StemCell Therapy

Webinar is part of Clarion Events Food and Beverage Groups free resources to help restaurant and foodservice community stay connected within this rapidly changing environment

(RestaurantNews.com) Members of the restaurant and foodservice community are among the groups that are most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In these anxious times, its more important than ever to take care of our physical and emotional health. Dr/Chef Rob Graham,Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officerof FRESH Medicine and Peggy Neu, President of The Monday Campaigns, will share advice for staying healthy and managing stress during these challenging times.

Dr/Chef Graham and Ms. Neu will hold a webinar about how to stay healthy and calm during these anxious times.

When: Monday, April 13, 1:00 PM 2:00 PM EDT

Register for free:

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5701723560459738893

About the Experts:

Dr. Graham is a Harvard-trained physician, Board Certified in Internal and Integrative Medicine with a Masters in Public Health, and Chef. In 2018, he obtained his culinary degree from the Natural Gourmet Institute. As one of few doctor/chefs in the world, he brings a unique perspective on the role of food in disease treatment and prevention. He founded FRESH Medicine with his wife Julie Graham, which promotes the FRESH Five Food, Relaxation, Exercise, Sleep and Happiness as the key ingredients for a healthy body and mind.

Ms. Neu has a background in marketing and public health promotion and, in her role leading the Meatless Monday campaign, has worked extensively with restaurants and foodservice companies. She also promotes broader health and wellness programs through The Monday Campaigns, which encourages people to use Monday as the day for a fresh start and to take simple steps to move more, reduce stress and eat healthier. Ms. Neu is also a long-time meditation and yoga practitioner and serves on the board of the Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science.

Contacts:

Amy RiemerCommunications Director for Clarionamy@riemercommunications.com978-502-4895

Cherry DumaualPR & Partnerships DirectorThe Monday Campaignscdumaual@mondaycampaigns.org917-838-7269

See the rest here:
Hungry for a Fresh Start to Stay Healthy and Calm in Anxious Times? Experts Share Insights in Webinar Series - RestaurantNews.com

By Wesleyan University Staff

Erika Taylor, associate professor of chemistry at Wesleyan University, is among the Top 35 Women in Higher Education in the March 20 issue of Diverse.

Erika Taylor, associate professor of chemistry at Wesleyan University, is among the Top 35 Women in Higher Education in the March 20 issue of Diverse.

Photo: Hearst Connecticut Media File Photo

Erika Taylor, associate professor of chemistry at Wesleyan University, is among the Top 35 Women in Higher Education in the March 20 issue of Diverse.

Erika Taylor, associate professor of chemistry at Wesleyan University, is among the Top 35 Women in Higher Education in the March 20 issue of Diverse.

Wesleyan chemistry teacher among Top 35 Women in Higher Education

MIDDLETOWN Erika Taylor, associate professor of chemistry at Wesleyan University, is honored among the Top 35 Women in Higher Education in the March 20 issue of Diverse Education.

Taylor joined the faculty in 2007 and teaches courses in the areas of organic chemistry, biochemistry, environmental chemistry, and bio-medicinal chemistry, among others.

Shes also associate professor, environmental studies, and associate professor, integrative sciences, and takes a multidisciplinary approach to investigating problems at the biological chemistry interface.

Diverse acknowledged Taylor for striv(ing) to find ways to exploit enzymes found in nature to perform reactions that can help advance the fields of chemistry and medicine. Her research group has included over 75 students to date, spanning high schoolers to PhD students, with women and other underrepresented students comprising more than three-quarters of her lab members.

Taylor also serves as the faculty director of Wesleyans Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Program, which assists students from underrepresented groups in preparing for, entering, and progressing successfully through post-graduate education.

Diverse cited her for being a passionate advocate for diversity and lending time and energy to provide opportunities in science for female, minority, and low-income students.

In 2018, Taylor received Wesleyans prestigious Binswanger Prize for Excellence in Teaching for her dedication to supporting the academic and personal development of all of her students.

Beyond Wesleyan, she founded and continues to run a Girls in Science camp for elementary through middle school-aged girls, which highlights the diversity of women in science.

Taylor holds a bachelors degree in chemistry with honors from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, a PhD in chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and was a postdoctoral research associate at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

See more here:
Wesleyan chemistry teacher among Top 35 Women in Higher Education - Middletown Press

Joint venture between Universal Health and Knightsbridge Group

In a joint venture to be announced later today Universal Health and Knightsbridge Group will launch a New Biotech, the 1st product, an Immune System Booster program is already on sale in Australia.

https://www.unihealthco.com/

Coronavirus has forced changes on all levels of society, and shown how being able to ship goods and people around the world in 24 hours helps viruses spread.

The creation and maintenance of a healthy individual and a healthy environment has become increasingly important in the modern world.

Unihealth are researching and developing products and services with a focus on Anti-Viral individual patient care as well as technologies that provide healthier indoor environments.

When you look back into the history of humanity, our whole approach to emerging viral threats has been to wait and react, we are taking a proactive approach in working on technologies that reduce the ability of a Virus to survive in the environments we interact with and there ability to spread outside the body.

For the individual not only are we researching treatments but we also have a range of products designed to keep people in optimum health and reduce their susceptibility to Viral infections.

Unihealth is an Integrative Biotech Joint Venture between Universal Health and the Knightsbridge Group.

The 30 day supply of Immune Boost Supplements will assist and enhance your general immunity.

This will optimize your Immune System function.

Supplements Enclosed

C-Max 1 level teaspoon twice daily Vitamin C supports the immune system by aiding white blood cells activity and antibody response.

BicoZn 1 capsule twice daily Zinc is an immune supportive antioxidant and assists in reducing free radical damage in the body.

Lactoferrin Enhanced 1 capsule twice daily Glycoprotein with an antimicrobial and anti-viral influence safeguarding against a range of pathogens.

BioTress 1 capsule twice daily Vitamin B Complex supports the bodys immune and nervous system whilst enhancing energy levels.

1. Eat Well & Re-hydrate Give your body the essential materials it needs by eating well and consuming plenty of water.

2. Kick the Habit Moderate your alcohol in- take, quit smoking and other recreational drugs and maintain a healthy weight.

3. Sleep A restful nights sleep gives your body the opportunity to rejuvenate.

4. Emotional Stress Try to embrace each day and minimise the emotional impacts by learning to forgive and forget.

5. Embrace the Spiritual Take comfort in your higher power. Have faith, healing can take time.

6. Exercise Regularly Moderate exercise such as walking and gentle stretching will enhance the healing process and reduce the impact of stress.

7. Seek Advice Understanding your health issues and following our recommendations will enable us to work together in creating lasting improvements to your health and well being.

EAT ALKALINE FOODS

Lots of vegetables Pluses, Beans & Lentils Fruit

2 pieces a day Seafood Poultry

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Eggs Brown & Wild Rice Amaranth Oats (Wheat free Red Mills brand) Quinoa Buckwheat Corn Flour Corn Pasta, Vegetable Pasta Corn/Rice Crackers Rice Noodles Gluten & Yeast Free Breads Almond Milk, Almond Meal Rice Milk Coconut Milk Goats Milk, Cheese, Yogurt Sheeps Milk, Cheese, Yogurt

10 15 glasses water daily

N.B. Avoid Known Allergies

AVOID ACIDIC FOODS

Sugar/Artificial Sweeteners Alcohol Yeast Wheat and Gluten Products (Bread, Pasta) Mushrooms Pickles Vinegar (Balsamic, White Wine) Soy Sauce Miso Processed Food (Frozen/canned Meals) Refined Starch (Biscuits, Sweets) Red Meat Caffeine (Coffee, Tea, Cola, Chocolate) Fried Food Dairy Products (Cows Products) Soy Products (Milk, Cheese, Yogurt, Tofu, Noodles) Tomatoes (Especially ripe)

Vitamin C and its role in Immunity

Zinc and its role in Immunity

Lactoferrin and its role in Immunity (Anti-Viral activity)

Vitamin B and its role in Immunity

Universal Health is an Integrative & Functional Medicine Clinic. We have the philosophy of using evidence based complementary medicine and therapies with a focus on the whole person approach and individual patient care. Our practitioners are Integrated Physicians with over 45 years of expertise.

There is a wide range of disciplines at Universal Health. The combination of old and new, conventional and complementary, healthcare to maximise the natural healing of the body is what we offer at Universal Health.

Your Integrative Clinician looks for the cause of illness rather than treating the effect or symptoms, thus treating the whole person. Our treatment incorporates physical, chemical and emotional factors, conducted in an environment which encourages trust, development, achievement and harmony.

The whole is more than the sum of its parts-Aristotle.

Integrative & Functional Medicine combines the best available in Health Care to obtain optimum results by maximizing the bodys natural healing mechanisms.

Via the fusion of the best in conventional western medicine, evidence-based complementary medicine and other therapies within current mainstream health practice, Integrative & Functional Medicine Medicine aims in restoring, sustaining and advancing ones health. We take into account all aspects of the patients wellbeing with specific emphasis given to the patients physical, chemical and emotional spheres. Integrative & Functional Medicine models are individualised patient-centred science-based approach to empower the patient and practitioners to collaborate together and address underlying causes and not just focus on the symptoms. Integrative & Functional Medicine focus is always to apply the most suitable, safe and evidence based treatments currently available. These include but not limited to: Chiropractic, Acupuncture and Naturopathy.

