Month: January 2020

2020-01-16T05:01:00

(BPT) – Enrollment in youth hockey is at an all-time high in communities across the country. According to USA Hockey, a record 567,908 players registered to play in the 2018-2019 season, with 356,760 of those players ages 16 and younger.

Based on the recent surge in youth hockey enrollment, it’s more important than ever to give our local communities a boost. Hockey not only provides a great workout, but according to USA Hockey, the sport helps promote confidence, pride, focus and responsibility.

Feeling inspired to help your local hockey community? Try one of these:

1. Nominate your local rink for Kraft Hockeyville(TM) USA 2020 by Feb. 29.

Kraft Hockeyville(TM) USA 2020 is the search for America’s most passionate hockey community. The program celebrates the spirit of local hockey communities and will award one town the opportunity to host an NHL(R) Pre-Season Game, win $150,000 toward rink upgrades, and $10,000 worth of equipment from the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) Goals & Dreams fund. Visit www.KraftHockeyville.com for more information and to nominate your local rink. Follow @KraftHockeyvilleUSA on Facebook or Instagram, and @HockeyvilleUSA on Twitter.

2. Volunteer your time and energy.

There is always room for another helping hand at your local hockey rink. Facilities need motivated volunteers to assist with programs, special events and daily operations. By volunteering, you’ll be able to help support your local rink’s mission, make a difference in the community and meet new friends. Call or visit the rink in your hometown to learn how you can get more involved while serving your community.

3. Hold a fundraiser that’s fun for your whole community.

Youth hockey rinks across America rely on funds to help ease the cost of hockey for local families, and are often underfunded when it comes to basic rink needs. By planning a family-friendly social fundraiser, you’ll unite members of the community to rally together for a great cause. Some of our favorite — and most successful — fundraising ideas involve hosting a bowling night or serving up a pancake breakfast after an early morning practice.

NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League, and HOCKEYVILLE is a trademark of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks (including HOCKEYVILLE) and NHL team logos and marks are the property of the NHL and the respective NHL teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2020. All rights reserved.

NHLPA, National Hockey League Players’ Association and the NHLPA logo are registered trademarks of the NHLPA and are used under license. © NHLPA. All Rights Reserved.

2020-01-10T08:47:00

(BPT) – Improving one’s health is a hot topic for the New Year. New diets, the latest fitness trackers and health-centric apps are popping up everywhere. As people show an increased focus on their weight, their cholesterol level or their muscle tone, they often forget that two of their most important organs — their eyes — need to be supported as well.

Fortunately, it’s easy to include support for your eye health into your overall fitness plan. Here are five ways to put your eye health into 2020 focus for the New Year.

* Understand your family’s history of eye health and other conditions. There is evidence that many people inherit common eye conditions including nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Research also shows that more serious conditions including glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration appear to be inherited in some cases. Talk to your family members about any conditions they may have related to their eye health. While these symptoms may not apply to you, this information can help you know what to look for and any potential risks to discuss with your doctor.

* Get your eye exam scheduled early in the year. As part of the American Optometric Association’s #2020EyeExam initiative, the organization and doctors of optometry nationwide are reminding individuals of the importance of an annual comprehensive eye exam.

AOA notes that in-person, annual eye exams can detect early signs of visual system diseases such as glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness. In addition, eye exams safeguard overall health by enabling your eye doctor to detect signs of more than 270 serious health conditions. Using eye insurance can help you cover eye exam costs. One in four people have vision insurance coverage through VSP, with individual or family vision plans that provide affordable access to high-quality eye care and eye wear, typically saving you hundreds of dollars on eye exams and glasses.

* Eat a healthy diet. A well-balanced diet is important not only for managing your cholesterol and weight but for supporting your eye health as well. Leafy vegetables, nuts, eggs, beans, pork and citrus fruits include essential eye health nutrients like lutein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins C and E, and zinc. All of these nutrients have been proven to protect against vision problems like cataracts and macular degeneration.

