(NewsUSA) - High blood pressure occurs in almost half of American adults, and you may not know you have it until you experience complications, such as heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, vision loss or sexual problems. In addition, having high blood pressure could contribute to worst COVID-19 outcomes, according to the American Heart Association.

"The best way to know if you have high blood pressure is to monitor it. Having your blood pressure monitored by a health professional at least once per year and regularly monitoring it yourself at home and discussing your numbers and a healthy lifestyle plan with a doctor is a great way to control your blood pressure," says Willie Lawrence, M.D. cardiologist and American Heart Association volunteer expert.

Know how to measure accurately

Whether you're measuring your blood pressure at home or having it measured in a doctor's office or someplace else, here are important things to know to get the most accurate reading:

- Get ready. Don't smoke, consume caffeine, or exercise within 30 minutes of checking your blood pressure. Empty your bladder, and rest quietly for at least 5 minutes before measuring.

- Get set. Sit up straight on a firm chair with a back. Place your feet flat on the floor and uncross your legs. Your arm should be on a flat surface with your upper arm at the level of your heart. Place the bottom of the monitor cuff just above the bend of the elbow directly on your skin, not over clothing.

- Go. Take your blood pressure measurement at about the same time each day. Take two or three readings one minute apart and record the results on paper. Some blood pressure monitors will save results or let you upload them to a secure website. Share your results with your doctor.

Know the meaning of your numbers

In most cases, a normal blood pressure is 120/80 or less. If you have readings that are consistently higher than 130/80, that's considered high blood pressure. A reading of 180/120 or higher could be a crisis! Wait five minutes and check it again. If it doesn't come down, see a doctor right away. If you experience symptoms such as headache, weakness, trouble seeing, chest pains, back pains or other health problems call 9-1-1, immediately. Don't wait for your pressure to go down. You could be having a serious health problem.

Know how to reduce your risk

You may reduce your risk of high blood pressure by maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, eating healthfully, reducing alcohol or not drinking and not smoking. However, if you do develop high blood pressure, don't give up. Knowing your blood pressure numbers, monitoring them regularly, taking medication as prescribed and working with a healthcare professional on a plan to improve your blood pressure and keep it under control, may help you to live a long and healthy life.

Many local businesses and organizations, such as churches, barber and beauty shops and community health centers are working with the American Heart Association to control blood pressure in communities and can be good places to get your blood pressure checked and to access resources and information at no cost to help you to live a healthy life.

For more information visit heart.org/hbpcontrol.

(NewsUSA) - Offices around the country are finally opening back up. According to census.gov, more than a third of Americans are still working from home , but the number of people getting back into their daily commutes-and their work clothes -- is growing every day.

In the APA's Stress in America™ poll conducted in February 2021, 42 percent of Americans reported undesired weight gain during COVID-19 quarantines, lockdowns and work-from-home time. Their average weight gain: 29 pounds.

To get back into a healthier routine once you head into the office, Courtney McCormick, registered dietitian and manager of clinical research & nutrition at Nutrisystem, offers these simple tips.

Pile on the Produce: Even the odds and help yourself stay on track when you clock in. Load up on non-starchy vegetables such as cucumbers, peppers, carrots and more each day because they're loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber, but they're low on calories. The fiber helps you feel full without filling out.

Pack Satisfying Snacks: Healthy snacks may be the most important option you can give yourself at the office. When you start to feel that 3 p.m. slump, it can be so easy to grab one of those coworker-brought bagels or hit the vending machine. Being prepared with satisfying options can help you make food decisions to meet your health goals.

Make Meals Ahead: Meal prepping ahead of time can help you stay on track when it's time to eat at the office. Pre-portioned meals such as those from Nutrisystem or power bowl recipes are a great healthy lunch meal prep option because they are easy to grab and go, yet heartier than a salad. You can also whip up several servings of chicken in the slow cooker or on the grill to pair with steamed veggies all week long.

Stay in the Know: Once you've got your healthy meal prep underway, arm yourself with information. When a coworker invites you to lunch or happy hour, you're going to want to be there-it's the first one in more than a year! So give yourself the info to concentrate on the experience without stressing about your order. Look at the menu online before you head out so you can see which options are best for your healthy lifestyle.

To add to your efforts, don't forget to stay hydrated and active during the workday. Pack a water bottle to refill during the day and plan to meet a co-worker for a lunchtime walk. For more great tips, visit Nutrisystem's The Leaf at leaf.nutrisystem.com.