Currently worldwide research is being carried out to explore the potential benefits of Integrative Health in pain management, relief of symptoms in acute /chronic suffering patients and programs to promote healthy lifestyle.

Integrative & Functional medicine is not the same as alternative medicine, which refers to an approach of healing that is utilised in place of conventional therapies. Integrative medicine refers to using healing modalities that complement allopathic approaches. Health Care can be Integrative regardless of which modality is used. Strategies are used to consider the patients unique conditions, needs and circumstances; using the most appropriate evidenced based interventions from an array of scientific disciplines to rectify illness and disease whilst assisting the patient in regaining and maintaining optimum health.

Natural Products such as probiotics, vitamins, minerals and herbs are also utilised in Integrative & Functional Medicine to assist in the process of attaining and maintaining optimum health.

The defining principals include but not limited to:

In addition to addressing the immediate health problem(s) as well as the deeper causes of the disease or illness, Integrative & Functional Medicine strategies also focus on the prevention and foster the development of healthy behaviours and skills for effective self-care the patients can apply throughout their lives. Ultimately making patients independent rather than co-dependant on care the rest of their lives.

coronavirus, Covid

HEFFX has become one of Asias leading financial services companies with interests in Publishing, Private Equity, Capital Markets, Mining, Retail, Transport and Agriculture that span every continent of the world. Our clearing partners have unprecedented experience in Equities, Options, Forex and Commodities brokering, banking, physical metals dealing, floor brokering and trading.

Read more here:
Universal Health and Knightsbridge Group Launch Immune Response Kit - Live Trading News

(By The University of Tennessee Medical Center)

As coronavirus news floods our news and social media feeds, it is easy to become overwhelmed by fear and anxiety. The anxiety felt because of coronavirus uncertainty, or many other stresses, can affect your physical and mental wellness in numerous ways. Headaches, insomnia, panic attacks, depression, stomach aches, and muscle pains are just some examples of the health issues caused or increased by anxiety. However, in these times of fear and unrest, Dr. Clayton Bell, an integrative medicine specialist at The University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC), offers some tips on how to alleviate stress and become more grounded.

Dr. Clayton Bell is an integrative medicine specialist at The University of Tennessee Medical Center.

When experiencing stress, the first thing I try to remind myself and my patients to do is pause and breathe, said Bell. When we get anxious, our breath shortens. I suggest intentionally taking deep breaths to activate the diaphragm muscle and parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) or relaxation arm of the autonomic nervous system.

Bell suggests some other actions to mitigate anxious feelings:

Take breaks from watching or reading news stories, especially in the evening before bed. Meditate or read a good book instead.

Eat healthy, well-balanced meals, made from whole foods. Its very important to optimize your nutrition during this time as real foods are full of immune boosting vitamins and minerals. Processed foods made from nutrient-void white flour or with added sugars actually prevent your bodys white blood cells (immune system) from fighting off infections.

To boost your immune system and keep down stress, get outside and move your body every day. Make sure to get plenty of sleep as well.

Talk about your concerns and how you are feeling with people you trust. Now is the perfect time to connect with loved ones, rekindle old friendships via telephone, or have a Zoom/FaceTime party or dinner with family and friends.

Bell says making these simple changes to your daily routine boost your immune system as well as help you maintain a sense of calm and purpose.

We often focus so much on our own anxiety, that we may forget that others around us are also feeling anxious, said Bell. Children are very susceptible to the energies of others and they react according to what they see and feel from the adults around them.

According to Bell, children express anxiety through different emotions and habits. Some of the most common ways are excessive fussiness or crying, regressing back to behaviors they have outgrown, excessive worry or sadness, unhealthy eating or sleeping patterns, and avoidance of activities they enjoyed in the past.

Bell recommends the following steps for parents or caregivers to practice with anxious children:

Dont be afraid to talk with your child about the COVID-19 outbreak. It is much better to learn what is going on from you than from the media.

Share with your child how you deal with stress, so they can understand they are not alone with their feelings and can learn healthy techniques that can help them cope as well.

Limit your familys exposure to news coverage of coronavirus, including social media.

Have a daily routine. Create a schedule that includes learning, relaxing and fun activities. This is especially important while schools are closed.

Bell explains mental health is always important, but especially right now.

When we neglect our mental health, our physical health will also feel the repercussions, said Bell. Making small, daily changes will create long term benefits and make lasting impacts on how you experience and deal with anxiety.

Bell says it is important to remember that you are not alone during this time.

We all are feeling the effects of the coronavirus, and it is important to take the necessary steps to maintain good mental and physical health in addition to following the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), such as practicing social distancing, washing your hands, and avoiding touching your face, said Bell.

For reliable information on taking care of your health or a loved ones health, contact UTMCs Health Information Center at 865.305.9525 or online at http://www.utmedicalcenter.org/hic. Staffed by medical librarians and certified health information specialists, the Health Information Center offers an extensive health library, digital and printed resources, walk-in assistance, and help with the research on specific health conditions all free of charge and available to the public.

See the article here:
Tips on how to deal with anxiety during the coronavirus The News Journal - The News Journal

Deepak Chopra, Special to SFGate

By Deepak Chopra, MD and Rudolph E. Tanzi, Ph.D.

Self-care should be uppermost in our minds during the COVID-19 crisis, for several urgent reasons. Self-care returns a sense of control over your own life. It gives you an integrative approach to mind and body. It aligns you with the best knowledge currently available about who is more at risk for developing acute symptoms after being infected.

Your immune status is complex, and in mainstream medicine the chief determining factor is traditionally considered to be genetic. However, there are strong links to underlying low-level chronic inflammation connected to lifestyle that is found in most if not all common disorders including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and even obesity. COVID-19 has a mortality rate that increases with age and pre-existing conditions, as we all know by now.

What is less publicized is that the hospitalization rate, which is very high at over 15%, also affects younger age groups even though their death rates are lower. In those who are most susceptible, the virus creates an acute and severe form of inflammation referred to as a cytokine storm, which then leads to severe symptoms and respiratory damage, even death. Cytokines are the chief protein mediators of inflammation in the body.

We can use this information about the dangers of having an elevated pre-existing state of low-level chronic inflammation to perhaps offset the possibility of the kind of acute inflammation that puts a person at risk for severe infection and hospitalization. Let me emphasize the perhaps caution. The research on low-level chronic inflammation grows by the year and is very significant. You can go to many websites or our recent book The Healing Self to discover the kinds of foods and lifestyles that are either inflammatory or anti-inflammatory.

But it is only in the field of integrative medicine that there is a cumulative understanding that anti-inflammation practices need to embrace mind and body. The general public, including mainstream doctors, are more often than not ill-informed of the research that connects meditation and yoga to the benefits of anti-stress, anti-inflammation, and anti-infection. Without a doubt, meditation and yoga have no side effects and are backed by decades of research over their benefits. To this has been added so-called vagal breathing, related to the ability of the vagus nerve to induce a relaxed state simply by doing regular deep breathing that equalizes breathing in and breathing out (there are numerous websites providing instructions on this simple but effective technique, which is now a standard recommendation for countering stress).

Biophysical anthropologist William C. Bushell points to the damage created by the bodys own immune defenses. To quote a recent article at Medium.com by Maureen Seaberg, Bushell says that inflammation is the primary way COVID-19 kills. Spread of the virus through the body leads to widespread and intensive activation of the inflammatory defenses throughout the body, though originally intended to combat the pathogen, but at this point instead resulting in widespread tissue damage, and fatally, to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), in which the lungs become flooded and respiratory failure ensues; the viral toxins themselves play a much lesser role in the tissue damage that ultimately can produce extreme critical disease states (pulmonary aspiration, septic shock), and potentially death.

The uncharted frontier is whether chronic inflammation, which is thought to be widely prevalent in our stress-filled, junk food eating, sleep-deprived society, increases the odds that the body might erupt into acute inflammation, e.g. a cytokine storm, when infected with viruses like COVID-19. One can think of this of this storm as a kind of over-reaction by our immune system. The big question is whether low-grade chronic inflammation may set the stage for this over-reaction and increase the odds of a cytokine storm in the presence of a nasty virus like COVID-19. Meanwhile, meditation, yoga, vagal breathing, and other relaxation techniques might provide an edge in the current crisis by reducing the chronic inflammatory state of the body. Weve joined Bushell and other concerned figures, including Michelle Williams, S.D., Dean of Harvards School of Public Health, in advising that meditation and yoga (in addition to a healthy diet and ample sleep) be included in front-line efforts against COVID-19.

The public is woefully uninformed about the mind-body benefits of these simple, effective measures, and every model of the pandemic foresees a huge overload on this countrys hospitals. The virus is more contagious and infectious than the flu, and it hospitalizes and kills a much higher percentage of cases. The message about COVID-19 and inflammation is very important. It needs to be received by all of us for our common well-being at any time, but most urgently, now, we all must strive to reduce our base level of chronic inflammation.

DEEPAK CHOPRA MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. He is the author of over 89 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. His 90th book, Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential, unlocks the secrets to moving beyond our present limitations to access a field of infinite possibilities. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.

Rudolph Tanzi, Ph.D. is the Vice-Chair of Neurology, Director of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Co-Director of the Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health, and Co-Director of the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease at Massachusetts General Hospital. He also serves as the Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Tanzi discovered several Alzheimers disease genes, including all three early-onset familial Alzheimers genes, and serves as director of the Alzheimers Genome Project. He is also developing therapies for treating and preventing AD using human mini-brain organoid models of the disease, pioneered in his laboratory. Dr. Tanzi has published 600 papers, received numerous awards and was on the 2015 TIME100 Most Influential People in the World list. Dr. Tanzi is a New York Times bestselling author, who has co-authored Decoding Darkness and three bestsellers with Deepak Chopra: Super Brain, Super Genes, and The Healing Self.