* Schedule regular visits with your eye doctor. Just as you schedule regular wellness visits with your primary care doctor, you should do the same with your eye doctor. An annual trip to the optometrist ensures you can see your best, and can even lead to early detection of chronic diseases, like diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

* Shield your eyes from the effects of digital devices. Prolonged exposure to blue light, emitted by digital devices, can lead to digital eye strain. The symptoms of this condition include blurred vision, dry eyes, headaches and neck pain. Ask your doctor about the best options to defend against eye strain, including lenses with coatings that reflect and absorb blue light.

Focusing on improving your health is a great idea at any time and any age — just make sure your initiative targets your total body health, including your eyes. To learn more about how VSP Individual Vision Plans can provide you with the vision care you need to support your eye health, visit vspdirect.com today.

2020-01-10T14:01:00

(BPT) – Perseverance holds a special significance to 28-year-old Kailey McCallister. When she was nearly three years old, she was diagnosed with Type 3 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic disease that causes progressive muscle weakness and a loss of strength.

There are different types of SMA, and the level of severity can vary from one individual to another. People living with SMA Type 3 may have minimal to profound weakness by the time they reach adulthood.[2] Babies with Type 1 rarely reach motor milestones and the disease can be life-threatening, while those with Type 2 are typically unable to walk and lose strength over time.[3] As Kailey was growing up, she noticed she was different from many other people because she would often fall over and had difficulty walking.

Kailey’s sister, Ashley — who was just one year younger than her — was also diagnosed with SMA, but was born with Type 1, its most severe form. At the time, there were no approved therapies for SMA and Ashley passed away at the age of six.

As she continued to grow, Kailey dedicated significant time to physical therapy with the hopes of limiting her disease progression. However, she noticed she was still losing strength.

On December 23, 2016, SPINRAZA^® (nusinersen) was approved as the first therapy to treat infants, children and adults with SMA. In the spring of 2017, Kailey’s neurologist told her about SPINRAZA and the potential benefits of starting therapy.

“The information my neurologist shared with me motivated me to explore additional things I could do to help my SMA, and thinking about my sister Ashley inspired me to do all that I could,” says Kailey. “While I continue to use a power wheelchair and get support from a home health aide, treatment has helped me maintain my mobility and strength. I know Ashley would be proud of my perseverance and the commitment I have to do everything I can to treat my SMA.”

Kailey is continuing to receive SPINRAZA, which is administered intrathecally — as an injection into the lower back, through a procedure called a lumbar puncture — to help treat her SMA. The SPINRAZA dosing regimen consists of more frequent loading doses in the first year followed by maintenance doses every four months.

As part of her care, Kailey continues to visit her neurologist, Dr. Margaret Frey, a board-certified neurologist in Michigan to monitor her SMA, and check for potential side effects of treatment with blood and urine tests. Common side effects include lower respiratory infection, fever, constipation, headache, vomiting, and back pain (see below for more information).

“I am so proud of Kailey and her determination to face the challenges of this disease head-on. She has developed a great support network that has allowed her to keep a level of independence,” says Dr. Frey. “While patients have different experiences on treatment, I encourage individuals living with SMA to see a neurologist to discuss their options.”

Kailey notes, “While I have a milder version of SMA than what my sister Ashley had, this is a progressive disease that continues to get worse over time. I see the value that treatment, Dr. Frey, and my entire healthcare team have in managing my SMA.”

Kailey is sharing her story in celebration of the three-year anniversary of SPINRAZA being approved for individuals living in the United States — making December 23rd a special day for her. She hopes that by telling her story, other adults with SMA will talk with a neurologist about their ongoing care and understand their treatment options. “I am grateful for my physician and my experiences on treatment, and know that while SMA comes with challenges, I feel I am doing everything I can to try and live my life to the fullest.”

As of September 2019, more than 9,300 individuals have been treated with SPINRAZA globally, with over 2,900 adults treated in the US. [1*] Individual results may vary based on several factors, including severity of disease, initiation of treatment, and duration of therapy.

INDICATION

SPINRAZA^® (nusinersen) is a prescription medicine used to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in pediatric and adult patients.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Increased risk of bleeding complications has been observed after administration of similar medicines. Your healthcare provider should perform blood tests before you start treatment with SPINRAZA and before each dose to monitor for signs of these risks. Seek medical attention if unexpected bleeding occurs.

