Category: Brandpoint Health

2023-04-25T15:59:00

(BPT) – Stay focused for $2,500 toward your car insurance premiums, no strings attached

Did you know that three-quarters of Americans admit to texting while driving, as well as other behaviors like eating, watching movies, and even sexting? While distracted driving may seem innocuous, it can be dangerous and even life-threatening. This is why, during Distracted Driving Month, we’re rewarding people who drive, well, undistracted.

The concept is simple: if you drive undistracted for a week, you’ll receive up to $2,500 in cash toward your auto insurance premiums. Here’s how it works:

• To be considered, submit the application form.
• Up to 25 participants will be chosen and notified by April 29, 2023.
• If chosen, for a week, participants will stop using phones while driving. During this time, they’ll use Screen Time reporting to verify they didn’t use their phones while driving.
• We’ll send further instructions for how to submit Screen Time reports when we notify participants.
• We’ll also require participants to:
• Post a video on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok mentioning this contest with the #turnitoff hashtag
• Subscribe to our YouTube channel
• Following a proven week of undistracted driving, we’ll enter participants into a giveaway for $2,500 in cash to be used toward their car insurance premiums — no strings attached.
• Participants who drive undistracted for a week and do not win the $2,500 cash prize will still receive $100 in the form of a cash prize.

Submit Your Application for the #TurnItOff Contest

• First name
• Last name
• Email
• Zip code
• Age
• Are you a U.S. resident?
• Please provide links to your social channels (if applicable):
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• TikTok
• How much time do you spend driving per day?

Not sure how much you already drive distracted? Take our distracted driving quiz to find out.

Terms and Conditions

1. The promoter of the Turn It Off Contest is Centerfield Media Holding Company, a Delaware corporation, doing business as AutoInsurance.com (“AutoInsurance.com”) whose principal office is located at 12130 Millennium Drive, Ste 600 Los Angeles, CA 90094.
2. Employees of AutoInsurance.com or their family members or anyone else connected in any way with the Turn It Off Contest or helping to set up the Turn It Off Contest shall not be permitted to enter.
3. Persons must be at least 18 years old, or otherwise have reached the age of majority under the laws of the state where they reside to apply for the Turn It Off Contest.
4. Only lawful residents of the United States are eligible to enter.
5. TURN IT OFF CONTEST VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
6. There is NO ENTRY FEE AND NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO APPLY FOR THE Turn It Off Contest. Any purchase or consideration otherwise given by entrants will not improve one’s chances of being selected for the prizes.
7. Submission Period: The Submission period will start on April 14, 2023 at 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time, and will close on April 26, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. After the closing date, no further submissions to the Turn It Off Contest will be permitted.
8. To apply, visit autoinsurance.com/research/distracted-driving-contest and fill out the submission form.
9. Each entrant may only enter once.
10. AutoInsurance.com will select up to twenty five (25) Turn It Off Contest participants (“Participants”) from the pool of eligible entrants. Participants will be selected based on the quality of the submission as judged by AutoInsurance.com employees.
11. Odds of being selected for the Turn It Off Contest depend on the number of entries received.
12. The Participants will be notified by email, phone call, and/or letter within five (5) days after the closing date.
13. A total of one (1) Turn It Off contest winner (“Winner”) will be selected based on a random drawing from the pool of Participants that successfully complete the challenge.
14. The Winner will be notified by email, phone call, and/or letter within five (5) days after the closing date and will receive a $2,500 stipend. Other Participants who successfully complete the challenge will receive a $100 stipend and will be notified within fifteen (15) days after the closing date.
15. If a Winner cannot be contacted, is not eligible, or does not claim the prize within five (5) days of notification, then AutoInsurance.com reserves the right to withdraw the prize from the Winner and pick a replacement Winner.
16. The entrants specifically acknowledge that the prize package will be provided by AutoInsurance.com, and that the Turn It Off Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by any of the companies whose products or services are provided to Winners.
17. The Turn It Off Contest consists of spending 1 week without using a phone while driving, barring any emergencies. The contest Winner must adhere to the contest conditions in order to be paid the full $2,500 stipend, and the contest Participants must adhere to the contest conditions in order to be paid the full $100 stipend.
18. AutoInsurance.com will mail, email, or hand-deliver the prize package to the Winners.
19. Winners acknowledge that participation in the Turn It Off Contest will be as an independent contractor. No agency, partnership, joint venture, or employee-employer relationship is intended or created by accepting the Turn It Off Contest. Winners have no authority to bind AutoInsurance.com to contracts, make any agreement or representations on AutoInsurance.com’s written consent. Winners shall not be eligible to participate in any vacation, group medical or life insurance, disability, profit sharing, or retirement benefits, or any other fringe benefits or benefit plans offered by AutoInsurance.com to its employees. AutoInsurance.com is not responsible for withholding or paying any income, payroll, Social Security, or other federal, state, or local taxes, making any insurance contributions, including unemployment or disability, or obtaining worker’s compensation insurance on the Winners’ behalf. Winners acknowledge that stipend is subject to all applicable taxes. Winners are solely responsible for all such taxes or contributions, including penalties and interest.
20. Entrants agree to the use of their names and image in any publicity material associated with the Turn It Off Contest. Any personal data relating to the entrants will be used solely in accordance with current federal and state data protection laws. For more information, please visit the Privacy Policy at AutoInsurance.com.
21. No alternative to the prizes will be offered. The opportunity to participate in the Turn It Off Contest is not transferable. AutoInsurance.com reserves the right to substitute the prize with items of equivalent value without giving notice.
22. A list of the Winners will be available 28 days after the closing date where legally required. To request a list of Winners, send the request in a stamped self-addressed envelope to the following address:
    AutoInsurance.com
    12130 Millennium Drive, Ste 600
    Los Angeles, CA 90094
23. AutoInsurance.com reserves the right to cancel or amend this Turn It Off Contest and these Terms and Conditions without notice.
24. AutoInsurance.com’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the Turn It Off Contest will be final and no correspondence will be considered or provided.
25. The Turn It Off Contest and these Terms and Conditions will be governed by California law, and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of California.
26. By submitting an application for this Turn It Off Contest, entrants agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

