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Now’s the time to redeem your gift cards

2020-07-15T10:01:00

(BPT) – This year has had its fair share of challenges, and you may find yourself adjusting to a tighter budget or needing a pick-me-up. While it might feel counterintuitive, a little retail therapy might be just the ticket to giving you a mood boost.

You may not realize you have an untapped source of “free” money collecting dust in a drawer or adding bulk to your wallet: gift cards. With the hustle and bustle of daily life, people sometimes forget about their gift cards and miss out on the opportunity to buy something for themselves guilt-free, shop for household essentials, or share a gift with someone they love.

Now is a perfect time to spend your unused gift cards. Most can be redeemed in-store, online, and via mobile devices — so you can spend them however feels most comfortable, no matter where you are.

Here are a few ideas to treat yourself (or a loved one):

  • Create some lighthearted fun. Hitting “pause” on your daily grind to do something fun with your family is a great way to lift everyone’s spirits and bond with each other. Playing games, reading together, doing a little redecorating, or maybe even playing dress-up can bring a smile to your faces and spread a little magic. A Disney Gift Card can help brighten your summer and bring some cheerful joy whether it’s buying a birthday present for a friend or elevating your dress-up game with an official costume of your little ones’ favorite Disney Princess, hero or villain.
  • Give your wardrobe a facelift. Whether you’ve been doing home workouts, or finishing classes or work calls from your couch, athletic lifestyle footwear and apparel is now the go-to uniform for everyday activities. Treat yourself to a wardrobe refresh by using gift cards to athletic retailers like Foot Locker that sell all of your favorite sneaker brands. You can also use your gift cards to treat your kids to some new clothes or kicks to help them stay active.
  • Celebrate non-human members of the family. Pets are constant companions for us during difficult times and they deserve a treat. Many pets have been cooped up the past few months, and the warm weather presents an opportunity to get them out of the house to play fetch or go for a hike. Then bring home some new toys to say, “thank you,” and to change up the scenery inside. Stores like PetSmart have plenty of options to show your furry, feathered and scaly family members that they are loved, while also keeping them busy, challenged and entertained.
  • Take a break from cooking. The past few months have likely included a whole lot of home cooking. For those who want to step away from a hot stove and dishes, picking up a meal someone else makes provides some tasty relief. Restaurants like Subway give folks quick options to grab a meal on the go — plus, there are plenty of better-for-you choices for the whole family. Or, even though there aren’t many sports on TV, why not splurge and enjoy your usual game-day food from restaurants like Buffalo Wild Wings? Between the hot wings and sauces and seasonings, you’re sure to have something to satisfy everyone.

“This summer is an ideal time for people to dig out their gift cards,” said Erin Wood, Chair of the Retail Gift Card Association. “Whether you’re experiencing the urge to shop online or enjoy food you didn’t have to make, gift cards can make it happen — without increasing your credit card bill or draining your bank account. Take this opportunity to buy yourself something just because or share a gift with someone who could use a pick-me-up. And enjoy!”

For more information about gift cards, visit www.thergca.org.


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Lawncare tips from domestic pro Martha Stewart herself

2020-07-15T09:01:00

(BPT) – When you think of Martha Stewart, visions of picture-perfect cookies, floral arrangements and garden parties come to mind. Behind the scenes, however, Martha prides herself in getting hands-on while maintaining her personal 150-acre farm in Bedford, New York.

“I have the privilege of living on a working farm, and while it is certainly serene and picturesque, it’s also a lot of hard work,” said Stewart. “I really enjoy getting my hands dirty in the garden and mowing my lawns each week — it’s satisfying to hop on my mower, listen to some music, and get my work done, all while carving out some ‘me time’ in the process.”

Martha Stewart’s tips for lawn maintenance:

  1. Schedule everything. A hobby farm is a continual work-in-progress. From the chicken coop to the horse paddocks, to the gardens, lawns and orchard, the changing seasons play a big role in guiding a year-round maintenance plan. Juggling a farm and a busy work schedule can be tricky. The solution: Martha calendars everything at the beginning of the year, not only her backyard parties and events, but also her lawn care routine and needs — from monthly checks on the mowers (fluids, blade checks, etc.), to scheduling weekly mowing and trimming tasks. This way you don’t forget important maintenance tasks and your lawn will flourish and be party-ready year-round.
  2. Invest in quality. From the start, invest in a quality mower, whether it be a ride-on, walk-behind or zero-turn mower. Quality equipment will have a direct impact on the time it takes to manage your lawn and will contribute to the overall health of the turf itself. “We have been using Kubota zero-turn mowers for years — the reliability and durability is second to none for homeowners looking for a sleek, comfortable ride and professional results,” Martha added. “Did I mention how easy they are to operate?”
  3. Don’t cut corners. One of the easiest ways to damage your lawn is by cutting it too short. You may think cutting it short will save you time in the long run, but you’d be wrong. As a rule of thumb, we cut no more than 1/3 of the grass blades at a time, because if we cut too much, it will damage the grass and cause browning and grass loss. Plus, grass that is cut properly thrives in a wider range of weather conditions.
  4. Recycle and reuse. It’s important to outfit your mower with a grass catcher — not only does it give a clean finish to the job at hand, but the clippings can be composted and used back in the lawn to keep it healthy and happy. Have chickens? Feed fresh grass clippings to them — they go crazy for it, and it seems to increase egg production.
  5. Don’t be afraid and have fun. A zero-turn mower can be intimidating if you haven’t operated one before. “I say, get over that fear and hop on — if I can mow my own lawn, so can any woman out there. We’ve got this! And, I promise it will be the one ’chore’ you won’t give up — it really is quite fun.”