Increased risk of kidney damage, including potentially fatal acute inflammation of the kidney, has been observed after administration of similar medicines. Your healthcare provider should perform urine testing before you start treatment with SPINRAZA and before each dose to monitor for signs of this risk.

The most common side effects of SPINRAZA include lower respiratory infection, fever, constipation, headache, vomiting, back pain, and post-lumbar puncture syndrome.

These are not all of the possible side effects of SPINRAZA. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking SPINRAZA, tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Please visit http://bit.ly/SpinrazaPI for the Full Prescribing Information and to learn more.

This information is not intended to replace discussions with your healthcare provider.

This article is sponsored by Biogen.

References:

*Based on commercial patients in the US (including Puerto Rico) as of September 2019.¹

1. Data on file, Biogen, Cambridge, MA

2. MD Australia. (2019). Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 3 (juvenile SMA) | MD Australia. [online] Available at: https://www.mda.org.au/disorders/spinal-muscular-atrophy-an-overview/spinal-muscular-atrophy-type-3-juvenile-sma/ [Accessed 22 Aug. 2019].

3. Lefebvre S, Burglen L, Reboullet S, et al. Identification and characterization of a spinal muscular atrophy-determining gene. Cell. 1995;80(1):155-165.

SPZ-US-3026 12/19

2020-01-13T09:01:00

(BPT) – Dave, age 74, a retired furniture designer who spent winters on the Utah ski slopes, had always been active and never felt the need to see a doctor. Several years ago, after noticing irregular patterns in his health, such as frequent urination, he assumed these changes were a normal part of aging. However, his symptoms continued to increase in severity.

“I knew something was wrong with my body,” said Dave, “I decided it was time to take charge and visit a doctor to understand what was going on.”

After several tests, followed by a trip to an oncologist, Dave received a diagnosis — he had prostate cancer.

“Hearing that diagnosis was frightening and it was a depressing time for me,” Dave said. He was told that his cancer — metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) — had spread beyond the prostate to other areas of his body, including his spine and hip bones. Despite the difficult news, Dave was determined: “I wanted to keep fighting and have a chance to live longer.”

mCSPC refers to prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and still responds to a medical or surgical treatment that lowers testosterone.^[1]

For patients like Dave who have been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, working with a physician to monitor progression is critical.^[2] Hormone therapy, called ADT, or androgen deprivation therapy, is a treatment given to reduce or block the production and action of male hormones in the body called androgens. However, after time, some prostate cancer can adapt and progress. When that happens, additional treatments need to be considered.^[3]

Now, there are medications, such as ERLEADA^® (apalutamide), which was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with mCSPC, that may help delay metastatic prostate cancer from progressing.^[4]

“mCSPC, for most patients, remains a lethal disease; it’s critical to control this aggressive type of cancer,” says Dave’s doctor, Dr. Neeraj Agarwal, of Huntsman Cancer Institute and professor of medicine at the University of Utah. “While historically difficult to treat, there has been progress in the development of new treatment options for mCSPC, including ERLEADA^®, which in combination with ADT in a clinical trial setting, has demonstrated the ability to give certain patients a chance to live longer while also delaying progression of the disease.”

In a clinical trial, ERLEADA^® gave patients more time without their cancer progressing* and a chance to live longer. ERLEADA^® and ADT reduced the risk of prostate cancer progressing by 52 percent vs patients taking placebo and ADT. Placebo is a pill that looks like ‘real’ medicine but contains nothing to affect health.^[5] ERLEADA^® and ADT also reduced the risk of death by 33 percent vs patients taking placebo and ADT. ERLEADA^® plus ADT was compared with placebo plus ADT in 1052 patients with mCSPC. In this study, patients either received ERLEADA^® at a dose of 240 mg once daily or placebo. All patients in the study received ADT.

Results may vary. ERLEADA^® may not be right for everyone. Only your doctor can decide if ERLEADA^® is right for you.

