(NewsUSA) - Despite having a standard of living among the highest in the world, the maternal mortality rate in the United States has increased over the past 25 years, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The numbers are especially poor for Black women, who are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts, while black infants are more than twice as likely to die as white infants. These disparities persist regardless of level of education.

“Infant and maternity mortality rates are regarded as measures of the health of a society. The racial and ethnic disparities in our current rates reflect longstanding biases that challenge our very basic capacity to offer fair and ethical health care,” said Dr. Lenaye Lawyer, an OB-GYN and medical director for AmeriHealth Caritas, a national leader in Medicaid managed care and other health care solutions for those most in need. “The provider community should be aware of these disparities and recommendations for reducing them.”

According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia tops the list as the state with the highest rates of maternal mortality, 46.2 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births for all women. The rate is even higher--66.6 deaths per 100,000 live births--for African American women.

The National Partnership for Women & Families has noted some of the broader problems in the health care system and in the delivery of maternal care that disproportionally affect Black women, including lack of access to care, low income, and being uninsured.

A 2018 article in the journal Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology offered a model to help address these disparities. The model includes:

-Promoting a culture of equity for all women from preconception care through prenatal care and postpartum care.

-Educating doctors and medical staff about health care disparities in Black women during pregnancy and in general.

-Engaging patients in shared decision making.

AmeriHealth Caritas Corporate Chief Medical Officer, Population Health, Dr. Lily Higgins added that, Dr. Lily Higgins, an AmeriHealth Caritas market chief medical officer, added that improving health literacy and self-advocacy skills can also help more black women have healthy pregnancies, deliveries, and babies.

“If the health care system can foster a culture of health equity, literacy, and advocacy, we will take a big step towards eliminating maternal health disparities in this country,” said Dr. Higgins.

AmeriHealth Caritas is one of the nation’s leaders in health care solutions for those most in need. Operating in 13 states and the District of Columbia, AmeriHealth Caritas serves approximately 5 million Medicaid, Medicare, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Health Insurance Marketplace® members. For more information, visit www.amerihealthcaritas.com.

(NewsUSA) -            Fifty thousand people in the U.S. have had their skin cancer cured without going to hospitals or undergoing traditional Mohs surgery, avoiding that treatment’s pain, bleeding, surgical scarring and, often, need for follow-up reconstructive surgery.

          The nation’s 50,000^th case of curing common (nonmelanoma) skin cancer with GentleCure™, the non-surgical treatment using Image-Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy or Image-Guided SRT, occurred at Reading Dermatology, the private Pennsylvania practice of Jason Hendrix, DO.

          The patient was Jeffrey Keating, D.P.M., a 74-year-old retired podiatrist from Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, whose lifelong habits of golfing, sailing and driving in his top-down convertible likely contributed to his history of skin cancer.

          “I had Mohs surgery years earlier for a lesion on my calf,” Keating said, “but this time, with three lesions on my face, my doctor and I chose non-surgical GentleCure and the results were outstanding.”

          With GentleCure, doctors treat nonmelanoma skin cancer (basal and squamous cell carcinomas) using ultrasound imaging to direct low-level X-ray energy to targeted areas of the skin, killing cancer cells without surgery. Research shows that the technology produces a 99.3 percent cure rate for early stage nonmelanoma skin cancer, making it just as effective as Mohs surgery, and treatments are covered by Medicare and most insurance plans.

          Dr. Hendrix noted, "More than three million Americans are diagnosed with nonmelanoma skin cancer each year, making it the most common form of cancer. Sun exposure is the primary cause and year-round sun effects are cumulative over one's lifetime, so those who spend a lot of time outdoors plus seniors, those with light skin, users of tanning beds and people with family histories of skin cancer are especially susceptible. With all its advantages, GentleCure is the new non-invasive standard of care."

           Patient Keating added, “As a physician myself, I know that it’s critically important for patients to understand all their treatment options. Having experienced Mohs surgery, the idea of no pain or scarring with GentleCure was very attractive. Actually seeing the cancer shrink and disappear on the ultrasound imaging screen was so reassuring. I have a friend who had Mohs surgery on a facial lesion, and he had a flap of skin cut from his scalp and stretched over the site of his excised lesion; that was not something I wanted to experience. Today, I am fully cured and could not be happier with the GentleCure process and results.”