For more lawn care tips visit KubotaUSA.com.


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Have time and energy? 5 affordable DIY projects homeowners can finish now

2020-07-15T05:15:00

(BPT) – Paid Content by Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc.

We are all spending more time at home now and are increasingly finding that DIY home improvement projects can be fun, rewarding and cost-effective. Especially today when it’s so important to have a comfortable, stylish home to enjoy more time with friends and family, DIY projects are a simple way to make our living spaces even better. Perhaps best of all, they empower you to personalize your home to reflect your tastes, preferences and individual needs.

Thanks in part to trends in green building that encourage homeowners to invest in improving the efficiency of their homes, studies have estimated the global market for home improvement goods and services is expected to grow by 4.5% annually to exceed $1.1 trillion by 2025. And, the DIY market is expected to account for more than half of that figure.

That’s all good news to homeowners with great ideas for home improvement that are looking for easy DIY projects or custom materials they can purchase affordably. Even better news: many projects can be completed for less than $500, potentially adding value to your home and, in many cases, adding years of enjoyment.

Are you finding yourself with the time and motivation to move forward on a DIY project that can add more personal flair to your home? This season, consider tackling one of the following home improvement ideas slated to take less than $500 from your budget.

  • A kitchen backsplash with flash: Adding an eye-catching new backsplash to your existing wall — or replacing the one you have with a fresh, updated design — can make your kitchen feel like an entirely new space. You’re only limited by your creativity since your choice of backsplash materials is now nearly endless, with a vast variety of ceramic, metal, wood, concrete, glass, composite or stone designs to choose from in a number of shapes, sizes and configurations. Research suggests reports that 16 square feet of DIY backsplash materials should run you about $400 to $600, and you could have a finished product in as little as two to three days if you study up on techniques ahead of time.
  • Beautiful and appealing yard space: Grooming and beautifying your yard can be an excellent way to boost your home’s overall appearance, increase its value and express your personal taste. To get started, talk with a local nursery about the best options for your yard and climate. The fun part will be choosing and installing a mix of new trees, shrubs, container plants, flowers and/or other outside plants that can turn your outdoor space into eye candy.
  • Pleasingly personalized paint: There’s nothing like a new coat of smooth, clean paint to make a room feel transformed. Aiming to energize an entry space? Cover the walls with a bright, welcoming color that pops. Want to make a bedroom more restful? Exchange that overly dramatic yellow with a soothing cream, taupe or seafoam. Best of all, paint is easy to change out again whenever your current color choices start to lose their luster. Expect to spend close to $200 for enough paint and supplies to paint a 10-by-12-foot room.
  • Your “personal best” bathroom: While a complete renovation may be beyond your skill level, most homeowners can capably complete less-difficult replacements involving showerheads, faucets, light fixtures and hardware. You might also paint or wallpaper walls, replace your shower curtain, towels, rugs, wall decor and window treatments.
  • The finishing touch? Crown molding: There’s a reason crown molding is so popular; it can instantly add elegance, contrast and distinction to an otherwise ordinary room. These days, the decorative trim can be found in wood, plaster or polyurethane to fit any budget. In addition to ceiling lines, you may wish to add it to your home’s upper cabinetry and other structural elements.

One of the great joys of homeownership is the ability to personalize the space you call yours. Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc. has many other resources, like budgeting and home maintenance tips to help new homeowners. NMLS #1561.


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When You Should Take Notice of Those Unexplained Joint Problems and See Your Doctor

2020-07-14T12:01:00

(BPT) – Joint issues, which can be experienced in the form of pain, stiffness, swelling, clicking, numbness and more, can be very debilitating and have a significant impact on daily life. As joint pain and other issues can be caused by several conditions, some people may live with their symptoms for years and see multiple doctors trying to find the root cause. But did you know that unresolved joint problems could be caused by a rare condition called tenosynovial giant cell tumor or TGCT?

TGCT, also known as pigmented villondular synovitis (PVNS) or giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath (GCT-TS), is a rare type of tumor that is typically non-malignant and occurs in or around a joint, reducing range of motion and damaging neighboring tissues. It can affect people at any age but is most often seen in those between the ages of 30 and 50 years.[1]

TGCT symptoms such as pain, swelling and stiffness of the involved joint can come on slowly.1,[2] Unfortunately, because of the rarity of TGCT, a definitive diagnosis may take several years and visits to a variety of healthcare providers.

There are two forms of TGCT – localized and diffuse. Localized TGCT is most often found in smaller joints, such as those around the hands and feet, and makes up the majority of cases. This form can usually be treated effectively with surgery.

Diffuse TGCT most commonly occurs in large joints, such as the knee, ankle and hip and may be more difficult to remove with surgery. In the U.S., the annual incidence of new diffuse cases was estimated to be about 1,300 in 2019.[3],[4]

“For many years, people who couldn’t be treated successfully with surgery had to cope with living with TGCT because there were no approved systemic treatments and only a few experts truly understood the ramifications of the disease,” said Howard Rutman, MD, Vice President, Medical Affairs, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. “Following the approval of Turalio, a prescription medicine used to treat certain patients with TGCT, it is critical that we continue to increase awareness and have patients see the appropriate specialists so we can help those patients.”

