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Foundation Software, LLC selected for Healthy Worksite Award from Healthy Business Council of Ohio – PRNewswire

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio, Dec. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Foundation Software, LLC, developer of America's #1 construction accounting and project management software, has been selected by the Healthy Business Council of Ohio(HBCO) as a recipient of the Silver Level Healthy Worksite Awardfor medium-sized businesses. Recipients must demonstrate a commitment to healthy worksite practices with comprehensive promotions and wellness programs.

Matt Ode, the wellness director at Foundation Software, was happy with the recognition. He said that he wants to keep the workplace as healthy as possible.

"Receiving the Silver Healthy Worksite Award for the third year is a true testimony to the dedication of our team and employees on living a healthy lifestyle," Ode said. Foundation has previously received the awardtwice.

100 different Ohio employers from three different size groups (Small, Medium, or Large) were eligible to win four different levels of the award (Bronze, Gold, Silver, or Platinum). They were judged on their efforts in facilitating and encouraging employee health, enhancing productivity, and ensuring a healthy work environment.

An additional award was given to workplaces that included resources to help prevent cancer. Applying businesses could also complete the "Pandemic Response" section to share how they adjusted their program offerings and continued to offer support to employees throughout the pandemic.

As a recipient of the Silver Level Award, Foundation Software excelled in creating a healthy and productive culture with the following initiatives:

Ode indicated that Foundation Software is still looking to create more initiatives that keep employees engaged and healthy.

"At Foundation Software, mental and physical health has always been a key factor in creating a positive and productive culture in the work environment," Ode said. "Moving forward, we will continue to make our wellness program a top priority for all employees."

Winners are eligible tobecome membersof the Healthy Business Council of Ohio. The Health Action Council's 2021 Virtual Conference Series & Expoawards ceremony will take place during the online event on Feb. 4, 2021. The event will feature discussions on wellbeing, resilience, and health reform. The public can register for the event on the Health Action Council website.

About Foundation Software, LLC

Foundation Software delivers job cost accounting, project management, and mobile applications, along with payroll services, to help contractors run the business side of construction. For information, call (800) 246-0800 or email [emailprotected].

Media Contact: Tracie Kuczkowski | Director of Marketing [emailprotected] (800) 246-0800 x 7933

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matt-ode.jpg Matt Ode Matt Ode, the wellness director at Foundation Software, LLC, is shown here.

SOURCE Foundation Software, LLC

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Foundation Software, LLC selected for Healthy Worksite Award from Healthy Business Council of Ohio - PRNewswire

Impact of theCOVID-19 pandemic in patients witha previous history of premature myocardial infarction – DocWire News

Posted on November 27, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

This article was originally published here

Am J Prev Cardiol. 2020 Nov 18:100128. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpc.2020.100128. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus-disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to the restructuring of health-services to prioritize the treatment of COVID-19. The severe restrictions on daily life affected the management of chronic diseases. Patients with a previous history of premature myocardial infarction (MI) are a vulnerable group requiring frequent and continued medical attention both in the pandemic and non-pandemic era. The present study was conducted to provide insight into the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on heart-healthy lifestyle and management of patients with a history of premature MI.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 170 consecutive patients with a history of premature MI who were already in regular follow-up in a tertiary out-patient prevention clinic before the pandemic. Inclusion criteria included age 18 years and being on regular follow up with the diagnosis of premature MI (documented MI before the age of 55 years) at least for one year. All patients were contacted by phone-call and replied to a 23-item questionnaire measuring the impact of the pandemic on the management, healthy lifestyle habits, and anxiety level.

RESULTS: One patient died due to COVID-19 infection; therefore the analyses were conducted in 169 patients (age: 47.6711.84 years, 21.3% women). The median age at first MI was 39 (IQR 10) years and the median time elapsed since the first MI was 7 years (IQR 10). The study population was highly compliant with the follow-up visits (78.1%) and pharmacological therapy (97%) before the pandemic according to the medical files. The majority (82.2%) of the patients were aware that having a history of premature MI would increase the risk and harm of COVID-19. Anxiety level increased in 62.7% of the study patients. Overall, 65.7% of the patient group reported a disruption at least in > 1 component(s) of healthy life-behaviors (non-compliance with the heart-healthy diet, an increase in alcohol intake, an increase in smoking, and/or reduced physical activity) since the emergence of the outbreak. The anxiety level (p=0.001) and the prevalence of appetite change (p<0.0001) and weight gain (p<0.0001) was lower in the lifestyle compliant group than the non-compliant group. Avoidance of seeking medical care was reported in 33.7% of the patients. Statin use was 99.4% before the pandemic and decreased to 89.9% despite the fact that medications were reimbursed and widely available.

CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the heart-healthy lifestyle and anxiety levels of patients with a history of premature MI who were already in regular follow-up in a tertiary prevention clinic and led to significant avoidance of medical care. More rigorous follow-up, education, and reassurance of these patients with telemedicine are necessary for the prevention of further increase in their risk.

PMID:33230505 | PMC:PMC7673226 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajpc.2020.100128

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Impact of theCOVID-19 pandemic in patients witha previous history of premature myocardial infarction - DocWire News

Red Dress Day to raise awareness of women’s health in Croatia – Croatia Week

Posted on January 25, 2021 by Prof Baldwin

Zdravka Poljakovic, Dinah Vodanovi, Arijana Lovreni-Huzjan, Marina Roje Bedekovi, Svjetlana upe, Vesna Matijevi (Photo: Zvonimir Ferina)

For the third year in a row, the Croatian Medical Association, Croatian Neurological Society and the City Health Office of the City of Zagreb are co-organising withthe School of Public Health Andrija tampar and the Medical Faculty of the University of Zagreb, the health-educational Red Dress Day.

The goal of the Red Dress Day campaign is to raise public awareness about the specifics of strokes in women, to draw attention to the devastating consequences of ignoring symptoms and the need for lifestyle changes.

The organising committee of this commendable action consists of experts from KBC Sestre Milosrdnice and KBC Zagreb neurologists Arijana Lovreni-Huzjan, Zdravka Poljakovi, Marina Roje Bedekovi, Vesna Matijevi and Svjetlana upe and speech therapist Dinah Vodanovi.

In an atmosphere of a pandemic and recent earthquakes, we feel obliged to speak even louder about this topic because COVID-19 poses a risk of strokes as well as the emotional tension to which women in stressful situations are particularly exposed. We have to take care of our own health because most strokes can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle, and if a stroke occurs, timely recognition of symptoms and quick reaction is crucial for treatment,- says the president of the Croatian Neurological Society prof. dr. sc. Zdravka Poljakovic.

The action is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Health and the Mayor of Zagreb, and an important contribution was made by sponsors Berlin Chemie Menarini, Boehringer, Bina Istra, Eli-Lilly, Endress + Hauser, Fresenius, Ghetaldus, Makpharm, Matkon, Nicro, Novartis, Pliva, Sandoz and Zubak group.

In anticipation of Red Dress Day, public appearances of experts and professional gatherings will be organised, and the solemn celebration of the action will be held on February 5 at the Croatian Music Institute and will be available online.

Illustration: Petra Huzjan

The stars of the evening this year will be women who survived a stroke and who will wear red creations by Croatian designers Andrijana Suboti Pjajik, urica Vorkapi, Ivica Skoka, Lana Pulji, Martina Herak and Zoran Aragovi.

On social networks, the action will be marked by the hashtag #nosicrveno, which invites everyone to wear something red on February 5 and thus provide support.

Details about the Red Dress Day can be followed on the website of the Croatian Neurological Society https://neuro-hr.org/ and on the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/Dan-crenih-haljina.

