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DOES YOUR SKIN HAVE A HOLIDAY HANGOVER?

What to Do When Libations Take a Toll on Your Skin

'Tis the season…for eating…and drinking. 

We’re all aware of the effects binge drinking can have on our health, but that doesn’t stop most of us from overindulging during the party season. What many people don’t realize is that drinking alcohol in excess can have a negative impact on our appearance. Alcohol dehydrates your body including the skin, your body’s largest organ. This happens every time you drink. Extra cocktails can be adding years to your face in the form of wrinkles, poor texture and lack of radiance. 

Dr. Gretchen Frieling is a Boston Area Board-Certified Dermatopathologist. She explains that frequent alcohol consumption is also thought to deprive the skin of vital vitamins and nutrients. “Over time, drinking heavily can have other, more permanent, detrimental effects on your skin. Rosacea, a skin disorder that starts with a tendency to blush and flush easily and can eventually lead to facial disfigurement, is linked to alcohol. Since alcohol increases your blood flow, it often causes blood vessels in your face to dilate (sometimes permanently) and often burst, leaving behind broken capillaries and red spots that are difficult to get rid of,” offers Dr. Frieling.  

Here’s a look at what alcohol can do to wreak havoc on your appearance. 

Brittle hair. 

What's worse, drinking too much doesn't only affect the appearance of your skin; it will dehydrate your hair, making it more prone to breaking and split ends. Weak, brittle hair in addition to premature wrinkling, can easily add 10 years to someone’s appearance. 

Dark circles, bloodshot eyes, and even blindness.

In much the same way that alcohol causes broken capillaries on your face, it irritates and enlarges the tiny blood vessels on the surface of your eye (the sclera) causing a "bloodshot" appearance. If vanity doesn’t get your attention, how about blindness? “Because excessive drinking robs the body of some nutrients required to maintain eye health, it can lead to a condition called alcoholic optic neuritis, which impairs eyesight and, over time, can result in blindness,” cautions Dr. Frieling. 

Some tips to avoid a “skin hangover” include… 

1. Stay hydrated.

Aside from giving up booze altogether, Dr. Frieling says it is possible to minimize the unwanted effects of alcohol by constantly staying hydrated. “That means drinking a full glass of water for every cocktail you have. Drink even more water before you go to bed to flush the alcohol out of your system so you wake up less dehydrated, puffy and flushed,” she advises. 

2. Take care of your skin before bed.

Taking care of your skin before hitting the sack is also crucial. Dr.  Frieling advises fully washing your face and then applying a moisturizer, like a hydrating serum before getting into bed. “Sleeping with dirty skin makes it prone to clogged pores and acne.”

3. Prop pillows and use tea.

One of the best ways to minimize the eye and face puffiness is to sleep on two pillows, slightly propped up. In the morning, rubbing ice cubes all over your face helps, too. “One of the best ways to deflate eye puffiness and reduce the redness is to place cold tea bags over the eyes. The tannins in the tea help constrict blood vessels,” adds Dr. Frieling.

4. Cover up what you can’t cure.

To camouflage the redness in the face, use a green-tinted primer before applying makeup, which should help neutralize any redness. If you must use foundation, look for a lightweight, moisturizing formula.  Avoid powders, as they are often more drying. 

5. Consider lasers.

When at-home remedies aren’t making much of a difference. There are pricier measures you can take to minimize the effects of alcohol. “Certain laser treatments can reduce redness and spider veins on the face. It’s important to see someone who is well trained to administer the laser treatment,” suggests Dr.  Frieling. 

6. Choose your booze wisely. 

If you are going to consume alcohol know that different alcohols have different effects on the skin, but as a general rule, the clearer, the better. Vodka, gin, and tequila leave your system quicker. “If you’re going to drink anything, drink vodka that doesn’t have a grain in it, like potato vodka. It’s a lot clearer and smoother, so it gets in and out of your body quickly,” says Dr.  Frieling. Most dermatologists agree that although everyone metabolizes alcohol differently if you can remember to drink in moderation and stay hydrated, you can save your skin.

www.gfacemd.com

Board-Certified Dermatopathologist Dr. Gretchen Frieling 

Boston Area 

Dr. Gretchen Frieling (“Dr. G”), MD is a Harvard-trained, board-certified Dermatopathologist, with over 10 years of experience in Medicine and Dermatopathology.  With a background notable for intensive ballet, including the Juilliard School, Dr. G combines her artistic eye, perfectionistic qualities, and medical expertise, to give her patients the ability to be better versions of themselves.  Dr. G has an extensive academic background, including numerous publications in peer-reviewed medical journals, selected Editor of medical journals, an author of noteworthy medical textbook chapters, an educator at the Harvard Medical School, and speaker at many national medical conferences.

