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How to Protect Your Heart Health This Mother’s Day

2018-05-11T11:01:00

(BPT) – Worldwide, cardiovascular disease remains the number one killer of women and men.[i] In the U.S., the disease leads to one in every three deaths — one death approximately every 38 seconds.[i] Although both genders suffer from the disease, women can experience more subtle symptoms than men, which may go unnoticed. That’s why it is important for women to know the heart disease risk factors that are specific to them. Here are four steps women should take to protect their heart health:

  1. Know the Signs.

Chest pain is the most common heart attack symptom for women, but women are more likely than men to experience symptoms unrelated to chest pain including shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, sweating, lightheadedness/dizziness, or pain or discomfort in the neck, stomach, one or both arms, back, or jaw.[ii]

  1. Don’t Stall, Get Help Immediately.

Recent research found women have a higher risk of death in the first year after a heart attack than men.[iii] If you recognize any of these signs or symptoms, it is important to get help immediately. Stalling may worsen your condition.

  1. Prevention is Key.

Heart disease is preventable. Knowing and watching your heart health indicators, such as diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol consumption, are a few ways to protect your heart. If lifestyle modifications are not enough to lower your risk, you may need to speak with your doctor about alternate solutions.

  1. Talk to Your Doctor.

High triglycerides (fat in the blood) are an indicator of cardiovascular risk.[iv],[v],[vi] You should talk to your doctor about your triglyceride levels as well as your cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure levels — all important cardiovascular risk factors that can impact your heart health.


[i] American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2018 At a Glance website. https://healthmetrics.heart.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/At-A-Glance-Heart-Disease-and-Stroke-Statistics-2018.pdf. February, 2018. Accessed April 29, 2018.

[ii] American Heart Association. Heart Attack Symptoms in Women website. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/WarningSignsofaHeartAttack/Heart-Attack-Symptoms-in-Women_UCM_436448_Article.jsp#.WvHCjqQvzRY. July, 2015. Accessed May 8, 2018.

[iii] Ubrich R, Barthel P, Haller B, Hnatkova K, Huster KM, Steger A, et al. (2017) Sex differences in long-term mortality among acute myocardial infarction patients: Results from the ISAR-RISK and ART studies. PLoS ONE 12(10): e0186783. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0186783

[iv] Miller M, Cannon CP, Murphy SA, Qin J, Ray KK, Braunwald E, for the PROVE IT-TIMI 22 Investigators. Impact of Triglyceride levels beyond low-density lipoprotein cholesterol after acute coronary syndrome in the PROVE IT-TIMI 22 Trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008;51;724-730.

[v] Faergeman O, Holme I, Fayyad R, Bhatia S, Grundy SM, Kastelein JJP, LaRosa JC, Lytken Larsen M, Lindahl C, Olsson AG, Tikkanen MJ, Waters DD, Pederson TR, on behalf of the Steering Committees of the IDEAL and TNT Trials. Plasma triglycerides and cardiovascular events in the treating to new targets and incremental decrease in end-points through aggressive lipid lowering trials of statins in patients with coronary artery disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2009;104:459-463.

[vi] Miller M, Stone NJ, Ballantyne C, Bittner V, Criqui MH, Ginsberg HN, Goldberg AC, Howard WJ, Jacobson MS, Kris-Etherton PM, Lennie TA, Levi M, Mazzone T, Pennathur S. Triglycerides and cardiovascular disease: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2011;123:2292-2333.


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If an injury or illness kept you out of work, could you pay your bills?

2018-05-03T07:01:01

(BPT) – You helped friends move their furniture; now your back is so sore you can’t move. You could be out of work and unable to collect at least three paychecks.

Your doctor says you’ve eaten your last bacon-wrapped hot dog, or your health could keep you out of work for four paychecks.

You made a diving catch to clinch the win for the company softball team. Though you were carried off the field a hero, you’ll be away from the office for eight paychecks.

We’re all temporarily able-bodied — no one is immune from an unexpected illness or injury. One in four of today’s 20-year-olds will experience a disability before they hit retirement age, according to a June 2016 Social Security Administration fact sheet.

Back injuries, heart attacks, knee replacements or other disabling conditions can leave workers without a paycheck and employers short-staffed. Based on the average time out of work for each ailment as reported by MDguidelines.com (which assumes a medium-duty job classification), these conditions could put employees out of commission for six weeks, eight weeks or 16 weeks, respectively.

Yet, less than 30 percent of American workers have disability coverage, according to a 2018 LIMRA survey. Those counting on the government to provide disability payments are often disappointed: The latest Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program shows that nearly 70 percent of SSDI claims are denied and less than 40 percent of those claims are approved upon appeal.

Insurers like Prudential Insurance Company of America have come forward to fill the gap, offering employer-sponsored disability coverage, absence management and return-to-work solutions.

“No one imagines their livelihood being threatened by an injury or disability, even for a short time,” says Jim Gemus, a senior vice president for Prudential Group Insurance. “The statistics show it’s something we need to be concerned about.”

