Category Archives: Healthy Hints

Here Are the Lower Back Pain Remedies That Actually Work, According to Science

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If you have chronic lower back pain—meaning a nagging ache has persisted for 12 weeks or more—you may be tempted to throw a bunch of Dr. Google remedies into a bag, shake it up, and start drawing at random. Before you go that unscientific—but understandably desperate—route, know this: The World Health Organization (WHO) released guidelines in 2023 that aim to demystify the dizzying array of options that promise to put an end to the hurt.

We asked doctors for their back pain tips, and for insight into some of the WHO’s top recs. So, let’s forget the remedy roulette and stick with the science, shall we?

https://www.self.com/story/lower-back-pain

They’re young and athletic. They’re also ill with a condition called POTS.

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Kaleigh Levine was running drills in the gym with her lacrosse team at Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio, when everything turned black.

“The coach wanted me to get back in the line, but I couldn’t see,” she remembered.

Her vision returned after a few minutes, but several months and a half-dozen medical specialists later, the 20-year-old goalie was diagnosed with a mysterious condition known as POTS.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/04/10/pots-medical-condition-athletes-covid-pandemic/

An Ozempic baby boom?

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An Ozempic baby boom?Some GLP-1 users report unexpected pregnancies

Across social media, women who have used Ozempic or similar medications for diabetes or weight loss are reporting an unexpected side effect — surprise pregnancies.

The Facebook group “I got pregnant on Ozempic,” has more than 500 members. Numerous posts on Reddit and TikTok discuss unplanned pregnancies while on Ozempic and similar drugs which can spur significant weight loss by curbing appetite and slowing the digestive process. The drugs are known as “Glucagon-like peptide 1” or GLP-1 drugs.

The reports of an Ozempic baby boom are anecdotal, and it’s not known how widespread the phenomenon is. Experts say significant weight loss can affect fertility. Others speculate that the GLP-1 drugs could interfere with the absorption of oral contraceptives, causing birth control failures.

Obesity medications linked to reduced chance of MS in real world

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TL:DR Mounjaro, Zepbound, Wegovy and Ozempic linked to reduced chance of getting MS!

From the Article:

The use of obesity medications — approved drugs for treating diabetes and promoting weight loss — is associated with a reduced chance of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to real-world data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a study found.

In particular, medicines that activate a receptor called GLP-1, which lowers blood glucose or blood sugar levels, all showed potential protective effects against MS.

“These findings suggest a potential for repurposing these medications for MS,” the researchers wrote.

Their study, “Exploring the association between weight loss-inducing medications and multiple sclerosis: insights from the FDA adverse event reporting system database,” was published in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders.

Obesity is a well-known driver of chronic inflammation in the body, which can help set the stage for the development of MS, an inflammatory disorder affecting the brain and spinal cord.

Research has shown that obesity in early childhood or adolescence increases the risk of MS. It also worsens outcomes for newly diagnosed patients, and is linked to less favorable responses to disease-modifying therapies.

Beebe sets free workshop on advance healthcare directives April 30

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Beebe Healthcare will offer a second free workshop event at 9 a.m., Tuesday, April 30, at South Coastal Library in Bethany Beach, to help community members learn about the importance of establishing advance healthcare directives.

To register for the April 30 event, go to tinyurl.com/5n7kmz5m.

Spaces filled quickly for the initial workshop set for National Healthcare Decisions Day, Tuesday, April 16, due to high demand.

An advance healthcare directive is a legally recognized set of instructions to one’s medical providers. The directive can tell a medical team whom patients have chosen to make decisions about their healthcare choices if they are unable to do so themselves. The directive can also give specific directions about the care choices a person wants at the end of life. The document includes a series of forms and is generally easy to complete.

“Healthcare decisions are personal decisions. Advance healthcare directives help us understand what they are, so that we can honor the wishes of our patients during their most challenging and critical moments,” said Katie Johnson, DO, director of palliative care services at Beebe. “Our workshops are designed to educate people and guide them through the process of completing these important forms.”

Johnson will be on-site offering support and guidance, along with Beebe chaplains Keith Goheen, MDiv, BCC, and Paula Waite, MTh, ACC. Any community members who wish to take advantage of this service but are unable to attend the April 16 and April 30 workshops may contact the Beebe Chaplain’s Office at 302-645-3759 for information and assistance.

https://www.capegazette.com/article/beebe-sets-free-workshop-advance-healthcare-directives-april-30/273389?amgee-source=dh

Artificial Intelligence to help with anxiety and depression

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Empathetic, safe, and clinically validated chatbot for mental healthcare, using AI-based cognitive behavior therapy. Youper’s safe and clinically validated AI has supported the mental health of over two million people.

https://www.youper.ai

Delaware QuitLine

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Take your last first step toward quitting for good

Discover a new approach to nicotine cessation that starts with you. Find research-based solutions and coaching to help you stay on track.

https://quitnow.net/delaware?qnclient=delaware

Alzheimer’s Disease — Managing Stages of Dementia

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In this Double Take video from the New England Journal of Medicine, Drs. Nathaniel Chin and Stephen Salloway define the stages of dementia and the effect of each stage on the activities of daily living. They also discuss ways to support persons with Alzheimer’s disease at every stage of the disease, including available medications and potential side effects. The video also emphasizes the importance of advance care planning for persons with mild cognitive impairment and providing support to care partners.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2310177

FDA approves Wegovy for lowering heart risks

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Will neurologists start ordering weight loss drugs?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Novo Nordisk’s (NOVOb.CO), opens new tabweight-loss drug Wegovy on Friday for lowering the risk of stroke and heart attack in overweight or obese adults who do not have diabetes.

Novo’s widely used diabetes drug Ozempic and weight-loss drug Wegovy, both chemically known as semaglutide, belong to a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, they also reduce food cravings and cause the stomach to empty more slowly.

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/fda-approves-novo-nordisks-wegovy-use-reducing-heart-attack-risks-2024-03-08

Oscars Update

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“Forget Chanel, Dior or Prada: This year, the most prominent designers on the red carpet are Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, whose injectable weight-loss drugs are the new couture.”

Hollywood trainers have clients stuck in the bathroom with nausea and vomiting, restaurants are down as no one is hungry and even plastic surgeons are losing their liposuction business, although they now are doing post-#Ozempic body sculpting.

Some men are throwing in testosterone, with added risks (maybe Jeff Bezos, Musk?)

Editors Note: Most of the stuff people are doing in Hollywood is NOT smart. Best to stay with a good diet and exercise to stay healthy!

https://theankler.com/p/how-ozempic-ate-awards-season