Category: Brandpoint Health

2023-10-30T08:15:00

(BPT) – The end of the year is such an exciting time. The leaves are crunchy, pumpkin spice abounds, cooler weather has made a reappearance and Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities are on the horizon. The end of the year also brings with it one of the busiest seasons for travel — with studies showing the majority of Americans (83%) plan to squeeze at least one more trip in before year’s end.

Unfortunately, cold and flu season falls at the same time as the holiday travel season, and experts are predicting it to be a rough one. From bustling airports to crowded tourism attractions keeping travelers in close quarters, immune systems are sure to be put to the test.

Whether traveling to get some vitamin sea or to visit grandma, the one thing travelers are keeping top of mind is how to stay healthy and well throughout their travels. We spoke with Registered Dietitian Kelly Springer about the healthy holiday travel must-haves she never leaves home without to keep herself and her family energized and feeling great all season long:

Boost Your Immunity On the Go with Wedderspoon’s Manuka Honey Drops

Manuka honey is chock full of nutritional elements that the human body needs — including trace amounts of enzymes, amino acids, B Vitamins, C Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants — that are beneficial to the immune system and empower everyday wellness. When you begin building your travel arsenal of immune boosting, therapeutic remedies, consider adding products that incorporate the natural goodness of this tasty superfood to help strengthen the body’s defenses and stave off sniffles or scratchy throats before they start.

For myself and my family, I prefer a more holistic approach to our wellbeing. As such, I constantly find myself reaching for Wedderspoon’s Manuka Honey Drops for an on-the-go, healthy kickstart. These dual action drops are delicious and feature naturally-occurring wellness properties — like echinacea and bee propolis — to soothe your throat at the first sign of a tickle and provide a boost to the immune system. They’re an ideal remedy for pesky symptoms related to allergies or colds and flus and are easy to toss in your bag and go.

Harness the Power of Nature with Wedderspoon’s Propolis Sprays

Another of my favorite Manuka honey-based products I can’t live without during travel and cold and flu season is Wedderspoon’s Manuka Honey Propolis Spray. The star of the show here is bee propolis, which is rich in vitamins and antioxidants, including polyphenols and flavonoids, making it one of nature’s most potent defenders against germs and free radicals in the body.

These sprays combine the immune boosting prowess of Manuka honey and bee propolis with flaxseed glycerin, known for its omega-3, fatty acid and antioxidant properties, so it’s super gentle yet effective at soothing dry, scratchy throats. The best part? You can use it daily for a proactive approach to keep germs at bay. Wedderspoon has several flavors, but my favorite is the Chamomile Mint because it’s the perfect blend of refreshing and calming. Pro tip: stash one of these in your carry-on to relieve discomfort from dry cabin air during long flights and to proactively counter against your coughing seatmate.

Bolster a Happy Gut Biome with Probiotics

More than half the cells that create antibodies for fighting sickness are in the gut, but travel can disrupt the body’s natural rhythms and cause a decrease in the number of healthy microorganisms in the microbiome. To ensure you’re keeping your gut biome, and by proxy, your digestive and immune systems, resilient, consider supplementing your daily routine with a probiotic blend. These work to increase the amount of good bacteria in your gut, aid in digestion, improve nutrient absorption and can help fight cells that cause disease. The healthier your gut microbiome, the healthier you are, so no packing list is complete without them.

There are so many options on the market for consumers today, but my personal favorite is Just Thrive. They use a proprietary blend that works as an antioxidant and probiotic, and contains the most well-researched, DNA-verified strains with a 100 percent survivability rate, meaning it has the most impact when it reaches your gut.

Maintain Your Sleep Schedule with Melatonin

Getting quality sleep is so important for just about every function in the body, from blood pressure and cardiovascular health to managing stress, appetite and the immune system. The excitement of a vacation, early travel mornings, and jet lag from traveling to different time zones can all affect your circadian rhythm and sleep schedule.

To help with travel-related sleep disruption and ensure I have enough energy during the day to thoroughly enjoy my reason for travel — like spending quality time with loved ones over the holidays — I bring Olly’s Sleep Gummies. They’re a tasty and simple way to add melatonin to my bedtime ritual to give my body that natural little nudge it needs to help me fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up refreshed. I love the blackberry flavor and that they contain chamomile, passionfruit and lemon balm extracts — all of which promote relaxation and sleep. Combine this with a fresh silk pillowcase to stay cool and you have my recipe for a perfect night’s sleep while on the go.

Create a Comfortable, Irritant-Free Space with a Personal, Portable Air Purifier

Rounding out my healthy holiday travel must-haves list: a mini portable air purifier. Germs are, of course, everywhere, but with your own air purifier, you can filter out and clean the air of irritants like dust and pollen to help combat allergies, colds and other sinus problems.

The PureZone Mini from Pure Enrichment is a favorite because it’s compact, incredibly lightweight and rechargeable, meaning it goes wherever I do — in the car, on a plane, to a hotel. Its two-stage HEPA filtration system safely cleans the air immediately surrounding you, eliminating 99.97 percent of germs, and also helps to get rid of odors and harmful gasses. Bringing my own air purifier helps me to feel more at ease while traveling in more intimate, indoor settings.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner and many people’s travel plans are in full swing. As you put your holiday travel packing list together, consider saving room for some of these items to prioritize your health and wellness, no matter where your travels take you, so you can come home feeling even better than when you left.