(NewsUSA) - Today's consumers are looking for beverage choices that offer far more than just great taste. Whether for increased energy or hydration, the "functional beverages" category is expanding rapidly as America's middle age and older persons are focusing on nutrition and other positive lifestyle changes to live healthier lives. For those over 45 years, maintaining healthy blood sugar is increasingly important. Many in this age group are pre-diabetic and at future risk for heart disease, stroke and other complications.

Until recently diabetic friendly beverage choices have been limited to dairy shake beverages which, while healthy and nutritious, are not refreshing or thirst quenching. Unlike many other consumer categories, the diabetic friendly beverage category has not been served with a wide selection of beverages such as flavored waters, iced teas, as well as delicious coffees and sodas.

One brand expanding consumer choice for diabetic friendly beverages is GLUCODOWN®, manufactured by Glucose Health, Inc. of Bentonville, Arkansas. What sets GLUCODOWN® apart from other sugar-free powdered beverages is a breakthrough ingredient, a special form of soluble fiber, clinically demonstrated to reduce rising blood sugar after meals. Not only is GLUCODOWN® attracting the attention of diabetic consumers, it's also gaining popularity among persons following KETO diets for weight loss and better health.

The GLUCODOWN® product line-up consists of diabetic friendly iced teas in the four most popular flavored iced teas sold in America -- Lemon, Peach, Raspberry and Super Berry (blackberry & blueberry). Additionally, four new GLUCODOWN® "enhanced water" flavors are now available including Peach-Mango, Watermelon, Strawberry-Banana and Cherry. Like the GLUCODOWN® iced teas, the new "enhanced waters" flavors are dietician recommended to maintain blood sugar in a healthy range - -- especially after meals.

These diabetic friendly beverages are distributed nationally in pharmacies such as Walmart and CVS and are a top-seller seller at Amazon.

The beverage is manufactured by publicly traded Glucose Health, Inc. (Ticker: GLUC). For more information on the Company, visit glucosehealthinc.com or GlucReport.com for investor information.

For product information or to purchase, visit Amazon and type GLUCODOWN in the Amazon search bar, or visit www.shopglucodown.com

(NewsUSA)

(NewsUSA)

(NewsUSA)

By Maria Sophocles, MD 
For NewsUSA

(NewsUSA) - The pandemic created a major shift in the way people consume - and, more importantly, trust - information, especially as it relates to vaginal health. In fact, a new survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of RepHresh of 2,000 American women age 24-34 reveals that two in five women named Google as their go-to source of information over a physician when experiencing discomfort or vaginal health symptoms.

Many women are also turning to social media for health advice. For example, on TikTok, hashtags relating to the words "sex education" have over 70 million views. A now infamous TikTok video, providing a tutorial on how to relieve constipation through "vaginal splinting" has racked up over 3 million views and the latest popular #icecubechallenge claims to tighten the vagina and curb bacterial overgrowth.

While these trending DIY/at-home medical hacks can be entertaining, many of these practices are not only ineffective at controlling the natural balance of good and bad bacteria, but can be dangerous and cause more harm than good. Melting an ice cube in the vagina can elevate the natural pH balance and trigger a bacterial infection as the pH of water (7.5-8) is higher than the normal vaginal pH (3.5-4.5). And, while vaginal splinting is a scientific method used by medical professionals, experts caution trying it at home as it poses a risk of bacterial spread if not done properly.

The RepHresh survey found that over half (51%) thought a vagina should have a neutral pH, and only 12% correctly identified "moderately acidic" as the ideal pH balance. In addition, the top three most Googled phrases and questions respondents needed answers about included "vaginal discharge" (44%), "do I have a yeast infection?" (39%) and "vaginal odor" (37%).

With an uptick in misinformation, most women frequently misdiagnose their vaginal symptoms. That's why it's more critical than ever that women turn to trusted health care professionals for advice, proper diagnosis and remedies for the actual problem.

Here are a few important things women might not know, but need to know to maintain good vaginal health:

1. Vaginal odor is completely normal and should not be a cause for alarm. Refrain from using unnecessary scented products, including wipes and washes that claim to eliminate odor with fruity or flowery fragrances, as this will not solve the root cause of the issue, which is an unbalanced pH. Do look for clinically-backed and doctor-recommended products for vaginal health, such as over-the-counter RepHresh Gel, which rebalances pH to a healthy range, eliminates odor, and lasts up to three days.

2. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections can present similar symptoms, such as unusual vaginal discharge and discomfort, so when women run to the drug store and buy an OTC yeast medication such as Monistat, they are not addressing the root cause of the problem. Two out of three times it is BV, which must be treated with an antibiotic from their health care provider. But, antibiotics can kill the good and bad bacteria and cause a yeast infection, so make sure to take a vaginal probiotic once a day such as RepHresh Pro-B as it contains 2 strains of vaginal lactobacilli to keep the vaginal flora in balance and eat foods high in probiotics like a healthy no-sugar-added Greek yogurt, kefir, kimchi, or miso.