In August 2019, TURALIO® (pexidartinib) became the first and only treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for adult patients with symptomatic TGCT associated with severe morbidity or functional limitations and not amenable to improvement with surgery.

Turalio can cause serious side effects, including serious liver problems, which may be severe and can lead to death. The most common side effects of Turalio include: changes in blood liver tests; hair color changes; tiredness; increased cholesterol level in the blood; decreased white blood cells and red blood cells; swelling in and around your eyes; rash; and loss of taste or changes in the way things taste. Turalio can cause harm to an unborn baby when administered to a pregnant woman.

Because of the risk of serious liver problems, Turalio is available only through a restricted program called the Turalio REMS program.

If you experience signs of TGCT, contact your doctor, who may be able to refer you to a specialized center where physicians are more familiar with the disease. All members of a multidisciplinary healthcare team at a specialized center are highly trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of rare diseases like TGCT.

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information I should know about TURALIO® (pexidartinib)?
TURALIO can cause serious side effects, including serious liver problems, which may be severe and can lead to death.

Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check for liver problems:

  • before starting treatment with TURALIO
  • every week for the first 8 weeks during treatment
  • every 2 weeks for the next month
  • then every 3 months after that

If you develop liver problems during treatment with TURALIO, your healthcare provider may do blood tests more often to monitor you. It is important to stay under the care of your healthcare provider during treatment with TURALIO.

Stop taking TURALIO and call your healthcare provider right away if you develop yellowing of your skin and whites of your eyes or dark urine.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms of liver problems while taking TURALIO: lack or loss of appetite, right upper stomach-area (abdomen) pain or tenderness, feeling overly tired, nausea, vomiting, fever, rash, or itching.

TURALIO Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS): Because of the risk of serious liver problems, TURALIO is available only through a restricted program called the TURALIO REMS Program. Your healthcare provider must be enrolled in the program in order for you to be prescribed TURALIO. There is a registry that collects information about the effects of taking TURALIO over time. You must complete and sign an enrollment form for the TURALIO REMS Program and the registry. Ask your healthcare provider for more information.

What is TURALIO?
TURALIO is a prescription medicine used to treat certain adults who have tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) that is not likely to improve with surgery. TGCT is also known as giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath (GCT-TS) or pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS).

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

Before you take TURALIO, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have or had liver problems.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed during treatment with TURALIO and for at least 1 week after the final dose.
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. TURALIO may harm your unborn baby.

If you are a female who is able to become pregnant:

  • Your healthcare provider will do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with TURALIO.
  • Females who are able to become pregnant should use an effective nonhormonal method of birth control (contraception) during treatment with TURALIO and for 1 month after your final dose of TURALIO.
  • Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) and other hormonal forms of birth control may not be effective if used during treatment with TURALIO. Talk with your healthcare provider about birth control methods you can use during this time.
  • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you are pregnant during treatment with TURALIO.

If you are a male with a female partner who is able to become pregnant:

  • Use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for 1 week after your final dose of TURALIO.
  • Tell your healthcare provider right away if your female partner becomes pregnant or thinks she is pregnant during your treatment with TURALIO.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Certain medicines may affect the way TURALIO works and TURALIO may affect how other medicines work. Taking TURALIO with certain medicines can increase the amount of TURALIO in your blood. This may make it more likely for you to have side effects and may cause more severe side effects.

  • Avoid taking the following medicines during treatment with TURALIO because they can affect how TURALIO works: proton pump inhibitor medicines (PPIs); St. John’s wort.

How should I take TURALIO?

  • Your healthcare provider will explain to you how you will receive your TURALIO.
  • Take TURALIO exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to.
  • TURALIO is usually taken 2 times a day. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much TURALIO to take and when to take it.
  • TURALIO must be taken on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal or snack.
  • Swallow TURALIO capsules whole.
  • Do not open, break, or chew TURALIO capsules.
  • If you need to take an acid-reducing medicine, follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for which medicine to take and when to take it. See “What should I avoid while taking TURALIO?”
    • Antacid medicines: Take TURALIO either 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking an antacid medicine.
    • H2 receptor blocker medicines. Take TURALIO at least 2 hours before or 10 hours after taking an H2 receptor blocker medicine.
  • If you vomit after taking a dose, or if you miss a dose of TURALIO, take your next dose at your regular time.

What should I avoid while taking TURALIO?

  • Avoid grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice during treatment with TURALIO. Grapefruit or grapefruit juice can cause you to have too much TURALIO in your blood and may lead to increased side effects and more severe side effects.

What are the possible side effects of TURALIO?
TURALIO can cause serious side effects. See “What is the most important information I should know about TURALIO?”

The most common side effects of TURALIO include: changes in blood liver tests; hair color changes; tiredness; increased cholesterol level in the blood; decreased white blood cells and red blood cells; swelling in and around your eyes; rash; and loss of taste or changes in the way things taste.

  • TURALIO may affect fertility in females and males, which may affect your ability to have children. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about fertility.

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

General information about the safe and effective use of TURALIO
Do not give TURALIO to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them. You can ask your healthcare provider for more information.

Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.

TURALIO® is a registered trademark of Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited.

© 2020 Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.

PP-US-TU-0482

07/20

[1] de Saint Aubain, et al. WHO. 2013;100-103.

[2] Gelhorn HL et al. Clin Ther. 2016;38(4):778-793.