When it comes to non-surgical cosmetic procedures, Dr. Frieling has mastered the art of re-defining and re-vitalizing the face by eliminating fine lines, wrinkles and re-establishing volume with a minimalistic approach.  She is the founder and CEO of the GFaceMD luxury medical skincare line.  GFaceMD is a unique, boutique, client-focused aesthetic practice, with a mission to optimize beauty through advanced microenhancement techniques with the utmost professionalism, education, and confidentiality.  Services include injectables from neurotoxins to dermal fillers, fat dissolving treatments, collagen-stimulating treatments, laser treatments, medical facials,  microneedling, chemical peels, dermaplaning, and more.  Along with splitting her time as a practicing Dermatopathologist, Dr. Frieling enjoys spending time with her husband, her two kids, and extended family, as well as volunteering in the community. She is an avid philanthropist, serving as a judge in the Miss Pink Organization, an active member of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and a contributor to many non-profit organizations, including My Life My Choice and St. Jude.

Top experts, advocates identify solutions to support workplace mental health and wellness

Benefits 3 Conference Series provides forum for meaningful dialogue on one of greatest challenges facing employers today

TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2019 /CNW/ - Some of Canada's leading mental health experts and advocates, including Juno award-winning artist Serena Ryder and Grey Cup Champion and former defensive back Étienne Boulay, led conversations for change in support of workplace mental health and wellness at an exclusive conference series in Montreal, Toronto and Halifax, November 14, November 6 and October 30 respectively.

Hosted by Medavie Blue Cross, Benefits3 brought together employers and HR professionals, health benefit advisors and consultants to share actionable insights that foster workplace health, productivity and leadership – the three pillars of this annual conference series.

Recognizing that one in five members of Canada's working age population is currently living with a mental health condition with the cost to the Canadian economy projected to reach $88.8 billion by 2021,1 conversations focused on what is working well in creating psychologically safe, healthy and productive workplaces across the country.

Speakers and delegates exchanged thoughts and ideas on effective strategies and solutions that remove barriers to care, such as stigma, cost and lack of access to qualified mental health professionals, which prevent 60 per cent of Canadians from getting the professional help they need.2

As the manager and insurer of health benefits for one in twelve Canadians, Medavie Blue Cross is committed to helping employers build mentally healthy workplaces in Canada. To that end, the organization has developed a comprehensive offering of state-of-the-art tools in personalized and targeted medicine to ensure its plan members have easier, faster access to expert care.

Earlier this month, Medavie Blue Cross rolled out enhancements to its extended health care coverage for mental health care practitioners by broadening the range of eligible service providers and increasing coverage maximums. New provider types include: counselling therapists, psychotherapists and psychoeducators. 

This followed the launch of Medavie Blue Cross's new digital health platform, Connected Care, which gives plan members quick access to mental health professionals for online counselling and education services, among other virtual health services. Medavie Blue Cross's full suite of products to protect and promote workplace mental health and wellness can be viewed at medaviebc.ca/mentalhealthsolutions.

Participant Quotes:

Eric Laberge, President, Medavie Blue Cross
As a health solutions partner, Medavie Blue Cross is committed to helping employers build mentally healthy workplaces in Canada. We will continue to form strategic partnerships, invest resources and leverage new technologies to develop innovative, collaborative solutions that increase accessibility to care, elevate mental resiliency and ultimately improve the lives of Canadians affected by mental illness.

Serena Ryder, Juno award-winning artist
Most of us are taught to swallow our emotions, and that falling apart is a bad thing. Through my personal journey, I've come to realize that falling apart is the very thing that keeps us "together". I'm very encouraged to see people coming together to focus on creating healthy and supportive work environments. If sharing my mental health journey helps just one person know they are not alone, it is well worth it!

Étienne Boulay, former Canadian Football League player
I am very proud to have participated in this important event with Medavie Blue Cross. It is by getting together and having a transparent discussion about issues related to mental health that we will make a difference.  

Dr. Peter Farvolden, Chief Science Officer, MindBeacon Group
Effective treatments are available. For example, about 85-90% of depression can be effectively treated with a combination of evidence-based psychotherapy and medications. If we just reduced the number of young people experiencing a new mental illness in a given year by 10%, after 10 years we could be saving the economy at least $4 billion a year.