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Red Dress Day to raise awareness of women's health in Croatia - Croatia Week

Why Diet Culture is Toxic – Catholic University of America The Tower

Posted on February 19, 2021 by Prof Baldwin

Image courtesy of WUNC

By Claire Prudhomme

Diet culture is thought of as the status quo of health within the United States and it is hard to see its toxicity until it is pointed out. Some examples of toxic diet culture is societys encouragement of restrictive eating, extreme weight loss and unrealistic body standards. Diet culture leads the consumer to believe that extreme calorie deficits and the use of weight loss pills and shakes are maintainable. Not only are they not sustainable, they also cause a negative way of thinking that can be detrimental to mental health.

The diet culture industry is consistently profiting off of your insecurities. To lose weight, your body has to exert a certain amount of calories more than what you normally take in via food on a daily basis. This obviously varies from person to person but selling this image of a slim girl and what it takes to lose weight is obviously wrong. A diet is only temporary in maintaining a level of health due to the way diets cause so much temporary restriction.

In 2020, the United States diet and weight loss industry was worth $71 billion. The diet industry is not limited to skinny teas, detox pills and colon cleansing. It also has so much to do with food distribution within the United States. Even the mundane items like diet soft drinks, artificial sweeteners, diet-company chains, meal replacements, medical programs and more all are active participants in the way we are influenced by the fitness industry. In fact, the way that stores are organized tend to put healthy food at the forefront of the store.

Social media and the internet has only expedited the effectiveness of the toxic diet industry. With things like the Chloe Ting Workout Challenge and the widespread information about various diets like Keto, people are often left to the persuasiveness of toxic diet culture. The message they receive is what they are doing to be healthy is simply not enough.

Healthy isnt limited to just one look. For so long, an industry has pushed an idea that a person has to be skinny and toned to be healthy. This is not true. Health isnt a one size fits all kind of scenario, it varies and fluctuates throughout a persons life. Diets simply dont contribute to health living, they provide temporary moments of healthy fixation; they dont change the lifestyle of a person.

You dont have to diet to live healthier or even to lose weight. The first step to living a healthy lifestyle is to implement small changes in your day to day life. Instead of eating a cookie every night, maybe try a cup of fruit every now and then. Keep doing this until you feel a habit start to form and studies show that it takes around 66 days on average to form a habit. Try to take the stairs instead of the elevator every once in a while. The key is that you dont do it all at once.

The moment you create a multi-level plan, your brain is destined to be set back. Instead of saying youre going to workout an hour a day, cut out all sweets, wake up early etc., pick one thing to make a habit at a time. If you change habits slowly, you can change your lifestyle permanently.

Also, there is nothing wrong with loving who you are and what you look like now but still want to change to be healthier. Your desire to change should be rooted in a want to feel happier and healthier, not to fit a certain standard. Practicing self-love is more important than fitting into society standards.

Confidence and the way that you look in clothes comes from an acceptance in yourself, not an acceptance by others. The moment that a person accepts themselves for who they are, it is easier to accomplish whatever goals they have.

Your body fuels you, so you better fuel it.

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Why Diet Culture is Toxic - Catholic University of America The Tower

Posted Jan 24, 2021 Teacher of the Month: McFarland teaching, coaching about life – hays Post

Posted on January 25, 2021 by Prof Baldwin

Rose McFarland, Thomas More Prep-Marian coach and teacher, is January's Hays Post Teacher of the Month.

By CRISTINA JANNEYHays Post

Rose McFarland, a Thomas More Prep-Marian teacher and coach, said trophies, winning seasons and championships are not what have been the highlights of her career.

McFarland, 59, who has been a coach and teacher for 25 years, said the relationships she has built with her students and peers have been the most treasured aspect of her years in education and athletics.

She has taught all levels from kindergarten through college.

"When you see some of those kids who you have taught in the past go out into the world and find careers and find families, to me, that's very rewarding," she said. "It's about life. Hopefully, you are teaching some life lessons. Things aren't always easy. Sometimes there are challenges, but when things get tough, you have all those people around you to support you.

"I have been through that in my life. A lot of people stepped up and gave me support, and that is probably what I appreciate most."

Many of her current junior high students may not know, but McFarland faced a life-and-death challenge when she began teaching at TMP.

McFarland was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she went through treatment and was given a clean bill of health.

Shortly after coming to coach and teach health and PE at TMP nine years ago, McFarland's cancer reoccurred.

She underwent surgery, chemo and radiation.

Melissa Schoepf, TMP math teacher, said in her nomination for the Hays Post Teacher of the Month, McFarland overcame her cancer diagnosis, all while maintaining a positive attitude.

"She has inspired our students, faculty and staff to never give up and keep pushing through,"Schoepf said. "She rarely missed a day in the classroom or on the basketball court while undergoing chemotherapy, which demonstrates her dedication to her students and her mental toughness."

McFarland said coming to school was motivating during her treatment.

"It got me up in the morning. I had a lot of support, and that helped me a lot," she said. "People were very supportive here. People I've coached in the past and taught with in the past and family were very supportive."

She said she could remember coaching games, coming back to her office, laying down on her coach and not having the energy to get back up.

"It wasn't easy, but I did it, and got through there, and in another year, it came back again," she said.

She appreciated the school allowing her to continue to teach. Her doctor said he was amazed she was back in school.

"I think it is how you see things and just being positive," she said. "I had a lot of positivity around me. My faith helped carry me through. I am just happy for every day I am here."

She said she knows others have greater challenges, and she tries not to focus on herself or her challenges.

When she first was diagnosed with cancer, McFarland was substitute teaching and coaching her young son's basketball team. McFarland lost her hair during treatment, so all of the boys on her team shaved their heads.

"I am sure they learned to have more courage," she said. "They did that for me.

"Those kids I coached, those kids I taught, they got to see that I wasn't going to give up, and you get through those challenges and move on."

People were so generous and kind to her that it was difficult, she said, because she had to swallow her pride and learn to accept the help.

"I think sometimes it helps those people who do things for you," she said. "It helps them as much as it probably helped me."

Her faith and being a part of the religious community at TMP was important to her as she struggled with the cancer and still today.

"We can talk about our religion. We can talk about our faith. We can share our faith. We can talk about Jesus," McFarland said. "That's why I'm here. I am allowed to do that and share with others."

Schoepf, who nominated McFarland for Teacher of the Month, said as a physical education/health teacher, McFarland continually provides fun, engaging, active lessons to her students and works with helping them maintain a healthy lifestyle.

One activity she is very passionate about is the school's annual health fair, during which her students plan and present on current health issues.

McFarland has always put value on physical and health education. She started the physical education program at St. Joseph Elementary School in Hays, and also kicked off the program at TMP, when the junior high was added there.

"A lot of people think its just activities or fitness, but there is so much more," she said. "There is so much social/emotional wellness. You learn leadership skills. You learn teamwork. You learn sportsmanship. You learn how to stay fit, plus they have fun.

"It is a good break from academia over there. They can come and release and learn how to get along with others."

She said it is not just playing games.

"It's skills for a lifetime. Our health is so valuable. You can have all the money in the world, but if you don't have your health, what good is it?" McFarland said.

She said she tries to reach those students who don't like PE.

"If we can find that one activity to reach them, I think that is very important if we can get them to think they want to do it for a lifetime."

As a coach some of her best memories have not been the winning seasons, but the teams who were able to grow.

"Sometimes those challenging years are the funnest," she said. ... "Just seeing the growth when they finally do something, you are like 'Aha, they finally got it.' "

She wants to do her best for her athletes and for them to do the best they can for themselves. McFarland said she is very competitive, which lead to many sleepless nights, going over games in her head.

She said in the end, it's about teaching her students and athletes about life.

"I like sharing what I have experienced," she said, "the values of the things I learned in my past. It's not for the money.

"I think it is important to have good role models and leaders and instill a passion for whatever they want to do in life."

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Posted Jan 24, 2021 Teacher of the Month: McFarland teaching, coaching about life - hays Post

What keeps Prince Philip hale and hearty at the age of 99? – Geo News

Posted on January 25, 2021 by Prof Baldwin

Royal fans are counting down days till Prince Philip marks his 100th birthday in June this year.