2023-10-25T07:01:01

(BPT) – Content sponsored and provided by Pfizer. Bernadette Gorczyca has partnered with Pfizer to share her experience living with migraine.

For Bernadette Gorczyca — a teacher of 13 years — migraine has been a part of her life since she was a young child. While she’s no longer a classroom teacher due to her severe migraine disease, Gorczyca is still passionate about education and has carried that passion into teaching others about migraine.

“It took nearly 30 years of living with migraine, multiple misdiagnoses and a lot of self-advocacy to finally understand that migraine is a neurological disease that needs to be treated or it can continue to progress,” says Gorczyca. “Now, it’s my personal mission to help others find their voice so they can help themselves and those around them. Whether you’re a teacher like I was, a student, or someone who hasn’t been in a classroom in decades, it’s so important to understand the impact of migraine on an individual.”

Gorczyca’s journey with migraine started when she was just five years old. She first experienced abdominal migraine, a form of migraine with episodes of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Then in middle school, she began experiencing migraine pain in her head. By the time she reached high school, she was experiencing frequent, severe migraine attacks. After being misdiagnosed for years, Gorczyca began to think that migraine attacks were a normal part of life and she only focused on treating each individual attack. After experiencing a long-lasting, severe attack when she was 33, she desperately began researching everything she could about migraine and finally understood how important a migraine management plan could be in reclaiming her life.

Here are three reasons why Gorczyca believes migraine education is so important.

1. The stigma associated with migraine often becomes a barrier to treatment. Less than half of people with migraine seek care from a doctor for migraine.^[1] Gorczyca notes that stigma may help explain this. “People often feel like migraine attacks are their fault because they do not understand that migraine is a neurological disease that impacts the entire body. The language we use contributes to the stigma, too. For example, when we refer to the disease as “migraines,” people then think of migraine as a condition that comes and goes, rather than realizing that it’s a lifelong, complex neurological disease that the brain is always navigating. This was the main reason I didn’t start preventive treatment until I was in my thirties, even though I had been living with migraine since I was a child.”

2. People struggling with migraine should know they aren’t alone. “I want those with migraine to know there is a large community of people with migraine out there. While everyone’s experience with migraine is different, we are here to support each other. My treatment plan and the ways I treat my migraine — what I call my “migraine treatment toolbox” — grew exponentially after finding the migraine community. There are great patient advocacy resources and social media groups where people with migraine can get more information or join the community,” says Gorczyca.

3. People require individualized migraine management plans. “My goal is to help people understand that migraine is a disease and there are treatment options available. People who experience migraine can work with their doctor — particularly a neurologist or headache specialist — to develop a treatment plan to help get their migraine under control,” she says. Every person is different, and there’s no one migraine treatment that works for everyone. In fact, Gorczyca, like many people with migraine, relies on a migraine treatment toolbox to manage her migraine symptoms. “For me personally, I use a combination of treatment approaches in my preventive and acute migraine management plan.”

“Migraine is a lifelong disease and becoming educated about it changed my life,” says Gorczyca. “I have been able to take steps to find the right treatment to help my migraine symptoms so I can get back to doing the things I love and embrace my life instead of having to retreat from it.”

To learn more about migraine, visit Pfizer.com.

Bernadette Gorczyca is a person with migraine and patient advocate who takes a biopsychosocial approach to managing migraine disease. She can be found on Instagram @ChronicAccounts. Views or opinions expressed on @ChronicAccounts are those of Bernadette Gorczyca and do not represent the views or opinions of Pfizer.

1. Parikh, S.K., Kempner, J. & Young, W.B. Stigma and Migraine: Developing Effective Interventions. Curr Pain Headache Rep 25, 75 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-021-00982-z

2023-10-24T07:01:00

(BPT) – Seborrheic dermatitis (Seb Derm) is a common recurrent inflammatory skin condition that causes red patches covered with large, greasy, flaking yellow scales, and persistent itch, and most often occurs on areas of the body with oil-producing glands. Often mistaken for other types of skin diseases, Seb Derm is a real medical condition that requires a clinical diagnosis from a medical professional.

Never heard of it before? You’re not alone — a nationwide survey of 300 adults with Seb Derm reveals the need for greater awareness, understanding and discussion about the disease, including its significant impact on those affected.

Learn more at www.ClearingUpSebDerm.com.

2023-10-22T23:01:00

(BPT) – When it comes to diet, there seems to be a constant stream of extreme, contradictory advice out there. A news report may say one kind of food is “deadly,” while superfoods are promoted by social media influencers. The result: If you’re concerned about health, you may be sacrificing flavor and cutting back on foods you love—without reaping any rewards.

But what if instead of eating less, you could live a long, healthy life by eating more?

That’s exactly what Dr. Michael Crupain says everyone should be doing. As a board-certified preventive medicine physician with a personal mission to make the world a healthier, more delicious place, Crupain has spent decades studying biology, nutrition, and health in the halls of academia while also honing his culinary skills in top restaurant kitchens and alongside home cooks around the world.

Now, he’s combined knowledge from both worlds into a new cookbook, The Power Five: Essential Foods for Optimum Health, published by National Geographic. Filled with over 75 recipes, The Power Five will help you eat more delicious foods and improve your health at the same time.

What are the Power Five foods?

1. Fruits and vegetables for life

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, most people eat only about half the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables. That’s why Crupain turned his kitchen into a lab, studying techniques from grandmothers and master chefs to develop recipes with flavor and texture combinations to help home cooks turn vegetables into mouthwatering meals.