Jordan Friesen, National Director, Workplace Mental Health, Canadian Mental Health Association
The workplace is a key environment to affect positive change in the mental health of Canadians, especially if we want to promote mental health and prevent mental illness in the first place. A mentally healthy work environment is going to be key to our economic advantage in an increasingly fast-paced global economy and massive planetary change.

Dr. Paul Oh, Medical Director, University Health Network & Principal Investigator: ACCELERATION 2.0 
The link between chronic disease and mental illness is undeniable. Depression, anxiety and stress can all be downstream complications of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. Making this connection is the first step in supporting at-risk Canadians on their journey to better health. By adopting healthy lifestyles and eliminating risk behaviours, those affected  can prevent, delay the onset or even reverse chronic conditions and secondary psychological conditions. 

About Medavie Blue CrossMedavie Blue Cross is a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits, and administers various federal and provincial government-sponsored health programs. Together with Medavie Health Services, we are part of Medavie, a health solutions partner committed to improving the wellbeing of Canadians. 

We are one of Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures and recognized as an Imagine Canada Caring Company. As a not-for-profit organization, we are proud to commit an annual social dividend to the Medavie Health Foundation to support programs and initiatives aimed at addressing some of our country's most pressing physical and mental health care challenges.

Sources:
1 Mental Health Commission of Canada
2 Canadian Mental Health Association

SOURCE Medavie Blue Cross

For further information:

Caitlin Ferguson, Medavie Blue Cross, caitlin.ferguson@medavie.ca, 902.496.5958

Ontario and Quebec provide reimbursement for HIV therapies PIFELTRO® (doravirine) and DELSTRIGO® (doravirine/lamivudine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate)

  • Although treatment progress has been made, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is still one of the world's most serious public health challenges.i In 2018, approximately 37.9 million people were living with HIV worldwide.ii During that same year, an estimated 1.7 million people became newly infected globally.iii
  • For more than 30 years, Merck has been committed to scientific research and discovery in HIV that addresses unmet medical needs and helps people living with HIV have a long and healthy life.

KIRKLAND, QC, Nov. 18, 2019 /CNW/ - Merck Canada Inc., an affiliate of Merck & Co., Inc.,  known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today that reimbursement will be provided to PIFELTRO® and DELSTRIGO®, a once-daily NNRTI regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 infection, effective October 31st for the Ontario Drug Benefit Program and November 14th for la Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec, RAMQ. Ontarians and Quebecers aged 18 years or older who are living with an HIV-1 infection will be eligible for reimbursement under the public program. 

"While living well with HIV infection is now a reality for most people, HIV remains a major public health challenge and identifying individuals with infection and ensuring access to effective treatment and care is a priority," says Dr. Fiona Smaill, Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology, McMaster University. "These two new products, from the class of drugs known as NNRTIs, provide another simple, effective and well tolerated treatment choice for patients." 

Merck's PIFELTRO® and DELSTRIGO® were approved for the treatment of HIV-1 by Health Canada in 2018. Both treatments provide additional options to adults infected with HIV-1 to help manage their disease. 

"We're pleased to see both products now reimbursed for patients living with HIV in Ontario and Quebec," says Anna Van Acker, President, Merck Canada. "At Merck, we are committed to scientific research and discovery of new treatment options that address the unmet medical needs and bring hope and quality of life to patients living with the consequences of this devastating disease. This includes ensuring that effective therapies are accessible to many patients as quickly as possible." 

About HIV-1 Infection

HIV is a virus which causes HIV infection, with acquired immunodeficiency virus (AIDS) being the most advanced stage of HIV infection.ivHIV attacks the body by targeting and dismantling the immune system's infection-fighting CD4 cells.v As the body loses CD4 cells, the immune system struggles to fight off infections and certain cancers.vi If left untreated, the immune system can be broken down further by HIV and result in AIDS.vii

HIV-1 is the most predominant type of HIV infection, accounting for approximately 95 per cent of all infections worldwide.viii

About PIFELTRO®

PIFELTRO® is a new non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) of HIV-1 to be administered in combination with other antiretroviral medicines. The approval of this therapy is based on data from two randomized, international, multicenter, double-blind, and active-controlled pivotal Phase 3 trials entitled DRIVE-FORWARD and DRIVE-AHEAD. PIFELTRO® is indicated, in combination with other antiretroviral medicinal products for the treatment of adults infected with HIV-1 without past or present evidence of viral resistance to doravirine.  In DRIVE-FORWARD, once-daily PIFELTRO, demonstrated non-inferior efficacy to darunavir + ritonavir (DRV+r), each in combination with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) at 48 weeks (84% in the PIFELTRO group achieved viral suppression of HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL vs. 80% in the DRV+r group). The most frequently reported adverse reactions considered possibly or probably related to PIFELTRO were nausea (6%) and headache (5%).ix

