<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <articles> <article> <ID>15002</ID> <title>A Living Tree in Your Living Room: Health Benefits of a Real Christmas Tree</title> <publishDate>2021-12-04 09:40:59</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_1 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_1"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_1 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_0"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/natural-christmas-trees-farm-market-closeup.jpg" alt="" title="natural-christmas-trees-farm-market-closeup" class="wp-image-15005" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_1 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;There are stockings over the fireplace, Grandma's recipes, gatherings of relatives and friends, shopping, wrapping paper, and so much more when the Christmas season is in full swing. Of course, you want a Christmas tree you can decorate to perfection. What tree do you choose? Each year you have a choice between  a real tree or an artificial one holding your ornaments and memories.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Depending on your preferences and circumstances, either can be justified. Of course, with an artificial tree, you get convenience. However, a real tree can provide additional benefits—physical and emotional—beyond being just a decoration. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Americans annually buy &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://today.tamu.edu/2020/12/10/the-benefits-of-a-real-christmas-tree/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;20 to 25 million real Christmas trees&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Is yours one of them? Let's see what you're getting and compare it to an artificial tree.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Artificial Trees&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;People choose artificial trees for several reasons. First, they are convenient. A quick trip to a local store or an online order, a little assembly time, and you have your tree. As long as you have storage space, you can use them for years. Second, they won't aggravate specific allergies that make having a real tree difficult. Third, the wide variety in size, shape, and quality means you can find one for&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;any space and budget. You can even get one in pink!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;According to the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://today.tamu.edu/2020/12/10/the-benefits-of-a-real-christmas-tree/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;U.S. Department of Commerce&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, 85%of artificial trees are made in China. Most of them consist of metal or plastic, usually PVC, which may contain &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://realchristmastrees.org/education/fake-trees/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;hazardous lead.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Still, artificial trees remain a popular choice for many, even though other than avoiding allergies, they do not offer any health benefits. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Advantages of a Live Christmas Tree&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A live Christmas tree brought into your home is much more than just a pretty base for your ornaments. It is a bit of nature, a representation of life from the outside world. Being surrounded by a natural environment has been shown to positively affect a greater sense of well-being, reduced stress and fatigue, and increased creativity. Even having a house plant or two in your home can trigger these positive effects.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt; &lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt; &lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Well-Known Benefits of Houseplants &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/indoor-plants-can-instantly-boost-your-health-happiness-ncna781806" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Studies show&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; that houseplants offer many health benefits. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-home-guide/benefits-of-indoor-plants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Here are some of the findings&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;People with plants in the room may have better attention and focus than those without. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Horticulture therapy can ease symptoms of depression, anxiety, dementia, and other mental illnesses.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Plants may help speed recovery from illness. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;They also &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/indoor-plants-can-instantly-boost-your-health-happiness-ncna781806" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;produce oxygen and take in carbon dioxide&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;They can contribute to improved mental health, happiness, and a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://today.tamu.edu/2020/12/10/the-benefits-of-a-real-christmas-tree/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;stronger immune system&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;And what about your real Christmas tree? Think of it as a giant house plant! It may be temporary, but it shares some of those benefits.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_2"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_2 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_1"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/winter-holidays-decor-rich-decorated-new-year-tree-stands-with-present-boxes.jpg" alt="" title="winter-holidays-decor-rich-decorated-new-year-tree-stands-with-present-boxes" class="wp-image-15006" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_2 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Something Special about Pine Trees&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A study in Japan drew similar conclusions specifically about coniferous trees (they have needles instead of leaves), including pine trees. They &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.hobbyfarms.com/pine-aroma-therapy-pines-conifers-trees/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;clean the air and support our immune systems&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. They can also encourage a sense of peace. Another study at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/2-wants-to-know/health-benefits-of-a-real-christmas-tree/83-496780037" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Kansas State University&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; found that the appealing pine scent can help defend against sinus infections, colds, and flu. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt; &lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt; &lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;b&gt;Essential Oil&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Japan study produced evidence of even greater benefits of coniferous trees. Using essential oils diffused from trees, study participants benefited from an &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.hobbyfarms.com/pine-aroma-therapy-pines-conifers-trees/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;increased number of anti-cancer proteins and white blood cells&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; that destroy viruses and tumors.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;While many medicinal claims are associated with pine essential oil, there is not enough data to be certain of the effects. However,&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;inhaling the strong scent of your Christmas tree can undoubtedly improve your mood and help clear your sinuses. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt; &lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt; &lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;b&gt;That Scent, Those Memories&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The robust scent of a Christmas tree fills the room with a sense of freshness and nature. You may say that it smells like Christmas. It does because the sense of smell is a powerful trigger for memories. The smell of apple pie can spark a memory of your grandmother who loved to bake. The scents of coffee and bacon can bring to mind relaxing Sunday mornings in your childhood home. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;This association between smell and memory (stronger than sight and memory) is so strong because, in the brain, odor information &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/02/how-scent-emotion-and-memory-are-intertwined-and-exploited/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;travels directly from the olfactory bulb to areas involving emotion and memory&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. The sense of smell is powerful in younger children, who form early associations between smells and memories that last through adulthood. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;So the scent of a pine tree in your living room can bring back distinct memories of yourself as a child learning the family's annual Christmas traditions and being awed by the magic of it all. Perhaps this is a connection you want your children to have. Positive memories like these can contribute to your emotional health. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Remains of the Day: Recycling Your Christmas Tree&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Though it will last for several years, an artificial tree will eventually need to be discarded. Unfortunately, it cannot be recycled and will sit in a landfill somewhere. A real tree, however,  is a natural part of the Earth, and that is where it will ultimately return.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A real tree can be shredded for &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://today.tamu.edu/2020/12/10/the-benefits-of-a-real-christmas-tree/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;mulch or compost&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, nourishing other plants and trees and giving you a green thumb. Another option is to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/73407/one-way-recycle-christmas-trees-feed-them-elephants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;donate your tree to a zoo or animal sanctuary&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. As long as the tree has no pesticides, tinsel, glitter, or anything else that can harm the animals, it can provide enrichment. For example, lions and tigers at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/73407/one-way-recycle-christmas-trees-feed-them-elephants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Catty Shack Ranch in Florida&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, for example, treat the trees like giant toys. And in Tennessee, you can donate to the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/73407/one-way-recycle-christmas-trees-feed-them-elephants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Elephant Sanctuary&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, where an elephant will kindly eat your tree. The big cats get mental stimulation, and the elephants get a treat that provides nutrition and digestive aid. Unlike the fake trees, there are so many ways to recycle your real Christmas tree that can benefit the lives of other plants or animals. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusion&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;With its natural pine scent, a real Christmas tree brings a bit of nature into your home. In addition to the gifts beneath its branches, your tree shares enhanced physical health and mental well-being with everyone in the house. And when the Christmas season is over, your live tree can nourish and give back to the world it came from. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Interested in more lifestyle articles? Visit us at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdoctormagazine.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/small-decorative-christmas-tree.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/a-living-tree-in-your-living-room-health-benefits-of-a-real-christmas-tree/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14955</ID> <title>Foods to Eat to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain</title> <publishDate>2021-11-27 20:09:14</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_2 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_3"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_3 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_2"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/beautiful-family-having-nice-thanksgiving-dinner-together-scaled.jpg" alt="" title="beautiful-family-having-nice-thanksgiving-dinner-together" class="wp-image-14958" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_3 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Holidays are filled with family, friends, cheer, and good food. It is a time to gather with loved ones and enjoy fun and fellowship. However, holidays can also be stressful. As you head into the holiday season, thinking about all of the delicious foods that you will make and eat becomes a common stressor. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although this is a joyous time for most people, some of us can get a little anxious about putting on a few pounds of that classic holiday weight gain. With all the good food around, it is easy to overeat and end up regretting it later. But don't worry, holiday weight gain is totally manageable and even avoidable! Here are some simple lifestyle changes that you can make to help manage that dreaded holiday weight gain. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Tips for Avoiding Holiday Weight Gain&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A big part of holiday weight gain is because we're surrounded by some of our favorite foods we usually avoid. It is easy&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;to overdo it when you restrict yourself from having certain foods, and then you are suddenly surrounded by those off-limit foods. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/obesity/conditioninfo/cause"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Overeating on calories&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; is the cause of holiday weight gain. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;One practical way to avoid this problem is to have &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://biteoutoflifenutrition.com/blog/overcome-food-guilt-this-holiday-season/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;no off-limits food&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; all year round! This may seem counterintuitive at first, but &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2694569/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;restricting calories&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; or specific foods can lead to overindulgence later. Instead of putting special significance on foods, you'll only eat for the holidays as a "cheat day," have those foods any time of the year you want to. This will help you eat in moderation and avoid holiday weight gain when the season rolls around. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you want to maintain a healthy weight all year, don't forget to look into &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.intuitiveeating.org/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;intuitive eating&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. This lifestyle choice can help you avoid holiday weight gain and maintain a healthy body and mind. Intuitive eating focuses on allowing your body to communicate its needs. Eating when you are hungry and stopping when you are full are some of the basics of intuitive eating. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;There are significant &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ideafit.com/personal-training/nutrition-hacks-based-on-hard-science/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;psychological and physical benefits&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to intuitive eating, including a lower BMI (body mass index) and a healthier relationship with food. Studies have shown that intuitive eating effectively maintains &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23962472/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;weight&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; levels, making it an effective approach to avoiding holiday weight gain. As you navigate the stress of avoiding holiday weight gain, slow down and pay attention to what your body says. Eating what you want in moderation is a great way to maintain a healthy body and mind and stay away from holiday weight gain. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Food Recommendations &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;We talked above about some lifestyle changes that you can implement to help circumvent holiday weight gain. However, there are also some great options of new foods or even classic favorites that you can try out this holiday. One great way to keep holiday weight gain in check is to eat fiber-rich, satiating foods. These will not only keep you satisfied longer but will also slow down your &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.eatingwell.com/article/287742/10-amazing-health-benefits-of-eating-more-fiber/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;body's absorption of calories&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ideafit.com/personal-training/nutrition-hacks-based-on-hard-science/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Fruits, veggies, and whole grains&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; are the best way to ensure you're getting enough fiber to maintain satiety and keep off holiday weight gain.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.marthastewart.com/275021/vegetable-side-dish-recipes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Here&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; are some incredible holiday dishes featuring vegetables curated by Martha Stewart. These tantalizing dishes will allow you to enjoy delicious food during the festivities while getting around holiday weight gain.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Thankfully, fruit pies are already a staple of the holiday season. You can knock out getting your fiber through fruits with recipes like this &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.com/recipes/classic-apple-pie" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;tasty apple pie&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Since you can manage holiday weight gain by getting your holiday staples and eating healthy ingredients, add this delicious &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.com/recipes/corn-bread-stuffing-with-cranberries" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;cornbread stuffing&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to your holiday cooking repertoire. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;There are plenty of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.com/food/50-holiday-foods-you-shouldnt-eat?slide=5ccf3300-77e8-4742-8683-544e67655021#5ccf3300-77e8-4742-8683-544e67655021"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;nutritious holiday favorite alternatives&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to choose from if you still want to evade holiday weight gain. Having some classic &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.com/food/50-holiday-foods-you-shouldnt-eat?slide=5ccf3300-77e8-4742-8683-544e67655021#5ccf3300-77e8-4742-8683-544e67655021"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;alternatives with lower calories&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; may reduce your stress levels this holiday season while still ensuring that you get to eat all of your holiday favorites.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A Parting Reminder &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Our &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdoctormagazine.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; team hopes you have found this guide to navigating holiday weight gain helpful. Remember that an essential aspect of a healthy lifestyle includes your attitude and perspective towards food, which includes how you approach holiday weight gain. Although this can be a stressful subject, we hope that you have learned some valuable concepts and gotten some fun new recipes to try out this holiday season. If you have specific health concerns regarding your weight, we encourage you to check out our &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdoctormagazine.com/category/wellness/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Lifestyle&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; publication!&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/traditional-uzbek-oriental-cuisine-uzbek-family-table-from-different-dishes-new-year-holiday.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/health-nutrition/foods-to-eat-to-avoid-holiday-weight-gain/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14944</ID> <title>Putting the Kid in Kidneys: An Interview with Dr. Ray Bignall</title> <publishDate>2021-11-25 19:54:08</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_3 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_4"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_4 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_3"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Ray-Bignall.jpg" alt="" title="Ray-Bignall" class="wp-image-14946" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_5 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_4 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Ray Bignall, or Dr. Ray, as his patients would like to call him, is a board-certified Pediatric Nephrologist currently residing in Columbus, Ohio. Originally from Nashville, he received his medical degree at Meharry Medical College, then moved to fulfill his residency at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where he stayed for seven years. In that time, Dr. Ray was also able to complete his postdoctoral research for the National Institute of Health on kidney health disparities between adults and childcare. Now, Dr. Ray is the Director of Kidney Health Advocacy and Community Engagement in Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where he caters to kids with kidney problems and brings awareness to this often overlooked health issue.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Five Functions of the Kidney&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;When we think of the kidney’s function in our bodies, we might say that all it does is make us run for the bathroom every few hours. However, Dr. Ray says that our kidneys have many more vital roles in keeping our bodies healthy. Take a look at the five primary functions of the kidney, according to Dr. Ray:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_5"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_6 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_5 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Kidneys clean your blood of toxins and waste. They filter your blood and remove all the things that don’t belong there.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Kidneys regulate your body’s fluids, which also involves the maintenance of your electrolyte balance. “This is what allows you to avoid blowing up like a balloon or shriveling up like a raisin,” Dr. Ray explains.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Kidneys control the balance of minerals and bone components of your bone metabolism. According to Dr. Ray, bone health has a lot to do with kidney health, as the former helps regulate vital bone-building vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Kidneys produce blood-regulating hormones, which help control your blood pressure.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Kidneys produce hormones that stimulate blood production. These hormones trigger the generation of red blood cells in your bone marrow which are then released and help circulate oxygen in our bodies.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Ray wants to clarify that our kidneys do not make waste. Instead, the waste (or urine) is only a by-product of the many magnificent things our kidneys do to maintain balance in our bodies. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;“Homeostasis is the medical term for it. It's your kidneys that are chiefly responsible for achieving and maintaining balance in your body,” he says. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;He goes on to say that about 20% of our body’s circulating blood volume goes to our kidneys every day. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;“Your kidneys are that important,” Dr. Ray emphasizes. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_6"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_7 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_4"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/hands-holding-kidney-shaped-leaves-world-kidney-day-national-organ-donor-day-charity-donation-concept-scaled.jpg" alt="" title="hands holding kidney shaped leaves, world kidney day, National O" class="wp-image-14948" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_6 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Taking Proper Care of Your Kidneys&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;With all those heavy and crucial duties, it seems like our kidneys might be a bit of a high-maintenance organ. However, Dr. Ray assures us that, “Your kidneys are a lot smarter than we are, so when it comes to maintaining good kidney health, there’s not a whole lot that we need to be doing.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Ray advises that as long as we drink our water, get plenty of rest, exercise regularly, maintain good cardiovascular health, and eat a balanced and nutritious diet, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;those without a family or personal history of congenital or acquired kidney disease should have nothing&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to worry about in terms of kidney health.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Common Causes for Kidney Disease in Children&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;We hear of adult patients with kidney diseases all the time, but what we don’t hear of quite often is a seven-year-old child with kidney failure. Dr. Ray shares that many of the kids he treats have kidney disease as a result of genetics.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;“Some kids are just born with congenital malformations of their urinary tract that result in kidney disease, chronic kidney disease, and kidney failure. Sometimes they have autoimmune conditions that result in damage to the kidney tissue itself, and that kidney tissue damage is what we nephrologists will try to treat and manage in order to preserve as much healthy kidney function for as long as possible,” he says.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Ray adds that other times, children develop kidney injury due to taking required medications for another disease. One example of this is when children get kidney injury as a result of chemotherapeutic medications. He says, “These are kids with cancer who require these very nephrotoxic medicines to treat their cancer, which is of course of utmost importance for their health, but the unfortunate side effect of it is that it can sometimes result in permanent kidney damage because of the toxicity of those drugs that have to be used.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;And so, as a pediatric nephrologist, Dr. Ray often finds himself counseling his young patients and their parents on better lifestyle choices that promote kidney health, such as exercising and eating clean. He also works closely with his colleagues from other specialties like oncology, cardiology, and infectious diseases to seek less kidney-damaging medication therapies for patients at risk of kidney injury.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Different Treatments for Kidney Disease&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Aside from giving doctor’s orders to children and their parents, Dr. Ray also administers a wide array of treatments (from blood pressure medications to immunosuppressant drugs) for various types of kidney diseases. However, Dr. Ray raises one alarming issue which makes him fear for his young patients, and yes, you guessed it: it’s the coronavirus. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;“Not only are many of my patients, children, who [may or may not be] authorized to receive the vaccine based on their age, but many of those children are also immunosuppressed because they either have a kidney transplant and require immunosuppressant medications to prevent rejection of their kidney. Or some have an autoimmune condition that requires immunosuppressant medications to prevent ongoing damage to their kidney,” Dr. Ray explains. That’s why he has been taking extra steps to ensure that all his patients are getting the proper treatment and are being carefully protected from COVID-19 exposure.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;For patients who require therapy for end stage kidney disease, Dr. Ray says that dialysis and kidney transplantation are the only two treatments. Dialysis is essentially a process wherein a machine replaces the function of your kidney and is used when a person’s kidney has permanently failed or when they are significantly injured. However, dialysis is not a long-term solution for patients with kidney failure. When Dr. Ray’s patients are far past the point of kidney recovery, a kidney transplant becomes the only treatment option left. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although kidney transplants are complex, Dr. Ray describes them as an extraordinary circumstance. “It's really remarkable to think that from either a loved one or sometimes just an altruistic stranger -- our patients will be given the gift of life in the form of an organ for transplant. And when a living donor is not available, someone's posthumous gift through the donation of their organs allows our patients to go on living, allows that kidney to go on living in someone else, which is also just kind of an incredibly remarkable thing to think about.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Putting the “Kid” in “Kidneys”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Ray shares that one of the most heartwarming parts of his job is when he gets to call a family and tell them their kid will receive a kidney transplant. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;“Just hearing the joy in that family's voice, who's probably been dealing with a child with kidney failure, and maybe on dialysis for quite some time. To be able to get that news is really exciting,” he says. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It’s crystal clear to us here at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; that Dr. Ray’s passion for helping families is not waning anytime soon. When asked what his future looks like, Dr. Ray says that he will continue advocating for child health and kidney health equity in communities. “And if someone were to tell me at the end of my career, ‘Ray, you’ve done amazing work in advocating for kids. You’re an excellent pediatric nephrologist,’ I think that would be awesome.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/adult-child-holding-kidney-shaped-paper-world-kidney-day-national-organ-donor-day-charity-donation-concept-scaled.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/putting-the-kid-in-kidneys-an-interview-with-dr-ray-bignall/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14933</ID> <title>Running the Marathon: A Conversation with Pediatric Psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Goetz</title> <publishDate>2021-11-23 19:36:48</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_4 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_7"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_8 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_5"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/jlgoetz-scaled.jpg" alt="" title="jlgoetz" class="wp-image-14935" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_7 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Running a marathon is often used as a metaphor for endurance. This analogy might be familiar for some, yet it is ubiquitous for a reason. To succeed in a marathon, you need more than athleticism and a quick start; you need the strength to keep going even after you've covered many miles. We call this ability to push through "endurance," a character trait as useful in the medical industry as it is on the running track. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Caring for people's mental health is no exception. Amid COVID-19, battling back against anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses feels like a marathon that never ends. With no finish line in sight, healthcare professionals often need the discipline and tenacity&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;of a track star. Here at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdoctormagazine.com/"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, we speak with many doctors who exhibit these characteristics. One of them is Dr. Jennifer Goetz, a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;graduate of the University of Florida who works as a pediatric psychiatrist and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Marathons for a Cause&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The physical discipline of running has become a source of tenacity for Dr. Goetz. "I started running in college," she tells us. "I don't know what spurred me to run a marathon; but this year, I was like, I'm doing it."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Running guides Dr. Goetz through the streets of Baltimore, a city she loves despite its bad reputation. "Baltimore gets a bad rap. It's actually quite beautiful; it's a really fun city, and it should get more positive attention," she says.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Helping the Vulnerable&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although Dr. Goetz specializes in treating children with eating disorders, her work at Johns Hopkins encompasses a much broader range of mental health issues. "I specifically work with kids and teens and their families in psychiatric crises who get admitted to the inpatient unit at Johns Hopkins," she explains. "It's really an honor and a privilege to get to work with them during such a difficult period because I think being invited into family's lives during these times is really meaningful."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Though Dr. Goetz finds this work rewarding, the experience often leaves her drained, as she labors to come alongside children and their families in their time of desperate need. In addition, her patients struggle with various forms of severe behavioral issues, including serious mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and previous suicide attempts. The stakes at Johns Hopkins are high on a daily basis, something Dr. Goetz knew when she began her work there in April 2020. However, all the challenging work at Johns Hopkins and with family has only been exacerbated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_8"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_9 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_6"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/scool-boy-running-outdoors-child-doing-athletics-stadium-sport-concept-kids.jpg" alt="" title="scool-boy-running-outdoors-child-doing-athletics-stadium-sport-concept-kids" class="wp-image-14938" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_8 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;COVID's Impact on Child and Adolescent Mental Health&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Typically, the world of child and adolescent psychiatric care experiences a period of downtime during&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the summer, when the number of new cases perceptibly decreases. Healthcare professionals rely on this downtime to recover from the stresses of busier periods. However, with the onset of COVID-19, that downtime&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;disappeared completely, leaving Dr. Goetz to rely more heavily on the strengths she's honed through in her running. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"Our unit has been at nearly full capacity for the last 18 months. Kids have been coming in sicker than they've ever been before," she tells us. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Goetz views the pandemic's unique set of pressures as the source of the resulting mental health crises. Previous strategies that individuals, including children and adolescents, relied on to relieve the stress of life have been removed, isolating them from friends, family, and comforting daily rhythms. Stripped of their usual defense mechanisms and subjected to new stressors, people increasingly find themselves at their breaking point. "It's been really hard on our staff, who've not had a break, and who are constantly working with patients who are at a very high acuity level. It's been challenging," she tells us. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Finding the Joy Every Day&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What can be done to stem the tide of this mental health crisis? Dr. Goetz recommends identifying something that brings you joy&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;. &lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Making a little time each day for this source of joy&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;can go a long way. "It could be anything. It could be taking a walk every day. It could be doing a puzzle with someone in your family," she says. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Avoiding unnecessary isolation can also help prevent mental illness for children and adolescents. While Dr. Goetz acknowledges that the health concerns associated with the pandemic often make isolation necessary, she urges parents to&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;find sources of social activity for their children, as this is often an essential outlet. "I think the mental health repercussions of the pandemic are going to be with us for years to come," Dr. Goetz tells us. To deal with these repercussions&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;, &lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;we must make use of available resources, including parents and friends, as well as innovations such as telehealth. The latter, Dr. Goetz warns, should not be overused as in-person counseling is often the best treatment for mental illnesses.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Advice for Aspiring Medical Professionals&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Aside from her work with children, Dr. Goetz also works as an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Goetz has plenty of experience advice for those currently working to enter the medical industry. "Keep an open mind&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;in medical school, in regards to all of the different specialties. Keep your eyes and ears open&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;because you will learn on every rotation, no matter what you're interested in," she says.  Your priority during this season of life should be identifying where you thrive. If you have a passion for children’s mental wellness, you might consider specializing in child and adolescent eating disorders, akin to Dr. Goetz. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A Parting Reminder&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Child psychiatry certainly requires tenacity and endurance, traits that Dr. Goetz possesses in spades. Whether running on the streets of Baltimore or working to free a child from an eating disorder, Dr. Goetz never gives up. "It's a very hard road, right? It's rigorous. The pandemic has shown a lot of holes in our systems of care, particularly in behavioral health. But I still love what I do because I love the people I get to work with." Indeed, we all have something to learn from this diligent mentality. If you would like to read more about Dr. Goetz and her work, take a look at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/profiles/details/jennifer-goetz."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;her profile&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; on the Johns Hopkins website!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/marathon-run-people-are-running-road-people-are-moving.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/running-the-marathon-a-conversation-with-pediatric-psychiatrist-dr-jennifer-goetz/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14910</ID> <title>Looking Beyond the Science: Caring for Underserved Communities with Dr. Imani McElroy</title> <publishDate>2021-11-21 18:29:34</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_5 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_9"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_10 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_7"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/hallway_shot.jpeg-1.jpg" alt="" title="hallway_shot.jpeg (1)" class="wp-image-14913" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_11 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_9 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;People's health and well-being are heavily influenced by the communities in which they live. Ideally, people have ample access to medical services and the resources to pay for them. However, this is not always the case for underserved communities. According to the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/mua-find#:~:text=Medically%20Underserved%20Areas%2FPopulations%20are%20areas%20or%20populations%20designated,high%20poverty%20or%20a%20high%20elderly%20population.%20"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Health Resources &amp;amp; Services Administration&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, numerous communities have a shortage of doctors, a high rate of poverty and infant mortality, and a high population of older adults. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Therefore, when doctors bring their expertise and passion to these areas, they heal not only individual patients but also entire communities.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Dr. Imani McElroy, MD, MPH&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;One doctor with a passion for serving these communities is Dr. Imani McElroy, MD, MPH, a surgical resident at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Her passion began in childhood. "My mom ran a temporary placement shelter for foster youth. I wanted to continue that tradition."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_10"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_12 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_10 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;After earning an undergraduate degree from the University of California at Irvine, she earned her MD from the Charles R. Drew/UCLA Medical Education Program, which she calls "life-changing. Its mission is to serve and uplift underserved communities. That was directly aligned with my life mission. She received her MPH from the&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/"&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, which also focused on public policy and communities' access to healthcare. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;At &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Massachusetts General Hospital, "They found ways to create opportunities that support me and my career goals," Dr. McElroy shares.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Inequalities and Discrimination in Medicine&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In the United States, minority groups often suffer &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/racism-discrimination-health-care-providers-patients-2017011611015"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;higher rates of illness, poor outcomes, and death&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Studies show differences in treatment and availability of services for minority and low socioeconomic status populations. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. McElroy understands the need for change and is dedicated to finding solutions. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"We need to be truthful about history—how this country, and medicine as a whole, has not always been the beacon of pride that it should be. We need to rectify that. We have to acknowledge and own our past and truly move forward," she says. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;To that end, the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/health-equity/ama-guidelines-offer-path-prevent-discrimination-medicine"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;American Medical Association&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; has created guidelines to address discrimination and systemic racism in the medical field. Also, the federally funded &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/these-physicians-work-underserved-communities-national-health-service-corps-helps-make-financially"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;National Health Service Corp&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; gives scholarships to students in exchange for providing medical care in underserved communities. This program has provided 63,000 healthcare professionals to communities across the United States. These are two examples of essential steps, but there is much more to be done. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_11"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_13 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_8"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/IMG_20181020_120953_7-1024x768-1-e1637349507852.jpg" alt="" title="IMG_20181020_120953_7-1024x768" class="wp-image-14927" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_14 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_9"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Health-Fair-Screening.jpg" alt="" title="Health-Fair-Screening" class="wp-image-14922" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_12"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_15 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_11 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Research and Insight&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. McElroy has gained enough experience through her education and residency to reach her goals. "I did a study that looked at readmission work across the board. I assessed readmissions as a possible way to look at whether or not surgical populations were being well served. It was a great way to get a better understanding of how to do really directed research towards underserved communities,"she says. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Another important experience is her role as the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization Administrative Fellow. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"Massachusetts General clearly had looked beyond my application and looked to see what I was interested in. I sit in with the hospital administration, and I really get an understanding of how hospitals are, how our institution is run, and how we come to the policy decisions that we make. We’re figuring out how to not only be a leading institution in healthcare, but also to really push the paradigm and look at how we practice. And so this has been an invaluable experience to me and getting to work with different types of doctors," she explained. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. McElroy believes that the work cannot stop there. The next step is to use that research to speak out, act, and effect change.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;She says, "I've been able to not only do research that pushes practice paradigms but I've also been supported in my efforts to speak up about inequalities in discrimination within medicine." &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Participating in local events and being visible in the community is a great way to connect doctors and underserved populations. Events such as toy drives and fundraisers bring much-needed help and build relationships. When Dr. McElroy was class president at her university, she organized multiple events for local communities. She did food drives for children at a homeless shelter, held numerous health fairs, and conducted community awareness events every year.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Five Years from Now&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Inasmuch as we know that there is unfair treatment when it comes to race, what do the next five years have in store for doctors seeking to address medical inequality? Dr. McElroy optimistically states, "I think there's definitely a new understanding of the importance of looking beyond the science of our patients—understanding why they present with disparities and creating interventions. A more diverse workforce will understand that our system right now is not equal and that we have a lot of work to do. They will be willing to do that work."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. McElroy recognizes her good fortune in having a platform that empowers her to follow her passion for resolving medical inequality."It’s about being a part of and working for the community, really pushing for equity in health disparities, and creating change. I am forever grateful to be able to be at a place where the faculty, staff, and administrators are all supportive of those goals. They want to be a part of that change," she says. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;We are confident that Dr. McElroy will continue to be a clear voice in the journey toward equity in currently underserved communities. For those who may be following a similar career path, Dr. McElroy offers this valuable advice- e. "Be kind to yourself. This journey is hard but worth it. Give yourself grace; you are human. Build a support network and reach out for help. This journey is not meant to be done alone." &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/IMG_20180113_190645_906-1-scaled.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/choose-to-age-looking-great-and-feeling-great-the-advances-in-cosmetic-dermatology-with-dr-patrick-bitter-jr-choose-to-age-looking-great-and-feeling-great-the-advances-in-cosmetic-dermato-2/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14897</ID> <title>Stressed about the Holidays? Try These Anti-Stress Techniques This Holiday Season</title> <publishDate>2021-11-18 15:44:51</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_6 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_13"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_16 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_10"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/diy-acts-kindness-advent-calendar-christmas.jpg" alt="" title="diy-acts-kindness-advent-calendar-christmas" class="wp-image-14898" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_12 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As the air becomes crisp and the leaves change color, the delicious scents of apple cider, and pumpkin spice once again fill the air. The beginning of the holiday season delights the senses and reminds us that many weeks of cooking, hosting, and shopping are just around the corner. Self-care should not be neglected while you prepare for this wonderful time of celebration and friends.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;For many, the holidays can be a challenging time of year. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/understanding-and-managing-holiday-stress-3145230"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;80% of people report&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; moderate to severe stress by the time New Year’s Day finally arrives. Contrary to expectation, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/understanding-and-managing-holiday-stress-3145230"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;research indicates&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; that people find the season of good cheer as stressful as asking for a raise! Today, we will explore the best strategies for mitigating this seasonal anxiety. As you consider potential strategies, always remember that you should seek help if you need it. If the symptoms you experience do not change or worsen, consider reaching out to a psychologist or personal counselor.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Tis the Season? Some Reasons Why Holidays Are Stressful&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;When considering the sources of seasonal pressure, remember that a certain amount of stress is an inevitable part of life. Good mental health is not about eliminating stress; rather, it’s about &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/six-relaxation-techniques-to-reduce-stress"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;learning to respond in a healthy way&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/understanding-and-managing-holiday-stress-3145230"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Scientists think&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; a certain amount of stress actually helps make our lives fulfilling. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;With this in mind, it’s evident that the holidays&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20047544"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; involve many taxing activities&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; such as hosting guests, cooking meals, shopping for presents, and cleaning your living space will likely pop up on your to-do list more often than usual. Unfortunately, the marketing surrounding holidays &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/understanding-and-managing-holiday-stress-3145230"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;does little to mitigate this workload&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, contributing to the tension by creating an artificial sense of built-up anticipation. Add to that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/understanding-and-managing-holiday-stress-3145230"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the ever-present social challenge&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; of balancing between excessive and insufficient togetherness with friends and family, and you’ve got one tricky time of year. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_14"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_17 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_11"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/family-preparing-thanksgiving-day-turkey-scaled.jpg" alt="" title="family-preparing-thanksgiving-day-turkey" class="wp-image-14900" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_13 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Relaxation Responses: Cultivating Mindfulness&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/six-relaxation-techniques-to-reduce-stress"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;According to Dr. Herbert Benson&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, a Harvard Medical School cardiologist, the body’s initial response to stress is physical- the heart rate and breathing increase, and the muscles tighten. These physical responses initially developed as a survival mechanism. Dr. Benson &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/six-relaxation-techniques-to-reduce-stress"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;recommends &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;developing a “relaxation response” mechanism to deactivate natural stress. Learning a relaxation response equips you to start confronting your stress from the comfort of your own home. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The most common relaxation response discipline is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/six-relaxation-techniques-to-reduce-stress"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;breath focusing&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. You attempt to empty your mind of distracting, upsetting thoughts by fixating on long, slow, deep breaths. Breath focusing functions as a cornerstone for several other relaxation response disciplines, such as &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/six-relaxation-techniques-to-reduce-stress"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;mindfulness meditation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, which trains the mind to contemplate presentness rather than the past or the future, and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/six-relaxation-techniques-to-reduce-stress"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;yoga&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, which challenges the body’s flexibility to calm the mind. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Healthy Body, Healthy Mind&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Now that we understand how a natural defense mechanism intensifies stress responses, it should come as no surprise that biological causes also contribute to holiday stress. Consider tweaking your lifestyle a bit as you attempt to decrease seasonal stress. To begin, take &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20047544"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;stock of your habits&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/16-ways-relieve-stress-anxiety"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Reduce your caffeine intake&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; if you find yourself consuming an excess of five cups of coffee per day, as high doses of this energizing chemical produce jitters and anxiety. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/16-ways-relieve-stress-anxiety"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Exercise regularly&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to counteract stress hormones in your brain with positive endorphins, and eat a healthy snack before scenarios where you might be tempted to gorge yourself on junk food. Top this regimen off with a dietary supplement or two - lemon balm and kava kava &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/16-ways-relieve-stress-anxiety"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;possess beneficial anti-anxiety properties&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; - and you’ll be feeling better in no time!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_15"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_18 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_12"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/happy-family-having-nice-thanksgiving-dinner-together.jpg" alt="" title="happy-family-having-nice-thanksgiving-dinner-together" class="wp-image-14903" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_14 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It’s All about Outlook&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Psychiatrist &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/6_simple_practices_to_handle_holiday_stress"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dan Siegel says&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; that successfully fighting back stress boils down to “priming” your brain for positive responses throughout the day. Therefore, set your intention on enjoying the holidays as much as possible, and take a moment to notice when things are going well. Fred Bryant, a researcher at Loyola, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/6_simple_practices_to_handle_holiday_stress"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;found&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; that dwelling on a positive emotion for just 15 to 30 seconds increases neural connections and makes a lasting positive memory possible. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;When things go wrong, take a moment to acknowledge your feelings and their causes - whatever those may be. Think of this as &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20047544"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;“emotionally taking stock.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; If you’re still upset about the situation, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/16-ways-relieve-stress-anxiety"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;write it down&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Start with what you’re grateful for. However, only afterward make a list of the sources of your stress.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Thriving During the Holidays&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Ultimately, the key to a happy holiday season is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20047544"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;accepting the time for what it is&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Don’t impose unrealistic expectations on yourself or others. Instead, establish a budget, set your priorities, and permit yourself to say no when you feel overwhelmed. If you develop mindful habits and a positive outlook, you will find yourself much better equipped to acknowledge the sources of holiday stress for what they are and enjoy the season all the more. Armed with these helpful tactics, you can dive headfirst into wrapping paper and recipes this December and come up at the end of it all with a big smile on your face!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/diy-acts-kindness-advent-calendar-christmas.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/stressed-about-the-holidays-try-these-anti-stress-techniques-this-holiday-season/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14582</ID> <title>"Choose to Age Looking Great and Feeling Great" - The Advances in Cosmetic Dermatology with Dr. Patrick Bitter Jr.