[3] US Census Bureau. Projected Population by Single Year of Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin for the United States: 2016 to 2060. Available at: https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/2017/demo/popproj/2017-popproj.html. Accessed June 3, 2019.

[4] Mastboom M, et al. Interact J Med Res. 2018; 7(1).


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How the right kind of sugar makes all the difference

2020-07-14T12:01:00

(BPT) – Everyone is becoming more health conscious today, and that means people are paying closer attention to what they are eating throughout the day — from items that are bought at the store to food that’s made at home. The hard part for consumers is interpreting food labels, especially when it comes to ingredients one might have concerns about, such as the type of added sugar. With so many varieties of sugar available, it is important to understand the differences between them, what they are best used for and the role that they play in the flavor of different foods.

Why do some foods need sugar?

Beyond providing sweetness, the molecular structure of sugar aids in the baking process, and also creates appealing color and texture. In fact, sugar has a wide variety of applications even beyond baked goods — from savory dishes to cocktails and more. Here’s what sugar, or sucrose, does for many foods you make or buy:

Bread: Sugar creates crust browning (caramelization), affects starch swelling and “feeds” yeast fermentation. Sugar also helps retain moisture, extending bread’s shelf life.

Cereal bars: Sugar offers sweetness and helps retain moisture. Consumers should seek products specifically containing “Raw Cane Sugar” as “Cane Sugar” is a blanket term for many types of sugar, including white refined sugar. Consumers seeking minimally processed ingredients should look for Raw Cane Sugar in the ingredient statement.

Cookies: Especially with brown sugars, caramelization influences the color of cookies while enhancing their flavor. Sugar also helps prevent over-development of gluten to create the right texture, and helps retain moisture to create softness in some cookies.

Fermented food and beverages: Sugar plays a vital role in many fermented foods and beverages such as beer, wine, liquor, kefir, yogurt, smoothies and ice cream.

When it comes to sugar, if you’re looking for a more wholesome choice with a range of flavors, you’re in luck — there are many choices beyond white refined sugar.

Raw Cane Sugar offers many options for flavor variety, texture and versatility. Using minimally processed sugar provides an exciting range of rich and complex tastes.

Look for these sugar options when shopping or as an ingredient on labels for foods you buy:

Raw Cane Sugar

Minimally processed foods and ingredients are on trend in every category and sugar is no different. Shoppers today prefer minimally processed and organic sweeteners because they want ingredients with more flavor, texture, color and mouthfeel. When buying products, it’s important to look for “Raw Cane Sugar” on the label, as Raw Cane Sugar comes from the sugarcane plant, and it is minimally processed.

Brown Sugar

Brown sugar comes directly from sugarcane, the distinctive molasses taste permeates the entire crystal.

Dark Brown Sugar

The deep molasses taste of dark brown sugar is sought after for many spice-filled holiday treats like gingerbread, as well as in savory sauces and marinades for barbecued, grilled or smoked meats. The bold flavor of dark brown sugar complements strong or spicy flavors in a wide range of foods.

Light Brown Sugar

While not as bold in terms of flavor as dark brown sugar, light brown sugar is buttery and warm, with caramel notes. This moist sugar suits baked goods like brownies and cookies, plus savory dishes needing just a hint of sweetness, including in Asian flavor profiles.

Turbinado Sugar

You’ve probably seen this kind of sugar in packets at restaurants. Also referred to as Demerara sugar, Turbinado cane sugar adds crunch as well as sparkle for cookies and other desserts. With its large grains and amber color, Turbinado offers a bold molasses taste but in a free-flowing form, unlike its stickier brown sugar cousins.

Different kinds of sugar can add great flavor to many kinds of foods you buy as well as make yourself. For recipes using some of these sugars mentioned, visit FloridaCrystals.com.


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Create an outdoor getaway in your own backyard

2020-07-14T09:01:00

(BPT) – We all need a place to retreat, relax and detach from stress and anxiety.

One of the best ways to achieve that space is by spending time immersed in a backyard or gardening project. Studies show these pastimes can be very effective in reducing stress, partly because they produce such satisfying results, and partly because they require us to focus on nature instead of ourselves.

This season, RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) TM is sharing tips on how to cultivate your own backyard sanctuary with help from proven methods and professionals:

Follow an integrated approach

Most yards are subject to weeds and pests at one time or another — that’s just part of being a homeowner. When it comes to controlling those nuisances, you’ll want to follow a balanced approach, known by professionals as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM may sound complicated but it is pretty simple. IPM takes a balanced approach to the use of EPA-approved pesticides and fertilizers paired with preventative practices to confidently control home and lawn issues today and prevent their return tomorrow. Remember IPM as a three-step process to find, solve and prevent:

  • Find the source of your home or lawn problem.
  • Solve in a way that aligns with your time, expertise and situation.
  • Prevent it from happening again by taking care of areas in your yard that could invite the problem to return.

When using EPA-approved products, remember to follow label directions every time for long-lasting results.

Know when to call in the pros

In many cases, enlisting professionals to help create and maintain your outdoor sanctuary can be the ticket to a safe and healthy outdoor space.

“While many people have an idea of what they want their outdoor space to look like, it can be difficult to know where to start,” said Larry Wilson, Owner of Lawrence Landscape Design and RISE member. “That’s where we come in. Lawn and landscape professionals can help homeowners with everything from determining the plants that grow best in their climate, to deciding the type of soil and products to use.” If you need advice or help with the nitty-gritty, don’t hesitate to hire the following experts who can step in to help with design and logistics while practicing safe social distancing.