See the original post:
What Is the Best Self-Care during the COVID-19 Crisis? - SFGate

Taking control of your health is not easy, particularly when you have a busy, stressful job, and live in a society that does not promote an individuals mental and physical wellbeing. Walking on Earth is your digital wellness coach. It will empower you to take control of your health by creating a bespoke wellness regime grounded in the latest scientific research, and connect you to the most trusted and sought after practitioners in yoga, meditation and complementary medicine.

Last year in the UK, over two-thirds of the population felt so stressed that they reported feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope. Stress caused more than one third of the population to experience suicidal thoughts and was responsible for over half of the sick days from work.

These results are staggering. Millions of us are experiencing damagingly high levels of stress in our workplaces and these incidents are only set to increase each year. Stress is one of the greatest public health crises of our time. It doesnt just have a negative impact on our mental health, it also causes a series of adverse reactions in our body that, over time, lead to debilitating and chronic illnesses. Yet we live in a society that applauds stress and views it as a necessary byproduct of success.

I witnessed first-hand how stress permeates our society. I studied at the best institutions in the world and received top grades. Suffice to say, I had my fair share of stress. I was always told that I could achieve my dreams in life if I worked hard. Whilst studying at Oxford University, I became passionate about understanding how our brain works, publishing research on the neurological underpinnings of how we perceive the world and how our senses interact in space and time. Keen to experience living in India, where my parents grew up, after university I decided to work for a film production company in Mumbai and stumbled across yoga.

It was as if I had unlocked a superpower. I realised for the first time what it felt like to not be stressed or anxious. The simple act of training my attention and focusing inward provided me with a transformative sense of clarity. It helped remove the clouds of indecision, uncertainty, and noise that had previously dominated my mind and provided me with a strong sense of conviction.

We are permanently flooded by so much external influence that it is no surprise we have lost the ability to be in control of our health. We are brought up by society to view taking time out for ourselves as a sign of weakness. With the constant pressure to adapt and innovate, it feels like time is constantly running faster and faster. Our society teaches us to thrive under pressure.

I completed my 300 hour teacher training in Jivamukti yoga to deepen my understanding of the ancient practice and learn about its transformative effects on our body. I delved deeper into the modern day science behind ancient wisdom, and became fascinated by Ayurveda, the Indian system of medicine created 5,000 years ago. It amazed me to learn that the ancient rishis prescribed different treatments to people depending on their unique body composition, a concept modern medicine is only recently adopting and terming a personalised medicine approach. I realised that Ayurveda has survived and lived on for thousands of years because of its transformative power in viewing health as an interconnected network of our mind, body and environment, providing a solution to the complex lifestyle related disorders of our increasingly overstimulated lives. I started speaking to the leading modern day scientists in the field of integrative health and found really compelling evidence of the scientific explanations for these ancient, holistic practices.

At the same time, I was working for one of Londons hottest tech startups, creating an AI platform to transform the way we design and develop new medicines. The more I learnt about the industry, the more I realised how disempowered we, as individuals, are when it comes to our health. The drugs that are developed to treat our ill health are chosen by pharmaceutical companies who are driven by sales potential rather than true human need. Insurance companies, hospitals, pharmacies, and physicians are deciding our health and each brings into the equation their own biases that weigh into what medicines ultimately end up in the market. On top of this, the best selling medicines only work in under half the people theyre prescribed for, and thats before you take into account all the side effects from the treatment.

Coupled with poor lifestyle practices, we have created a society where 70% of deaths are due to chronic diseases for which we have no cure. Our current healthcare system just isnt equipped to tackle these diseases that require a complete understanding of the mind, body and the environment we live in. We are living longer but we are not living better.

As an aspiring entrepreneur and someone who had witnessed the power of ancient practices in addressing the challenges of modern life, I knew I had to do something to help people take their health and wellbeing back into their own hands. I started Walking on Earth to provide individuals with the tools and knowledge to take control of their health. To help them set and achieve realistic wellness goals through a platform that brings together the most qualified practitioners, and explains the science behind the method.

With so many different trends, fads and new health practices, people find themselves receiving conflicting information and having to spend hours researching to find the right methods, practitioners and health information they need to live better. Walking on Earth meets this urgent need. It filters the latest research, sources the worlds best integrative health practitioners, and leverages technology to design a bespoke wellness programme catered for each users specific needs and profile. Each individuals progress is monitored through the platform and their individual health data is analysed to create a truly personalised solution allowing them to better understand their health and meet their performance goals.

And I realised this had to start in their workplaces. Workplace stress is a problem that we can no longer afford to ignore. It has become so severe that the World Health Organisation officially recognised burnout as a phenomenon of chronic workplace stress. We spend roughly one third of our lives at work. We need to bring our mental, physical and emotional wellbeing back in balance and it is an employers duty and best interest to be responsible for this.

In an age where we use technology to advance all aspects of our life, we shouldnt be leaving the most crucial element behind. Through Walking on Earth, I am creating a new model for health, where we as individuals are conscious of the impact of every action we take, from the food we eat, to the things we put in our body our every movement and emotion. I hope to create a world where we are able to experience each moment in life, rather than float past it in a distracted, absent-minded way. Where we are in control of our wellbeing and, in turn, collectively create a society that is more empowered, connected and fulfilled.

Follow ushereand subscribeherefor all the latest news on how you can keep Thriving.

Stay up to date or catch-up on all our podcasts with Arianna Huffingtonhere.

Here is the original post:
It's Time We Took Control of Our Health and Well-Being - Thrive Global

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) are working together for testing COVID-19 samples. Dr Ram Vishwakarma, Director, IIIM said that samples of 400 people have been collected.

"In the coronavirus crisis, CSIR and our institution Jammu are contributing to three things. The main problem is testing. Along with Jammu Medical College and state government we are doing testing. We have tested samples of 400 people. This help to segregate those people who are infected with COVID-19," he said. Vishwakarma said IIIM is also conducting synthesis procedure of 15 molecules which are in different stages of clinical trials.

"The new medicines which are in clinical trials in India and abroad. They are in advance phase 2 and phase 3 trials. If they are approved there, even then our people will not be benefited. So, we want to prepare the synthesis procedure of 15 molecules which are in clinical trials. As soon as they are approved, we will able to manufacture them quickly," he said. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of coronavirus positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir has climbed to 116. (ANI)

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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IIIM joins hands with CSIR to conduct COVID-19 sample testing in J-K - Devdiscourse

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has galvanised all its labs into action to battle COVID-19 in the last few weeks, with the Director-General Shekhar C. Mande, forming five verticals to coordinate various research activities into drugs, vaccine, testing, sanitisers, hospital equipment and the likes.

The digital and molecular surveillance is led by its directors Dr. Anurag Agarwal of Institute of Genomics & Integrated Biology (IGIB), rapid and economical diagnosis by Dr. Rakesh Mishra of Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB), development of new drugs/re-purposing of drugs by Dr. S Chandrashekhar of Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), hospital assistive devices by Dr. Jitendra J. Jadhav of National Aerospace Laboratories, personnel protective equipment and supply chain & logistics by Dr. Anjan Ray of Indian Institute of Petroleum.

A CSIR Strategic Group (CSG) has also been constituted with a video zoom meeting organised every day and presided over by the DG to review the progress made by these verticals. Any lab or scientist willing to contribute to any of the five verticals can write to the lead directors mentioned above. The Director of Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Dr. Ram A. Vishwakarma, has been made the overall coordinator.

Sequencing of coronovirus is being done at IGIB and CCMB including that of the host and virus RNA. Incidentally, the former has developed a paper-based diagnostic test while CCMB is setting up viral cultures for testing of drugs and making a vaccine, said informed scientific sources, privy to the meeting of top heads.

CSIR DG has mentioned the contribution of Dr. Debojyoti Chakraborti IGIB, for developing crispr/case-based paper diagnostics, Dr. Anthony Adlagatta of IICT for producing reverse transcriptase in large quantities, CCMB scientists for developing cell line and virus culture, sanitisers by IICT, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR), Central Electro Chemical Research Institute CECRI), North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), etc., food packets by Central Food Technological Research Insitute (CFTRI), and Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT).

Dr. Mande informed during the interaction that a platform for open innovation will be developed and hosted at the CSIR headquarters and a partnership has already been formed with the Ministry of Ayush for development of four botanicals/drugs.

CSIR labs are already working with private sector giants like Reliance for PPEs, diagnostics; Tatas for hospital assistive devices; Intel & TCS for digital surveillance; CIpla for repurposed drugs; Cadila for coronavirus therapy; Bharat Biotech for inactivated vaccine development; BHEL for electrostatic spray and ventilator; BEL for thermometer and Oxygen enrichment unit, etc,

Three of its institutes CCMB, IGIB and IIIM have been allowed to take up Covid-19 testing and other eight other CSIR labs too are ready to take it up once regulatory approvals come, said informed scientific sources.

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CSIR forms five verticals to combat COVID-19 - The Hindu

Posted on 4/8/2020

(Editors note: A media tool kit with photos, videos and additional resources is available in the WVUToday Media Center.)