           For more information and to learn where Image-Guided SRT is available, visit GentleCure.com.

(NewsUSA) -  

The ever-changing landscape of self-care offers consumers an array of choices that can sometimes feel overwhelming. To help navigate through the sea of health information, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) Educational Foundation, a nonprofit organization that empowers consumers to make smart self-care decisions, has launched a new website, HealthInHand.org.

The website, formerly KnowYourOTCs.org, provides information not only about over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, but also dietary supplements and consumer medical devices. Through a modern, user-friendly design, the site features a robust search function, an extensive library of self-care resources written by healthcare professionals, a simplified symptom relief section, a catalogue of common self-care products, and an active ingredient glossary.

“This redesign is more than just a fresh coat of paint,” says Anita Brikman, Executive Director of CHPA’s Educational Foundation. “Health In Hand is the result of many months of hard work, thoughtful design, targeted testing, and innovative development,” she explains. “We’re decoding dosing, explaining ingredients, simplifying safety, and helping visitors choose the types of products they need to make the most of their health. Health In Hand is tested, trusted, and clear – a genuine reflection of our Foundation’s mission to continually help people understand how to safely choose and use self-care products.”

The website includes two new sections. “My Self-Care” tailors content to different life stages and age-specific categories, while “Healthy Living” focuses on health maintenance routines and daily self-care needs, such as choosing vitamins and supplements, staying safe in the sun, and maintaining healthy sleep habits.

Specific to dietary supplements, Health In Hand provides curated content with the facts people need to safely choose and use these products. The site also breaks down dietary supplement information for certain groups who may need higher levels of specific nutrients based on their diet or stage of life, including information for children, teens, and adults aged 65 and older.

The site also provides critical health information to women of all ages, including advice from experts on feminine hygiene and supplement information tailored to women who are currently pregnant, looking to conceive, or breastfeeding.  

“We’re simplifying self-care,” said Mary Leonard, Vice President of CHPA’s Educational Foundation. “Our newly updated mobile-friendly website means people will always have expert advice and dynamic content right at their fingertips, so they feel empowered to take self-care decisions into their own hands whether in the pharmacy aisle, on-the-go, or at their child’s bedside.”

Visit HealthInHand.org for more information.

(NewsUSA) - La enfermedad cardíaca es la principal causa de muerte en los Estados Unidos. Una de cada cinco muertes se debe a una enfermedad cardíaca, a pesar de que la enfermedad se puede prevenir en gran medida.

Mantener su corazón saludable comienza con llevar un estilo de vida saludable para el corazón. Pero primero, debe ser inteligente con su corazón. Saber qué causa la enfermedad cardíaca, qué le pone en riesgo, y cómo puede reducir esos riesgos puede ayudarle a tomar decisiones informadas para proteger su corazón y mantenerlo fuerte.

¿Quiere poner a prueba su conocimiento? Responda a este breve cuestionario sobre el corazón:

Cuestionario sobre el corazón

1. ¿Verdadero o Falso? La presión arterial alta también se conoce como hipertensión y ocurre cuando su presión arterial es constantemente de 130/80 mm Hg o superior.
2. ¿Verdadero o Falso? Su índice de masa corporal, o IMC, muestra si su peso está en un rango saludable para su altura y es una medida de su riesgo futuro de enfermedad cardíaca.
3. ¿Verdadero o Falso? El colesterol ayuda a producir hormonas, vitamina D, y sustancias que ayudan a digerir los alimentos. Su cuerpo lo necesita para una buena salud, pero en las cantidades adecuadas.
4. ¿Verdadero o Falso? Comer muchas verduras, frutas, y granos integrales, consumir productos lácteos sin grasa o bajos en grasa, y limitar los alimentos con alto contenido de grasas saturadas o bebidas azucaradas son parte de una dieta saludable para el corazón.
5. ¿Verdadero o Falso? No dormir lo suficiente o tener un sueño de mala calidad de manera regular aumenta el riesgo de tener presión arterial alta, enfermedad cardíaca, y otras afecciones médicas.
6. ¿Verdadero o Falso? Para fortalecer su corazón, los adultos deben aspirar a realizar al menos 150 minutos de actividad aeróbica de intensidad moderada, como caminar a paso ligero, cada semana.

