Month: August 2022

2022-08-01T11:01:00

(BPT) – From new school gear to new routines, the back-to-school season is an exciting time for students and parents, but also a source of financial stress — especially with inflation on the rise. According to the National Retail Federation, inflation concerns and higher prices have K-12 and college shoppers even more likely to be looking for deals, coupons and other savings as they stock up for the return to the classroom.

Fortunately, Amazon offers shoppers some of the lowest prices, plus convenient fast, free delivery options for everything you need this school year — from school supplies to groceries and more. Here are five time- and money-saving tips to help you ace the back-to-school season:

1. Check out Amazon’s discounted Prime membership.

Everyone knows Amazon Prime can help save time and money, but did you know that Amazon actually offers a discounted Prime membership option for qualifying government assistance recipients? Qualifying customers can access all of the shopping, savings and entertainment benefits of Prime for just $6.99/month — that’s half the price of a regular Prime membership! This includes fast, free delivery — including on groceries and prescription medication — unlimited access to award-winning movies, series and live sports with Prime Video, more than 3,000 books and magazines available through Prime Reading, access to exclusive deals and discounts, and much more. To learn more or start a 30-day trial, visit www.Amazon.com/QualifyNow.

2. Take advantage of discounts on recurring orders.

From juices and snacks for lunch boxes to pens and notebooks for class, use subscriptions to help save time (and brainpower) on keeping up with everyday essentials throughout the school year. With Amazon’s Subscribe & Save option, you can subscribe to the items you frequently buy and have them shipped to you regularly. You’ll not only save up to 15% on these purchases, but also save time and energy going back and forth to the store. Plus, Prime members can get their orders delivered in two days or less.

3. Get (and stay!) ahead on reading.

It’s never too late to check off the summer reading list with more than 3,000 books and magazines available through Prime Reading, including free educational content. Find best-selling books, new releases and classics in every category with fast and free Prime delivery right from the comfort of your couch. Also, get unlimited access to a rotating catalog of ebooks and audiobooks throughout the school year, including 1 free pre-release ebook every month from editors’ picks. But don’t forget the fun — magazines and comic books are also included!

4. Keep the whole family healthy.

Back-to-school will mean the return of classroom germs. Save on items like hand sanitizers and disinfecting wipes, as well as daily vitamins and dietary supplements to keep your whole family healthy. If you do get sick, you can take advantage of Prime members’ free Two-Day delivery benefit on prescriptions from Amazon Pharmacy plus exclusive savings when paying without insurance at more than 60,000 pharmacies nationwide. When paying with Prime, select meds can be as low as $1/month and you can get easy refills without waiting in long pharmacy lines.

5. Don’t forget to schedule some study breaks.

When you’re not hitting the books, enjoy access to award-winning movies, series and live sports with Prime Video, ad-free streaming of 2 million songs, thousands of stations and playlists, and thousands of podcasts with Amazon Music. Even better, if you have an Alexa device, it will automatically recognize your Amazon Music membership so you can sing along in any room in your house.

This sponsored article is presented by Brandpoint.

2022-08-01T11:01:00

(BPT) – As you get older, your body and health change, but this doesn’t mean every change you experience is a normal part of aging. Consider your visits to the bathroom, for example. If you or a loved one is over the age of 70 and has been experiencing changes in urination, it might be time to speak with your doctor.

Changes in urination may include¹:

• More frequent need to urinate
• Pain or burning during urination
• Feeling as if you need to go right away, even when your bladder isn’t full
• Having trouble urinating or having a weak urine stream
• Having to get up to urinate many times during the night
• Blood in urine

While many of these symptoms may be signs of common, treatable conditions such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder stones, an overactive bladder, or, in men, an enlarged prostate, they may also be signs of bladder cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.¹

It is an important time to consider proper urological health and associated risk factors. If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor.

“Bladder cancer becomes more common as we age,” said Dr. Sandip Prasad, a urologist in community practice with Atlantic Medical Group and the Morristown Medical Center, New Jersey. “Due to its prevalence, it’s important for older Americans to be vigilant about any changes in their urinary health and behaviors, as it may help to detect — and, more importantly, treat — bladder cancer in its early stages.”

Donald McNally, age 86, first knew something was wrong after experiencing blood in his urine in 2017. He went to Dr. Prasad who diagnosed him with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). After repeated treatments his cancer kept coming back, so he discussed other options with his doctor and family.

“Almost one year ago, I tried an experimental treatment, and I’m still cancer free,” said McNally. “I’m very happy with the results. My advice to someone facing a cancer diagnosis is to explore all of your options and work with your doctor to choose the one that’s right for you.”