“Increasing fruits and vegetables in your life starts with finding the best in-season ingredients and learning simple techniques to transform them into dishes even the pickiest eater will enjoy,” says Crupain. “These recipes let you tap into the science of longevity and include more powerful, nutrient-dense foods in your life. Fruits and vegetables are loaded with fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to power your cells and lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, other inflammatory diseases, and even some cancers.”

2. The magic of beans

This member of the Power Five is often associated with magic, and while they may not be supernatural, they are a powerful protein source. Beans are rich in antioxidants and healthy fiber, and they also feed the good bacteria in your gut that transform them into other nutrients important for health. Impressively, beans power the diets of the people who tend to live the longest around the world.

Beans are also versatile because there are so many kinds—over 400, actually. With all this diversity, Crupain says it’s easy to find something to love.

“Whether you choose canned beans or the amazing varieties you can find dried, beans can be added to almost any dish,” says Crupain. In The Power Five you can find them in recipes substituting for chicken, in a creamy sauce, or as a complement to pastas.

3. Whole grains you can love

With so much anti-carb sentiment in the media, you may be surprised—and excited—to learn that a nutrition expert wants you to eat more bread and pasta. According to Dr. Crupain, our bodies quickly turn the refined grains we usually eat into sugar, which promotes inflammation and easily becomes excess calories.

But whole grains are different. Whole grains contain layers called the bran and germ, which provide fiber, fats, and other important nutrients. Eating whole grains is associated with a lower risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. In The Power Five Crupain shows readers how to make whole grain pasta, breads, and even desserts that taste more like their refined counterparts than bland health foods. See below for a Whole Wheat Sourdough Lasagna Bread recipe to try.

4. The unique benefits of fish

In general, people eat enough animal products, but that’s not true for fish. Unfortunately, says Crupain, many people just don’t want to eat fish, so he spent months developing tasty fish recipes, creating techniques to help readers access this amazing source of healthy omega-3 fatty acids by maximizing flavor and minimizing effort.

If you eat just one or two servings of fatty fish (think salmon or trout) a week, studies suggest you can decrease the risk of death from heart disease dramatically. Omega-3 fatty acids are also a powerful nutrient for brain development in babies and support the nervous system. Eating fish seems to reduce the risk of stroke and dementia as well.

“Sustainability becomes a big issue when we think about people eating more fish,” says Crupain, “but more sustainable fish farms are helping meet the demand. In The Power Five I teach people recipes for steelhead trout, a fatty fish loaded with omega-3s that’s found in both elite kitchens and at your local grocer. It has a mild flavor, and when you follow the techniques in the book, I guarantee even people who don’t love fish will change their minds.”

5. Big nutrition in little packages: Nuts and seeds

While everyone searches for the next superfood, it turns out some of the most powerful foods come in the smallest packages. Tiny but mighty nuts and seeds are supersized by mounting evidence showing they can lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes. While you might avoid these Power Five foods because they’re relatively high in fat, Crupain says you should be doing just the opposite.

“Nuts and seeds are nutrient-dense foods loaded with good healthy fats,” Crupain notes. “Eating more healthy fats, instead of saturated fats, is associated with lower lousy cholesterol levels and lower risk of heart disease.” Nuts are also a great snack, like one of Crupain’s favorites, California walnuts, which are an excellent source of omega-3s. In The Power Five you’ll discover how to use nuts and seeds to add texture to a dish or even replace cream.

Check out one of Dr. Crupain’s recipes featuring whole grains, from The Power Five:

Whole Wheat Sourdough Lasagna Bread
Serves 6 to 8. Prep time: 14 hours. Cook time: 1 hour.

Lasagna is comfort food at its best and is one of life’s great pleasures. This recipe is a bit of a showboater if you want to take your sourdough making to the next level. It gets a bit messy when you’re hiding thin layers of cherry tomato sauce and cheese between bread—but it’s worth it.

Ingredients:

40 grams whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon sourdough starter
50 grams extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for pan
6 grams salt
200 grams whole wheat durum flour
100 grams whole wheat bread flour
2 1/2 cups cherry tomato sauce (see recipe, page 32, or use your own thin tomato sauce)
1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Method:

1. Prepare dough: Combine 40 grams of water, the whole wheat flour, and the starter. Let rise until at least doubled (somewhere between 6 and 10 hours, depending on room temperature and your starter. If you do this before bed, it can be ready when you wake up).

2. Combine the fed starter with 150 grams of water. Stir to combine. Add olive oil and salt, and combine. Stir in durum and bread flours, and mix with hands until well combined. Let rest in covered bowl for 30 minutes.

3. Turn dough out onto lightly damp work surface. Knead using slap-and-fold technique by lifting the dough and smacking the end onto the work surface and folding the opposite side of the dough over top. Rotate the dough 90 degrees and repeat the slapping and folding for 8 minutes (check out Breadtopia’s video of this method). Return dough to bowl, cover, and let rest for about the same time that was required to let your starter double in size in step 1 to allow dough to ferment (6 to 10 hours). This dough is stiff, and you may not notice it grow much.

4. Prepare bread: Preheat oven to 375°F. Rub loaf pan with oil and line with parchment paper on all sides. You can use two pieces, one cut to fit the long way and one the short way.

5. Roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness on work surface, aiming for an approximately 24-inch square. Don’t worry if you end up with something irregularly shaped; you can fix it as you fold it up. Rub dough with olive oil, and top with a thin layer of tomato sauce; sprinkle with cheese. Then fold dough in half, creating a rectangle. Repeat layering with oil, sauce, and cheese, and fold in half again so you again have a square. Repeat layering and folding two more times, until dough is approximately the length of the loaf pan. (It’s OK if it’s a little bigger.) Transfer dough to prepared pan (the loaf will be delicate at this point, with so many layers of sauce, so transfer with the aid of a large spatula or bench scraper). Top with light layer of remaining sauce (there shouldn’t be too much left) and cheese.

6. Place loaf pan on parchment paper–lined sheet pan, and place in oven. Bake for 1 hour, rotating pan halfway through. If top darkens too quickly, you can cover with foil. It’s hard to tell when it’s done from looking at it, so use an instant-read thermometer. It should read 212°F when inserted into center. Let cool on wire rack until cool enough to handle. Use the parchment paper to lift bread out of loaf pan or turn over to unmold. Cut into slices, and serve warm or at room temperature.

Sound delicious? You can get started on your own journey to better health through eating more by reading Dr. Crupain’s book and trying some of the many recipes in The Power Five: Essential Foods for Optimum Health, available wherever books are sold.

2023-10-20T07:01:00

(BPT) – Article is sponsored and developed by Sanofi. Jenny and Paxton were compensated by Sanofi and received free product through Sanofi’s Patient Support Program.

As a parent, there is no formula for raising a happy and healthy child. For Jenny and her son Paxton, it’s been a balancing act; struggling to find treatment for his hemophilia A while giving him a typical childhood full of happy memories. Yet, the duo navigated his condition as a team so Paxton could live his young life as smoothly as possible.

Their journey started shortly after his birth, when Paxton showed the telltale signs of hemophilia A, a rare, lifelong condition in which the ability of a person’s blood to clot properly is impaired.^1,2 This can lead to excessive bleeds or spontaneous bleeds into joints that can result in joint damage, chronic pain, and potentially impact quality of life.¹ His first few months were smooth sailing and Jenny was hopeful that life with hemophilia A would be manageable for her and Paxton.

However, once Paxton turned seven months old, Jenny noticed a large purple sore under his tongue that would mark the beginning of the next few years of his life in and out of the hospital. His visits ranged from three to four times a month, receiving infusions for his bleeds that could take up to five hours in the hospital.² As he endured the pokes and pain from his treatments, Jenny struggled to cope at first but strived to embody the strength Paxton needed not only from a mother to son, but also as teammates in managing a chronic condition together. And Paxton was the MVP.

“I made it my goal to set a positive example for Paxton and be his fiercest advocate,” Jenny said. “To follow through with my promise to ensure he had a strong, beautiful childhood full of happy memories, hemophilia or no hemophilia.”

Jenny was initially reluctant to switch from on-demand treatment to prophylaxis with recombinant factor VIII due to the number of injections. But after learning how prophylaxis could potentially decrease the number of bleeds and help protect Paxton’s joints, Jenny’s mindset shifted. Now putting prevention first, this team made the switch when Paxton was five years old and he responded well to treatment, seeing a reduction in his bleeds and allowing him to participate in the activities he enjoys.

“Shifting to prophylaxis treatment fit our schedules, but our needs changed again as Paxton got older and more active. With that increased activity, we knew his body could potentially have an issue as his factor levels decreased and reached his trough level,” Jenny said. Trough levels measure factor VIII in the blood, which is essential for evaluating the risk of bleeding.² When trough levels or factor activity levels are low, there is a higher risk of bleeding, so it’s important to maintain factor levels.²

Jenny became interested in learning more about ALTUVIIIO^® [antihemophilic factor (recombinant), Fc-VWF-XTEN fusion protein-ehtl], a first-in-class factor VIII treatment for adults and children with hemophilia A that offers once-weekly dosing.³ With ALTUVIIIO proven to maintain factor activity levels in the normal to near-normal range (over 40%) for most of the week in adults and two to three days in children,³ Jenny considered this a potential option for her son and their team.

Their consultation with Paxton’s other teammate, his hematologist, helped them to learn more about ALTUVIIIO and its most common side effects, including headache, joint pain and back pain, and the possibility to develop inhibitors while taking the treatment. After switching to ALTUVIIIO, Jenny and Paxton both expressed a sense of freedom brought by its once-weekly dosing.³

“ALTUVIIIO gives us peace of mind knowing that Paxton’s factor levels stay higher throughout the week, so he can keep his head in the game and enjoy being a kid,” she said. Paxton’s new dosing schedule allows him to infuse once a week, giving him more time to do the activities he loves.

Now in the 8th grade, Paxton and his mother encourage others affected by hemophilia to build a supportive team that helps them focus on their life goals. “As a parent, there is no greater reward than watching my son chase life with so much passion,” Jenny said.

Patient experiences on ALTUVIIIO may vary so please talk to your doctor when making treatment decisions. To learn more, visit ALTUVIIIO.com.

INDICATION

ALTUVIIIO^® [antihemophilic factor (recombinant), Fc-VWF-XTEN fusion protein-ehtl] is an injectable medicine that is used to control and reduce the number of bleeding episodes in people with hemophilia A (congenital Factor VIII deficiency).

Your healthcare provider may give you ALTUVIIIO when you have surgery.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I need to know about ALTUVIIIO?

Do not attempt to give yourself an injection unless you have been taught how by your healthcare provider or hemophilia center. You must carefully follow your healthcare provider’s instructions regarding the dose and schedule for injecting ALTUVIIIO so that your treatment will work best for you.