Clave de respuestas: todas las respuestas son Verdaderas.

¿Como le fue en el cuestionario? Conocer sus propios factores de riesgo de enfermedad cardíaca puede ayudarle a guiar sus elecciones de estilo de vida, así que hable con su proveedor de atención médica para asegurarse de que está bien de salud. Igual de importante: conozca sus números. Su peso, el tamaño de su cintura, su presión arterial, su colesterol, y sus niveles de azúcar en la sangre afectan su corazón. Si no están donde deberían estar, comprométase a comenzar a mejorarlos.

Agregar más actividad física a su día, comer una dieta saludable para el corazón, controlar el estrés, dormir lo suficiente, y no fumar puede ponerle en el camino hacia una mejor salud del corazón.

Obtenga más información sobre la prevención de la enfermedad cardíaca de The Heart Truth® en www.hearttruth.gov (en inglés) y descargue la hoja informativa Heart Smart Basics para mejorar su conocimiento sobre la salud del corazón.

(NewsUSA) - Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. One in five deaths is due to heart disease, even though the disease is largely preventable.

Keeping your heart healthy starts with living a heart-healthy lifestyle. But first, you need to get smart about your heart. Knowing what causes heart disease, what puts you at risk for it, and how you can reduce those risks can help you make informed decisions to protect your heart and keep it strong.

Want to test your knowledge? Take this short Heart Smart Quiz:

Heart Smart Quiz

1. True or False? High blood pressure is also known as hypertension and occurs when your blood pressure is consistently 130/80 mm Hg or higher.

2. True or False? Your body mass index, or BMI, shows if your weight is in a healthy range for your height and is one measure of your future risk for heart disease.

3. True or False? Cholesterol helps make hormones, vitamin D, and substances to help you digest foods. Your body needs it for good health, but in the right amounts.

4. True or False? Eating lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, using fat-free or low-fat dairy products, and limiting foods high in saturated fat or sugar-sweetened beverages are all part of a heart-healthy diet.

5. True or False? Not getting enough sleep or getting poor quality sleep on a regular basis increases the risk of having high blood pressure, heart disease, and other medical conditions.

6. True or False? To strengthen their heart, adults should aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity such as brisk walking each week.

Answer Key: All answers are True.

How did you do? Knowing your own risk factors for heart disease can help guide your lifestyle choices, so talk to your healthcare provider to make sure you’re clear. Just as important: know your numbers. Your weight, waist size, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels all affect your heart. If they aren’t where they should be, make a pledge to begin improving them.

Adding more physical activity to your day, eating a heart-healthy diet, managing stress, getting enough quality sleep, and not smoking can put you on the path to better heart health.

Learn more about heart disease prevention from The Heart Truth® at www.hearttruth.gov and download the Heart Smart Basics fact sheet to improve your knowledge about heart health.

(NewsUSA) - With food costs on the rise, many people are looking for meals and recipes that stretch their dollar. According to The Peanut Institute, peanuts and peanut butter are some of the most affordable, nutrient-dense sources of protein available.

A one-ounce serving of peanuts, which is approximately 35 nuts, costs about 15 cents, delivers seven grams of plant-based protein plus 19 vitamins and minerals, heart-healthy fats and fiber.

“Research has shown that substituting plant protein for animal-based protein can help add years to your life,” said Dr. Samara Sterling, a nutrition scientist and research director for The Peanut Institute. “Making smart food choices each and every day adds up to a healthy lifestyle that’s beneficial for you and your family.”

Since they’re packed with vitamins and minerals, peanuts and peanut butter deliver both short-term and long-term benefits that can have a positive impact on every stage of life.

• For children, healthy development of the brain, bones, muscles and immune system. Peanuts also contain arginine, which is an amino acid associated with higher growth velocity.

• In adults, healthy weight management by delivering greater hunger satisfaction. A recent study found that participants who snacked on peanuts and peanut butter tended to consume fewer calories than those who ate other nuts, including almonds. 