And while the big day of the Duke of Edinburgh is being awaited by members of the British royal family as well as fans, some royal aides are unveiling the secrets of the 99-year-olds healthy lifestyle.

Speaking to Hello! magazine, royal doctor Anna Hemming said: Keeping active both physically and mentally play a very important role in maintaining a healthy and ongoing quality of life.

Sport has its benefits in keeping both your body and mind active. When the time comes to retire from sport the interest in sporting activities helps to stimulate your mind, she went on to say.

As reported by Express, international horse-riding federation FEI claims that the duke has been a keen sportsman throughout his life by playing cricket, hockey and rowing.

Like all other people who lead a fit healthy life and enjoy a balanced intake of healthy food, they are more likely to enjoy a more healthy quality of life in their later years, she continued.

Prince Philips diet is almost made up of the best power-packed foods, including eggs, smoked haddock and omelet.

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What keeps Prince Philip hale and hearty at the age of 99? - Geo News

Turning the tide: Slovenia’s success story of fighting cervical cancer – WHO/Europe

Posted on December 17, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Slovenia has come a long way to become one of the most successful countries in the WHO European Region in the fight against cervical cancer. From having had one of the worst statistics in Europe on cervical cancer incidence, Slovenia has managed to turn the tide thanks to political will, cooperation and a robust screening programme.

Slovenia established its national cancer registry in the 1960s, which enabled Slovenian health authorities to track cancer incidence. A notable increase in cervical cancer rates in the 1990s sounded the alarm among experts, and led to the establishment of ZORA, Slovenias national cervical cancer screening programme.

We used to have statistics among the worst of Europe our cervical cancer incidence was really high, explains Dr Urska Ivanu, Head of ZORA. With ZORA, managed by the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, we built a population-based, centralized and comprehensive programme which soon delivered very concrete, tangible results: cervical cancer incidence has almost halved since we established ZORA.

Dr Ivanu describes one of the keys to such a remarkable accomplishment: One of the important factors for success is a shared vision of the stakeholders, which should be led by the example of the core team. Believing in evidence, believing in the cause, working hard and with enthusiasm, listening and understanding all the stakeholders, monitoring and adjusting all of this is crucial for the successful implementation of change.

Through ZORA, the practice of opportunistic screening offering ad hoc screening tests to women visiting health centres for other reasons was abandoned. Opportunistic screening has proven to have very limited impact on cervical cancer incidence. Instead, ZORA started screening women once every 3 years.

There were some concerns we might miss out on cancers, but it turned out to be quite the contrary, explains Dr Ivanu. As the changes to the screening frequency were implemented, the rate of women with positive results requiring a call-back dropped from 15% to 5%.

In short: we managed to screen more women, monitor results more efficiently, report back better to screening providers and also back to women themselves, and achieve better overall results, says Dr Ivanu. Our ZORA team had a dream. Now that dream is a concrete plan: a plan to eliminate cervical cancer!

The ZORA programme has been well accepted among Slovenian women, and more than 70% now attend screenings regularly.

Women should think about screenings as part of a healthy lifestyle. Just as they do their daily exercise or try to eat healthy, they should make sure they are screened regularly. This is an important message we should convey to all women. Dont wait for the first signs, as they will come late, stresses Dr Ivanu.

Cervical cancer is one of the rare cancers where we can actually detect what is called pre-cancer. It can be a very small change in the cervix, limited to the surface, and if we catch it and treat it, we can prevent cancer from developing, says Dr Ivanu. Cervical cancer is also the only cancer where we have 2 important, safe and effective public health interventions available: screening and vaccination.

We can see global momentum, and we have the necessary tools for success. But to eliminate cervical cancer, we must achieve 3 crucial targets, explains WHO Representative in Slovenia Dr Aiga Rurane:

For maximum impact, these 907090 targets must be implemented simultaneously, adds Dr Rurane.

With remarkable results for 2 of the targets 70% of women screened and 90% of women identified with cervical cancer treated Slovenia could very well become one of the first European countries to reach all 3 targets.

We have not yet reached the benchmark of vaccinating 90% of girls. Slovenia has been vaccinating girls in the 6th grade of primary school against HPV free of charge since 2009. But the routine vaccination programme is attended by 60% of these girls, which is not enough to achieve the desired population-wide effects of the vaccination, explains Dr Ivanu.

We need to increase coverage, implement primary HPV screening with more accurate tests that enable longer screening intervals, and strengthen the monitoring system, she adds.

Our success so far has been possible thanks to the continued efforts and dedicated work for many years of many health professionals in Slovenia, multiple partnerships, and the continued commitment of the Government, says Dr Rurane. Slovenia can be proud of what has been achieved, and it sets an example for countries across the Region and globally.

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The Foundation teams up with Sun Life to get youth active – Canada NewsWire

Posted on December 17, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

MONTREAL, Dec. 17, 2020 /CNW/ - The Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation announced earlier today that it is partnering with Sun Life until the end of the 2021-22 season to activate and expand its introductory ball hockey program in schools across Quebec. Built for 3rd- and 4th-grade students in communities where BLEU BLANC BOUGEoutdoor rinks have been built, this program has, since its creation in 2016, aimed to teach underprivileged youth the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle through ball hockey activities.

Sun Life serves as the presenting sponsor of the Foundation's BLEU BLANC BOUGE Ball Hockey Program, representing a financial contribution of $450,000 over three years. The support provided by Sun Life will help implement the program in six regions in the province, namely in Montreal, Laval and Montrgie initially, and then in Estrie, Lanaudire and Mauricie. Sessions will now be deployed in the fall, winter and spring seasons in 11 communities throughout the province, allowing more than 1,900 children to learn the fundamentals of ball hockey and develop new motor and social skills through June 2022.

"The Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation is proud to work with a partner like Sun Life, who firmly believes in the benefits of physical activity and of a healthy lifestyle," said Geoff Molson, owner, president and CEO of the Montreal Canadiens and member of the Foundation's board. "Thanks to their support and generosity, we are able to offer the children of our BLEU BLANC BOUGE communities an active, fun and educational program, which will eventually grow to reach hundreds of children across Quebec."

Thanks to this initiative, 517 youngsters from the Greater Montreal area took part in this six-week health and well-being program this past fall. Each of the nine participating schools also received a complete set of ball hockey equipment, including hockey sticks, goalie equipment, nets, balls and eye protection. As a result of this donation, schools will be able to pursue their own programs moving forward, making it possible for students from every grade to benefit from it.

A new health-related theme is introduced at each program session, allowing children to discuss a variety of topics such as nutrition, physical activity, sleep and relaxation. An activity book on healthy lifestyles is also provided to all participating children to reinforce what they've learned and further deepen their knowledge on these subjects in class, inspiring them to take concrete actions to improve their physical and mental health on a daily basis.

With this new partnership with the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation, Sun Life reaffirms their commitment to supporting prevention and awareness programs focused on health and wellness, with the goal of fostering healthier, sustainable communities. By focusing on teamwork and fun, the program aims to equip youth in underserved communities with essential tools and life skills to help encourage them to make healthy lifestyle choices and live a fuller, more active life, thus protecting them against diabetes and other chronic diseases.

"The pandemic has shone a spotlight on the extraordinary work of our community foundations and agencies. And a program like BLEU BLANC BOUGE is more relevant than ever now that health has become everyone's priority! This initiative aligns with our commitment to give people the tools they need to take charge of their health. I'm pleased that our support for the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation has given children a chance to be active and learn about healthy habits. After months of being kept home, the few hours the children spent with the trainers couldn't have come at a better time," said Robert Dumas, president and chief executive officer of Sun Life Quebec.