2023-04-25T12:17:00

(BPT) – Polycythemia vera (PV) is a rare, chronic cancer that leads to overproduction of red blood cells, increasing the “stickiness” of blood. People with PV experience a range of symptoms, some of which may be dismissed as less serious. These include visual disturbances, shortness of breath, severe itching and poor concentration.

But the excess number of red blood cells slows blood flow, which puts people with PV at risk for additional serious health threats, including blood clots and cardiovascular events like heart attacks, strokes and mini-strokes.

“PV is diagnosed not only by detecting an elevated hematocrit but also elevated white blood cell counts and platelet counts, detection of an acquired mutation in the gene JAK2, which controls blood cell production, and characteristic changes in how bone marrow looks,” says Dr. Ronald Hoffman, Albert A. and Vera G. List Professor of Medicine and Director of the Myeloproliferative Disorders Research Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, New York.

If diagnosed, people with PV can regularly undergo a standard of care procedure called phlebotomy to normalize their hematocrit, with the goal of reducing their risk of developing clots, heart attacks or strokes, he says. Phlebotomy removes blood from the body using the same procedure as donating a unit of blood.

“The established goal of phlebotomy therapy is to maintain red blood cell levels, as measured by hematocrit, below 45%,” says Hoffman. “Research shows phlebotomy is an effective treatment for PV patients, but frequently the target hematocrit level is not achieved between physician visits, leaving the patient at risk for developing clots.”

Patients with poorly controlled PV can develop scarring of their marrow known as myelofibrosis and can sometimes develop leukemia.

“PV is one of those blood cancers that you don’t hear about as much, but it is a serious disease. It’s important that patients get diagnosed and understand their treatment options,” Hoffman says.

“In addition to phlebotomy, there are a number of approved medicines that can be used to control this condition, and experimental therapeutics are also being evaluated,” he says.

An example is rusfertide. An investigational new medicine, rusfertide is still being studied by doctors and is not approved by regulatory authorities like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

“Rusfertide was designed with the potential to control the malignant proliferation of red blood cells by limiting the supply of iron to the cells in the marrow that makes red cells,” says Dr. Arturo Molina, a physician-scientist specializing in the development of new treatments for rare and more prevalent diseases at Protagonist Therapeutics. “Rusfertide is a synthetic version of an iron regulator called hepcidin, something all people have.”

Rusfertide is currently being studied to evaluate its safety and ability to control the production of red blood cells and to keep hematocrit levels within the recommended range, potentially reducing the need for phlebotomies, its ability to impact symptoms as well as if patients experience fewer blood clots or cardiovascular complications.

“We hope that by advancing research and development of drug candidates like rusfertide, we may be able to help people with diseases like PV,” says Molina, “and to potentially add to available treatment options for PV and other rare diseases.”