Who should not use ALTUVIIIO?

You should not use ALTUVIIIO if you have had an allergic reaction to it in the past.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using ALTUVIIIO?

Tell your healthcare provider if you have had any medical problems, take any medications, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, supplements, or herbal medicines, are breastfeeding, or are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

What are the possible side effects of ALTUVIIIO?

You can have an allergic reaction to ALTUVIIIO. Call your healthcare provider or emergency department right away if you have any of the following symptoms: difficulty breathing, chest tightness, swelling of the face, rash, or hives.

Your body can also make antibodies called “inhibitors” against ALTUVIIIO. This can stop ALTUVIIIO from working properly. Your healthcare provider may give you blood tests to check for inhibitors.

The common side effects of ALTUVIIIO are headache, joint pain, and back pain.

These are not the only possible side effects of ALTUVIIIO. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

Please see full Prescribing Information.

References

1. What is hemophilia? Centers for Disease Control. July 17, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hemophilia/facts.html. Accessed September 26, 2023.
2. Srivastava A, et al. WHF Guidelines for the Management of Hemophilia Third Edition. Haemophilia. 2020; 26 (Suppl. 6): 1-158. doi: 10.1111/hae.14046.
3. ALTUVIIIO [antihemophilic factor (recombinant), Fc-VWF-XTEN fusion protein-ehtl] prescribing information. Bioverativ Therapeutics, Inc. March 2023.

MAT-US-2308462-v1.0-10/2023

© 2023 Genzyme Corporation. All rights reserved.

ALTUVIIIO and Sanofi are registered trademarks of Sanofi or an affiliate.

2023-10-18T06:01:00

(BPT) – Although it may seem normal to want to hunker down indoors when the temps start dropping, there’s still a lot of fun to be had outdoors, even when it’s snowy and a little chilly. The key to having a great time during the colder months of the year is to be prepared, so you and your family can make the most of all the great opportunities winter has to offer.

Here are some tips to make sure everyone has a blast outside this winter, whatever you choose to do.

1. Check the forecast

Before heading outdoors for an excursion or even just a little playtime, ensure that it’s safe to do so by checking not just the temperature, but for windchill or icy conditions that might be unsafe. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, children can play outside even when it’s really cold outside, as long as they come indoors occasionally to warm up, but you should keep an eye on the windchill. If the windchill is below zero degrees Fahrenheit, frostbite can occur in a matter of minutes.

As long as you dress everyone appropriately, you can enjoy outdoor fun throughout the winter.

2. Dress for warmth

To be able to play happily outdoors in winter weather, you’ll want to make sure your child’s hands, neck and head are well covered. Gloves or mittens work best when they’re waterproof, and for little ones who enjoy rolling around in the snow, a snowsuit is your best bet. Staying active will also help you feel toasty, so make sure to keep moving!

Cold-weather comfort starts with your feet, and quality footwear is crucial to help keep your feet dry, safe and comfortable while you’re outdoors. You should choose durable, quality boots designed for families from companies such as Kamik, a leading Canadian footwear company celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Their durable boots are created to provide protection from the elements to help your entire family embrace being outdoors in any weather.

Even better, every Kamik product is made with sustainability in mind, making everyone in your family look good and feel protected, while also empowering you to feel good about your footwear choices. Kamik.com offers a wide selection of fall and winter boots for everyone in the family to choose from.

3. Let your imagination be your guide

Sometimes the simplest, tried-and-true activities like going sledding or making snow people or a snow fort in your yard are the most fun for kids of all ages. But you don’t have to stop there — you could create an outdoor scavenger hunt, make a target for a snowball throwing contest or bury a few prizes in your snowy backyard for kids to find.

And even though the days are shorter, you can stay out past sunset and brighten a winter night by enjoying s’mores and drinking hot cocoa or cider around a fire pit.

4. Encourage your child’s interests

Use your child’s fascinations to develop activities that will make being outside even more fun. For example, if your child loves art, use household containers or molds to make ice sculptures using water and food coloring, freeze overnight, then decorate the yard with their creations. Budding scientist in your house? Blow bubbles outside in the cold to see how quickly they freeze, or gather snowflakes on a piece of black construction paper (first put paper in the freezer or outside) to examine each snowflake’s unique beauty under a magnifying glass.

5. Play ‘winter tourist’ in your own hometown

Sometimes you need to be a tourist to find the best events and adventures in a new area, so why not pretend you’re a visitor and search for winter activities right where you live? You may discover all kinds of wonderful things to do not far from home that you didn’t even know existed, from sleigh rides, nature walks and zoo events to ice carving or winter lights you can all visit together.

Don’t let the cold weather hold you back from enjoying the outdoors this year. By embracing winter and with a good pair of boots on your feet, you can make lasting memories with your family all season long.

2023-10-17T10:45:00

(BPT) – Gene Miluk, 72, is a retired software engineer who has been happily married to his wife Mary for nearly 50 years. They live in North Ogden, Utah, and enjoy spending time outdoors and camping with their two sons and grandson.

For many years, Gene and Mary valued regular physical intimacy as a cornerstone of their marriage. As Gene aged into his 50s, this dynamic started to shift as he began to struggle to maintain an erection during sex.

Gene’s experience is not uncommon. It is estimated that more than half of men between the ages of 40 and 70 will experience some form of erectile dysfunction (ED), yet it often comes as a surprise to those who experience it.[1] ED is a common condition defined as the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for intercourse.[2] Men may develop ED for a variety of reasons including diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, which Gene struggles with.[3]

“When you’ve had years of experience where everything works and then you become unreliable, you feel like a failure,” said Gene. “Each time we tried to become intimate I was fearful that I’d be letting my wife down. I questioned my value as a man and a husband.”

