Testosterone For Women, EstrogenFor Men? Wrong Levels Bring ProblemsBy Don Colbert, M.D.
You don’t normally think of women needing testosterone and men needing estrogen. But when those levels drop for women and men, respectively, or are way out of balance, a wide range of symptoms may be suffered. Fortunately, there are ways to correct those levels and restore health. Ladies first. Testosterone is considered the manly hormone, yet few women know that they have quite a bit of it in their bodies, primarily when they are young. In their 20s and 30s, their testosterone is in the normal range, but after 40 is when we start to see the decline in levels. There are numerous factors that push testosterone levels lower – menopause, medications, stress, aging, removal of ovaries, and more. And with that drop, myriad problems can occur. Blood work is needed to confirm suspicions, but persistent symptoms of low testosterone in women are hard to argue away. Among those symptoms are aching joints, depression, inability to sleep, lack of sex drive, migraines, and weight gain. But the great news is, it’s fixable. The hormone health zone for testosterone in women The first hormone women need to optimize is testosterone. It may sound a little strange to recommend testosterone therapy for women, but with it they can benefit enormously. Depression and anxiety usually lift. They can slow or sometimes reverse cellulite, lose weight (especially belly fat), tighten skin, restore libido, improve memory, strengthen the heart, and boost energy levels and stamina. The benefits of boosting testosterone go further; low testosterone is linked to an increased risk of diabetes, high cholesterol, hardening of the arteries, and weak bones. Low testosterone levels give women many of the symptoms associated with hypothyroidism, which serves as another strong motivator for women to keep their testosterone levels up. Sadly, most doctors are taught to prescribe only low doses of estradiol (in pill format, which is not good) and no testosterone whatsoever. In fact, doctors usually choose not to address hormone issues at all. They will tell you “normal ranges,” and if you happen to be low, they will usually prescribe you a medication for the symptoms. But that will never get your health back. What your body needs is bioidentical hormone therapy. You may need to find another doctor, someone who will treat your low-testosterone symptoms with bioidentical testosterone. I have found boosting testosterone levels with pellets to be effective and efficient. They raise levels quickly, and you don’t need to come back for another treatment for three to four months, and sometimes six months. Testosterone injections are the next-best method if pellets are too pricey, followed by testosterone creams. I suggest women in their 40s start monitoring their testosterone levels. The time to start optimizing them is when the hormone levels go below 50-60 percent of upper range or when symptoms develop. When your testosterone levels are optimized, life is great! Now for you men Yes guys, it’s true: Even men need estrogen. There’s just a delicate balance that needs to be understood. Estrogen is one of those things that is good for you in the proper amounts but bad if you have too much or too little of it. Just the right amount of estradiol is good for bone strength, sperm count, cholesterol metabolism, healthy libido, and clear thinking, just to name a few of the known values of estrogen in men. Usually, however, it is too much estrogen in men that is much more common. This occurs when testosterone levels decrease due to aging, obesity, lifestyle, a lack of exercise, stress, endocrine disruptors, and so on. Too much estrogen has been found to promote abnormal clot formation or blood clots, and excessive estrogen levels may also increase the risk of stroke. A healthy man usually needs to maintain at least a 10-to-1 ratio of testosterone to estrogen. When the ratio is far below 10-to-1, estrogen levels are too high, and that brings with it a host of ailments. Among the symptoms I’ve seen in men who have too much estrogen in their bodies are brain fog, blood clots, gynecomastia (man boobs), lack of erections, lack of sex drive, and low sperm counts. There’s also a higher risk for prostate cancer and heart disease when estrogen (estradiol) levels in men are too high. Too little estrogen, and you also have a lack of sexual interest, few erections, and no libido. It’s also not healthy for the brain to have super-low estrogen levels, nor is brain fog a symptom that anyone enjoys. The hormone health zone for estrogen in men Optimizing estrogen levels in men usually coincides with their testosterone levels. They are linked; raise testosterone, and estrogen usually rises; lower testosterone, and estrogen usually lowers. Remember, the goal is for at least a 10-to-1 ratio. When men start using testosterone cream, shots, or pellets, some of the testosterone aromatizes, or converts, to estrogen. Some men have excessive aromatization, especially older men and men who are obese. To stay in the estradiol hormone health zone, men will need to take a hormone-regulating supplement called DIM (Diindolylmethane), 150 mg twice a day. It is the safest way to lower estrogen without the fear of going too low. For men who have never had their estrogen levels checked and believe they might have the symptoms of high or low estrogen, ask for blood work that gives you your estradiol level. Then you and your doctor will know what to do to treat it. Estrogen levels are usually pretty easy to treat in men. It may be surprising that men need to watch their estrogen levels, but it’s one of those things that they must be aware of. When we were learning to drive, we were all taught to watch for the “blind spots.” Those spots aren’t dangerous in and of themselves. But when you need to take action, the blind spots are suddenly very important. Don Colbert, M.D. (www.drcolbert.com), is the author of Dr. Colbert's Hormone Health Zone. He has been a board-certified family practice doctor for more than 25 years and has offices in Orlando, Fla., and Dallas. The author of over 40 books, he wrote two New York Times best-sellers – The Seven Pillars of Health and Dr. Colbert’s “I Can Do This” Diet – has sold more than 10 million books and treated 50,000-plus patients. Dr. Colbert is a frequent show guest of Christian leaders Joyce Meyer, John Hagee, and Kenneth Copeland and has been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, Fox News, ABC World News Tonight, and in periodicals such as Newsweek and Reader’s Digest.