MORGANTOWN, W.VA. -- The West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, WVU Medicine, and smart ring maker Oura Health today (April 8) announced a national study designed to accelerate early detection of the COVID-19 virus symptoms and contagiousness. Leveraging an artificial intelligence -driven predictive model, wearable ring technology, and a COVID-19 monitoring app, RNI scientists and partners are developing an innovative digital PPE approach that potentially can identify infected frontline healthcare professionals before they become symptomatic a possible breakthrough in monitoring capabilities and limiting the spread.

The RNIs approach not only measures the onset of increased body temperature from the Oura ring and physical symptoms but goes beyond that by looking at the individual holistically integrating physiologic measures with psychological, cognitive and behavioral biometrics, such as stress and anxiety. In real-time, this holistic approach can provide an early and more comprehensive assessment, tracking the mind-body connection and homeostasis in the context of asymptomatic infection. Through this analysis, the team can forecast and predict the onset of fever, cough, fatigue and other physical symptoms linked to viral infections.

Over the past three weeks, Oura smart rings and the RNI COVID-19 monitoring smartphone app have been deployed to physicians, nurses and other frontline healthcare workers in the ED, ICU, testing sites, and urgent care settings in West Virginia. In addition, the RNI is partnering with hospitals across the country, including those in New York City, Philadelphia, Nashville and other critical emerging areas, to monitor more than 1,000 front-line healthcare personnel with exposure to COVID-19.

We are continuously monitoring the mind-body connectivity through our integrated neuroscience platform measuring the autonomic nervous system, fatigue, anxiety, circadian rhythms, and other human resilience and recovery functions, Dr. Ali Rezai, executive chair of the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, said. Our AI-driven models are currently predicting symptoms 24 hours prior to onset, and we are working toward a three-plus day forecast. This forecasting capability will help us get ahead of this pandemic; limit the spread to protect healthcare workers, their families, and our communities; and improve our understanding of health recovery.

More broadly, the RNI is continuously monitoring and analyzing more than 30,000 subjects through its integrative neuroscience approach, gaining insight and predictive success in chronic pain, addiction, aging and other illnesses, as well as the readiness and recovery of our military.

At Oura, weve heard firsthand from our users how the physiological signals tracked by the ring have predicted the onset of the virus before other symptoms manifest, Harpreet Rai, CEO of Oura Health, said. Were grateful we can apply this knowledge to help vulnerable caregivers swiftly identify the earliest signs of the disease, and take the appropriate protective measures to limit its spread.

We have done extensive research in the wearable space, and Ouras accuracy and usability is unparalleled to anything we have tested, Rezai added, We are proud to partner with Oura and its innovation to serve our population.

About the Rockefeller Neuroscience InstituteWe are improving lives by pioneering advances in brain health. With the latest technologies, an ecosystem of partners, and a truly integrated approach, we are making tangible progress. Our goal is to combat public health challenges ranging from addiction to Alzheimers, benefiting people in West Virginia, neighboring states, and beyond. Learn more about the RNIs first-in-the-world clinical trials and the top caliber experts joining us in our mission. For more information, visit http://www.wvumedicine.org/rni/.

About Oura HealthOura Health helps people improve their sleep, better understand their bodies, and reach their goals. The Oura Ring and app track all stages of sleep and activity to provide daily feedback and practical steps to inspire healthy lifestyles. Founded in 2013, Oura Health has raised $47M of funding from Forerunner Ventures, Gradient, Square Inc. and MSD Capital, and angel investors. Oura Health is headquartered in Oulu, Finland, with offices in Helsinki and San Francisco. For more information, visit http://ouraring.com/.

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WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute and Oura Health unveil study to predict the outbreak of COVID-19 in healthcare professionals - WVU Medicine

Is Now the Time to Try Meditation?

As many of us hunker down in our homes at this frightening and stressful time, there are all kinds of things we are doing to fill the time. Some things we havent done in a while, like the 1000 piece puzzle that is near completion. Other things are brand new, like using Duolingo to learn a foreign language. How about trying out meditation? The science is clear, meditation is a quick way to reduce stress, something we could all use. For those who havent tried before, it can take a little time to get started, so how about now?

When my husband, Nez, was being treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) a few years ago, our stress and anxiety was at an all-time high. This is when we both began a meditation practice. We used a free 21-day series by Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra to get started. A new series was just released yesterday #HopeGoesGlobal. You register online and can access the free meditations on your computer, or you can download the app on your phone or iPad. Oprah and Deepak give inspirational thoughts and then there is roughly 15 minutesof meditation.

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There are other choices of course. If you Google free meditation you will get over 400,000 results. MSKCC has a series online as part of their Integrative Medicine. The App Stores have all kinds of offerings, such as Headspace or Calm. You can find meditation on many fitness apps like Peloton, and YouTube is a treasure trove. Find something that speaks to you, find a quiet corner, get comfortable, and get started. Help clear and calm your mind; even if only for a few minutes.

Emily & Nez Nikoo

After meeting at Purdue University, Emily & Nez Nikoo (both Electrical Engineers), married and began their professional journey working together first for the space program and then in media & entertainment. After tackling lifes challenges, Emily gravitated to healthcare innovation and Nez to STEM advocacy and education.

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Finding a Peaceful Place: Is Now the Time to Try Meditation? - TAPinto.net

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Article content first published on DrGregoryBurzynski.com

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In my recent blog post "Understanding Approaches for Pain Management and Patient Care" I speak on the lasting effects of holistic health care and the benefits that it has in terms of managing pain and taking care of the "whole" patient.Before I get started, it is important to mention that the holistic approach to health does not reject conventional medicine, but is a sensible, complete form of healing that considers your child's entire picture of health and uses the best and most appropriate options for healing. It is a process of strengthening every system of the mind-body and allowing your child's natural healing potential to flourish.Many of the chronic health problems that affect children will respond best when addressed from a holistic point of view.

Conventional v.s Alternative Medicine

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch? Register for a user account.

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Understanding Holistic Care in Relation to Chronic Illness - Patch.com

The biggest question Im getting asked is around how CBD and medical cannabis may affect contracting or recovering from coronavirus, and about what else we can do to stay well.

People are asking if cannabis and CBD can help buffer the immune system against getting COVID-19 in the first place, and if you do get it, can CBD and cannabis help treat it? What about the possibility that NSAID anti-inflammatory drugs may have a negative effect on the virus once you are infected and wait a minute CBD is an anti-inflammatory too, so what does that mean for CBD?

These are all valid questions and so far, even in terms of the anti-inflammatory drugs and the effect on corona, it is still unclear what the relationship is, if there is one. Many doctors are still recommending sticking to Acetaminophen for the fever for now and avoiding NSAID over the counter drugs until we know more.

As for CBD and cannabis, we dont have any studies showing it has any effect on the coronavirus, although there are some interesting studies on medical cannabis and smoked cannabis use and HIV progression.

On Facebook and social media, many CBD and cannabis advocates are claiming that they boosted their immunity successfully against all viruses using the plant, and recommending others do the same.

As both a cannabis specialist and doctor trained in natural medicine and western medicine, it is important to let people know the facts and be totally honest about what we dont know. Its also critical not to make false claims when we are all understandably a bit scared, and of course want to do everything we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

The miracle cure claims that some members of the natural wellness community can sometimes make, even when well-intentioned, can have harmful effects on peoples behaviour and also tarnish the industry as promoting snake oils.

This effect can distance our more conventional medicine and research colleagues who are not well versed in botanical medicine, and hurt the progress plant medicine has made in recent years in gaining support and credibility through academic research and inquiry, partnering with the research and those physicians open-minded enough to consider them.

Plant medicines like CBD and medical cannabis do so many amazing things that there is no need to stretch the truth or make claims that cannot be backed up, at least not currently.

Probably the best way we can support our immunity is avoiding alcohol, staying active while we stay home (dance parties in the living room anyone?) and taking up a simple relaxation or meditation practice to decrease stress hormones.

If you are into supplementing, you could consider adding some adaptogen mushrooms, along with liposomal glutathione (not a direct immune boost but may help support the liver).

Eating a diet rich in micronutrients, zinc, vitamin C, flavonoids like quercetin (in both cannabis and apples) and getting good sleep are all good things to start now if you havent already.

Melatonin, our sleep hormone made while we sleep can help healthy immune function too. Deep breathing practices and laughter may also have a positive effect on our immune systems too. So, you can feel like you have done something by putting on a funny film and having a good deep belly laugh to get those lungs working while you self-isolate.

Even if you do everything right you may still end up getting coronavirus, but the good news is that most people not in high risk groups will have a mild illness course and recoup at home. Some carriers may not even have any symptoms at all or even know they had it, which is why social distancing is so important, since asymptomatic transmission rates are thought to be quite high with coronavirus.

Dr Dani Gordon MD, CCFP, ABOIM, ABIHMGuest AuthorUK Cannabis Medicine Specialist US Integrative Medicine Consulting & Training for Physicians

Do you want the latest news and updates from Medical Cannabis Network? Click here for your free subscription, and stay connected with us here.