  • Mowing services offer regular mowing, edging and trimming
  • Lawn care services provide seasonal upkeep for healthy and maintained grass with methods such as aeration, pre-emergent treatment and weed control
  • Landscaping services can design and refresh your layouts for more pleasing curb appeal
  • Pest control services offer seasonal maintenance for both your home and your outdoor spaces

Block the bite

With focused planning, your backyard can become your “happy place” — a haven of calm and comfort and an ideal place for spending quality time with your family. Once you’ve established that haven, it’s time to protect it. Take proactive steps to ward off biting insects like ticks and mosquitoes that can spread harmful diseases such as Lyme disease and West Nile virus.

Remove standing water around your outdoor living space and mow your grass regularly to reduce areas where ticks and mosquitoes can live. Don’t forget to put up personal barriers, too, by using EPA-approved bug repellent to keep ticks and mosquitoes away. Look for bug repellents with DEET, Picaradin, IR355 or other EPA-approved active ingredients recommended by the CDC as proven and effective. Apply and re-apply according to label directions while outdoors.

Call your local professional applicator for more region-specific information on how to stop ticks and mosquitoes, like treating the perimeter of your yard and home. Their local and community expertise can increase the likelihood of stopping pests and preventing their return.

Ready to design an outdoor space you can enjoy all season long? Make plans now to create a family-friendly refuge that will be a source of calm and comfort for all who enter. Visit www.DebugtheMyths.com to learn more.


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RDN shares top 5 immune boosting foods

2020-07-14T07:01:01

(BPT) – The food choices you make can help you feel more energized and focused, but what some people may not realize is they also have a profound impact on your immune system. Incorporating certain foods into your diet can boost your immunity and help you feel your best.

“In today’s uncertain times, it’s important now more than ever to maintain a strong immune system,” says registered dietitian and nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner. “By eating mindfully and adding nutrient-rich foods to your diet, you’re making a positive step to support your overall health and wellness.”

Blatner recommends incorporating these five foods into your diet to support your immune system:

Bell peppers: A colorful addition to your plate, bell peppers are rich in vitamin C. In fact, the vegetable has two to three times more vitamin C than an orange. Vitamin C is crucial for immune health because it increases the white blood cells that fight off infection. For the most vitamin C, it’s best to eat them raw or just lightly cooked.

Eggs: Eggs (particularly the yolk) contain vitamin D, which is a nutrient the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) notes can help the immune system resist viruses and bacteria. But it’s important to keep in mind that not all eggs are created equal. Eggland’s Best (EB) eggs have six times more vitamin D, and 10 times more vitamin E compared to ordinary eggs, plus protein, folate, lutein and omega-3s, which play key roles in immune health.

Yogurt: Yogurt contains probiotics to support a healthy gut, where many of the immune cells are found. Yogurt is also a good source of zinc, a mineral that helps to make white blood cells to fight infections and control inflammation. Choose yogurt without extra added sugar and consider pairing it with antioxidant-rich fruits like berries.

Spinach: Not only is spinach packed with vitamin C, but it’s rich with antioxidants and beta carotene that act as an anti-inflammatory and help protect against sickness. It’s best to mix it up, sometimes eating spinach raw and sometimes lightly cooked since some nutrients are higher in the raw version and some are higher when lightly cooked.

Turmeric: Curcumin gives turmeric its signature yellow color and is responsible for its immunity benefits. A natural anti-inflammatory, curcumin has been shown to enhance immune cell activity and improve antibody responses. Though it’s most used in curries, turmeric is also delicious in smoothies, soups or sprinkled on cooked vegetables or eggs. Aim to eat it with black pepper to increase its absorption by up to 2,000%.

For a delicious meal packed with some of these immune-boosting ingredients, try this recipe:

EBLT Bowl

Ingredients

Salad:

2 Eggland’s Best Hard-Cooked Peeled Eggs

1 6-ounce bag spinach

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

6 pieces of bacon, cooked and chopped

1 avocado, sliced

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup croutons

Dressing:

1/4 cup light mayonnaise

1 tablespoon water

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. In a large bowl combine spinach, bacon and tomatoes.
  2. Place all of your salad dressing ingredients together in a jar and shake until completely combined.
  3. Top spinach mixture with 2 hard-cooked eggs per bowl, sliced avocado and croutons.
  4. Drizzle with dressing and enjoy!

For more immune-boosting recipes, visit www.EgglandsBest.com.


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How Americans can save on prescription costs

2020-07-14T05:31:00

(BPT) – Did you know prescriptions cost more in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world? If you or a loved one need daily medications, you may already know about the high cost of prescription drugs.

Access to affordable prescription drugs is an even more vital concern due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Anyone with pre-existing conditions and who has experienced financial setbacks or lost their employment may be anxious about their health and struggling to afford healthcare and medication costs.

“Americans struggle now more than ever with skyrocketing prescription drug prices and, despite promises from elected officials to lower medication costs, meaningful change remains elusive,” said Jack Pfeiffer, executive director of the Campaign for Personal Prescription Importation (CPPI).

Because this issue is unresolved, Americans are increasingly turning to Canadian pharmacies, from which they can safely order medications online. This year’s annual survey conducted by CPPI explored why this choice is becoming more popular, how much Americans are saving, and who is benefiting most from this option.