Patients living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in the province of Saskatchewan gain access to SPINRAZA™ (nusinersen)
The Government of the province of Saskatchewan has informed treating physicians that it will grant access to SPINRAZA™ to patients living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
Saskatchewan is the second province after the province of Quebec to grant broad access for SMA patients to this life-changing medicine
MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 22, 2019 /CNW/ - Biogen Canada welcomes the decision made by the Government of Saskatchewan allowing patients living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to access SPINRAZA™(nusinersen), the first and only approved medicine in the world to treat the root cause of SMA.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health has made the decision to expand coverage and make SPINRAZA™ available to include the following, in addition to existing Type I patients:
Patients who are pre-symptomatic with two or three copies of the SMN2 gene;
Patients up to age 18, with symptom onset after six months of age and who have never achieved the ability to walk independently;
Patients that may have achieved the ability to walk independently (type III) as well as type II and type III patients over the age of 18 are encouraged to talk to their treating physician to apply for a case by case coverage.
"We are delighted to learn that Canadian patients living with SMA in the province of Saskatchewan will gain access to the only medicine that can treat SMA. This decision which patients have been waiting for over two years provides access to SPINRAZA™ to SMA patients for a broad range of patient types and ages. This news will bring new hope for SMA patients and we look forward to hearing from the other Canadian provinces", declared Ms. Susi Vander Wyk, Executive Director, Cure SMA Canada.
Through Biogen's extensive clinical development program, SPINRAZA™ has shown significant improvements in survival rates and motor function across a broad range of types and ages of SMA patients. Health Canada approved SPINRAZA™ in June 2017. Biogen continues to advance innovation in SMA with new data in adults and infants, which will be presented at the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Clinical and Scientific Conference, taking place last week in the USA.
"Biogen Canada is pleased to hear that Saskatchewan has joined the province of Quebec in granting broad access to SPINRAZA™ to patients living with SMA. This decision is additional proof that authorities in Canada and around the world see the benefits and efficacy profile of SPINRAZA™ for SMA patients, and it demonstrates the importance of finding an ongoing and sustainable solution for this life-long treatment. Biogen Canada continues to pursue its discussions with all other provincial jurisdictions in Canada in order for them to join Quebec and Saskatchewan in granting broad access to SMA patients to the first and only medicine in the world to treat SMA", said Ms. Marina Vasiliou, Vice-president and Managing Director of Biogen Canada.
About Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) SMA is a debilitating neurodegenerative condition and the leading genetic cause of death among infants. Children with the most severe form of SMA rarely live to see their second birthday. SMA is a rare disease and it is estimated that 1 in 10000 live births are affected by it.
SMA is characterized by loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord and lower brain stem, resulting in severe and progressive muscular atrophy and weakness. Ultimately, individuals with the most severe type of SMA can become paralyzed and have difficulty performing the basic functions of life, like breathing and swallowing.
About SPINRAZA™ (nusinersen) SPINRAZA™ is the first and only approved medicine for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and is currently available in more than 40 countries. As of December 31, 2018, over 6,600 individuals with SMA are being treated with SPINRAZA™ worldwide, based on patients across the post-marketing setting, Expanded Access Program (EAP) and clinical trial participants.
About Biogen At Biogen, our mission is clear: we are pioneers in neuroscience. Biogen discovers, develops, and delivers worldwide innovative therapies for people living with serious neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. One of the world's first global biotechnology companies, Biogen was founded in 1978 by Charles Weissmann, Heinz Schaller, Kenneth Murray and Nobel Prize winners Walter Gilbert and Phillip Sharp, and today has the leading portfolio of medicines to treat multiple sclerosis; has introduced the first and only approved treatment for spinal muscular atrophy; and is focused on advancing neuroscience research programs in Alzheimer's disease and dementia, multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology, movement disorders, neuromuscular disorders, pain, ophthalmology, neuropsychiatry, and acute neurology. Biogen also manufactures and commercializes biosimilars of advanced biologics.