</title> <publishDate>2021-11-14 17:21:50</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_7 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_16"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_19 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_13"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/patrick-bitter.jpg.webp" alt="" title="patrick-bitter.jpg" class="wp-image-14583" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_20 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_15 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In 1521,&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;exactly&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;500 years ago, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/ponce-de-leon-never-searched-for-the-fountain-of-youth-72629888/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Juan Ponce de León&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, the famous Spanish explorer and conquistador, set foot on Southwest Florida with the clear goal, as legend has it, to discover the much-coveted Fountain of Youth. Five centuries later, another pioneer in the search for eternal youth, this time in cosmetic dermatology, bought a house close to where Ponce de León and his party first debarked on Floridian soil. Coincidence? Fate? Either way, it's an exciting story that Dr. Patrick Bitter Jr. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A &lt;a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickbitterjrmd"&gt;Stanford University School of Medicine alumnus&lt;/a&gt; and CEO at &lt;a href="https://www.patrickbitterjrmd.com/"&gt;Patrick Bitter, Jr., MD Advanced Aesthetic Dermatology&lt;/a&gt;, happily shared with &lt;a href="https://topdoctormagazine.com/"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt;.&lt;/i&gt;"Ponce de León didn't find the Fountain of Youth, but I did!" &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although all of us enjoy a thrilling myth from time to time, Dr. Bitter Jr.'s words are as accurate of a statement as they can be. His contagious excitement and hopefulness helped paint a confident image of cosmetic dermatology, which now, in 2021, harnesses more advanced tools than ever in the fight against skin aging. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_17"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_21 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_16 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"This is a fantastic and very exciting time to be in cosmetic medicine and cosmetic dermatology, and it's a fantastic time for whoever is interested in keeping their skin healthy and slowing down the way their skin ages." All we have to do is seize the moment, and Dr. Bitter Jr. is delighted to guide us towards achieving our facial aesthetic goals!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Therefore, today's &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;article will give Dr. Bitter Jr. the voice he deserves to enlighten us on &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.webmd.com/beauty/intense-pulsed-light-treatment-overview#1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;IPL&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Intense Pulsed Light) and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://sciton.com/physicians/bbl/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;BBL&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;BroadBand Light), the two cosmetic therapies improved and perfected by Dr. Bitter Jr., and help us understand the benefits of preventative cosmetic treatments.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_18"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_22 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_14"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/three-multicultural-girls-together-2.jpg" alt="" title="three-multicultural-girls-together (2)" class="wp-image-14594" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_17 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Giving Hope to the Patient&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Bitter Jr.'s search for&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;lifelong healthy skin&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; began at a fragile age, when he first glanced at his father's dermatology-related journals. Pictures of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;graphic skin diseases prompted the young Dr. Bitter Jr. to take matters into his own hands and pursue the best training available in dermatology. After finishing his dermatology residency at Stanford, Dr. Bitter Jr. was finally ready to embark upon his quest to find the promised land of lifelong youthfulness.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;His initial voyages into dermatology were primarily medical and surgical. As the doctor tells us, during&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;his medical school years at&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Stanford he saw numerous skin issues in elderly&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;patients who were World War I veterans&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;,&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; which gave Dr. Bitter Jr. a chance to choose a future path. "Surgery didn't appeal to me because it was in the operating room, and you didn't talk to the patient. I wanted to talk to&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;my&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; patients." Even 40 years later, Dr. Bitter Jr. joyfully recalls his patients' century-old stories. "And he (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the veterans) could be telling me about what it was like when he was 18 years old on the Western front."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"I realized that every interaction I had with a patient in dermatology was either addressing something that was a fear that they had something bad, or&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;a rash that made them really uncomfortable&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;or they had something&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;visible on their skin that they were embarrassed by&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;" So Dr. Bitter Jr. made the patients' fears, doubts, and discomforts his primary object of care. "My interaction with them (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the patients) was all about giving them hope." Fortunately, the discovery of superior technologies allowed Dr. Bitter Jr. to switch his area of interest from medical  to cosmetic dermatology and approach cosmetic care his way. "With the advent of&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;new treatments and technologies in the last 20 to 30 years that&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;have allowed us to do things for our patients we only could dream of before, it was a natural thing for me to really evolve into cosmetic dermatology. Today, my practice in Silicon Valley is&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;95% cosmetic dermatology."  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Serendipity, Observation, Passion, and the&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Fotofacial&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Procedure &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Five centuries after Ponce de León, Dr. Bitter Jr. is happy to claim lifelong youthful skin&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;for the field of cosmetic dermatology through his world-renowned Fotofacial procedure. This treatment employs intense light pulses to rejuvenate facial skin, stimulate new collagen production, and inhibit natural aging signs. Dr. Bitter Jr.'s discovery relies upon his personalized use of IPL and BBL devices. Now, at the age of 65, he sees his skin younger-looking than his 43-year-old self. "I think I've done 135 or 140 (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e.,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;BBL&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;treatments)&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;on myself  by now and kept evolving the techniques as the&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;BBL&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;technology has evolved. And now, 22 years later, my skin looks better than it did when I was 43, way better."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Fotofacial procedure owes its development to three factors. As with most scientific and&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;medical discoveries, Dr. Bitter Jr. gives credit to serendipity for discovering the right path to youthful skin. "The serendipitous part was the office manager saying one day, years ago 'Why don't you learn how to use the IPL device? And then you could help pay for the lease payments on it.'" While his father mainly used the IPL device to treat skin spots, Dr. Bitter Jr. broke free of the standard approach and took IPL to the next level. "I'm not a spot doctor. I'm a skin doctor. And so I started to just experiment by treating, not just spots, but treating the whole face."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The second ingredient in Dr. Bitter Jr.'s&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;discovery of the anti-aging power of light&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;was keen&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;observation. After having realized that he was onto something of great benefit to his patients Dr. Bitter Jr. put his idea to the test. The rest is history. "I've done more than 40,000 treatments on thousands of patients and millions and millions of pulses of light that I've flashed on people's skin. That is why we are where we are today." But Dr. Bitter Jr. could never have glanced at the shores of&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;lifelong youthful skin&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; without the trust of his patients. "I really have tremendous gratitude for all of the patients that have trusted me to try things on them over the years because that's where I really learned how to do what I do."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The third and final ingredient to Dr. Bitter Jr.'s phenomenal success is brilliant technology. Decades ago, when Dr. Bitter Jr. was making his first steps into cosmetic dermatology,  "the original company that pioneered IPL was on the brink of  bankruptcy  and  IPL was on the verge of being abandoned as a tool in medicine because it was not well received at all in dermatology and plastic surgery circles".  However, after Dr. Bitter pioneered the Fotofacial procedure using IPL to treat the whole face IPL began to be accepted as an essential technology in treating skin. Within five years of the introduction of Dr. Bitter’s Fotofacial procedure Sciton introduced BBL, the most advanced IPL technology available allowing Dr. Bitter to develop even better techniques and protocols. “With the brilliant engineers at Sciton continually improving their technology and passionate clinicians like myself exploring new ways to use this technology we have a beautiful example of the best of technology meeting clinical expertise.”  “And it is just this coming together of industry and clinical practice that has made possible for everyone a lifetime of healthy youthful skin.  and today with Sciton’s new BBL Hero Technology we now can truly create healthy youthful skin anywhere on the body. Something Ponce De Leon and I only dreamt of  has now become a reality "I would estimate that easily 20,000 people a day are treated with  a BBL device across the globe. And there is one simple reason for this: people love the way these treatments make their skin look.”  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Passion, astute&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; observation, technology, and a drop of luck—"this perfect union or marriage" of factors led to many thousands of happy customers, whose skin looks, as Dr. Bitter Jr. puts it, "half their age." Such a game-changing discovery helped Dr. Bitter Jr. achieve his well-deserved fame in the world of aesthetic&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;medicine. "I discovered that light could fix things like red faces and sun-damaged skin, and that was the birth of the&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Fotofacial treatment. I realized that this was valuable, so I gave a name to the process that I came up with." However, with most great innovations comes great responsibility, and Dr. Bitter Jr. was ready to share his secret to the rejuvenative &lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;p&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;ower of light  with fellow cosmetic dermatologists. "I've trained almost ten thousand practitioners in the use of light based  technology." Now, these aesthetic practitioners bring the anti-aging benefits of light treatments  to patients around the world. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"I May Be 65, but I Don't Want to Look 65"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Cosmetic dermatology made it possible for us to erect a firm wall between the aging process and its effects on the face. As Dr. Bitter Jr. helps us understand, "You don't have to look old as you get older. … Looking old is not a given, and you can choose to age looking great and feeling great." In the end, it all boils down to our choices: we can accept the aging process and let it affect how we look or we can seek out a cosmetic specialist and do something about it. "I may be 65, but I don't want to look 65. I know what 65-year-old men look like, and I don't want to look that way, and I don't want to feel that way. I live my life, and  do Fotofacial  treatments with BBL on myself because it's the choice I make to keep my skin healthy and looking young which makes me feel good."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;All of us now have access to the 21st-century  ‘Fountain of Youth” that Dr. Bitter Jr. discovered and shared with the world. And the sooner we “drink” from it, the better. Dr. Bitter Jr. advises younger adults not to wait until they have aged  but to undergo light  treatments when already in their 20s or 30s, when their skin is healthy and still looks youthful. "I published several pioneering papers on the discovery that if you did regular treatments with BBL on the full face, you could make the skin not only  look a lot better but stay looking better with age". Preventative cosmetic treatments, coupled with a balanced lifestyle and a healthy diet, will help you maintain  younger looking skin and "age looking great and feeling great."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A Parting Reminder&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Bitter Jr.'s work and way of life prove that Ponce de León's quest has reached a noteworthy milestone: the aging process can be delayed with the proper techniques and technology. According to Dr. Bitter, “even after twenty-five years, I continue to be amazed at the magic of broad band light on the skin. The future is very bright for those of us who want to keep our skin healthy and young.” For more information on Dr. Bitter Jr.'s&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;work and treatments, make sure that you check out his&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.patrickbitterjrmd.com"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;www.patrickbitterjrmd.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and his Instagram, @patrickbitterjrmd.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/three-multicultural-girls-together.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/choose-to-age-looking-great-and-feeling-great-the-advances-in-cosmetic-dermatology-with-dr-patrick-bitter-jr-choose-to-age-looking-great-and-feeling-great-the-advances-in-cosmetic-dermato/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14571</ID> <title>How Does Eating Blueberries Help Your Skin?</title> <publishDate>2021-11-13 16:56:15</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_8 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_19"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_23 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_15"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/joanna-kosinska-4qujjbj3srs-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="joanna-kosinska-4qujjbj3srs-unsplash" class="wp-image-14573" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_18 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Have you ever peered into your fridge at night, wishing your tastiest snacks were healthy for you? Believe it or not, supporting your skin through a healthy diet can be a delicious endeavor. For example, blueberries are a tasty snack &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/blueberry-benefits-for-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;that are available year-round&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, and they also happen to be one of the healthiest foods for your skin. Furthermore, blueberries have so many dermatological benefits that they can indeed be called the "superfood of the skin."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Science behind Blueberries' Skin Benefits&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If there's one health benefit that blueberries are known for, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://greatist.com/health/blueberry-benefits-for-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;it's antioxidants&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. These natural compounds protect your skin by stabilizing free radicals, which would otherwise damage your skin through a process called &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://greatist.com/health/blueberry-benefits-for-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;oxidative stress&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. The most important antioxidant for skin health is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/blueberry-benefits-for-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;anthocyanin&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, the pigment behind the blueberries' signature indigo hue. Blueberries also contain two other essential antioxidants, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.thehealthsite.com/beauty/skin-care/want-to-keep-your-skin-looking-youthful-eat-blueberries-759025/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;quercetin and myricetin&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, as well as other helpful nutrients such as fiber, iron, zinc, and many other skin-friendly vitamins and minerals.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Antioxidants: Blueberries' Secret Weapon&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;You've heard that antioxidants fight free radicals, but what does this mean in practical terms for your skin? For starters, anthocyanin &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/blueberry-benefits-for-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;boosts collagen synthesis&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Collagen keeps your skin supple and healthy, and blueberry consumption has been &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/blueberry-benefits-for-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;linked&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to a reduced rate of collagen breakdown. Additionally, antioxidants &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/blueberry-benefits-for-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;fight general inflammation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, cutting down on redness and swelling resulting from skin problems like acne and psoriasis. The reduction in inflammation resulting from blueberry consumption may &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://birdybotanicals.com/why-blueberries-are-so-darn-good-for-your-skin/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;delay the appearance of wrinkles&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Finally, the antioxidants in blueberries &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/blueberry-benefits-for-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;help fight the aging process&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Aging leads to weakening defenses against free radicals in your skin cells. When free radicals outnumber antioxidants, the aging process becomes apparent. Thanks to the neutralizing effects of antioxidants, however, eating blueberries can slow this process. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Other Skin Benefits&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Aside from antioxidants, you can reap a myriad of other potential health benefits from eating blueberries. Eating blueberries can &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/blueberry-benefits-for-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;lead to better heart health&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, and therefore, better circulation. How does this affect your skin? By slowing the breakdown of capillaries, blueberries can &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://birdybotanicals.com/why-blueberries-are-so-darn-good-for-your-skin/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;fend off varicose veins&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and improve the delivery of nutrients to the skin, ensuring that your epidermis remains vibrant and smooth. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;All out of orange juice? Never fear! A daily serving of blueberries contains &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/blueberry-benefits-for-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;at least 16% of your daily Vitamin C intake&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, which (not unlike antioxidants) can help your body produce more collagen. Furthermore, blueberries include fiber and low glycemic carbs. In addition to reducing the risk of cancer,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/blueberry-benefits-for-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; the former can be extremely helpful in reducing acne breakouts&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. The latter is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1NBusYwLCstcFUgQXZBAlaZk79KBbmv1ggWY7fa6jhyo/edit"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;essential to a healthy gut microbiome&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, which is linked to a reduction in skin conditions like acne and psoriasis. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Incorporating Blueberries into Your Daily Routine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;One thing to note about blueberries: you need to eat a lot to enjoy the benefits described above. A cup of blueberries (or approximately 100 grams) is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://greatist.com/health/blueberry-benefits-for-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;considered one serving&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. To cut down on costs, you can always &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/benefits-of-blueberries/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;freeze blueberries after buying them in bulk&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. In addition, soaking the berries for a few seconds in a 10% vinegar bath &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/benefits-of-blueberries/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;can double their shelf life&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, since blueberries can get expensive, you may wish to consider alternative ways to enjoy their benefits without breaking the bank. One potential approach is to apply them directly to your skin.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, experts have not arrived at a consensus about the usefulness of this technique. Some sources argue that applying blueberries directly to your skin can &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/blueberry-benefits-for-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;result in infection and worsening acne&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Other sources &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/benefits-of-blueberries/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;support a DIY face mask&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; made from ½ a cup of crushed blueberries and 1 cup of plain yogurt. Applying this mixture may improve skin irritations like acne. If you choose to try a DIY face mask, rinse your face with warm water about twenty minutes after applying. Please make sure to throw it out after one use to avoid bacterial growth. Beware though that the anthocyanin &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://greatist.com/health/blueberry-benefits-for-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;may stain your face blue&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A more stable topical alternative, however, would be to purchase an extract cream. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://greatist.com/health/blueberry-benefits-for-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Recommended highly&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; by Boston dermatologist Dr. Ranella Hirsch, multiple studies have shown that blueberry extract creams effectively provide most of the skin health benefits considered above and may be more affordable than consuming a cup of blueberries per day. If you choose to invest in an extract cream, be sure to apply it consistently for several weeks before you expect to see results. Consider asking your dermatologist about blueberry extract products that are right for your skin type/skin condition.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Getting the Best Out of Your Berries&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Next time you find yourself shopping for a healthier midnight snack, consider picking up a carton or two of blueberries. Not only are these tiny delights tasty, but they're also bundles of nutrients that contribute positively to the wellbeing of your skin. Blueberries can genuinely be called the skincare superfood—indeed, an indispensable addition to your healthy diet!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images/> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/how-does-eating-blueberries-help-your-skin/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14485</ID> <title>What Is One Of The Most Important Self-Care Acts You Can Offer Yourself? Visit The Dermatologist</title> <publishDate>2021-11-12 19:24:33</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_9 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_20"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_24 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_16"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/woman-cosmetology-studio-procedures-1.jpg" alt="" title="woman-cosmetology-studio-procedures (1)" class="wp-image-14486" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_19 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Did you know the skin is the largest organ in your body?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Many times your skin is completely ignored as you step outside into the elements. Regardless if it is sunny or cloudy, gone&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; are the days when you should grab the Coppertone with the cute little girl and her dog on the bottle and spend hours soaking up the sun. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The USDA reports approximately 70% of American adults do not protect themselves from the dangerous rays when outside, and according to Mayo Clinic, you can even get a sunburn on a cloudy or cooler day.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Brenda Vogl, RN, Nurse Practitioner in Dermatology, shares that when meeting with patients she offers this number one piece of advice to protect their skin...&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Stay out of the sun. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;She recommends, “If you do need to be out in the sun for work, sports, recreation etc. then it is essential to apply a sunscreen of SPF 50. Try and wear a broad brimmed hat, protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses and when possible opt for clothing with UPF 50. Lastly, don’t forget the lips, apply &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;a lip balm with at least SPF 15.”&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What makes the sun so harmful?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The danger from the sun is the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/sun-safety"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;ultraviolet radiation,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; which is energy from the sun that reaches the earth as visible, infrared, and ultraviolet (UV) rays. There are 3 types of ultraviolet rays: UVA, UVB and UVC each with different wavelengths. Only UVA and UVB ultraviolet rays reach the earth's surface. The earth's atmosphere absorbs UVC wavelengths.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;UVB rays cause a much greater risk of skin cancer than UVA.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;UVA rays cause aging, wrinkling, and loss of elasticity.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;UVA also increases the damaging effects of UVB, including skin cancer and cataracts.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How many millions are diagnosed with skin cancer each year?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;ol&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;a) 1 million&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;b) 5 million&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;c) 10 million&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ol&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you guessed (b) 5 million you are correct,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/basal-and-squamous-cell-skin-cancer/about/key-statistics.html"&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;5.4 million basal and squamous cell&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the US (occurring in about 3.3 million Americans, as some people have more than one). About 8 out of 10 of these are basal cell cancers. Squamous cell cancers occur less often. The number of cancer cases is increasing each year due to better skin cancer detection, people getting more sun exposure, and people living longer.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The good news is catching skin cancer early can prevent these lesions from becoming dangerous. But what if you’re like most people and you’ve spent one summer too many in the sun? &lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_21"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_25 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_17"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/woman-beauty-salon-making-cosmetic-procedures.jpg" alt="" title="woman-beauty-salon-making-cosmetic-procedures" class="wp-image-14487" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_20 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Here are a couple of answers to the most common questions asked when it comes to sun protection and sun safety.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;#1 How do I know my mole should be checked?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Have you noticed a new, dark lesion on your skin? Has it changed in size, shape, border, symmetry?  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Have you noticed a persistent red, scaling lesion on sun-exposed areas?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Have you noticed a sore that won't heal on sun-exposed areas?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If the answer is yes to any of the above, it's advisable to see a dermatologist and get the spots checked out. This is truly the only way to know if they are safe or not. And while you're at it, be sure to ask how often your unique skin should be examined. Then, set yourself a reminder to visit your doctor as needed to keep an eye on any troublesome spots down the road.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;#2 Which sunscreen protects against skin cancer?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In addition to staying hydrated, applying sunscreen is one of the best things you can do for your skin to keep it healthy.  With so many products out there in the market, having a good sunscreen is top of the list. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A sunscreen’s SPF (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;sun protection factor) &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;number refers to the amount of UVB protection it provides.  &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Vogl suggests, an SPF 50 blocks approximately 98% of UVB rays and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;to look for a product that says &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;broad spectrum&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; A sunscreens SPF is only fully protective for 2 hours after you apply it.  Ideally your sunscreen should list as an active ingredient(s) zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide 5% or higher which are physical blockers as opposed to chemicals. So how much is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;adequate? You should apply approximately 1 ounce of sunscreen.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;#3 What else can you do?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Always keep your sunscreen handy. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Many of us have gotten used to grabbing our keys, phone and hand sanitizer as we leave for the day, all good things. But for the health of your largest organ, it’s important to always remember your sunscreen. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Enjoy your freedom from the walls of an office or non traditional work schedule with some proper planning. If you know you will be outside all day, throw that sunscreen tube in your backpack or purse, along with your water bottle. Apply an SPF sunscreen on parts of your body that get exposure and remember to reapply every two hours without being skimpy on the amount.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &lt;b&gt;One more pro-level tip:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; If you have never had your entire skin from head to toe checked for questionable spots, you may want to schedule that appointment with your dermatologist sooner than later. Early detection of mystery spots can help prevent life threatening lesions.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/woman-cosmetology-studio-procedures-1.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/what-is-one-of-the-most-important-self-care-acts-you-can-offer-yourself-visit-the-dermatologist/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14509</ID> <title>How Does Cold Water Affect Your Health?</title> <publishDate>2021-11-09 20:27:25</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_10 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_22"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_26 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_18"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/jakayla-toney-dmgjBv3w8s-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="jakayla-toney--dmgjBv3w8s-unsplash" class="wp-image-14512" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_21 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;When you think of a relaxing shower, you probably think of water hot enough to cover everything in steam. This kind of shower is relaxing, sure, but how does water temperature impact your health? If you found out that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-shower-benefits"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;cold showers might have benefits&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, would you consider changing your routine? We all have a responsibility to take care of ourselves, and it’s good to be aware of the possibilities of cold showers. Keep reading below to find out what strategies you can adopt to take advantage of the benefits of cold water!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How Does Cold Water Affect My Health?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;First, we should define what qualifies as a cold shower. Different sources suggest that the temperature of “cold” water is anywhere from 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but the best guide is your response to the water. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325725#boosted-mood"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If it feels cold, the benefits we describe below will take effect&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. The other thing to note about the benefits of cold water is that they hit their peak after a few minutes. In other words, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/are-cold-showers-good-for-you/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;a cold shower of three minutes will do just as much good for your body and mind as a cold shower of ten minutes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Keep this in mind when the discomfort of the cold hits. It’s only temporary!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;That being said, there are enough benefits to cold water that you should consider altering your shower habits. The easiest to notice is the effect on your circulation. Your body always does its best to maintain your core temperature, so &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327461#cold-showers"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;when you’re hit with a spray of cold water, it will take more energy to maintain that core temperature&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. The use of this extra energy makes your circulatory system more efficient, which can be helpful when healing from sports injuries.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;We should note that the very reason cold water improves circulation for most people can also threaten other people. If you suffer from cardiac disease, you should know that the usual physical reaction to cold water may put additional stress on your heart. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/are-cold-showers-good-for-you/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;This unnecessary stress could lead to an irregular heartbeat&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, which far outweighs any benefits of cold showers. Anyone with heart disease should consult their doctor before integrating the added stress of cold water into their daily routine.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Aside from improved circulation, the next thing a cold shower will affect is your mood. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inner-source/201407/cold-splash-hydrotherapy-depression-and-anxiety"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Cold showers have been beneficial to patients suffering from depression and anxiety&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, although they should not replace any depression medications or treatments. But why is that? It almost sounds too good to be accurate. However, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/cold-shower-for-anxiety#research"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;getting hit with cold water releases endorphins, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;hormones that control your mood&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. More endorphins result in a lighter mood, which is why many people report the positive emotional effect of cold water in their routine.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How Should I Add Cold Water to My Routine?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If there’s a good chance that a brief cold shower will improve your day, you might be asking yourself how you can make the change. It’s uncomfortable when the water first hits you, of course, almost like &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-shower-benefits#endorphins"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;a gentle version of electroshock therapy&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. But that’s exactly why cold showers are beneficial: your body’s response to the small stress of cold water improves your physical and emotional health. So how can you turn cold showers into a daily activity? There are three main tips you can use to build the habit of using cold water.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;First, adjust the water’s temperature slowly. The first time you decide to take a cold shower, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://heartlinefitness.com/a-how-to-for-cold-shower-therapy/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;add it to the end of your regular shower routine and slowly decrease the temperature until it feels cold&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. The most dramatic effect will come from turning the water from hot to cold immediately, of course. Still, if you’re like most people, then you’ll have to build up to that. It’s okay to start slow!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Next, keep the duration of your cold shower short. Your ability to tolerate cold water will grow with practice, but, at first, it’s alright to stand under the cold water for about thirty seconds. The critical thing is stepping outside of your comfort zone. Once you have a little experience, you can start to increase the length of your cold showers to the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/are-cold-showers-good-for-you/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;most effective three minutes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; discussed earlier. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Finally, focus on controlling your breathing. When the cold water first hits you, the temptation is to breathe more rapidly and tense up your entire body. Instead, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://heartlinefitness.com/a-how-to-for-cold-shower-therapy/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;focus on keeping your breathing regular and try not to shiver&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. The goal is to build up endurance, and breathing too fast and shivering make it more uncomfortable than it has to be. You can still reap the benefits of a cold shower that you calmly endure!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A Parting Reminder&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;With all of these benefits and strategies in mind, take a moment to ask yourself whether cold showers might be suitable for you. They’re shocking at first, of course, but the tips we discussed will go a long way in helping you build up a tolerance and start to see the benefits. With enough practice and time, cold showers can become a central part of your routine!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/jakayla-toney-dmgjBv3w8s-unsplash.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/how-does-cold-water-affect-your-health/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14518</ID> <title>What Do Your Nails Say About Your Health?</title> <publishDate>2021-11-08 20:57:07</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_11 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_23"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_27 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_19"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/hands-with-nice-nails-nail-grooming-manicure-concept.jpg" alt="" title="hands-with-nice-nails-nail-grooming-manicure-concept" class="wp-image-14519" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_22 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;We all know that biting our fingernails is a bad habit, but did you realize that the condition of your nails can tell you a lot about your physical health? There are a surprising number of disorders indicated in your nails' color, shape, and texture. Being aware of these conditions is necessary for us to take care of ourselves properly. Read on to discover what they are and learn about how you can improve your nail health!&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What Are My Nails Trying to Tell Me?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The most concerning condition that your nails might indicate is melanoma, which is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2021/what-your-nails-can-tell-you.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you see a dark streak that runs the length of your nail, you should see a dermatologist right away&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. More discoloration can be less ominous for your nail health. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/psoriasis/nail-psoriasis"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Brown, yellow, or yellow-red discoloration might indicate psoriasis&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, which is a skin disease that is not life-threatening but often affects skin and nails.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The state of your nail health can even hint at kidney disease. There are three main signs, so be sure to look out for all of them. The first is "Beau's lines," which run side-to-side across your nails. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/6-things-your-nails-say-about-your-health/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Second, ridges in your nails can also indicate kidney disease&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. The final sign that your nail health may be pointing at kidney disease is white streaks or spots, which would be distinct and pronounced.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Another dangerous condition that might affect your nail health is anemia., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;e.g.,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2019/january/nail-health"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;if your nails are brittle or shaped like a spoon&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Individuals with anemia don't have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body, resulting in multiple symptoms. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351360"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Fatigue is the most common symptom of anemia, but nail health is also a helpful indicator&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Another symptom of poor nail health to notice is yellowing. Often, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.onhealth.com/content/1/nail_health"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;yellowing of the nails indicates fungal infection&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. These infections more often affect toenails, but they can also alter the appearance of your hand nails. That being said, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/yellow-nails"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;yellowed nails can also indicate diabetes or thyroid conditions&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Because these nail health indicators can mean several different things, it's always safest to see a dermatologist.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How Can I Improve My Nail Health?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;There is good news regarding your nails, namely that much of your nail health is in your control. There are many small habits and routines that you can adopt to take charge of your nail health, and almost all of them are easy and cost-effective. Read on to discover all of your options!&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The treatment recommended most often is staying hydrated and eating a well-balanced diet. When we're talking specifically about nail health, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/6-things-your-nails-say-about-your-health/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;a well-balanced diet should include zinc and Vitamin B&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, but other nutrients that contribute to strong nails are &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamins-for-nails#TOC_TITLE_HDR_6"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;protein and omega-3 fatty acids&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Integrating these things into your diet should be relatively easy and will make a big difference in the appearance of your nails!&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The next habit to maintain nail health is pretty straightforward—trim your nails! &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-and-beauty-pictures/ways-to-keep-your-nails-healthy.aspx"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Keeping your nails trimmed makes it easier to avoid breaking or snagging&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, which can often be painful. A file is your best option for keeping the very edges of your nails smooth. However, there's a risk when you trim your nails too often. Trimming your nails daily and in unusual shapes &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.webmd.com/beauty/news/20141017/nail-trimming-problems"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;will increase your risk of painful conditions or slowed nail growth&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Instead of trimming your nails every single day, only trim them when they need it or when you notice they're getting long.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The next step to maintaining your nail health is to wear dish gloves while washing items in the sink. Using hot water with soap is excellent for washing your dishes but not so great for your nails. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://healthscopemag.com/health-scope/20-nail-care-dos-donts/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Even the strongest nails become dried out and weakened when you submerge them over and over&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. If you wash dishes every day, trimming your nails is vital.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Finally, we should note what habits to avoid. Many people bite their nails or use their nails as tools, such as opening soda cans or difficult packaging. Unfortunately, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/nail-care-secrets/basics/healthy-nail-tips"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;these practices are not suitable for your nail health&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Using communal showers without flip-flops and wearing shoes that don't fit well are also unnecessary risks for your toenail health.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A Parting Reminder&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;No matter what tactic you use to improve your nail health, it's never too late to start. It can be challenging to maintain nail health while living with a busy schedule, but simple strategies like changing your diet, trimming your nails consistently, and wearing dish gloves will make a big difference. Stay tuned for more!&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/hands-with-nice-nails-nail-grooming-manicure-concept.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/what-do-your-nails-say-about-your-health/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14529</ID> <title>Do I Still Need to Wear Sunscreen in the Winter?</title> <publishDate>2021-11-07 21:14:49</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_12 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_24"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_28 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_20"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/sunscreen-in-winter.jpeg" alt="" title="sunscreen-in-winter" class="wp-image-14530" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_23 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;“Sunscreen in the winter?”—a question better suited for those who think about the warm, sunny days of summer with nostalgia. For the rest of us, it’s quite the oxymoron. After all, what does sunscreen have to do with the chilly days of winter, when the sun’s rays are devoid of their summery heat? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Unfortunately, the prevalence of skin cancers amongst Americans is only becoming greater. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.aad.org/media/stats-skin-cancer#:~:text=It%20is%20estimated%20that%20approximately,with%20skin%20cancer%20every%20day.&amp;amp;text=Research%20estimates%20that%20nonmelanoma%20skin,3%20million%20Americans%20a%20year."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;About 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed every day with skin cancer&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.aad.org/media/stats-skin-cancer#:~:text=It%20is%20estimated%20that%20approximately,with%20skin%20cancer%20every%20day.&amp;amp;text=Research%20estimates%20that%20nonmelanoma%20skin,3%20million%20Americans%20a%20year."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) affects more than three million Americans every year&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.    &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Blame it on global warming or the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.epa.gov/ozone-layer-protection/health-and-environmental-effects-ozone-layer-depletion"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;ozone layer depletion&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, but one thing’s for sure—warmer and warmer days increasingly bombard our skin with harmful UVA and UVB rays. And don’t think that sunscreen is only a summertime necessity—many  physicians advise us to protect our skin in the winter as well, when the sun’s rays, although less potent, can cause significant skin damage.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Using sunscreen should not depend on &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.beaumont.org/health-wellness/blogs/why-sunscreen-is-just-as-important-in-the-winter"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;temperature or season&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. On the contrary, including sunscreen in your daily skincare regimen is more than desirable. Curious about how to protect your skin during the cold season? Today, the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdoctormagazine.com/"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;is ready to share all the hints and tips you need for an all-season skin protection regimen.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How Sunlight Affects Your Skin&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The sun’s natural energy reaches earth accompanied by UV radiation, whose &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.skincancer.org/risk-factors/uv-radiation/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;shorter wavelengths make it undetectable by the naked eye&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Nevertheless, we feel it, especially on a lazy summer day at the beach. The key components of UV radiation are the UVA and UVB rays.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What Are UVA Rays?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Ultraviolet A rays constitute &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.gq.com/story/wear-spf-sunscreen-all-winter"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;95% of the total UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. These rays penetrate the skin much deeper than UVB rays, causing &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.gq.com/story/wear-spf-sunscreen-all-winter"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;dark spots, wrinkles, and skin cancers&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. At the beach, they’re responsible for your &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.gq.com/story/wear-spf-sunscreen-all-winter"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;much-craved tan&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. However, they’re also more potent, since &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.gq.com/story/wear-spf-sunscreen-all-winter"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;UVA rays penetrate clouds, glass, and even clothes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and are present throughout the year, including winter time. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What about UVB Rays?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The shortwave UVB rays are not as potent as their counterparts, nor do they penetrate the deep skin levels or other surfaces. At the beach, they cause the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.skincancer.org/press/2018-winter-sun-safety/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;much-dreaded sunburn&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. During winter, snow reflects about 80% of the sun’s rays, hitting you with a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.skincancer.org/press/2018-winter-sun-safety/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;higher dose of radiation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;No matter how bundled up you are, UV radiation can still reach your skin even in the winter. However, isn’t &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.beaumont.org/health-wellness/blogs/why-sunscreen-is-just-as-important-in-the-winter"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the ozone layer&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, our planet’s exterior line of defense, supposed to absorb the majority of these UV rays? Indeed, it is—unfortunately, the ozone layer is actually at its thinnest in wintertime, lowering the shield against UV radiation. So, counterintuitively, now is the time for an even stronger skin protection regimen!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Sunscreen, Your Most Trusted Winter Ally&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Are you hitting the slopes this winter or are you snowed under with too much office work? Regardless of where you are, every 1,000 feet above sea level bump up &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.epa.gov/sunsafety/health-effects-uv-radiation"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the UV radiation exposure percentage by 4-5%&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Research points out that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2946854/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;people spending more time near windows showed more pronounced aging signs, such as wrinkles and Crow’s feet&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. It also shows that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.beaumont.org/health-wellness/blogs/why-sunscreen-is-just-as-important-in-the-winter"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;snow and ice reflect up to 90% of UV rays&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;UV radiation is the biggest culprit behind premature skin aging. Its rays damage your skin’s collagen and elastin, which are the proteins responsible for your skin’s smoothness and elasticity. Without these proteins, the skin gradually becomes saggy, allowing for fine lines and wrinkles to appear.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Luckily, researchers who study premature skin aging have a simple and easily accessible remedy to this undesirable process—sunscreen! One particular study found out that daily sunscreen use, especially in countries blessed with copious sunshine, such as Australia, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.thehealthy.com/skin-health/sun/sunscreen-in-winter/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;lowers the skin aging percent by almost a quarter&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. The study was conducted on the middle-aged population, so it’s clear that implementing a skin protection regimen is always welcome. However, are all sunscreen lotions identical? How about the sun protection factor (SPF)? What product should I settle upon?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Hit the SPF 30 Mark&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you're already envisioning yourself lost between too many sunscreen options at the store, hesitate no further—proper skin protection only &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/sunscreen-patients/sunscreen-faqs"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;requires a product that boasts SPF 30 or higher&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, according to the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.aad.org/public"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;American Academy of Dermatology Association&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. The secret lies not only in the SPF but also in the frequency with which you apply the sunscreen! &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.thehealthy.com/skin-health/sun/sunscreen-in-winter/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Wintry winds and snow cause sunscreen to wear off faster&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, thus calling for multiple sunscreen applications throughout the day. The Skin Cancer Foundation advises us to apply sunscreen &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.thehealthy.com/skin-health/sun/sunscreen-in-winter/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;every two hours in winter&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.thehealthy.com/skin-health/sun/sunscreen-in-winter/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;especially after sweating&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The use of sunscreen is not synonymous with slathering your skin with lotion. Such an approach will cause you to look over often-missed spots, such as the ear tips, the skin around the eyes, and the forehead area adjacent to the hairline. Instead, apply sunscreen carefully, without a rush, to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ceenta.com/news-blog/the-danger-of-getting-sunscreen-in-your-eyes#:~:text=How%20do%20I%20get%20the,eyes%20regularly%20while%20you%20do."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;avoid any accidents&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. You can improve your skin protection regimen by throwing in a moisturizer with &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.skincancer.org/press/2018-winter-sun-safety/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;lanolin or glycerin&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, which are compounds that keep your skin hydrated even during the harshest of winters!