ED can be mentally taxing on the person experiencing the condition, as well as their partner.[4] “I don’t think we were very well educated on what it means to age, and we didn’t understand why this was happening,” says Mary. “I wondered, too, if I was doing something wrong.”

When Gene started experiencing symptoms of ED, he tried to ignore them and hoped the issue would resolve itself. When it became clear the condition wasn’t temporary, Mary urged Gene to see a doctor. This was the first time Gene learned about the prevalence of ED and potential treatment options. For years, Gene’s ED was treated with pills, but since his condition was progressive, they slowly stopped working for him. Gene moved on to injections but realized he started needing higher doses over time. That’s when he decided to seek a more long-term and spontaneous solution.

At the age of 68, Gene’s doctor recommended the AMS 700™ Inflatable Penile Prosthesis, a penile implant designed to provide men the ability to maintain an erection during sex. It is comprised of three parts: an inflatable implant, a pump which gets placed within the scrotum and a reservoir to hold the air when the implant is not inflated. It is activated by squeezing the pump and is designed to hold an erection as long as a person wants.[5] This device is designed to closely mimic a natural erection, providing rigidity when inflated and a natural, flaccid appearance when deflated.[5]

“I did a lot of research on implants and decided to move forward with it,” said Gene.

Within a few weeks after surgery, Gene was enjoying a renewed sex life with Mary.

“I was so happy to get my husband back,” said Mary. “The AMS 700 affected our relationship because Gene felt so much better about himself.”

Now, several years after the surgery, Gene says, “I don’t even notice the implant. It opened the door for revived intimacy for me and my wife. I no longer feel any pressure around the possibility of failing. The AMS 700 has given us the gift of continued intimacy into our retirement years.”

To learn more about potential options, including the AMS 700, and to hear more patient stories, visit EDCure.org/video-series/.

As with any medical procedure, there are risks and benefits involved with the AMS 700 Inflatable Penile Prosthesis, and it’s important to talk with your doctor to determine a treatment approach that’s best for you. With a penile implant, the possibility of organic erections or alternative treatment options for ED are no longer possible. Other risks of a penile implant may include infection risk during the procedure; mechanical failure of the device, which may require revision surgery; and upon removal or replacement of the implant, the penis may become scarred, shorter or curved. Pain associated with the healing process can be expected.

Results from case studies are not necessarily predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.

2023-10-16T15:01:00

(BPT) – When many people think of eczema, they usually picture mild, itchy rashes on the skin. However, for those living with moderate-to-severe forms of the disease, daily activities can become more difficult due to recurrent signs and symptoms such as intense, persistent itching and dry, irritated, itchy rashes that can crack or ooze.

Danielle Jonas, businesswoman, children’s book author and wife of Kevin Jonas of the band the Jonas Brothers, has been living with moderate eczema and is ready to share her experience for the first time, and her journey to getting control of her symptoms. Danielle is partnering with Sanofi and Regeneron to help empower those living with moderate-to-severe eczema to feel comfortable with their own skin and is sharing some of her favorite tips that have helped her manage her own symptoms.

If you or your loved one are living with eczema that’s moderate or severe, keep reading below for inspiration from Danielle Jonas on how to be your own advocate.

1. Understand Your Signs and Symptoms

Danielle first noticed signs of moderate eczema after the birth of her second child, when she noticed a burning, itchy sensation on her scalp. She recalls how her symptoms progressed. “Eczema can appear on different parts of the body, but in my case, my scalp got so irritated, I couldn’t even move my hair without this burning, itchy feeling,” she said. “Some daily activities became difficult for me – even showering was hard because of the rashes on my head.”

Eczema signs and symptoms can be characterized by near-constant itching and dry, irritated, itchy rashes that can appear red, purple, gray or brown depending on skin tone. Scratching can lead to scarring and discoloration of the skin.. It’s important for people with moderate-to-severe eczema to understand these symptoms and know when to seek medical advice from an eczema specialist.

2. Confide in Your Support System

If you, or someone you love, are living with moderate-to-severe eczema, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Building a good support system, inclusive of your family, friends, eczema support groups and healthcare provider, can be an effective step toward learning more about your symptoms and how to manage them.

For Danielle, she remembers how her eczema symptoms affected her, “My skin felt so uncomfortable, I would try to find ways to get out of attending events, like joining my husband on tour,” she said. She realized, though, how taking time for the people and things she loves, like playing dress up with her daughters and watching romantic comedies with her husband, helped keep her mind off her symptoms for certain periods of time.

Danielle knows from personal experience how speaking with trusted individuals can also further your eczema journey for the better. “I was on this cycle trying different topical and prescription treatments and different doctors, until I finally found an eczema specialist that took my concerns seriously,” she said. “She was the one who opened my eyes about eczema being a chronic, inflammatory disease.”

3. Finding a Treatment Plan That Works for You

Danielle had seen multiple doctors and tried various treatments, including prescription topicals and others, before an eczema specialist suggested she try Dupixent (dupilumab).

Dupixent is a biologic treatment for people ages 6 months and older with moderate-to-severe eczema that is not well-controlled with topical prescription therapies, or who cannot use topical therapies. People shouldn’t use Dupixent if they are allergic to it or its ingredients. Serious side effects include allergic reactions that can sometimes be severe, eye problems and joint aches and pain. Please see Important Safety Information below.