Rice U. device would help fix fractured bones Engineering students use magnets, tracking sensor to drill bone, insert screws in just the right spot HOUSTON – (April 22, 2019) – Threading a needle is hard, but at least you can see it. Think about how challenging it must be to thread a screw through a rod inside a bone in someone's leg. Rice University seniors at the Brown School of Engineering set out to help doctors simplify the process of repairing fractured long bones in an arm or leg by inventing a mechanism that uses magnets to set things right. The students who call themselves Drill Team Six chose the project pitched by Rice alumnus Dr. Ashvin Dewan, an orthopedic surgeon at Houston Methodist Hospital, to simplify a procedure by which titanium rods are placed inside broken bones to make them functional once more. For its efforts, the team won the top prize, the Excellence in Engineering Award, at the school's annual Engineering Design Showcase. The student team -- bioengineering majors Babs Ogunbanwo, Takanori Iida, Byung-UK Kang and Hannah Jackson and mechanical engineering majors Will Yarinsky and Ian Frankel -- learned from Dewan that surgeons require many X-rays to locate pre-drilled 5 millimeter holes in the rod. The holes allow them to secure the rod to the bone fragments and hold them together. The surgery typically requires doctors to insert the long rod with a guide wire inside into the end of the bone, drilling through marrow to align the fractured fragments. With that done, they depend on X-rays, their experience and, if necessary, a bit of trial and error to drill long surgical screws through one side of the bone, thread it through the rod and secure it to the other side. "We want to reduce the amount of X-rays, the surgeon's time, the operating room time, the setup time, everything," Yarinsky said. The Rice team would make the wire adjacent to the holes magnetic, because neither skin nor bone hinder a magnetic field. "That way, the magnets hold their position and we can do the location process," Frankel said. "Once we've found them and secured the rod, we remove the wire and the magnets with it."The exterior mechanism is a brace that can be securely attached to the arm or leg with Velcro. A mounted sensor can then be moved along the stiff, 3D-printed carbon-fiber rods or around the limb until it locates the magnet. Then, the angle of the sensor can be adjusted. As each of the three degrees of freedom come into alignment with the target, a "virtual LED" lights up on a graphic display wired to the sensor. Then, the sensor is removed and a drill keyed to the mechanism inserted. "We do the angular part because the rod is not in the center of the leg, and the hole is not necessarily perpendicular to the surface," Yarinsky said. "The rod is about 10 to 20 millimeters thick and has a hole on one side and a hole on the other. We don't want to hit the first hole at an angle where we miss the second and don't go all the way through."Working at Rice's Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK), the team tested its device on a mannequin leg and what it called a "wooden leg," a frame that allowed for mounting the rod with its magnetized wire and checking the accuracy of their system.Before it can be used by clinicians, the team said the device will require Food and Drug Administration approval."I'm very impressed with what the team put together," said Dewan, who earned a bioengineering degree at Rice in 2005. "Where we ended up is completely different from what we imagined, but kudos to these guys. They went through many different proposals and ideas and ended up running with the one that seemed most promising."Having been through the senior capstone process at Rice himself, Dewan was particularly impressed with how the program has grown. "The OEDK got off the ground a few years after I graduated, and at that point, senior design projects were isolated to individual projects," Dewan said. "I didn't work with mechanical or other engineering disciplines. "I love the way they have a multidisciplinary approach to tackling problems," he said. "I think it's much more of a real-world experience for them."Sabia Abidi, a lecturer in bioengineering, served as the team's adviser, and it was sponsored by Chuck and Sharon Fox. -30-Visit the team's website at http://oedk.rice.edu/Sys/PublicProfile/47628626/1063096.This news release can be found online at https://news.rice.edu/2019/04/19/rice-u-device-would-help-fix-fractured-bones/Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.Video: https://youtu.be/B9UmZ-sVTig Produced by Brandon Martin/Rice UniversityImages for download: https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2019/04/0422_BONE-1-WEB-1p39g88.jpg Drill Team Six, from left, won the top prize in the Brown School of Engineering Design Showcase for its invention of a device to help doctors secure rods that keep fractured bones in alignment as they heal. From left, Hannah Jackson, Takanori Iida, Will Yarinsky, Babs Ogunbanwo, Ian Frankel and Byung-UK Kang. (Credit: Rice University) https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2019/04/0422_BONE-2-WEB-19fexpi.jpg Rice University engineering students have created a device to simplify the insertion of screws that secure metal rods to fractured bones in limbs. The device, when secured on the leg of a patient, uses magnetic elements in the rod to guide proper placement of the screws. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University) https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2019/04/0422_BONE-3-WEB-1cchmnc.jpg A wooden stand-in for a limb helped Rice University engineering students create their award-winning device to help doctors secure rods that keep fractured bones in alignment as they heal. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University) https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2019/04/0422_BONE-4-WEB-14oldb6.jpg Takanori Iida, left, and Byung-UK Kang, senior engineering students at Rice University, work on the electronics test bed used to design a device that helps doctors secure rods that keep fractured bones in alignment. A sensor attached to a movable track finds the right spot to drill by pinpointing holes in the rod marked with magnets. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University) https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2019/04/0422_BONE-5-WEB-zc1gmh.jpg Hannah Jackson and Will Yarinsky, senior engineering students at Rice University, make an adjustment to their device to help doctors secure rods that keep fractured bones in alignment as they heal. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,962 undergraduates and 3,027 graduate students, Rice’s undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 2 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
A journey to parenthood: shedding light on fertility for Canadian Infertility Awareness Week
MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 22, 2019 /CNW/ - One in six Canadian couples of childbearing age experience fertility challengesi, a number that has doubled since the 1980s.ii April 22 to 27 is Canadian Infertility Awareness Week, and EMD Serono, Canada is bringing attention to the far-reaching impact of infertility to encourage couples to educate themselves on reproductive health and family planning.