How the cost of medications influences where people get their prescriptions

The majority of the CPPI survey respondents (94%) cited the high cost of prescriptions as the primary reason they order medications from online pharmacies in Canada.

Other reasons for importing medications included the consistency in pricing (11%); the convenience of online ordering (7%) and consistency in availability of medications (6%), plus the lack of availability of some medications in the U.S. (4%).

Want to compare prescription costs between the U.S. and Canada? Check out PersonalImportation.org/dramatic-drug-price-differences-canada-vs-us.

How much are people actually saving?

The CPPI survey looked at actual dollar amounts people reported from ordering their prescriptions from Canadian pharmacies. On average, those who ordered pharmaceuticals online from Canada saved $245 per month. This amount is a sharp increase from the $196 average monthly savings reported in last year’s survey.

Breaking the totals down further, among those who saved over $300 per month (20% of the respondents), the average savings added up to $648. Over half of the respondents (53%) reported saving up to $199 each month, and 18% said they saved between $200 and $29 through personal importation of their prescriptions from Canada.

Who is importing their prescriptions?

A recent University of Florida study published in the JAMA Network Open reveals that over 2 million Americans purchased prescription drugs from outside the U.S. to save money.

Perhaps not surprisingly, older adults seemed the most likely to import their prescriptions: Nearly three-fourths of those getting prescriptions from outside the U.S. (72%) reported being on Medicare, while 15% were on employer-based insurance, 9% were self-insured and 7% were uninsured. Interestingly, 33% of the respondents from the CPPI survey learned about online pharmacies from their healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Overall, people who do get their prescriptions from outside the U.S. are very satisfied with that service. The overwhelming majority (98%) of those surveyed who import personal prescriptions would recommend ordering medications via licensed online pharmacies to family and friends.

The politics of prescriptions

Respondents to the CPPI survey overwhelmingly expressed the belief that high drug prices are a critical issue needing to be addressed by elected leaders — as well as by candidates running for public office. For the upcoming presidential election, 86% said this issue was either extremely important or very important, while 12% regarded the issue as somewhat important.

Despite these strong opinions regarding the need to enact reform to deal with the high cost of prescription drugs, Congress so far has not been able to pass any legislation to address it.

5. Ease of savings

While American consumers wait for Congress to act, they still have the option of finding their prescriptions from legitimate, licensed pharmacies as close as Canada by shopping online. Americans with a valid prescription can safely order 30- to 90-day supplies of medications from Canadian pharmacies.

To ensure safety and to avoid scams, CPPI recommends purchasing medications only from pharmacy websites that are certified by the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA), which lists only licensed pharmacies at CIPA.com/certified-safe-online-pharmacies.


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After Years of Living with Asthma, Teacher Shares Steps She Made for Change

2020-07-13T11:01:00

(BPT) – Please see below for important safety information including patient information.

Every year, Pam, a kindergarten teacher in Wisconsin, trained her class of 4- and 5-year-olds on what to do if she had an asthma attack during class, hoping they wouldn’t have to put those plans into action. She was diagnosed with asthma and nasal polyps a decade ago, but her class hadn’t been put to the test until two years ago.

Neither her inhaler nor nebulizer helped that day. So, one student ran to the classroom next door and alerted the teacher, and another went to the principal’s office. Her colleagues wanted to call an ambulance because it was an extreme emergency, but Pam’s husband was nearby and would have arrived before the ambulance, so she waited for him to take her to the emergency room safely. She still remembers the look on her students’ faces.

“You look terrible when you have an asthma attack,” Pam recalled one student said. Pam continued, “Their little faces were so scared. A 5-year-old should never have to see that. It still tears me up just thinking about it.”

There are as many as 900,000 people in the U.S. with moderate-to-severe asthma that experience uncontrolled, persistent symptoms that can have a significant impact on their life, including disturbed sleep and restricted daily activities,[1],[2],[3],[4] Additionally, almost 50 percent of people with nasal polyps also have asthma.[5] Symptoms of nasal polyps, including breathing difficulties, nasal congestion and discharge, reduction or loss of sense of smell and taste, and facial pressure,[6] can make everyday life even more difficult. Severe asthma attacks are three times more likely to occur in patients with uncontrolled symptoms than those with better asthma control.[7] At the time, Pam was no exception to this statistic. But, that moment motivated her to keep searching for new ways to control her asthma.

Never forgetting her inhaler

In the past decade, Pam visited the emergency room three times due to asthma attacks – and each attack felt more severe than the last. What felt like allergies that never seemed to go away wasn’t that at all.

Even after her official diagnosis, she thought that the emergency room visits and frequency with which she used oral corticosteroids (OCS) was just a normal part of living with asthma. She always kept her nebulizer nearby and took her inhaler with her everywhere, even during short walks around the neighborhood – but sometimes she forgot her inhaler at home. “Not having my inhaler was scary and worrying about an attack was always in the back of my mind,” Pam said. “And some days, I just didn’t feel good enough to exercise because of my asthma.”

A new outlook

After Pam’s attack in her kindergarten class, she talked with her doctor about her asthma treatment plan, and what she could do differently to gain more control.