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Expert answers: can cannabis and CBD affect coronavirus? - Health Europa

Shahin Salarvand,1 Simin Hemati,2 Payman Adibi,3 Fariba Taleghani,4 Mohammad Saleki5

1Hepatitis Research Center, Community Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran; 2Radiotherapy and Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; 3Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Integrative Functional Gastroenterology Research Al-Zahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; 4Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; 5Department of Sport Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Correspondence: Shahin SalarvandHepatitis Research Center, Community Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, IranTel +989161590560Fax +986633120140Email shsalarvand@lums.ac.ir

Introduction: Healthcare professionals should seek the necessary resources to improve the quality of care. Given the cultural, social, and economic differences, in every health care system, there are increasing needs for the adapted versions of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). This study aimed to introduce an innovative CPG adaptation approach for nurses working in a developing country.Methods: This study is comprised of three sections: a. An extensive systematic search of the literature, b. The adaptation process, c. Interviews, which were held with stakeholders, users and/or the target population. We applied all of the stages of guideline adaptation process according to Adaptation Resource Toolkit, with the integration of the findings of a systematic literature search and a qualitative content analysis in an adolopted new CPG.Results: In this study, we applied a mix of three methods namely adoption, adaptation and development (adolopment) of recommendations to save time, cost, and manpower efficiently. Moreover, we integrated the utilized qualitative research method and literature review with the adolopment approach to develop the recommendations.Conclusion: Given there is a paucity of nursing clinical practice guidelines (NCPGs) in the nursing management of cancer therapy-induced mucositis and to save time and costs, the findings emerging from the adoption, adaptation, and de novo guideline development by a panel of experts and qualitative content analysis (QCA) method were integrated to achieve a more comprehensive nursing practice guideline.

Keywords: guideline adaptation, developing country, nursing

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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An Innovative Approach to Clinical Practice Guideline Adaptation in th | CMAR - Dove Medical Press

Doctors and scientists still have many unanswered questions about the new coronavirus and how it affects our bodies once we are exposed. Washing hands frequently and social distancing are recommended to stop the spread of the virus. But many are asking, is there anything we can do to bolster our immune systems defense to fight off the virus if we come in contact? Are there supplements that might help?

Again, when it comes to the new coronavirus, theres no data right now to answer definitely how one supplement might help the immune system fight off the virus or not. But what microbiologists who do study the immune system know about our bodys defense is that ramping up our immune system to be on high alert or globally boosting it to fight off every and any germ that might be out there is actually a flawed concept, explains Michael N. Starnbach, PhD, a professor of microbiology at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Our immune system is designed to recognize things that are foreign in our body and clear those foreign things out of our body, but those cells and responses are finely tuned, says Dr. Starnbach. If the immune system were too active, it would attack our own tissues, which can happen in some autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohns disease, he says.

Theres really only evidence that supplements improve immune function in populations that are truly malnourished, which is rarely the case in the United States, according to Starnbach. People can be more susceptible to diseases when they are severely malnourished, but it doesnt mean that replenishing higher-than-necessary amounts of vitamins and nutrients in someone is going to make their immune system work that much better," he says.

Evidence suggests some vitamins and supplements may reduce the likelihood of a respiratory virus or reduce the amount of time a person is sick with a virus, especially if a person is deficient in some way, according to Tod Cooperman, MD, the president and founder of Consumer.Lab.com, a provider of independent test results and information designed to help consumers and healthcare professionals identify the best-quality health and nutrition products. Again, we dont know whether the vitamins and supplements we have evidence for would yield the same effects against the novel coronavirus.

Right now, if youre concerned about catching the coronavirus or any other virus, taking a basic multivitamin every day is a safe way to ensure youre not deficient in any area, says Dr. Cooperman. Eating well, getting good sleep, and exercising will also help keep you as healthy as possible and keep your immune system strong, he says.

RELATED: Coronavirus Shopping List: What to Buy and Skip

Based on research on the effects of zinc against other viruses, theres some suggestion it may help lessen severity of symptoms, so if you start to experience symptoms of a virus, including the new coronavirus, Cooperman suggests sucking on zinc lozenges to coat your throat. But right now, theres no evidence to back that up.

Heres more about what is known about specific vitamins and supplements that may affect viral infections.

RELATED: Coronavirus and Prescription Medications: Should You Stock Up?

Again the available evidence suggests certain supplements may help when it comes to reducing infection or the duration of illness, says Yufang Lin, MD, an integrative medicine doctor at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. But little evidence suggests supplements actually help protect you against catching a pathogen in the first place. And there's no evidence that any supplement is a silver bullet thats going to globally boost your immune response to any and all threats.

RELATED: What You Need to Know About Living With a Compromised Immune System During the COVID-19 Outbreak

And remember, the novel coronavirus is an entirely new threat. There isnt any specific data yet on how particular vitamins or supplements may or may not thwart it, says Dr. Lin. (All the studies referenced below investigate how supplements work against other types of viruses.) We really dont know if they would provide support in fighting off COVID-19 [the disease spread by the novel coronavirus], she says.

Heres what we do know.

Elderberry Theres data that suggests elderberry (taken in teas, lozenges, gummies, or pills with the herb) can reduce flu virus production and help people recover from flu faster, Lin says. A study published in March 2019 in the Journal of Functional Foods found that compounds from elderberries can inhibit the viruss entry and replication in human cells and help strengthen a persons immune response to the virus. There is no really good data for the common cold and elderberry, Lin adds.

RELATED: Cold and Flu: Everything You Need to Know

Zinc does have some data suggesting it can provide support for your immune system and may help you fight off infection in common colds faster, Lin says. A meta-analysis published in the journal JRSM Open in May 2017 found evidence that zinc lozenges can shorten the common cold's duration by over 30 percent. The findings recommended that the lozenges not contain citric acid or salt citrate. [Its an approach] that you can think about taking within the first few days of infection, she adds.

Remember, zinc has not been tested specifically with the new coronavirus, but it has been tested with other viruses, he says. When it comes to other viruses, zinc lozenges work by inhibiting the viruses' activity in the throat, when the infection is just starting to spread, lessening those symptoms. So taking those lozenges soon after you begin experiencing symptoms may help, Cooperman explains. Its fairly safe for a week or two. You want to suck on the lozenges, but not chew, so your throat is continually coated with zinc, he says.

Make sure you follow the instructions on the package and that youre not taking more than the recommended dose, Cooperman adds.

Vitamin C is associated with some benefits for colds, Lin notes. (The common cold is a type of coronavirus.) A meta-analysis of 29 trials including 11,306 people looked at how taking at least 200 milligrams (mg) per day of vitamin C affected risk and management of colds. The study, published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, found that vitamin C didnt reduce the incidence of colds in adults, but it did shorten the duration of colds, by 8 percent. A subgroup of studies in the Cochrane analysis looked at marathon runners, skiers and Army troops doing heavy exercise in very cold conditions and found that supplements of at least 200 mg of vitamin C every day appeared to cut the risk of getting a cold by 50 percent.

Lin recommends aiming to get the vitamin C you do need daily and focus on getting it from food sources, rather than supplements. I would encourage eating vitamin Crich vegetables to boost your levels of vitamin C, she says. The recommended daily amount of vitamin C for adults is 75 to 90 milligrams (mg) a day, according to the National Institutes of Health. One orange contains about 75 mg, a green pepper contains about 60 mg, and a half cup of Brussels sprouts has almost 50 mg.

Taking very large doses of vitamin C isnt recommended; once doses go above 400 mg, vitamin C is just excreted in the urine, according to the Harvard Health Letter.

Vitamin D is important for maintaining a strong immune system, according to Cooperman. And low levels of vitamin D are associated with frequent colds and influenza, according to the National Institutes of Health. Because we get a lot of the vitamin D we need from sunshine, many people see their levels drop off during the winter months, says Cooperman. Its not necessary to have your levels checked to safely take vitamin D; Cooperman recommends 600 to 800 IU or 15 to 20 micrograms if you decide to take supplements.

A meta-analysis of prospective trials published in the journal BMJ in 2017 found that vitamin D reduced the odds of developing a respiratory infection by 42 percent in people who were vitamin D deficient. Note: Dosage matters. Taking a daily dose of D3 between 300 IU and 4,000 IU was more effective than taking a large monthly dose, according to the BMJ report.

In a randomized, double-blind placebo trial of 5,110 older adults who were vitamin D deficient (published in August 2019 in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases), the data again showed that large doses may not be beneficial in preventing respiratory infection. Participants were given 200,000 IU at the start of the study followed by 100,000 IU monthly, with a mean follow-up of 1.6 years. Investigators found no reduction in the number of acute respiratory infections compared with placebo.

If youre not deficient, vitamin D wont really provide a lot of additional benefit, but if you are deficient, taking the supplement can strengthen immunity, says Cooperman.

Apple cider vinegar Though apple cider vinegar (ACV) does boast some other health benefits, there isnt evidence to show that ACV affects immune function or that taking it regularly improves your chances of fighting off viruses, Lin says.

Turmeric While there is some evidence turmeric may yield some health benefits, including helping manage high cholesterol, glucose control, and digestive issues, there isnt specific evidence that it can help fight off a virus, says Lin. There is, however, evidence suggesting one of the active compounds in turmeric (curcumin) does act on immune function in some way, though how those effects may or may not benefit health is still unclear, according to a review published in the Journal of Clinical Immunology.

As always, let your doctor know about all supplements you are taking or plan to take, as they can pose unintended health risks for certain groups or interact with other medications you're taking.

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Can Supplements Protect Me Against the New Coronavirus? - Everyday Health

In light of COVID-19, blood service providers around the country are asking for donations. But is this an area in which Lyme disease patients can help? The risk of whether tick-borne diseases infect American blood banks is hotly debated. While some studies and documented cases have traced transfusion-transmitted tick-borne infections back to donors, Lyme disease is not on the list of threats at this time. However, Lyme has secured itself as the most common and fastest-growing vector-borne illness in the United States, and with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projecting above 300,000 new infections annually, the matter begs for more research. By comparison, each year there are six times more new cases of Lyme than HIV and AIDS, with Lyme disease receiving less than 1% of HIV funding.