Dupixent works by targeting a key source of inflammation inside the body, to help reduce itch and rashes. It is the only biologic medicine approved to treat moderate-to-severe eczema from infancy to adulthood.

After starting Dupixent, Danielle experienced less itching and clearer skin. “When I first realized Dupixent was working, I ran down the stairs crying with joy to tell my husband. I had just finished blow drying my hair, and I didn’t have as much of the same burning itch that I had before,” she said. “My journey is still ongoing – some days are better than others, but I am grateful to be more comfortable with my skin and I’m relieved that I found something that works for me. Everyone’s experiences are different, so talk to your eczema specialist about treatment options.”

Dupixent can help adult patients with moderate-to-severe eczema achieve clearer skin and less itch. In two clinical trials at 16 weeks, adults on Dupixent had clear or almost clear skin (37% compared to 9% not taking Dupixent) and significant itch reduction (38% compared to 11% not taking Dupixent).

The most common side effects in patients with eczema include injection site reactions, eye and eyelid inflammation, including redness, swelling, and itching, sometimes with blurred vision, cold sores in your mouth or on your lips, and high count of a certain white blood cell (eosinophilia).

Visit ShowUpAD.com to see more inspiring stories like Danielle’s, and to learn more about Dupixent and access the full Prescribing Information.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION & INDICATION

Do not use if you are allergic to dupilumab or to any of the ingredients in DUPIXENT^®.

Before using DUPIXENT, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

• have eye problems.
• have a parasitic (helminth) infection.
• are scheduled to receive any vaccinations. You should not receive a “live vaccine” right before and during treatment with DUPIXENT.
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether DUPIXENT will harm your unborn baby.
  • A pregnancy registry for women who take DUPIXENT during pregnancy collects information about the health of you and your baby. To enroll or get more information call 1-877-311-8972 or go to https://mothertobaby.org/ongoing-study/dupixent/.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known whether DUPIXENT passes into your breast milk.

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

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you are taking oral, topical or inhaled corticosteroid medicines or if you have atopic dermatitis and asthma and use an asthma medicine. Do not change or stop your corticosteroid medicine or other asthma medicine without talking to your healthcare provider. This may cause other symptoms that were controlled by the corticosteroid medicine or other asthma medicine to come back.

DUPIXENT can cause serious side effects, including:

• Allergic reactions. DUPIXENT can cause allergic reactions that can sometimes be severe. Stop using DUPIXENT and tell your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms: breathing problems or wheezing, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat, fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded, fast pulse, fever, hives, joint pain, general ill feeling, itching, skin rash, swollen lymph nodes, nausea or vomiting, or cramps in your stomach-area.
• Eye problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new or worsening eye problems, including eye pain or changes in vision, such as blurred vision. Your healthcare provider may send you to an ophthalmologist for an eye exam if needed.
• Joint aches and pain. Some people who use DUPIXENT have had trouble walking or moving due to their joint symptoms, and in some cases needed to be hospitalized. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or worsening joint symptoms. Your healthcare provider may stop DUPIXENT if you develop joint symptoms.

The most common side effects in patients with eczema include injection site reactions, eye and eyelid inflammation, including redness, swelling, and itching, sometimes with blurred vision, cold sores in your mouth or on your lips, and high count of a certain white blood cell (eosinophilia).

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of DUPIXENT. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Use DUPIXENT exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. It’s an injection given under the skin (subcutaneous injection). Your healthcare provider will decide if you or your caregiver can inject DUPIXENT. Do not try to prepare and inject DUPIXENT until you or your caregiver have been trained by your healthcare provider. In children 12 years of age and older, it’s recommended DUPIXENT be administered by or under supervision of an adult. In children 6 months to less than 12 years of age, DUPIXENT should be given by a caregiver.

Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information including Patient Information.

INDICATION

DUPIXENT is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 6 months of age and older with moderate-to-severe eczema (atopic dermatitis or AD) that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin (topical), or who cannot use topical therapies. DUPIXENT can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with atopic dermatitis under 6 months of age.

US.DUP.23.09.0012

2023-10-16T06:01:01

(BPT) – If you take a prescription medication, have you ever skipped a dose or refill due to cost? If so, you’re not alone. Taking medication as prescribed is essential to your health, but it’s difficult to choose between your own well-being and your financial well-being. One potential solution to this dilemma: personal prescription importation.

Prescription medications used to treat chronic or long-term conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease are a part of everyday life in many American households. In the past 12 months, 57% of adults aged 18 to 64 took prescription drugs at some time, according to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However, 37% or 123 million Americans have skipped filling a prescription due to costs, according to a poll released this year by YouGov America. Inflation and economic uncertainty have put even more pressure on Americans’ budgets recently.

Now new survey and price comparison data from the Campaign for Personal Prescription Importation (CPPI) reveals that if you want to save money on your prescription medications, you may want to consider getting your prescriptions from a licensed pharmacy in Canada.

Canadian pharmacies offer potential savings

Americans choosing to import their prescription medications from licensed Canadian pharmacies report saving an average of $4,920 a year and an average of four times or 400% the savings compared to U.S. pharmacies, according to the CPPI survey.

The survey results reveal a trend of increasing savings for patients importing medications from Canada year over year for the last five years. Americans importing their prescription medications from Canada reported saving an average of $410 per month, compared to U.S. costs. Additionally, 99% of respondents in the report would recommend importation to their friends and family members.