Being overweight, obese, or having a sedentary lifestyle are key risk factors for type 2 diabetes, which, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada, disproportionately affects socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, as well as certain ethnic communities. Statistics also show children from low-income families or from visible minority groups are less physically active than other youth their age, being three times more likely to have never participated in organized sports. However, it has been proven that with exercise and a good diet, it is possible to prevent and even reverse a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

About the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation

The Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation is a non-profit organization that encourages physical activity and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle among underprivileged youth aged 4 to 17 years old. Since its inception in August 2000, the Foundation has invested over $32 million in the community. The Foundation fulfills its mandate in two ways: first, through a unique flagship project the BLEU BLANC BOUGE program which consists of building and activating community refrigerated and multisport rinks; secondly, by providing financial support to more than 870 charitable endeavours, working for the well-being of the most vulnerable children across the province of Quebec, whose projects and programs enable children to adopt healthy lifestyles by being more active. For more information, visit foundation.canadiens.com.

For information:

Paul Wilson514-925-7889

Charles Saindon-Courtois514-575-3274

Guillaume Ouimet514-925-2176

SOURCE Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation

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The Foundation teams up with Sun Life to get youth active - Canada NewsWire

The Life Insurance Providers Industry Is Now Including Protection Against Current And Future Pandemics In Their Policies – GlobeNewswire

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

LONDON, Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TBRCs annual festive sale is finally here! Get up to 50% off on ALL reports: https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/global-market-reports

The year 2020 has been very uncertain with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. According to The Business Research Companys research report on the global life insurance providers market, to safeguard the coverage of the policyholder, multiple insurance companies have begun offering protection against diseases caused by viruses that may be a side effect or a result of an epidemic or pandemic. Insurers all around the world have now taken precautions to ensure that they are not caught off-guard again by a pandemic resulting in a high number of deaths. Some of the life insurance companies that include coverage for the coronavirus pandemic include Brighthouse, Lincoln Financial, Prudential, AIG, Banner and Mutual of Omaha.

The life insurance providers market reached a value of nearly $2.86 trillion in 2020, having increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8% since 2015. The market is expected to grow from $2.86 trillion in 2020 to $3.55 trillion in 2025 at a rate of 4.4%. This growth is mainly due to the growing awareness about investing in life insurance policies due to an increase in chronic illnesses. The life insurance market size is then expected to grow to $4.27 trillion in 2030 at a CAGR of 3.7%. Asia Pacific has the largest life insurance market share, accounting for 33.5% of the total in 2020.

The Business Research Companys report titled Life Insurance Providers Market Global Report 2020-30: COVID-19 Impact and Recovery covers major life insurance providers companies, life insurance providers market share by company, life insurance providers manufacturers, life insurance providers infrastructure market size, and life insurance providers market forecasts. The report also covers the global life insurance providers market and its segments.

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Apart from coverage for sudden diseases caused by pandemics, life insurance companies are increasingly offering tailored insurance for their healthier clients on the other hand. Insurance companies globally are offering lower premium rates that reward the clients healthy lifestyle. With such life insurance market trends, these companies are also encouraging policyholders to lead a healthy lifestyle. The willing clients are being rewarded with reduced premiums or certain loyalty benefit programs. Apart from this there are various lifestyle apps that have the potential to reimagine and improve the insurer-insured relationships. Application programming interfaces (APIs) will enable the creation of insights-driven offerings as they integrate data from multiple sources to ensure that the beneficiary lives a healthier lifestyle. For example, Vitality, a UK based insurance company offers its clients rewards if they exercise regularly and eat healthy. These clients are also offered discounts on activity trackers and free delivery of healthy food from their partner companies. Other companies such as Max New York Life Insurance offers up to a 36% of reduction of premium for their healthy, non-smoking policyholders. These ideas drive not only the customers health, but also the market.

Life Insurance Providers Market Global Report 2020-30: COVID-19 Impact and Recovery is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provide market overviews, analyze and forecast market size and growth for the whole market, segments and geographies, trends, drivers, restraints, leading competitors revenues, profiles and market shares in over 1,000 industry reports, covering over 2,500 market segments and 60 geographies. The report also gives in-depth analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on the market. The reports draw on 150,000 datasets, extensive secondary research, and exclusive insights from interviews with industry leaders. A highly experienced and expert team of analysts and modelers provides market analysis and forecasts. The reports identify top countries and segments for opportunities and strategies based on market trends and leading competitors approaches.

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Term Life Insurance Market - By Type Of Insurance (Individual Level Term Life Insurance, Group Level Term Life Insurance, Decreasing Term Life Insurance), By Distribution Channel (Tied Agents And Branches, Brokers, Bancassurance), And By Region, Opportunities And Strategies Global Forecast To 2030

Insurance Providers Global Market Report 2020-30: COVID-19 Impact and Recovery

Insurance Brokers & Agents Global Market Report 2020-30: COVID-19 Impact and Recovery

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The Life Insurance Providers Industry Is Now Including Protection Against Current And Future Pandemics In Their Policies - GlobeNewswire

COVID-19 And Diabetes Can Be A Dangerous Mix – WFYI

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

FARAH YOUSRY - Side Effects Public Media

Agatha Walston leads a busy life. Shes a nurse in southern Indiana and a single mother of two young kids.

Shes kept control of her type 1 diabetes for over 28 years partly through a healthy lifestyle. I would rather snack on veggies than trash food, the Clarksville woman says.

But when the pandemic hit, she feared that the control she maintained for so long could be unraveling. I told my kids, I said, Okay, there's this super-killer virus on the loose, and I'm a nurse and I will probably get it.

That was really hard conversation to have with the kids to make sure that they knew that, you know, if mom goes, they're still going to have each other.

People living with diabetes are not more likely to get COVID-19. But they are at a much greater risk of developing severe symptoms and complications. A COVID study in England examined more than 20,000 deaths and found that a third of those people were diabetic.

In mid-April, Walston tested positive.

She survived without hospitalization, but months later, she noticed new health issues. She was diagnosed with high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, heart problems and glaucoma a condition that could cause blindness.

She recalls, The glaucoma specialist, he had said, You know, you're already at risk for glaucoma. So we won't know if it was COVID or diabetes.

Walstons doctors are unsure if COVID is behind any of these complications or if her diabetes was a contributing factor.

But many diabetics worldwide are battling health complications from a COVID infection.

Even if your blood glucose control is perfect, you're still going to have some risks, says Dr. Carmella Evans-Molina, director of the Diabetes Research Center at Indiana University.

COVID has the power to elevate blood sugar levels and cause insulin resistance even in previously healthy people, she says. For diabetics, this effect is magnified.

So they might then need to make changes in their insulin regimen or changes in their diabetes medication, Evans-Molina says. If they're in the hospital, obviously their providers in the hospital will be taking care of these things. But if they're recovering from COVID at home, they need to be very careful and checking their blood glucose very frequently, and then be in communication with their doctors.

She says that such drastic changes in blood sugar levels could cause long-term complications if not managed carefully.

Dr. Francisco Rubino, a professor at Kings College London, also has been watching the emerging problem. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we noticed there is a bidirectional relationship between COVID and diabetes.

In a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine, he and other healthcare professionals noted that the severe insulin resistance caused by COVID might have another shocking effect. Even people who didn't have any history of diabetes, coming up to the hospital with clear signs of having diabetes, he says.

Rubino says data is still limited, so he set up a global registry called CoviDiab to track these cases.

Dr. Evans-Molinas team has studied pancreatic cells of patients who died from COVID. They did not see evidence of the virus being able to trigger new on-set diabetes, she says, adding, I think we're really early in our understanding of that.

She notes that managing COVID patients requires the use of steroids, which causes elevated blood sugar levels. This is one of many factors that could have damaging effects on diabetics or someone with pre-diabetes.

So we know that we're probably seeing people who were very close to a diagnosis pass over that threshold and become diagnosed with diabetes, she says.

As doctors and scientists work to understand the relationship between COVID and diabetes, Walston is dealing with her medical problems. She says this year has been rough physically and emotionally.