• In older adults, protection against certain cancers with antioxidants and phytosterols that have been shown to be beneficial against brain, skin, stomach, colon, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers.

• For everyone, keeping minds sharp during aging thanks to compounds that increase brain blood flow, protect against Alzheimer’s disease and even fight anxiety and depression. Niacin in particular is associated with a reduced rate of cognitive decline.

Peanuts and peanut butter are great any time of day.

Check out this quick and healthy PB&J smoothie for a protein-enhanced start to the day.

You need:

• 1 cup frozen berries
• 1 large banana
• 1 cup of milk
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1 cup of vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon of natural or heated peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon of chopped peanuts

For extra texture and fiber, add half a cup of frozen cauliflower. Another option: Add 2 tablespoons of ground flax or peanut powder.

Blend together the frozen blueberries, banana, milk, peanut butter and, if desired, cauliflower, peanut powder or flax until very smooth.

For tasty recipes and health and nutrition information, visit PeanutInstitute.com.

Nearly 90% of the 350,000 people who experience a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year will not survive.

(NewsUSA) - It is estimated that every year more than 1 million patients undergo an embolization procedure — an interventional procedure to stop or intentionally reduce blood flow. When Scott Lynn started treatment for bowel cancer in 2017, the possibility of an embolization treatment was never on his radar. However, an unexpected turn of events happened after Scott began chemotherapy, leading him to require an embolization to stop internal bleeding and ultimately save his life.

“I had a cardiac reaction to chemotherapy; I had a heart attack,” he explains.

To prevent further cardiac stress, Scott stopped chemotherapy and underwent a total colectomy surgery earlier than initially planned. Just a week after that surgery, Scott suffered a major complication—a massive internal bleed, which required embolization treatment.

A Life-Saving Coincidence

Little did Scott know that his story would become closely tied to someone he’d long known, David Cole, a medical device sales representative.

Scott worked for many years with David’s father and became a mentor to David. In fact, shortly following Scott’s surgery, the two had the chance to catch up at David’s father’s retirement party. David says that on his way home that evening, he felt an obligation to make a quick stop at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, a local level one trauma center, to drop off a supply of the Concerto™ Detachable Coil System, used for peripheral embolization procedures.

The next day, Scott was rushed to the same Carolinas Medical Center, where he underwent a life-saving embolization procedure performed by Dr. Eric Wang, a vascular and interventional radiologist with Charlotte Radiology. Dr. Wang quickly removed nearly half a gallon of blood from Scott’s abdomen and performed the procedure using the same coils David had dropped off less than 24 hours prior, saving Scott’s life.

The Right Device at the Right Time

Dr. Wang explains that when treating a complex bleed, time is of the utmost importance to minimize the loss of blood. Scott later learned that had he waited just ten more minutes to call 911, his life could have been even more at risk.

Medtronic Concerto coils block the area of an active bleed and its thrombogenic fibers accelerate clot formation. While embolization is a critical— and often life-saving procedure— it requires the right device and the proper training for success. Fortunately, Dr. Wang was familiar with Concerto coils, as he often uses them in his medical practice.

An Extraordinary Outcome

This full-circle story is largely due to a trifecta of fortunate events. Scott received the lifesaving care he needed because of his instinct to call 911 immediately. Just the day before, David had ensured that Carolinas Medical Center had Concerto coils on hand. And Dr. Wang trusted that those coils were the right choice to quickly stop Scott’s bleed.

“I am eternally grateful that I was able get the embolization care I needed. I’m absolutely convinced that the shared knowledge of David and my physician on trauma procedures and how to stop active bleeds using these coils was instrumental in saving my life,” said Scott.

Embolization can be used for a variety of procedures that aim to stop blood flow— both elective procedures and emergent instances of bleeding, such as internal bleeds associated with surgery.

Patients should talk to their doctor about risks associated with the Concerto Detachable Coil System. The Concerto™ detachable coil system is indicated for arterial and venous embolizations in the peripheral vasculature. Potential complications include, but are not limited to puncture site hematoma, thromboembolic episodes, vessel perforation, neurological deficits including stroke and death, vasospasms, vascular thrombosis, hemorrhage, and ischemia.