“I have a heart condition where my insurance does not cover the cost of the $650 prescription. I’m able to buy my medication at close to cost from a Canadian pharmacy, saving me $600 a month,” said Jordan Chiappetta of Illinois.

Mary Libby, a registered nurse in Maine, had a similar experience. “Prior to being able to order my medication from Canada I was paying over $300 per month for cholesterol medication, which has no generic in the United States. I am able to get a 3-month supply from Canada for $85 which includes shipping,” she said.

How to find a safe pharmacy

If you’re considering prescription importation, it’s important to only work with licensed pharmacies in Canada. All pharmacies must be licensed to be approved by the Canadian International Pharmacy Association. CIPA has a long history of oversight of online pharmacy businesses, conducts periodic inspections of all dispensing facilities and has robust safety and privacy protocols to ensure patient safety.

Websites accredited by CIPA will always meet these requirements that help you feel confident you’re working with a safe, reputable pharmacy:

• Require a valid prescription before dispensing medications
• Obtain demographic and medical information and maintain a health profile with medication history to avoid adverse drug interactions
• Have a licensed pharmacist on staff to supervise dispensing of medications and provide consultation upon request
• Protect the privacy and confidentiality of your personal records and contact information
• Publish contact information for customer service
• Sell quantities of approximately a 3-month supply at a time
• Disclose pharmacy location prior to purchase

Visit PersonalImportation.org to learn more and find a licensed Canadian pharmacy. Learn more about how much you can save so that your health and your finances can both be a priority.

2023-10-13T11:31:00

(BPT) – While college is often a positive experience, it can also take a take a toll on students’ eyes. From intense screen time to late study sessions and nights out with friends, prioritizing eye health may not always be top of mind. While parents may not be there to oversee their children when they’re away at college, they can still share important tips to set them up for success.

Whether you are a student or a parent, Dr. Heidi Pham Murphy from Visions Optometry in Sacramento, CA, has a few ideas, as she regularly meets with college students in her practice and offers proper eye care tips.

“Often I see college aged patients come to my office who don’t realize how important it is to prioritize their eye health,” said Dr. Pham Murphy. “Missteps like not properly cleaning your contact lenses could have long-term consequences. There are a number of tips college students can follow to ensure they’re set up for success as they head back to campus.”

Parents, share these 5 eye health tips with your college kids:

1. Give your eyes a contact lens that delivers exceptional visual clarity

80% of classroom learning is done visually and it’s no surprise that college students spend most of their learning time looking at digital screens. Blue-violet light is everywhere, coming from screens, fluorescent light and the sun and scatters more which may result in decreased visual clarity.^*

If your student wears contacts, consider ACUVUE^® OASYS MAX 1-Day which filters about 60% of blue-violet light.^*

2. Follow the 20-20-20 rule

Follow the 20-20-20 rule: take a break every 20 minutes by looking at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. A great time to do this is on the walk between classes as it will give your eyes a break and prevent you from walking into someone else which can happen if you’re looking down at your phone.

When looking at a digital screen, you blink 60% less, which may lead to feelings of dryness and tired eyes. ACUVUE^® OASYS MAX 1-DAY contact lenses are designed to provide visual clarity and all-day comfort, which is especially helpful when enduring those long days of college life!

Another great option is 1-DAY ACUVUE^® MOIST contact lenses, which create a long-lasting cushion of moisture for 20 hours or more.

3. Simplify your busy schedule

College students live busy lives. They juggle academic and other activities ranging from class, studying, part-time jobs, and socializing with friends. The last thing college students want to worry about is the maintenance involved with cleaning their contacts each night.

For busy college students, daily disposable lenses are a great option. Each morning, pop on a new pair of contacts and take them off and toss in the trash at the end of the day. Replacing lenses each day decreases the incidence of adverse events associated with contact lens overwear. Make your parents proud. Spend less time worrying about your contacts and more time studying!

4. Prioritize your eyes day and night

College students’ schedules are constantly changing. Whether they are on their way to class, ready to hit the gym or off to the library for a study session, daily disposables such as ACUVUE^® OASYS MAX 1-Day provide exceptionally clear, comfortable vision across a wide range of lighting conditions. This lens provides UV blocking with 100% UVB and 99.9% UVA protection on top of the highest blue-violet light filtering at 60%.^*,†,‡,§ So, whether your student is indoors, outdoors or late-night studying, this lens has them covered!

5. Invest in your eye health

Many young college students think they’re invincible (as parents we can all reflect on those years when we felt we were invincible too) and don’t spend much time or effort focusing on their eye health. Make it a point each year to visit an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam and consider quality lenses to have clear, comfortable vision day after day. Invest in your eyes now when you’re young. Your older self will thank yourself later for having done so.

To find an eye doctor near your home or college, visit the ACUVUE^® eye doctor locator here.

Important Information for Contact Lens Wearers

ACUVUE^® Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional and ask for a Patient Instruction Guide, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guide.

________

^* Filtering of HEV light by contact lenses has not been demonstrated to confer any health benefit to the user, including but not limited to retinal protection, protection from cataract progression, reduced eye strain, improved contrast, improved acuity, reduced glare, improved low light vision, or improved circadian rhythm/sleep cycle. The Eye Care Professional should be consulted for more information.

^† Helps protect against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea & into the eye.

^‡ WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are the NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long-term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.

^§ Versus publicly available information for standard daily use contact lenses as of June 2023.

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