About DELSTRIGO®

DELSTRIGO® is a once-daily fixed-dose combination tablet of doravirine, lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, designed as a complete regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in appropriate patients. The approval of this therapy is based on data from two randomized, multicenter, double-blind and active controlled pivotal Phase 3 trials entitled DRIVE-AHEAD and DRIVE-SHIFT. DELSTRIGO®is indicated as a complete regimen for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection in adults without past or present evidence of viral resistance to doravirine, lamivudine or tenofovir. In DRIVE-AHEAD, once-daily DELSTRIGO demonstrated non-inferior efficacy to the combination of efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir DF (EFV/FTC/TDF) at 48 weeks (84% in the DELSTRIGO group achieved viral suppression of HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL vs. 81% in the EFV/FTC/TDF group). The most frequently reported adverse reactions considered possibly or probably related to DELSTRIGO were dizziness (7%) and nausea (5%).x

About Merck

For over a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. 

Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and communities around the world - including cancer, cardio-metabolic diseases, emerging animal diseases, Alzheimer's disease and infectious diseases including HIV and Ebola.

In Canada, Merck markets a broad range of vaccines, pharmaceutical and animal health products and is one of the top R&D investors in Canada, with investments totaling $69 million in 2018 and more than $1 billion since 2000. Based in Kirkland, Québec, Merck employs approximately 765 people across the country. For more information about our operations in Canada, visit www.merck.ca and connect with us on YouTube and Twitter @MerckCanada.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the "company") includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company's patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company's 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Please see the product monograph for PIFELTRO® (doravirine) at: 

https://www.merck.ca/static/pdf/PIFELTRO-PM_E.pdf

Please see the product monograph for DELSTRIGO® (doravirine/lamivudine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) at:

https://www.merck.ca/static/pdf/DELSTRIGO-PM_E.pdf

References

_________________________
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Global statistics. Available at https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/data-and-trends/global-statistics
ii UNAIDS. Global HIV & AIDS statistics – 2019 fact sheet. Available at https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/fact-sheet
iii UNAIDS. Global HIV & AIDS statistics – 2019 fact sheet. Available at  https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/fact-sheet
iv Aids Info – U.S. National Library of Medicine. HIV/Aids: The Basics Available at https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv-aids/fact-sheets/19/45/hiv-aids--the-basics
Aids Info – U.S. National Library of Medicine. HIV/Aids: The Basics Available at https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv-aids/fact-sheets/19/45/hiv-aids--the-basics
vi Aids Info – U.S. National Library of Medicine. HIV/Aids: The Basics Available at https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv-aids/fact-sheets/19/45/hiv-aids--the-basics
vii Aids Info – U.S. National Library of Medicine. HIV/Aids: The Basics Available at https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv-aids/fact-sheets/19/45/hiv-aids--the-basics
viii Avert. Global information and education on HIV and AIDS. HIV Strains and Types. Available at https://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-science/types-strains
ix Product Monograph. PIFELTRO®. 2018.
Product Monograph. DELSTRIGO®. 2018.

SOURCE Merck

INTELLiSTEM Partners With MÉDIMABS To Create A Biotech Powerhouse Platform

TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2019 /CNW/ - INTELLiSTEM Technologies, a Canadian biotech company revolutionizing stem cell medicine, is pleased to announce the establishment of a partnership with MÉDIMABS Inc. The agreement will leverage MÉDIMABS' expertise for the creation of an end to end platform suitable for the rapid generation of monoclonal antibodies using Intellistem's proprietary platform IntelliPeptidomeTM. The platform uses IntelliCellsTM to uncover MHC II neoantigens and epitopes for optimal monoclonal antibody discovery and development.

"We are very excited to offer this novel platform to the biopharmaceutical field. Standard platforms struggle to find the best immunogenic epitope. IntelliPeptidomeTM allows for a fast and efficient way to identify epitopes suitable for specific monoclonal antibody development," said Dr. Riam Shammaa, MD. Founder and CEO of INTELLiSTEM.

"Having the right epitope from the start is a game-changer for antibody development. This way, using our proprietary platform, we can focus our effort to generate antibodies with a high potential for a range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications. It is like having epitope mapping data of an antibody even before it exists. It allows us to streamline the generation process and minimize the risk of producing non-functional antibodies." said Dr. Pierre-André Scott, Ph.D. Senior Study Director of MÉDIMABS. 