ERLEADA^® may cause serious side effects, including heart disease, fractures and falls, and seizure. The most common side effects of ERLEADA^® include feeling very tired, joint pain, rash — tell your healthcare provider if you get a rash — decreased appetite, fall, weight loss, hypertension, hot flash, diarrhea, and fracture. (Additional Important Safety Information is below.)

These days, Dave is fixing up an old motorcycle in his garage and looks forward to hunting season. “Don’t give up and keep fighting,” said Dave. “Take action by talking with your doctor about any health concerns and issues. Be proactive, ask questions and be involved in your own care—making sure to share any symptoms or worries that you may have with your healthcare provider.”

This content is provided by Janssen Biotech, Inc. Visit www.ERLEADA.com for more information.

ERLEADA^® is a trademark of Janssen Biotech, Inc.

*Progression was defined as the length of time patients lived without their disease spreading further as measured by imaging studies or dying.

###

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Before taking ERLEADA^®, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

• Have a history of heart disease
• Have high blood pressure
• Have diabetes
• Have abnormal amounts of fat or cholesterol in your blood (dyslipidemia)
• Have a history of seizures, brain injury, stroke, or brain tumors
• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. ERLEADA^® can cause harm to your unborn baby and loss of pregnancy (miscarriage)
• Have a partner who is pregnant or may become pregnant
  • Males who have female partners who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of ERLEADA^®
  • Males should use a condom during sex with a pregnant female

Talk with your healthcare provider if you have questions about birth control.

• Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ERLEADA^® passes into breast milk

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. ERLEADA^® can interact with many other medicines.

You should not start or stop any medicine before you talk with the healthcare provider that prescribed ERLEADA^®.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I take ERLEADA^®?

• Take ERLEADA^® exactly as your healthcare provider tells you
• Your healthcare provider may change your dose if needed
• Do not stop taking your prescribed dose of ERLEADA^® without talking with your healthcare provider first
• Take your prescribed dose of ERLEADA^® 1 time a day, at the same time each day
• Take ERLEADA^® with or without food
• Swallow ERLEADA^® tablets whole
• If you miss a dose of ERLEADA^®, take your normal dose as soon as possible on the same day. Return to your normal schedule on the following day. You should not take extra tablets to make up the missed dose
• You should start or continue a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog therapy during your treatment with ERLEADA^® unless you have had a surgery to lower the amount of testosterone in your body (surgical castration)
• If you take too much ERLEADA^®, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room

What are the possible side effects of ERLEADA^®?

ERLEADA^® may cause serious side effects including:

• Heart Disease. Blockage of the arteries in the heart that can lead to death has happened in some people during treatment with ERLEADA^®. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for signs and symptoms of heart problems during your treatment with ERLEADA^®. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room right away if you get chest pain or discomfort at rest or with activity, or shortness of breath during your treatment with ERLEADA^®
• Fractures and Falls. ERLEADA^® treatment can cause bones and muscles to weaken and may increase your risk for falls and fractures. Falls and fractures have happened in people during treatment with ERLEADA^®. Your healthcare provider will monitor your risks for falls and fractures during treatment with ERLEADA^®
• Seizure. Treatment with ERLEADA^® may increase your risk of having a seizure. You should avoid activities where a sudden loss of consciousness could cause serious harm to yourself or others. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have a loss of consciousness or seizure. Your healthcare provider will stop ERLEADA^® if you have a seizure during treatment

The most common side effects of ERLEADA^® include:

Feeling very tired Joint pain Rash. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a rash Decreased appetite Fall

Weight loss Hypertension Hot flash Diarrhea Fracture

ERLEADA^® may cause fertility problems in males, which may affect the ability to father children. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about fertility. Do not donate sperm during treatment with ERLEADA^® and for 3 months after the last dose of ERLEADA^®.

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 ERLEADA^®.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is ERLEADA^®?

ERLEADA^® (apalutamide) is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of prostate cancer:

• That has spread to other parts of the body and still responds to a medical or surgical treatment that lowers testosterone

OR

• That has not spread to other parts of the body and no longer responds to a medical or surgical treatment that lowers testosterone

It is not known if ERLEADA^® is safe and effective in females.

It is not known if ERLEADA^® is safe and effective in children.

Please see the full Prescribing Information for ERLEADA^®.