She adds, The best thing about 2020 [is] not dying.

This story was produced by Side Effects Public Media, a news collaborative covering public health.

This reporting is supported by the GBH Educational Foundation through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. To learn more about the diabetes epidemic in America, watch the documentary"Blood Sugar Rising."

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COVID-19 And Diabetes Can Be A Dangerous Mix - WFYI

Online Health Promotion Program Shown to Significantly Improve the Physical and Mental Health of Canadians During the Pandemic – Canada NewsWire

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Over 75% of participants completed the 10-week program. Each week where they were trained to adopt a new healthy lifestyle habit, track their progress, and receive regular feedback and health coaching from volunteer medical students studying at McGill University. The following results were observed:

Dr Steven Grover, a Professor of Medicine at McGill University, and one of the co-leaders of this program noted: "The high completion rate is extraordinary and probably reflects the substantial impact of the excellent health coaching provided weekly by the medical students. Not only did this help to keep participants engaged but it undoubtedly played an essential role in some of the more challenging lifestyle changes such as losing excess body weight. Feedback from the students was also very positive as they learned first-hand about the challenges of motivating their future patients to adopt healthy habits".

The next Drop 5 Mission will start January 11, 2021 and will again run for 10 weeks (funded by Veterans Affairs Canada). It is fun and free, not only for Canadian Veterans and their families, but also for other Canadian's who are trying to maintain or improve their health during the pandemic.

http://www.missionvav.com

SOURCE McGill Comprehensive Health Improvement Program (CHIP)

For further information: Dr Steven Grover, [emailprotected], 514-791-5688

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Online Health Promotion Program Shown to Significantly Improve the Physical and Mental Health of Canadians During the Pandemic - Canada NewsWire

Prevent T2 – Preventing diabetes through creating healthy lifestyles – Seeley Swan Pathfinder

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Photo provided

Linda Howard, Resource Specialist, Seeley-Swan Resource Center, 406-541-7688

The Missoula Public Health City-County Health Department is offering a National Diabetes Prevention Program called Prevent T2 starting Jan. 20, 2021. It will continue through December 2021. Prevent T2 is a lifestyle balance program carefully designed to help reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. This course will equip participants with the most recent research in healthy lifestyles.

With a focus on nutritional education, physical activity guidance and stress management tools, Prevent T2's one-year course will provide group support to help you reach your health and wellness goals. Prevent T2 is designed for making and sustaining healthy lifestyle changes, supporting prolonged results and prevention of chronic diseases. All classes will be provided online. Classes are held weekly for 16 weeks, followed by four biweekly sessions and then six monthly sessions.

Prevent T2 is paid in full by Missoula City, County and Medicaid insurances. Full scholarships are also available. If you or someone you know is looking to improve their health and prevent chronic disease, this is an excellent program!

If you have questions or would like to enroll please call Courtney Chase, Program Coordinator and Lifestyle Coach at 406-258-4935 or email her at cchase@missoulacounty.us

Wishing you all the best,

Linda

When It’s Not Enough to Increase Access to Insulin – Direct Relief

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

When it comes to caring for a complex disease like type 1 diabetes, theres no silver bullet.

For those living with the condition, care is a complicated matrix of lifelong, regimented use of insulin, delivery devices, and blood glucose monitoring. Diabetes education and skilled health professionals are just as critical.

Reduced access to just one of those essential pillars of care whether its the insulin, the delivery device, the monitoring equipment, education, or skilled care can result in any number of potential complications. Nerve damage. Heart, kidney, and teeth problems. Blindness. Even death.

In low-resource settings, access to any of the above is more likely to be limited. With that in mind, its surprising that so much focus has been paid to insulin access, to the exclusion of other elements of diabetes care.

But a new study is changing that.

Published in the in World Journal of Diabetes by researchers at the Life for a Child (LFAC) Program at Diabetes NSW And ACT in Australia, the study looks at how likely people from low- and middle-income countries are to be able to access two essential elements of diabetes care: insulin delivery devices and a diagnostic blood test known as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) testing.

For the LFAC program, these arent just academic questions. For over 20 years, the program has been deeply involved in procuring and distributing type 1 diabetes medicines and supplies for children and adolescents.

Currently, LFAC supports 22,000 children and young children under the age of 26, in 43 countries and through 72 local health care partners, with insulin, syringes, blood glucose testing strips, and HbA1c testing and supplies.

Direct Relief has worked with LFAC for over 10 years, and currently arranges the transportation and delivery of the Programs insulin, insulin syringes, and some blood glucose monitoring equipment to local healthcare partners. In 2019 alone, Direct Relief coordinated the delivery of 2 million insulin syringes and approximately 270,000 vials of insulin for the LFAC program.

When it comes to the study, findings were grim. Almost half of the public health systems surveyed did not provide any insulin syringes for people with type 1 diabetes even though syringe usage was the most common method for administering insulin in more than 80% of the surveyed countries.

Many surveyed health centers could provide free or reduced-cost syringes for their patients in large part due to private donations of supplies from LFAC and Direct Relief. However, the study also found that people who purchase these supplies from other sources, such as private retail pharmacies, can spend on average anywhere from $0.19 $0.29 USD per syringe. That means the potential yearly cost could climb northwards of $400.00 for syringes alone in countries where people often live on less than $3.20-$5.50 per day.

When it came to HbA1c testing, access wasnt much better. The study found that, while more than 80% of centers did provide this testing for their patients, the costs could be prohibitive an average of $9.34 per test at about a third of facilities. For those who sought testing from their countrys public health care system, costs could be even more significant anywhere from $4 to $29 per test. In these settings, HbA1c testing is conducted 1 to 4 times per year an annual cost of up to $116.

Even at those prices, access wasnt a given stockouts, maintenance, and limitations on staff training and refrigeration capacity were all reported to impact availability of the testing.

There are nearly half a billion people worldwide living with diabetes, according to the International Diabetes Federation. This figure is expected to increase dramatically to almost 700 million people over the next 25 years. Almost 80% of these people live and will most likely continue to live in low- and middle-income countries, here the medicines and technologies needed to diagnose and manage diabetes are scarce, or prohibitively expensive.

As a result, people residing in these countries will bear a disproportionate burden of the estimated 4 million deaths or more that are attributable to diabetes each year. That makes this issue a major barrier to global health equity.

Approximately 90% of people with diabetes are thought to have type 2, which may be preventable, and can be managed effectively through early detection, education, social support, healthy lifestyle changes, and in some cases medication.

However, for those living with type 1 diabetes, including over a million children and adolescents, there is no evidence that the disease can be prevented. It can only be managed effectively, with continuous access to insulin, insulin delivery devices, and blood glucose testing, as well as education and social support.

Since 2011, the LFAC Program and Direct Relief have mobilized the delivery of nearly 7 million insulin syringes donated by BD for 10,000 children in 20 lower resourced countries.

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When It's Not Enough to Increase Access to Insulin - Direct Relief

Building for care: MidMichigan Health completes Heart and Vascular Center focused on care continuum – Concentrate

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

The second phase in a multi-year investment in health care in the region, MidMichigan Health recently completed construction of the new Heart and Vascular Center located on the campus of MIdMichigan Medical Center - Midland. At more than 170,000 square feet, the new facility consolidates all of the Medical Centers heart and vascular physician offices and specialty clinics, creating a regional destination for heart and vascular care.

Now housed under one roof, the Center focuses on everything from prevention and screening programs, outpatient services, is home to several specialty clinics, emergency services, advanced treatment and research, as well as rehabilitation and restoration.

The initial phase of the $62.8 million project was the new Orchard Building, completed in mid-2019, which is attached to the Heart and Vascular Center, houses support services including laboratory, diagnostic imaging and cardiovascular testing.