Bladder cancer risks

While anyone can develop bladder cancer, some factors increase the risk. These include smoking, exposure to certain carcinogenic chemicals, having a family history of the disease, chronic bladder problems and urinary tract infections, previous chemotherapy, certain diabetes medications and age.²

Research has found that bladder cancer most often occurs in those aged 75-84 and is three times more likely to occur in males than females.³ Of the estimated 80,000 new cases of bladder cancer diagnosed each year, 70-75% are diagnosed as NMIBC.³ Those living with NMIBC face a future of recurrence and additional surgeries.⁴

Challenges treating bladder cancer

While there is a low risk of mortality, chronically relapsing NMIBC remains a problem.⁵ There are currently no drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for primary treatment of NMIBC.

Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is the standard first-line treatment option for NMIBC patients. TURBT is a surgical procedure to remove the bladder tumor through the urethra, the thin tube that carries urine from the bladder.

Recent scientific evidence shows that repeated TURBTs may lead to significant post-operative comorbidities (development of other health conditions) and even an increased risk of mortality. Patients who undergo repeated procedures may be facing serious health and other burdens that can impact various aspects of their life.⁶

The need for a non-surgical treatment

There is a growing need for nonsurgical and minimally invasive approaches to treatment. While TURBT is the standard treatment used by medical experts for NMIBC, urologists believe TURBT may pose burdens and risks that include:

• Susceptible patient population: People in their 70s and 80s tend to live with multiple health concerns or conditions.⁷ Repeated, invasive surgeries impose greater overall health risk, both during procedures and post-procedure recovery.
• Access: Getting to and from outpatient facilities may be challenging for older patients who may not drive or have access to alternative transportation options.⁸
• Convenience and safety: Lengthy hospital stays during recovery pose risks, not only due to the patient’s increased susceptibilities post-procedure, but also because crowded hospitals can increase the spread of infectious diseases.⁹

For a variety of reasons, a minimally invasive outpatient procedure could be another treatment option for those living with NMIBC. There is an investigational, non-surgical treatment approach for low-grade intermediate-risk NMIBC currently in Phase 3 clinical development.

Please visit https://www.urogen.com/our-pipeline-and-partners/ to learn more.

References

1. Bladder cancer signs and symptoms. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-and-symptoms.html.
2. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (‎NCCN Guidelines^®) Bladder Cancer. NCCN.org. v1.2022. Published February 11, 2022.
3. Shariat SF, Sfakianos JP, Droller MJ, Karakiewicz PI, Meryn S, Bochner BH. The effect of age and gender on Bladder Cancer: A critical review of the literature. BJU international. 2010 Feb; 105(3): 300–308.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4315315/.
4. Porten SP, Leapman MS, Greene KL. Intravesical chemotherapy in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Indian journal of urology : IJU : journal of the Urological Society of India. 2015 Oct-Dec; 31(4): 297–303. 10.4103/0970-1591.166446. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4626913/.
5. Chang SS, Boorjian SA, Chou R, Clark PE, Daneshmand S, Konety BR, Pruthi R, Quale DZ, Ritch CR, Seigne JD, Skinner EC, Smith ND, McKiernan JM. Diagnosis and Treatment of Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: AUA/SUO Guideline. J Urol. 2016 Oct;196(4):1021-9. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2016.06.049. Epub 2016 Jun 16. PMID: 27317986.
6. Schoenberg M, Steinberg G. Rethinking the Treatment of Recurrent Nonmuscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer. J Urol. 2021 Jul;206(4):7-9. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000001709.
7. Maresova, P., Javanmardi, E., Barakovic, S. et al. Consequences of chronic diseases and other limitations associated with old age – a scoping review. BMC Public Health 2019; 19, 1431. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7762-5.
8. MacLeod KE, Ragland DR, Prohaska TR, Smith ML, Irmiter C, Satariano WA. Missed or delayed medical care appointments by older users of Nonemergency Medical Transportation. The Gerontologist. 2015 Dec; 55(6): 1026–1037. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4668763/.
9. Rosman M, Rachminov O, Segal O, Segal G. Prolonged patients’ in-hospital waiting period after discharge eligibility is associated with increased risk of infection, morbidity and mortality: A retrospective cohort analysis. BMC health services research. 2015; 246. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4480441/.

US-UGN-00128 07/2022

2022-08-01T07:01:00

(BPT) – Hair is an important part of your personal style every day and when a special event is approaching, such as a wedding, reunion or big birthday, it can help you look and feel your best. If you’re experiencing thinning hair or hair loss, it’s important to know you’re not alone. There are some steps you can take to get healthier hair and boost your confidence, so you can look and feel like the best version of yourself.

“If you’ve noticed your hair doesn’t seem as thick as it used to be or more is falling out than normal, don’t be alarmed. Learning about the causes of hair loss and how you can keep your hair healthy can make a positive impact, no matter your age,” said Dr. Elizabeth Houshmand, board certified dermatologist and Viviscal spokesperson.

Hair shedding versus hair loss

It’s normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. You may temporarily shed more than this for a few months due to stressors such as giving birth, losing a significant amount of weight, or recovering from an illness or operation. As your body readjusts, shedding should go back to normal levels.