Infertility can be defined as a failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of attempted conception without contraception. A fertility consultation may be recommended after one year of attempted conception for women under 35 years of age and 6 months for women over 35 years of age.iii Age, length of time trying to conceive, hormone levels, medical history and other factors can all contribute to fertility.iv
"When my husband and I found out we were going to need help starting our family, we had no idea what to expect," said Breya Rolt, first-time mom from Burlington, Ontario. "No one really talks about fertility issues until you are thrown into it. When we opened up about our experience, we were surprised to learn just how many people were in the same boat."
Fertility challenges are often viewed as an issue affecting the female reproductive system, but men are almost just as likely as women to experience fertility challenges.vi Fertility specialists can make recommendations to help couples conceive naturally or with assisted reproductive technology. But some couples may delay or decline treatments due to the perceived social stigma associated with fertility challenges.
"Making the decision to start a family is usually a pretty private thing and it can feel like you are losing some of that privacy when you have to reach out for help. But what we lost in privacy, we gained in support. We are grateful for the team of doctors and nurses at our fertility clinic who helped us make our dream of starting a family come true," said Rolt.
It is important for couples trying to conceive to educate themselves on their reproductive health and fertility options.
"It is never too early to talk to your family doctor or OB/GYN about fertility," said Dr. Shannon Corbett, Medical Director and Partner, The Reproductive Care Centre. "Learning about your reproductive health is an important part of family planning. Couples trying to conceive are encouraged to have these conversations with their doctor so they can understand their options and make the best decision for themselves and their family at any stage of their fertility journey."
About Infertility An estimated one in six Canadian couples of childbearing age experience fertility challenges.vii Infertility can be defined as a failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of attempted conception without contraception. A fertility consultation may be recommended after one year of attempted conception for women under 35 years of age and 6 months for women over 35 years of age.viii
Fertility challenges can affect both men and women, or a combination of both. Causes of fertility issues in men may include poor sperm quality, low sperm count, a history of sexually transmitted disease and a hormonal imbalance.ix Potential causes for women include age (fertility decreases after age 35), problems producing eggs, a history of sexually transmitted diseases, problems in the uterus or fallopian tubes, endometriosis, hormonal imbalances and early menopause.x
About EMD Serono, Canada EMD Serono, Canada, is the Canadian biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. EMD Serono, Canada has integrated cutting-edge science, innovative products and devices, and industry-leading patient support and access programs. EMD Serono, Canada has deep expertise in neurology, fertility and endocrinology, as well as a robust pipeline of potential therapies in neurology, oncology, immunology and immuno-oncology. Today, EMD Serono, Canada has more than 100 employees across Canada with headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario.
About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 52,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2018, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of € 14.8 billion in 66 countries.
The company holds the global rights to the name and trademark "Merck" internationally. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Performance Materials. Since its founding 1668, scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to the company's technological and scientific advances. To this day, the founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company.
Long-Term Care and Retirement Home Workers Launch Campaign with Direct Message: Tell Them to Care
RICHMOND HILL, ON, April 19, 2019 /CNW/ - SEIU Healthcare, a union that represents over 60,000 frontline healthcare workers in Ontario, has launched a public advocacy campaign calling on Ontario's major long-term care and retirement home corporations to invest more profits in care.
The campaign titled "Tell Them To Care," is appealing to families in Ontario to join with the frontline workers who are calling on large for-profit healthcare corporations including Chartwell, Extendicare, Sienna and Revera to fix the systemic problems that arise as a result of chronic understaffing.
The first television advertisement is set to air Friday, April 19, 2019 during the Toronto Maple Leafs playoff hockey game broadcast on CBC at 7:00 pm EST.