Type 2 inflammation is part of the body’s immune response to allergens and certain types of infections. But when the body has an overactive type 2 immune response to certain triggers, this can create excessive type 2 inflammation that can contribute to different inflammatory diseases, like atopic dermatitis, asthma and nasal polyps.[8],[9] This underlying, excessive inflammation may help explain why people with asthma can have additional airway diseases, including nasal polyps. The presence of both asthma and nasal polyps is typically seen in people with more severe diseases, who are often more difficult to treat.[8],[10],[11],[12]

Pam’s doctor introduced her to Dupixent® (dupilumab), a biologic treatment that blocks two proteins that play a major role in the inflammation that underlies specific types of asthma.[9],[13]

Dupixent is a prescription treatment approved for use with other asthma medications for the maintenance treatment of moderate-to-severe eosinophilic or oral steroid dependent asthma in people aged 12 years and older whose asthma is not controlled with their current asthma medicines. Dupixent is not used to treat sudden breathing problems. Dupixent is also indicated for use with other medicines for the maintenance treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) in adults whose disease is not controlled. Before starting DUPIXENT, you should talk to your doctor about all the medical conditions you have or medications you are taking. You and your doctor should also discuss the potential benefits and risks of treatment with DUPIXENT including the most common side effects such as injection site reactions, and some serious side effects such as allergic reactions including anaphylaxis and inflammation of your blood vessels. To learn more about Dupixent and find tools and resources about how to have an effective conversation with your doctor, visit www.Dupixent.com.

Since changing her treatment plan to include Dupixent a year and a half ago, Pam has been breathing more comfortably. She hasn’t had an asthma attack since starting this treatment – which for Pam means she is no longer living with the constant worry about how her asthma can impact her students. A weight has been lifted off her shoulders. This is Pam’s experience, and a patient’s individual results with Dupixent may vary.

“I don’t have to stress about carrying my nebulizer everywhere, and this is the first year I feel I don’t have to train my class on how to help if I have an attack in class,” Pam said. “I have a new lease on life. I hope that everyone who has uncontrolled asthma knows that they don’t have to accept living in constant fear. I hope they keep searching for ways to better control their asthma because it’s been absolutely life changing for me.”

Do you have persistent asthma symptoms? Click here to learn more about the signs of inadequate disease control.

Now that Pam has learned more about her own asthma, she wants to help others to become more educated and empowered. She is collaborating with Regeneron and Sanofi to share her own personal experiences with Dupixent. If you are living with persistent asthma, click here to learn more about the signs of inadequate disease control.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION & INDICATIONS

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” if you are treated with DUPIXENT.
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether DUPIXENT will harm your unborn baby.
    • There is a pregnancy exposure registry for women who take DUPIXENT during pregnancy to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Your healthcare provider can enroll you or you may enroll yourself. To get more information about the registry 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; have asthma and use an asthma medicine; or have atopic dermatitis or CRSwNP, and also have asthma. 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 (hypersensitivity), including a severe reaction known as anaphylaxis. Stop using DUPIXENT and tell your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you get any of the following symptoms: breathing problems, fever, general ill feeling, swollen lymph nodes, swelling of the face, mouth and tongue, hives, itching, fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded (low blood pressure), joint pain, or skin rash.
  • Eye problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new or worsening eye problems, including eye pain or changes in vision.
  • Inflammation of your blood vessels. Rarely, this can happen in people with asthma who receive DUPIXENT. This may happen in people who also take a steroid medicine by mouth that is being stopped or the dose is being lowered. It is not known whether this is caused by DUPIXENT. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have: rash, shortness of breath, persistent fever, chest pain, or a feeling of pins and needles or numbness of your arms or legs.

The most common side effects include:

  • Atopic dermatitis: injection site reactions, eye and eyelid inflammation, including redness, swelling, and itching, and cold sores in your mouth or on your lips.
  • Asthma: injection site reactions, pain in the throat (oropharyngeal pain), and high count of a certain white blood cell (eosinophilia).
  • Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis: injection site reactions, eye and eyelid inflammation, including redness, swelling, and itching, high count of a certain white blood cell (eosinophilia), trouble sleeping (insomnia), toothache, gastritis, and joint pain (arthralgia).

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. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much DUPIXENT to inject and how often to inject it. DUPIXENT is an injection given under the skin (subcutaneous injection). If your healthcare provider decides that you or a caregiver can give DUPIXENT injections, you or your caregiver should receive training on the right way to prepare and inject DUPIXENT. Do not try to inject DUPIXENT until you have been shown the right way by your healthcare provider. In children 12 years of age and older, it is recommended that DUPIXENT be administered by or under supervision of an adult. In children younger than 12 years of age, DUPIXENT should be given by a caregiver.

Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information including Patient Information.

INDICATIONS

DUPIXENT is a prescription medicine used:

  • to treat people aged 6 years and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) 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 years of age.
  • with other asthma medicines for the maintenance treatment of moderate-to-severe eosinophilic or oral steroid dependent asthma in people aged 12 years and older whose asthma is not controlled with their current asthma medicines. DUPIXENT helps prevent severe asthma attacks (exacerbations) and can improve your breathing. DUPIXENT may also help reduce the amount of oral corticosteroids you need while preventing severe asthma attacks and improving your breathing. DUPIXENT is not used to treat sudden breathing problems. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with asthma under 12 years of age.
  • with other medicines for the maintenance treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) in adults whose disease is not controlled. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis under 18 years of age.

[1] U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. “Monthly Population Estimates for the United States: April 1, 2010 to December 1, 2018: 2017 Population Estimates.” United States Census Bureau. (2017): 1-8.

[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Health Interview Survey 2016. Sample Child and Sample Adult file available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/nhis_2016_data_release.htm.