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A Parting Reminder&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;No matter how cloudy, grey, or overcast it is, the sky will always welcome the sun’s rays and, unfortunately, its UV radiation. Since nature has a hard time keeping UVA and UVB rays away from your skin, it’s time for you to build up your defenses, even in the winter, and sunscreen is here to be your trusted shield and armor. Don’t forget to check out the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdoctormagazine.com/"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;website&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;for more helpful articles on lifestyle and self-care!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/sunscreen-in-winter.jpeg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/do-i-still-need-to-wear-sunscreen-in-the-winter/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14548</ID> <title>More Than Skin Deep: How Diet Affects Your Skin Health</title> <publishDate>2021-11-06 21:51:27</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_13 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_25"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_29 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_21"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Healthy-Carbs-for-the-Women.jpeg" alt="" title="Healthy-Carbs-for-the-Women" class="wp-image-14549" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_24 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Among the first things that people notice about your outward appearance is your skin. It hints at your age, the kind of life you’ve led, and your overall health.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Each year, people spend millions of dollars to make their skin look and feel young, vibrant, and healthy. Products and treatments promise skin that is moisturized, scrubbed, unclogged, cured, revitalized, and wrinkle-free. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The vastly greater influence on your skin’s long-term health and appearance, however, comes from within. This is because your skin depends on what you feed it for the fuel and elements required to carry out its numerous functions. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;What Is Skin?&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Largest Organ&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;You may not think of your skin as an organ, like the heart or liver, but it’s the largest organ in your body. Skin is a hub of activity. You can have &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320435"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;1,000 nerve endings, 650 sweat glands, and 20 blood vessels&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; in just one square inch of skin. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Three Layers of Skin&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/skin-disorders/biology-of-the-skin/structure-and-function-of-the-skin"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;epidermis&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, or outer layer&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, is the body’s first line of defense. It is a barrier, protecting everything inside from germs and harmful substances. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/skin-disorders/biology-of-the-skin/structure-and-function-of-the-skin"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;dermis&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, or middle layer&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, contains sweat and oil glands, hair follicles, and blood vessels.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/skin-disorders/biology-of-the-skin/structure-and-function-of-the-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;fat layer, or inner layer&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, protects you from excessive temperatures and stores energy. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Ultimate Multitasker&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Your skin’s &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320435"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;many functions include:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Protecting against diseases and harmful substances. &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Storing water and fat. &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Enabling the sense of touch to interact with the outside world.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Preserving moisture.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Preventing loss of nutrients.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Regulating body temperature. &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;This hardworking organ needs all the care and support you can give it. While all the lotions and other topical substances can contribute to your skin’s health, the real power comes from what you eat. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Inflammation, Free Radicals, and Oxidative Stress&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Some of your skin elements are described as antioxidants, protecting from inflammation and free radicals. What are these?&lt;/span&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/what-is-inflammation-and-why-is-it-dangerous"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Inflammation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; is what your immune system creates when it detects injury or infection. Usually, this leads to healing. However, illness, obesity, stress, and exposure to toxins can make your body react to nonexistent injury or infection, creating continuous inflammation. The result can be heart disease, dementia, cancer, and more.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318652"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Free radicals&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;are unstable atoms that can trigger cell-damaging, illness-causing &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318652"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;oxidative stress&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; over time. This can cause severe conditions such as dementia, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, degenerative diseases, and aging.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Foods associated with antioxidants and inflammation-reducing properties protect your skin and body.  &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Skin’s Building Blocks&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Several elements ensure your skin can efficiently perform its many jobs. Therefore, most of your diet must consistently include foods that provide these elements. How much you need of each depends on your body size and type, lifestyle and activities, the weather, your stress level, and health issues. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;b&gt;Moisture&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Your body needs steady moisture to keep its parts functioning and wash away what it no longer needs. The moisture you lose through sweat and elimination has to be replaced. Hydration is essential for your skin, which is exposed to sunlight, dirt, harsh chemicals, and other things that can dry, irritate, or harm it. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Your daily water quota can include other beverages, but avoid drinks high in sugar. Most foods also contain some amount of water, especially fruits and vegetables. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;b&gt;Proteins&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.webmd.com/diet/benefits-protein#1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Protein&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; gives you energy, distributes oxygen to your cells, helps your body fight infection and illness, and creates new cells. On the other hand, not enough protein can mean muscle and tissue damage and loss. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;You can find protein in any meat (preferably lean meats), fish, and eggs. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.eatingwell.com/article/84789/anti-aging-foods-for-your-skin/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Bone broth&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; is high in collagen, an excellent benefit for your skin. Tofu (soybean curd) and other plant-based proteins are also readily available. &lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_26"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_30 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_22"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Living-a-healthy-lifestyle-e1635199471791.jpeg" alt="" title="Living-a-healthy-lifestyle" class="wp-image-14553" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_25 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;b&gt;Vitamins&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Vitamins helpful to your skin include A, C, D, and E. Vitamins C and E can help keep your skin in great shape and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/23-foods-good-skin/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;delay wrinkling&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Vitamins A, D, and E are necessary for healthy skin and may help &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-that-cause-acne"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;protect it from acne&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;These vitamins can be found in a variety of foods, including:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;A&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;:  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-high-in-vitamin-a#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;liver, eggs, some fish and cheeses, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;C&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;:  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/23-foods-good-skin/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;citrus fruit, bell peppers, broccoli, berries&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;D&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;: Primarily from sunlight, this can also come from &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-foods-high-in-vitamin-d#1.-Salmon"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;salmon, tuna, and egg yolks&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;E&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;:  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/23-foods-good-skin/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;almonds, sunflower seeds&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-high-in-vitamin-e#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;wheat germ, salmon &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;b&gt;Omega-3 Fatty Acids&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;This &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/omega-3-fatty-acids-fact-sheet#1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;vital source of energy&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; supports the smooth functioning of organs and systems. They &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/23-foods-good-skin/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;lower triglycerides (blood fat) and reduce inflammation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and may even help &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/omega-3-fatty-acids-fact-sheet#1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;improve mental health issues&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, such as depression and dementia. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Omega-3s are prevalent in oily fish, nuts, soy, chia seeds, and plant-based oils (e.g., flaxseed, walnut, soy, canola).&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;b&gt;Antioxidants&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As discussed earlier, antioxidants can prevent damage caused by free radicals and oxidative stress. There are many sources of antioxidants you can include in your diet. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/23-foods-good-skin/"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Fruits and vegetables&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/23-foods-good-skin/"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Dark chocolate&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Polyphenols&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/23-foods-good-skin/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;tea, coffee, red wine, grapes, chocolate&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Lycopene&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/23-foods-good-skin/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;tomatoes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.eatingwell.com/article/84789/anti-aging-foods-for-your-skin/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;watermelon&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Various antioxidants&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/worst-foods-for-your-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;brightly colored vegetables&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Lipoic acid&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;: spices such as &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.eatingwell.com/article/84789/anti-aging-foods-for-your-skin/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;oregano, cinnamon, cloves&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;b&gt;Anti-inflammatory Elements&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Also discussed earlier, inflammation can create plenty of trouble. Anti-inflammatory foods include:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-that-cause-acne"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Polyphenols&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;: green tea, turmeric&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5152545/"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Polysaccharides&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;: dietary fiber foods&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; such as whole grains, raw fruits, and vegetables&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-that-cause-acne"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Probiotics&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;: yogurt, supplements&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;b&gt;Steady Blood Sugar&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Skin health can also benefit from &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/worst-foods-for-your-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;keeping your blood sugar levels relatively constant&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. This means avoiding a lot of high-sugar foods and substantial meals. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Just a Little or None of These&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;An &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7146365/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;imbalanced diet&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; can contribute to ailing and aging skin. Too much food that is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7146365/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;high in fat&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, loaded with &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/23-foods-good-skin/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;processed and refined sugars,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and contains &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-that-cause-acne"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;omega-6 fatty acids&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; can lead to oxidative stress, inflammation, and disease.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;This doesn’t mean that you should never eat another cookie, but it does mean that these foods should represent a tiny portion of your diet. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusion &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Your skin’s health depends on a healthy, balanced diet. Every day it is important to give your skin the elements it needs to perform its multiple, vital functions. What’s good for your skin is no different than what’s good for the rest of your body. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Feed your skin well from within, and the lotions and other treatments from the outside can enhance your skin’s appearance and feeling of health and vitality.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Healthy-Carbs-for-the-Women.jpeg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/more-than-skin-deep-how-diet-affects-your-skin-health/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14498</ID> <title>What You Should Do to Prevent Dry Skin</title> <publishDate>2021-11-03 19:46:25</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_14 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_27"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_31 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_23"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/portrait-young-woman-being-confident-with-her-acne.jpg" alt="" title="portrait-young-woman-being-confident-with-her-acne" class="wp-image-14499" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_26 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;When winter’s cold temperatures come rolling in, everyone loves to go outside and enjoy the season’s blessings. Unfortunately, winter’s crisp, dry air can be hard on your skin. “Winter itch” (or &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/9-ways-to-banish-dry-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;xerosis, as doctors refer to it&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;) might seem like an inevitable consequence of the season. However, did you know that you can prevent irritated skin with just a few helpful habits?&lt;/span&gt; You might be worried that treating your dry skin will be complicated or that it will empty your wallet. Fortunately, taking care of your skin in winter doesn’t have to be expensive or confusing. Science has found numerous effective, inexpensive ways to help keep your skin happy and beautiful during the long winter months. By being careful about the environment around your skin, you can help protect it from unnecessary damage and exposure. You can also protect your skin by picking the right skincare products and by keeping a close eye on the foods you regularly consume. If you follow the easy steps outlined below, anyone can develop a skincare routine that will help fight back the dryness of winter. &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Creating a Healthy Environment for Your Skin&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The weather changes don’t mean you can’t minimize the stress you put on your skin. Shari Marchbein, a New York City dermatologist, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/how-to-get-rid-of-dry-skin-winter-eye-cream-face-serum-mask-scrub"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;says that placing a humidifier in your home&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; can be a valuable first step to healthy skin. “A cool air humidifier increases the moisture level in the air,” she says, minimizing the time your skin spends in an environment that could dehydrate it. For superior results, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/9-ways-to-banish-dry-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;set the dehumidifier to 60%&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;You should also develop a habit of taking careful showers. The American Academy of Dermatology Association &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/dermatologists-tips-relieve-dry-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;recommends&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; 5-10 minute showers in warm but not hot water. Follow that up with a gentle towel-off, and limit yourself to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/9-ways-to-banish-dry-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;one shower per day&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to avoid depleting your skin of oils. Take careful note of the soaps you use; avoid those that include alcohols, perfumes, or deodorants. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Additionally, be mindful of other potential irritants. Use &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/dermatologists-tips-relieve-dry-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;non-irritating laundry detergents&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/home-remedies-for-dry-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;stay out of chlorinated water&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; when possible. If your skin is sensitive, you should &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/9-ways-to-banish-dry-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;consider avoiding&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; irritating fabrics like wool. Your winter fits might look great, but make sure they aren’t harming your skin!&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Cost-Effective Skincare Solutions&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Once you have taken stock of your environment to ensure you’re minimizing irritants to your skin, consider &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/how-to-get-rid-of-dry-skin-winter-eye-cream-face-serum-mask-scrub"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;developing an evening skincare routine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; using products that are safe, inexpensive, and effective. Start with any of several home remedy moisturizers, which experts &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319555"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;recommend&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; applying after your shower. One of the most effective (and least expensive) moisturizers is petroleum jelly—it works by &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/9-ways-to-banish-dry-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;using ingredients like petrolatum and lanolin&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to help rebuild the barrier that seals your skin. According to recent studies, petroleum jelly is perfect for older adults’ skin. Coconut oil &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/home-remedies-for-dry-skin"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;also works well&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; for the most sensitive areas of your body, such as the skin around your eyes.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It would help if you always avoided harsh cleansers—fragrance-free products based on oatmeal or chamomile are &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/how-to-get-rid-of-dry-skin-winter-eye-cream-face-serum-mask-scrub"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;much safer for your skin&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Thankfully, there is no need to purchase expensive oatmeal-based products. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25607907/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Science has demonstrated&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; that mixing a little oatmeal powder into your bath can rejuvenate your skin. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Fresh out of oatmeal? Heavy face creams could do the trick. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/how-to-get-rid-of-dry-skin-winter-eye-cream-face-serum-mask-scrub"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Check the ingredients label for ceramides or hyaluronic acid&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;; these funny-sounding words are your ticket to a fresh barrier on the surface of your skin, which will prevent chapping. When possible, avoid lotions, as these typically include harsh chemicals. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Support Your Skin with a Healthy Diet&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Don’t forget that what you eat can impact the health and appearance of your skin. If you find your skin drying out quickly, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/how-to-get-rid-of-dry-skin-winter-eye-cream-face-serum-mask-scrub"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Marchbein recommends&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; increasing your daily intake of certain fatty foods like walnuts, olive oil, and avocados. The Mayo Clinic &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/healthy-skin/faq-20058184"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;also recommends&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; antioxidant foods like blueberries, tomatoes, carrots, beans, peas, and lentils. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It is also relevant to limit your consumption of certain foods that harm your dermatological health. Excessive consumption of caffeinated drinks or alcohol &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/how-to-get-rid-of-dry-skin-winter-eye-cream-face-serum-mask-scrub"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;can dry your skin out&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. You should also avoid eating too many carbs and processed sugars, as these have been &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/healthy-skin/faq-20058184"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;linked&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to drier, irritated skin. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;You should &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/how-to-get-rid-of-dry-skin-winter-eye-cream-face-serum-mask-scrub"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;stay hydrated&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to keep your skin healthy and smooth. Speaking of drinks, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25816721/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;research&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; also suggests that drinking milk could improve your dermatological health since milk includes helpful chemicals called phospholipids. Overall, the best diet for skincare is a balanced and healthy diet. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Everyone Can Treat Dry Skin&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;We all enjoy a roaring fire after a fun day in the snow. Using these simple, affordable tips, you can enjoy classic winter activities without worrying about how the cold, dry air will affect your skin. By creating a healthy environment for your skin, picking effective skincare products, and choosing a healthy diet, you can ensure that your skin remains healthy and beautiful for years to come!&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/portrait-young-woman-being-confident-with-her-acne.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/what-you-should-do-to-prevent-dry-skin/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14538</ID> <title>Don't Believe Everything You See On The Internet: Famous TikTok Trends Dermatologists Warn People To Avoid</title> <publishDate>2021-11-02 21:41:24</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_15 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_28"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_32 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_24"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/solen-feyissa-Yaw9mfG9QfQ-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="solen-feyissa-Yaw9mfG9QfQ-unsplash" class="wp-image-14540" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_27 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;TikTok trends have taken the internet by storm. Whether it be dance challenges, DIY hacks, home improvement, or beauty and wellness, you're bound to find some crazy new trends every time you scroll through your TikTok feed. However, as cool and fun as these fads look, they're not always safe, especially when it comes to skincare trends. Here are the top six TikTok skincare trends that dermatologists warn us about.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;1. DIY Microneedling &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;At the top of every dermatologist's "Don't Do This At Home List" is DIY Microneedling. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7869810/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Microneedling&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; is a technique that punctures the skin using tiny needles to boost collagen production and improve skin quality. Some TikTok influencers have started to use &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-to-use-a-dermaroller#how-to-use"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;derma rollers&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; that allow them to perform microneedling at home. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, the danger to following this trend is that you'll be putting yourself at high risk for infection and skin damage due to an unsterile environment and random movements with a microneedling device. The needles you may be using are the wrong size or depth, which can cause severe damage to your face and scarring. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you want to try microneedling, leave it to the professionals. Contact a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon with years of experience in making people's skin look beautiful and all the proper sterile tools to safely get the job done.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;2. Sunscreen Contouring&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Another absurd TikTok beauty tip is sunscreen contouring. People only apply sunscreen to the points on their faces that they want to highlight. The areas without sunscreen will then create a natural contour when it gets tan from sunbathing. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dermatologists everywhere agree that this is a terrible idea for several reasons, but the main one is potential &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/skin-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20377605"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;skin cancer&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Any sun exposure to the skin will result in sun-damaged cells that cause aging, fine lines, wrinkles, and skin discoloration. A better tip would be to apply sunscreen to your entire face every day before putting on makeup and use makeup to highlight and contour your face. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;3. DIY Lip Fillers&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Thanks to celebrities like Kylie Jenner, big plump lips have become the new beauty standard for women across the globe. Since not everyone has big bucks to spend on getting lip fillers from a professional, some people have turned to a cheaper solution by purchasing at-home kits for injecting their own lip fillers. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The device that seems to be going around on TikTok is the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://aestheticdermatologymd.com/hyaluron-pen/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Hyaluron pen&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, which creates pressurized air that pushes hyaluronic acid filler to the lips without using a needle. Although there is no injecting involved, dermatologists warn people against using this at home because lips can easily bruise and swell. Instead, experiment with makeup and outline your lips with lip liner if you want to achieve a fuller lip look.  &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;4. Slugging&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Slugging is a popular K-beauty trend where you coat your face with a thick layer of petroleum-based products like Vaseline to seal in all the moisturizing products you applied beforehand. The result is supposed to leave you with softer and more supple skin. However, this doesn't work out for everyone. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dermatologists advise those with oily and acne-prone skin not to follow this trend because the heavy &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4691958/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;petroleum jelly can clog your pores and lead to more breakouts.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Moreover, slugging can also cause oily skin to look shinier and have enlarged pores. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;5. Toner as Deodorant&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Folks are always looking for natural alternatives to traditional deodorants, and using &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/05/10476535/tiktok-glycolic-acid-deodorant-hack"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;glycolic acid toner&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; has become a popular choice on TikTok. According to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.drhadleyking.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Hadley King&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, a dermatologist from New York, the alcohol found in toners can help remove odor-causing bacteria. However, some toners contain potent acids, which can irritate your underarms. If you have sensitive skin, using glycolic acid toner can irritate your face, so it follows that it would do the same to your armpits. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It is best for those who have recently undergone laser underarm hair removal to steer clear from using toner since your skin is extra sensitive from the treatment. Additionally, overuse of toner can also lead to over-exfoliation, which thins out your skin's protective barrier. This will result in an undesirable redness and flakiness of your armpits. If this happens to you, apply moisturizer to your armpit until it heals.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;6. DIY Mole Removal&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Another dangerous DIY trend is mole removal. Removing a mole, wart, or any skin bump at home is not something as simple as cutting split ends off your hair. Cautionary steps must be taken first before removing anything from the dermis.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.riverchasedermatology.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Annie Gonzalez&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, a Miami dermatologist, recommends, it is imperative to have a medical professional assess whether your mole is benign or malignant before removal. Using at-home laser devices that claim to zap away your moles is a big no-no because it can lead to a high risk of infection, scarring, and even skin cancer. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;While it's easy to get swept up in all these fascinating beauty trends promoted by TikTok influencers, remember that not all of their tips should be followed. Make sure to do your fair share of research first before trying any at-home trends, or seek advice from a professional.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/solen-feyissa-Yaw9mfG9QfQ-unsplash.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/dont-believe-everything-you-see-on-the-internet-famous-tiktok-trends-dermatologists-warn-people-to-avoid/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14765</ID> <title>Telehealth, It’s Come A Long Way!</title> <publishDate>2021-11-02 17:21:27</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_16 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_29"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_33 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_28 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;Telehealth has been around a lot longer than you may think&lt;/h2&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_25"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/young-woman-writing-respiratory-sickness-treatment-notebook-discussing-pills-treatment-during-online-healthcare-videocall-e1635872618472.jpg" alt="" title="young-woman-writing-respiratory-sickness-treatment-notebook-discussing-pills-treatment-during-online-healthcare-videocall" class="wp-image-14772" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_29 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Telehealth has been around a lot longer than you may think. The pandemic has made telehealth and telemedicine more of a household word as physicians limited patient’s in-person visits out of concern of spreading Covid-19. Since 2020, virtual visits have become the norm and adding a blood pressure kit, oximeter and improved electric thermometer to your Amazon cart has happened for almost all of us. But did you know that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://evisit.com/resources/history-of-telemedicine/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;telehealth first appeared in the 1940’s &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;through telephone lines? And with the advancement of the motion picture industry came the technology that influenced today’s video medicine.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In addition to platforms like Skype, and Zoom for health, there are many new HIPAA compliant technologies that enable you to speak with your provider via computer, phone or tablet almost anytime, day or night. This round the clock availability provides you with access to a healthcare provider at those times of day previously regulated to an “urgent care” or emergency room visit. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Janice Johnston, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of Redirect Health tells us that telehealth allowed her to diagnose and treat conditions virtually that range from pink eye to managing someone’s glucose levels. “Telehealth has benefited the person with open access but also meaningful follow up.” says, Dr. Johnston. A patient that met with her at 2p.m. could follow up that evening if the symptoms got worse. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;This ease of connection offers great relief to both patient and caregiver, as no one has to be untethered from the care they need. If things get worse, a Redirect Health provider can schedule a virtual follow-up visit to determine the best next steps, coordinate care at the local hospital or urgent care clinic and then alert the facility when the patient is on their way.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The new approach to managing medical needs&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Redirect Health makes healthcare work with a people-first approach to care, offering access to streamlined, affordable healthcare. Redirect Health combines physician expertise via the company’s own employed staff, easy-to-use technology and pro-active population health to bring transparency to care and cost. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;It works like this: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;if you wake up with a sore throat, instead of calling your primary care doctor or heading over to the urgent care, a patient uses the Redirect Health app or care number. A concierge team speaks with you as a person, not an ID or group number. They ask what your symptoms are and help guide you to the best care. You may have a virtual visit with a provider or perhaps it will be to order your lab work. If that is the case, you’ll head directly to the lab and then have a follow up visit to go over results. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;This is all included in the monthly fee. You are not limited to the number of times you can speak with a provider and don’t have to worry about co-pays, deductibles and excessive time spent with a provider. It’s all part of the standard plan.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The big difference is that, instead of stepping into a doctors office, you are in the comfort of your own home. Your providers are dressed just like you, so no white coat syndrome. They want you to feel as comfortable as possible and not rush you out the door. If your telehealth plan is like one from Redirect Health, your provider is equipped with your medical history, current and past medications and has any on hand notes from past appointments, all to help you get the best care possible. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you were seeing a traditional doctor or lab, the time spent traveling to different offices alone would have taken significantly longer and could have amounted to weeks of lost time. Telehealth makes it possible to have a virtual visit and start treatment almost immediately without needing to go to the ER or urgent care. This basic difference saves time, money, offers faster relief and more complete answers to you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_30"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_34 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_26"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/doctor-advising-patient-online-with-laptop.jpg" alt="" title="doctor-advising-patient-online-with-laptop" class="wp-image-14768" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_30 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Benefits of managing a chronic condition&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What about chronic conditions like diabetes or thyroid conditions? A telehealth provider can help monitor your health with lab orders to stay on top of your levels and have a direct contact to check in with you 24/7. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Covid-19 is a perfect example of how telehealth can be a lifeline when you are battling an unknown virus. Each case is so different, one minute you are breathing fine and the next minute gasping for air. A telehealth provider can assess your symptoms virtually by watching how you speak, cough and your appearance to make quick decisions about the care you need. They are also there throughout the night to contact if any new symptoms may arise and can prescribe the medications that may be necessary to get you feeling better again.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Healthcare can have many barriers and cost shouldn't be one of them.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Far too many people get concerned when they see their provider and the visit calls for additional procedures and tests. If you don’t have a comprehensive insurance plan and/or if you are self-pay, the unknown costs can cause you to hesitate. What will the tests cost? How many will there be? What other unknown procedures are lurking around the corner?  If you have ever been in this situation, you know it can feel scary staring at an open bill. Unfortunately, some people stop their treatment at this stage for this very reason, resulting in prolonging your symptoms and extending the time to start the healing process.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It’s important to note not all physicians are aware of the cost of medication or tests. On a telehealth plan, your provider can often begin with just one or two items on a bigger list to see if the first tests/procedures bring relief. The ease of frequent check-ins allows for easier connection between patient and provider and eases the stress of waiting for appointments and additional cost associated with it. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Telehealth, an option to explore&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Inquire with your insurance if they offer a virtual service. If they do not, you can find plans out there that offer telemedicine services and have regular open enrollment so you can sign on as a member and have access to their providers. Consider your lifestyle if you think this may work for you.  Services like Redirect Health are a great option if you have children because no one wants to get out of their comfy bed at 2a.m. to go to the ER for their 5 years old’s rash or upset tummy.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Remember as you look at plans to be sure and include the following items:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Ability to see the same provider multiple times&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Available 24/7/365&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Easy access to health history once you have provided it&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The pandemic may have propelled virtual medicine into our lives, but the quality and access to care will launch this service into the mainstream soon. The good news is that this shift will improve the healthcare experience for everyone, not just people who are on specialized plans.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Melissa Blatt is the founder of indipop, simple and affordable healthcare for the self employed. To learn more about health plans that offer 24/7 virtual care, visit. www.indipop.co&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/young-woman-writing-respiratory-sickness-treatment-notebook-discussing-pills-treatment-during-online-healthcare-videocall-e1635872618472.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/guest-blogs/telehealth-its-come-a-long-way/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14475</ID> <title>Get Your Taste and Smell Back! Which of These Hacks Really Work?</title> <publishDate>2021-11-01 19:17:30</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_17 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_31"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_35 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_27"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/female-service-agent-orange-color-dresscode-mask-holding-disposable-cup-smelling-product.jpg" alt="" title="female-service-agent-orange-color-dresscode-mask-holding-disposable-cup-smelling-product" class="wp-image-14477" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_31 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;More than likely, you or a loved one has dealt with COVID-19. The virus comes with many different symptoms, but the most distinct and disorienting is the loss of taste and smell. And there’s no wonder why it’s so confusing! Many flavors and scents bring us joy, and our senses are designed to enjoy them to the fullest. Recent research indicates that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/incredible-facts-about-your-sense-smell/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;our noses can detect at least one trillion different scents&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;This is why it can be distressing to lose your taste and smell while you suffer from COVID-19. While it takes &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/public-health/when-will-smell-taste-come-back-5-covid-19-questions-answered.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;weeks or months for some patients to fully recover their senses&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, you can try several different remedies and treatments to make the process go faster. Read on to explore these methods and see how you can add them to your routine!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Smell Training&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Smell training has been called the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.advisory.com/en/daily-briefing/2021/04/19/smell-training"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;olfactory equivalent of physical therapy&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Like physical therapy, smell training is a practice that you have to maintain over time. If you have just one session of smell training and give up, you probably won’t get anywhere. For those with the patience to stick with it, though, it can be effective!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;There’s no single right way to conduct smell training, but here are a few general guidelines: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Choose two to three items with scents that you’re already very familiar with, such as cooking spices, hand lotion, or cologne.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Keep those items in an easy-to-access location and sniff them for about twenty seconds each time you pass by.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;During each twenty-second session, imagine in your mind what they smell like.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It may sound like wishful thinking–or wishful smelling–but a recent study indicates that many European patients who were encouraged to use smell training at home &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joim.13209"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;saw their sense of smell recover within two months&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Castor Oil and Ginger&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Next, we have castor oil and ginger, which &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-regain-sense-of-smell-naturally#methods-to-try"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;can be used in several different ways to reduce nasal inflammation or airway-blocking mucus&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. For castor oil, use a stovetop or microwave to warm up the oil. The temperature should be warm, not hot! Then, place two drops of the oil in each nostril when you wake up in the morning and again before you go to bed.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you’d rather use ginger, start by making ginger tea. The strong and unique scent will make for an intense but helpful round of smell training. To try this, peel and slice raw ginger until you have one tablespoon. Then, steep it for about 15 minutes in two cups of hot water. As &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-regain-sense-of-smell-naturally#methods-to-try"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Sandra Hajj says&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;: “Drinking ginger tea tames down inflammation of the nasal airways while reducing excess mucus formations that block nasal passages, causing loss of smell.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Saline Irrigation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The next method that you should be aware of is saline irrigation, which sounds intense but is actually very simple to try at home. The benefit is that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-regain-sense-of-smell-naturally#causes"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;saline irrigation can flush out allergens and mucus from your sinus cavity&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. This method is popular enough that plenty of sterile solutions are available for sale. However, if you’d rather make your own solution, mix one cup of distilled water with one-half teaspoon of salt and one-half teaspoon of baking soda.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Once you have your solution, fill a squeeze bottle or medical syringe with it. Lean your head back and squirt the solution into one nostril. Afterward, let the solution drain out of your mouth or the opposite nostril. Repeat this several times each day for the full benefit!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Peppermint and Water&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A less well-known method is boiling peppermint leaves. First, add ten peppermint leaves to one cup of water. Bring that mixture to a boil and add a little honey once it cools down. Once it’s cool enough, drink it to expose your body to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthshots.com/healthy-eating/superfoods/6-home-remedies-to-get-your-taste-and-smell-back-after-covid-19/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;peppermint menthol, which is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, two qualities that will assist your senses of smell and taste!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Finally, make sure that you’re staying hydrated. Since a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.chefsbest.com/5-habits-affect-sense-taste/#"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;dry mouth has been shown to adversely affect taste&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, drinking water regularly will boost this sense. On top of the benefits to your senses, staying hydrated will boost your energy levels and relieve headaches. Both are key benefits if you’re recovering from COVID-19, so we encourage you to drink &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-of-water"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;around 64 ounces of water each day&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A Parting Reminder&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;No matter which strategy you choose, there is hope for people recovering from COVID-19 who want their taste and smell back! While it can take a surprisingly long time for these senses to return, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00055-6"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the majority of patients do recover their taste and smell within a month&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Try speeding up the process with smell training, saline irrigation, ginger, peppermint, or castor oil treatments. Stay tuned to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdoctormagazine.com/"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; for more!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/female-service-agent-orange-color-dresscode-mask-holding-disposable-cup-smelling-product.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/get-your-taste-and-smell-back-which-of-these-hacks-really-work/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14410</ID> <title>Understanding Migraines: The Myths</title> <publishDate>2021-10-31 19:23:57</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_18 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_32"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_36 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_28"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/nik-shuliahin-BuNWp1bL0nc-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="nik-shuliahin-BuNWp1bL0nc-unsplash" class="wp-image-14411" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_32 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;With migraines affecting over 100 million people worldwide, it’s almost certain that either you or someone you love struggles with the condition. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/medical-myths-all-about-migraines"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Out of 148 million impacted individuals, 37 million are in the United States alone&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Unfortunately, figuring out the myths and realities of migraines can be a headache on its own. If you are a member of this group, it’s essential to understand the truth about this medical issue and its consequences.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What Causes Migraines?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;While both men and women experience migraines, women are more likely to experience them. Migraines &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/headache-disorders"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;are twice as common in women as they are in men&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Whatever your gender, the experience of migraines can be a serious distraction from your work or social life. Symptoms of a migraine attack often include &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20360201"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;throbbing pain in one or both sides of the head, a strong sensitivity to light, as well as nausea and vomiting&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. So, what causes them?&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Not caffeine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;! That is the first myth about migraines that we should do away with. While an unusual amount of caffeine can trigger a migraine episode, caffeine alone is not enough. Another misconception is that headache medicine will cure migraines. This isn’t the best way to think about it, as migraines cannot be “cured.” &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/medical-myths-all-about-migraines#4.-Headache-medicine-will-cure-migraine"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Instead, it’s better to use phrases like “prevent migraines” and “control symptoms&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.” Medicines can help us accomplish these goals, but any product claiming to cure migraines forever is probably a hoax.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Realistically, your family history and age will play a more significant role than caffeine. Specifically, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5005-migraine-headaches"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;around 80% of people who experience migraines have a close relative with the same condition&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. For example, if only one of two parents has experienced migraines, there is a 50% chance that their child will have them as well. Other influential factors besides family history include stress, changes in sleep, some food additives, and hormonal changes in women. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Another myth is that migraines can cause brain damage. While the pain of a migraine episode might make this scary idea seem plausible, there is no evidence that brain damage will result from migraines. And while there is a risk of stroke associated with migraines, that risk is extremely small - &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5005-migraine-headaches"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;only 1 or 2 out of 100,000 people will experience this&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_33"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_37 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_29"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/thought-catalog-TAzjNSkLvlA-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="thought-catalog-TAzjNSkLvlA-unsplash" class="wp-image-14413" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_33 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What Can I Do?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Fortunately, just because your family has passed migraines down to you doesn't mean you have to suffer forever. There are steps you can take to manage the symptoms of migraines, and we’re going to discuss those in the next few paragraphs. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Medication is one approach to treating migraines, but we should understand that there are two different categories of migraine medication. The abortive category should be taken at the first signs of an oncoming migraine, and these medications should decrease your symptoms. The other category of medication is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5005-migraine-headaches"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;designed to reduce the frequency and severity of headaches for people with more than four migraines per month&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Another myth we can dismiss is that pregnant women cannot take migraine medication.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;While some medications designed for migraines are not safe for pregnant women, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/medical-myths-all-about-migraines#7.-I-cannot-take-any-migraine-medications-if-I-am-pregnant"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;others are safe and will help ease the discomfort&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Since migraines often make you sensitive to things like harsh light or loud sounds, finding a private environment with soft lighting should go a long way in helping you tolerate the discomfort. Temperature therapy, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/in-depth/migraines/art-20047242"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;such as ice packs or washcloths rinsed in warm water, can have a helpful numbing or relaxing effect&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. These are some of the best strategies for managing or reducing your discomfort during an episode.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;But is there anything you can do to prevent migraines? Yes! You can organize three huge areas of your lifestyle to reduce the chance of experiencing migraines. The first is sleep. Establishing regular sleep hours, going through a relaxing routine at the end of the day, and eliminating distractions in your bedroom will all help you get a better, more consistent night’s sleep. This will keep away any migraines that a poor night’s sleep might trigger.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In addition to sleep, your diet and exercise habits can also play a role in fighting off migraines. The chemicals that your brain releases during exercise often alleviate anxiety and depression, which can predict migraine episodes. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/in-depth/migraines/art-20047242"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Cardio activities like walking, running, or biking are especially helpful&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;!&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The most important eating habit to maintain to avoid migraines is consistent mealtimes. Missing a meal entirely is one of the most common migraine triggers for people who already have the condition. Eat regularly and choose foods other than cheese, chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol (which can sometimes trigger migraines) to give yourself the upper hand.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A Final Word&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;No matter what strategy you use, you’re not alone in the fight against migraines. While this genetically inherited condition cannot be cured forever, knowing how migraines affect you and exposing myths about them is a great way to reduce your discomfort and stay engaged with your life. Stay tuned for more!&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/nik-shuliahin-BuNWp1bL0nc-unsplash.