Risk of a debilitating injury isn’t limited to physically demanding, blue-collar work. Disabling illnesses and accidents often happen outside the workplace — like at a softball game.

With more than 1,170 short-term and 1,645 long-term disability clients, Prudential saw a need to provide easy-to-use tools to help workers and employers understand how much coverage they may need. Prudential’s Disability Insurance Needs Estimator calculates the expected amount based on age, marital status and income. Disability insurance helps pay a portion of these costs, reducing the financial burden at a time when individuals can least afford any additional stress.

“A good employer-sponsored disability insurance plan not only helps protect employees’ financial wellness, it also helps businesses handle the costs and complexities of disability management,” Gemus says. “Our main concern is helping individuals pay the bills so they can recover and get back to work.”

That may be the biggest benefit to employers who provide disability insurance. After all, every winning company softball team needs to keep its stars on the field.


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How to Take Diabetes by the Horns

2018-05-02T09:01:00

(BPT) – For the millions of Americans living with diabetes, every day can be a series of ups and downs. But it doesn’t have to be. That’s why Roche Diabetes Care, the maker of Accu-Chek® Guide, and country singer Ben Rue recently launched the #BuckOffDiabetes campaign to motivate people to take diabetes by the horns and help them live their lives as active and unrestricted as possible.

Ben Rue has been living with type 1 diabetes for the past 16 years and has teamed up with Roche Diabetes Care to ask everyone to get involved, whether they have diabetes, or if it affects someone they know and love. Here are 5 tips from Ben and Roche Diabetes Care to help take diabetes by the horns.

1. Knowledge is power. Stay up to date on the latest resources and technologies through online resources and communities such as the Accu-Chek® Facebook page, Accu-Chek.com, as well as advocacy groups like Beyond Type 1, the College Diabetes Network and Taking Control of Your Diabetes. These groups and communities aim to continue to educate and empower people living with diabetes and arm them with the latest tips and tools to help manage diabetes.

2. Eat healthy. It’s important to eat a balanced meal to not only help you manage diabetes but also give your body the fuel it needs to keep doing what you love. This can be difficult when traveling or when life gets busy, but by packing a meal or snacks to take on the go, it’ll help you stay on track.

3. Stay active. Regular activity is a key part of managing diabetes, along with eating healthy and taking medications as prescribed. Even getting 30 minutes to stretch or walk each day is better than sitting all day.

4. Show support for the community. Whether you have diabetes or know someone who does, show support for the 1 out of every 10 Americans living with diabetes.i Join the movement by turning your hand into bull horns and share a photo on social media with #BuckOffDiabetes. Each post will trigger a donation from Roche Diabetes Care to several diabetes related organizations.ii

5. Find ways to save. With the Accu-Chek® Guide SimplePay Savings programiii, people with diabetes can save a few bucks by always paying the same low price for every test strip refill to help them focus on what is best for their health, not what it costs.

Learn more about how to save a buck, donate a buck and better manage your diabetes by bucking the trend at www.buckoffdiabetes.com.

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pdfs/library/socialmedia/diabetes-infographic.pdf

[2] For full details, please read the terms and conditions at www.buckoffdiabetes.com

[3] The card is not insurance; it is a cash discount program and cannot be combined with any form of health insurance. Those insured by any government healthcare program, such as Medicare, Medicaid, the military or VA, are NOT eligible for this offer. Insurers may offer a lower cost option. 30- or 90-day Accu-Chek Guide test strip prescription required. Limit 12 vials per refill. Refills cannot be dispensed before 75% of previous days’ supply have elapsed. Program may be changed or discontinued at any time.


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Opioid Addiction – Are You At Risk? [Infographic]

2018-05-01T15:23:00

(BPT) – The opioid epidemic is the deadliest drug crisis in the past decade. This infographic highlights these harrowing statistics, as well as shares America’s views on the current situation captured by The Marist Poll. To learn more about NARCAN® Nasal Spray, an intranasal naloxone treatment that can help reverse an opioid overdose, please visit https://www.narcan.com.


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Feeling Comfortable in Your Skin: Taking Control of Plaque Psoriasis

2018-05-01T12:01:01

(BPT) – For more than 25 years, Jane Nastasi struggled to find reliable relief from her plaque psoriasis. Tired of feeling embarrassed and having to explain that the raised, reddish patches on her body weren’t contagious, Jane spoke to her dermatologist to try to find a psoriasis treatment that could soothe her symptoms.

“My life is so much more than my psoriasis — I have such a large, lovely family and I’m the president of my social club — I wanted my skin to reflect that, not to hold me back from the activities and the people I love,” said Jane.