This project has been three years in the making and to see it complete, and see our vision as a reality is really impactful, says Sunita Vadakath, M.D., vice president of service lines for MidMichigan Health. The Center will advance our care model, streamline many of our services, encourage collaboration among providers and help us deliver unmatched patient care.

MidMichigan Health provides for care along the entire spectrum of heart and vascular needs, with the exception of pediatric cardiac care and transplant procedures.

We have designed a comprehensive program to look at the entire care continuum, says Dr. Vadakath. From screening and preventative sessions around heart disease, to complex procedures like the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) and the Watchman Left Atrial Appendage Closure Implant, among others.A waiting room at the MidMichigan Health Heart and Vascular Center.

Situated in between the emergency department and MidMichigan Healths inpatient hospital towers, the new Center offers direct adjacent access to both operating and cath lab facilities.

For convenience and ease of care, we now have one integrated system that allows us to treat patients much more efficiently, even if that involves multiple specialties, says Dr. Vadakath. In cases of urgency, time is at a premium in cardiac care, so this will allow us to continue to strengthen our care model and provide the best environment for positive outcomes.

The integration also helps build on MidMichigan Healths strong performance in emergency response for cardiac care, particularly patients that suffering from ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) the most serious type of heart attack.

In 2019, MidMichigan Health completed more than 82,000 outpatient heart and vascular visits and more than 4,000 inpatient heart and vascular discharges, with 62% of the overall heart patients coming from outside Midland County.

The Center advances MidMichigan Healths quality of care through the ability to expedite treatment and services, especially helpful for patients who are not living within the county and traveling for specialty care.

With so many of our patients coming from outside Midland, often it means an entire day for both patients and their family or friends, says Dr. Vadakath. Especially when it comes to some of our more complex procedures, there is advanced testing and multiple specialists involved. So, we wanted to make sure that that time was easy for both patients and their families.

That meant designing for a calm and healing environment built around soothing and natural surroundings. That was achieved through adding abundant natural light, a large water feature and indoor living landscapes.

The design reflects our intent to look at and treat the patient in a more holistic way, says Dr. Vadakath.

The progression and depth of MidMichigan Healths cardiovascular program has been significant since starting with open-heart surgery and angioplasty in 2007.

In a little over a decade, weve transformed from a smaller regional hospital to now a regional cardiac referral center, says William Felten, M.D., cardiovascular service line chief. It gives us the ability to provide advanced cardiac care, function as the patients one-stop service, and do that as efficiently as possible.

The added benefit is the new Center gives MidMichigan Health the ability to recruit top-notch talent, not just for heart surgeons, but for other specialties, as well.

The Services Entrance of the MidMichigan Health Heart and Vascular Center.

The Center gives us the ability to recruit top surgical and specialty talent across all disciplines, whether that is minimally invasive mitral valve repair, robotic surgery or vascular surgeons who do very complex work, says Dr. Felten. This is a world-class facility that allows us to attract other specialties and niche procedures, support our current growth through expanded programs and plan for the future.

Currently, MidMichigan Health serves 23 counties and approximately 938,000 patients as far north as Cheboygan.

Part of the expanded cardiovascular programs includes the addition of a demonstration kitchen, which gives MidMichigan Health the ability to support wellness programs and incorporate all aspects of a healthy lifestyle, including live cooking demonstrations in a kitchen for classes on-site. The Center also houses the space to host conferences and other events.

As a part of the new facility we are also going to have the ability to do live conferences and events with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology, says Dr. Felten.

The entire project was met with an extensive amount of community support, from funding all the way to design and construction.

A true community effort, over half of the Heart and Vascular Centers $30 million investment was donated locally, with the hospital exceeding the philanthropic match goal.

Supporting organizations for the Heart and Vascular Center included The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, The Charles J. Strosacker Foundation and the Dow Company Foundation, William Randolph Hearst Foundation, Isabella Bank, Midland Area Community Foundation, TCF Bank, Three Rivers Corporation Foundation, and hundreds of businesses and individuals.The MidMichigan Health Heart and Vascular Center during the construction process, by Three Rivers Construction.

We are so blessed to have this project supported by such an immense amount of help from all different members and organizations within the community, says Dr. Felten. We are looking forward to bettering the lives of many people throughout our region with the advanced level of care provided at this facility.

That support translates to locally built as well, with start-to-finish construction support that was designed and built by Three Rivers Corporation.

The project was completed with over 75% of materials and subcontracting support sourced locally. In addition, the job was completed safely, with zero OSHA recordables experienced.

We are honored to partner with MidMichigan Health to deliver the second phase of this project with the new Heart and Vascular Center, says Jon Lynch, president of Three Rivers Corporation. From design to efficiency, this is a state-of-the-art facility that advances the level of care MidMichigan Health brings to our region by providing talented healthcare professionals a cutting-edge environment from which they can deliver sophisticated, life-prolonging services to our family and friends.

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Building for care: MidMichigan Health completes Heart and Vascular Center focused on care continuum - Concentrate

Raising kids with a healthier lifestyle: Watch experts find easy solutions – Times of India

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Raising kids used to be a hard task before the evolution of social media and thanks to the internet, a lot of things are now easier than we imagined. On the positive side, we have access to all the information we need to ace parenting, but then it is also far easier for children to turn towards a not-so-healthy lifestyle with a constant supply of easily available and orderable junk food. However, in these times, it becomes more crucial than ever to find a way of raising children who are aware and conscious about their food choices and why they need to lead a healthier life. In the last of the three #TrasnformYourTeens webinar by Invisalign, moderator Tisca Chopra discusses this topic with noted nutritionist and diet expert Rujuta Diwekar and one of Mumbais leading orthodontists, Dr Jignesh Kothari.

Invisalign system is a next-gen teeth aligning tool that has truly transformed the world of orthodontics. Invisalign system has a series of removable and customized clear aligners, that is not just easier to manage but also helps kids to be more confident during and after their orthodontic treatment. It also helps avoid any inconvenience children could face while undergoing treatment with traditional braces. Invisalign has been striving to make life easier, not just for kids but also their parents. With their #TransformYourTeens webinars, they have guided parents on how to help their children grow more confident and be more comfortable and open. Their latest webinar has some brilliant anecdotes on leading children to choose healthier alternatives and help them say no to junk.

Beginning the hour-long session, mother and the talented actor, Tisca Chopra spoke about how this is a key part of parenting. One of the toughest parts of my journey in the past few years has been to strike a balance between my work and my family. As my little one is growing up, there are so many questions that come to our mind. Some I have answers to and some I dont. Well, in todays Invisalign #TransformYourTeens we discuss some of the topics that we have in our mind. The foundation of a healthy lifestyle starts much earlier from the very initial years of a childs life. They say you are what you eat and thats true, even more so for teeth and gums. We must take care of our childrens diets and meal plans from a very very young age.

She went on to introduce her fellow - panellists Rujuta Diwekar, who is Indias leading sports science and nutrition expert, and a vocal champion of uncomplicating the act of eating right, and Dr Jignesh Kothari who is a well-practicing orthodontist with over 18 years of experience, specializing in invisible braces that make use of the most advanced technology in this segment- the Invisalign system.

The webinar extensively covered various key issues like the dietary choices that young children are currently making, how parents can help them navigate towards healthier alternatives, and of course, the lesser-known connection between teeth alignment and healthy eating habits.

Talking about parents role in helping their children lead a healthier life, Rujuta Diwekar said, I think the most important thing for children to stay away, especially teens to stay away from junk is for them to identify what junk food is. Another thing that parents can do to keep their children healthy is to lead extremely healthy lives themselves. Because we are living in 2020, you cannot tell a child to do something that is opposing your practices. Kids watch and learn much more than they listen and learn.

When it comes to healthy eating, various food options are disputed and argued on. One such food item has to be nuts. Moderator Tisca Chopra posed this question to Rujuta and Dr Kothari and asked for their expert opinions. Heres what they said.