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/understanding-migraines-the-myths/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14403</ID> <title>A New Hope for Painful Diabetic Neuropathy: An Interview with Dr. Richard P. Winne</title> <publishDate>2021-10-30 19:08:36</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_19 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_34"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_38 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_30"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/r-winne.jpg" alt="" title="r-winne" class="wp-image-14407" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_34 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you are struggling with nerve pain, you may feel like someone is following you around, randomly jabbing you with a needle. Maybe you ache all day or don't sleep well. It's difficult to lead an everyday life when your daily flow is constantly brought to a screeching halt by a jolt of sharp pain. For many people with diabetes, painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) can be annoying and frustrating at best, disabling at worst. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;a href="https://altairhealth.com/practitioner/winne/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Board-certified&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; in pain management and anesthesiology, Dr. Richard P. Winne, Jr., MD, shares with us his insights into neuropathy and its treatments. He is one of the most sought-after doctors for an uncommon condition known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RES). This is a painful neuropathic condition that can require a great deal of treatment by a very knowledgeable and experienced doctor and team.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Winne’s dedicated team provides the full spectrum of pain care—medical, psychological, physical, and interventional services, including spinal cord stimulation. To ensure the complete care their patients need, they also work closely with neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, physical therapists, an acupuncturist, a psychologist, and nearly every other kind of medical specialist.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Recently Dr. Winne discussed with us an exciting breakthrough device that can bring a new level of pain relief. This spinal cord stimulation device, called &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.hfxforpdn.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;HFX&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, was &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.massdevice.com/fda-approves-nevro-spinal-cord-stimulation-to-treat-chronic-pain-with-diabetic-neuropathy/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;approved by the FDA with a specific indication&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; for treating PDN. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Painful Diabetic Neuropathy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/brain,-spinal-cord,-and-nerve-disorders/pain/neuropathic-pain?query=diabetic%20neuropathy%20commonly"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Neuropathic pain&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; is caused by damage within the nervous system - the nerves, spinal cord, or brain. The effects of neuropathic pain are not just physical; they can trigger depression and anxiety, which, in turn, can exacerbate the pain. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Diabetes brings on a host of complications. The American Diabetes Associates states, "&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/complications/neuropathy"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;about half of all people with diabetes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; have some form of nerve damage." PDN can be one of the more debilitating conditions to live with and manage, and, until recently, there have been &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.endocrinologynetwork.com/view/fda-approves-spinal-cord-stimulation-therapy-painful-diabetic-neuropathy"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;few effective treatment options&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; beyond medications, which don't always produce the desired results. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, Dr. Winne is quick to point out that not all diabetic neuropathy is painful neuropathy, and that PDN is located in the peripheral body areas, mainly arms and feet. “They can get all kinds of problems from diabetic neuropathy, but it's not painful. So we don't do stimulators if you have a fast heartbeat from diabetes because your heart nerves are affected by your diabetes, which happens, or your bowels don't work as well because you're nourishing. That's all diabetic neuropathy, but it's not painful peripheral neuropathy -- that's the difference,” he says. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;b&gt;Symptoms&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Caused by long-term &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-neuropathy"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;high blood sugar levels&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, PDN may bring mild symptoms or be &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-neuropathy"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;extremely painful and debilitating&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Depending on the nerve damage, it can &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-neuropathy"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;affect almost any part of the body&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, from head to feet, and cause sharp pain, numbness, digestive illness, vision trouble, and problems with various organs and systems. Symptoms can intensify without treatment.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;b&gt;Treatments&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Currently there is no cure for PDN. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-neuropathy/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371587"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The goals of treatment&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; are to slow its progression, address complications, alleviate pain, and improve the patient’s ability to function. You can take steps to prevent, delay, improve, or slow the progression of nerve damage, such as controlling blood sugar levels and blood pressure, surgery that destroys pain-causing nerves, or medications that provide widely varying degrees of relief. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Some patients benefit from physical or occupational therapy. And then some forms of injections can be utilized to help reset the sympathetic nervous system, so it behaves more normally--a sympathetic blockade. You turn off the sympathetic nervous system for a brief time, which allows that nervous system to reboot. Dr. Winne describes this process more clearly through a computer analogy -- “Just like if your computer wasn't working properly, you just turn it off, turn it back on, and somehow it reboots properly. Same thing with neurosis.”&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Winne recommends spinal cord stimulation as a long-term solution. He further explains to us how electrical impulses interrupt pain signals with a very relatable example. “Say you hit your head on a desk, right? And then you pull away, and you rub it. It feels much better, which makes no sense, right? Because you just smashed it; now, you're rubbing it. Why does it feel better? Because when you rub it, you're activating the nervous system to help inhibit the pain signals. So you actually turn on that part of the nervous system that inhibits pain, and that's what the stimulator does, is it stimulates a spinal cord to turn on and activate a part of the nervous system, which pivots pain being felt,” he says. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;New Treatment&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;An extremely important recent FDA approval was just announced authorizing spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy. We expect this to help the lives of thousands. Dr. Winne’s&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;enthusiasm is apparent, as this new device may alleviate nerve pain more effectively and reliably than previous methods.  &lt;/span&gt; &lt;img class="wp-image-13733 alignnone " src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/chuttersnap-1eL99eGXp0g-unsplash-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="624" height="416" /&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;b&gt;Approval&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.nevro.com/English/en/home/default.aspx"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Nevro Corp&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, a medical device company, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.massdevice.com/fda-approves-nevro-spinal-cord-stimulation-to-treat-chronic-pain-with-diabetic-neuropathy/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;received FDA approval&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; for HFX, its Senza system for treating chronic pain associated with PDN. Approval was based on the system's demonstrated safety and efficacy in the SENZA-PDN trial published in JAMA Neurology. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It was shown that high-frequency, or 10 kHz, SCS is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.massdevice.com/fda-approves-nevro-spinal-cord-stimulation-to-treat-chronic-pain-with-diabetic-neuropathy/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;safe and effective&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; for people suffering from extreme pain and for those whose medication does not provide the necessary relief. After a year, patients reported &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.endocrinologynetwork.com/view/fda-approves-spinal-cord-stimulation-therapy-painful-diabetic-neuropathy"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;clear, sustained benefits&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;--less pain, improved sleep, and better quality of daily life. This may mean that some &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.endocrinologynetwork.com/view/fda-approves-spinal-cord-stimulation-therapy-painful-diabetic-neuropathy"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;patients can leave their mediations&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (and accompanying side effects) behind. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;PDN can now be treated with stimulators, which Dr. Winne has been doing slightly in the past. As he tells us, “Now, painful diabetic, peripheral neuropathy has been studied and now approved to be treated with stimulators, which we've kind of been doing a little bit over the years, and I've been talking to various patients about doing it, but it's never been fully approved. Not that we can't do it, not that Medicare wouldn't pay for it, but now they (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Medicare) definitely will.” This is excellent news to patients who desperately need this treatment. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;How It Works&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Here’s a quick summary of the device's ultimate goal: When you stick this wire in someone's back, you stimulate the spinal cord, and that inhibits their pain. Delivering &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/nevro-scores-fda-approval-for-high-frequency-neurostimulation-painful-diabetic-neuropathy"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;10,000 electric pulses per second,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; HFX does not allow the painful sensation to be relayed up to the brain.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;img class="wp-image-13734 alignnone " src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/chuttersnap-VIug0hNL4_A-unsplash-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="625" height="417" /&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The use of HFX begins with a test. Before implantation, the wires are temporarily placed on the intended spot on the body and connected to an external control box. You can test it for one to two weeks in order to see how it feels and if you like it. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Unlike surgery, HFX is minimally invasive and totally reversible. If the pain improves within a few years, patients can have the system removed. HFX may be a viable option for people with non-operative conditions or who are too ill for surgery. “If an 85-year-old lady who is not a good surgical candidate, either because her disease is too extensive or she’s too ill, that spinal cord stimulator is certainly a lot less than basic procedure and option for her,” explains Dr. Winne.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusion&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The HFX device brings a new level of hope to people with diabetes. It puts into play a powerful new weapon against the debilitating effects of painful diabetic neuropathy. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;We thank Dr. Winne for sharing with us his expertise in the world of neuropathy management, and we appreciate his dedication to giving his patients as many pain-free moments as possible. With the new HFX device in their arsenals, physicians now have more options to manage patients' pain and offer them a much-improved quality of life.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Bibliography (Full Citations)&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Campbell, Patrick Campbell. “FDA Approves Spinal Cord Stimulation Therapy for Painful Diabetic Neuropathy.” Endocrinology Network, 2021 MJH Life Sciences and Endocrinology Network, 19 July 2021, www.endocrinologynetwork.com/view/fda-approves-spinal-cord-stimulation-therapy-painful-diabetic-neuropathy.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dansinger, Michael. “What Is Diabetic Neuropathy?” WebMD, WebMD LLC, 14 May 2021, www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-neuropathy.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;“Diabetic Neuropathy: Symptoms &amp;amp; Causes.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-neuropathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20371580. Accessed 20 Aug. 2021.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;“Diabetic Neuropathy: Diagnosis &amp;amp; Treatment.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-neuropathy/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371587. Accessed 20 Aug. 2021.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Hale, Conor. “Nevro Notches FDA Approval for High-Frequency Neurostimulation in Painful Diabetic Neuropathy.” Fierce Biotech, Questex LLC, 19 July 2021, www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/nevro-scores-fda-approval-for-high-frequency-neurostimulation-painful-diabetic-neuropathy.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;“Neuropathy.” American Diabetes Association, American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org/diabetes/complications/neuropathy. Accessed 20 Aug. 2021.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;“Richard P. Winne Jr., MD.” Altair Health, Altair Health, altairhealth.com/practitioner/winne. Accessed 20 Aug. 2021.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Watson, James C. Watson. “Neuropathic Pain.” Merck Manual Consumer Version, Merck Sharp &amp;amp; Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck &amp;amp; Co., Inc., Apr. 2020, www.merckmanuals.com/home/brain,-spinal-cord,-and-nerve-disorders/pain/neuropathic-pain?query=diabetic%20neuropathy%20commonly.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Whooley, Sean. “FDA Approves Nevro’s Senza System to Treat Chronic Pain with Diabetic Neuropathy.” MassDevice, WTWH Media LLC, 19 July 2021, www.massdevice.com/fda-approves-nevro-spinal-cord-stimulation-to-treat-chronic-pain-with-diabetic-neuropathy.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/chuttersnap-1eL99eGXp0g-unsplash-300x200.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/a-new-hope-for-painful-diabetic-neuropathy-an-interview-with-dr-richard-p-winne-2/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14391</ID> <title>Hypertension Is on the Rise, and Almost Nobody Knows</title> <publishDate>2021-10-28 18:50:46</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_20 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_35"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_39 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_31"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/young-male-psysician-with-patient-measuring-blood-pressure-1.jpg" alt="" title="young-male-psysician-with-patient-measuring-blood-pressure (1)" class="wp-image-14392" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_35 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;One of the first things you do when you get to the doctor’s office is get your blood pressure taken. Of course, it’s just part and parcel of the experience, but for a good reason. Rates of hypertension have been on the rise for decades, and it’s time we start paying attention to this “&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/twice-as-many-people-live-with-hypertension-as-30-years-ago"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;silent killer&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.” Learning about how common hypertension is, how to avoid it, and how to treat it is a great way to start taking care of yourself today. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Hypertension, commonly known as &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;high blood pressure&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, is causing problems for &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/twice-as-many-people-live-with-hypertension-as-30-years-ago"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;millions&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; of people worldwide. These numbers have increased rapidly over the last few decades, even though awareness and diagnosis have remained low. The 2020 projections show that within 20 years, there will be &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.proquest.com/docview/2420329226"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;about 1.5 billion hypertension cases worldwide&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. This is one of the many reasons why focusing on treatment and prevention now is essential. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Striking Rise of Hypertension Across the World&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although about &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/facts.htm"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;108 million Americans&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; have hypertension or are treating it with medication, the U.S. is not the only place with widespread hypertension. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/twice-as-many-people-live-with-hypertension-as-30-years-ago"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;All across the world&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, rates of high blood pressure have consistently risen. There are estimates of over &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/twice-as-many-people-live-with-hypertension-as-30-years-ago"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;1 billion&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; cases throughout the world today. The increased rates are &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41581-019-0244-2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;significantly higher&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; for low and middle income countries, which make up around &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41581-019-0244-2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;1 billion&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; of the worldwide cases of hypertension. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although it causes some terrible complications, hypertension is still largely ignored and discounted. It has become known as the “silent killer” in the medical world because of how often it causes death while the person doesn’t know he or she has it. The “silent killer” name stems from the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/twice-as-many-people-live-with-hypertension-as-30-years-ago"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;symptoms, which are either hard to identify or non-existent&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. High blood pressure is currently the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41581-019-0244-2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;leading cause&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; of heart disease and premature death worldwide. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/twice-as-many-people-live-with-hypertension-as-30-years-ago"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;About half of all people&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; with hypertension are unaware of their condition, even with increasing hypertension rates and higher prevalence of deaths worldwide.  &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As rates continue to rise, it is essential to know what causes hypertension so you can focus on a lifestyle that will prevent it. Hypertension, although potentially deadly, is relatively &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/twice-as-many-people-live-with-hypertension-as-30-years-ago"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;easy to treat&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; once identified. So fear not; with the proper awareness and treatment, you can easily control this killer condition. &lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_36"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_40 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_32"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/hush-naidoo-jade-photography-pA0uoltkwao-unsplash-e1633114797955.jpg" alt="" title="hush-naidoo-jade-photography-pA0uoltkwao-unsplash" class="wp-image-14394" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_36 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Causes of Hypertension&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Blood pressure is a crucial function of the human body. It is measured by the amount of force your blood exerts on the artery walls while your heart pumps blood throughout your body. The condition of high blood pressure happens when something goes wrong in your body, like a constricted or &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159283#what-is-high-bp"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;narrowed artery&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, making it harder for your heart to pump blood. This complication puts &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159283#what-is-high-bp"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;excessive pressure&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; on the walls of your blood vessels. The pressure can cause &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159283#_noHeaderPrefixedContent"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;significant damage&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to your body and lead to complications like vision loss, heart failure, stroke, and kidney disease, among other health problems. Now that we know what hypertension is, let’s look at the causes. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Hypertension can be caused by lifestyle factors such as &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/srep46051"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;diet&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/twice-as-many-people-live-with-hypertension-as-30-years-ago"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;smoking&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, and not getting regular &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;exercise&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Other health conditions like &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;diabetes and obesity&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; can also increase your risk of high blood pressure. A higher risk of hypertension even sometimes accompanies &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;pregnancies&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/srep46051"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Studies&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; link diets high in salt and simple sugars to an increased risk of high blood pressure. Obesity is also a leading cause of hypertension because of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/obesity-what-leads-to-hypertension"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;constricted and stiffened arteries&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Lastly, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/twice-as-many-people-live-with-hypertension-as-30-years-ago#Biggest-culprits:-smoking-and-poor-diet"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;smoking&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; is one of the biggest culprits in causing hypertension. Although hypertension and its causes sound scary, most of the causes are avoidable, which makes preventing high blood pressure easier!&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Preventing and Treating Hypertension&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Lifestyle changes combined with first-line antihypertensive medications are the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6156553/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;best way&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to treat hypertension. Thankfully, medications for this condition are &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/twice-as-many-people-live-with-hypertension-as-30-years-ago#Biggest-culprits:-smoking-and-poor-diet"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;relatively cheap&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; throughout the world. However, the main problem the medical world faces while trying to treat hypertension is the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/twice-as-many-people-live-with-hypertension-as-30-years-ago#Biggest-culprits:-smoking-and-poor-diet"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;lack of awareness in patients&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. If people don’t know they have hypertension, they can’t be adequately treated. This unawareness and the fact that symptoms can sometimes be invisible means prevention is incredibly important. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, and avoiding smoking are all great ways to keep your health intact. Getting regular check-ups with your doctor and making sure you are being monitored for healthy blood pressure is another way to keep yourself healthy. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Our &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; team hopes that you take this newfound knowledge of the prevalence and dangers of hypertension and use it to check in with yourself and your loved ones. Remember: prevention may be the key to staying happy and healthy. Check in with your doctor and get tested for hypertension if you have any concerns. Getting regular exercise and eating right are also great ways to take control of your health today! &lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/young-male-psysician-with-patient-measuring-blood-pressure-1.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/hypertension-is-on-the-rise-and-almost-nobody-knows/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14375</ID> <title>Drinking and Smoking while Young Could Age Your Heart</title> <publishDate>2021-10-27 18:17:17</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_21 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_37"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_41 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_33"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Teens_smoking_and_drinking_alcohol-1024x661-1.jpg" alt="" title="Teens_smoking_and_drinking_alcohol-1024x661" class="wp-image-14379" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_37 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The teenage years are the threshold when we form our personalities for the future adult life. It is also the time for &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;once-in-a-lifetime experiments, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;when we take a shot at all-known vices with a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;just-once &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;mentality. Such endeavors, of course, are always risky, considering that most of our adult vices stem from our teenage years. "Just once" can quickly turn into "forever."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Out of all vices, drinking and smoking are the adolescent favorites, although secrecy doesn't allow us to grasp the severity of the situation. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/underage-drinking"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In 2019, almost 25% of people aged 14 and 15 had at least one drink&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, and i&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;n 2020, 4.5 million teenagers consumed tobacco products, especially e-cigarettes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Although one sip of alcohol doesn't cause addiction, one cigarette is often enough to get hooked, which is no wonder why 200 young Americans turn experiments into addiction daily. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1931414/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Social pressure&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1931414/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;link between smoking and AOD&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;alcohol and other drugs), and a precarious understanding of addiction lead our nation's youth to adulthood with medical problems.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Teenagers rarely ponder the immense workload that organs have to put in to keep up with their vices. Your body's engine, the heart, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.inova.org/our-services/inova-heart-and-vascular-institute"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;beats about 100,000 times per day&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.inova.org/our-services/inova-heart-and-vascular-institute"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;delivers blood through a network of vessels long enough to circle the Earth four times&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;! Such a Herculean effort does not leave room for error or unhealthy lifestyle choices. Unfortunately, our conscious sabotage leaves marks on the cardiac system, especially in the arteries. Did you know that a smoker and drinker's arteries can significantly stiffen from a young age? Keep reading below to find out more.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Effects of Smoking and Drinking on the Human Body&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Every mosaic loses its grandeur once enough people have stepped and caused the little pebbles to lose their color. Once a single pebble fades, the whole mosaic becomes incomplete. Drinking and smoking have the same effect on the human body, although multiple organs live with the consequences. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health-news/drinking-and-smoking-when-young-can-prematurely-age-your-heart"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The liver, the pancreas, the brain&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; all have to suffer such faulty choices, not to mention the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health-news/drinking-and-smoking-when-young-can-prematurely-age-your-heart"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;weakened immune system&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health-news/drinking-and-smoking-when-young-can-prematurely-age-your-heart"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;increased risks of certain cancers&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Basically, we consciously sabotage ourselves without receiving anything in return.    &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;But the most alarming drinking and smoking threats to our bodies have to do with the cardiac system. Both vices are linked with different forms of cardiovascular disease (or CVD). For example, indulging in more than three drinks per day enhances the risk of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6527044/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;ischemic stroke&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;caused by blood flow deficiency) and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6527044/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;myocardial infarction&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;heart attack). Furthermore, smoking, regardless of form, adds insult to injury by increasing the chance of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12920698/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;congestive heart failure&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12920698/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;hemorrhagic stroke&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;bleeding in the brain), and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12920698/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;arterial disease&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although young drinkers and smokers believe they can kick these vices before suffering from any medical issues, the truth is, they might already be suffering the consequences, especially in their arteries. Research has proved that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://americanaddictioncenters.org/health-complications-addiction/substance-abuse-heart-disease?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=pmd_ZP7gNbbx11AxmJr0YszPbnBBgtDusWJe9iqaaA672cE-1630603279-0-gqNtZGzNAmWjcnBszQi9"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;even mild alcohol and tobacco consumption can cause arterial stiffening&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, therefore setting teenagers on a course to CVDs. The remaining questions are, "How far is the arterial stiffening process? and "How can we reverse the process?"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_38"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_42 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_34"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/teens_drugs_drinking-e1633113707412.jpg" alt="" title="teens_drugs_drinking" class="wp-image-14382" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_38 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What Happens to Our Arteries?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Typically, as the aging process kicks in, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health-news/drinking-and-smoking-when-young-can-prematurely-age-your-heart"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;our arteries naturally lose their elasticity&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. However, drinking and smoking heavily influence the speed at which the stiffening process develops. Therefore, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health-news/drinking-and-smoking-when-young-can-prematurely-age-your-heart"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the further teenagers indulge in these vices, the more the CVD risk increases&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Researchers from the UCL have shown that teenagers who drank more than 10 drinks in a typical drinking day had a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/08/180828204914.htm"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;4.7% increase&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; in arterial stiffening than "light" drinkers (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;less than three drinks). At the other end, high-intensity smokers (more than 100 cigarettes ever) had an arterial stiffening increase of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/08/180828204914.htm"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;3.7%&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; compared with light-intensity smokers. However, at the top of the ladder sit teenagers who heavily indulge in these two vices, whose arteries thicken &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/08/180828204914.htm"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;10.8%&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; faster than those who "stay clean." Although slight in the short run, these percentages can prove troubling at a later age, when arterial stiffening gives rise to other CVDs.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How Can Teenagers Reverse Arterial Stiffening?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, the battle is not yet lost. Vices do leave a stain on our health, but all stains can be removed with proper care. The researchers who conducted the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; in the U.K. encourage teenagers to bid smoking and drinking goodbye and embrace a healthy lifestyle. Professor John Deanfield, one of the ALSPAC researchers, affirms that "If teenagers stopped smoking and drinking during adolescence, their arteries returned to normal." And the benefits don't stop there -- ex-smokers frequently cite &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317956#timeline"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;improved breathing, appetite, sleep, taste, and smell&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; as short-term benefits of kicking this habit, not to mention the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/health-45329690"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;improved cardiac function and blood flow&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; that follow suit. So there's no better time to defeat these vices right now, during the teenage years, while the body still preserves its miraculous healing capabilities!   &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Your Body Is Your Temple - Worship It!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Here at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdoctormagazine.com/about-us/"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;we advise teenagers to spend their precious adolescent years healthily, without resorting to vices for social recognition. From personal experience, ex-drinkers and ex-smokers can testify that these vices are nothing but parasites who take your energy and health away without giving anything helpful in return. Therefore, we hope that our young readers will ponder the implications of their decisions before lighting another cigarette or ordering another pint and settle up with these vices forever.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Teens_smoking_and_drinking_alcohol-1024x661-1.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/drinking-and-smoking-while-young-could-age-your-heart/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14364</ID> <title>Antibiotic Use May Now Be Linked to An Increase Risk of Colorectal Cancer - PART II</title> <publishDate>2021-10-25 18:00:28</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_22 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_39"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_43 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_35"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/adam-niescioruk-hWzrJsS8gwI-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="adam-niescioruk-hWzrJsS8gwI-unsplash" class="wp-image-14366" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_39 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Antibiotics have become an everyday part of the medical world. They are used to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/10278"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;fight bacterial infections&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and have saved millions of lives worldwide since their discovery. If you’ve ever had a bacterial infection, you're probably already pretty familiar with antibiotics. However, the prevalent overuse of antibiotics is leading to some serious unintended consequences. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although there have been remarkable benefits that antibacterial use has brought about, there is a dark side to it as well, such as &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/antibiotic-use-linked-to-increased-risk-of-colorectal-cancer"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;an increased risk of colon cancer&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Another problem that the overuse of antibiotics causes is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/antibiotic-resistance.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;antimicrobial resistance&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, which causes &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/antibiotic-resistance.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;more dangerous forms of bacterial illnesses&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Still, there’s no time to despair! Medical professionals and researchers are working hard to find alternatives to antibiotic treatments. &lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_40"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_44 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_36"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/towfiqu-barbhuiya-gGIxh0iBx2I-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="towfiqu-barbhuiya-gGIxh0iBx2I-unsplash" class="wp-image-14367" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_40 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Risks of Antibiotic Use&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;a href="https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/iub.2010?sid=worldcat.org"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Antimicrobial resistance&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, caused by &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/iub.2010?sid=worldcat.org"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the overuse and misuse&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; of antibiotics, is one of the reasons that finding alternatives to antibiotic use is wise. Their life-saving &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mmi.14481?sid=worldcat.org"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;effectiveness&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; causes physicians and patients alike to rely heavily upon antibiotics, even for common bacterial infections. An example of the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/antibiotic-resistance.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;misuse of antibiotics&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; is when they are prescribed for non-bacterial illnesses like colds and the flu.However, sometimes antibiotics are still prescribed for this. The overuse of antibiotics led to antimicrobial resistance by creating &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/antibiotic-resistance.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;bacteria&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; that are not affected by the medicine.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Another big antibiotic-related concern is the link to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/antibiotic-resistance.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;increased risk of colon cancer&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Colon cancer is the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.gastroconsa.com/colon-cancer-statistics/#:~:text=Colon%20Cancer%20Statistics.%20On%20average%2C%20the%20lifetime%20risk,the%20colon%20and%20about%2028%25%20in%20the%20rectum."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;second leading cause of cancer-related deaths&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; in the United States. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(21)01238-2/fulltext"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Rates of antibiotic use have skyrocketed since the 1980s&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, and scientists have also reported an alarming &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(21)01238-2/fulltext"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;rise in colon cancer&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; rates. What is especially concerning about this increased risk of cancer is that it affects &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(21)01238-2/fulltext"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;people younger than 50&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; at a disproportionate rate.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Additionally, a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://gut.bmj.com/content/68/11/1971.abstract"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;study&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; found a "dose-dependent" aspect to the link between antibiotics and colon cancer. Essentially, this means that the different kinds and doses of antibiotics you take impact your risk level.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;So what's the solution here? Doctors, medical professionals, and researchers have been working hard to discover alternative ways to treat bacterial illnesses to avoid antibiotics' harmful effects.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The human body has many good bacteria in it that the antibiotics can't differentiate from the bad ones. This affects the balance of the microbiome in your gut and could be the link between the potentially cancer-causing aspect of antibiotics. Protecting the good bacteria in your body is essential, which is why looking into alternatives to antibiotics is a great way to approach your health.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_41"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_45 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_37"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/diana-polekhina-dw6tvK_PuxM-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="diana-polekhina-dw6tvK_PuxM-unsplash" class="wp-image-14365" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_41 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Alternatives to Antibiotics&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The good news is that medical professionals are becoming increasingly aware of the negative repercussions of antibiotics misuse and overuse and are rigorously testing out replacements. Some of these different approaches to bacterial infections were used in &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mmi.14481?sid=worldcat.org"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;ancient times&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Ancient medical techniques that involve natural elements like clay and minerals are being studied because of how extensive their &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mmi.14481?sid=worldcat.org"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;antimicrobial activity&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; is. Just as researchers are taking note of more unconventional and ancient methods, they are also delving into new fields of research and technology. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;One potential alternative method involves using what are called &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/iub.2010?sid=worldcat.org"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;bacteriophages&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Bacteriophages, or phages, as they are often called, are &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://biologixcenter.com/inpt-phage-therapy/bacteriophages-naturally-occurring-bacterial-assassins/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;naturally occurring viruses&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; that target and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/iub.2010?sid=worldcat.org"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;kill bacteria&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. If you think about it, they accomplish the same thing that antibiotics do! This is why they are serious contenders for replacements for antibiotics. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(15)00466-1/fulltext"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;One medical research review&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; has listed a total of 19 promising alternatives to antibiotics! They note, however, that three different approaches, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(15)00466-1/fulltext"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;probiotics, antibodies, and vaccines&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, appear to be the most advanced of the bunch.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;First, probiotics are living &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/probiotics-what-you-need-to-know"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;microorganisms&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; that promote your overall gut health and microbiome. These can be easily &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/probiotics-what-you-need-to-know"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;found&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; in yogurt and other fermented foods as well as in supplement form. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Second, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Antibody"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;antibodies&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; are a part of your immune system that neutralize foreign entities in your body. Once they've encountered a specific foreign substance, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Antibody"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;antibodies retain that information&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and protect the body against future infection. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Lastly, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/conversations/understanding-vacc-work.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;vaccines&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; are an outstanding scientific and medical invention that trains your body's natural immune system to recognize and neutralize foreign threats in small or benign doses so that your body can better handle the real thing. Your immune system essentially &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/conversations/understanding-vacc-work.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;memorizes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; how to deal with an imitation of an infection and is then prepared to fight off the actual illness. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;These three are the most advanced and promising alternatives to antibiotic use. However, while we are still developing and researching these replacements, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(15)00466-1/fulltext"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;basic and reasonably limited antibiotic use&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; will still need to happen. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A Parting Reminder&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Our &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdoctormagazine.com/contact-page/"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;team hopes this overview equips you with fresh knowledge on the potential dangers of antibiotic overuse and misuse. Now you can feel comfortable discussing different options with your doctor! Ask your doctor if you have any questions about whether you should be using antibiotics or an alternative method. &lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/adam-niescioruk-hWzrJsS8gwI-unsplash.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/antibiotic-use-may-now-be-linked-to-an-increase-risk-of-colorectal-cancer-part-ii/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14354</ID> <title>Antibiotic Use May Now Be Linked to An Increased Risk of Colorectal Cancer</title> <publishDate>2021-10-24 17:56:49</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_23 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_42"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_46 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_38"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/freestocks-nss2eRzQwgw-unsplash-1.jpg" alt="" title="freestocks-nss2eRzQwgw-unsplash (1)" class="wp-image-14355" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_42 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Suppose you've ever gone to the doctor's office with a persistent cold, the flu, or a myriad of other common illnesses affecting your life. In that case, you're probably familiar with antibiotic prescriptions. To be fair, they get the job done! They have been widely used in Western medicine for decades to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/how-do-antibiotics-work"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;treat and heal illnesses caused by bacterial infections&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. However, there are some downsides to excessive antibiotic use. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The whole point of antibiotics is to kill illness-causing bacteria growing in your body. But don't forget that there are &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-human-microbiome-project-defines-normal-bacterial-makeup-body"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;trillions of good bacteria&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; growing in your microbiome, whose absence makes human life impossible! Unfortunately, antibiotic overuse has some serious adverse effects: one of the most pressing ones is the possible increased risk of colorectal cancer. Commonly known as colon cancer, this disease is the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.gastroconsa.com/colon-cancer-statistics/#:~:text=Colon%20Cancer%20Statistics.%20On%20average%2C%20the%20lifetime%20risk,the%20colon%20and%20about%2028%25%20in%20the%20rectum."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;second leading cause of cancer-related deaths&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; in the United States for both men and women. New studies show that there could be a connection between antibiotic use and an increase in your risk of colon cancer. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_43"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_47 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_39"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/towfiqu-barbhuiya-hn2hQoALBCk-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="towfiqu-barbhuiya-hn2hQoALBCk-unsplash" class="wp-image-14357" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_43 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Uses and Misuses of Antibiotics &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://microbiologysociety.org/members-outreach-resources/outreach-resources/antibiotics-unearthed/antibiotics-and-antibiotic-resistance/the-history-of-antibiotics.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Since ancient times&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, civilizations have been using forms of antibiotics to heal and treat infections. Although these people did not yet understand what bacteria was or even what the cause of some illnesses was, civilizations like the ancient Egyptians developed ways to heal through primitive antibiotic use. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://microbiologysociety.org/members-outreach-resources/outreach-resources/antibiotics-unearthed/antibiotics-and-antibiotic-resistance/the-history-of-antibiotics.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In the 1920s, scientists discovered penicillin&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, the first mass-produced antibiotic, which saved countless lives. However, despite the amazing things that the study and use of antibiotics have done for humans, this doesn't mean there aren't any downsides or dangers. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Antibiotics can’t choose between what we like to call "good" and "bad" bacteria. So when you're taking antibiotics for a common bacterial infection, the "good" bacteria in your microbiome are affected just like that "bad" bacteria causing the sickness. This feature of antibiotics can have some pretty severe drawbacks. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The prevalent use of antibiotics in the current medical world has led to many unintended consequences affecting the body's "good" bacteria in the&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://gut.bmj.com/content/69/11/1913"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; microbiome&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Increasing studies show that there may be a link between this attack on the microbiome and the start or progression of colorectal cancer. For that reason, many researchers are beginning to warn against the overuse of antibiotics.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Excessive Use of Antibiotics&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although antibiotics can be beneficial and have done a lot of good throughout history, there can be too much of a good thing. Both the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(21)01238-2/fulltext"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;rates of antibiotic use and colon cancer&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; diagnoses have&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;skyrocketed across the globe since the 1980s. The coexistence of these rates caused some researchers and medical professionals to begin questioning whether the overconsumption of antibiotics was causing the increased rate of cancer. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Since then, researchers have conducted numerous studies to see whether they could figure out the link here and hopefully begin cautioning people against the overuse of antibiotics. Unfortunately, despite the findings of many studies showing that there does seem to be a clear link, prescriptions for antibiotics continue to be one of the first reactions to bacterial infections. Therefore, it is essential to know how these medications could impact your risk of cancer. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_44"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_48 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_40"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/olga-delawrence-b9CaYHNfmho-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="olga-delawrence-b9CaYHNfmho-unsplash" class="wp-image-14356" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_44 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Increased Risk of Colorectal Cancer&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.gastroconsa.com/colon-cancer-statistics/#:~:text=Colon%20Cancer%20Statistics.%20On%20average%2C%20the%20lifetime%20risk,the%20colon%20and%20about%2028%25%20in%20the%20rectum."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. It is also the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.gastroconsa.com/colon-cancer-statistics/#:~:text=Colon%20Cancer%20Statistics.%20On%20average%2C%20the%20lifetime%20risk,the%20colon%20and%20about%2028%25%20in%20the%20rectum."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;third most common&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; cancer diagnosis in America. The American Cancer Society estimated that in 2017 alone, there were &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.gastroconsa.com/colon-cancer-statistics/#:~:text=Colon%20Cancer%20Statistics.%20On%20average%2C%20the%20lifetime%20risk,the%20colon%20and%20about%2028%25%20in%20the%20rectum."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;136,830 people diagnosed with the disease and 50,310 deaths&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Based on recent research, these chilling numbers are linked with antibiotic overuse.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(21)01238-2/fulltext"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;One study's&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; findings suggested that antibiotic use potentially played a direct role in tumor growths in the colon. This same study also noted that these findings were especially true of people younger than 50 years old. Such conclusions raise even bigger red flags since most cancers are found in older patients. Additionally, another relevant study found that the link between antibiotics and colon cancer was predominantly in a “&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://gut.bmj.com/content/68/11/1971.abstract"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;dose-dependent fashion.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;” This means that the number of antibiotics and even the specific kind of antibiotics you take may impact your increased risk.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Preventative Healthcare is the Best Healthcare&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Other, more commonly known risk factors are also associated with colon cancer, such as tobacco use, obesity, and genetic disposition. However, especially with the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(21)01238-2/fulltext"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;increased use of antibiotics&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; in America since the 1980s, awareness of the link between antibiotics use and an increased risk of colon cancer is helpful for prevention. Knowing that this link affects younger people more often is also an important thing to note. Medical providers are beginning to push for &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/antibiotic-use-linked-to-increased-risk-of-colorectal-cancer#The-impact-of-colorectal-cancer"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;colon cancer screening among younger people&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to help with prevention. As always: the best kind of healthcare is preventative healthcare. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Our &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; hopes you will take this newfound knowledge of the risk factors of antibiotics and make choices that are best suited for you and your healthcare journey. Asking your doctor for early screening for colon cancer or alternative options to antibiotics when prescribed are great places to get started!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/freestocks-nss2eRzQwgw-unsplash-1.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/antibiotic-use-may-now-be-linked-to-an-increased-risk-of-colorectal-cancer/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14343</ID> <title>From Industry Leader to Disruptor: How One Woman Revolutionized the Aesthetic Space and Changed how Practices do Business</title> <publishDate>2021-10-23 17:25:47</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_24 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_45"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_49 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_41"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/unnamed-1.jpg" alt="" title="unnamed (1)" class="wp-image-14339" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_45 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In the hyper-competitive field of Aesthetics Practices and Medi-spas, it’s never been more vital to have a comprehensive system in place to ensure the practice’s growth and profitability. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/terriross"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Terri Ross&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; is a world-renowned practice management consultant with years of leadership experience in the sales divisions of Fortune 500 medical device companies, corporate sales training programs, and was recruited as a business growth consultant by some of Beverly Hills’ top plastic surgeons such as &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.garthfisher.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Garth Fisher, MD&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.drpaulnassif.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Paul Nassif, MD&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.amronmd.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;David Amron, MD&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.drandrewfrankel.com/procedures/facelift?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpreJBhDvARIsAF1_BU2O4wLyg7qnM0xuZgKWKOSLeBij760sI1SAHItA7I7LQbvRsGYPu2IaAl_rEALw_wcB"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Andrew Frankel, MD&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Her new company, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.apxplatform.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Aesthetics Practice Accelerator&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (APX), takes the experience of launching and growing medical aesthetic practices in competitive markets such as Beverly Hills and gives medical professionals worldwide a proven platform for optimizing their business and increasing their bottom line. In her interview with &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, Ross tells us some of her many secrets that APX has identified as critical to a successful aesthetics practice.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_46"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_50 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_42"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/APX_in_The_Aesthetic_Guide_2021.JPG-1-e1633109728286.jpg" alt="" title="APX_in_The_Aesthetic_Guide_2021.JPG (1)" class="wp-image-14341" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_51 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_43"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/5fb30a6bd7e05c296b1fe69f_IJM_8278c-1-e1633109680645.jpg" alt="" title="5fb30a6bd7e05c296b1fe69f_IJM_8278c (1)" class="wp-image-14336" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_47"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_52 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_46 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;SECRET #1 Training for Profitability&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Let's dive in deeper into training for profitability - which is ultimately the primary goal of any successful business. Ross' proven track record of turning around all the businesses she’s handled has rightfully earned her a spot as one of the top aesthetic industry leaders. A great example of her exemplary powers is when she transformed an underperforming medical spa in Beverly Hills by growing their revenue to over half a million dollars in one year. The practice doubled the space, she grew the team from two to eleven, and she reduced debt by 75%. But that's just the beginning. She started her aesthetics career as the Sales Director for Medicis, now Galderma, then was recruited to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.coolsculpting.com/about-zeltiq/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Zeltiq&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; as the Regional Sales Director. Ross launched Coolsculpting in the West Coast and in Canada, which generated $5 million in sales. How did she do all of this, you might ask? What lies at the heart of all these professional successes is quality training for every hire and a proven program in which staff can maximize sales opportunities. One of APX's most unique resources that businesses have used to achieve massive growth (even during a pandemic) is the foundational sales and finance courses for each aesthetics practice team member. From the beginning, the onboarding process includes high-level training to operate with profitability in mind for the company. Ross ingrains these words in every client she works with, "Be smart with the treatments that you plan to offer, understand the profitability of those treatments, invest in knowing the numbers, and invest in training your team and creating a culture of leaders. That's my advice."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;SECRET #2: Know Your Benchmarks&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Ross has a deep understanding of industry benchmarks and competitive trends. To get into the business, one must know “WHY” they are getting into the aesthetics market in the first place, and if in business for several years, knowing what your UVP is, your unique value proposition. In addition, what services they can offer, who their ideal clients are, and how much money they should be making for their services. Unfortunately, many doctors or business owners are still not aware of the concept, and they go into the business unprepared. This sets up failure for their practice, but luckily for them, Ross and APX are here to save the day. One of the APX platform’s core components is called GAUGE, which gives businesses up-to-date access to industry benchmarks and competitive trends.  “We teach them what services generate the most profit, what your rooms need to generate per hour, what your services need to generate per hour, and what your providers need to generate per hour. When they understand these metrics, it's actionable data that allows them to make informed decisions that affect growth and profitability,” The power in knowing this information allowed one of our practices to grow 2800% in 2020 Ross explains. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;SECRET #3: Setting Up Chart of Accounts Accurately&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Another not-so-secret piece of advice to running a successful aesthetics practice is having the right financial analysis. "People think setting up your P&amp;amp;L is a daunting thing, and it can be - but if it's set up correctly where you have your service revenue, your cost of goods, and provider cost of labor, you can accurately measure your net profit. Unfortunately, some people have their P&amp;amp;L all messed up,"&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Ross points out the usual case scenario she runs into with her clients.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;But,&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;with APX's ABACUS, clients get six financial calculators that translate raw data from practice management software into actionable insights such as profit per treatment or revenue per hour. These financial calculators and analytics give you actual information that tells you what your gross profit is, which should be well over 50%, if not you are losing money. What your weighted revenue per hour is by service category and by provider. If you are not hitting industry benchmarks then you have the ability and information to coach to improve the process or team and the overall practice. It takes the guesswork out for the medical professionals who often struggle in the area of data. In addition, Ross also highlights the correlation between business efficacy and profitability. "Profitability lies in making an effort to be efficient. And what does that mean? You're efficient in your cost of goods, your practice productivity, you're efficient in your processes, you're efficient in your protocols, you're efficient in running your software systems, you understand what KPIs to measure. More importantly, what to do with those KPIs to make an informed decision that's going to increase or decrease something?" says Ross. Having an expert by your side to help you with training, education and analytics has proven to provide practices with on demand training, knowledge, resources and coaching they need to run and sustain a profitable practice.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Future of Aesthetics&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Ross notes that demographic shifts are going to play a significant role in changing industry trends. While baby boomers have more disposable income or purchasing power, millennials are becoming more interested in aesthetics treatment, anti-aging, and wellness. Treatments such as facial injections and body contouring are still popular, but sexual health, new laser developments, hormonal treatments, supplements, and holistic wellness are definitely rising. With the continued growth in the aesthetic market,  millennials and males, it’s critical to stay on top of industry trends; moreover ensuring it makes financial sense.. APX has a built-in network called &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2743958412531088"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;LUCID&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, which monitors over 50+ marketing analytics in real-time on one dashboard. The company also has a weekly live coaching session called &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.apxplatform.com/platform/community"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;COMMUNITY&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, where Ross and her team interact with practices worldwide. This live weekly session allows companies and clients to get real time coaching in a wildly changing and competitive marketplace and have access to the support and accountability they need.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/unnamed-1.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/from-industry-leader-to-disruptor-how-one-woman-revolutionized-the-aesthetic-space-and-changed-how-practices-do-business/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14304</ID> <title>How A Plastic Tube Is Playing A Pivotal Role In The COVID-19 Pandemic</title> <publishDate>2021-10-22 16:41:33</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_25 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_48"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_53 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_44"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/stomatologist-protective-suit-reviewing-x-ray-tooth-with-senior-patient-explaining-treatment-using-tablet-covisd-19-pandemic-medical-team-wearing-face-shield-coverall-mask-gloves.jpg" alt="" title="stomatologist-protective-suit-reviewing-x-ray-tooth-with-senior-patient-explaining-treatment-using-tablet-covisd-19-pandemic-medical-team-wearing-face-shield-coverall-mask-gloves" class="wp-image-14306" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_47 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Years before the pandemic, a medical student saw a 19-year-old young woman coming to the ICU with postpartum complications. After being put on ventilation, her condition deteriorated even further; she contracted a very antibiotic-resistant infection called &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0735675721000784?via%3Dihub"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;ventilator-associated pneumonia&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (VAP)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Unfortunately, the woman's immune system gave up, and she passed away. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The medical student had to relay the tragic news to her family; "this newborn child does not have a mother because she got an infection." This whole experience left our student baffled with questions surrounding the quality of breathing tubes. After identifying the breathing tube as the problem, he realized that someone needed to make a better breathing tube. Such a device would need to prevent fluid, bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens from reaching the lungs, but more importantly, it would need someone to devote themselves to creating it. "And I said, 'I'm going to make a breathing tube that will prevent cases like this from ever happening again.'" &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;His name is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://nevap.co/our-team/management-team/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Benjamin Wang, MD&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, and we are pleased to say that he honored his pledge. Today, Dr. Wang founded &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://nevap.co/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;NeVap&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, a company producing breathing tubes that have been instrumental in saving the lives of COVID-19 patients. Our &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdoctormagazine.com/"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; team was delighted to learn about Dr. Wang's work and its role in the pandemic. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;We employed Dr. Wang's knowledge to write a thorough article on how an overlooked detail is becoming critical in caring for the sickest patients during the pandemic. Let us learn how Dr. Wang's approach could be the turning point in the battle against ventilator-associated pneumonia and COVID-19!&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_49"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_54 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_45"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/orthodontics-doctors-with-face-shield-ppe-suit-discussing-reception-about-teeth-digital-x-ray-using-tablet-during-global-pandemic-concept-new-normal-dentist-visit-coronavirus-outbreak.jpg" alt="" title="orthodontics-doctors-with-face-shield-ppe-suit-discussing-reception-about-teeth-digital-x-ray-using-tablet-during-global-pandemic-concept-new-normal-dentist-visit-coronavirus-outbreak" class="wp-image-14307" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_48 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Ventilator Systems and VAP&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although frequently critical, invasive mechanical ventilation is not devoid of risks. Because of the invasive nature of endotracheal or tracheostomy tubes, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22045150/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;oropharynx&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; or &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/stomach-secretion#:~:text=The%20stomach%20secretes%20water%2C%20electrolytes,by%20neural%20and%20humoral%20mechanisms."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;stomach secretions&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, rich with bacteria, will almost always leak along with the airway device into the patient's lungs. The longer a patient spends on a ventilator, the higher their risk. The inability to protect the patient's lower respiratory tract leads to numerous cases of VAP and unnecessary fatalities amongst COVID-19 patients (44%-50% rate of VAP in COVID-19 patients).&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Introduction of Single Port Subglottic Suctioning&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Ventilator systems were improved by creating breathing tubes that could drain secretions before entering a patient's lungs. Over the past 15 years, single port subglottic (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;under the tongue) suctioning endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes have been clinically beneficial by reducing VAP incidence (40%-67%), antibiotic exposure, length of mechanical ventilation, and mortality. Compared with previous technology, subglottic suctioning is a clear step forward.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, this new technology is not without flaws. For example, respiratory care practitioners must often deal with subglottic suction blockage due to entrapment of airway tissue, often exceeding 50% within 5-15 minutes. In addition, due to both the device's efficacy and reduced clinical benefits, only approximately 20% of hospitals currently utilize this class of breathing tube. Consequently, using these tubes effectively in Operative or Emergency settings hasn't been possible, further limiting the number of patients who can benefit from these devices.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Multiport Subglottic Suctioning&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;To improve the safety of mechanical ventilation, Dr. Wang and his NeVap team set about creating a solution that could improve the efficacy of subglottic suction drainage in the ICU and bring this technology into other settings to benefit patients who would otherwise not be helped. They determined that a breathing tube that could reduce aspiration in all settings without engaging airway tissue could benefit clinicians and patients without requiring any additional equipment. Thus, the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://nevap.co/why-nevap/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;NeVap Aspire &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="https://nevap.co/why-nevap/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Subglottic Suction Endotracheal Tube&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, or ASSET, was born after several years of development. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The ASSET tube uses 24 suction fenestrations and a tissue blocker to significantly reduce suction blockage while providing more effective suction removal of the secretions that cause VAP. The tissue helps point suctioning away from the patient's tissue and decreases the distance between the suction source and airway fluid. In testing, NeVap ASSET removes ten to fifteen times more secretions responsible for VAP when compared to other tubes. It has been successfully used in a variety of patients during surgical procedures and emergencies.   &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A Superior Way of Preventing VAP&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Wang and his team have devoted nearly a decade to develop what he believes to be the most logical and straightforward way to prevent VAP. Aside from superior design, NeVap ASSET is already benefiting patients in ways no other breathing tube has been able. Patients who need transplant surgeries, cardiac surgeries, trauma patients, and even COVID-19 patients benefit from better infection prevention due to the NEVAP breathing tube. In addition, this simple device benefits patients without using any chemical or pharmacological agents, so its infection prevention benefits can be used indefinitely. Moreover, with the average VAP treatment costing hospitals over $40,000/case, the NeVap ASSET is a clinically significant innovation and a critical way to save hospitals.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_50"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_55 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_46"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chart.png" alt="" title="Chart" class="wp-image-14305" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_49 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;With professional societies like &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://journal.chestnet.org/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;CHEST&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; reporting the high rates of VAP in COVID-19 patients, it is clear the critical role innovative devices like the NEVAP ASSET tube play in combating the pandemic. Keeping ICUs from becoming overcrowded and helping patients recover without mechanical ventilation should be every hospital&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;'&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;s goal. Over 30,000 NEVAP tubes have been sold worldwide, and the device is winning the trust of clinicians worldwide. In the coming months, we hope more hospitals will take a hard, honest look at this breathing tube that is making a difference during the pandemic and ushering in an age of safer mechanical ventilation.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/stomatologist-protective-suit-reviewing-x-ray-tooth-with-senior-patient-explaining-treatment-using-tablet-covisd-19-pandemic-medical-team-wearing-face-shield-coverall-mask-gloves.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/how-a-plastic-tube-is-playing-a-pivotal-role-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14289</ID> <title>The Next Telehealth Revolution is Here</title> <publishDate>2021-10-20 16:09:17</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_26 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_51"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_56 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_47"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/doctor-advising-patient-online-with-laptop.jpg" alt="" title="doctor-advising-patient-online-with-laptop" class="wp-image-14290" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_50 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Being a physician in today’s times is no walk in the park. Aside from working amidst a pandemic, focusing on technological advancements, insurance company disputes, and management tasks make it harder for physicians to manage their businesses and careers independently. However, what if we told you that you, the physician, could improve patient care, save lives, and increase profitability while regaining your peace of mind and freedom to enjoy your life? &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Here at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;we are delighted to welcome you to the future by introducing our newest technology and telehealth medical partner, ready to assist physicians all across the country in helping millions of patients better take care of their health – TopDocRX! Over the next few minutes, we will learn how TopDocRX helps physicians in every layer of their practices, from chronic care solutions to remote patient monitoring. Furthermore, we will show you how to attract more patients and expand your own practice through these efficient and straightforward approaches to patient care!&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_52"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_57 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_48"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/young-asia-male-doctor-white-medical-uniform-using-laptop-talking-video-conference-call-with-senior-doctor-desk-health-clinic-hospital.jpg" alt="" title="young-asia-male-doctor-white-medical-uniform-using-laptop-talking-video-conference-call-with-senior-doctor-desk-health-clinic-hospital" class="wp-image-14292" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_51 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;TopDocRX, Revolutionizing Chronic Care Solutions&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As opposed to acute care, chronic care is targeted at long-term-illnesses. TopDocRX understands the expense that comes with maintaining the care of chronically ill patients. Annually, the total cost of chronic care treatments in the U.S. is roughly &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.fightchronicdisease.org/sites/default/files/docs/PFCD_ChronDisease_FactSheet3Final.pdf"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;$1.65 trillion&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.  This is why TopDocRX offers solutions like remote patient monitoring that brings down the cost of delivering chronic care solutions. TopDocRX also recognizes the challenges of chronic care treatment that can lead to therapeutic competition. As patients deserve the best when it comes to their care and don’t deserve to get stuck in the middle of insurance and medical practice and hospital and in-home care agency competitive squabbles, TopDocRX’s telehealth solutions help to create a higher standard as the new common denominator across the medical landscape, which is a direct win for patients and chronic care patients in particular.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;TopDocRX’s Chronic Care Solutions Just Work&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The TopDocRX call center, staffed by over 900 telehealth workers which includes nurses and physicians, provides an ever-present, on-call solution for patients around the country. Think of this as a virtual hospital with specialists in every field available at your fingertips through their award-winning app. Starting with only a simple 20 minute call from our certified and trained nurses, your patients will have direct access to these professionals, without the many bureaucratic overhead costs associated with traditional chronic care. Get the help you need and want when you need and want it. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As their nurses work with your patients, they will also tailor and build the needed program that is perfect for each patient. No matter the level of care needed, they will build the appropriate program required. After compatibility has been established, enrolling your patients into their Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) platform becomes our top priority for you and your patients. This is because the technological advances that RPM brings to the table allows TopDocRX’s staff to monitor patients 24/7 from the comforts of their own homes. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;TopDocRX, the Ultimate Remote Patient Care Monitoring System&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Caring remotely for patients is now an everyday reality, and the waiting rooms are nearly empty as a result. With RPM, you can easily keep an eye on your patients more safely even than in-person visits!&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, the following reasons have been listed as the most common deterents among physicians from choosing RPM solutions in the past:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Legal compliance&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Lack of a proper billing system (&lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href="https://etactics.com/blog/medical-billing-error-statistics"&gt;&lt;b&gt;over 80% of medical bills contain errors&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt;)&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Lack of FDA-approved electronic equipment&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Low patient retention&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, and&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Patient-unfriendly platforms&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As if these reasons were not enough, the actual costs (staff training, RPM kit, initial office setup, software costs, etc.) for a 300-patient practice ranges anywhere between $143,500.00 and $260,000.00! With such skyrocketing costs and no clear return on investment in sight, it’s no surprise that very few medical practices adopted the burgeoning RPM technological developments.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Considering how primary care practices were expected to lose up to $15 billion in 2020, additional costs were the last thing that any practice would consider incurring. This game has now completely changed thanks to TopDocRX’s RPM system which is the done-for-you remote patient monitoring system that practices have wanted but not been able to execute as a solo venture. That is why the TopDocRX RPM system is here to assist your patient care efforts free of charge… that is, to you and your patients. Once you outsource to TopDocRX, you can have highly effective and qualitative care direct to chronic and acute care patients using specialized monitoring equipment and personnel. Furthermore, using our VAC (Visual, Audio, and Kinesthetic) method of communication, our staff constantly receives training on how to see, hear, feel, and solve any patient issue simply and professionally.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_53"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_58 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_49"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/young-woman-having-video-call-with-doctor-her-friend-e1633105686278.jpg" alt="" title="young-woman-having-video-call-with-doctor-her-friend" class="wp-image-14293" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_52 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Which Kind of Medical Practices Will Benefit the Most from TopDocRX RPM?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As a physician, especially one with a packed waiting room, you need to share your attention with a vast array of patients, regardless of their current medical conditions. At such times, the ability to sift through data and deliver patient-care-relevant conclusions quickly becomes paramount. TopDocRX RPM was designed to be your solution here by collecting and analyzing the data for you automatically and behind the scenes.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you find yourself in need of a virtually cost-free digital assistant backed by over 900 medically trained personnel to assist you with your practice’s growth, TopDocRX gives you the ability to scale your medical practice infinitely. With its comprehensive data collection, TopDocRX RPM allows you to implement patient care more straightforwardly; you will benefit your patients by reaching conclusions to support patient care faster and more efficiently. In turn, your patients are able to respond promptly to their medical issues and avoid specific health issues in the future. RPM is the ounce of prevention that is better than a pound of cure.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Once the system is in place (which takes about a day of work in total from the applications and in-office equipment setup and demonstration), keeping an eye on your patients' health will never be easier! You can choose to monitor your patients and data directly or have our medical staff do it for you. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, while TopDocRX RPM has vast applications for all patients and practices, it works best for:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Chronic care patients - &lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;These are patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, depression, Alzheimer's, or multiple sclerosis who can then enjoy their freedom at home without supplementary physical human supervision.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Critical care patients&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; - TopDocRX RPM helps monitor patients in hospices.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Why Should I Outsource to TopDocRX RPM?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The answer is multiple, yet simple – first off, outsourcing to TopDocRX will allow you access to the TopDocRX Connect, the first genuinely comprehensive virtual care platform, meeting the patient at the point of care. They provide preventative, 24/7 healthcare to high-need patients in detail while collecting enough data for you to draw faster, more effective, and cost-efficient conclusions to support patient care! They provide all the medical devices and wearables necessary for data collection, as well as the patient health kits, to the patient while following, of course, all HIPAA and FDA regulations! As for the patients, they will enjoy copious benefits for a service that is covered by Medicare and Medicaid:  &lt;/span&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="list-style-type: none;"&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Telehealth direct access chat to nurses 24/7&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Telehealth video access to doctors 24/7&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;900+ call center staffers ready to assist their needs&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Real-time, automated data and insights&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Second, the platform allows you and your personnel to immediately respond to any drastic changes in your patients’ health, track their medicine intake, and send push notifications when needed. You will be able to track your patients’ heart rate, glucose, step count, and any other essential variables to their health on a straightforward interface, friendly to young and old users alike!&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Third, the platform offers trustworthy billing services. For other RPM systems, billing is frequently accompanied by errors, namely in &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://etactics.com/blog/medical-billing-error-statistics"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;over 80% of cases&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, so TopDocRX has automated as much of this as possible for you.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Are you ready to introduce your patients to the wonderful modern world of remote patient monitoring, providing better care for them, better patient retention for you, and allowing you to scale your business infinitely? This truly is a business growth proposition… literally in a box. If you are ready to get started, that is fantastic! It is time for you to take the next step towards improving your patient care and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdocrx.com/contact/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;contact TopDocRX here&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you aren’t quite ready to get started and have additional questions call 1-855-904-1047 or &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdocrx.com/schedule-a-call/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;schedule a consultation here&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/doctor-advising-patient-online-with-laptop.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/the-next-telehealth-revolution-is-here-2/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14275</ID> <title>Cardiac Amyloidosis with Dr. Syed Bukhari</title> <publishDate>2021-10-19 15:31:13</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_27 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_54"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_59 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_50"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Dr.-Syed-Bukhari.jpg" alt="" title="Dr. Syed Bukhari" class="wp-image-14276" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_53 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The innate human curiosity and thirst for knowledge have driven us to growth and prosperity for centuries. Yet, after each discovery, we're left thinking, "What's next?" "Are there more avenues to explore?" "Where's the true final frontier?" Such an instinct will ensure humanity's growth and preservation for many years to come.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although resounding breakthroughs are the ones that make the news or the first page in the papers, smaller but sometimes more applaudable progress is made every day, and we must bring to the spotlight medicine's unsung heroes. Their unshakeable dedication and unyielding patience were the seed that was always going to bring copious fruit to the field of medicine. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"I always wanted to be a doctor [...] When I started primary school, from that point I had in my mind that I would become a doctor and that never changed." &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;These are the words of Dr. Syed Bukhari, MD, a researcher from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, who has received the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.asnc.org/blog_home.asp?Display=438"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;ANSC (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;American Society of Nuclear Cardiology) 2020 Young Investigator Award in Clinical Science&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; for his abstract, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12350-020-02296-w"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"Development and Validation of a Diagnostic Model for Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Through his solid research and deserved recognition, Dr. Bukhari strives towards bringing more awareness towards this &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.asnc.org/blog_home.asp?Display=438"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;not only misdiagnosed disease but also underdiagnosed"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; cardiac disease.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Acknowledging the necessity to spread the word on his mission, we at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdoctormagazine.com/"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;had the honor and the pleasure to interview Dr. Bukhari himself and decode cardiac amyloidosis through his wisdom and encyclopedic wealth of knowledge. Therefore, join us in today's learning quest, and we will explain the ins and outs of this under-researched disease, from causes and symptoms to available avenues to amelioration!  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;First Steps into the World of Cardiac Amyloidosis &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000193.htm"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Cardiac amyloidosis (or "stiff heart syndrome") is a disorder stemming from amyloid proteins&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17855-amyloidosis-attr"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;liver proteins that carry thyroid hormone and vitamin A in the blood&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;). Due to various reasons (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;e.g., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the aging process, genetics, etc.), these proteins create deposits in the heart tissue (or other organs), thus impeding the heart from relaxing. This process, in turn, hinders the heart from accumulating and pumping enough blood to the body. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Hence, patients with cardiac amyloidosis experience symptoms akin to heart failures, such as shortness of breath and constant fatigue. Moreover, the heart itself begins to work at a lower capacity, resulting in a condition called &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/b/bradycardia.html#:~:text=When%20the%20heart%20does%20not,rich%20blood%20throughout%20the%20body."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;bradycardia&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;slow heart). Unless treated, cardiac amyloidosis can prove fatal.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Bukhari further discusses cardiac amyloidosis by mentioning the two faces of this disease: immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5841939/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;localized in the patient's bone marrow&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;) and transthyretin amyloidosis (localized in the heart tissue). Due to its complexity, the latter especially interests Dr. Bukhari, who sees more transthyretin amyloidosis patients every day. As he shares with us, "Because it's a more specialized field, people prefer sending patients to specialized amylose centers for the diagnostic workup, treatment, and follow-up."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How Common Is Cardiac Amyloidosis?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Up until the last few years, cardiac amyloidosis was considered a rare disease due to poor testing. However, as Dr. Bukhari tells us, the real numbers are bewildering. "We found that around 20% of our patients who are hospitalized for congestive heart failure, especially above the age of 70, suffer from the amyloid disease. And the reason is, it's not a rare disease anymore." The past poor numbers lie in the applied testing methods, mainly biopsies, which older patients tend to avoid.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Today, however, physicians are much better prepared to detect this disease ahead of time. The merit falls on the pyrophosphate (PYP) scan. This nuclear test employs the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.uwmedicine.org/sites/stevie/files/2020-04/Cardiac-PYP-Scan.pdf"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Tc99m-PYP radioactive agent&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, which detects the amyloid protein or other abnormal antibodies present in the heart.   &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The PYP scan enjoys sustained popularity amongst physicians, primarily due to its effectiveness and noninvasive approach (unlike biopsies, the Tc99m-PYP agent is delivered intravenously (IV)). This innovation allowed physicians to bring more cases of cardiac amyloidosis to light and understand the disease's pervasiveness. As Dr. Bukhari explains, "With the advent of this noninvasive testing, we found that the prevalence in the community is far higher than we anticipated."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Cardiac Amyloidosis Treatment&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The research behind cardiac amyloidosis derives its urgency from the disease's irreversible trait. Unfortunately, the current treatment options do not go further than alleviating its symptoms, as Dr. Bukhari confesses. "​​The available therapies stop the further progression of the disease; they do not reverse the disease. Whatever has been deposited in the heart has been deposited. [...] (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Current medicine) stops the step in which the protein becomes unstable."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, the odds for patients with cardiac amyloidosis improved drastically once Tafamidis, the first FDA-approved oral medication for the age-related amyloid disease, was released in 2019. Tafamidis acts as a stabilizer on TTR (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;transthyretin), a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.heart.org/-/media/files/health-topics/answers-by-heart/what-is-attrcm.pdf?la=en"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;protein responsible for transporting thyroid hormones and vitamin A to specific organs&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, impeding it from breaking down and converting into amyloid protein. Therefore, less amyloid protein in the heart tissue is synonymous with reduced heart failure risks and hospitalization and improved survival chances for patients.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How Do Patients with Cardiac Amyloidosis Fare against COVID-19?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/delta-variant.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Delta COVID-19 variant&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; runs amok throughout the country, we were curious to learn what coronavirus means for cardiac amyloidosis patients. Right away, Dr. Bukhari warns patients to always be on the lookout for COVID-19 since their hearts are already weakened and less capable of tackling the virus. "A normal heart has the capacity of recovering pretty quickly, but unfortunately, these hearts that are already very thick, very stiff and are going through a lot, like even under normal circumstances, they're not working efficiently."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Since we cannot predict the COVID-19 disease's evolution, it all boils down to the virus' behavior. As Dr. Bukhari further explains, "A lot of times, COVID-19 does impact the heart, and it causes inflammation because COVID-19 affects those receptors in the heart, also the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-ace2-receptor-how-is-it-connected-to-coronavirus-and-why-might-it-be-key-to-treating-covid-19-the-experts-explain-136928"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;ACE receptors&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. So it can cause inflammation in many circumstances." However, as long as COVID-19 does not attack the heart tissue, cardiac amyloidosis patients are not significantly disadvantaged compared with healthy patients. With proper care, they will see the end of the COVID-19 disease.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Detecting Cardiac Amyloidosis through Links with Other Diseases&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Assessing symptoms is frequently the most straightforward way towards disease detection. However, what happens when symptoms paint a blurry picture, inconsistent with the patient's medical history? For example, as Dr. Bukhari suggests, "someone having bad heart failure without a good cause to explain that heart failure, without any underlying coronary artery disease." Therefore, Dr. Bukhari advises us to look for other diseases and their symptoms, such as high blood pressure, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17116-hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy#:~:text=Hypertrophic%20cardiomyopathy%20(HCM)%20is%20a%20complex%20type%20of%20heart%20disease,valve%20changes%20and%20cellular%20changes."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;hypertrophic cardiomyopathy&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;muscle heart thickening), and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-valve-problems-and-disease/heart-valve-problems-and-causes/problem-aortic-valve-stenosis#:~:text=Aortic%20stenosis%20is%20one%20of,pressure%20in%20the%20left%20atrium."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;aortic stenosis&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;narrowing of the aortic valve opening).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Furthermore, cardiac amyloidosis might be wearing the mask of other diseases, surprisingly unrelated to cardiac diseases. For example, patients with a history of bilateral Carpal tunnel syndrome are at risk. Why? As Dr. Bukhari fascinatingly explains, "before this amyloid disease starts depositing in the heart, it starts to deposit in the tendons; it's very interesting. How and why does this happen? We don't know yet." Add heart failure symptoms into the equation, and you get a solid cardiac amyloidosis sign. "Concomitant heart failure symptoms should raise the alarm in our minds about the amyloid disease." &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A Parting Reminder&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Bukhari's insights on cardiac amyloidosis are essential in enriching our understanding and raising awareness on cardiac diseases, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds)"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;which took almost 18 million people in 2019 alone&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Such numbers prompt Dr. Bukhari and other cardiovascular physicians to stress once more the gravity of a healthy lifestyle and constant exercise. "It's really important to tell them (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e.,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; the patients) why it's important for their health, why they have to do at least 30 to 45 minutes of exercise every day, at least brisk walk every day, why they don't have to smoke, why they have to take care of their diets."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Here at Top Doctor Magazine, we can only hope that Dr. Bukhari's dedication and patience will lead to more relevant discoveries in the fight against cardiac amyloidosis. If you're curious to consult his award-winning article, make sure to check out the following &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12350-020-02296-w"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;link&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Dr.-Syed-Bukhari.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/cardiac-amyloidosis-with-dr-syed-bukhari/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14180</ID> <title>"Just a Little Workout" - The Unexpected Link between COVID-19 and Exercise Addiction</title> <publishDate>2021-10-16 23:16:54</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_28 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_55"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_60 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_51"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/masao-mask-vgi2wy-1Jo0-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="masao-mask-vgi2wy-1Jo0-unsplash" class="wp-image-14184" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_54 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;While it's no surprise that stay-at-home pandemic restrictions have led to deteriorating levels of mental health and physical fitness, there is now growing evidence that dangerous levels of "exercise addiction" may be on the rise as well. As the world deals with the global healthcare crisis, addiction experts are currently looking at the detrimental physiological and psychological effects of excessive exercise and how it relates to the reality of living during the COVID-19 pandemic.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What is Exercise Addiction?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Exercise addiction is on the rise, but what exactly is it? According to the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-5 (2013), exercise addiction is not a formal clinical diagnosis. Why? Because It's more common for clinicians to conceptualize it as a behavioral pattern rooted in body dysmorphic disorder, eating disorders, substance abuse, anxiety, panic attacks, or other psychiatric disorders. Patient exercise and fitness are generally positive, so it's exceedingly difficult for clinicians to distinguish between a regular gym enthusiast and an unhealthy addiction. However, DSM-5 does have criteria for behavioral addiction. Similarly, exercise addiction can be identified by lack of control, intention effects, excessive exercising time, increasing tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, reduction in other activities, and insistence on continuing exercise in the face of physical, psychological, or interpersonal problems (Downs et al., 2004).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pandemic Factors Leading to Exercise Addiction &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Studies suggest that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6035018/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;at least 3% of the population experience exercise addiction&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Here are some possible factors that lead them to exhibit such behavior.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Exercise as a Coping Mechanism&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;People are using exercise to cope with stress. Examples of this could be having multiple intense workouts a day while avoiding other life commitments (even with injury or in pain). Along with the pandemic's social distancing measures and closure of gyms, most people were confronted with a radical shift in their daily habits and routine. This shift into training at home has doubled fitness equipment sales, and companies like &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.onepeloton.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Peloton&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; are surging. Still, the combination of emotional stress and lack of scheduling structure has dangerously given opportunities for many coping with the pandemic to over-exercise. In the uncertainty of the pandemic, it's not uncommon for people to try and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09638237.2020.1803234"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;numb the pain of the emotional trauma&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and crave the sense of control that exercise provides.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_56"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_61 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_52"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/carl-barcelo-hHzzdVQnkn0-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="carl-barcelo-hHzzdVQnkn0-unsplash" class="wp-image-14183" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_55 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pressure from Social Media&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Secondly, there is significant social pressure as well. For most people, COVID-19 has a heightened attachment to social media on their devices. For example, fitness influencers on Instagram and "pandemic fitness challenges" on social media have become popular with a broad audience of vulnerable and mentally stressed viewers. In addition, the pandemic has made more people insecure about their bodies, with studies showing &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health-news/eating-disorders-among-teens-have-risen-during-covid-19-what-parents-can-do"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the fear of gaining "quarantine weight" has increased eating disorders among female teenagers by as much as 30%&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_56 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Unprofessional Training Methods&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Another major contributor to exercise addiction is the informal setting itself. At home, there is more likely less structure which allows for over-committing time to exercise. And with social distancing, the lack of fitness professionals, or adequately maintained equipment, physical therapists are reporting &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://thewell.northwell.edu/well-informed/workouts-at-home-injury-coronavirus"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;rising numbers of injuries occurring at home.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_57 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A Link to Substance Abuse&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Lastly, there seems to be some addiction crossover between the spike of drugs and alcohol with exercise to deal with COVID-19. In June of 2020, the CDC reported that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/03/substance-use-pandemic"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;13% of Americans had increased substance use&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; as a coping mechanism for the emotional stress of the pandemic. Researchers are now seeing a link between substance abuse patterns and the addictive reward-seeking behavior found in pandemic exercise addicts. In both cases, the abnormal inhibition systems in the addicts &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09638237.2020.1803234"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;interfere with the decision-making systems of the brain&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. A spike in the use of performance-enhancing drugs is the natural confluence of these two addictions. So when a person gets injured and can no longer exercise, those with addictive tendencies turn to alcohol, opioids, and fentanyl. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_57"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_62 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_53"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/syahrin-seth-Z7r6Gm9F1yk-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="syahrin-seth-Z7r6Gm9F1yk-unsplash" class="wp-image-14186" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_58 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Exercise Addiction Treatment in the COVID-19 Age&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;One thing is clear: professional help is needed to deal with exercise addiction. Clinical professionals such as certified coaches, sports psychologists, dieticians, therapists specializing in addiction and recovery, and physical therapists are all part of the solution to treat overexercising. Every case has a different psychological underpinning, sport-specific goal, or possibly traumatic source fighting a perceived lack of control. One troubling issue with exercise addiction, and addiction in general, is that addicts rarely realize the state of their involuntary compulsion. For many, individuals practicing "moderate exercise" is a totally foreign concept compared to their craving for excessive, intense, and excessive exercise. Without awareness of underlying behavioral disorders, there will always remain a high risk of relapse or exercise dependence. (Freimuth et al., 2011).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pandemic Stress Continues&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Unfortunately, the underlying COVID-19 pandemic stressors continue to complicate matters. Addiction resources are costly, and those addicted to exercise often have limited resources for professional treatment. One underappreciated aspect of addiction treatment is that it is rarely covered under most insurance plans. This leaves people with few options for care, as panic attacks and anxiety continue to increase along with the pandemic. In addition, COVID-19 has no shortage of disruptive stressors like travel restrictions, quarantines, lockdowns, and variants always looming. Therefore, the medical health community should prepare for exercise addiction to continue to rise for the duration of the pandemic.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/masao-mask-vgi2wy-1Jo0-unsplash.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/just-a-little-workout-the-unexpected-link-between-covid-19-and-exercise-addiction/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14168</ID> <title>Bringing Natural Ingredients Back into Skin Care</title> <publishDate>2021-10-14 23:05:38</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_29 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_58"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_63 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_54"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/05175644-story-image-199396_cover_1500x900.jpg" alt="" title="05175644-story-image-199396_cover_1500x900" class="wp-image-14170" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_59 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As conscious living is becoming more on-trend these days, beauty brands find themselves steering away from chemical-based concoctions. Instead, they are going back to the ancient roots of incorporating natural ingredients into their products. These tried-and-true skincare rituals made from organic substances such as fruits, nuts, and seeds have permeated ancient cultures and are now making their way back to the forefront of modern beauty regimes. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Rice&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Rice was more than just a staple food for Ancient China and Japan. Rice or rice water, to be more exact, is the 1000-year-old secret that East Asians use to keep their skin soft, young, and blemish-free. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Rice water contains numerous benefits; it brightens, tightens, hydrates, and evens skin tone, which is why many skincare brands are now using rice extract as the main ingredient for toners.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dead Sea Mud&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Dead Sea in Israel is an enormous resource for natural minerals with cleansing and exfoliating properties, solving the mystery of why dozens of brands have developed their own versions of Dead Sea mud masks. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Mud masks can remove impurities from the skin, unclog pores, and absorb excess oil. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16700781/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Research &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;even supports that the Dead Sea’s mud has a high mineral concentration that can inhibit some types of acne-causing bacteria.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Rosehip Oil&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Aside from being a decorative ornament in the garden, herbalists from Ancient Rome recorded a myriad of ways to prepare roses and extract their medicinal properties from every part of it, including the petals, fruits, and seeds - which is where rosehip oil comes from.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Rosehip oil quickly became a crowd-favorite for skin moisturizers because of its nourishing fatty acids. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4655903/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A 2015 study&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; also found that oral rosehip powder intake can significantly diminish wrinkles and improve moisture and skin elasticity. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Melipona Honey&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Melipona honey is made by stingless Melipona bees. The Ancient Mayans, who were experts at cultivating this rare honey, called it “the nourishment of the sun” because of its healing properties. Since its discovery, Melipona honey has been an essential part of traditional medicine and now beauty and skincare. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Beauty face masks with Melipona Honey as an active ingredient have increasingly become popular for their antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative properties. They are perfect for people with dry and acne-prone skin.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Turmeric&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Turmeric is more than just a flavorful addition to your dish. This bright yellow-orange spice is linked with numerous health and cosmetic benefits too. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27213821/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Research&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; has shown turmeric to be capable of healing wounds quicker, fight eczema and psoriasis, prevent acne breakouts, reduce acne scarring, and brighten skin.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;And though it may be a relatively new skin treatment in Western parts of the world, turmeric has earned its street cred from centuries from Indian and Pakistani women who have been applying a special turmeric mask before their wedding day. The mask application was part of a traditional wedding ritual as they believed the turmeric helped cure any skin problems the night before the wedding and made the bride more beautiful and glowing the next day.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you’re thinking of making the switch to using more ethical and intentional beauty products, try searching for brands that use some of the natural ingredients that were just mentioned. You will find that there is quite a ton, and using products with cultural backgrounds might be the trick to help you liven up an otherwise dull skincare routine.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/05175644-story-image-199396_cover_1500x900.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/bringing-natural-ingredients-back-into-skin-care/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14444</ID> <title>How Wildfires Negatively Impact Air Quality</title> <publishDate>2021-10-14 15:54:30</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_30 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_59"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_64 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_55"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/malachi-brooks-HVh7BRp3ls-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="malachi-brooks--HVh7BRp3ls-unsplash" class="wp-image-14446" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_60 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Wildfires have become troublingly customary in the Western U.S. over the past decade. Only last year, over &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-wildfires-occur-in-the-us/#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20wildfires%20nationwide,million%20acres%20burned%20in%202020."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;10 million acres&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; were scorched nationwide, doubling 2019's figures. That is a landmass equal to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-wildfires-occur-in-the-us/#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20wildfires%20nationwide,million%20acres%20burned%20in%202020."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Massachusetts and Connecticut&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; combined. Unfortunately, this devastating trend is only going to worsen itself, as uncontrolled fires will gradually become &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/science-health_wildfire-smoke-impacts-air-quality-across-us/6209681.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;longer, larger, and more devastating for our communities&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Smoke Spreads like Wildfire&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you're currently residing on the East Coast, news of wildfires might not sound as grim, considering the distance factor. However, the intensity of this year's Dixie Fire proved once again that smoke knows no boundaries. In August, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/science-health_wildfire-smoke-impacts-air-quality-across-us/6209681.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Denver officials reported the poorest air quality out of all major cities in the world&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; due to California wildfires. Such patterns are noticeable all across the world. Inhabitants of Central Europe have to suffer smoke traveling from Eastern Russia, and Greeks and Italians have become accustomed to evacuating their homes from the firestorms' path. Basically, wildfires make no distinctions between populations, countries, and continents.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The apocalyptic images of crimson-red skies serve as a warning that fires could trigger a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.labroots.com/trending/earth-and-the-environment/21259/wildfire-effects-air-quality-2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;public health crisis&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; anytime in the near future. The clouds of smoke carry microscopic particles that, once inhaled, negatively impact our respiratory systems and add to the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3346787/#:~:text=Objective%3A%20We%20estimated%20the%20annual,landscape%20fire%20smoke%20(LFS).&amp;amp;text=Results%3A%20Our%20principal%20estimate%20for,tested%20estimates%20was%20260%2C000%E2%80%93600%2C000"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;339,000 premature deaths&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; caused by wildfire smoke every year. Today, the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdoctormagazine.com/"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;team will help you learn more about the troubling repercussions of wildfire smoke on the air we breathe and how to protect your family from its toxic air pollutants.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Smoke's Stratospheric Journey&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The advent of the summer's warmth poses significant dangers to areas with dry climates. With the rise in temperature, ground-level vegetation provides the material to fuel unchecked wildfires. The flames turn everything in their path into &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://ec.europa.eu/research-and-innovation/en/horizon-magazine/four-times-more-toxic-how-wildfire-smoke-ages-over-time"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;smoke, soot, and other pollutants&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, which rise many miles into the sky. Once they reach the stratosphere, smoke is haphazardly spread by wind and currents, traveling, under the right conditions, thousands of miles away from the fire.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The communities adjacent to wildfire sites bear the full brunt of poor air quality. Even with closed windows, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/118/36/e2106478118"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the indoor concentration of noxious smoke particles triples during wildfire events&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Air conditioning and filtration systems do their best to keep these figures in check, although they cannot guarantee complete protection from air pollutants. Due to the sheer number of wildfires in some parts of the country, such as &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.theverge.com/22600224/wildfire-smoke-worse-air-pollution"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;California&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, scientists believe that wildfire smoke will become the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.theverge.com/22600224/wildfire-smoke-worse-air-pollution"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;primary source of air pollutants&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, overcoming toxic emissions from automobiles and industrial plants. As a result, wildfires will only lower air quality in these regions.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_60"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_65 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_56"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ryan-arnst-q_oAQezJr9U-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="ryan-arnst-q_oAQezJr9U-unsplash" class="wp-image-14445" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_61 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How Dangerous Is the Smoke?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Have you ever passed by a cigarette and inhaled its smoke? If so, then you can probably relate to the unpleasant feeling of smoke inhalation. Akin to cigarette smoke and vehicle gas emissions, wildfire smoke is filled with hazardous particles to your respiratory system, such as &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://csl.noaa.gov/factsheets/csdWildfiresFIREX.pdf"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;carbon dioxide, black carbon, brown carbon, ozone precursors&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.labroots.com/trending/earth-and-the-environment/21259/wildfire-effects-air-quality-2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;nitrogen oxides, and nitrous acids&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Unfortunately, the poisonous matter spread by wildfire smoke is not our only source of concern; unlike cigarettes and car exhaust systems, wildfire smoke is unfiltered, which increases its danger factor exponentially. Wildfire smoke only becomes more noxious as it burns through manufactured constructions filled with poisonous chemicals. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Fighting against Microscopic Enemies&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As if battling one microscopic enemy (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;COVID-19) wasn't enough, wildfire smoke is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/wildfire-smoke-blowing-across-country-more-toxic-than-we-thought"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;80% composed of fine particulate matter or PM2.5&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Although &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.theverge.com/22600224/wildfire-smoke-worse-air-pollution"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;30 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair follicle&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, these microscopic particles are strong enough to penetrate our respiratory system and the bloodstream, thus affecting the entire body. Shortness of breath, respiratory tract irritation, and more severe disorders, such as reduced lung function, bronchitis, and heart failure, stem from PM2.5 inhalation. This is why the number of hospitalizations increases by &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/wildfire-smoke-blowing-across-country-more-toxic-than-we-thought"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;10% on average during wildfires&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, while &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/wildfire-smoke-blowing-across-country-more-toxic-than-we-thought"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;exposure to common sources of PM2.5&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; barely affects it.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;PM2.5 becomes a more dangerous enemy when we consider the pandemic times we're living in. Studies have proven that COVID-19 patients whose &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/air-pollution-linked-with-higher-covid-19-death-rates/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;immune systems are already battling against PM2.5 particles&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; find it harder to repel the COVID-19 infection. A weakened immune system means higher infection rates and, consequently, diminished chances of survival.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Smoke Is a Long-Term Enemy&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Evacuating the general population from the wildfire's path is merely a temporal solution. Although the wildfire dies down eventually, the smoke poses a different challenge. Researchers from Greece studied the chemical composition of smoke over multiple days, and their discoveries are quite alarming: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://ec.europa.eu/research-and-innovation/en/horizon-magazine/four-times-more-toxic-how-wildfire-smoke-ages-over-time"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the smoke toxicity doubles five hours after being released in the air and almost quadruples after one day&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. This chilling turn of events stems from the oxidation process (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;when smoke particles react with other molecules known as &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://ec.europa.eu/research-and-innovation/en/horizon-magazine/four-times-more-toxic-how-wildfire-smoke-ages-over-time"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;trace radicals&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;). The oxidation process turns smoke particles into reactive compounds, which, once breathed in, can cause cell and tissue damage.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Vigilance Is Our Best Response&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Doing our best to prevent wildfires in order to protect ourselves and others from potential harm is the best response we can have as Americans. In the meantime, we are responsible for our own health, which is why we recommend that you take &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/science-health_wildfire-smoke-impacts-air-quality-across-us/6209681.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;air quality alerts and warnings&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; seriously. Such vigilant acts will help keep the population healthier and the number of hospitalizations down to a minimum. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;We at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; hope that fewer and fewer of our readers will have to face the adverse consequences of wildfires in the future. If you're more interested in thoroughly researched medical and lifestyle articles, check out our vast selection of topics &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdoctormagazine.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;here&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/malachi-brooks-HVh7BRp3ls-unsplash.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/how-wildfires-negatively-impact-air-quality/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14158</ID> <title>Being Physically Active May Counter the Negative Effects of Poor Sleeping</title> <publishDate>2021-10-12 22:48:35</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_31 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_61"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_66 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_57"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rawan-yasser-seuXd6AQu8g-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="rawan-yasser-seuXd6AQu8g-unsplash" class="wp-image-14159" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_62 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sleeplessness is seemingly harmless; however, the &lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK19961/"&gt;50 to 70 million&lt;/a&gt; Americans who suffer from chronic sleep disorder and wakefulness argue otherwise. Sleep loss and sleeping disorders, according to NCBI, are common, yet often overlooked health issues. While medically approved drugs can correct sleeplessness, a few studies have shown that physical activities certainly play a part in countering and correcting the adverse effects of poor sleeping.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;This medical condition rarely makes the headlines, so much so that more than 80 percent of people with clinical sleep-disordered and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK19961/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;un-rhythmic breathing remain undiagnosed&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Clinically, sleep loss can lead to many direct body dysfunctions, including diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular problems, depression, and impaired glucose tolerance—and these are just the direct effects. Indirect effects of sleeplessness include increased alcohol use, increased night eating, and obesity.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A long-term study of 380,000 middle-aged men, published in the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2021/05/25/bjsports-2021-104046.citation-tools"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;British Journal of Sports Medicine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; revealed, amongst other data, that:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Physical activity and good sleep have synergistic effects on health.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Higher levels of physical activity may significantly impact the negative health impact of poor sleep.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Furthermore, the research showed that, out of the 15,500 participants that died, 58% died from cancer, 26% died from cardiovascular disease, 12% died from coronary heart disease, 3% from blood clot stroke, and 2% from brain bleed stroke. The research monitored the men for disease symptoms, especially &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/184130"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;coronary heart disease&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, stroke, and different cancers—which are complications of sleeplessness and a sedentary lifestyle. Altogether, more than 43% of the men died from cardiovascular-related diseases and stroke.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;On the other hand, there were other people who seemed to age well and lived relatively healthier than those who died from cardiovascular symptoms, cancer, and stroke, within the observation period. They included:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Slim men&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Younger men&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Men who consumed more fruits and vegetables&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Lived a less-sedentary lifestyle&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;People who were more financially stable.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Never smoked&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;People who had no mental health issue&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Drank moderate alcohol&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;While the research has its limitations, mainly because the researchers relied on self-report, it still shows that a heightened physical life can help combat the adverse effects of sleeplessness.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_62"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_67 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_58"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/mr-lee-f4RBYsY2hxA-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="mr-lee-f4RBYsY2hxA-unsplash" class="wp-image-14161" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_63 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How Does Exercise Help Sleep&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Numerous people report that daytime workouts allow them to sleep better at night. Other people also report that exercising an hour before bedtime keeps them up at night. Aerobic exercise releases endorphins, chemicals within the body that relieves stress and pain. Albeit their stress-relieving capacity, endorphins can &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/exercise-depression#:~:text=Endorphins%20also%20trigger%20a%20positive,and%20energizing%20outlook%20on%20life."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;trigger happiness in a pattern similar to morphine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Therefore, exercising at night may improve your body's willingness to sleep, or it may trigger a positive and happy headspace, keeping sleep away.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/exercising-for-better-sleep"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;review on the effect of aerobic exercise&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; on sleeplessness and insomnia, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/profiles/results/directory/profile/0019244/charlene-gamaldo"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Charlene Gamaldo, M.D.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; the medical director of&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/howard_county_general_hospital/services/diagnostics_testing/sleep_center/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, revealed that exercises and physical activities help sleep. However, "&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://trifocusfitnessacademy.co.za/blog/exercises-to-help-you-sleep-better-fin-d-out-more-in-this-article/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;there's still some debate as to what time of the day you should exercise&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;You must listen to your body when implementing exercises to dampen sleeplessness and its effects. There are two effects exercising can have on your night-time sleeping: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;First, you may sleep well at night if you exercise during the day. &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Second, suppose your body releases too many endorphins during exercise, you may still suffer sleeplessness even after exercising at night. In the case of the latter, you may exercise in the early evenings between 6 pm and 7 pm to give your body enough time to lower the endorphin levels and put you to sleep much later around 10 pm.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Physical activity not only corrects sleeplessness but also improves the quality of your sleep and the quality of your life. Medical practitioners recommend at least 30 minutes of, preferably, aerobic physical activity in a day. The positive consequences of a lifetime routine of physical activities include:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Reduced susceptibility to a heart attack.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Lowers the possibility of type-2 diabetes.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Improves your bone and muscle strength, limiting the aging effects of osteoporosis and sarcopenia.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Helps manage your weight.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Reduces cholesterol level.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;It improves your mental health and helps you sleep better.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The valuable thing about physical activity is that you can do what you love to do the most and move your body around. Even if you do not like to spend so much time at the gym, you can play your favorite sports in the neighborhood or have a walk with a friend every evening. As long as you can keep your body moving for thirty consecutive minutes, you will be healthier and sleep like a baby. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rawan-yasser-seuXd6AQu8g-unsplash.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/prebiotic-snacks-may-boost-healthy-gut-bacteria-in-individuals-with-obesity-2/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14138</ID> <title>Prebiotic Snacks May Boost Healthy Gut Bacteria In Individuals With Obesity</title> <publishDate>2021-10-11 22:31:42</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_32 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_63"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_68 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_59"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/perfect-snacks-0oKehQmGO7c-unsplash-e1632435674756.jpg" alt="" title="perfect-snacks-0oKehQmGO7c-unsplash" class="wp-image-14139" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_64 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;People concerned with obesity are actively taking care of their gut health by managing their microbiome. Thanks to popular podcasts like the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4rOoJ6Egrf8K2IrywzwOMk"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Joe Rogan Experience&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;or the trendy &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/butts-and-guts"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Butts and Guts Podcast&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, a growing number of consumers in America are incorporating probiotics in their diet and supplementation to optimize their immune function, mental health, and body weight. However, one thing that is often overlooked in maintaining a healthy digestive tract is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;prebiotics&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What Are Prebiotics? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Wait, what? Now you’re probably thinking, “What’s the difference between &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;pro&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;biotics and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;pre&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;biotics?” Probiotics are the good bacteria found in your body that aids in good digestion. However, since these bacteria are also living creatures, they need sustenance to live and do the job of helping your digestive tract. Prebiotics are the specialized plant fibers that act as fertilizers for probiotics. These prebiotic fibers are &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3827018/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;non-digestible carbohydrates that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. So to put it simply, prebiotics is the “food” of probiotics.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Can Prebiotics Help with Obesity?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;For individuals looking to manage their body weight, one key area of focus is gut health. People are now choosing to prioritize probiotic foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, and kombucha. These probiotic-loaded guts would be healthier when paired with the crucial prebiotics that nourishes the little gut helpers living in our digestive tracts.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Researchers are still examining the exact link between the high-fat Western diet and poor gut health. Currently, the working theory finds that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3827018/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;changes at the microbial community-level impact obesity&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. While the role of the gut microbiota as a factor in obesity isn’t fully understood at the moment, the evidence strongly suggests a linkage between the presence of prebiotics and probiotics with decreased levels of obesity.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_64"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_69 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_65 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;5 Prebiotic Snacks That Can Clean Your Gut&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;To help you out, we decided to round up five delicious prebiotic snacks that can help you power the probiotic symbiotes cleaning out your gut:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Miso Soup&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;While known as a probiotic snack thanks to the fermented soybean paste and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;koji&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (enzymes created by a rice mold), the comforting soup is also rich with prebiotic vegetable fibers. Remember not to serve at boiling temperature so that the prebiotic elements of the dish stay alive.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Chicory Root Coffee&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Chicory root is almost 70% inulin, a fiber that the human body can’t digest. This makes it perfect for feeding the good bacteria in your gut so that you can keep things moving. In addition, the root has a taste and flavor profile similar to coffee, albeit certainly woodier. In New Orleans, mixing chicory coffee was originally a way of saving coffee beans; today, however, it’s an option for people trying to lessen their caffeine intake and meeting their prebiotic needs. So, while chicory root is popping in several dishes today for its many benefits, the high dietary fiber content makes it a go-to for gut-health-minded coffee drinkers. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Flax Seed&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190205090541.htm"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A recent study in mice&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; showed that flaxseed fiber ferments in the gut improve health and reduce obesity. Flaxseed is fantastic for prebiotic health and has numerous other benefits, such as being high in protein and rich in Omega-3s. While flaxseed is popular in baking, an overlooked culinary option is flaxseed as a breading on chicken or seafood. In a pinch, it’s super simple as a topping on a dessert or just blended in with a smoothie. Just be sure to store it properly in the freezer for a longer shelf life.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Artichoke Hearts &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Not everybody is a wiz in the kitchen or has the time to cut their artichokes for snacks. But if you look for canned or frozen artichoke hearts, you get almost &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20187995/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;all of the prebiotic benefits&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; with a lot less hassle. Sauteed or roasted with olive oil can be its little snack, but it can also enhance any dish or salad as a vegetable side.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pistachios &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pistachios are one the most accessible snacks to get a good amount of prebiotics without any prep. These legumes are considered a tremendous prebiotic snack because they are &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/682136#:~:text=Pistachios%20appear%20to%20have%20prebiotic,potential%20to%20modify%20microbiota%20composition."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;loaded with fiber and polyphenols&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. At the same time, you get many other benefits in this nutrient-dense nut, such as unsaturated fat, protein, and antioxidant compounds. It’s tasty on its own, but you can always use it as a topping on yogurt or mixed in with a dessert. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;So you see, it isn’t hard to incorporate prebiotics into a nutritional diet at all. Plus, there are still so many tasty and prebiotic-rich snack options that we didn’t get to include on this list. If you want to improve your gut health or know someone struggling with obesity, you might want to try substituting your next bag of potato chips into one of these yummy good-for-your-tummy snacks.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;References:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Parnell, J.A. &amp;amp;Reimer R.A. (2012). Prebiotic fiber modulation of the gut microbiota improves risk factors for obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Gut Microbes. 3(1): 29–34. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3827018/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3827018/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;American Physiological Society. (2019). Flaxseed fiber ferments in gut to improve health, reduce obesity. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism. From &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190205090541.htm"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190205090541.htm&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Ramnani, P., Gaudier, E., Bingham, M., et al. (2010). Prebiotic effect of fruit and vegetable shots containing Jerusalem artichoke inulin: a human intervention study. 104(2):233-40. doi: 10.1017/S000711451000036X. From: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20187995/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20187995/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/perfect-snacks-0oKehQmGO7c-unsplash.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/prebiotic-snacks-may-boost-healthy-gut-bacteria-in-individuals-with-obesity/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14128</ID> <title>These Are the Best Turmeric Supplements You Should Consider</title> <publishDate>2021-10-09 21:34:01</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_33 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_65"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_70 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_60"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/sharon-mccutcheon-nj9tmN-7YMA-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="sharon-mccutcheon-nj9tmN-7YMA-unsplash" class="wp-image-14129" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_66 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Turmeric belongs to the ginger family, and we source it from the turmeric plant. You may have heard of people using ground turmeric root as an essential spice and flavoring agent. However, did you also know that turmeric has excellent anti-inflammatory and healing properties?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Since ancient times, turmeric has been an active healing agent for several medical conditions, and people now consume it in capsule form. The turmeric plant produces the curcumin chemical, which lends the ingredient its vibrant yellow color.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you have been taking turmeric supplements previously, you noted that the primary ingredient in it is the ground turmeric root. However, other ingredients are also present that deliver a significant boost for our health and bodies. Here are some of the best turmeric supplements you should consider using to experience the best benefits of this natural agent:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_66"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_71 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_61"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/chinh-le-duc-vuDXJ60mJOA-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="chinh-le-duc-vuDXJ60mJOA-unsplash" class="wp-image-14131" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_67 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;1. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.personanutrition.com/supplementdetails.cfm?ndckey=Turmeric"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Persona Turmeric Capsules&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The brand claims that this supplement will boost recovery and relieve you of stress. If you have concerns regarding any health conditions, you can fill in an online assessment. Based on your assessment, the representative team sends you product recommendations that are particularly beneficial for your condition.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The turmeric capsules by Persona do not contain gluten, nuts, soy, lactose, dairy, or any allergens. The supplements contain the following ingredients:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Ascorbyl palmitate&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Vegetarian capsule (water, cellulose)&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Hypoallergenic plant fiber (cellulose)&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Bioperine black pepper and fruit extract in a standardized form&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Turmeric extract in a standardized form&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;2. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.pureformulas.com/curcumin-120-vegetable-capsules-by-pure-encapsulations.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pure Formulas Curcumin&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;For those with dietary requirements, Pure Formulas Curcumin is an excellent hypoallergenic supplement. It can cater to a range of dietary needs and is a pure formula made in the US. It does not contain GMOs, wheat, peanuts, egg, and gluten.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;You can also use this supplement without any apprehension or hesitation because it comes with GMP certification for good manufacturing practices. Here are the noteworthy ingredients you will find in Pure Formulas Curcumin supplements:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Vegetarian capsule (water, cellulose)&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Hypoallergenic plant fiber (cellulose)&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Fruit extract and Bioperine black pepper in a standardized form&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Turmeric and root extract in a standardized form&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;You can consume one to three capsules daily between your mealtimes, as per the recommended serving.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;3. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://takecareof.com/products/turmeric_1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Care/of Turmeric Capsules&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;You can find supplements at Care/of that specifically cater to your individual health needs. In addition, this brand sends you a questionnaire to fill, which allows them to gain information about your specific health conditions.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Based on the questionnaire, the representatives recommend the proper supplements for you. For example, the turmeric capsule by Care/of is non-GMO, vegetarian, and gluten-free. Because these capsules are free of active ingredients, such as black pepper, you may experience minimum curcumin absorption.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In each liquid capsule, you will find the following ingredients:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Yellow beeswax&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Capsule (hypromellose)&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Sesame seed oil&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; 100 mg extract of turmeric supercritical&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; 250 mg turmeric aqueous extract&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Sunflower lecithin&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;While you will not find a recommendation for serving size on the bottle of these capsules, the best approach is to take these with food or drinks.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;4. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-superior-herbs-curcumin-complex-350-mg-120-veg-caps"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Swanson Curcumin Complex&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Swanson offers various supplements for your health, including curcumin and turmeric as active ingredients in many. The brand recommends a serving size of two capsules per day, which you can take once or twice daily with water and food.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Silica&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Magnesium stearate&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Microcrystalline cellulose (plant fiber)&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Hypromellose (vegetarian capsule)&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Fruit and Bioperine in a standardized form&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt; Curcumin complex in a standardized form&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Final Thoughts&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Turmeric supplements with a co-administration of curcumin along with piperine, can boost curcumin bioavailability. In addition, you will find piperine as an active compound in black pepper and a helpful agent in increasing the absorption rates.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;This is primarily the reason why a majority of turmeric supplements contain curcumin with piperine. However, you can find scores of turmeric supplement varieties online as well. Apart from the supplements, including turmeric in your diet, whether in spice form or drinks and smoothies, will be highly beneficial.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/sharon-mccutcheon-nj9tmN-7YMA-unsplash.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/these-are-the-best-turmeric-supplements-you-should-consider/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14115</ID> <title>Cracking the Code on Microbiomes: An Interview with Dr. Sabine Hazan</title> <publishDate>2021-10-07 21:10:50</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_34 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_67"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_72 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_62"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/SH_1-scaled-e1632431995607.jpeg" alt="" title="SH_1" class="wp-image-14121" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_68 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"Are you telling me I can't do this? Well, watch me." For all the women who are bringing change and improvement into the world of medicine daily, this motto stands as their essence, as the energy constantly pushing them forward. Couple that with juggling children, a household, and a married life, and you've got yourself a genuinely modern superhero, one who sees no obstacles but challenges, one who enjoys the pleasures of climbing a mountain more than reaching its summit, one who constantly builds bridges for their kind towards unchartered territories.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;No Roadblocks, Just Challenges&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Having decided to pursue a career in medicine in order to "understand life and death and where do we go after we die, if we go somewhere," Dr. Sabine Hazan, a specialist in gastroenterology, internal medicine, and hepatology, and founder &amp;amp; CEO of the Malibu Specialty Center and Ventura Clinical Trials, explored numerous medicine fields, from Cardiology to Neurology, before settling into the GI Medicine path. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;That is when people started throwing hurdles into her way; reasons such as possible future pregnancies or potentially becoming the first woman GI fellow at the University of Florida. With the "Are you telling me I can't do this? Well, watch me" motto on her radar, Dr. Hazan graduated with the Dean's Research Award from the University of Florida after successfully becoming a mother. "I ended up delivering my baby on a Friday by C-section, and I was back at work on a Tuesday." Not only that, she's still happily married to her cardiologist husband after 27 years, even though "most doctors get divorced right away." &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"Mothers to Children, Mothers to Patients"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The battling spirit exhibited by Dr. Hazan describes the approach of thousands of female doctors who have stepped up as genuine leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. "We look at the frontline of women doctors that are treating COVID-19 patients right now, and it's incredible. They've all stepped in the leadership as women physicians to take on this virus and, and treated and doing clinical trials on research." Although the pandemic left both physicians and patients scraping for energy and the will to keep battling the virus, Dr. Hazan and her colleagues saw a way out of this state of events by forming a tightly knitted group, where members dashed to safeguard each other's backs throughout this crisis.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;For women, Dr. Hazan sees patient care as a maternal responsibility. "We are mothers to our children, but also mothers to our patients a little bit what we feel for the patient. We listened to them. There was a survey that was done on women in medicine and, and women actually are better doctors than men are because they listen better."&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Exploring the World of the Microbiome&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Following the "always things to discover" mindset, Dr. Hazan managed to expand our knowledge of the microbiome, the "&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://depts.washington.edu/ceeh/downloads/FF_Microbiome.pdf"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;genetic material of all the microbes that live on and inside the human body&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;." With a specific focus on the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Clostridium difficile, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;a bacteria that we can catch through antibiotics, Dr. Hazan's research on ways to alleviate diseases such as Alzheimer's, autism, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's, etc. by repairing the microbiome. From her medical experience, she observed how gastrointestinal issues frequently accompany these diseases. As such, Dr. Hazan's hypothesis states that an amelioration of the microbiome plays a fundamental role in alleviating disease symptoms.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What is the basis for Dr. Hazan's approach? Aside from clinical trials and enormous amounts of data, Dr. Hazan discovered that fixing the microbiome requires a personalized approach from patient to patient. "Too often, the one-pill-fits-all is just wrong. We're all different. We all have different fingerprints, different microbiomes. How can we possibly be similar and require the same treatment, the same food, the same pill? There's a reason why Mediterranean people eat Mediterranean food, and Mexican people eat Mexican food, and Japanese eat Japanese food." &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Repairing the Microbiome through Familial Fecal Transplant&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Keeping this observation in mind at all times, Dr. Hazan descends into the depths of the microbiome to understand the nature of the issue and ascertain whether the problem lies in poor diet or somewhere else. "We go super deep to understand the depth of the microbiome, and that's what we've done with every patient." By using approaches such as familial fecal transplant, Dr. Hazan is confident that medicine will find a way to ameliorate severe conditions such as autism in the future. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although in its infancy, Dr. Hazan's hypothesis is showing clear signs of future success. "When I started this path, I told all my patients, 'I don't have any answers. It's all a hypothesis, but we have to start somewhere.' Research starts with the idea that a familial fecal transplant might be an answer. And then you continue with another idea and another idea, and that's how we achieve success."&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"There Are Always Things to Discover"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although still at the surface of the microbiome ocean, Dr. Sabine Hazan sees herself as a pioneer in this field, a pioneer for women who want to expand the field of gastroenterology. However, this privilege always goes hand-in-hand with strenuous work, and Dr. Hazan feels ready to rise to the challenge. "For me, it's all about being a leader to guide other physicians to practice the art of medicine. We should never be stopped to ask questions. We should always ask questions, and we should always keep the train moving. Once you stop advancing science you stop innovations. There is always something new to discover."&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Here at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;we stand by Dr. Hazan's diligent approach to discovering the mysterious world of the microbiome. If you would like to expand your knowledge on this subject, make sure that you check out &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://progenabiome.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the following website&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Furthermore, if you would like to assist Dr. Hazan in her mission, you can always contribute with donations at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.microbiomeresearchfoundation.com"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;www.microbiomeresearchfoundation.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/SH_1-scaled-e1632431995607.jpeg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/cracking-the-code-on-microbiomes-an-interview-with-dr-sabine-hazan/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14103</ID> <title>What You Eat Can Affect Your Workplace Performance</title> <publishDate>2021-10-06 21:02:32</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_35 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_68"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_73 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_63"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/young-woman-working-with-laptop-while-breakfast-with-cereals-milk.jpg" alt="" title="young-woman-working-with-laptop-while-breakfast-with-cereals-milk" class="wp-image-14104" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_69 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://doi.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fapl0000890"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A recent study&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; has proven what we have always known and feared: eating unhealthy foods can have immediate adverse effects on the workforce. However, don’t trash your favorite burger and throw out your drafthouse beer in despair just yet. The study answers the question, “&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://doi.apa.org/record/2021-28650-001?doi=1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Does a healthy lifestyle matter?”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and in this article, we’ll cover the study and ways to jump-start your healthy eating lifestyle. (The benefits are worth it!)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Repercussions of Eating Unhealthy&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Researchers Seonghee Cho and Sooyeol Kim assessed the psychological and physical effects of eating unhealthy foods, focusing on food consumed after work. Psychological results, such as guilt, came shortly after eating food the person perceived and felt was unhealthy. The physical results showed themselves in the morning through diarrhea, stomach aches, and bloating. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;According to their study, these results affected evening workplace performance. The results cannot indicate an exact percentage of decreased efficiency in the workplace, but they do show that what we consume has the power to influence how we feel for the rest of the day and the next. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.managers.org.uk/knowledge-and-insights/blog/the-scientific-link-between-healthy-eating-and-productivity/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Other studies&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; have also shown that eating healthy can increase productivity. Giving your body the nutrients it needs improves your mental capacity, stabilizes hormones, improves your immune system - the list goes on and on. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Eating healthy may seem like a no-brainer, but doing so can be difficult when working and you don’t feel like you have the energy to make yourself meals. Each person is different and will have dietary needs that vary depending on weight, height, body fat percentage (BFP), body mass index (BMI), and any dietary restrictions and needs.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_69"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_74 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_64"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/closeup-businesswoman-sitting-desk-front-computer-eating-pizza-slice-while-talking-landline-with-remote-company-manager.jpg" alt="" title="closeup-businesswoman-sitting-desk-front-computer-eating-pizza-slice-while-talking-landline-with-remote-company-manager" class="wp-image-14106" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_70 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What’s a Healthy Diet Anyway?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Ideally, your healthy diet will consist of tasty, nutritious foods that meet your dietary needs. But you first have to know what your dietary needs are to ensure they are being met.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;To begin, let’s determine your calorie intake. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.calculator.net/calorie-calculator.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Using this free tool&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, you can determine your required calorie intake based on your current activity level, age, height, and weight. You can also use the calculator to determine your BMI and BFP. These will help you determine if you need to bulk up or slim down. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Once you’ve determined your required calorie intake, you should consider what vitamins you eat. How you feel can be a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.rush.edu/news/6-signs-nutrient-deficiency"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;good indicator of vitamin deficiency&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. If you find yourself constantly tired even after 8 hours of sleep, you may not be getting all the nutrients your body needs to sustain itself. There are vitamin deficiency tests available if desired.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Spice Up Your Food Life&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Finding the foods that work for you can take some experimentation, but the general standard of eating includes daily servings of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. The key is to incorporate healthy foods as the bulk of your diet and have unhealthy foods as planned treats. You are seeking a balanced diet. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Your meal times can also be savory and fun. A strawberry banana smoothie, stuffed peppers, and chicken tostadas are all great foods to eat. If you like playing in the kitchen, try out &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.delicious.com.au/recipes/collections/gallery/60-healthy-dinners-you-can-cook-in-30-minutes/1vo4q819"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;some of these recipes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. You may find a new favorite, and they don’t take longer than 30 minutes to cook! &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Watch your portion sizes and make sure you don’t overeat. If you feel full but know you could eat more, do not indulge. Eating after your body has had enough can throw off your digestive system and make it harder to recover. Treat yourself weekly and avoid overindulging.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_70"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_75 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_65"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/portrait-beautiful-happy-woman-talking-mobile-phone-while-breakfast-with-laptop-table.jpg" alt="" title="portrait-beautiful-happy-woman-talking-mobile-phone-while-breakfast-with-laptop-table" class="wp-image-14109" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_71 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Have Someone Cook for You&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you find yourself exhausted at the thought of cooking for yourself after a long day of work, you have options other than a greasy fast food sub! We’ve listed below some of the latest food services that give you tasty, healthy options with minimal effort.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.hellofresh.com/pages/meal-kit-delivery?mealsize=5-2&amp;amp;featured=chefschoice&amp;amp;dm=meals&amp;amp;c=7N-U5275SS7F&amp;amp;lp=12fm&amp;amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwqcKFBhAhEiwAfEr7zdrqd3B3GECBv-KGMDhWASrMVYUT7b53jZ0MG5WWW_n58EWX7QOrKRoCFngQAvD_BwE"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;HelloFresh&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Ranked as the #1 meal delivery service, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.hellofresh.com/pages/meal-kit-delivery?mealsize=5-2&amp;amp;featured=chefschoice&amp;amp;dm=meals&amp;amp;c=7N-U5275SS7F&amp;amp;lp=12fm&amp;amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwqcKFBhAhEiwAfEr7zdrqd3B3GECBv-KGMDhWASrMVYUT7b53jZ0MG5WWW_n58EWX7QOrKRoCFngQAvD_BwE"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;HelloFresh&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;gives you the option to indulge your eyes and stomach by ordering meals you want to try. They send you the ingredients and the recipes for easy assembly. You can save time and money by skipping grocery shopping and having your meals almost ready to go.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.daily-harvest.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Daily Harvest&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Don’t want to bother with cooking in the kitchen? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.daily-harvest.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Daily Harvest&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; offers healthy pre-made meals ready to go. Their commitment to fresh produce does come with an increase in price per meal, but their occasional deals can offset the price. This meal plan is perfect for the foodie wanting organic whole foods. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;a href="https://huel.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Huel&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;An up-and-coming company, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://huel.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Huel&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; sells ready-made meals in the form of vitamin powder. All you have to do is add water. Huel’s unique take on swapping out meals for smoothies (which contain essential nutrients) has set them apart from other food delivery services. If you don’t like the hassle of cooking, grocery shopping, and pondering where to go for lunch, Huel is suitable for you. Did we mention you save money with them, too?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Get That Increased Productivity!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;We all want to live easier lives, and eating well is one foundational way to build lives of longevity and health. We make our future selves grateful for the low-fat enchilada we eat today. Eating affects our wellbeing, and it is up to us to be responsible for the food and drinks we consume. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The benefits of eating well far outweigh the short-term benefits of satisfying our cravings. When you come off from work, enjoy what you eat and always choose healthy foods. You can go further in your career and life if you do. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/young-woman-working-with-laptop-while-breakfast-with-cereals-milk.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/what-you-eat-can-affect-your-workplace-performance/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14088</ID> <title>Let’s Talk About Vaping</title> <publishDate>2021-10-04 20:37:50</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_36 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_71"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_76 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_66"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/chiara-summer-3ATyg1Iqw2M-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="chiara-summer-3ATyg1Iqw2M-unsplash" class="wp-image-14089" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_72 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;All of us are familiar with the teenager’s drive towards rebellion. Whether through music, fashion styles, or behavior, those at a crossroads between childhood and adulthood are relentlessly searching for ways to prove themselves different, unique, and, therefore, worthy of belonging to a social group. For each teenager, the target, social acceptance, is identical; what differs is the path. Considering the mountainous pressure sitting on their shoulders, some teenagers might inquire into easier, instantly rewarding ways of making themselves known as “hip &amp;amp; cool.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Unfortunately, some life choices bear consequences that impose themselves on the teenager’s future. More than twenty years ago, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/smoking-facts/tobacco-use-among-children"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;cigarette smokers made up more than 36% percent of all high school students across the U.S&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Fortunately, through copious awareness campaigns and stricter regulations against tobacco smoking, fewer and fewer teenagers fall prey to nicotine addiction. However, what happens when the same drug is marketed in a prettier, shinier package? That is precisely what e-cigarettes, vape pens, and other vaping devices such as Juul propose – a healthier alternative to traditional smoking.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_72"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_77 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_67"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ruben-bagues-fe64iWwhoWs-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="ruben-bagues-fe64iWwhoWs-unsplash" class="wp-image-14097" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_73 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Why Do Teenagers Vape?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The response from teenagers is troubling, to say the least – in the U.S. alone, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-truths-you-need-to-know-about-vaping"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;27.5% of high school students use vaping products&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-truths-you-need-to-know-about-vaping"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;5 million middle and high school students used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. So this supposedly healthier way of smoking is nowadays prevailing amongst the young population, and why?