2023-04-25T08:31:00

(BPT) – It’s easy to ignore feelings of tiredness and sleepiness during the day. For many people, these feelings may be a result of a poor night’s sleep; however, for others, excessive daytime sleepiness can be a sign of an underlying sleep disorder, like narcolepsy, which can impact and disrupt daily life.

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder, that can be life-altering and is oftentimes misdiagnosed. It is thought to affect approximately 165,000 people in the United States. All people living with narcolepsy have excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), which can make staying awake and alert during the day a challenge. The urge to sleep may be so great that people living with narcolepsy may need to nap multiple times a day or fall asleep unintentionally.

The science of normal sleep and wakefulness

For people living with narcolepsy, the separate states of wakefulness and sleep do not work properly and can happen at the wrong time. To better understand narcolepsy, it is helpful to know what happens in the brain during normal wakefulness and sleep in those without narcolepsy.

Omavi Bailey, M.D., MPH, a somnologist, epidemiologist, and medical director practicing pediatric and adult sleep medicine at The BioRhythm Institute, explains, “There are three separate and distinct states of wakefulness and sleep: wake, non-REM sleep, and REM sleep. Normally, states of wakefulness and sleep occur one at a time in a regular pattern. People can stay awake all day and stay asleep at night, switching between non-REM sleep and REM sleep. This normal sleep pattern is characterized by specific physiological differences that allows individuals to stay awake and function during the day, building up their sleep drive that will eventually allow them to efficiently achieve proper sleep at night. Normal sleep goes through four or five cycles at night that progress from non-REM sleep to longer periods of REM or vivid dream sleep.”

Many naturally occurring chemicals in the brain play important roles in wakefulness and sleep. One of these chemicals, hypocretin, which is sometimes called orexin, plays a crucial role in stabilizing sleep and wake states. This is so that non-REM or REM sleep don’t impose themselves during wakefulness, causing excessive daytime sleepiness or cataplexy. Cataplexy is the sudden and brief loss of muscle strength or muscle tone often brought on by strong emotions such as laughter.

What happens in narcolepsy

In most people living with narcolepsy, hypocretin levels are low — sometimes too low to be detected. With low or no hypocretin, the separate states of wakefulness and sleep can happen at any time. People living with narcolepsy may feel sleepy or fall asleep during the day. “This is precisely why severe sleepiness and sleep attacks are experienced by those living with narcolepsy. A person living with narcolepsy can suddenly fall into a deep sleep in the middle of a conversation,” Dr. Bailey describes.

“For people living with narcolepsy, the brain also doesn’t always hold boundaries between states of sleep and wakefulness,” Dr. Bailey explains. “When this happens, some parts of sleep can interrupt wakefulness.” During normal REM sleep, muscle tone is absent and people are essentially paralyzed so they do not act their dreams. For people living with narcolepsy, REM sleep can suddenly impose itself during wakefulness, resulting in a sudden paralysis or inability to move certain muscles while awake (cataplexy).

The role of histamine in wakefulness

In addition to researchers understanding the importance of hypocretin, another naturally occurring chemical has also been found to be important for wakefulness: histamine.

Histamine plays many important roles in the body. In the brain, histamine works together with hypocretin to help people stay awake and alert throughout the day. Like hypocretin, it also helps prevent non-REM sleep and REM sleep from happening during the day.

Research has shown that histamine plays an important role in helping hypocretin produce long periods of wakefulness during the day. In narcolepsy, when hypocretin levels are low, histamine and other naturally occurring chemicals in the brain don’t work well enough, and wakefulness is reduced.

Dr. Bailey highlights that “researchers are encouraged by the community’s heightened understanding of the role histamine plays in stabilizing sleep-wake states and are hopeful to advance research in the future.”

If you’re interested in learning more about narcolepsy and the role of histamine, visit KnowNarcolepsy.com/Science-Of-Narcolepsy.

Know Narcolepsy is a registered trademark of Harmony Biosciences.
Harmony Biosciences name is a registered trademark.
© 2023 Harmony Biosciences. All rights reserved.
US-NAR-2200176/April 2023

2023-04-24T23:01:00

(BPT) – Bipolar disorder is a common mental health condition that causes extreme changes in mood and behavior. Read on to learn more about bipolar disorder and a treatment option for managing symptoms of bipolar depression.