3. High sugar and alcohol intake can elevate pH imbalances and contribute to an overgrowth of yeast. Maintain a healthy moderation of sugary drinks and junk food as excess amounts not only impact vaginal health, but overall weight gain and wellness.

4. Vaginal discharge is a completely normal function in which the vagina naturally removes old cells to keep the environment healthy and clean. Some women have more discharge, while others might experience very little, and it can change in color and thickness depending on the ovulation cycle. However, discharge accompanied with itching, burning, fishy odor, swelling, unusual color, or pelvic pain should be brought to a doctor's attention as it can be a bacterial infection or STI and must be treated appropriately.

Before trying something new, consult with your healthcare provider especially when things seem off to ensure the safety and efficacy of the method or product you are considering. And, don't miss your annual OB/GYN visit.

Maria Sophocles, MD, OB/GYN is the Medical Director of Women's Healthcare of Princeton in Princeton, NJ.

(NewsUSA) -Durante la pandemia, Geraldine Bradshaw, directora de escuela en Durham, North Carolina, trabajó como voluntaria para un ensayo clínico que evaluaba una de las vacunas contra el COVID-19. Dice que sus estudiantes la motivaron a hacerlo y, a su vez, quiso motivar a los afroamericanos, como ella. "Me dio la posibilidad de ayudar a allanar el camino para que estos niños tengan un futuro mejor", dice Bradshaw, "y mostrarles lo importante que es que personas como ellos contribuyan con el progreso de la ciencia".

Ahora, Bradshaw puede ver cómo su participación dio frutos, dado que la mitad de los adultos se ha vacunado por completo.

"La ciencia es parte de la solución para poner fin a esta pandemia", dice Gary H. Gibbons, M.D., director del Instituto Nacional del Corazón, los Pulmones y la Sangre, que forma parte de los Institutos Nacionales de la Salud (NIH, por sus siglas en inglés).

Y a lo largo del camino, en cada paso hacia el descubrimiento científico, la seguridad está primero. La seguridad es una guía constante en el camino científico hacia las vacunas y los tratamientos. La seguridad marca la dirección para los líderes científicos, como Gibbons, que evalúan y financian la investigación. La seguridad y la ciencia, informa también el reclutamiento de voluntarios - como Bradshaw- quienes colaboran con los investigadores y participan en los ensayos clínicos, delimitan la supervisión rigurosa y continua de los estudios, determinan la aprobación reglamentaria, encaminan las iniciativas de participación en las comunidades y guían a los médicos, enfermeras y enfermeros que trasladan estos descubrimientos a los pacientes.

Sin embargo, los mitos y la información engañosa han generado dudas, confusión y desconfianza. Esto ha dado lugar a esfuerzos para que muchas comunidades, en especial las más afectadas por el COVID-19, hablen sobre por qué deben confiar en la ciencia detrás de las nuevas vacunas y tratamientos.

"Informar a la gente de mi comunidad sobre la seguridad y la eficacia de estas vacunas, y cómo funcionan, es mi pasión", dice Ian Moore, Ph.D., uno de los jefes de patologías infecciosas del Instituto Nacional de Alergias y Enfermedades Infecciosas, también parte de los NIH, quien supervisa la seguridad en las primeras fases de investigación de las vacunas en el laboratorio.

Moore no está solo. "Puedo decir con plena certeza que esta vacuna es segura y eficaz", dice Lisa A. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., profesora de medicina y salud pública de la Universidad Johns Hopkins, quien evaluó y supervisó el ensayo clínico de la vacuna de Moderna contra el COVID-19, la cual probó ser segura y tener un 94% de eficacia para prevenir el desarrollo de una enfermedad grave. "Mi función me permite disipar cualquier preocupación que planteen familiares y amigos, y asegurarme de que sigan confiando en la ciencia".

Y para muchos otros que velan por la seguridad e integridad del proceso de investigación, es un tema personal.

"Parte de mi función como médica en enfermedades infecciosas es desarrollar determinados protocolos clínicos", dice Katya Corado, M.D., investigadora del Instituto Lundquist. "Puedo proporcionar información segura a nuestras comunidades que han sido devastadas por el COVID. Ya no quiero ver a mis padres, mis abuelos o mis primos morir a causa del COVID".