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;#1 – Teenagers honestly believe that vaping poses fewer health risks than traditional smoking.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;#2 – Vaping alternatives are less costly than average cigarette packs.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;#3 – Vaping products contain a myriad of flavors, from apple to watermelon, that appeal to younger customers.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Why Vaping Is Not a True Alternative to Traditional Smoking&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Teenagers who fall into the vaping trap easily find “excuses” to defend their vice. As a rule of thumb, the most cited defense strategies against “non-vapers” revolve around the following beliefs: that vaping entails fewer chemicals than traditional smoking and that vaping is a prolific alternative to cigarettes.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, do these beliefs hold water? Quite the contrary, according to scientific research, which found that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the heated nicotine, the flavorings, and the other chemicals contained in the e-liquid formulas can cause long-term lung injuries and death&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Furthermore, a concerning number of vapers add tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-based products and CBD oil to their favorite e-liquids. Although harmless fun to some, such products contain vitamin E acetate. This oily thickening agent sticks to the pulmonary tissue, aggravating lung diseases or EVALI (E-cigarettes or Vaping Use-Associated Lung Injury); quite the red flag, considering that we have already had a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;“vaping epidemic” with 60 casualties&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; not long ago.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Still, vapers reject these statements and portrait vaping as a safe method for quitting smoking. How accurate is that claim? If not true, then at least deceitful, since e-liquids contain nicotine, a highly addictive, toxic substance. With its harmful effects on blood pressure, adrenaline, and heart rate, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/vaping-increases-odds-of-asthma-and-copd"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;nicotine is one of our society’s most culpable chronic lung disease, asthma, and cardiovascular disease culprits&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;So how can a nicotine-containing product cause a smoker to renounce nicotine altogether? How can a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/nicotine-dependence"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;drug that acts faster than heroin&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; cause its own demise? Clearly, “chasing away the dog by inviting the tiger inside” could never work, and that is the main reason why &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/ecigs-menthol-dip/ecigs"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the FDA disapproves of e-cigarettes as a quit-smoking aid&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. On the contrary, research pointed out that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12954-019-0344-0"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;smokers who infrequently use e-cigarettes will only worsen their addiction&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;; instead of substituting the problem, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://smokefree.gov/tools-tips/how-to-quit/using-nicotine-replacement-therapy"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;we must remove it altogether&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_73"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_78 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_68"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/toan-nguyen-Nv3wWl1X4h0-unsplash-e1632429374481.jpg" alt="" title="toan-nguyen-Nv3wWl1X4h0-unsplash" class="wp-image-14099" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_74 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;“But There Are No E-cigarette Toxicity Studies”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;When all lines of defense falter, vapers bring to light the last ace up their sleeves – lack of e-cigarette toxicity studies. Although toxicity, oxidation, and inflammation were proven as side effects of vaping, no conclusive, long-term study that analyzes the physical effects of vaping has been concluded. In other words, the evidence is there, though not in sufficient amounts.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Such a line of thought can be dangerous and discredit future research and awareness campaigns. We already have a precedent in traditional smoking – although popular in the first decades after WW2, traditional smoking lost its appeal at the end of the last century due to conclusive studies, awareness campaigns, and a shared interest towards health amelioration nationwide. A great victory for a healthy lifestyle, but what about the generations that indulged in excessive tobacco consumption before cigarettes lost ground? We would be wise to learn from this terrible lesson and look towards enhancing our children’s future in a smoke-free world.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;There Is No Avoiding E-cigarette Risks&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It is chilling to read that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/index.htm"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;nearly one in five deaths across the U.S. is cigarette-smoke-related&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and think that, someday, vaping will become as deadly, if not more. Despite the “cool” factor it might bring, vaping goes hand in hand with troubling health risks. From periodontal disease and irritation to cell dysfunction and DNA damage, vaping is taking a heavy toll on our younger generations. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, positive change is waiting right around the corner. For those who want their lives to take a turn for the better, we are here to tell them that quitting is easier than it sounds! If you are ready to enhance your well-being, make sure that you check out &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://smokefree.gov/tools-tips/how-to-quit/using-nicotine-replacement-therapy"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the following webpage&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; for FDA-approved smoking cessation options.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/chiara-summer-3ATyg1Iqw2M-unsplash.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/lets-talk-about-vaping/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14079</ID> <title>Dr. Jonathan Ungar Shares His Passion and Expertise for Treating Skin Cancer</title> <publishDate>2021-10-02 20:07:27</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_37 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_74"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_79 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_69"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/DR.-Jonathan-Ungar-scaled.jpg" alt="" title="DR. Jonathan Ungar" class="wp-image-14286" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_75 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mountsinai.org/profiles/jonathan-p-ungar"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Jonathan Ungar&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; is a dermatologist at the forefront of skin cancer detection. Today, he leads a team of innovative specialists as medical director of the&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mountsinai.org/locations/waldman-melanoma-center"&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Waldman Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; at&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mountsinai.org/"&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Mount Sinai Hospital&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; in New York’s Upper East Side. In his interview with&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdoctormagazine.com/"&gt; &lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, Dr. Ungar shares his experience with some of the latest technological developments in dermatology that could revolutionize how the medical community approaches treatment and early skin cancer detection.  &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Limitations in Dermatology Today&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Ungar notes that dermatologists tend to have higher reported levels of happiness overall when compared to other medical disciplines. He cites several possible reasons for this, such as the ability to draw upon various skills to meet the daily challenges of assessing a situation, mainly because the skin is a large and medically complex organ. Another possible reason for dermatologists reporting generally high satisfaction levels is the ability to detect problems early enough to have positive outcomes. This leads, of course, to grateful and satisfied patients in many cases. However, Dr. Ungar points out that evaluating the patient's skin or changing conditions of a specific area is almost impossible to do visually even after consecutive visits due to simple human limitations such as a dermatologist's eyesight or memory. Even using a handheld camera is sub-optimal when comparing images. Another limitation could be due to user error and insufficient time investment for the patient and doctor.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Digital Dermoscopy of the Future&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2021/10-million-gift-to-open-the-kimberly-and-eric-j-waldman-melanoma-and-skin-cancer-center-at-mount-sinai"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;With the assistance of a multi-million dollar donation from the Waldman family&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, Dr. Ungar has unveiled a modern solution to deal with these problems of accurately and efficiently gathering a patient's skin condition: the Canfield &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.canfieldsci.com/imaging-systems/vectra-wb360-imaging-system/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;VectraWB180&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. This&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;massive technology allows clinicians to map the entire human body in a 3D image in the latest macro quality resolution. To be more specific, the device enhances a dermatologist's visual inspection tenfold, and provides unprecedented accurate data to quickly monitor lesions and troublesome areas over multiple points in time. "The photos are taken in a matter of seconds, not hours like previously, when we were manually taking it." When the patient steps inside this eleven-foot tall medical technological marvel, over forty cameras from multiple angles document the entire skin organ in about 15 minutes. Despite the machine's sci-fi look, it's purely photographic and safe for virtually all patients. What's helpful to the clinicians is that the technology can be integrated with existing dermatology systems and imported directly into a patient's chart. "This is invaluable because as the skin changes, it is difficult to note what this looked like six months ago."&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Non-invasive Skin Cancer Detection with "Bladeless Biopsy"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Another problem for dermatologists is the challenge of distinguishing between benign and malignant skin lesions. Years ago, this required surgical removal; it was very uncomfortable for many patients because of problematic locations, such as the tip of the nose. "There are cosmetically sensitive areas. If there is a scar on the tip of your nose from a skin removal for a biopsy, you're stuck with a scar for the rest of your life."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However,&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Ungar shares with &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; that his experience with non-invasive methods has been very positive. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/what-is-optical-coherence-tomography"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Optical coherence tomography&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (OCT) and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2019.01457/full#:~:text=Reflectance%20confocal%20microscopy%20(RCM)%20is,and%20illuminates%20a%20single%20point."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;reflectance confocal microscopy&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (RCM) have been called "bladeless biopsies" because of their non-invasive nature. How it works is the clinician uses a handheld probe which you apply to the skin. Reading the device's output gives the dermatologist more information on whether the skin lesion is normal or abnormal based on the electrical impedance differences. The OCT method gets a deeper penetration of the skin, while the RCM technique compliments it with a data-rich sampling of the outer part of the skin. Together it gives the clinician a real-time, three-dimensional sampling while increasing the likelihood of diagnostic accuracy. Patients further benefit from reduced recovery time, and in some cases, removes the need for reconstructive cosmetic surgery. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Meeting the Future with Humility&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Ungar was born in The Mount Sinai Hospital, so he will always have a special connection to the hospital and its patients. Today, he leads the next generation of dermatologists revolutionizing the medical community's approach to the patient's skin and family medical history with new dimensions of analysis. Although there are always problems to be encountered, insurance companies are not always paying for these advanced treatments. For example, Dr. Ungar's advice to all doctors is always to have humility when faced with obstacles, which are guaranteed to appear. His obsession with consistent growth as a dermatologist takes the field to another frontier of technological data-driven diagnostic discoveries. Despite these breakthroughs, he still emphasizes that consistent humility and service to patients are the cornerstones of any successful dermatology career.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/DR.-Jonathan-Ungar-scaled.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/dr-jonathan-ungar-shares-his-passion-and-expertise-for-treating-skin-cancer/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14421</ID> <title>Should You Eat a Rice Krispies Treat Before Working Out?</title> <publishDate>2021-10-01 15:30:40</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_38 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_75"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_80 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_70"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Rice-krispie-treats.jpg" alt="" title="Rice-krispie-treats" class="wp-image-14423" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_76 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Rice Krispies are a favorite childhood treat. The buttery marshmallow and cereal snack just hit all the right places and is a perfect medley of sweet goodness. Once deemed as junk food, recent viral Tiktok videos suggest otherwise, as consuming Rice Krispies provides visible benefits to your workout session performance. As of today, there are around 223,000 views on the #ricekrispytreatpreworkout hashtag, with more than a hundred Tiktoks on the subject–and it's not slowing down any time soon. However, is there any truth to these claims? Or is this another dieting fad that will eventually fade? What does science have to weigh in on this new workout tip? Let's find out.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What's the Science Behind It?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Rice Krispies are composed of simple carbohydrates from the cereal and sugar found in the snack. Simple carbohydrates are composed of easy-to-digest sugars that naturally occur in fruits, vegetables, and dairy. These carbohydrates are also present in refined sugars such as baked goods and carbonated soft drinks. Because the body quickly digests these sugars through our gut, they can cause a sudden increase in our blood sugar levels.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It's this blood sugar spike that offers the body an almost instantaneous burst of energy—what we sometimes call a sugar rush. This heightened mood boost experienced by these fitness Tiktokers is called a "workout pump" in authentic Gen Z fitness lingo. This phenomenon somehow explains how fitness enthusiasts see an improved performance in their workout session after chowing down on a Rice Krispies treat.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, carbohydrate consumption should not be your primary source of energy for any workout or fitness activity. Studies show that sugar rushes eventually lead to sugar crashes, wherein consumers of carbohydrates have experienced an &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149763418309175"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;increase in fatigue after thirty minutes of consumption and lowered alertness within sixty minutes after consumption&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. In addition, regular consumption of sugary food makes one &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40519-019-00743-3"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;susceptible to hunger, as well as disinhibited, emotional, and unhealthy eating&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Further, we see that Rice Krispies treats are mainly composed of refined sugars. Excessive consumption of refined sugars is correlated with an increased risk for &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/130277/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;type 2 diabetes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26586275/#:~:text=When%20saturated%20fats%20are%20replaced,increase%20the%20risk%20of%20CHD."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;heart disease&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Your carbohydrate source should ideally be composed of naturally occurring sugars, with minimal refined sugar intake to maintain a healthy diet.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Should You Eat a Rice Krispies Treat before Your Workout?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The short answer? Yes, but with reservations. While research discourages an excessive consumption of refined sugars, having only one Rice Krispies snack per day will only contribute eight grams of sugar to your daily diet. This is significantly less than the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19704096/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;twenty-four grams of sugar limit&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; suggested by the American Heart Association.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;This good news does not mean you should be crunching on a whole box of Rice Krispies for an optimal workout. Rice Krispies have a total fat quantity of 2g, 17g of total carbohydrates, 0.7 mg of iron, and 40 mcg of folic acid. What this means is that the snack bar is not necessarily the healthiest source of energy out there.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;To effectively get the benefits of your workout, eating clean and maintaining a healthy balanced diet are still the best primary sources of energy that Rice Krispies cannot replace.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_76"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_81 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_71"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/635823395562656528-Krispie-Treats-e1633361322123.jpg" alt="" title="635823395562656528-Krispie-Treats" class="wp-image-14424" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_77 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What's the FitnessTok Verdict?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Other fitness Tiktok accounts have since made follow-up videos on the #ricekrispytreatpreworkout hashtag regarding complimentary meals to the diet tip. For example, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@coach.katz/video/7005647172108700933?is_from_webapp=1&amp;amp;sender_device=pc&amp;amp;web_id6960823483157988866"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Adam Katz&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; explains in his TikTok that your Rice Krispies Treat can be paired with a good protein source such as chicken breast or a protein shake and a healthy fat source such as peanut butter or olive oil. Another TikTok influencer (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ko0maaa?"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;@Ko0maaa&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;) supplemented his viral&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ko0maaa/video/6988891421482716421?is_from_webapp=1&amp;amp;sender_device=pc&amp;amp;web_id6960823483157988866"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Rice Krispies Squat Tiktok&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; with his full &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ko0maaa/video/6989373652940672262?is_copy_url=0&amp;amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;amp;sender_device=pc&amp;amp;sender_web_id=6960823483157988866"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;pre-workout meal&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; composed of chicken, rice, oatmeal, and a pre-workout formula drink. He then only eats a Rice Krispies treat one hour after his meal.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Ultimately, the anecdotal effects of Rice Krispies consumption before fitness activities are indeed very enticing. However, they are far from a miracle food for dietitians, and they are not the most sustainable nor healthiest source of energy if taken daily. So let's view our Rice Krispies for our diets in their rightful place—as a treat.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Are There Any Alternatives?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The principle of inducing an increased level of blood sugar is not exclusive to Rice Krispies. The same effect can be garnered from eating gummy bears, pop tarts, and other treats you can find in your pantry.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you are looking for healthier alternatives, consuming &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327883669_Polyphenolic-rich_Fruits_and_Supplements_Enhance_Exercise_Performance_General_Review"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;fruits with high polyphenol content&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; has enhanced exercise performance. Consider eating an apple, berries, plums, beans, or sweet cherries to give you a natural sugar rush. Other non-fruit options rich in &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/polyphenols-foods#risks-and-complications"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;polyphenols&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; include green tea, cocoa, soy products, and nuts.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It is advised that, regardless of whatever you're eating, you should always eat in moderation. As long as you regulate your refined sugar intake and eat a generally balanced diet, you can enjoy your Rice Krispies treat before (and even after) your workout.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;References:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Bajes, H. and Al-Dujaili, E. (2017). Polyphenolic-rich Fruits and Supplements Enhance Exercise Performance; General Review. Jordan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 10(3), 135-151. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;DiNicolantonio, J. et al (2016). The Evidence for Saturated Fat and for Sugar Related to Coronary Heart Disease. Progress in Cardiovascular Disease. 58(5), 464-472. Retrieved on September 18, 2021 from &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00330620153002563"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00330620153002563&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Healthline. Top Foods with Polyphenols. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/polyphenols-foods#risks-and-complications"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://www.healthline.com/health/polyphenols-foods#risks-and-complications&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Jeffers, A. et al (2019). Psychological eating factors, affect, and ecological momentary assessed diet quality. Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity (25), 1151-1159. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00743-3"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00743-3&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Retrieved on September 18, 2021 from &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40519-019-00743-3"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40519-019-00743-3&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Johnson, R.K., et al (2009). Dietary sugars intake and cardiovascular health: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 120:1011-20. Retrieved on September 18, 2021 from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19704096/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Lean, M. and Te Morenga, L. (2016). Sugar and Type 2 Diabetes. British Medical Bulletin, 120 (1), 43-53. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldw037.%20Retrieved%20on%20September%2018"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldw037. Retrieved on September 18&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, 2021 from https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/130277/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Mantantzis, K. et al (2019). Sugar rush or sugar crash? A meta-analysis of carbohydrate effects on mood. Neuroscience &amp;amp; Biobehavioral Reviews. 101, 45-67. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.03.016"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.03.016&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Retrieve on September 18, 2021 from &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149763418309175"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149763418309175&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Rice-krispie-treats.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/should-you-eat-a-rice-krispies-treat-before-working-out/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14061</ID> <title>Smog Armor</title> <publishDate>2021-09-30 10:34:42</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_39 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_77"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_82 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_72"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Smog-Armor-bucket-leaf-1000x667-1-e1632426084433.jpg" alt="" title="Smog-Armor-bucket-leaf-1000x667-1" class="wp-image-14062" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_78 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution#:~:text=Air%20pollution%20kills%20an%20estimated,suffering%20from%20the%20highest%20exposures."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Air pollution is an invisible killer that takes away the lives of an estimated seven million people per year&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. From smog, smoke, and all manner of chemicals hanging over our cities and even inside our homes, the combined effects of these air pollutants can cause severe respiratory damages and millions of premature deaths every year. We know that with the continuous growth of urbanization, air pollution continues to rise with it. But is there a way for us to counter the effect? Many of you may say that it's impossible, that it's out of our hands, but we at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; beg to differ - because we have found the answer, and the answer is paint - &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.smogarmor.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Smog Armor's Paint&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Origins of Smog Armor&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Imagine a paint that has been specifically modified &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.smogarmor.com/faq"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;to eliminate up to 95% of indoor air pollution in just one hour using nanotechnology&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Tim Sperry, Founder of Smog Armor, came up with this &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90614747/world-changing-ideas-awards-2021-consumer-products-finalists-and-honorable-mentions"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;world-changing idea&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; while looking for ways to reduce exhaust emissions from vehicles. Driven by the loss of two family members to lung cancer and personal advocacy to help Mother Nature, Tim made it his life's goal to find a way to reduce air pollution. "My mission was to find something from nature that would heal and protect nature." &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although a self-taught chemist, Tim had no knowledge about paint-making; however, his sheer determination to leave a positive impact on the environment led him to partner up with a family-owned paint manufacturer in FL that helped him develop a paint formula composed of micronized CO2-absorbing material. They had no idea if it would work or not since no one has ever really done something like this before. "So we found a lab to test the paint, and our test results came back, that it moved up to 95.1% of indoor air pollutants in one hour. And this is like the most commonly found air pollutants in our homes, airborne chemicals like formaldehyde acetone, benzene, all the things that like off-gas from our walls, our floors, and our furniture."&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;And with that success, Smog Armor was born.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_78"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_83 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_73"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AP7eWzlQ-1.png" alt="" title="AP7eWzlQ (1)" class="wp-image-14068" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_79 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Smog Armor's Rise to Popularity During the Pandemic&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The invention of Smog Armor paint couldn't have come at a better time. It first launched in December 2019 as a Kickstarter campaign, right before the pandemic outburst. So naturally, it was a challenge to introduce new technology to the market, and of course, Tim and his team had to do their fair share of persuasive marketing. But as soon as COVID-19 hit, everyone wanted to get their hands on Smog Armor paint, and by everyone, that includes us at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, who use Smog Armor paint in our Miami clinic and all our other upcoming clinics nationwide.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The COVID-19 pandemic opened everyone's eyes and made them realize how important indoor air quality is. News about how air pollution increases the risk of COVID-19 hospitalization rates made people more conscious about having healthy air around their homes and offices. Currently, Smog Armor focuses its reach directly on business owners, governments, and health facilities while setting up fulfillment via Amazon. Once their team grows in number, Smog Armor will expand its business to direct consumers.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Benefits of Using Smog Armor in Your Office&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Top Doctor Miami Clinic currently uses Smog Armor's Care+ Paint. The product consists of air purifying and antimicrobial properties that, based on test results, kill 99.99% of Staph and 99.97% of E. coli. In addition, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.smogarmor.com/faq"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the paint's absorbing qualities will work consistently for up to five years before it saturates and sits on the wall&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. "The paint will actually improve the air quality, and allow you to breathe, fresher, healthier air, take the CO2 out of the air, which too much CO2 in a closed space that has bad ventilation really reduces your cognitive abilities,"&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Tim explains. Consequently, healthy air will prevent doctors from getting a foggy brain and enable them to work smarter and more efficiently. More importantly, patients and visitors can feel safe whenever they visit the clinic because the Smog Armor Care+ paint helps reduce and eliminate the germs and bacteria brought in by the come and go of different people visiting the clinic. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"Everyone now feels the pressure to show their customers that either they've sprayed this with some antibacterial agent and they're wiping down with Clorox every 30 minutes. This [Smog Armor] is one of those ways, but it's something that you don't need to keep reapplying. You don't need to turn it on. You don't need to turn it off. It just automatically works. So it's something that is like an autopilot,"&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Tim adds as another convincing reason to use Smog Armor paint in your office.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_79"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_84 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_74"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/nX1CyOgw.jpeg-e1632426298396.jpg" alt="" title="nX1CyOgw.jpeg" class="wp-image-14071" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_80 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Smog Armor's Promise to Help Clean the Environment&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although a large chunk of air pollutants come from outside elements, did you know that one of the main air pollution culprits is the chemicals coming from the paint on your walls? According to WHO, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/household-air-pollution-and-health"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the air in our homes and offices is five times more polluted than outside&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. When you walk into a freshly painted house, that "fresh paint" smell you are inhaling is nothing but a bunch of harmful chemicals deteriorating your respiratory system. And that is why Smog Armor created nature-based negative emission nanotechnology. "We created this natural nanotechnology from the earth that can be found around the world and integrated it into the paint. And we found that not only does it reduce indoor air pollution, but it also reduces CO2. So it's helping reduce our carbon footprint. This could be painted anywhere. It's like any other paint goes on like any other paint and is made like any other paint. It is just better. It's a smart paint that is functional."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;And when you have an all-around better paint available in the market, one that is safer for you and the environment and is even &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.smogarmor.com/faq"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;GreenWise certified&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, it makes no sense to go with any other paint brand. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Awareness Will Lead To A Better World&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What started as a passion project for Tim to help save our Home is now inspiring other businesses to create more eco-friendly products that will benefit their customers and the planet. Smog Armor aims to lead by example and stands alongside any businesses or individuals working with the prosperity of the environment in mind. As for everyone else looking to make a difference, Tim advises that the best way to contribute to change in the environment today is by being aware - awareness in the choices we make and what we purchase. "By giving someone the power to say, 'Hey, look, I use this paint. I help reduce air pollution. And I help reduce my carbon footprint just by painting my walls with this paint.' It gives people power, empowers them, and it gives them something that they can do to make a difference."&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;And with that, we can all help create a better world to live in together.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Smog-Armor-bucket-leaf-1000x667-1.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/smog-armor/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14040</ID> <title>The Greatest Medical Discoveries in the Last Century</title> <publishDate>2021-09-28 10:18:21</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_40 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_80"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_85 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_75"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/medical-physician-doctor-man-scaled.jpg" alt="" title="Medical physician doctor man over white background." class="wp-image-14046" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_81 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you were born during the 1800s, chances are you wouldn’t be able to live long enough to see your grandchildren celebrate their third birthday. The average life expectancy of people back in the day was &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://ourworldindata.org/life-expectancy#life-expectancy-has-improved-globally"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;only around 30-40 years old.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; But thanks to all the incredible advancements in medicine, an individual’s lifespan has now doubled. Here are some of the notable achievements in medicine that have helped save and improve millions of lives in the last century.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_81"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_86 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_76"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/0001108_ref1.jpg" alt="" title="0001108_ref1" class="wp-image-14044" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_87 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_82 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;b&gt;1. First Organ Transplant&lt;/b&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although scientists have experimented with organ transplants since the 18th century, it wasn’t until 1954 that the first successful organ transplant took place.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A kidney transplant was performed between identical twins where one twin was the kidney donor. Soon afterward, more successful transplants took place, such as the first liver transplant in 1967 and the first heart transplant in 1968.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Today, there are thousands of people waiting for a transplant every day in the United States alone. Still, only a few surgical techniques carry as much complexity and moral considerations as organ transplantation. &lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_82"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_88 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_77"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/freestocks-nss2eRzQwgw-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="freestocks-nss2eRzQwgw-unsplash" class="wp-image-14049" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_89 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_83 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2. Antibiotics&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Antibiotics are used to fight off bacterial infections and treat various transmissible diseases all across the globe. But did you know that they were discovered accidentally by a scientist named Alexander Fleming? According to the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://microbiologysociety.org/members-outreach-resources/outreach-resources/antibiotics-unearthed/antibiotics-and-antibiotic-resistance/the-history-of-antibiotics.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Microbiology Society&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, in 1928, Fleming found a fungus (now commonly known as Penicillin) growing in a petri dish of Staphylococcus bacteria but noticed that wherever the fungus was growing, the bacteria was not. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Now, Penicillin and other forms of antibiotics are being used to combat various bacterial illnesses such as strep throat, pneumonia, whooping cough, UTI, and many more. Before the invention of antibiotics, such diseases often led to many fatalities. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_83"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_90 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_78"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/national-cancer-institute-z8ofh6Zkn4k-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="national-cancer-institute-z8ofh6Zkn4k-unsplash" class="wp-image-14052" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_91 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_84 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;3. Improvements in Cardiac Surgery and Care&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Heart disease is the number one killer in the entire world. However, even with such a scary statistic, multiple advancements have been made to help extend and improve the quality of life of people with heart disease.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Cardiac defibrillation was discovered in 1947 when a 14-year-old boy’s heart stopped during surgery. Dr. Claude Beck ordered his research unit to deliver the shock using two metal tablespoons attached to wooden handles. This discovery has saved countless lives who have undergone &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiac-arrest/emergency-treatment-of-cardiac-arrest"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;cardiac arrest&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In 1953, the heart-lung bypass, which Dr. John Heysham Gibbon invented, was successfully used for the first time to support a patient’s heart and lung function during open-heart surgery. This breakthrough also paved the way for coronary artery bypass grafting in 1967, which is now being done every day in hospitals around the globe to help people with coronary heart disease.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In 1982, Dr. William DeVries successfully implanted the first artificial heart, Jarvik 7 (invented by Dr. Robert Jarvik). Today, artificial hearts are being used for patients on the waiting list for a real heart transplant.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_84"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_92 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_79"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/national-cancer-institute-f2aDTqfnqfE-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="national-cancer-institute-f2aDTqfnqfE-unsplash" class="wp-image-14057" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_93 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_85 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;4. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;b&gt;MRI Machine&lt;/b&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technique used to capture organ images inside the body. The MRI came to life in the 1970s, and it wasn’t until 1977 that Dr. Raymond Damadian developed the first full-body MRI. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Before the invention of the MRI machine and other radiologic imaging technologies, doctors were relegated to only looking for external signs of injury. But now, with MRIs, doctors can diagnose a patient in a non-invasive manner. Cysts, tumors, internal bleeding, swelling, and many other abnormalities are easily detected, which has helped doctors treat their patients accordingly and help them onto a path of recovery from grave illnesses like cancer.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_85"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_94 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_80"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/simone-van-der-koelen-lSYvRWrNR5U-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="simone-van-der-koelen-lSYvRWrNR5U-unsplash" class="wp-image-14058" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_95 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_86 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;5. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;b&gt;Birth Control Pill&lt;/b&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although birth control pills don’t treat any disease, their discovery still had a profound social impact and has improved the lives of many women. In the 1950s, the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.plannedparenthood.org/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Planned Parenthood Federation of America&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, Gregory Pincus, and John Rock created the first birth control pill. However, it wasn’t until the late 1960s that the FDA approved this form of contraception and made it widely available to the public.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Pill was considered the first-ever lifestyle drug as it has revolutionized women’s lives. The use of birth control pills allowed women to have control over their fertility, and because of this, advance in economic opportunities and feel empowered.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;There are still many medical breakthroughs over the past century that we weren’t able to mention, and there will continue to be even more over the following decades. Medicine and technology are ever-evolving, and with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) - who’s to say how far the new wave of medical discoveries will go!&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/medical-physician-doctor-man-scaled.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/the-greatest-medical-discoveries-in-the-last-century/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14028</ID> <title>How to Ensure Healthcare Coverage for Your Whole Family</title> <publishDate>2021-09-26 09:41:18</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_41 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_86"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_96 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_81"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/istockphoto-692381776-612x612-1.jpg" alt="" title="istockphoto-692381776-612x612" class="wp-image-14029" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_87 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Due to rising costs, healthcare coverage for families is becoming less affordable compared to incomes. There are many obstacles in the healthcare system, and finding the right health plan has many families consumed with research. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Fortunately, there are always options with respective upsides and downsides to consider. Healthcare coverage, which many easily consider as a traditional &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/in/health-insurance/how-to-choose-a-health-insurance-plan-for-your-family/?amp"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;health insurance policy, is a must for your financial planning&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, according to Dhirendra and Aashika, editors for Forbes Advisors. There is an affordable, flexible option and one you may want to consider for your family, an alternative approach to managing medical needs, called healthshares.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The average premium for a family is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20180705.24704/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;$20,000&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;; by one estimate, premiums could rise to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.annfammed.org/content/10/2/156.full"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;100 percent of U.S. median household income&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; by 2033 if trends continue. As a result, numerous families are beginning to explore alternatives for cost and need efficiency. In their &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/021016/5-alternatives-traditional-health-insurance.asp"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Investopedia&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; piece, J.B. Maverick and Ebony Howard suggest alternatives such as Primary Care Membership Plans, Medical Cost-Sharing Programs, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Medical Service Discounts, and High-Deductible Policies as competing alternatives.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Healthsharing, also called Medical Cost Sharing Programs, allows participants operating as a community to pay monthly fees/subscriptions. Members share the cost of all qualified medical expenses after the member pays their contribution amount. Typically, this is in increments of $1000, $2500, or $5000. For the family with high deductibles, healthsharing provides a solution to a lower out-of-pocket cost for major medical incidents. For example, if a member needed an appendectomy, their portion of what they owe for this surgery is a fixed $1,000. The remainder of the bill is negotiated by the healthshare and paid from the community pool. Beware if you choose the $5,000 level, it might keep your monthly bill lower, but if you had three major medical incidents in a year, you might have an out-of-pocket cost of $15,000. This is something to consider when reviewing plan options.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_87"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_97 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_82"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Family-Doctor-760x507-1-e1632422042791.jpg" alt="" title="Family-Doctor-760x507" class="wp-image-14031" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_88 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;You Are More Than an ID Card in a healthshare&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;When a member does not feel well, the first step to take is to contact their healthshare via an app or number. The care or concierge team provides navigation and support to help members make informed decisions, such as finding the right providers and negotiating costs. Generally, healthshares come at a lower monthly rate and with more transparency. As a result, the member understands their cost for a medical need ahead of time. To give an example, for a broken ankle, members will have access to a fair medical rate based on the zip code in which they live. With more price transparency than traditional insurance policies, this translates into much-needed relief for finances. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Do you travel for work? Are you concerned your insurance will not cover you in another state? Fortunately, A healthshare is portable, which is encouraging news if you leave your state or have a child ready to go off to college across the country. In addition to being portable, healthshares are flexible and offer numerous large networks of providers across the US. Finally, don’t fret if you miss open enrollment; with a healthshare, you can enroll all year long! These features make healthsharing an attractive alternative if your current insurance plan has limitations or many contingencies.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Healthcare Is Not a One-size-fits-all and Each Family&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;’&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;s Needs Are Different&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It is always advised to carefully consider the plan guidelines to compare with traditional insurance and determine if this is a good fit for yourself or (for your) family. It is essential to understand the process, benefits, and services included in the plan; there is fine print to read, similar to conventional insurance. Consider these factors when weighing your options: your family income, budget for healthcare, the nature of (including frequency) medical needs of your family members.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Before settling on particular healthcare coverage for your family, be it a healthshare or any other, here are must-do steps.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;ol&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Research available plans carefully&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;: Experts always advise individuals and families to do enough due diligence. From his experience in health care data and policy analysis, Charles Gaba considers it essential to always review plans and see if there is one with better value, not only when you are dissatisfied with your current plan. Plans change, and what might have been an in-network benefit last year is not covered this year.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Explore your state’s Individual Mandate.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;  Although the federal mandate is no longer enforced if an individual does not have health insurance, several states may impose a penalty for choosing an alternative healthcare solution. Since 2014, the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://healthcareinsider.com/what-is-the-affordable-care-act-185333"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Affordable Care Act&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (Obamacare) requires all Americans to maintain&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/fees/plans-that-count-as-coverage/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; minimum essential health coverage&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; unless they qualify for an exemption. Those who didn’t comply were subject to an extra tax levied by the IRS when they filed their tax returns. Because healthsharing is not considered insurance but another type of healthcare, these states may adhere to this for non-compliance: California, Rhode Island, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;There are healthshares that are&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; ACA MEC-compliant, and therefore you and your family &lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;would be exempt &lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;from a state penalty.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ask as many questions as necessary&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;: Focus on questions that are relevant to your family needs. For example, how much care would your family need? Do your children go to the doctor often? What about labs, imaging, and in-network vs. out-of-network costs? Do a rough estimate or assumption about your family’s health history—factor in variables like deductibles, copayments, prescription costs, and amounts that may be out-of-pocket, etc.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Consult experts and helpful websites/applications&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;: Unless you are a pro, it is okay to require services or experts (health insurance expert or application counselor). Look up helpful websites that cover your region. Even though reviews can be tricky, they are nevertheless important. The U.S. Government’s Plan Finder, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;HealthCare.gov&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, offers reliable help. The importance of consulting experts and looking through websites is to protect you, especially from too-good-to-be-true healthcare coverage. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ol&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Explore &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.indipop.co"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;indipop&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; for healthshares - they can provide insight on plan details, the red flags, and plans that offer high value with additional benefits, such as a health savings account or mental health, all based on extensive research.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Healthshare - Another Option to Explore&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Understanding some alternative options may not be as prevalent as the big names in insurance is the first step when exploring the market for care. With technology, telehealth, and more in-home solutions to manage your healthcare needs, healthcare is changing, and insurance is not the only solution for your family’s needs. However,  if you seek a proactive approach to your well-being with flexibility, portability, and transparency for care, a healthshare may check all the boxes you need.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/istockphoto-692381776-612x612-1.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/how-to-ensure-healthcare-coverage-for-your-whole-family/</url> </article> <article> <ID>14014</ID> <title>Taking a Multidisciplinary Approach to Healthcare</title> <publishDate>2021-09-24 10:11:13</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_42 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_88"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_98 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_83"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/female-psychologist-consulting-patient-desk-hospital-scaled.jpg" alt="" title="female psychologist consulting patient at the desk in hospital." class="wp-image-14022" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_89 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;About Dr. Amarjit Singh&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;At an early age, Dr. Amarjit Singh realized that her true calling is helping people through medicine. She was training to be a marine biologist, but ultimately her curiosity started to lean towards medicine. Dr. Singh now specializes in &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Family &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;medicine with more than 15 years of experience.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Throughout her career, Dr. Singh has been affiliated with various hospitals like St. Rose Dominican Hospitals. In the medical community, she enjoys a cooperative and communicative relationship with prominent physicians and doctors. Dr. Singh's focus primarily lies in Family medicine and wound care. Currently, Dr. Singh practices &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Family&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; medicine in Las Vegas, NV.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Empathetic and Proactive Patient Approach&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"When it comes to treating patients, you have to rely on their clinical history rather than CAT scans and chest x-rays," says Dr. Amarjit Singh in an interview with &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;She also points out that it allows you to hone your skills in a managed healthcare system.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Singh notes that the clinical approach to treat patients requires attention to detail, and overdependence or complete reliance on endless tests can backfire. "The key is to connect with the patients," adds Dr. Singh, who raises the point that doctors have to be more communicative to understand the patients' needs and concerns. With the advent of digital and tech tools that have become quintessential in medicine, it makes all the more reason for doctors and physicians to provide a personal touch.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_89"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_99 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_84"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/close-up-female-doctor-using-digital-tablet-medical-report-desk-scaled.jpg" alt="" title="close-up-female-doctor-using-digital-tablet-medical-report-desk" class="wp-image-14025" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_90 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Adoption of Tech Solutions in Healthcare&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Singh affirms that the tech revolution has been advantageous on a broad spectrum, managing to transform the healthcare industry in tumultuous times. But medical solutions are not strictly black and white, and the medical community faces many challenges to adapt and embrace different tech tools.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"It's true – patients often feel that they spend less time with the doctor," continues Dr. Singh. It is the main reason she doesn't use electronic devices like tablets, smartphones, or laptops in the presence of a patient. Her belief is that the sole focus of attention should be directed toward patients. "Patients have my full and undivided attention," highlights Dr. Singh.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;More Focus on Direct &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Communication&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Singh encourages doctors and physicians to communicate and connect with the patients. And when patients don't feel this connection, you might not be able to dismiss or confirm patients' issues with confidence. Plus, it would also impact the patient's experience and even discourage them from coming back again. "It's a colder feeling when you don't get to connect with your patient," adds Dr. Singh.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Moreover, when you make eye contact, patients start to trust you. "Often, even the posture and body language can make all the difference." She points out that openness to communication can help patients have a more positive experience.