About INTELLiSTEM:
INTELLiSTEM is a privately-owned biotechnology company that created the next generation of cell therapy products using stem cells. Its proprietary genetically engineered cell platforms include Super Sentinel Cells™ (SSCs) for cancer therapeutics and IntelliCellsTM for drug discovery and target identification. INTELLiSTEM is currently moving into human trials. 

About INTELLiPEPTIDOMETM
The IntelliPeptidomeTM platform allows for systematic analysis of peptides selected by IntelliCellsTM for triggering efficient and specific immune responses. Besides enabling the discovery of novel epitopes for monoclonal antibody development, IntelliPeptidomeTM can be used for screening large ScFv libraries to allow the engineering novel CAR T-cell recognizing previously unheralded targets expressed on the surface of solid tumours. 

The overall set of peptides presented at the cell surface is referred to as the immunopeptidome. The development of new technologies to decipher these sets of peptides is of paramount importance to guide the design of novel anti-cancer immunotherapies

About MÉDIMABS:
MÉDIMABS Inc. (https://medimabs.com/) is a privately-owned life science company. Founded in 2006 in Montreal, Quebec by a group of McGill University researchers to develop high-quality antibodies. MÉDIMABS has a worldwide distribution network for antibodies and has clients, who contract their specialized antibodies development and other services, from North and South America, Europe and Asia. MÉDIMABS' clients include public and private companies, as well as several well-regarded bioscience focused institutions and universities.

SOURCE INTELLiSTEM Technologies

Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association Releases an Updated National Framework for Advance Care Planning in Canada

OTTAWA, Nov. 18, 2019 /CNW/ - Advance Care Planning (ACP) in Canada initiative, led by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) has released an updated National Framework for ACP. This new Framework includes an updated plan for implementation of ACP in Canada.

The 2019 Pan-Canadian Framework builds on the legacy of the 2012 National Framework and its influence on new developments and accomplishments. The new framework is restructured to focus more on broadening partnerships, and promoting further collaboration among different jurisdictions (local, provincial/territorial, national) and systems (health, law, social services, life planning). Its development was funded by Health Canada as part of a $1.9 million project over three years to help people living in Canada prepare for their future health care needs. 

"Advance Care Planning is a normal part of the life journey" says Laurel L. Gillespie, Director of Advance Care Planning in Canada, Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Asociation "making an Advance Care Plan is about thinking how our health and personal care can fit with our personal values, preferences and our unique situation. The care Canadians receive should reflect their wishes and if they can't speak for themselves, their Substitute Decision Maker can speak on their behalf."

The first version of the National Advance Care Planning Framework was created in 2012, and it had an extremely positive impact. Policy makers and health care organizations and providers in all provinces and territories used the framework to raise awareness of the importance of ACP and make it an integral part of good quality care.

Speak Up instigated a national consultation process to update the National Framework. The consultation process began with a Strategic Planning meeting to invite feedback and revision. Next, four teleconference sessions were held to review the four main action pillars of the 2012 framework: Engagement, Infrastructure, Education, and Quality Improvement. In addition, three more sessions were conducted to discuss national, provincial/territorial, and regional perspectives. 

The updated Framework reframes the four main actions pillars as interconnected activities that have the potential to normalize, support, and promote ACP in Canada. These ACP activities, in turn, can be integrated with other life planning that people do, such as financial planning and estate planning, to create a kind of safety net for people throughout their lives.

The National 2019 Framework and many other helpful resources and tools for patients, families and health care providers are available on Advance Care Planning resource library at www.advancecareplanning.ca   

The national 'Speak Up' Advance Care Planning (ACP) in Canada initiative is led by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) with a financial contribution from Health Canada. The initiative aims to help people living in Canada prepare for their future and personal health care. The project involves a series of public awareness campaigns, supports community-based ACP programs, and promotes ACP resources and guides. 

SOURCE Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association

5 Ways to Keep Up your Exercising Habits at Home in the Winter

When winter arrives, it can make it difficult to visit a gym or a park to exercise. However, there are easy ways to enjoy physical activity throughout the winter while you remain at home. Consider these five exercise options that you can use at home during the wintertime.

Create a Home Gym

Create a gym at home that makes it easier to exercise on an inclement day. Use an extra room in your home for storing the elliptical machine, stationary bicycle or treadmill. You can also have smaller pieces of equipment, such as barbells and resistance bands. Arrange the equipment in a way that makes it simple to use the devices each day without needing to move the things around.