SEIU Healthcare is preparing to bargain with these companies to address the problems that arise from diverting profits away from improving care. Understaffing in long-term care and retirement homes means that staff are overburdened, workplace injuries increase, and isolated seniors don't get the level of care they deserve and require.
"It's long overdue that these greedy long-term care corporations put resident care ahead of profits," said SEIU Healthcare President Sharleen Stewart. "Frontline healthcare workers are telling us that inadequate staffing levels are a big reason for workplace injury, as well as the increasingly difficult pressures of caring for more seniors with less time."
"If these billion-dollar corporations can afford to pay CEOs millions in compensation and investors tens of millions of dollars in dividends, it's time they seriously address the crisis of understaffing."
"Every day I hear stories from our members about how understaffing affects the care they are able to provide. I hear stories of injuries that could have been prevented if there were adequate staffing levels. I hear about residents going to dinner in their pajamas because there wasn't enough staff to change them earlier. This is about safety, dignity, and the kind of quality care seniors should expect to receive," added Stewart.
SEIU Healthcare represents more than 60,000 healthcare and community service workers across Ontario. The union's members work in hospitals, homecare, nursing and retirement homes, and community services throughout the province. SEIU Healthcare has a strong track record of improving wages, benefits and working conditions for healthcare workers, supporting the training and development needs of its members, and strengthening standards in the management and delivery of patient and client care. www.seiuhealthcare.ca
SOURCE SEIU Healthcare
35th Anniversary of HIV Discovery on April 23
40 million globally live with HIV
1 million per year die of AIDS
By Peter Rosenberger
It has been 35 years since the historic discovery of HIV, the retrovirus believed to cause AIDS.
Following three long and scary years since first learning about a then-nameless but virtually always fatal illness, the world held its collective breath as HHS Secretary Margaret Heckler stood at the podium for a press conference on April 23, 1984. Secretary Heckler announced that Dr. Robert Gallo and his colleagues at the National Cancer Institute had discovered the cause of AIDS, a retrovirus labeled HTLV-III/LAV (human T-cell lymphotropic virus-type III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus), later named HIV. Secretary Heckler went on to express her hope of a cure within two years.
Those matter of fact words that were spoken to me still echoes decades later. A close friend faced an uncertain future as a hemophiliac in the mid-1980’s. When asked about his concern over the blood transfusions he regularly needed, his answer came with a sense of acceptance—but not one of defeat.
Sadly, within just a few years, he received blood tainted with HIV. Most everyone living with hemophilia at that time in my home state of South Carolina contracted the virus from that infected supply.
He was the second in our rural area to succumb to AIDS. Performing at his funeral, my wife and I chose a song he often sang during his difficult years. As she sang, she stood somewhat awkwardly on her new prosthetic leg. She eventually lost the other one in 1995. Both amputations, and her now 80 surgeries resulted from a car accident in 1983. To date, she’s received 48 blood transfusions. Virtually every surgery was met with great concern not only to her but many of the nurses treating her when any of her blood touched them. Despite the odds, she has avoided any HIV contaminated blood. Through it all, our journey of shared suffering knitted us to this man’s family.
Decades later, I still learn of the cruel treatment by neighbors, friends, and even family members, as my friend’s parents cared for their son with AIDS—condemned by many to bear their sorrow in isolation. While most disabilities and diseases isolate on some level, ostracizing tragically accompanied AIDS for vast numbers. As my own caregiving journey extends now beyond three decades, I can’t imagine doing so with the harsh exclusion this family faced.
Although reports are slowly surfacing about a possible cure for a disease which dominated headlines for years, many now are unfamiliar with the terror of AIDS. A new generation remains all but unaware of the nightmare, sorrow, shame, and the heartbreak endured by so many.
In his 2019 state of the union address, President Trump proclaimed an ambitious and important goal of ending this disease within ten years. One can’t help but wonder how that affects so many family members who quietly visit a grave, memorial site, or the quilt. Is their pain eased by such a lofty goal from the President? The loss and isolation felt by so many must still fill their eyes with hot tears.
A caregiver orbits someone living with a chronic impairment or disease. Sometimes, the presumed caregiver (spouse, partner, or family member) walks away. Such was the case for many traveling the dark path of AIDS. In their moment of greatest need, the disease not only took lives, but the stigma also severed the bonds of companionship. Many served as a caregiver for a friend with AIDS abandoned by family—although they themselves carried the disease. They soldiered on, even while watching their impending fate tragically displayed in the life of a dying friend. Others grieved alone when families circled their loved one while excluding a partner.
Embracing those who suffer is problematic when demanding to first know the cause. I learned that principle when grasping the hand of a patient in a prosthetic limb clinic we partner within Ghana. Her outstretched maimed hand bore the scars of leprosy. Admittingly doing so while gulping, I took that hand—while noticing scars running up her arm and her missing leg. Hugging her, I welcomed her into the clinic as she welcomed me into a new way of embracing the suffering.