In the United States, about 7.5 million people have psoriasis.1 Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis, a chronic, non-contagious skin disease that alters the life cycle of skin cells, causing them to build up rapidly on the surface of the skin.2,3,4

“At my practice I see many patients with psoriasis, and I work with each of them to determine a customized course of treatment,” said Jane’s dermatologist, Stefan C. Weiss, MD in Boca Raton, FL. “Not every treatment is right for every patient. Jane had failed several psoriasis therapies. I recommended that she try SILIQ, since it works differently than her previous treatments — by blocking the receptor of a specific group of proteins at the site of inflammation.”5

Depending on the severity of the psoriasis and type, the condition can be treated with a topical treatment, oral drug, or injectable.6 SILIQ™ (brodalumab) injection is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who may benefit from injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet light treatment), and who have tried other systemic therapies that didn’t work or stopped working.5 It is not known whether SILIQ is safe and effective in children.

“When I first saw Dr. Weiss, psoriasis affected the majority of my body,” Jane said. “Since being treated with SILIQ, my skin has almost completely cleared. I’m no longer daunted by the idea of wearing short sleeves or going to the pool with my family.”

If you have psoriasis, talk to your health care provider about potential treatment options. For more information about SILIQ and complete prescribing information, visit www.siliq.com.

Important Safety Information

What is SILIQ?

SILIQTM injection is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis:

  • who may benefit from injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet light treatment)

and

  • who have tried another systemic therapy that didn’t work or stopped working

It is not known if SILIQ is safe and effective in children.

What is the most important information I should know about SILIQ?

Suicidal thoughts or behavior: Some patients taking SILIQ have had suicidal thoughts or ended their own lives. This risk is higher if you have a history of suicidal thoughts or depression. It is not known if SILIQ causes these thoughts or actions.

Get medical help right away if you or a family member notices that you have any of the following symptoms:

  • new or worsening depression, anxiety, or mood problems
  • thoughts of suicide, dying, or hurting yourself
  • attempt to commit suicide, or acting on dangerous impulses
  • other unusual changes in your behavior or mood

Your healthcare provider will give you a SILIQ patient/wallet card about symptoms that need medical attention right away. Carry the card with you during treatment with SILIQ and show it to all of your healthcare providers.

Serious Infections: SILIQ may lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections and may increase your risk of infections.

  • Your healthcare provider should check you for tuberculosis (TB) before starting treatment with SILIQ and may treat you for TB before starting SILIQ if you have TB or a history of it
  • You and your healthcare provider need to watch closely for signs and symptoms of infection during treatment with SILIQ, including fever, sweats, chills, shortness of breath, stomach issues, muscle aches, cough, sore throat or trouble swallowing, warm/red/painful skin sores, burning while urinating or more frequent urination

Who should not use SILIQ?

Do not use SILIQ if you have Crohn’s disease. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop diarrhea, bloody stools, stomach pain or cramping, sudden or uncontrollable bowel movements, loss of appetite, constipation, weight loss, fever or tiredness as these may be symptoms of Crohn’s disease.

Before starting SILIQ, tell your healthcare provider if you:

  • have a history of mental health problems, including suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety, or mood problems
  • have an infection that does not go away or keeps coming back
  • have TB or have been in close contact with someone with TB
  • have recently received or are scheduled to receive an immunization (vaccine). You should avoid getting live vaccines while being treated with SILIQ
  • are or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to do so. It is unknown if SILIQ can harm your unborn or newborn baby

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

How should I use SILIQ?

See the detailed “Instructions for Use” that come with your SILIQ for information on the right way to store, prepare, and give your SILIQ injections at home, and how to properly throw away (dispose of) used SILIQ prefilled syringes. Use SILIQ exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to use it.

What are possible side effects of SILIQ?

SILIQ may cause serious side effects. See “What is the most important information I should know about SILIQ?” and “Who should not take SILIQ?”

The most common side effects of SILIQ include: joint pain, muscle pain, headache, injection site reactions, tiredness, flu, diarrhea, low white blood cell count (neutropenia), mouth or throat pain, fungal infections of the skin, nausea.

Call your doctor for medical advice on side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to FDA at www.fda.gov/MedWatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please click here for accompanying full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning about suicidal ideation and behavior, and Medication Guide.

Please click here for full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.

SILIQ is a trademark of Ortho Dermatologics’ affiliated entities.

References

  1. American Academy of Dermatology. Psoriasis: Who Gets and Causes. Retrieved from https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/scaly-skin/psoriasis#causes. Accessed March 30, 2018.
  2. National Psoriasis Foundation. (2014). About Psoriasis. Retrieved from https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis. Accessed February 6, 2018.
  3. World Health Organization. (2016). Psoriasis. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/ncds/management/psoriasis/en/. Accessed February 6, 2018.
  4. Mayo Clinic. (2017). Psoriasis. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/psoriasis/symptoms-causes/syc-20355840. Accessed February 6, 2018.
  5. SILIQ [prescribing information]. Bridgewater, NJ: Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America LLC.
  6. Informed Health Online. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Psoriasis: Oral medications and injections. 2017 May 18. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK435704/. Accessed March 29, 2018.