2023-04-19T05:01:00

(BPT) – Prepping to make a glam entrance for a birthday bash or an office party with your co-workers takes your best effort. With their newest range of advanced aesthetic treatments, Cutera^® has you covered.

The pros know that getting your skin in tip-top shape before an event is the best place to start. If your breakouts are out of control, there is a revolutionary new laser treatment that has been clinically proven to clear skin without the need for medications. Enter AviClear™ by Cutera, the first and original FDA-cleared energy device for the treatment of mild, moderate and severe acne.¹ It significantly eliminates acne in three, 30-minute treatment sessions and helps prevent future acne by suppressing the sebaceous (oil) glands.²

If your skin needs some extra love to refine its texture, brightness, scars, sun damage and even stretchmarks, Secret PRO™ by Cutera can provide noticeable results. This versatile award-winning treatment combines two clinically proven technologies — RF microneedling and fractional CO₂ laser — for signature treatments that can be customized just for you.

According to Dr. Abrahem Kazemi, Director, Cosmetic and Laser Dermatology at Pinnacle Dermatology in Centreville, VA, “Secret PRO is my favorite tool in my practice. I have been using this innovative platform to revitalize and refresh the skin of the face and body. With this technology, I can offer my patients the most effective solutions with minimal-to-no downtime. They can see results within a few weeks or less and will continue to have more improvement as the collagen and elastin is stimulated. It’s a win-win.”

Looking your best for a night out is also about slipping into an outfit that shows off your body confidence. If you’re keen to reduce body fat and tone muscle without spending countless hours training, body shaping solution truBody^® by Cutera may be just what you need to achieve your goals. This innovative treatment uses the Trim & Tone Protocol, combining two complementary devices — truSculpt^® for fat reduction and truFlex™ for muscle sculpting. Both technologies deliver personalized results and are ideal for different body types addressing both large and small treatment areas.

According to Dr. Lindsey Kettinger, DNP at Newton Family Medicine in Charleston, SC, “Decreased muscle mass and truncal obesity — excess fat in the abdomen, flanks, and back — are harder to target as we age.”

With truBody, patients may see results after one treatment session³, with maximum results after 12 weeks. “I love truBody because it provides a combined solution for targeting stubborn areas of fat while toning muscles in 15-minute treatment sessions customized to each patient. One of the great advantages with both treatments is that multiple areas of the body can be treated simultaneously,” she adds.

Get ready to glow and start looking and feeling your best. Find a treatment provider near you.

¹ Data on file. Cutera, Inc

² Results may vary

³ Somenek MT, Ronan SJ, Pittman TA. Lasers Surg Med. 2021;53(3):337-343

2023-04-19T06:01:00

(BPT) – If you’ve ever experienced a urinary tract infection (UTI), you know how uncomfortable it can be. Symptoms like pain or burning with urination, along with a frequent urge to go to the bathroom, can really disrupt your daily life. According to the National Institutes of Health, over 40-60% of women have a UTI at least once in their lives, with 10% of women experiencing them yearly — and nearly half of those with infections get a second one within a year.

When you have these recurring symptoms, the main thing you want is to treat them quickly, and to reduce recurrence. Unfortunately, standard methods for diagnosing UTIs have limitations, which may delay effective treatment or lead to your doctor prescribing a less effective antibiotic to address your particular infection.

The challenges in diagnosing and treating UTIs

The current standard for UTI diagnosis is through urinalysis and standard urine culture (SUC). However, SUC has many shortcomings, including failure to detect bacteria that may be causing a UTI. One study found that SUC missed 50% of all detected uropathogens in patients with severe urinary tract symptoms.¹

In addition, SUC can take up to 3-5 days, often causing providers to treat patients with antibiotics without first determining the individual bacteria that contribute to the UTI, or which antibiotics those individual bacteria are sensitive or resistant to. This means you may be treated with an antibiotic that won’t be effective in eliminating the specific cause of your infection, so the treatment doesn’t resolve the infection completely, and your infection may persist or recur.

Having an infection with more than one bacteria present is also common. A standard urine culture will often cite this finding as “contaminated” or as “mixed flora,” providing no additional information on the organisms detected — or antibiotic sensitivity results to help guide specific treatment.

Improved antibiotic prescribing and usage is critical to effectively treat infections, to protect patients from adverse effects caused by unnecessary antibiotic use — and combat antibiotic resistance. In cases of recurrent and complicated UTIs, especially when initial antibiotic use may have failed, personalized therapy options can make all the difference in a patient’s treatment results.