Have Exercise DVDs Available

If you have an assortment of exercise DVDs available, then you can play one in a DVD player while watching it on a television. This can motivate you to exercise on the coldest day of winter by working out with your favorite celebrity while listening to your favorite music.

Cycling for Exercise

You can cycle during the winter when you remember to wear the proper garments. By choosing custom cycling kits, you can remain warm with shirts, pants, jackets and accessories as the temperature drops. It is essential to select clothing that fits properly so that the cold air won’t enter the sleeves, neck or cuffs of the garments. These thin formfitting garments are easy to wear under other clothing for additional warmth. If the road is too icy or it is snowing, you can set up a training station for your bike or invest in a stationary treadmill.

Indoor Swimming Pool

If you live in a larger home or have a larger backyard, then you can install an indoor swimming pool. Hire a contractor who can design and build an indoor swimming pool that is covered with a building and that has heated water. During the winter, you can exercise in the warm water of the swimming pool to remain physically fit.

Yoga Routines

Yoga is an excellent wintertime exercise that doesn’t require a lot of space or equipment. This type of physical activity is perfect when you wake up in the morning to energize your body, or alternatively, you can perform a gentle yoga routine at night to help you relax and sleep.

Remember to Warm Up and Cool Down

It is essential to warm up and cool down when you exercise during the winter so that you won’t develop muscle cramps or joint pain. Experts suggest that you should do these activities for at least 15 minutes for the most benefits.

4 Key Muscle Exercises to Make You a Better Skier

If you love hitting the slopes in the winter months, you likely want to enhance your performance. The better skier you become, the more fun you have. Here are four muscle exercises that can enhance your performance on the slopes this winter season.

Squats

The squat is a very simple form of exercise that pretty much anyone can do anywhere. If you don’t regularly have a training program, then start with some air squats. Be sure that your feet are a shoulder’s width apart and that you actually sit back when squatting. Work on doing sets of 20 reps. When you reach five sets of 20 reps with a maximum of 60 seconds rest between, it’s time to add in some weights.

Wall Squat Holds

If you really want to not only fit in those telemarkdownski clothes but you want to last all afternoon on the slopes, then you should be doing the wall squat hold. Start by standing against a wall. Push your back and buttocks into the wall as you slide down into a comfortable squat position. Hold that squat position for as long as you possibly can. Do at least four reps of this exercise with minimal rest periods in between. The longer you can hold the squat position, the more endurance you will build.

Lunges

Lunges are ideal for not only building your leg and core strength but for enhancing your balance. Start in a standing position. Step one foot forward and bend down with it until your knee reaches a 90-degree bend. Ensure your back stays straight and your back leg is just up from touching the floor. You’ll want to work on doing about five sets of these for 20 reps each.

Planks

When it comes to building core strength, the plank is an extremely useful exercise. It comes with many fun variations that you can enjoy. However, the traditional plank done for lengthy periods of time can be a great addition to your workout routine. Ensure that when you’re in the plank position you’re core is in a solid position and your glutes are actively contracted.

If you’re looking for ways to build up your strength and endurance for this winter, then you need to look no further than the exercises above. These are great specifically for skiers who are looking to enhance their performance. Remember that by sticking with the same exercise, you can enhance their difficulty level by increasing sets, reps, and weights.

HOW TO AVOID HOLIDAY HEARTBURN AS EXPLAINED BY AN INTERNIST AND GASTROENTEROLOGIST

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                                    www.niketsonpal.com

Even if you’re not a “foodie” most people look forward to indulging in the culinary delights of holiday time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. This  means that even people who are typically disciplined eat too much in one evening, eat rapidly, imbibe amounts of alcohol they are unaccustomed to, and consume foods that may not be part of their regular diet because “tis the season.”  While nobody likes a medical grinch, there are ways to have gastronomic fun without paying the price with holiday heartburn. Dr. Niket Sonpal is an internist and gastroenterologist at Touro College of Medicine.  He shares his tips for having your holiday cake and eating it too.

Heartburn happens when stomach acid flows backward into the esophagus. It can also go by two names: GER (gastroesophageal reflux) or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). GER is also known as acid indigestion, happening only once in a while. GERD is chronic heartburn that can lead to esophageal cancer if left untreated.

Here are some tips for avoiding holiday heartburn

Eat light turkey, not dark

High-fat food can spell trouble if you're prone to heartburn, so do yourself a favor and skip the skin when it comes to turkey time. Your best bet is to eat turkey breast and avoid oilier dark meat. The same goes for gravy. If it's not fat free, it may be smarter to skip this dish.

