expanded into hearables with the Apple AirPods in 2016. The company is adopting newer technologies to drive operability of its devices, such as long-term evolution (LTE) capability on Apple Watches and Siri on Apple AirPods.
Facebook
Facebook’s in-house engineers are working on a wearable band that can teach people how to feel words. Inspired by Braille and Tadoma, the band enables the wearer to ‘read’ incoming smartphone messages in the form of vibrations.
Fitbit
Fitbit is a pioneer in wearable technologies, offering a range of connected health and fitness devices ranging from smartwatches to wristbands, activity trackers and wireless headphones. The company offers a personalised online dashboard and mobile apps that sync automatically with and display real-time data from wearable devices.
Garmin
Garmin offers a range of products designed for use in fitness and activity tracking. The company’s fitness trackers and ruggedised GPS smartwatches are marketed worldwide. The company also offers Garmin Connect and Garmin Connect Mobile platforms for users to track, analyze and share their fitness and wellness data.
Google (Alphabet)
Despite being a front-runner in developing wearable technologies, Google encountered challenges in positioning its devices in the marketplace. The company’s Wear OS has been termed as an underperformer when compared to Apple’s watchOS.
The Wear OS, however, still remains the preferred choice for numerous smartwatch original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). It is anticipated to undergo an overhaul when Google initiates the development of the long-awaited Pixel Watch.
HTC
HTC is a Taiwan-based consumer electronics company that is recognised as a leader in the virtual reality (VR) sector. The company plans to invest more aggressively in their VR competencies. It has designed VR devices for Steam users in partnership with Valve Corporation.
Huawei
Huawei offers low-cost fitness trackers and smartwatches in the global wearables market. Backwards integration initiatives to develop its own smartwatch chips and OS have reduced the company’s dependency on other vendors.
The latest Huawei Watch GT includes its own custom silicon chips and features the Lite OS replacing the Wear OS.
Microsoft
Despite being an early entrant in wearables with the Microsoft Band, Microsoft’s present involvement in the sector is largely confined to smart glasses. The company also holds patents for new fitness-focussed smart rings and bands.
Qualcomm
Qualcomm is involved in developing custom silicon chips for wearable devices, primarily for OEMs utilising the Google Wear OS. In September 2018, Qualcomm introduced its latest smartwatch chipset called the Snapdragon Wear 3100.
The company has collaborated with various companies for wearables devices, including Compal Electronics and Longcheer for smartwatches, Huaqin and Thundersoft for 4G kids’ watches, and Franklin Wireless for 4G smart trackers.
Samsung
Samsung’s wearable portfolio includes smartwatches, smart fitness trackers, and VR headsets. The company uses its own Linux-based Tizen OS and initiated the development of Exynos SoC microprocessors for its smartwatches.
Samsung has expanded into the hearables segment with the Samsung Gear IconX and is promoting its smartwatches in enterprise applications.
Sony
Sony’s wearable offerings include smartwatches, activity trackers and VR headsets. The company’s SmartBand activity tracker series, however, falls short of the latest healthcare-focused functionalities. Sony integrated calling capabilities in the activity tracker and relaunched it as SmartBand Talk.
In 2019, Sony introduced the Sony Wena straps, which enable watch-based contactless payment, basic fitness tracking, and notification access.
Vuzix
Vuzix, an emerging brand in the wearables market, offers display technologies and software products. The company partnered with Blackberry to develop enterprise-specific smart glasses. It is currently developing a waveguide-based head mounted display (HMD) for use in US military aircraft.
Xiaomi
Xiaomi’s product offerings include the Mi Band fitness trackers, which accounted for approximately one-quarter of the company’s shipments in Q4 2018. The company is set to introduce new wearables in 2019, which will feature its technology partner Huami’s new Huangshan -1 chip that is capable of screening the wearer’s heart rate patterns through cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI).
Studio SWEAT onDemand will be the perfect present for any YouTube addict and a great way to get the most out of a YouTube subscription! This ondemand fitness offers a huge variety of fitness classes on their paid platform, but on their YouTube channel they have several free classes. So, yes, this could be a gift that would cost nothing and will make video-watching time an active time.
And because we are living in an “on-demand world” people can watch all the classes any time, anywhere, from multiple devices:On any computer or smart device, by joining the platform through internet browser.On any smart TV or using Amazon FireTV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Google TV, Playstation, 4Roku or even Xbox One!And of course by downloading the App!
Fitness classes include Spinning, Ab & Core, Mind & Body, Sculpt Spin, TRX, On The Floor, Travel-Friendly, and many more. And on the paid platform, they can be selected by the level of intensity, length, usage of equipment and trainer. The coolest thing? There are classes for everybody on every single fitness level: from the most serious fat torching workouts, to the simplest stretching movements for which people only need their own bodies. Ah! And they can also see the progress of their workout (if they want to) on the screen, and the progress of others on that same class too!
Users can pay by the class or by subscriptions (right now all streaming fitness classes are discounted at 50% off!!!). And they can also opt to only join the free classes available on their youtube channel.
Living With Chronic Illness? How to Continue Working Out Despite Challenges
Chronic illnesses disengage people from the normal functions of their bodies by complicating the overall sensory mechanism. As a result, they find themselves in a fragile and weaker state, convinced that workout is no longer their ball-game. The bounties of exercising regularly demonstrates how fallacious this thought is. Exercise tends to counter debilitating symptoms and reduces stress. But it is important that ill people practice caution and work out according to their capabilities and strength.
Exercise and Chronic Disease
“Exercise gives you endorphins” is a famous saying that serves to remind people that moving their bodies in a healthy fashion actually improves their resilience and fitness. When bodies are at work, they’re not only burning calories and toning muscles but also strengthening emotional capacities. A fit lifestyle allows people to feel more in control of themselves. They experience increased positivity allowing them to manage their symptoms better and bravely confront the bane of their illnesses. Those who suffer from chronic conditions might wonder how they can exercise and which exercises are suitable for them. Patients withchronic illnessessuch as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, or arthritis can benefit from the following exercises:
Aerobic Exercise
Engaging in aerobics helps a person improve the health of his heart by creating a healthy level of endurance. Although the level of intensity can vary person to person, generally high-intensity interval training is considered safe. This can be carried out by alternating between high and low levels of intensity. Aerobic exercises are reported to have fared well for patients with heart diseases.
Strength Training
Strength training can work as a force against debilitating symptoms by improving muscle strength, endurance, and the overall physical capacity of the body. This allows patients to participate in daily activities, delay declines in their health, and boost stability in their joints.
Flexibility Workout
Flexibility improvement is best for patients with restricted movement. Poor mobility in a person is a result of compromising his optimal range of motion due to long existing conditions like arthritis. Flexibility workout can somewhat restore the joint’s function by stabilizing movement and ultimately strengthening muscles to support any strains in the joint area.
To be on the safe side, it is best to consult a physical therapist before starting workout as each exercise is applicable to different conditions and with different intensity levels. Primary caregivers might also recommend specific exercises to patients that best correspond with their health. In addition, people can also incorporate the Pure Canned Oxygen Supplementin their workout plans to further assist in energizing themselves.
Fitness is a strategy that enables people to stay healthy and retain the quality of their lives. It naturally leads people to associate bodily comfort with good psychological progress. To stay motivated, it is best for people to choose activities that they prefer and find fun.
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