AIDS is not cured. Maybe the President is correct, and we can eliminate this disease in ten years. But we don’t have to wait ten years to embrace those—and their caregivers—who live with HIV and AIDS.
To our collective shame, too many turned their backs on the sick and dying. While treatment has improved and AIDS doesn’t garner the headlines it once did, the residual scars of abandonment remain.
Caring for the suffering, regardless of the cause, remains one of our higher aspirations. Maybe the highest. Yet, only doing so to those with lifestyles sympathetic to one’s beliefs inhibits our own hearts to expand. Through many dark roads, I’ve seen the hands of those reaching to assist me in my heartache and loss. Although often serving as a poor steward of the grace shown to me, I’ve discovered the care one receives is best honored when extended to others.
With great zeal, let us eradicate AIDS in ten years or less. Yet, with that same zeal, let us collectively embrace the suffering, and those caring for them, regardless of the cause. Afterall, our paths are linked. Loving another human being means we will most likely one day be a caregiver. Living long enough ensures we will need one.
Toronto’s Architectural “Gems” Walking Tour for a Cure
(Kitchener, ON) April 18, 2019 – Join the Toronto Chapter of the Huntington Society of Canada for the Annual Wiswell Family Gems Walk. Every year, the group gathers in a different neighbourhood to explore the fascinating history that can be found within Toronto’s beautiful architecture. This year’s 90-minute walk will feature Toronto’s Towers and how they have changed over the last century. The walk will close with a social at the Elephant and Castle for participants to reminisce about the walk and meet other families affected by Huntington disease (HD). This event is the inspiration of a local Toronto resident, Jim Wiswell, a lover of city’s neighbourhoods who suffers from HD.
What? Annual Wiswell Family Gems Walk + Social
When? Sunday, April 28, 2019, Meet at 1:00 p.m., Walk at 2:00 p.m., Social at 4:00 p.m.
Where? Walk: Meet at David Pecaut Square, opposite the Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King St. West
Huntington disease (HD) is a debilitating brain disorder that is fatal and incurable. About one in every 7,000 Canadians has HD and approximately one in every 5,500 is at-risk of developing the disease. Many more are touched by HD whether as a caregiver, a family member, or a friend. Huntington disease is often described as having the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS – simultaneously. As the disease progresses, a person with Huntington’s become less able to manage movements, recall events, make decisions and control emotions. The disease leads to incapacitation and, eventually, death.
The Huntington Society of Canada (HSC) is a respected leader in the worldwide effort to find a meaningful treatment for Huntington disease. HSC is the only Canadian health charity dedicated to providing help and hope for families dealing with Huntington disease across Canada.
The year was 1979. The Village People had just released ‘YMCA’ and Gloria Gaynor had a hit with ‘I Will Survive.’ Disco fashions and feathered hair were popular among men and women, and there was more emphasis than ever on physical appearance with the rise of exercise as a hobby.
GoodLife Fitness launched its first club in London, Ontario in 1979 just as fitness was going mainstream in a big way. More people were taking up bodybuilding thanks to the endorsement of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Treadmills moved from the doctor’s office to the gym as a way to incorporate recreational running into daily lives. The stage was set for Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons to get people stepping and kicking to the music.
Maureen ‘Mo’ Hagan, a licensed physiotherapist and vice president of program innovation with GoodLife Fitness, has been dedicated to group fitness since aerobics went mainstream in the early ‘80s. Hagan mastered the most popular aerobics workouts then adapted them with her own style and physio training to create classes for GoodLife Fitness clubs.
Although there have been fads over her nearly 40 years with the company, Hagan says certain types of fitness classes remain popular because they’re effective, entertaining and can be easily delivered by a variety of instructors, who are properly trained to teach group fitness. Here are some of Hagan’s favourite types of group fitness over four decades:
Aerobics: Aerobic exercise has fundamental elements that are still part of many group fitness workouts today – cardio (aerobic) exercise remains a great way to burn calories and improve heart health, the upbeat music and fun instructors make workouts more appealing and ‘express’ timeframe means it’s easier to fit a workout into your busy schedule.
Dance-inspired fitness – Jazzercise kicked off the dance fitness trend in 1984, combining great music and high tempo dance moves. In the ‘90s, Columbian dance instructor Beto Perez took dance-inspired workouts to a new level by combining Latin dance moves with great music and lots of opportunities for instructors to include their own personal touches. These variables made Zumba a huge hit. Today dance workouts feature the latest club moves and keep people moving to the beat while having fun.