Are climbing infection rates, unreliable diagnostic tests, insufficient treatments, and lax donor eligibility guidelines creating the perfect storm for unrecognized transfusion-transmitted Lyme disease? With continued nationwide blood shortages, the urgent need for donations remains high. While donor eligibility guidelines seem to be a straight line for acute, early-onset Lyme disease, that line blurs when we consider the intricacies of Lyme, especially of patients with Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS), more colloquially known among the patient population as chronic Lyme disease.

What is the current standard of eligibility? If youve ever been diagnosed with Lyme disease, here is what you need to know about this ongoing discussion to best determine whether it is safe for you to donate blood.

1. Has your Lyme disease been resolved? The main requirement to determine if you are eligible to donate blood after testing positive for Lyme disease is that you have resolved or cured the infection. Individuals being treated for Lyme disease with an antibiotic should not donate blood. Individuals who have completed antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease may be considered as potential blood donors, states the CDC.

Donor eligibility varies slightly amongst states and collection sites, but most sites carry similar guidelines. For example, the blood service provider Vitalant requires a 30-day wait after a Lyme diagnosis, completion of a standard 21-day antibiotic treatment, and being free of symptoms at the time of donation in order to be eligible to donate. On the other hand, the American Red Cross, which accounts for 45% of the transfused blood in the U.S., requires no wait time following standard Lyme treatment.

If Lyme were defined only as an early, localized illness, meaning it is diagnosed and treated within 1-4 weeks of exposure, it might easily be resolved by CDC-approved standard treatment. However, resolution can be difficult to achieve due to the timing of diagnosis and the current treatment standards set by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).

There are three stages of Lyme disease:

Lyme disease specialist Dr. Tania Dempsey, founder of Armonk Integrative Medicine in New York, explains the differences among the three stages of illness:

Early localized Lyme disease is the stage when a bulls-eye rash can appear, or patients can develop flu-like symptoms. Some patients dont have any symptoms at this stage. If appropriate antibiotic treatment is started as soon as possible and treated for at least 28 days, although longer courses are sometimes necessary. Resolution of Lyme disease is definitely possible, says Dempsey.

Once early disseminated Lyme sets in, around one to four months, the symptoms can be more severe, indicating the infection has likely infiltrated the joints, nervous system, and other parts of the body. It is critical that the infection be treated no later than this point, as this increases the likelihood of the development of chronic Lyme disease. Prolonged, multi-drug antibiotic courses may be needed at this stage. she adds.

Once Lyme reaches the late disseminated stage, aggressive multi-antibiotic treatments are often called for by Lyme-literate doctors to reverse damage to the heart, joints, and other body systems, but sometimes damage is irreversible.

Persistent infection, despite antibiotic treatment, is real and has been shown repeatedly in the lab, says Dempsey. In fact, a 2018 study confirmed what is still being questioned today by mainstream doctors as a controversial theory. A slow-growing form of Borrelia burgdorferi resisted the standard single-antibiotic treatment in test tubes and within a murine model. Where administering one and two-antibiotic treatments failed to resolve resistant Borrelia, a three-antibiotic cocktail which includes daptomycin, doxycycline and ceftriaxone was administered to infected mice and proved to fully eradicate the bacteria. This widely opens the door to doubt as to whether the standard Lyme treatment is adequate in resolving infection, especially in later stages of illness where early diagnosis was missed.

2. Do you have active symptoms? With resolution of infection comes the assumption that symptoms of the illness are gone. When asked about chronic Lyme patients that display symptoms such as arthritis and ongoing fatigue after the standard 21-day treatment, American Red Cross only considers ineligibility if the symptoms include a fever or a rash. We dont have a set list of symptoms we look at. As long as you dont have a fever or feel unwell at the time of donation, lingering symptoms like joint pain or fatigue wouldnt cause you to be ineligible to donate, a Red Cross eligibility specialist told ProHealth.

When asked what would constitute active symptoms, Vitalant representatives also provided a nonspecific answer: If you feel generally good and dont have a fever, you would be eligible to donate, provided youve completed standard antibiotic therapy, and its been 30 days after your diagnosis.

Due to its similarity to syphilis, Lyme was quickly placed into the medical category of The Great Imitator as early as the 1980s when it was shown to mimic over 100 different diseases. Due to flawed diagnostic abilities and a symptom list extending much further beyond a fever and bulls-eye rash, an untold number of diagnoses are suspected to be missed or delayed. It is no surprise, then, that most of Dempseys patients come to her after years of chronic illness and lack of relief. While some know that Lyme disease is at the root of their symptoms, some dont. Whether the infection can be fully cleared at this stage is unclear. Dempsey says. Patients know their bodies well, and I rely on them to tell me if their symptoms persist or have resolved. However, it is important to note that patients without persistent symptoms could still have hidden Borrelia in their cells. They just may not be active or causing any issues.

We can see how two simple questions can snowball into a complex knot of uncertainty. When it comes to determining whether Lyme patients can transmit Borrelia through blood transfusions, the available science has only solidly concluded the following:

THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF TRANSFUSION-TRANSMITTED LYME IN HUMANS

This sounds comforting. Unfortunately, the absence of reports may be due to an absence of monitoring. Regulations and requirements to test blood donors for Lyme disease dont exist, even in high-risk, endemic states like New York. Whats more concerning is that even if testing was required, Lyme disease testing has been proven to show low sensitivity and low specificity. This means the testing available isnt adequate to provide consistently accurate results, which could confirm a donor is truly resolved of the pathogen that causes Lyme disease. A 2018 article in Frontiers of Microbiology points out, No serologic testing or molecular analyses are routinely done which would be needed in order to fully ensure that potential asymptomatic, Borrelia-infected donors are excluded from the donor pool.

LYME BACTERIA HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED TO MICE THROUGH BLOOD TRANSFUSIONA 2006 study demonstrated that Borrelia burgdorferi was transmitted from infected to naive mice by blood transfusion. Due to the obvious ethical reasons, a similar study has not been reproduced with humans. However, this study supports the notion that untreated Lyme disease may be transmittable through blood. The World Health Organization (WHO) states Lyme disease can survive blood storage temperatures, and that transfusion-transmission in humans is possible but has not been reported.

SIMILAR INFECTIONS LIKE SYPHILIS REQUIRE A ONE YEAR DEFERRAL Syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum, a spirochete not so dissimilar to the spirochetal bacterium Borrelia. The WHO writes in their guidelines on assessing donor suitability for blood donation, Endogenous bacteria that are transfusion-transmissible include Treponema pallidum, Borrelia burgdorferi, Brucella melitensis and Yersinia enterocolitica, but blood donations are routinely screened only for T. pallidum. With syphilis requiring a 12-month post-treatment deferral, it seems plausible to at least consider Lyme disease as worthy of a longer deferral period following treatment and symptom resolution. Currently, the WHO recommends deferring Lyme patients only 28 days following treatment, or a full recovery whichever is longer.

Anyone with experience with Lyme knows the diagnosis is shrouded in a controversial haze of conflicting and missing information. This makes for a foggy understanding when it comes to not only accurately diagnosing, but also obtaining appropriate treatment to resolve the varying range of symptoms this tick-borne disease inflicts. Lyme grays a variety of life areas for patients that would otherwise be straightforward, including whether or not one is truly eligible to donate blood without putting recipients at risk for exposure to Lyme disease.

As a specialist in treating complex, chronic cases of Lyme, Dr. Dempsey tends to mostly see very ill patients who are often not well enough to consider the possibility of donating. However, when the topic does present itself, she offers her professional opinion:

Any patient who has suffered from PTLDS/chronic Lyme or co-infections, including Bartonella and Babesia, should not donate blood. It is clear from recent research that persistent infection is a real possibility, particularly in patients with continued symptoms. Unfortunately, donor recipients are not given any information about who their donor is or what their medical history is so there is no way for them to have any input about whether the blood has come from someone with chronic Lyme or other tick-borne infection.

Are you considering donating? Keep the following in mind:

Ultimately, if you have any doubt about whether or not youre in the clear, the best option would be not to donate until there are better diagnostic capabilities and ways to ensure the blood supply can be kept safe from Lyme disease.

Jenny Menzel is a Certified Health Coach and branding specialist for various alternative healthcare practices, and volunteers her design skills to the annual grassroots campaign, the Lyme Disease Challenge. Jenny was diagnosed with Lyme in 2010 after 8 years of undiagnosed chronic pain and fatigue, and continues to improve by employing multiple alternative therapies, including yurveda, Chinese Medicine and Bee Venom Therapy.