UTI testing tailored for patients’ needs

Fortunately, newer technologies have been developed to improve the diagnosis of UTIs. Some of these tests include PCR technology, which is used in clinical settings for sexually transmitted diseases, respiratory illness and COVID-19 testing. When combined with unique antibiotic sensitivity testing methods, this new class of advanced testing provides helpful information to address the shortcomings of standard urine culture testing.

To help improve testing and diagnosis, Guidance UTI is 43% more sensitive than standard urine culture, helping to ensure more accurate diagnoses. This is vital particularly for those with recurrent, persistent and complicated UTIs or who have elevated risks. This testing process uses PCR technology to identify commonly tested uropathogens, including many that are difficult to detect by standard urine culture. Guidance UTI detects 27 individual organisms (bacteria and yeast) and three bacterial groups known to be associated with UTIs. Not an at-home test, this advanced diagnostic testing is chosen by physicians to provide personalized results in less than one day from receipt at a lab to help identify the right treatment for each patient faster.

This is also the only test that combines PCR testing with Pooled Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (P-AST), a unique technology that accounts for bacterial interactions that occur in polymicrobial infections (those with more than one bacteria present), which can impact antibiotic resistance. Together, PCR and P-AST technologies provide more detailed and accurate information to health care providers, to help provide personalized therapy options that result in better treatment.

“When you have UTI symptoms, timely, accurate testing is crucial for quicker, more effective treatment to relieve those symptoms and eradicate their cause,” said board-certified urogynecologist and female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Terri-Ann Samuels. “With this advanced UTI testing that is now available, we can much more accurately pinpoint the cause or causes of a patient’s UTI, helping us identify the best possible treatment plan for that particular patient.”

If you are experiencing UTI symptoms, visit Pathnostics.com to learn more, and ask your doctor about Guidance UTI.

Reference:

1. Price, T. K. et al. The Clinical Urine Culture: Enhanced Techniques Improve Detection of Clinically Relevant Microorganisms. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 54, 1216–1222 (2016).

2023-04-18T04:01:00

(BPT) – For many, the longer days, warmer temperatures, and blooming flowers of spring and summer bring a renewed sense of energy and motivation to paint the garage or freshen up the garden. However, it is also the perfect time of the year to devote your energy to personal health and wellness improvement projects.

To prepare for the warmer seasons ahead, Dr. Leah Joseph, a board-certified primary care physician at Teladoc Health, the world’s largest telehealth company, shares her top tips for upgrading health and wellness routines.

Tidy up your sleep schedule

People tend to appreciate the longer days of spring and summer. But more early morning sunshine, along with life’s other distractions, can wreak havoc on sleep schedules.

Joseph recommends that people prioritize getting seven to nine hours of sleep a night and stresses that consistency is the key to reaping the rewards of a good night’s rest. “Establishing a sleep schedule that conditions your body to go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day, including weekends, helps your body get into a natural rhythm,” she says. “To get into a routine, try setting a bedtime alert on your phone or placing a note next to your TV to remind you of your bedtime.”

And when interruptions and sleepless nights do happen, people shouldn’t dwell on it because the stress can make it even harder to get back into a sleep rhythm. Joseph recommends accepting the interruption as a temporary lapse and trying again for better sleep the next night.

Dig into your diet

More sun and rising temperatures make it easier to find fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables, staples of a healthy diet. Eating plenty of whole foods, including vegetables and fruits, can lower blood pressure, lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, help with digestion problems and have a positive effect on blood sugar, which can help keep appetites under control.

“Focus on what you can control around healthy eating choices and learn to adapt to things outside of your power,” suggests Joseph. “Look for chances to add color to your plate with fruits and veggies and cook with fresh ingredients when you can.”

In addition to support from your primary care physician, registered nutritionists and dietitians can help design a healthy eating strategy with the right mix of whole foods. In many cases, meeting with dietary experts can be done easily and conveniently online.

Take it outside

Joseph says one of the most important things you can do for your overall health is to prioritize getting enough physical activity. Getting daily exercise doesn’t have to be intense or complicated. Taking a quick walk around the neighborhood or local park can have significant benefits for everyone, no matter an individual’s fitness level.

“If you can, find a partner to help keep you motivated to move,” recommends Joseph. “Ask friends and family to work out with you, and make it unique to you. They’ll help you stay on track, and you’ll have more fun doing it.”

She advises that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to exercise, and that people need to try different activities until they find at least one that they enjoy enough to engage in regularly.