Choose baked, not mashed

If you have chronic heartburn, you don't have to give up your favorite foods. You just have to choose wisely to save yourself some pain later on. For example, mashed potatoes can trigger heartburn, but baked potatoes may not. When it comes to dairy products, the less fat the better.  Limit butter and avoid sour cream.

Choose multigrain rolls or bread

When choosing grain-based food for the holiday, you can't go wrong with multigrain bread or rolls. Corn bread and white bread are good choices too,if you want to avoid heartburn.

One side dish that should be strictly for the kids, however, is macaroni and cheese. This is one of those dishes known to trigger acid reflux, according to the National Heartburn Alliance.

Selecting a salad

Salads are good news for those with chronic heartburn or GERD—if you have the right salad dressing and ingredients, that is. High-fat foods are a known trigger for acid reflux, so the National Heartburn Alliance recommends avoiding creamy salad dressings, as well as oil and vinegar. Your best bet is a low-fat salad dressing, and avoid tomatoes, raw onions, and other acid-aggravating ingredients. (Want fruit in your salad? Choose apples, not oranges, if you want to avoid heartburn.)

Avoid foods that cause heartburn.

People who suffer from heartburn often know the trigger foods that cause symptoms. Common foods include chocolates, caffeine and greasy foods. These foods relax the lower esophagus sphincter muscle, when this muscle is relaxed, the food will go back up and cause heartburn. Other foods that can trigger heartburn include acidic foods such as citrus fruits or carbonated beverages. This means avoid Champagne! 

Skip Mint Desserts

Candy canes and chocolate mint desserts are best left for others. These dangerous holiday delectables are notorious for helping acid reflux on its way.

Eat more ginger

Ginger is one ingredient that can help ease heartburn, if you don't get too much of it. (More than 2 to 4 grams per day can actually cause heartburn.)

Ginger is a natural match for root vegetable dishes commonly served during the holidays. Heartburn-friendly vegetables include carrots, cabbage, peas, broccoli, and green beans

Linger Over Your Food

Take the time to eat slowly and enjoy your food. Rushing through your meal or chewing with your mouth open can increase your chances of indigestion or heartburn. Linger over your food and allow yourself to feel full by giving your food time to digest.

Limit Alcoholic Beverages

Have to have that holiday egg nog? Limit it to one glass. This festive beverage can do double the damage. Not only does it contain alcohol that irritates your stomach but it contains the added dose of diary that can cause bloating and gas.

Cut yourself off.

After-hours holiday parties can keep you snacking all night, but eating too close to bedtime can make acid reflux worse. Stop eating and drinking (water included) three hours before bedtime.

Ditch the post-meal nap:

Sleeping right after eating can increase GERD symptoms. Instead of falling asleep, try going for a walk.

Dr. Niket Sonpal

 is a native of Long Island NY and a graduate of Medical University of Silesia – Hope Medical Institute in Poland. After completing his residency in Internal Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital, he was selected to be the 2013‐2014 Chief Resident at Lenox Hill Hospital–Northshore LIJ Health System. He is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and Clinical instructor at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn. Dr. Sonpal has completed his Fellowship in gastroenterology at Lenox Hill Hospital and will continue his work in the field of medical student and resident test preparation.

Dr Sonpal has spoken and presented at over 25 national and regional conferences on his research and is a regular participant in national courses, as well as offering presentations to medical students, graduates, and residents on the match process. Recently Dr. Sonpal was chosen as one of top ten national residents for the Medelita–‐Dupont Honoring Excellent Resident Observations also known as the H.E.R.O. Campaign. He is the co‐author for the best-selling Master the Boards: USMLE Step 2 CK, Master the Boards Step 3, And Master the Boards: Internal Medicine. He is also the Chief Operating Officer for Medquest Test Prep, Director of Medical Education for Picmonic Test Prep, and a recognized expert on medical test prep.

Dr. Sonpal is also on the board of the NY‐ American College Of Physicians (NYACP), and AAPI–‐NYC–‐METRO as the MSRF liaison. He has recently become a board member for NYCMS (New York County Medical Society).

ACS improves in-vehicle energy consumption with the introduction of Low-Sleep-State (LSS) power levels – exceeding CENELEC automotive quiescent current standards.