Learn about Peripheral Vascular Health at Medtronic at Medtronic.com/PVH

(NewsUSA) - With the busy holiday season now over, there’s no better time than the present to take stock of your plans for a healthier lifestyle in the new year. But even with the best intentions, plans can sometimes fall by the wayside. No matter your age, fitness level, or current work-life balance, GOLO – the health and wellness solutions company – has tips and suggestions to help achieve tangible health and wellness benefits.

Five suggestions for the new year:

1. Set goals and make a plan: The beginning of a new year is the perfect opportunity to reevaluate your health and wellness goals. The key is to set realistic goals and create a sustainable plan of action to help achieve them.

2. Get organized: Believe it or not, one of the best ways to start planning sustainable and lasting health and wellness is by organizing your kitchen and filling it with nutritious food. Whether it’s a big family dinner or a quick snack before you head out the door, the more organized your kitchen is, the easier it will be to make better eating choices.

3. Find an accountability partner: Holding yourself accountable to a specific health goal can be difficult. You may not always feel up to the challenge of eating the best foods or exercising. Enlist the support of a friend or family member who can help hold you accountable and who’s got your back through the ups and downs of becoming a healthier you.

4. Stay active: Whether you prefer cardio, strength training, or a mix of both, you can improve your overall health by adding exercise to your daily routine. Even doing simple chores around the house like scrubbing floors and vacuuming are great ways to get in some exercise.

5. Stay Hydrated: Making sure you drink enough water is important no matter what season it is. Even if you don’t feel hot or thirsty, you should still get as much water into your system as you can. Remember, you can also get water from foods like fruits, vegetables, and soups.

“The start of a new year is a great time to revisit and refresh your health and wellness goals,” says Jennifer Brooks, President of GOLO. “As a starting point, consider the positive strides already made from the previous year and build on them.”

Wherever you are on your health and wellness journey, GOLO offers a range of innovative products designed to help, including the GOLO for Life Plan®, a game-changing nutritional approach to losing weight and a healthy alternative to conventional dieting. The program includes a healthy balanced meal plan, GOLO Release® (an all-natural dietary supplement), and free online tools.

Learn more

Visit golo.com for information and suggestions

(NewsUSA) - The best way to make an impact on members of a community is to enlist a trusted source.

Black Americans are more likely to develop and die from lung cancer than persons of any other racial or ethnic group, according to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America (LCFA). However, research shows that members of the African American community often mistrust the U.S. healthcare system.

Early screening is key to detection, prevention, and management of lung cancer. “The early detection of lung cancer allows for patients to have more treatment options and a far greater chance of survival,” according to the LCFA website. “As a result, the 5-year survival rate for those diagnosed before the cancer has spread rises from 18 out of every 100 people to 55 out of every 100,” according to LCFA, but many individuals in underserved areas miss the chance for early testing that could lead to better outcomes.

To help reach Black communities in underserved areas, the LCFA is enlisting the help of trusted local resource: the hair salon.

Hair salons have historically been one of the most accessible local businesses in underserved Black communities. Salons are often seen not only as successful sources of entrepreneurship, but as gathering places and community forums. Hairstylists are friends and confidants of their clientele, and are so trusted with personal information they often feel like "Hairapists."

LCFA has developed a strategy to leverage the influence of hair salons to distribute valuable and potentially lifesaving information about lung cancer screening. The new initiative features a training video aimed at hairdressers that guides them in explaining the importance of screening, because people of color remain at an increased risk of developing and dying from lung cancer.

The LCFA recommends annual lung cancer screening for anyone who answers “yes” to three questions.

• Are you between the ages of 50 and 80 years?
• Do you have symptoms of lung cancer, such as coughing, chest pain, or shortness of breath?
• Do you currently smoke or were you a smoker and quit?

Anyone who says yes to these questions meets the criteria for lung cancer screening, regardless of race, for recommended annual computed tomography (CT) screening. This non-invasive diagnostic test may be covered by Medicare and insurance companies.

For more information, visit LCFAmerica.org or text L-C-F-A to 41444.