Pick up with your primary care provider

It is always easier to stay on top of health goals and priorities with an expert by your side. Your primary care provider (PCP) can help navigate every aspect of health and wellness, from a new health goal to a new health diagnosis.

Scheduling an appointment with a PCP is the best way to stay on top of health needs. Regular check-ins are key to disease prevention, controlling common chronic diseases, mental wellness and coordinating testing and specialist care, when it’s needed.

“Too often, I see that people wait to see a doctor until there is an issue or an emergency,” commented Joseph. “With regular visits, I can establish relationships with my patients and help them identify any potential concerns early and often. It saves a lot of time and pain down the road.”

While it may seem time-consuming to schedule and attend regular appointments, new digital tools — like virtual care — are making it easier than ever to check in with a PCP, wherever and whenever is convenient for you. Plus, companies like Teladoc Health offer access to primary care, chronic care, dermatology, nutrition services and more, all from one place, to help you seamlessly keep up with every aspect of your health.

2023-04-17T06:01:00

(BPT) – For families raising cattle, their livelihood depends on the land, and protecting the natural resources they rely on is key to sustaining both the land and the way of life. While sustainability is top of mind every April as Earth Day approaches, beef farmers and ranchers across the country have been dedicated to sustainability for decades, which is why the U.S. produces the most sustainable beef in the world[i].

While a dedication to caring for the land is common among beef producers, the practices they employ are different, developed and adapted over time to match the environment and land they depend on.

In honor of Earth Day, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, highlights three recent winners of the Environmental Stewardship Award, working to raise beef and care for the land in very different parts of the country.

The foundation: Soil health

For five generations, the Jorgensen family in Ideal, South Dakota, has depended on soil to help provide nutrients to their grazing cattle. “Soil health is a principal part of everything we do in our operation,” said Brian Jorgensen, chief agronomy operations officer at Jorgensen Land and Cattle. “So we have to do everything we can to sustain and build the health of that soil.”

Toward that aim, they practice rotational grazing, aided by modern technology: “We’ve been supplementing rotational grazing with a GPS grazing collar,” explained Nick Jorgensen, CEO. “That way, we can graze cattle where you can’t put in a fence. We can also graze spots of land on our property that we may have never used before.”

This innovative use of technology ensures no land is overgrazed — and every area is grazed by cattle that help break up the soil crust, encouraging seed-to-soil contact, stimulating plant growth and successfully converting fibrous plants into energy and protein.

“Sustainability has been an important part of our operation for decades,” added Nick. “It’s going to be what powers us into the future.”

Water is life

One mile north of the Horicorn Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, owners of Huth Polled Hereford and S&H Livestock Enterprises in Oakfield, Wisconsin, understand the importance of water.

“The Horicon Marsh is one of the largest marsh systems in the U.S.,” explained Jerry Huth, co-owner. “The challenge we face is containing the animals so their runoff doesn’t get into the streams that enter the marsh. We’re very sensitive about having grass buffer strips that absorb runoff from the fields or the cattle.”

They focus on limiting erosion as a crucial conservation effort. “One way to prevent phosphates going into your water source is to increase the forage density and limit erosion,” said Joshua Scharf, co-owner. “You’re also sequestering carbon while you’re doing that. Clean water benefits wildlife, cattle and humans.”

The company was one of the first to graze cattle on Wisconsin’s public lands, which helped manage vegetation. “When we first took cattle out there, it was woody vegetation over my head. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources was burning and spraying chemicals to control it, and they’ve not done that since we’ve had cattle out there,” continued Scharf. “After the first year, you could start seeing grasses pop through. There was a lot of clover and a lot of legumes, that are desirable for cattle and also for wildlife.”

Their efforts offer a great example of people working together with state and federal agencies to create beneficial land for livestock and wildlife alike.

Restoring the ecosystem

Out west, invasive species like pinion and juniper can soak up large amounts of ground water, impeding its flow. The Fulstone family, founders of Fulstone Ranches in Smith Valley, Nevada, have learned these lessons since their family’s arrival in the 1850s.

“We’ve done a lot of work removing pinion and juniper trees, which has improved the grass and the environment for cattle and for sage grouse,” said rancher Annette Fulstone.

Their work includes habitat restoration where erosion caused previously wet meadows to dry out. “The landscape came back from being a washed-out dry creek bed to this lush meadow,” added Emily Fulstone, Annette’s niece. “My dream for the future is to continue working on our regenerative practices to be more sustainable in every aspect.”