Nuestros esfuerzos de alcance a la comunidad han ayudado. De acuerdo con una encuesta realizada por el Pew Research Center en febrero, aproximadamente el 70 % de todos los adultos y el 61 % de los adultos afroamericanos tiene previsto vacunarse, en comparación con el 60 % de todos los adultos y el 42 % de los adultos negros encuestados en noviembre.

Y según los Centros de Control y Prevención de Enfermedades, de los más de 123 millones de adultos que fueron vacunados por completo en mayo, aproximadamente 1949, menos del .001 %, presentó un caso grave de COVID-19.

Como mensajero de confianza de su comunidad, Olveen Carrasquillo, M.D., M.P.H., jefe de medicina interna general de la Universidad de Miami, difunde este tipo de noticias a través de iniciativas de alcance a la comunidad. "Como médico de la comunidad latina, con más de 20 años de experiencia, es muy importante para mí que nuestras comunidades tan afectadas reciban la atención y la educación que necesitan y merecen", manifiesta. "Para asegurar que mi comunidad sobreviva al COVID-19, debo instruir a los pacientes, familiares y amigos sobre la ciencia relacionada con el COVID-19 y el desarrollo de las vacunas".

Y Chyke Doubeni, M.D., médico de familia de la Mayo Clinic y participante en el ensayo de la vacuna, expresa: "Ahora les digo a todos, con certeza, que vacunarse es seguro. Lo sé porque yo he estado involucrado."

Para más información acerca de la ciencia y los recursos relacionados con el COVID-19 en su comunidad, visite https://covid19community.nih.gov/espanol.

(NewsUSA) - During the pandemic, Geraldine Bradshaw, a school principal in Durham, North Carolina, volunteered for a clinical trial that tested one of the COVID-19 vaccines. She says her students inspired her to do so and she in turn wanted to inspire African Americans like herself. "It gave me the power to help pave a way for these children to have a better future," Bradshaw says, "and show them how important it is that people who look like them aid in the progression of science."

Now, Bradshaw can see how her participation paid off, as half of adults are fully vaccinated.

"Science is part of the solution to ending this pandemic," says Gary H. Gibbons, M.D., director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health.

And at every step on the pathway to scientific discovery, safety leads the way. Safety always guides the scientific pathway toward vaccines and treatments. Safety steers scientific leaders like Gibbons, who review and fund research. Safety, and science also inform recruitment of volunteers like Bradshaw, who partners with researchers and participate in clinical trials, frames the rigorous and continuous oversight of studies, determines regulatory approval, guides engagement efforts in communities, and directs doctors and nurses who bring these discoveries to patients.

Yet myths and misleading information have generated questions, confusion, and mistrust. This has spurred an effort for many communities, especially those hit hardest by COVID-19, to talk about why they should trust the science behind new vaccines and treatments.

"It is my passion to communicate the safety and efficacy of these vaccines, and how they work, to people in the community," says Ian Moore, Ph.D., a chief of infectious disease pathology at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, also part of the NIH, who oversaw safety at the earliest stages of vaccine research in the lab.

Moore's in good company. "I can say with the utmost confidence that this vaccine is safe and effective," says Lisa A. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., a professor of medicine and public health at Johns Hopkins University, who reviewed and monitored Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine trial, which proved safe and 94% effective at preventing severe illness. "My role allows me to ease any concerns raised by family and friends and make sure they continue to trust the science."

And for many others on the scientific pathway, it's personal.

"Part of my role as an infectious disease physician is developing certain clinical protocols," says Katya Corado, M.D., a researcher at the Lundquist Institute. "I am able to confidently provide details to our communities which have been devastated by COVID. I no longer want to see my parents, my grandparents, or my cousins dying of COVID."

This type of outreach only seems to help. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in February, nearly 70% of all adults and 61% of Black adults planned to get vaccinated compared to 60% of all adults and 42% of Black adults polled in November.

And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among the more than 123 million adults who were fully vaccinated in May, approximately 1,949, less than .001%, reported severe COVID-19 illness.

As a trusted messenger within his community, Olveen Carrasquillo, M.D., M.P.H., a chief of general internal medicine at the University of Miami, shares this type of news through community-engaged outreach. "As a Latino physician, with more than 20 years of experience, it is very important to me that our hardest-hit communities receive the care and education they need and deserve," he says. "To ensure my community survives COVID-19, I educate my patients, family, and friends on the science surrounding COVID-19 and vaccine development."

And Chyke Doubeni, M.D., a family physician at the Mayo Clinic and a vaccine trial participant, shares, "I now tell everybody with confidence, that getting the vaccine is safe. I know, because I was involved."

To learn more about COVID-19 science and resources in your community, visit https://covid19community.nih.gov.

(NewsUSA)