Dr Jignesh Kothari opines, I think nuts are very good. I have them every day, and so does my son. I think it should be a part of our everyday diet. Unfortunately, it is interesting that, with braces, they are prevented from having nuts, because they could break the braces. There is a massive list of dos and donts that came when a young child came to us to get fixed with conventional braces. Now, with the Invisalign system, which is removable, all my kids are free to eat everything. We encourage them to have badam and akhrot and everything. I think it is very healthy and they should have it every day.

Nutrition Expert Rujuta Diwekar says, I think every raging teenager should have at least a handful of cashews every day. Also, some growing children have these growing pains. So a handful of peanuts is really good for them. Walnuts, badam, pista- these are what they should be eating. Useful in fibre, an easy source of Vitamin B and great in taste, they make for an excellent quick snack and a much healthier alternative. I think if you are going to get dental help to take better care of your oral health, it should empower you to eat everything healthy instead of preventing you from eating food that is critical for your growth stage.

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Raising kids with a healthier lifestyle: Watch experts find easy solutions - Times of India

Here’s the type and amount of exercise you need, WHO advises – KVIA El Paso

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

While were all cooped up during the pandemic, the World Health Organization wants you to exercise.

The organization released new physical activity guidelines recommending that adults get at least 150 minutes thats 2.5 hours of moderate to vigorous physical activity weekly.

The WHOs new physical activity recommendations come at a time when the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc around the world and being overweight or obese has been associated with an increased risk of severe illness and hospitalization from Covid-19.

The WHO previously recommended that adults ages 18 to 64 do either at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or minimum 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week, and those previous recommendations were made for healthy adults. The new recommendations now include people living with chronic conditions or a disability.

Being physically active is critical for health and well-being it can help add years to life and life to years, said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a news release. Every move counts, especially now as we manage the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic. We must all move every day safely and creatively.

Regardless of who you are, WHO has a few core principles in mind: Everyone can benefit from being more active than sedentary. Doing some physical activity, no matter what it is, is better than doing none. You can start small and slow and increase your frequency, intensity and duration over time. You can strengthen your muscles at home or in the gym (when safe). And physical activity is good for our hearts, bodies and minds.

Children up to 17 need at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise each day, according to the new recommendations. The activities should be mostly aerobic, such as jogging or biking. Activities that strengthen muscle and bone are necessary, too.

For kids to be more active, they need to perceive their activity options as fun in addition to having the access and opportunity, said Dr. Stephanie Walsh, the medical director of Child Wellness at Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta. If youre working with your children on that, try referring to exercise by the words going outside or playing.

If your kid finds walking boring, make it more enjoyable by doing scavenger hunts or playing I Spy. Adolescents could listen to music, video chat or use fitness apps.

Generally children/adolescents always report they like to do physical activity to: 1) be with their friends 2) have fun 3) to learn something new, said Craig A. Williams, a professor of pediatric physiology and health and director of the Childrens Health & Exercise Research Centre at the University of Exeter in England, via email.

Stay active together, mix it up, be encouraging and adjust what doesnt work, Williams said. Dance if you hate running and roller skate if you prefer not to walk. Additionally, encourage your children to notice how they feel: If they sweated and breathed hard, they did well.

Young people are more immediately at risk for mental health problems than for chronic heart or metabolic conditions.

If youre trying to get your teenagers to be more active, encouraging them to exercise in consideration of their mental health may be more effective than warning them about physical health impacts, which may seem far off in a young persons mind, said Joseph Hayes, a principal research fellow in psychiatry at University College London, via email.

Pleasant, noncompetitive activities can help children develop the confidence, ability and enjoyment to be active for the rest of your life, Walsh said, influencing their self-esteem, mood and academic performance.

For adults up to age 64, getting at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity, or minimum 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise, per week can reduce the risk for early death, heart disease, hypertension, cancer and Type 2 diabetes, the report said.

The guidelines also recommend that older adults, ages 65 and older, do at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity exercise or 75 or 150 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise throughout the week.

Exercises that strengthen all muscles should be done at least twice weekly. The same guidance goes for older adults, as much as they can but they should prioritize balance and strength training a few days per week. Those can help prevent falls and related injuries, as well as declines in bone health and ability.

Work and home commitments, medical conditions and isolation can hinder hitting activity goals, said Dr. Adnan Qureshi, a professor of neurology at the Zeenat Qureshi Stroke Institute and the University of Missouri-Columbia.

While large size indoor gathering is discouraged at this moment, outdoor activities can still be good options, said Yian Gu, an assistant professor of neurological sciences in the departments of neurology at epidemiology at Columbia University in New York City, via email. There are also many options for family indoor activities, such as aerobic exercises (and) ping-pong.

A few steps can enhance participation, Qureshi said:

The possible benefits must be balanced against potential safety risks and people should be cautious depending on underlying health conditions they may have, said Dr. Richard Marottoli, a physician and professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine in Connecticut. Check with your clinician before undertaking an exercise regimen.

Staying active during and after pregnancy has benefits for both mother and baby, including decreased risk of gestational diabetes, delivery complications and postpartum depression.

If pregnant and postpartum women have no underlying conditions or complications, the report said, they should get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic and strengthening activities each week. Stretching could be beneficial and soothing.

However, pregnant women should ensure that theyre hydrated, avoiding physically risky activities and be aware of any warning signs that would alert them to stop. Those include feeling dizzy, painful contractions or vaginal bleeding.

A healthy lifestyle is still possible even if you have chronic conditions, the WHO report stressed.

Some people with chronic conditions have challenges performing some of the recommended types and amounts of physical activity and may avoid physical activity all together because of concerns about riskos, said Regina Davis, the associate executive director of public health policy and practice for the American Public Health Association.

The type of physical activity one may be able to do may be different, but there are still benefits.

Among people with diseases like cancer and heart disease, physical activity can reduce the risk for early death, disease progression and poor quality of life.

As much as they are able, people with chronic conditions should do at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate aerobics per week or at least 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous aerobics weekly. A few times per week, they should do strengthening and balance exercises to enhance their abilities to function well and prevent falls.

For children with physical or intellectual disabilities, the main guidelines for children without disabilities apply if the benefits outweigh any possible risks, according to their pediatrician or disability specialist. Activity can especially benefit those with conditions that impair cognitive function, such as attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder.

For adults with disabilities, activity can improve physical and cognitive function, strength and quality of life. The guidelines for adults apply to adults with disabilities as well.

Despite the amount of evidence for the effects of sedentary and active behaviors, the report said, we dont know as much about the outcomes among people from underserved neighborhoods and with disabilities.

It is good to see WHO advocating for this, but recognizing that physical activity is such an important marker of health
and well-being might help to embed its importance to society, not just medically but economically and culturally, Williams at the University of Exeter said.

Moving is, after all, he added, what our skeletons were designed to do.

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Here's the type and amount of exercise you need, WHO advises - KVIA El Paso

The power of moms to help their children stay heart-healthy – The Union Leader

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Meg Tilly (The Big Chill) opted out of the limelight while raising her children. As she told People magazine, she wanted to make sure they had a hot breakfast every morning. That protected her kids from the often-harmful glare of celebrity and long-distance parenting.

But moms like YOU can make an even greater difference in your childrens future. A study in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology shows that grown children of moms who followed a truly heart-healthy lifestyle are free of cardiovascular disease for nine to 10 years longer than offspring whose moms had moderately or very unhealthy habits.

A childs premature heart risk may start in utero from genetic factors or exposure to moms obesity, smoking, poor nutrition, etc. But even if you made mistakes while pregnant or have a familial risk for heart woes, healthy choices you make for yourself while your children are young translate into their improved heart health when theyre grown up.

Rate your lifestyle. How many of these goals have you achieved: not smoking; healthy diet; physically active; a normal body mass index; and healthy blood pressure, LDL cholesterol and blood glucose levels? None to two your grown offspring are most at risk for early heart disease.