The Fulstone family aims to preserve the land for generations to come. “Our cattle are very beneficial to the land. We’re probably raising one of the best sources of protein you can in this environment,” said Steven Fulstone, Emily’s father and Annette’s brother. “It’s a renewable resource, and probably the best use of the land.”

To learn more about these and the other 2022 award winners visit EnvironmentalStewardship.org, or visit BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com to learn more about how cattle are raised across the country.

2023-04-14T15:15:00

(BPT) – At age 47, Jamie loves to exercise, running during the summer and going to the gym to work out during the winter. Between running and weightlifting, Jamie is active, strong and energetic enough to keep up with her four boys. Even with her active lifestyle, she has struggled with cellulite since her teenage years.

“I noticed cellulite back in high school, and I would wear leggings under my jeans to offset the dimples in my legs,” said Jamie. “I have dresses in my wardrobe that I’ve never worn, and shorts sitting in my closet. I just don’t have the confidence to wear them because of my cellulite.”

What Jamie didn’t know was that her cellulite has nothing to do with her lifestyle or habits, and up to 90% of women have it, though most women don’t like to talk about it. Many women don’t know exactly what it is, or what causes it, thinking it has something to do with diet and exercise — which are common misconceptions.

Jamie is just one of many women who are impacted by cellulite throughout their lives. For some women, cellulite can have a significant emotional impact, influencing decisions about the clothes they choose to wear, activities they choose to do and even how they perceive themselves. However, having cellulite shouldn’t stop you from wearing and doing what you want.

Cellulite is complicated

What exactly is cellulite? While the answer is complex, the good news is that cellulite does not result from something you did or didn’t do — and it’s not your fault if you have it. Cellulite is thought to be based more on genetics and hormones.

Research shows that a major underlying cause of cellulite dimples are septa — fibrous bands that tether the skin to the structures below. More recently, research was done that found the septa actually form a complicated, honeycomb-like structure that is much more complex than historically understood. Septa are different for each woman, and can also be different in various parts of the body. Some septa are good — and serve a purpose — but in certain parts of the body, it is believed they can stiffen and shrink over time, causing dimples on the buttocks or thighs that are commonly called cellulite.

Lasting results are possible

There are many different products and treatments claiming to fix cellulite, but many make promises to women they can’t deliver on, approaching cellulite blindly from the outside in.

Fortunately, a new, targeted approach with an FDA-cleared device called Avéli™ addresses cellulite from the inside out to deliver long-term reduction in the appearance of cellulite after a single treatment. Avéli is a device used by a trained provider during a minimally invasive procedure performed with local anesthesia in the treatment area. It’s the only procedure where the provider can identify the culprit septa under the skin, and then confirm in real time that they are releasing those targeted septa. Women see a long-term reduction in the appearance of cellulite dimples quickly after a single in-office procedure, with little to no downtime.

“Cellulite impacts almost all women across the globe and due to its complex structure, it has been historically tricky to treat,” said board-certified dermatologist Anna Paré, MD. “An in-office treatment I can do in about an hour, Avéli releases the fibrous bands causing dimples to improve the appearance of cellulite in the buttocks and thighs. Women can anticipate starting to see initial results in the days following the procedure.”

During recovery, you may experience bruising, soreness and tenderness within the first thirty days. Rest is recommended post-procedure, but typically you will be back to normal activities in just a day or two and can resume more strenuous workouts within a couple weeks.

Start the cellulite conversation

If you’re one of the many women bothered by cellulite, and especially if you’ve tried other treatments with lackluster results, rest assured there are new options now available that will end that skepticism.

“As a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in body contouring, long-lasting cellulite reduction has been impossible to achieve, until now,” said Matthew Schulman, MD. “Avéli represents the missing piece for women looking to reduce the appearance of their cellulite dimples as a part of their lower body rejuvenation treatment plan — an increasing trend I’ve seen in my practice.”

Jamie chose Avéli to treat her cellulite, and she has been very satisfied with her results. “I’ve really noticed that I don’t have the dimples that I had before. I look in the mirror every day and am in awe,” she said. “For all the ladies out there that have suffered with cellulite for years and years like I have, this could be the procedure for you.”

It’s time to feel more comfortable talking about cellulite so you can take action like Jamie did. If it bothers you, bring it up with your medical aesthetics provider. For those looking to learn more, you can visit MyAveli.com or follow @aveli on Instagram to see real patient results. Hear more of Jamie’s story at https://youtu.be/rIva8r9DqSo.