References:

Blood Donor Selection: Guidelines on Assessing Donor Suitability for Blood Donation. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2012. 7, TTI and donor risk assessment. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK138223/

Feng, J., Li, T., Yuan, Y., Yee, R., & Zhang, Y. (2018). Biofilm/Persister/Stationary Phase Bacteria Cause More Severe Disease Than Log Phase Bacteria I Biofilm Borrelia burgdorferi Not Only Display More Tolerance to Lyme Antibiotics But Also Cause More Severe Pathology In a Mouse Arthritis Model: Implications for Understanding Persistence, PTLDS and Treatment Failure. doi: 10.1101/440461

Gabitzsch ES, Piesman J, Dolan MC, Sykes CM, Zeidner NS. Transfer of Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. infection via blood transfusion in a murine model. J Parasitol. 2006;92(4):869870. doi: 10.1645/GE-833R.1

Lyme Disease Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.. https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/faq/index.html

Pavia CS, Plummer MM. Transfusion-Associated Lyme Disease Although Unlikely, It Is Still a Concern Worth Considering. Front Microbiol. 2018;9:2070. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2018.02070

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Is it Safe to Donate Blood if You've Been Diagnosed with Lyme Disease? - ProHealth

Though now the leading man in the hit CBS series, Bull, many Michael Weatherly fans will always remember the actor for his career-catalyzing role as Agent Tony DiNozzo in NCIS. Boasting a successful TV career, the actor has grown quite a bit since his early Hollywood days in Foxs Dark Angel which starred one of Weatherlys famous loves, Jessica Alba.

Weatherly dated Alba who was then 18 after they met on the Fox show. While the actor proposed, the relationship didnt work out, and Weatherly went on to date and marry Amelia Heinle (American actress known for starring in the soap opera The Young and the Restless).

Amelie Heinle and Michael Weatherly were married from 1995 until 1997. Michael Weatherly is now married to Bojana Jankovic; the two wed in 2009. So, how did they meet? Who is Jankovic, and what does she do for a living? And, just how much older is Weatherly than the latest love of his life?

Bojana Jankovic is a writer and an assistant director known for TVWWW and Do Not Leave Me with Strangers. Jankovic has also appeared on Entertainment Tonight and Extra with Billy Bush.She is also an award-winning physician who is double board-certified in internal and integrative medicine. She founded the Eleven Eleven Wellness Center.

Jankovic and Weatherly reportedly met in a bar in Vancouver in 2007 (at least thats one of the most commonly reported stories). At the time, Weatherly was allegedly enjoying the single life, according to Heavy.com. The couple has explained that their relationship beginnings involved several continents and was quite complicated. In the end, it was clearly meant to be.

In 2009, the couple tied the knot, and they bought a home in Hollywood Hills in 2012. However, when they tied the knot, Jankovic was still quite young, as there is a sizable age difference between Weatherly and his now-wife.

Michael Weatherly was born in 1968, making him 51 years old. On the other hand, Jankovic was born on May 7 in 1983. Jankovic is 36 today, yet she was still in her 20s when she married Weatherly back in 2009.

Maybe, theres something to true to the old saying that women mature faster than men. There is a 15 year age gap between the happy couple; however, it seems to work, as they have been together for over a decade and now have children together.

As for Liam Weatherly and Olivia Weatherly, the former is Weatherly and Jankovics 6-year-old son who was born in 2013, and the latter is their 7-year-old daughter born in 2012. Michael Weatherly also has one son from his previous marriage to Heinle, August Manning Weatherly, who is 24 years old.

So, Michael Weatherly has three kids. His eldest happens to be closer in age to his current wife than he is; however, anything goes in Hollywood! Its hard enough to find love in Tinseltown, and accounting for age differences minimizes the pool of potential candidates to too great an extent.So, heres to wishing the couple many more years together.

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Inside the Large Age Gap Between Former 'NCIS' Star Michael Weatherly and Wife Bojana Jankovic - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Last week, Gwyneth Paltrows modern lifestyle brand Goop announced it was closing stores in the U.S. and U.K. to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus currently sweeping the globe. Meanwhile, Paltrows psychiatrist-pal Kelly Brogan, a high-profile Goop contributor, has racked up tens of thousands of views on social media spreading discredited pseudoscientific claims that the coronavirus might not even exist, and that symptoms attributed to the virus are likely being caused by widespread fear.

The claims were made in a widely shared video posted on Facebook, Instagram (which is owned by Facebook), and Vimeo last week by Brogan, a New York State-licensed psychiatrist, New York Times bestselling author, AIDS denialist, anti-vaxxer, and, according to Goop, a trusted expert and recent contributor to its site and live events.

Its just the latest stain on Paltrows already controversial brand, which in recent years has become synonymous with such questionable products as the Jade Egg, an egg-shaped gemstone that purportedly harness[es] the power of energy work, crystal healing, and a Kegel-like physical practice when inserted in the vagina.

In the video, which was originally shared with paid subscribers of Brogans health reclamation program, Vital Life Project, and has since been viewed over 75,000 times online, Brogan claimed that there is potentially no such thing as the coronavirus because its not possible to prove that any given pathogen has induced death, and that the rising death toll caused by the virus is likely being accelerated by the fear [of the virus] itself.

She also professed that she doesnt believe the widely accepted germ theory of disease, encouraged viewers to seek alternative theories, suggested that the news media is being controlled by an unnamed pro-vaccination group, and speculated that the U.S. government is planning to link our passports with our vaccination records and gain totalitarian governmental control not unlike the divide-and-conquer dehumanization agendas that preceded the Holocaust.

Facebook quickly removed the video after inquiries from The Daily Beast. These videos violate our policies and have been removed from both Facebook and Instagram, a spokesperson said.

Goop declined to comment, stating: We would suggest reaching out to Dr. Brogan directly as she didnt make those comments on goops platform. (Vimeowhich is owned by The Daily Beasts parent companyand Brogan did not return requests for comment.)

Brogan attributed her claims about the coronavirus to the pseudoscientific theories of the late Ryke Geerd Hamer, a ghoulish German doctor who in 1986 had his medical license permanently revoked in Germany after a number of patients in his care died. Hamers more recent victims include Susanne Rehklau, a 12-year-old girl who suffered a painful death after Hamer gave her the all-clear.

According to Hamers German New Medicine, all illness and disease, including pathogenic infections, are caused by psychological trauma, with specific traumatic experiences said to correlate with specific physical symptoms. For example, a child who is forced to live under the conservativeor inflexiblerule of an overbearing parent might develop rigid joints. To cure themselves, Hamer claimed, patients must disavow conventional Western medicine (which he claimed was a conspiracy orchestrated by the Jewish chemo mafia) and overcome their unresolved trauma using non-pharmacological, or natural, treatment methods, including talk therapy.

Medical authorities, including the German Cancer Society and the Swiss Cancer League, have widely denounced Hamer's theories as dangerous and lacking any scientific or empirical justification.

Experts who spoke to The Daily Beast agreed there is no scientific basis for Brogans analogous claims about the coronavirus.

David Colquhoun, a British pharmacologist and noted scourge of scientific quackery, called Brogans claims utter nonsense, and said he had never before heard such an explicit denial of germ theory.

Shes a very, very dangerous fantasist, Colquhoun said. I wonder whether she takes antibiotics if she gets a bacterial infection?

Shes a very, very dangerous fantasist. I wonder whether she takes antibiotics if she gets a bacterial infection?

Benjamin Radford, deputy editor of Skeptical Inquirer, which publishes investigations debunking paranormal phenomena and fringe science, said Brogans video should be viewed in the context of other populist pseudoscientific claimssuch as miasma theory and the law of attractionand questioned whether she was a real doctor.

Theres always been this sort of populist appeal by people who reject science, and thats exactly whats going on here, Radford said. Unfortunately, outbreaks like this are exactly the wrong time to bring these things up because [...] they divert people from legitimate evidence-based treatments.

Brogans credentials were also called into question by Peter M. Heimlich, a medical fraud researcher and the son of Dr. Henry Heimlich (of the famous maneuver). [Disclosure: the younger Heimlich is a friend of the author.]

In a March 22 letter shared with The Daily Beast, Heimlich asked the Office of Professional Medical Conduct, which is a branch of the New York State Department of Health, to determine whether Brogan misrepresented her board certifications online.

The letter highlights potentially misleading claims on Brogans site that she is currently board-certified in the areas of psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine/consultation psychiatry through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN), and that according to ABPNs online database, she is no longer certified in either specialty.

A spokesperson for ABPN said they could not speak directly about Brogan, and that the certification status of its diplomates is clearly stated on its site.

Per Heimlichs letter, Brogan also claims board certification through the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine (ABIHM), but ABIHM stopped issuing certificates in 2014 and now operates under a different name. (ABIHMs former executive director did not return a request for comment.)

A note on Brogans site says she is not currently accepting applications for one-on-one consultations and only holds group healing weekends once yearly in her home state of Florida.

Despite the criticism, she continues to peddle her discredited theories, posting a second video to her social media channels on Friday in which she again appeared to deny the existence of the coronavirus and invited viewers to join her paid subscription program.

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The Gwyneth Paltrow-Approved Goop Doctor Pushing Wacky Coronavirus Conspiracies - The Daily Beast

First up: Any IV treatment also carries a small risk of bleeding and infection at the site where the needle is placed in the skin or getting too much fluid infused. IV infusions may be a common medical procedure, but they are still a medical procedure.

The second safety concern is where you are getting it, notes functional and integrative medicine practitioner Roxanna Namavar, M.D., board-certified psychiatrist and fellow in the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, who uses it at her own practice."No matter what IV therapy you are getting, you want to make sure your practitioner knows where the ingredient is sourced, and how it is compounded. They should also tailor your infusion treatments to you: It shouldn't feel like you're picking things off a menu. Your practitioner should look at your lab work, symptoms, and goals and create a protocol that is specific to your needs."

This concern comes to light most notably with the large amounts of IV bars that have popped up lately, most without much regulation. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission recently took action against an IV drip bar for making unsupported health claims about their ability to treat serious illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, or congestive heart failure.