TORONTO, November 15, 2019

Alcohol Countermeasure Systems (ACS), a global leader in the development and manufacturing of alcohol interlocks and breath alcohol testers to prevent impaired driving, announces improvements to their alcohol interlock technology, including the introduction of Low-Sleep-State (LSS) power levels – exceeding CENELEC automotive quiescent standards.

For commercial vehicle operators, telematics and other on-board electronic monitoring functions are making increasingly higher demands on vehicle battery power. As a result, the management of current consumption during vehicle operation is moving into greater focus for automotive engineers. Reducing the electrical energy consumption through temporary deactivation, or low quiescent current, is increasingly a requirement of ever-evolving automotive standards. The CENELEC requirement for automotive quiescent current is 5 milliamps.

Accelerating the transition to energy-efficient solutions will continue to be critical for automotive suppliers. Current methodologies for ECU current consumption, without consideration of load currents, could enable the entire ECU or some functionality within an ECU to be temporarily deactivated. Additionally, in a fully electric vehicle, energy efficiency directly influences mileage; a very real and visible factor to an operator.

“With limited battery supply coupled with the increased introduction of vehicles with pure electrical drive trains, extending battery life requires mastery of low quiescent current”, states Felix J.E. Comeau, President & CEO of Alcohol Countermeasure Systems. “With the introduction of our Low-Sleep-State power levels, ALCOLOCK alcohol interlocks are able to operate at less than one milliamp, which means significant energy savings are realized compared to the status quo today.”

According to Mr. Comeau, “ACS looks forward to continuing to work closely with our suppliers in the area of automotive quiescent current standards and to further improvements in energy consumption levels of our ALCOLOCK alcohol interlock products.”

About ACS

Alcohol Countermeasure Systems is an international group of companies with over 40 years of experience developing innovative technology to prevent impaired driving. A technology leader and manufacturer of alcohol interlocks and breath alcohol testers, ACS provides products and services to law enforcement, automotive, industrial, public and personal safety markets. We improve global road safety through innovative design, manufacturing and customer support services.

Please visit www.acs-corp.com

November 19th is National Bereavement Day in Canada

OTTAWA, Nov. 15, 2019 /CNW/ - November 19, 2019, is the annual National Bereavement Day in Canada. On this day, the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) invites all Canadians to think about those who have passed away from our lives and help advocate for support at local, provincial and national levels for grieving Canadians. 

"Grief impacts all aspects of our lives," and CHPCA is encouraging Canadians to cope with their grief by supporting each other through living and grieving. Our grief is a unique reflection of our relationships and is influenced by our past experiences, current circumstances, and the availability of support. Sharon Baxter, Executive Director of CHPCA says, "We live and grieve together, as loved ones, as families, as friends and as a community. Coping with our grief is not the same as forgetting. We can move on with our life and keep the memory of someone we lost as an important part of us. In fact, as we move through life, these memories can become more and more integral to defining the people we are".

As a society, we are so focused on prolonging life and curing illness that very little thought is given to what happens to us during our journey at the ends of one's life and to those we leave behind. CHPCA believes that it is essential for Canadians to understand that grief and bereavement support is for those who are grieving before, during, and after the course of a loved one's journey. CHPCA encourages Canadians to start early with advance care planning; that is, reflecting on and discussing their wishes with the people closest to them. Caregivers, families, and friends need more help to prepare to say goodbye and to live well while grieving the loss of their loved ones. Improving the process also means allowing caregivers and family members who have lost a loved one the time to grieve, to remember, and to heal.

"When someone dies we naturally grieve. For many of us grief impacts all aspects of our lives; physically, socially, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually." says Sharon Baxter, Executive Director of CHPCA. ". Grief may impact our relationships and even cause us to lose interest in our usual social activities and hobbies. It may also affect our sense of meaning and purpose in life; and this reality has created the need to ensure information and resources on hospice palliative care and advance care planning are accessible to all Canadians; that resources are provided to those who need them in a timely fashion and in the setting of their choice, and that resources meet their care needs". 

Grief and bereavement support is an essential element of all care at the ends of one's life. On this Bereavement Day, CHPCA provides Canadians with an abundance of helpful resources for those living with grief and bereavement. Find this year's resources at www.chpca.net/bereavementday and share them with your friends, family and loved ones who are experiencing grief. 

About CHPCA
The CHPCA is the national voice for Hospice Palliative Care in Canada. Advancing and advocating for quality end-of-life/hospice palliative care in Canada, its work includes public policy, public education and awareness. Established in 1991, its volunteer Board of Directors is composed of hospice palliative care workers and volunteers from Canadian provinces and territories as well as members-at-large.

SOURCE Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association