[3] Dean BB, BM Calimlim, SL Kindermann, et al. The Impact of Uncontrolled Asthma on Absenteeism and Health-Related Quality of Life. J Asthma. 2009;46(9):861-6.

[4] GINA 2020 Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention. 2020. Available at: https://ginasthma.org/gina-reports/. Last accessed April 2020.

[5] Stevens, Whitney W., et al. “Clinical characteristics of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, asthma, and aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.” The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 5.4 (2017): 1061-1070.

[6] Newton JR, Ah-See KW. A review of nasal polyposis. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2008;4(2):507-12.

[7] Haselkorn T, Fish JE, Zeiger RS, et al; TENOR Study Group. Consistently very poorly controlled asthma, as defined by the impairment domain of the Expert Panel Report 3 guidelines, increases risk for future severe asthma exacerbations in The Epidemiology and Natural History of Asthma: Outcomes and Treatment Regimens (TENOR) study. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009;124(5):895-902.

[8] Gandhi NA, BL Bennett, NM Graham, et al. Targeting key proximal drivers of type 2 inflammation in disease. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2016;15(1):35-50.

[9] Gandhi, Namita A., Gianluca Pirozzi, and Neil MH Graham. “Commonality of the IL-4/IL-13 Pathway in Atopic Diseases.” Expert Review of Clinical Immunology. 13.5 (2017): 425-437.

[10] Staikuniene J, et al. Association of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and asthma: clinical and radiological features, allergy and inflammation markers. Medicina (Kaunas). 2008; 44(4):257-265.

[11] Amelink M, de Groot JC, de Nijs SB, Lutter R, Zwinderman AH, Sterk PJ, ten Brinke A, Bel EH. Severe adult-onset asthma: a distinct phenotype. Journal of allergy and clinical immunology. 2013 Aug 1;132(2):336-41.

[12] Tay, T. R., Radhakrishna, N., Hore-Lacy, F., Smith, C., Hoy, R., Dabscheck, E., & Hew, M. (2016). Comorbidities in difficult asthma are independent risk factors for frequent exacerbations, poor control and diminished quality of life. Respirology. 21(8), 1384-1390.

[13] Simpson, Eric L., etal. “Two phase 3 trials of dupilumab versus placebo in atopicdermatitis.” New England Journal of Medicine. 375.24(2016): 2335-2348.


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Back-to-school survival list, 2020 edition

2020-07-13T07:31:00

(BPT) – There’s no doubt about it, the end of the last school year was tough on parents, teachers and students alike. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, schools closed throughout the country, challenging everyone with the task of keeping education going at home — for kids in elementary school, high school and college.

Fall 2020 still looks uncertain. Depending on where you live, schools may or may not be open for in-person learning for the entire term, and it’s extremely likely there will be a continuing need for at-home learning capability for millions of students of all ages.

How can you be ready?

Preparing for uncertainty can be difficult, but it’s best to plan ahead for whatever may happen. It also helps to look back on the past school term to learn from your experience.

What were the biggest obstacles to learning, and how can you and your family improve the home environment to conquer those obstacles? What you learn may also help you improve your work-from-home setup.

The 2020 school supply list

Getting the academic year’s school supply list and heading to the nearest store is a yearly ritual parents know well. This year’s supply list will look different, for sure, and you will likely order all the items online. In addition, what you need may differ from years past — especially if your child or college-aged student has to continue learning remotely.

Review the past months with your kids to assess what made learning at home challenging. Then you can seek solutions to improve the home learning experience for them, and for you.

Noisy home?

Especially if kids have to study in common areas or shared rooms, noise may be a major distraction. Good-quality noise-canceling headphones can help students focus better. Another option is to get top-notch external speakers for listening to videos or lectures — as long as it doesn’t disturb others.

Computer problems?

Apart from improving your internet speed and connection, if possible, upgrading your student’s laptop can make a huge difference. A laptop with a top-grade camera and up-to-date audio features makes using online learning platforms like Zoom a much smoother experience.

Need reading help?

Students who have to lug around large textbooks or who need the flexibility to read in different areas of the home will appreciate a first-rate tablet or e-reader. E-readers are light, portable, easy to use and you can access tons of books for free — including lots of material from local libraries.

Struggle to find good study spaces?

For both students and parents working at home, consider what spaces are available for everyone to study or work. Review the past few months and recall any difficulties you had.

Too much clutter? Poor lighting? Insufficient surface space? Uncomfortable seating? Make a list of what would help solve these pain points, like:

  • Organizing bins, carts or shelves
  • Desktop or standing lamps
  • New table or desk at the right height
  • Ergonomic chairs with lumbar support

Making any of these purchases may seem out of reach when money is tight. A family member may have lost their job, been furloughed or had hours reduced, or you may be caring for someone who is ill.

To avoid getting into further financial difficulties by depleting cash or using high-interest credit cards, there are better solutions. Ask your employer’s HR department if they offer voluntary benefits like low interest installment loans, automated bill payment programs or employee purchase programs using payroll deduction without charging fees or interest.

With purchase programs like Purchasing Power, employees can select from over 40,000 products and services, including top brands of computers, electronics, office furniture and more to make your student’s study-at-home life more productive and comfortable. Check out services and products you may have access to through your employer at www.purchasingpower.com.

If your work-at-home productivity requires a better home study space, investing in the right set-up is well worth it. Be ready for anything you might need this year with a concrete plan.