Martial arts-inspired fitness – Billy Blanks brought martial arts to the forefront with Tae Bo in the 1990s. People loved getting active with action moves from their favourite kung-fu movies. Martial-arts added the entertainment value people crave to take their minds off how hard they’re working. Kickboxing and martial arts remain popular today as a way to build cardio and strength with extra attitude and a positive mindset.
Spinning – Cyclist Johnny Goldberg was the first to introduce spinning as a form of fitness in 1987. He designed the first spin bike and introduced a class that delivered extreme cardio in a fun, high energy environment. Spinning has since been adapted to focus more on overall conditioning high-intensity interval training. It still relies on high energy music and a lot of personality from its instructors to deliver the fun factor.
Yoga & Pilates – While yoga has been around forever, it only hit the mainstream in recent years as Baby Boomers looked for an effective workout that would tone and strengthen while minimizing injury. Both yoga and Pilates are now extremely popular with Boomers and Millennials alike who are looking to build strength, flexibility, and stamina while enjoying mindfulness and stress release.
Mo Hagan, and fitness experts in your area are available to talk more about the fads that failed, as well as the fundamental programs that have lasted four decades.
GoodLife group fitness instructors across Canada are available to do a high energy ‘dance evolution’ style demonstration of moves from fundamental group fitness movements since 1979 – from aerobics to Zumba, to martial arts and yoga/Pilates. We’ll provide the retro-music
Can cannabis use help with sleep apnea, weaken immune response and alter breathing tests?
The Lung Association - Ontario and Tetra Bio-Pharma research award recipients hope to help fill gaps in knowledge
TORONTO, April 16, 2019 /CNW/ - With the recent legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada, a major gap has been revealed, and that is a lack of scientific research on the health effects of its use – both on the recreational and medical side.
The research partnership between The Lung Association - Ontario and Tetra Bio-Pharma to better support patients and healthcare providers with evidence-based information about the impact of cannabis use has gotten off the ground with the announcement of the three research grant recipients. The winners were announced at The Lung Association – Ontario's Breathe! Bash held on March 28th.
The three new research investigations are:
Dr. Jeremy Hirota from McMaster University will be determining if smoking cannabis increases the risk of viral respiratory tract infections.
Dr. Tetyana Kendzerska from The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa will be filling the knowledge gap on the effects of recreational cannabis on obstructive sleep apnea, one of the most common disorders of sleep.
Dr. Nicholas Vozoris from St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto will be examining if smoking cannabis affects breathing tests, and if doctors should be using these tests when seeing patients with lung troubles who smoke cannabis.
These important research projects will ensure there is a larger evidence-base to pull from when educating the public and healthcare providers about the impact of cannabis use on lung health.
"Cannabis is a very polarizing topic, but as scientists we should approach things with data, with experiments to test hypotheses, and then based on the data make an informed decision," said Dr. Jeremy Hirota, Assistant Professor, McMaster University.
"Despite promising initial findings, there is a need for studies comparing the acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) on respiratory disturbances during sleep and daytime alertness in people with obstructive sleep apnea in order to provide initial insights about potential mechanisms of action and to inform subsequent trials with longer treatment periods," said Dr. Tetyana Kendzerska, Associate Professor, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa.
"While it is known that cannabis smoking can lead to respiratory symptoms and lung tissue damage in a similar manner as cigarette smoking can, many studies so far have curiously failed to show that smoking cannabis negatively affects lung function testing," said Dr. Nicholas Vozoris, Associate Scientist, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto. "Further investigation is urgently needed to clarify if this is indeed the case, and if this is the case, then understanding why the difference between cigarettes and cannabis. I am grateful to The Lung Association for supporting this important area of respiratory research."
According to George Habib, President & CEO, The Lung Association Ontario, "The results of these projects will ensure that healthcare providers and the public have the evidence they need to better inform the decisions they make on behalf of their patients or themselves around the use of cannabis."
"We are delighted by the considerable interest and scope of novel submissions that were received from healthcare professionals for this research grant," said Dr. Guy Chamberland, CEO and CSO of Tetra Bio-Pharma. "Not only are we excited to partner with the Lung Association - Ontario on expanding the scientific data available on the medical use of cannabis, but these projects demonstrate the ingenuity of Canadian investigators in areas that have the potential to impact the lives of many individuals with lung-related health conditions. We can't wait to see what is discovered."
About The Lung Association – Ontario The Lung Association - Ontario is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping all Ontarians breathe. Our community of donors, patients, researchers, volunteers and professional staff work to ensure Ontarians have healthy lungs, bodies and clean air necessary to breathe. We achieve this by promoting healthy breathing, supporting those living with lung disease and finding future solutions. All of this is done with the goal of delivering a future of better breathing for all.
About Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc. Tetra Bio-Pharma (TSX-V: TBP) (OTCQB: TBPMF) is a biopharmaceutical leader in cannabinoid-derived drug discovery and development with a Health Canada approved, and FDA reviewed, clinical program aimed at bringing novel prescription drugs and treatments to patients and their healthcare providers. The Company has several subsidiaries engaged in the development of an advanced and growing pipeline of Bio Pharmaceuticals, Natural Health and Veterinary Products containing cannabinoid-derived molecules and other medicinal plant-based elements. With patients at the core of what we do, Tetra Bio-Pharma is focused on providing rigorous scientific validation and safety data required for inclusion into the existing bio pharma industry by regulators, physicians and insurance companies. For more information visit: www.tetrabiopharma.com
SOURCE Ontario Lung Association
Rapid Dose Therapeutics and TFB & Associates Ltd. Sign Agreement for the Sale and Distribution of Innovative Quickstrip™ Nutraceutical Product Line Across Canada
BURLINGTON, ON, April 16, 2019 /CNW/ - Rapid Dose Therapeutics Corp. ("RDT" or the "Company") (CSE: DOSE), a Canadian life sciences company focused on innovative drug and active ingredient delivery solutions, is pleased to announce it has signed a Distribution Agreement with TFB & Associates Ltd. ("TFB") dated April 4, 2019 (the "Agreement") granting TFB preferred rights to distribute and sell RDT's QuickStrip™, an innovative, proprietary delivery technology for nutraceuticals to the Over The Counter Canadian retail market.
Under the terms of the Agreement, TFB will purchase, build inventory, market and distribute RDT's line of QuickStrip™ nutraceutical products across all Canadian retail outlets, including but not limited to, chain and independent pharmacies, mass merchants, health food stores, grocery and convenience stores.
RDT's proprietary QuickStrip™ technology is a Quick, Convenient, Precise, Discreet™ oral, fast-dissolving drug delivery system offering consumers an alternative to pills, capsules, drinks and injections. The QuickStrip™ nutraceutical product line delivers vitamin B12, caffeine and melatonin — penetrating the vitamin, energy and sleep consumer markets.
TFB is a long-standing privately owned importer and distributor of food, beverage and health care products, bringing a wealth of knowledge, experience and success launching new brands into the retail market.
"Our strategic relationship with TFB allows RDT to launch our QuickStrip™ brand of nutraceutical products in retail stores across Canada — offering consumers a novel way to take their vitamins and supplements. This Agreement will provide QuickStrip™ brand awareness and access to targeted locations and consumers in the rapidly growing nutraceutical market," said Mark Upsdell, CEO. "Our relationship with TFB further strengthens and positions QuickStrip™ for accelerated growth as an innovative global brand and delivery system to consumers with a focus on health and wellness."
"We are very excited to work with Rapid Dose Therapeutics in launching their brand in the Canadian retail marketplace," said Brian Riddell, Vice-president, Healthcare, TFB. "This new product brings innovation to the category with a quick and easy way to administer B12, Caffeine and Melatonin, something we haven't seen before. With a strong consumer awareness strategy and a strategic retail launch plan in place, we look forward to bringing this product to the Canadian consumer."
About Rapid Dose Therapeutics
Rapid Dose Therapeutics Corp. is a publicly-traded Canadian life sciences company that provides innovative, proprietary drug delivery technologies designed to improve outcomes and quality of lives. RDT offers Quick, Convenient, Precise and Discreet™ choices to consumers. RDT is focused and committed to clinical research and product development for the healthcare manufacturing industry, including nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cannabis industries. Within the cannabis sector, RDT provides a turn-key Managed Strip Service Program which enables RDT's QuickStrip™ proprietary drug delivery technology to be licensed by select partners. RDT's service based annuity contracts drive recurring revenue which enables rapid expansion into emerging markets — generating value for consumers and shareholders. Rapid Dose Therapeutics is committed to continually create innovative solutions aimed at multiple consumer segments and future market needs — including humans, animals and plants.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain information in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws.
Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend", "will", "could", "are planned to", "are expected to" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Statements containing forward-looking information, including, without limitation, in respect of the delivery of equipment and products using the QuickStrip™ product delivery method and the generation of revenues from signed White Label Manufacturing Agreements, express, as at the date of this news release, the plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations or beliefs of RDT management as to future events or results and are believed to be reasonable based on information currently available to RDT management. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; marketing costs; loss of markets; termination of WLM agreements; future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; the cannabis industry in Canada generally, income tax and regulatory matters; the ability to implement its business strategies; competition; currency and interest rate fluctuations and other risks. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. There can be no assurance that statements of forward-looking information, although considered reasonable by RDT management at the time of preparation, will prove to be accurate as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
TRAIN IT RIGHT NEWSLETTER
Sign Up and get a free 7 day Train it Right HIIT Program!