Sources:

¹ Emanuele E. Cellulite: advances in treatment: facts and controversies. Clin Dermatol. 2013;31(6):725-30.
² Data on file. Revelle Aesthetics, Inc. 2021. Patient Quantitative Research Report, June 2021.
³ Stevens WG, Green JB, Layt C, et al. Multicenter Pivotal Study Demonstrates Safety and Efficacy of a New Cellulite Procedure: Final Results at 12 Months [published online ahead of print, 2022 Nov 10]. Aesthet Surg J. 2022;sjac291.
⁴ Stevens WG, Green JB, Layt C, et al. Multicenter Pivotal Study Demonstrates Safety and Efficacy of a New Cellulite Procedure: 3-Month Results [published online ahead of print, 2022 Jul 5]. Aesthet Surg J. 2022 Jul 5;sjac179. doi:10.1093/asj/sjac179.

2023-04-12T05:01:00

(BPT) – Did you know around 700 women die in the U.S. every year from pregnancy-related complications? The Kaiser Family Foundation recently reported on the status of maternal health, finding many areas of the healthcare system needing improvement to help ensure healthier pregnancies, safer delivery and better postpartum care. Because it has been determined that over 8 in 10 (84%) pregnancy-related deaths are actually preventable, many healthcare organizations, hospitals and lawmakers are seeking ways to improve maternal care. Confronting this issue directly, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) has updated their practice guidelines for care before, during and after childbirth, using the most up-to-date science-based evidence to ensure that effective standardized protocols are in place nationwide.

The singular care provided by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are highly educated, trained and qualified anesthesia experts who provide 50 million anesthetics per year in the U.S., in every setting where anesthesia is delivered. They are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural settings, enabling facilities in medically underserved areas to offer obstetrical, surgical, pain management and trauma stabilization services. Using their unique ability to combine the scientific rigor of the field of anesthesiology with the compassionate care integral to nursing, CRNAs aim to provide the highest quality overall care, and these new guidelines will help ensure that even in stressful life-threatening emergencies, each patient receives a consistent level of care — whether in a big city hospital or a small rural community.

AANA’s updated guidelines cover topics including physiologic changes during pregnancy, pre-anesthesia assessment and evaluation, patient education, preparing a plan of care, pain management and anesthesia options during labor, delivery and postpartum care, as well as complications and emergency care. AANA’s recommendations highlight care for high-risk patients, including those with hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia and obstetric complications, plus emergencies such as maternal hemorrhage and amniotic fluid embolism.

“AANA’s new guidelines offer obstetric anesthesia providers current practice recommendations to support delivery of high-quality maternal care, thereby improving patient safety and patient outcomes,” said Beth Ann Clayton, DNP, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN, professor of Clinical Nursing and the Nurse Anesthesia program director at the University of Cincinnati. “In an emergency, if clinicians do not have a protocol available, they may miss a step. These guidelines are in place to facilitate effective care decisions and enhance coordination among the anesthesia, obstetric and pediatric professionals to create an optimal environment for safe maternal and neonatal care.”

Addressing racial disparities

When it comes to maternal care, recent research shows that women of color, especially Black patients and those in underserved communities, are at an even higher risk of maternal mortality. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that Black women experience pregnancy-related mortality rates about three times higher than white women. That number increases with maternal age: Black women between ages 30-34 have a four times higher rate of maternal mortality than white women.

Some research shows that Black women have higher morbidity rates partially because they are at significantly higher risk for serious pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia. However, other factors leading to these racial and ethnic disparities include barriers to care due to lack of health insurance as well as hospital and obstetric unit closings in rural and underserved communities, plus inadequate treatment due to racism — from poor communication to outright mistreatment — as evidenced in research such as the Kaiser Family Foundation report.

Acknowledging that maternal health disparities exist, CRNAs aim to reduce maternal deaths, using prevention strategies to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in pregnancy-related mortality. These inequities are some of the main hurdles to good maternal care that AANA has worked to address with their updated guidelines.

“These new guidelines and their protocols promote equity of care. For example, when a patient has preeclampsia, direct steps for hypertension management can be taken,” said Clayton. “The document also highlights how CRNAs help drive change to reduce maternal-related deaths, implementing prevention strategies to reduce racial and ethnic disparities.”

CRNAs provide equitable, compassionate, holistic, patient-centered anesthesia, pain management and related care encompassing each patient’s unique needs and preferences. Learn more about their efforts to improve care for every patient at AANA.com.