Three to four puts your adult children at intermediate risk. Hit four or five? Youre what the researchers call ideal and so are the chances for your childrens long-term heart health! So if you arent motivated to upgrade your lifestyle for your own well-being, do it for your growing children!

Mehmet Oz, M.D., is host of The Dr. Oz Show, and Mike Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic. To live your healthiest, tune into The Dr. Oz Show or visit http://www.sharecare.com.

Empowering employees to live their healthiest life – MiBiz: West Michigan Business News

Posted on October 31, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

This Mother Lost Over 100 Lbs. & Never Went For A Single RunHeres What She Does Instead! – SheFinds

Posted on November 27, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

For as long as she could remember, Morgan Bishop was self-conscious about her weight. She recalled being curvier than her peers as a teen, but it wasnt until she had her son that she saw her weight spiral out of control. During the pregnancy she gained 70 pounds, and she recalled that after his birth she began her journey of yo-yo dieting, losing weight only to gain it back and more.

The turning point came when her son, at the time in fourth grade, came home from school and expressed that he was mad at one of his fellow classmates. After some time, Morgan discovered that the classmate had told her son that his mother was fat, but he didnt want to tell her because he was afraid it would hurt her feelings. For Morgan, that was the time to take a look at her choices and make a change for the betterfor both her and her son.

100+ Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your Holiday List

via Morgan Bishop

At her heaviest weight of 286 pounds, Morgan was miserable. But it was small changes to her diet, and not exercise initially, that she accredits to the results. I used Isagenix shakes to replace two meals a day and followed the companys intermittent fasting program, which includes drinking Cleanse for Life, a beverage that supports the body during fasting. Food had been my drug for so long, and I had to accept the fact that I had used it as a way to cover up a lot of emotional pain and issues I had been holding onto.

via Morgan Bishop

Exercise came into the equation after Morgan had already lost a lot of the weight. I didnt exercise at all at first because I couldnt. But as I started feeling better and losing some weight, I started walking a little. I didnt add any gym time or weight training to my routine until after I had lost more than 100 pounds.

She explained that a lot of her change came from the work she did on her mental health. As she lost weight, she was motivated by the differences she had begun to see, and said that she began to accept and love herself at every stage of her journey, leading to a healthier lifestyle overall.

Courtesy of Isagenix

Now, she has a much healthier relationship with food--and her body. Im a completely different person now. I feel physically amazing. I take pride in taking care of myself and my body now. My mindset is different and I wake up happy and ready to face the day. I was finally able to get out of that revolving door of dieting and self-sabotage.

With self-love, time, and mindful changes to her diet that made for a more balanced lifestyle, Morgan was able to build a body she was proud of. She now has a new outlook on life that motivates her to keep going and continue to pursue a healthy lifestyle everyday, pushing her through even the cravings to maintain her weight loss long term and inspire others to do the same!

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7 Impressive Benefits of Kratom Leaves for Healthy Lifestyle – The Leaf Online

Posted on November 27, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

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Kratom leaves have been extensively used across the globe for multiple reasons. It is quite famous for its medicinal benefits. From pain and inflammation to boosting sexual energy, these leaves can cure many health disorders. To get such immense benefits, make sure to get the products from the popular vendors available in the market.

But before diving into the detailed benefits of these leaves, here is an introduction to the Kratom leaves for your reference.

Kratom is a tropical tree native to Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea. The leaves of this tropical plant are quite beneficial for its medicinal uses. The leaves have morphine-like effects, and most of their functions are derived from their exclusive chemical compounds and nutrients. The majority of this plants benefits are due to a wide range of organic compounds and alkaloids that control many human organs functions. One of the primary active alkaloids found in this plant is mitragynine, known for its opioid-like effects.

The plant parts are available in gum, capsule, pellets, extract, leaves, and powdered form. People generally chew the leaves as much as 10-60 leaves per day and consume it as tea. Kratom leaves are available for sale on online and offline platforms and with top kratom vendors too. This one has come under the international spotlight in recent years for its exceptional medicinal benefits and recreational drug use.

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The following section offers you a detailed explanation of the benefits of using Kratom leaves:

The evergreen tree is native to the Southeast Asian countries, and people here consume this plan mainly for energy. People who engage in labor-intensive jobs need a lot of energy supply throughout the day to keep going with their work. Hence, such people keep on consuming these leaves for energy supply. People also consume this in the form of tea or make an energy drink that can last an entire day.

As these leaves are now available in gums and capsules, people also consume these along with other beverages. Therefore, kratom leaves are an excellent way to improve focus, make one feel more energized, and increase their productivity throughout the day.

Stress and anxiety-related issues are continually increasing in every individuals life. Hence, it becomes a significant concern for all to find appropriate ways to control such conditions. The users are quite in favor of the use of kratom leaves as it exhibits stimulant-like effects. The regular users have concluded that they feel more relaxed and within control when regularly consuming these leaves. The presence of mitragynine, an active alkaloid, can cause such effects on the human body.

The kratom has hydroxy mitragynine, which, along with mitragynine, reacts with the brains opioid receptors. This, in turn, helps the body get rid of stress and anxiety.

It also has analgesic effects, and when taken in higher doses, it can have sedative and euphoric effects. Therefore, these leaves have shown quite an interesting effect in controlling stress and anxiety-related issues as well.

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Another reason why this plant is gaining such immense popularity is its pain-relieving effects. People suffer from different kinds of chronic pains due to many health conditions like arthritis. The Kratom leaves are quite useful in treating almost all types of pain, especially neuropathic pains.

The leaves have compounds that bind to the pain receptors located in the central nervous system and other body areas. There are several strains of this plant, among which the Bali/red vein is the most effective one for its analgesic effects.

Studies by the FDA have shown that kratom leaves can react with the mu-opioid receptors. These receptors lessen pain once they are activated.

Among the other benefits of using kratom leaves, improvement of cognitive skills is a major one. The human brain can only function optimally if they properly receive adequate nutrition and energy from the bodys metabolic procedures. The microsomal enzymes present in the liver metabolize the kratom compounds into various other alkaloids. Once these are metabolized completely, the alkaloids start acting on the Mu and delta and even the kappa opiate receptors that remain located in peripheral nerves and CNS.

The compound named mitragynine present in these leaves acts on the delta receptors only. On the other hand, 7-hydroxy mitragynine interacts solely with Mu receptors. And these are quite useful in improving the cognitive skills of the users.

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Kratom has opioid-like effects, but it does not act exactly like opioid drugs. That is why the experts widely prescribe this drug for controlling addictive habits.

The leaves directly interact with the opiate receptors but dont show any long-term dependency. The leaves can treat different conditions that remain closely associated with the opioid withdrawal-like symptoms like nausea and vomiting, and even mood swings.

Although kratom leaves above-stated benefits are quite known to the users, their effects on diabetes are the least popular ones. The research suggests that these leaves have positive effects in controlling blood sugar levels. The alkaloids present in the kratom leaves might help modulate the bodys blood sugar levels and insulin levels. And these leaves help in controlling diabetes by keeping a strict check on these levels in the body.

Lastly, your immunity increases with the regular consumption of kratom leaves. These leaves have mainly four types of alkaloids, which help strengthen the immune system. These alkaloids are mitraphylline, isomitraphylline, isopteropodine, and isorhynchophylline.

Even some of the studies show that the extracts of this plant come with antimicrobial properties. These act as a rich source of antioxidants that can fight all the free radicals present in the body, damaging the cellular system. Borneo green kratom, red Bali kratom powder, and white Indo kratom are the best for boosting peoples immunity.

These are some of the critical reasons why kratom leaves are widespread across the global platform. And, if you have been battling with severe drug abuse or addiction problems, then this plant can prove to be your savior. It is essential to know about all the plants chemical and physical properties and talk to your doctor before consuming it regularly.

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7 Impressive Benefits of Kratom Leaves for Healthy Lifestyle - The Leaf Online

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