Hair loss is different because it occurs when the hair stops growing — this can be caused by things such as medical treatments like chemotherapy, where hair will start to grow again when the treatment stops, or hereditary hair loss, where you have inherited genes that cause hair loss.

In honor of Hair Loss Awareness Month, Dr. Houshmand shares some ways to help maintain hair health and encourage thicker, fuller, healthier hair:

Nourish from the inside: Healthy hair starts from within, so it’s important to look at your diet and eat nourishing foods. Protein is particularly important because it’s a building block for hair, so stock up on lean meats, Greek yogurt, beans and nut butters. Some foods you may not realize are high in protein include avocado, peas, quinoa and chia seeds.

Boost vitamin intake: Supplements can make a big difference for hair health. For example, Viviscal Hair Growth Supplements are clinically proven and specifically formulated with AminoMar™, a proprietary marine collagen complex, along with key vitamins to help achieve thicker hair in as little as three months. This 100% drug-free formula helps with hair diameter and hair shedding.

Wash every other day: A dirty scalp can be itchy and irritating, leaving hair dry and brittle. Washing every other day is the ideal frequency for most people to promote hair health. Use a balanced shampoo and conditioner that gently cleanses the hair and scalp, leaving your hair looking fuller and thicker, like Viviscal Gorgeous Growth Densifying Shampoo and Conditioner. Learn more at Viviscal.com.

Mind wet hair: Remember, wet hair is weaker and therefore more vulnerable. Switch up your bathing routine by detangling before your shower rather than after to protect strands. Additionally, consider using a microfiber towel when drying your hair, which is gentler and wicks water away much faster than a standard cotton one.

Celebrity hairstylist and Viviscal ambassador Marissa Marino agrees with Dr. Houshmand about the importance of a proactive approach to healthy hair. She added the following insight based on her expert experience:

Cut heat: When possible, cut down on using heat styling tools or turn the heat down to the lowest effective setting. Explore alternatives that don’t use heat, such as rollers.

Go loose: That slick ponytail or braid may look chic, but it can damage your hair if worn on a regular basis. These styles pull at the roots and can cause breakage mid-strand.

Deep condition: On wash days, leave conditioner on your hair for longer periods of time so it really nourishes hair. Strive for 3-5 minutes before rinsing. Use this time to relax, meditate and destress.

“It’s time to normalize the conversation about thinning hair and hair loss,” said Marino. “These conditions are common and with a few simple steps, you can help your hair be its healthiest yet.”

2022-08-01T08:01:00

(BPT) – From gas to food to rent, inflation has impacted practically every good or service you buy. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. inflation hit a four-decade high in June, rising to 9.1% over the past year. With ever-increasing prices, it’s been difficult for families to afford the basics, let alone budget for school supplies their children will need for the upcoming school year.

Millions of children lack the supplies and learning materials they need to be successful in the classroom. According to AdoptAClassroom.org, 92% of classrooms have students whose families cannot afford to purchase school supplies for their children.

To address the lack of funds for school supplies, many teachers spend their own money to help bridge that gap. On average, teachers spent $750 out of pocket on school supplies during the 2020-2021 school year and 30% of teachers reported spending $1,000 or more on school supplies. Since AdoptAClassroom.org began surveying teachers in 2015, teacher spending has increased by 25%.

However, even teachers’ generosity often isn’t enough to supply every student with the tools they need for their education.

Companies and organizations step up to support students

As a way to give back to the communities they’re a part of, many companies and organizations have committed to providing classrooms with funds to purchase the materials needed for their students. For example, Subaru of America, Inc. and its retailers have helped more than 300,000 students nationwide.

While the automaker supports education year-round, they’ve committed the month of August to bring awareness and support to schools and their students who lack the necessary tools and materials they need to learn and succeed. Partnering with AdoptAClassroom.org for the second year in a row, the Subaru Loves Learning initiative will provide teachers across the country with flexible funding to purchase the school supplies and resources they need to help their students thrive in the classroom.

How can you make a difference?

To help even more students during Subaru Loves Learning month, Subaru of America will also match online gifts to AdoptAClassroom.org dollar-for-dollar, up to $350,000 in total from Aug. 1-31, 2022. AdoptAClassroom.org will make an equitable distribution of all donations through this fundraiser to help teachers at high-needs schools nationwide. To donate, please visit https://subaruloveslearning.org/helpusdomore.

Every donation, large or small, can positively impact a child’s life. By donating just $25, you can supply a classroom with:

• 180 pencils
• 3 reams of paper
• 12 spiral notebooks
• 25 glue sticks

By donating to the Subaru Loves Learning initiative this August, you can join Subaru and its retailers in helping to make a difference. AdoptAClassroom.org will make an equitable distribution of all funds donated through this fundraiser to help teachers at high-needs schools nationwide.

Subaru believes that all students deserve an equal and fair opportunity at a quality education. If you want to see your dollars make a difference in classrooms this fall, please visit https://subaruloveslearning.org/helpusdomore to make a donation.