If done under the supervision of a responsible health care practitioner, however, Namavar says there are no significant safety concerns. She notes that some patients may be sensitive to IV NAD+ therapy, specifically, and experience discomfort such as warming of the chest and nausea. Wally Taylor, M.D., a functional medicine physician with Texas Integrative Medicine in Austin, Texas, notes similarly, "One of the things about NAD+ is that you can't infuse it too quickly without it being pretty uncomfortable." He says some of his patients, "say they feel like they're having symptoms of a heart attack, but when we look at their heart monitor, we don't see any evidence of that." He has found that breathing high-concentration oxygen during the infusion can reduce some of these side effects.

"Any time you're giving treatments intravenously, there could be problems of one sort or another," says Taylor. "So it's useful to have the direct oversight of a health care provider who has experience with NAD+." He says complications are more likely to arise in people with a chronic illness, but it's not impossible for healthy people to have a bad reaction.

Cost is another issue. A single IV NAD+ therapy ranges from several hundred dollars to $1,000 or more. You also have to factor in travel time to the clinic and the wait timeinfusions generally take two or more hours, and some people may need infusions several days in a row.

Originally posted here:
NAD IV Therapy: What Is This Trendy New Treatment & Is It Safe? - mindbodygreen.com

As society is forced into isolation, people are finding themselves craving connection more than ever. According to a study the online dating service OkCupid released on Mar. 10 of this year, 88 percent of users globally and 92 percent of U.S. users were continuing to date during the coronavirus outbreak. (At least at the time they were surveyed.) But while many Americans have found themselves with additional time on their hands, mitigation efforts enacted by several states and cities discourage doing a lot of the activities you might usually choose for a date. California, Ohio, Illinois, and Washington are among the states that have closed all bars and restaurants to slow the spread of COVID-19. In some areaslike New York City and Los Angelesmovie theaters, shopping centers, and other gathering places have also temporarily ceased operations. Even if you live in an area where those businesses remain open, experts still recommend social distancingi.e. staying home as much as possible and limiting contact with other people as much as you can.

Where does all of this leave those who are still looking to make a match? We asked doctors to tell us how to safely date during the pandemic. Before you open your favorite app, keep reading to find out what these experts have to say.

Most experts we talked with suggested not canceling romance altogether, but approaching it from a different angle. David B. Samadi, MD, urologic oncology expert and Director of Men's Health at St. Francis Hospital in New York, cautions against meeting up with a blind date or someone you don't know very well, "because you don't know the status of their health, and even if they say they're healthy, they could still have the virus and just not be symptomatic yet." But that doesn't mean that you still can't get to know someone outside of texting and sharing your profiles. Family and integrative medicine specialist Bindiya Gandhi, MD suggests that daters "talk on the phone" and "get a feel for the person, like we used to before dating apps." Once you feel more comfortable with them, you can decide whether to actually meet up. "Better to be 100 percent cautious," she adds.

If you decide you want to physically get together with your date, there's really only one safe way to do so. "People can self-isolate and then get together outside at a park and keep a big distance between [themselves]," says integrative gynecologist Felice Gersh, MD. (The broadly accepted safe distance for droplet-transmitted diseases like coronavirus is six feet, per Johns Hopkins.) However, Gersh stipulates, "If one of the two people is not practicing social distancing, then it is probably best to just talk through telecommunications." To sum up: you want to be sure that your date has been following the recommended precautions; otherwise your chances of being infected go up.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) official guidelines for protecting yourself from coronavirus include avoiding close contact and touching your/another person's face. Unfortunately, that means intimate experiences with new partners are off the table.

"I would hold off [kissing] unless you're married or in a committed relationship, because the virus can be passed through mucus membranes and saliva is pretty close," says Gandhi. Kissing may seem harmless, but Gersh warns, "It's not really safe. There are extremely high viral titers in saliva." These viral proteins allow the virus to be transferred quite easily from person to person through that kind of contact.

The reality is that many crises in historyfrom the 1965 blackoutto more recentnatural disastersresulted in a spike in birthrates. With so much time at home, "couples are having more sex," says women's urologist and sexual health expert Jennifer Berman, MS, MD. It's likely that social distancing will have the same effect, but, as COVID-19 is a new challenge, there's little research on how it impacts pregnancy. However, we know fevers can be harmful to embryo development, and a fever is a core symptom of this disease. "Data so far shows that the virus is not transmitted to the baby while in utero and breast milk also does not have the virus in it," Gersh says. "If the mom gets the virus and recovers, her antibodies may offer protection to her baby." (Either way, the mother should practice self-isolation.)

Another issue for expectant mothers is receiving adequate care. With hospitals and healthcare workers scrambling to manage coronavirus patients, now isn't the best time to intentionally conceive and put additional strain on the system.

With the pandemic still playing out, the future is still in flux. "This will not go on forever," Gersh says. "[But] some believe we may be dealing with the coronavirus for the next18 to 24 months." Bermansuggests keeping an eye on the loosening of other restrictions, such as school closures, as "a good litmus test for what is appropriate." We are in uncharted territory and advice may change based on what medical professionals learn about the virus, so check for recommendations from the CDC, World Health Organization (WHO), and your local government. If restaurants and bars are still closed in your area, you should not be heading out on a regular date.

What about partners who live together?

As people are asked to curtail their public lives, couples who live together will be in constant contact in their homes. "If one person has it, the other will get it," Berman says.

"With your intimate, exclusive partner you live with, it's okay to touch, as long as neither is having symptoms," Gersh advises. "However, if one or both of the partners fall into a high-risk group, you might reconsider all close physical contact. These are personal decisions the two of you must make together." She also notes that in couples where one or more individuals is in a job that puts them at a higher risk of contracting coronavirussuch as healthcare or law enforcementcontact should also be limited or suspended.

How did Jane Austen's characters maintain such fulfilling romantic lives without bar hopping or sleeping together? Berman advocates for the art of the letter to make a comeback. "One way you can remain intimate and connected is to write to another person from your heart," she says. If that practice feels too antiquated for you, you could always give your date a ring on the phone or talk through video chat.

Berman is concerned about the long-term effects of this necessary self-isolation. Being with other people "is necessary for health, wellness, sexuality, and longevity," she says. "We need to be able to connect with other people. It's hardwired in our DNA, so things like this that separate us are not consistent with the survival of our species." However, she predicts that humans will bounce back from this crisis and settle into normalcy againand yes, that includes lots of first dates, both good and bad.

"The pendulum has swung so far into fear and separation, but the pendulum will swing back it always does," Berman says. "The goal will be to swing back into balance and be able to feel comfortable being intimate with people [again]."

More:
Is It Safe to Date During the Coronavirus Pandemic? Experts Explain - Best Life

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alector, Inc. (ALEC) today announced the addition of Paula Hammond, Ph.D., to the Companys Board of Directors. Dr. Hammond is the David H. Koch Chair Professor of Engineering and Department Head, Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a member of MITs Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and a founding member of the MIT Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology.

At Alector, we are building a leading biotechnology company, and as part of those efforts, we are partnering with top scientists, drug developers and business leaders to advise us and support our ambitious goal of curing neurodegeneration, said Arnon Rosenthal, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Alector. Paula brings more than 25 years of scientific excellence to our Board. Her expertise in applying scientific innovation to advances in drug delivery will be an asset to our team as we continue to develop first-in-class medicines for these unmet medical needs. We are very pleased to welcome her to Alectors Board of Directors, and we look forward to leveraging her expertise as we advance our programs through clinical development.

Dr. Hammond is one of only 25 distinguished scientists elected to all three national academies, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Hammond is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, has published over 300 papers and holds more than 20 patents based on her research at MIT. Dr. Hammond holds a Ph.D. and an S.B. in chemical engineering from MIT, and an M.S. in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her laboratory at MIT designs polymers and nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery to address cancer, wound healing and regenerative medicine.

Alectors mission of discovering and developing treatments for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases is not a small feat. After meeting Arnon, other members of the Alector team and the rest of the Board, I am confident in their commitment to change the life of these patients, said Dr. Hammond. I am looking forward to partnering with the Board and the management team as Alector advances its research and development programs.

Alector's current Board members include: Arnon Rosenthal, Co-Founder and CEO of Alector; Tillman Gerngross, Co-Founder of Alector and CEO of Adimab; Lou J. Lavigne Jr., former CFO of Genentech; Terry McGuire, Partner, Polaris Venture Partners, Richard Scheller, former EVP of Research at Genentech and former CSO of 23andMe; David Wehner, CFO of Facebook; and Kristine Yaffe, Professor, UCSF.

About AlectorAlector is a clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering immuno-neurology, a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Immuno-neurology targets immune dysfunction as a root cause of multiple pathologies that are drivers of degenerative brain disorders. Alector is developing a broad portfolio of programs designed to functionally repair genetic mutations that cause dysfunction of the brains immune system and enable the rejuvenated immune cells to counteract emerging brain pathologies. The Companys product candidates are supported by biomarkers and target genetically defined patient populations in frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimers disease. Alector is headquartered in South San Francisco, California. For additional information, please visit http://www.alector.com.

ContactsMedia:1ABDan Budwick, 973-271-6085dan@1abmedia.comorInvestors:Alector, Inc.ir@alector.com

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Alector Announces the Appointment of Paula Hammond, Ph.D., to the Board of Directors - Yahoo Finance