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_90"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_100 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_85"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/close-up-picture-doctor-s-hands-posting-symbol-home-family-member-model-scaled.jpg" alt="" title="close up picture of doctor&amp;#039;s hands posting symbol of home above" class="wp-image-14024" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_91 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Family Medicine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Singh shared her love for pediatrics and her intentions to pursue emergency medicine. But she wanted a much broader positive impact on people's lives, and family medicine became a more practical choice. "When it comes to family medicine, you're not limited to your private clinical work – you can dive into hospital and ER work."&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Furthermore, Dr. Singh was also trained during her residency to be an obstetrician. However, she decided not to follow that career path in Las Vegas. As a mother of a 10-year old, Dr. Singh loves to communicate with the kindergarten age group. Similarly, she enjoys the wisdom, experience, and company of elderly patients.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Private Practice and Pandemic Crisis in Las Vegas&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It is no secret that Las Vegas has had a rough patch throughout the pandemic crisis. With the vaccination rollout, things have started to revert to normal. However, during the pandemic, Dr. Singh points out that she managed to connect with the health department and Governor's office to offer assistance and support. "During the pandemic crisis, we had a strategic COVID-19 response in place," mentions Dr. Singh.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The beginning of the pandemic crisis was the most chaotic and confusing. There were no clear guidelines or protocols for medical professionals and patients, not to mention a heightened fear and paranoia to avoid visiting the doctor amid the pandemic.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pandemic Crisis and Silver Lining&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Singh sees the silver lining even in the pandemic and affirms that patients are now more aware of their health issues and want to address health problems to live healthier lives. On the flip side, she points out that the healthcare sector had to transition and build protocols upon protocols to maintain optimal operations.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Throughout the pandemic crisis, Dr. Singh's private practice was operational at full capacity. To some degree, COVID-19 scared people, influencing patients to adopt a more proactive approach to resolve their health or health management issues. "You have to do more than just rectify issues – you should take patients off extraneous medication and help them live a healthy and long life," says Dr. Singh.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;She makes sure that patients have enough drive to care about their health. "Ultimately, you have to treat the problem rather than put another band-aid on it," adds Dr. Singh. "The anxiety among patients that stemmed from COVID-19 is real, but you have to communicate in a manner that patients realize that their body has a remarkable natural ability to heal itself."&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Family Medicine: What Lies in the Future&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Singh supports modalities like telehealth that allow people to seek the expertise of a medical professional at a moment's notice without physical contact. She believes that patients should be the ultimate beneficiaries of modern tech inventions.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Moving back to traditional family medicine, Dr. Singh wants physicians and doctors to focus on flawless and consistent communication efforts with patients. "It opens up doors to patient insights that ordinarily would've been shut."&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It is crucial to have an extended and broad network of physicians you can work with for a long time. Through a vast network, you can refer urologists, cardiologists, or neurologists to patients and expedite several medical matters. Dr. Singh hopes to add a physician, practitioner, and urgent clinical care by the end of 2021.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Singh can be contacted at Family Health and Wellness Center in Las Vegas. &lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/female-psychologist-consulting-patient-desk-hospital-scaled.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/taking-a-multidisciplinary-approach-to-healthcare/</url> </article> <article> <ID>13986</ID> <title>How Screening Can Help Alleviate Risk Potentials: An Interview with a Colorectal Surgeon</title> <publishDate>2021-09-22 10:16:30</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_43 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_91"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_101 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_86"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/colorectal-cancer-screening-e1632417580548.jpg" alt="" title="colorectal-cancer-screening" class="wp-image-13997" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_92 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;Every human is susceptible to sickness and disease. Maintaining health translates into our ability to enjoy life and maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, numerous conditions are dangerous to an individual's health and wellbeing. Moreover, some conditions can be a silent danger with no warning signs; an individual can feel fine until symptoms signal potential health problems and risks, which physicians could discover too late to treat effectively.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Health screening is an effective way to detect a particular disease or condition before exhibiting symptoms. Early detection gives patients absolute control over the disease since they can get the proper treatment at the right time. Ultimately, health screening facilitates lifestyle changes or surveillance to detect diseases early or reduce their risks.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;In addition, while the screening test detects potential problems, it also helps minimize unclear and confusing results. Even though screening tests are not always accurate, having the screening at the appropriate time is generally more valuable than not having it at all. A health screening is recommended after assessment by a physician, which considers factors such as gender, age, lifestyle habits, current symptoms, and pre-existing diseases.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_92"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_102 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_87"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/OYH_colon-screening.jpg" alt="" title="OYH_colon-screening" class="wp-image-14003" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_93 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Preventing Life-Threatening Diseases with Health Screenings&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;During an interview with Top Doctor Magazine, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://gcrsa.com/providers/erin-king-mullins"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Erin King-Mullins&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, a colorectal surgeon in Atlanta, GA, confirmed that screening is essential to prevent multiple life-threatening diseases, including cancer. In addition, timely screening can significantly decrease the risk of death from cancer. "… It's imperative to get screened to be sure that you know what your risks are so that you can undergo a surgical procedure earlier if need be." &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Georgia-based colon and rectal surgical associate disclosed that while diseases afflict humans indiscriminately, "…African-Americans are 20% more likely to get colorectal cancer and 40% more likely to die from the disease." Consequently, Dr. King-Mullins made it her mission to make sure that this message reaches the public.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Being There for the Patient&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Timely screening has saved thousands of lives. "When a patient is diagnosed with advanced disease, sometimes there is nothing that a physician could do surgically to help them. However, surgeons often then serve as a friend, a confidant, or someone that they can rely on to help them navigate the system when they are having difficulty." &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Speaking further on her experience with multiple patients, Dr. King-Mullins told us, "Unfortunately, I've had quite a few patients with advanced disease. Some are still living otherwise healthy lives. Some of them are still being treated for the disease and are on and off chemo. Unfortunately, some battles we weren't able to win and the patients have succumbed to their cancer,." &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Maternal Role during COVID-19&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;When the pandemic hit, Dr. King-Mullins, the compassionate physician who dedicates her life to helping patients lead a quality life, pivoted into a more encompassing role by creating an online community for moms. The new mom encourages women to take on their maternal role and keep up with their health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. King-Mullins leveraged her online community – &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://corona-mamas.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Corona Mamas&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; – to remind women of the importance of screening and adjust to the difficult times that all moms are going through. "So whether they're an experienced or new mother, they've had to reinvent themselves in many ways, given the pandemic, and be able to stay at home and remain productive."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A Final Word&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Early detection of health conditions through screening can mean the difference between life and death. It can also prevent the disease from developing into a chronic disorder. "Health screening helps avoid complications, meaning that if you do screening regularly, you can avoid morbidity and mortality and expensive treatment costs in the future. The biggest cost, however, is the cost to family unit and quality of life" Dr. King-Mullins concluded.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/colorectal-cancer-screening.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/how-screening-can-help-alleviate-risk-potentials-an-interview-with-a-colorectal-surgeon/</url> </article> <article> <ID>13972</ID> <title>"There's always a team to support you" - A sports medicine overview with Dr. Rathna Nuti</title> <publishDate>2021-09-20 10:13:33</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_44 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_93"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_103 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_88"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/thumbnail_Full_size_-_D_s_Best_Dr_s_2018_-_Dr._Nuti_-_TMI_-_Bret_Redman-9409.jpg" alt="" title="thumbnail_Full_size_-_D_s_Best_Dr_s_2018_-_Dr._Nuti_-_TMI_-_Bret_Redman-9409" class="wp-image-13973" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_94 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;The way we perceive and experience sports in these infelicitous times is changing. From tens of thousands of delighted supporters cheering for their favorite teams, we had to become accustomed to cardboard fans, empty stadiums, and athletes bombarded with COVID-19 tests and constant virus talks. Instead of competition for medals and trophies, athletes compete to stay healthy and avoid contracting the diseases; one only needs to look at the ongoing Olympic Games to understand the prevailing climate of fear that engulfs today's sports.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Despite such discouraging conditions, some physicians carry the sports medicine standard towards a brighter tomorrow, where patients can enjoy treatment versatility and disease prevention in a safe and secure environment. Here at Top Doctor Magazine, we are delighted to have interviewed such a sports medicine hero, one who sees and understands the challenges faced by athletes of all genders, without discrimination -- Dr. Rathna Nuti. A member of numerous sports medicine associations, such as the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine (AMSSM) and the NHL Team Physician Society (NHLTPS), Dr. Nuti calls upon the forces of both family medicine and psychology to enhance her approach to sports medicine and to understand her patients, to care for the athlete and the human simultaneously.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Through Dr. Nuti’s words, we will learn today why athletes are, as she calls them, “unique individuals.” We will approach the challenges of today’s sports medicine, the newest improvements to regenerative medicine, and the hurdles thrown into the athlete’s way, all in a COVID-19 setting.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_94"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_104 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_89"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/thumbnail_Ful_lsize_V2_-_Dr._Rathna_Nuti_-__D_s_Best_2020_-_09_2020_-_Bret_Redman-5476.jpg" alt="" title="thumbnail_Ful_lsize_V2_-_Dr._Rathna_Nuti_-__D_s_Best_2020_-_09_2020_-_Bret_Redman-5476" class="wp-image-13979" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_95 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;Struggling between Playing and Not Playing&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"Athletes are unique individuals – they need to have a routine, a schedule; it does affect their psyche." Constant training is the holy chalice from which every athlete has to drink consistently. However, some athletes lost that precious consistency between several months of complete lockdown (not to mention countries where lockdown measures were reinstituted) and alternating approval-interdiction patterns on sports similar to ping pong matches. As a result, they became more prone to both outdoor and home-based injuries.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Although an injury might not sound like the end of the world, a sine qua non factor for this equation is the fear factor; a contradictory feeling of avoiding physicians due to COVID-19 and willingness to see a physician face-to-face. The result: delayed visits to the doctor and a higher risk of complications. "We were seeing, even in kids, fractures that were delayed for more than two, three, even four weeks because people were so scared to go to the doctor."&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;After analyzing these concerns, Dr. Nuti was ready to employ her knowledge of psychology and try to overcome the fear factor crippling her patients. "They (i.e., the patients) don't want to do things like telemedicine. They want to actually see a physician in the office." Understanding the patient's human interaction needs encouraged Dr. Nuti to receive all the patients who cross her practice's doorstep and listen to their struggles. "Sometimes patients have difficulties expressing what they truly feel, and taking that extra minute or step of saying, 'Hey, I understand what's going on' plays a big role."&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Avoiding Scam Clinics&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The past few years have seen the accelerated emergence of regenerative medicine alternatives, such as amniotic injection therapy, stem cells, and PRP (platelet-rich plasma). As a result, the opportunity to treat injuries in a versatile, more straightforward approach proved tempting for numerous patients. "It's kind of cool to see how you have different options to provide for patients after a proper exam and history and consultation, that you can offer them a different treatment plan."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, as regenerative medicine showed more promising signs, malevolent individuals saw the chance to defraud trusting patients of their hopes and dreams with false promises. "And they get scammed into paying thousands of dollars for these types of treatment plans." Therefore, treatments that fed such frauds, like &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://great-practices.com/fda-requiring-many-amnion-fluid-products-to-be-withdrawn-by-may-31-2021/#:~:text=keep%20your%20patients.-,FDA%20Requiring%20many%20Amnion%20Fluid%20Injectables,Withdrawn%20by%20May%2031%2C%202021.&amp;amp;text=Regulatory%20Background%3A,innovation%20of%20regenerative%20medicine%20therapies."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;amniotic injection therapy&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, were pulled off the market, and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.statnews.com/2020/08/18/separate-scientific-scam-stem-cell/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;scam clinics&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; were closed down by the authorities to prevent the encouragement of such practices.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The prevention of more fraud victims lies in our perception of regenerative medicine. However, instead of looking at regenerative medicine as the Holy Grail of medicine, we must understand its limitations. For Dr. Nuti, regenerative medicine is on the right path but far from the finish line. "I think that, when utilized appropriately and ethically, it could be a potential game-changer, especially in the way patients experience pain. […] Not to say it's going to cure everything, because that's definitely not my intention on saying that."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Preventing Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;1 in 40,000 to 1 in 80,000 athletes per year fall prey to sudden cardiac death (SCD), and although the past few decades saw &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC155532/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;a surge in SCD research and awareness&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, no single strategy is potent enough &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4969030/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;to prevent this condition&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"There are no preventative tests for it to be perfect," Dr. Nuti admits, although some signs could act as red flags. "'Hey, I'm exercising, I'm getting shortness of breath, dizziness, and I feel like my heart is racing' or, 'Hey, I felt like I was going to pass out when that happened.' Those are some of the red flags where it will prompt me to think, is there something else going on?"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Once specific red flags are raised, an &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4969030/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;electrocardiogram&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and/or echocardiography could shed some light on the mystery. From then onwards, sports cardiologists are brought in to "see if a patient needs any further workup based on their consultation and findings." However, regardless of care coordination and preventative care, the SCD danger looms over athletes. "[SCD] is not an easy diagnosis to make."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"There's always a team to support you"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Not with standing the dangers lurking in sports, such as SCD, scam clinics, and the COVID-19 virus, Dr. Nuti encourages each athlete to look past their misfortunes, keep working with medical professionals, and always, always stick to their goals. "Definitely know that you have options and keep on with your goals because there's always a team to support you."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Our &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;team shares Dr. Nuti's optimistic life vision and wishes her nothing but success in her future endeavors. Aside from opening up her practice last May, Dr. Nuti intends to expand into the aesthetic realm of medicine as well. For more information on Dr. Nuti's work, make sure that you &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.dfwsportsmed.com/rathna-nuti-md-sports-medicine-specialist-mckinney-lewisville-tx/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;check out her website&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/thumbnail_Full_size_-_D_s_Best_Dr_s_2018_-_Dr._Nuti_-_TMI_-_Bret_Redman-9409.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/theres-always-a-team-to-support-you-a-sports-medicine-overview-with-dr-rathna-nuti/</url> </article> <article> <ID>13812</ID> <title>Are You Torturing Yourself? Go to Bed</title> <publishDate>2021-09-15 07:22:48</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_45 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_95"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_105 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_90"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/woman-asleep-bed-while-her-alarm-shows-early-time-home-bedroom-scaled.jpg" alt="" title="woman asleep in bed while her alarm shows the early time at home" class="wp-image-13820" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_96 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Sleep is a rare commodity in today's society. Burning the midnight oil or simply the inability to get some shut-eye frequently puts a damper on our already-packed daily schedules. I mean, who has not experienced days of grogginess and irritability at work after burning the candle at both ends? True, skipping a few hours of sleep every now and then is not the end of the world. But, unfortunately, that happens more often than one might think; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/p0215-enough-sleep.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;35% of U.S. adults cannot hit the 7-hours-of-sleep mark&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, while the percentage alarmingly grows to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.travelagentcentral.com/running-your-business/stats-51-adults-worldwide-don-t-get-enough-sleep"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;51% worldwide&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Therefore, although some of us laugh at the "you can sleep when you're dead" motto, its connotations should raise a red flag – without enough rest, only a grim future could ever lie on the horizon. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Sleep Deprivation? More Like Torture&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It is surprising how many of us take sleep for granted. After all, sleep is not an activity that quickly takes us from evenings to mornings; on the contrary, the immune system uses sleep time to perform a host of regenerative functions vital for a healthy mind and body. Without sleep, the immune system loses the ability to regenerate, leading towards a shutdown of deep biological functions. Repeat the process for a few days, and widespread psychological failure will probably lead to death. As a reference, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324799#how-long-can-you-go-without-sleep"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the longest span of sleep deprivation lasted 264 hours&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, but that is an extreme case. On average, even one sleepless night can throw us off balance. It’s no wonder why &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dreaming-in-the-digital-age/201412/why-sleep-deprivation-is-torture"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;sleep deprivation had the reputation of an insidious form of torture.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_96"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_106 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_91"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/teen-hispanic-woman-wakes-up-home-young-asian-girl-stretching-after-awake-sleep-all-night-starting-new-day-with-energy-vitality-felt-very-refreshed-bed-near-window-bedroom-morning-scaled.jpg" alt="" title="Teen hispanic woman wakes up at home. Young Asian girl stretchin" class="wp-image-13815" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_97 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Sleep Deprivation and Lifestyle Choices&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Therefore, we are aware of sleep's momentousness; yet, we sacrifice precious sleep hours without hesitation. Moreover, we find it harder and harder to rest appropriately, with our lifestyle choices as the main culprit. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.5384"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Disorganized diets, rich with saturated fats and sugar&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, together with &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25597245/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;late-night alcohol consumption&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, make us fall asleep twelve minutes late on average, unnecessary sabotage for those of us who already have a hard time falling asleep. Add a glass of wine into the equation, and you get &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25597245/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;worsened breathing problems&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25597245/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;more bathroom trips&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; when least needed. Finally, yet importantly, Twitter wars or Facebook comment exchanges get us all fired up and promote a feeling of wakefulness instead of drowsiness. Needless to say, we know how to complicate our relationship with sleep.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How Much Sleep Do We Actually Need?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Proper sleep patterns are an individual matter since we do not share the exact sleep needs. After all, we all have that one friend who is just nonstop and the one who can easily sleep until noon. Of course, genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors have a saying in this equation as well. Nevertheless, a minimum of seven hours of sleep per day definitely is "&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/happens-body-dont-get-enough-sleep/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;a step in the right direction&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Through consistent research, scientists came up with a &lt;a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need#:~:text=National%20Sleep%20Foundation%20guidelines1,to%208%20hours%20per%20night"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sleep timetable&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt;, &lt;/i&gt;tabulating proper sleeping patterns for all age groups:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Newborns, 0 to 3 months: 14 to 17 hours.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Infants, 4 to 11 months: 12 to 15 hours.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Toddlers, 1 to 2 years: 11 to 14 hours.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Preschool children, 3 to 5 years: 10 to 13 hours.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;School-age children, 6 to 13 years: 9 to 11 hours.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Teenagers, 14 to 17 years: 8 to 10 hours.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Young adults, 18 to 25 years: 7 to 9 hours.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Adults, 26 to 64 years: 7 to 9 hours.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Older adults, 65+ years: 7 to 8 hours.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_97"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_107 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_92"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/young-woman-resting-bed-morning-scaled.jpg" alt="" title="Young woman resting in bed in the morning" class="wp-image-13816" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_98 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What Happens When We Do Not Sleep Appropriately?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Tabulating all the side effects of sleep deprivation is a mountainous task. After all, the whole body suffers in unison, both mentally and physically. In the short run, lack of alertness, excessive daytime sleepiness, impaired memory, and a greater likelihood of car accidents make up the side effect shortlist. We start to feel disengaged, antsy, and unwilling to connect with others; even the most meaningless actions can set us off and strain our relationships with our loved ones. Furthermore, through lack of focus and less attention to detail, our productivity levels will suffer consequently.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A good night's sleep will dispel these side effects and restore peace to the mind and the body. But what happens when you lose count of your sleepless nights? Shorting ourselves on shut-eye for weeks or months, together with the long-term medical issues it causes, is no joke. Study after study has linked chronic sleep deprivation with:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;increase in cortisol (stress hormone)&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;premature wrinkling&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;dark circles under the eyes&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;high blood pressure&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;diabetes&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;heart failure&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;stroke&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;obesity&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;depression&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;immunity impairment&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;lower sex drive&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;We only need to glance at this list, and we already get goosebumps. It is hard to believe such a seemingly unimportant aspect of our lives can affect us manifold. Therefore, since "a pill for every ill" has no chance to cover such a variety of medical issues, how do we escape the snares of sleep deprivation?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Recovering from a Long Sleepless Span&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;With so many short and long-term side effects of sleep deprivation, searching for a remedy is only logical. After all, recovering from chronic sleep deprivation restores the immune system, balances weight, boosts mental well-being, increases fertility and sex drive, and wards off unwanted diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, however, the road to recovery presents no instant gratification; the more in debt you are to your sleep, the more you have to rest. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Therefore, do not be surprised if you beat the ten-hour sleep mark for the first few days; that is just your immune system getting back on its feet. However, once you get your sleeping patterns in order, the body will allow you to wake up earlier and earlier, and you will feel refreshed, energetic, and full of life!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/woman-asleep-bed-while-her-alarm-shows-early-time-home-bedroom-scaled.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/are-you-torturing-yourself-go-to-bed/</url> </article> <article> <ID>13769</ID> <title>The Effects of Coffee on Your Senses of Taste and Smell</title> <publishDate>2021-09-14 20:22:54</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_46 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_98"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_108 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_93"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/why-does-coffee-smell-good-worlds-strongest-coffee.jpg" alt="" title="why-does-coffee-smell-good-worlds-strongest-coffee" class="wp-image-13770" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_99 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;All of us have a secret pick-me-up to see us through a long day of work. For some, a quick workout session or a power nap get the job done. For others, however, life is not so simple; and by “others,” we mean hundreds of millions of people around the globe who rely on the Holy Grail of potions to get them across the finish line — coffee!&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;No sight is more common than someone enjoying this irresistible dark potion. After all, we gulp down more than&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.streetdirectory.com/food_editorials/beverages/coffee/coffee_consumption_around_the_world.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; 400 million coffee cups a day in the U.S. alone&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. And these numbers are merely a fraction of the&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.streetdirectory.com/food_editorials/beverages/coffee/coffee_consumption_around_the_world.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; 1.4 billion cups of Joe drunk every day on this planet&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;! Still behind water and tea, but in the&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.haleysdailyblog.com/9-most-consumed-beverages-around-the-world/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; top 3 most consumed beverages worldwide&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. So, either during sluggish mornings or unending evenings, coffee is our problem-solving friend.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However enamored with this potion, we, the die-hard coffee drinkers, need to take a step backward and inquire more into this routine dynamic. After all, how often do you think about coffee’s effect on your health? And how does the daily cup of coffee influence your primary senses? Rest assured, we are not here to take your precious beverage away from you. Instead, we would like to help you expand your knowledge and learn how coffee works its wonders on two of our primary senses — smell and taste! So, therefore, curl up on your couch with a fresh pot (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/foo-fighters/news/remember-dave-grohls-hilarious-fresh-pots-video/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;as Dave Grohl would call it&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;) and join us in today’s adventure!&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_99"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_109 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_94"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/15821-coffee-21131370_m-e1631564207385.jpg" alt="" title="15821-coffee-21131370_m" class="wp-image-13773" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_100 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How Coffee Works on Our Brains&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Not many of us think about how coffee “works” in our bodies; instead, we prefer to focus on the journey, the feeling, the nostalgia behind each sip. However, explaining the inexplicable behind the coffee experience requires a bit of knowledge on the science of this beloved beverage.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Right off the bat, the equation is simple - our bodies contain&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://theexoticbean.com/blog/coffee-affects-brain-taste-buds/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; adenosine receptors&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. These neurotransmitters put you in the right physical state for sleep (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;e.g., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;they&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_03/i_03_m/i_03_m_par/i_03_m_par_cafeine.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; dilate the blood vessels for better oxygenation during sleep&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;). That’s where caffeine comes into play; its job description is to bind to these adenosine receptors and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://theexoticbean.com/blog/coffee-affects-brain-taste-buds/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;impede them from ever sending the call to bed to the brain&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. The latter makes up for the lack of adenosine with added&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://theexoticbean.com/blog/coffee-affects-brain-taste-buds/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; glutamate and dopamine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, chemicals that make your brain happier. So what accompanies a happy brain? A better mood for you!&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although positive on paper, the binding process does not go unnoticed. Extensive research focused on regular coffee consumption points towards a twofold effect — on our senses of smell and taste. So what is the nature of this relationship? Is it productive, or should I say goodbye to my morning delight? Keep reading the following paragraphs to find out!&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How Coffee Works on Our Sense of Smell&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The human olfactory system is a fine-tuned machine. For example, although the general belief put the number of different scents around 10,000, more recent research concluded that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature.2014.14904"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the human nose could distinguish between over 1 trillion odors&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (talk about having a nose for something!). And think about how stronger our sense of smell becomes when we are sniffing a fresh pot of coffee brewing in the kitchen from our bedrooms! One could levitate and follow the irresistible smell, just like in old cartoons. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;But what if we told you that coffee could grant you cognitive superpowers? Believe it or not, that is what researchers from the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.stevens.edu/news/scent-coffee-appears-boost-performance-math'"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Stevens School of Business, Temple University, and Baruch College&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; discovered. Their research tested the ability of over 100 students to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/coffee-smells-are-enough-to-perk-up-the-brain"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;answer math questions from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. The results were more than intriguing — the students who answered the questions in the coffee-smelling room performed significantly better than the rest of the students. Therefore, researchers concluded that the coffee fragrance alone is enough to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6881620/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;enhance continuity of attention, quality and speed of memory, mood, and alertness&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Furthermore, the study analyzed the students’ performance when exposed to a caffeine-free coffee fragrance. The results were, once again, unexpected - the coffee fragrance, albeit devoid of caffeine, is enough to trigger the cognitive boost due to the coffee drinker’s preconceived expectation. Ergo, if you aim to become a cognitive superhero, always keep a fresh cup of Joe on sight; not only will your cognitive abilities improve, but &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/coffee-smells-are-enough-to-perk-up-the-brain"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;your confidence will become unshakeable as well&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;!&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_100"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_110 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_95"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/coffee-shop-7-1-e1631564379445.jpg" alt="" title="coffee-shop-7-1" class="wp-image-13782" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_101 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How Coffee Works on Our Sense of Taste&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although coffee is potent enough to endow math enthusiasts with superpowers, we can’t say the same about others, especially about those with a really sweet tooth. Quite a few of us indulge in regular guilty pleasures, frequently more often than necessary. And this trend shows in statistics — the average American consumes around &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324673"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;17 teaspoons of sugar per day&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, far exceeding the recommended limit. Clearly, sugar is the last thing that we need to add to our daily diets.  &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;But what does this have to do with coffee? The last time we checked, coffee was quite bitter. It turns out that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.comunicaffe.com/here-is-why-your-morning-coffee-can-be-messing-with-your-taste-buds/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;regular coffee consumption is correlated with increased sugar intake&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Research shows that caffeine weakens the tongue’s taste buds, therefore messing up our perception of food tastes. For sweetness enthusiasts, weakened taste buds could cause an increase in sugary products to rediscover the much-craved sweet taste. Medical issues are only a step away from increased sugar intake, so we advise you to keep your sweet tooth in check after each cup of Joe.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Respect Coffee, and Coffee Will Respect You&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Our &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;team hopes that you will continue to enjoy this irresistible potion in a peaceful, responsible manner. We invite you to check out the following website on &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.homegrounds.co/best-coffee-beans-bucket-list/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;different coffee beans and flavors&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; as a parting gift. May your coffee cups stay full, warm, and flavorful!&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/why-does-coffee-smell-good-worlds-strongest-coffee.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/the-effects-of-coffee-on-your-senses-of-taste-and-smell/</url> </article> <article> <ID>13751</ID> <title>Does CBD Help You Recover From Physical Exercise?</title> <publishDate>2021-09-13 19:40:07</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_47 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_101"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_111 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_96"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/tincture.jpg" alt="" title="tincture" class="wp-image-13752" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_102 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The CBD industry has been preparing for lift-off for the past few years. In 2017 alone, it grew by 40% and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.thestreet.com/markets/cbd-industry-expected-to-hit-2-billion-by-2022-14683940"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;reported $367 million in sales&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, and is expected to hit &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.thestreet.com/markets/cbd-industry-expected-to-hit-2-billion-by-2022-14683940"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;$2 billion in worth in 2022&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. More and more people turn towards CBD-based products for &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.singlecare.com/blog/cbd-survey/#:~:text=More%20Americans%20than%20you%20might,25%20to%2034%20age%20groups."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;pain relief and recreational purposes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; while &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-uses-for-cbd-products-continue-to-emerge-301089810.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;new uses for CBD continue to emerge&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Let's face it – CBD is here to stay, so why not reap its benefits and use them in our daily lives?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Especially nowadays, after a full-blown pandemic and repeated lockdown measures, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/getting-back-to-exercise-safely-after-pandemic-lockdown"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;people schedule fitness and workout activities into their daily schedule more rigorously&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, both for their physical and mental health. However, after long months of inactivity, the body might respond differently to high-intensity workouts and respond with joint or muscle pain. Be it short or long-term, pain discourages people from hitting the gyms again and sabotages workout schedules. Unfortunately, from pain to calling it quits is just a step.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Many doctors are accustomed to proposing pain relief remedies such as &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://arizonapain.com/how-to-use-saunas-to-manage-chronic-pain/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;sauna sessions&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; or &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/alternative-and-complementary-medicine/therapeutic-massage-for-pain-relief"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;therapeutic massages&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to prevent people from abandoning their workout schedules. But what about alternative, less-established pain relief approaches? Recently, more and more people chose to rely on CBD for their joint and muscle pain. Its holistic effect (both physical and mental) has left consumers with an improved pre-workout mood and less post-workout pain. It might sound like switching to CBD is a no-brainer! Therefore, we are turning our attention towards the relationship between CBD and physical workout and the benefits of including CBD-based products into your workout routine.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_102"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_112 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_97"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-differences-between-hemp-cbd-and-cannabis-cbd-1000x600-1.jpg" alt="" title="the-differences-between-hemp-cbd-and-cannabis-cbd-1000x600" class="wp-image-13754" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_103 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;CBD Comes with Numerous Benefits&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;CBD or Cannabidiol is one of the numerous and most prevalent ingredients found in cannabis (together with THC) and the hemp plant. By itself, contrary to speculations, CBD does not cause the much-feared intoxication or “high,” nor does it show any &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;dependence potential&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Since it does not affect short-term judgment nor cause a feeling of inertness, CBD quickly gained popularity and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.buscherlaw.com/state-hemp-legality"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;was legalized in most U.S. states&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Since the 1990s, scientists have studied how our &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system#how-it-works"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;endocannabinoid system (ECS)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; regulates some of the human body’s fundamental functions, such as mood and sleep. CBD intake influences the ECS by &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://medicalnewsbulletin.com/does-cbd-oil-help-you-recover-quicker-from-workouts/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;eliminating free radicals and restoring its balance&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, therefore providing anti-inflammatory benefits to the body. With reduced inflammation levels come reduced pain and muscular aches, as well as fewer instances of sore muscles, joint pain, and post-workout discomfort. As an athlete, you will experience superior pre-workout mood and post-workout muscle repair. Consequently, your workouts will become more peaceful and more productive, as your mind will be at peace, and your body will be at 100% workout capacity.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;CBD Comes in Different Shapes and Sizes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The one thing that CBD producers thoroughly understand is the need for versatility; while you might fancy CBD oil or topical products, others enjoy their breaks with a CBD drink or an easily ingestible gummy bear. CBD comes in different shapes and sizes, but some CBD products relieve muscle and joint pain more efficiently. Let us explore our three leading picks:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;#1: CBD Oil and Tinctures&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Multiple approaches allow you to relieve muscle and joint pain with CBD oil and tinctures. First, you can apply the product and massage the painful area until the oil soaks into the skin. Such an approach provides almost instantaneous results; the key lies in treating the painful area with patience.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Second, oils and tinctures allow for sublingual consumption. Not only does this method communicates the CBD with the painful area faster than traditional oral administration, but it also &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/sublingual-administration"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;avoids drug destruction&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; by avoiding gastric acid and juices. Compared with direct application to the painful area, sublingual consumption produces slower therapeutic effects (20 to 40 minutes); however, the CBD will benefit all muscles, not to mention stress reduction and improved mood.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;#2: CBD Topical Products&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Akin to oils and tinctures, you can rub CBD topical products directly on the painful area. Although CBD topical products boast a broader application (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;e.g., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;for acne, itching, and scarring treatment), numerous athletes choose this approach for immediate localized pain relief. As a result, you will find a consistent CBD topical product representation on the market through either lotions, creams, or balms. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;#3: CBD Drinks&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you are constantly on the run, you need an option that goes hand in hand with your busy lifestyle. Not to worry – CBD also comes in to-go options, such as drinks. Therefore, you can enjoy a perfect dose of CBD before, during, and after your workout without any issue. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://stylecaster.com/best-cbd-drinks/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Sparkling, water, tea, and flavorful beverages&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; are athletes’ favorite CBD drink choices.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_103"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_113 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_98"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/cbd_oil_benefits_getty_creative.jpeg.jpg" alt="" title="cbd_oil_benefits_getty_creative.jpeg" class="wp-image-13764" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_104 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How Much CBD Should I Take?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Not only sizes and shapes but also dosage preferences differ from person to person. Since there is no telling how CBD will react in individual cases, no clear CBD intake guidelines exist. However, researchers propose &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://medicalnewsbulletin.com/does-cbd-oil-help-you-recover-quicker-from-workouts/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;1-6 mg of CBD per 10 pounds of body weight&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; as a rule of thumb for tolerable CBD quantities.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In the end, it is your job to determine how much CBD works best for you. We recommend that you start with a small dosage – 5-10mg per day – and constantly increase until you reach your appropriate limit. This way, you will discover the benefits of CBD and the perfect dosage for you simultaneously. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A Parting Reminder&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Here at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdoctormagazine.com/"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;our mission is to promote healthier alternatives to traditional pain relief methods, such as medication and opioids. Therefore, we are glad to spread the word on CBD-based products and their safer take on short or long-term pain. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you decided to include CBD-based products into your workout routine, make sure that you &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.menshealth.com/health/a26467604/cbd-for-inflammation-muscle-recovery"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;consult yourself with your doctor, especially if you are on other medications&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Then, once you receive your doctor’s confirmations, raid the nearest CBD store and try your favorite products right away!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/tincture.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/does-cbd-help-you-recover-from-physical-exercise/</url> </article> <article> <ID>13737</ID> <title>Bet On Yourself: When To Turn Your Passion Project Into Your Full-Time Job</title> <publishDate>2021-09-12 18:55:36</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_48 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_104"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_114 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_99"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC03406-scaled-e1631558600220.jpg" alt="" title="Najifa | Headshots" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_105 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How many times have you met people ready to embrace change in a heartbeat without second-guessing their decision? Not too often, for sure. As a species, we are hardwired to interpret change as a threat and, therefore, question it; we often either resist change or avoid it altogether. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, an inevitable question is bound to arise – how could the human race have ever survived and grown without change? Frequently, resisting change is nothing more than a reflex born out of our faulty understanding of the world. That is when brilliant, educated, hard-working pioneers make their entrance; with determination, wit, and infinite patience, they can guide us towards a healthier, safer, and brighter tomorrow.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Here at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;we are truly blessed to meet such examples in the medical field every day, people going all-in on their passion for seeing their patients happily smiling. Their drive towards progress and sacrifices ensures that there is an answer to every question when you have the right seeker. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_105"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_115 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_100"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC03274_2-scaled-e1631569734492.jpg" alt="" title="Najifa | Headshots" class="wp-image-13741" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column_116 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_101"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC03335.jpg" alt="" title="Najifa | Headshots" class="wp-image-13836" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_106"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_117 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_106 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Such is the example of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/navigatewithnajifa/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Najifa Choudhury&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, a Wayne State University &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;magna cum laude &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;graduate with a Doctorate of Pharmacy and founder of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.drpeacelily.com/about-us/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Peace Lily&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, who was blessed with a sharp mind, love for people, and a knack for business. Combining her three superpowers, she immersed herself in an industry that, albeit tenebrous and misconceived, has brought substantial help to pain management – the CBD industry! Today, we will allow Najifa to guide us through her story, explain to us why CBD equals sustainable pain relief, and teach us what it takes to turn a passion project into a full-time job!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Breaking into the CBD World&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Najifa saw a clear path towards a career in pharmacy right from the onset. Pursuing both her passion and her family's choice, she discovered how working in her pharmacy brings out her social skills. "Working in a pharmacy, I realized I was able to make all of these connections with my patients." Albeit an exemplary student, however, Najifa was not spared of our society's everyday trials. "I was dealing with a lot of stress, a lot of anxiety in my personal life. And I wanted something natural that could help me. And so I just started doing research like, 'Hey, what's out there that might help with my stress level.'"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Her drive and research led towards the mysterious world of CBD; needless to say, the connection was instantaneous. "I tried CBD, and I just fell in love with it. Honestly, it worked so well for me. It helped me out with my mood, how I was feeling, how productive I was." The discovery impressed Najifa so much that she immediately became an outspoken ambassador of CBD-based products. "I started telling my family and friends about it, like, ‘Hey, you guys, have you ever tried CBD? Do you know about CBD?’"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_107"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_118 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_107 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Obstacles of the CBD Industry&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although a promising pain relief lead, CBD is not everyone's cup of tea, as Najifa learned first-handedly. "A lot of the responses I got were like, ‘oh, wait, are you talking about marijuana?’" These words perfectly describe the ongoing confusion between CBD and marijuana, not just from ordinary people but also from physicians. "I have definitely noticed a gap in knowledge when it comes to other doctors or pharmacists when it comes to CBD. Again, they just automatically assume it is marijuana or THC." Quite the contrary, CBD-based products work their magic on patients in a safe, THC-free environment.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;CBD promoters attempt to prove and market its valuable benefits through various strategies to combat these misunderstandings. Educational materials, conferences, scientific research, teaching, and social media constitute the main ways of spreading CBD awareness, as Najifa herself confesses. Through both teaching and research, she believes that CBD will make a good name for itself. "We need more research papers; we need more guidelines to talk about it, more knowledge to be shared in the industry for others to find out about it. That's where I'm trying to really make the difference."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;From Young to Old&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, the leading promoter of CBD products lies in the younger generation, more favorable towards change and, consequently, ready to act as its ambassadors. "CBD is not only helping millennials or the younger generation; it is making its way through all of the generations […] I use it myself, and I'm giving it to my mom. I am giving it to my in-laws and my grandmother." Both young and old are thriving on the CBD-brought benefits – less stress-associated tooth grinding, superior energy and concentration levels, and a general sense of calm make up just a few ways CBD enhances our life quality. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;So well-founded are the CBD benefits that customers feel the need to contact CBD distributors and drive them towards improvement with their words of praise, as Najifa shares with &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"That's what I hear from a lot of my other customers too, like, ‘my gosh, when I need to study, when I need to work, I take your vegan gummies, or I take your tincture.’ It has really made a difference in my life."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Sometimes, a Knack for Business and a Kind Heart are the Game Changer&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Starting and developing a successful business in the CBD industry is no walk in the park; there is no question about burning the candle at both ends quite often. First, however, one must ask themselves how prepared they are to turn passion into a full-time job. That is when seemingly tricky questions arise: "Should I expand my knowledge on business administration?" "How about getting an MBA?"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Truth be told, no single method or curriculum will make one successful in the CBD industry unless they possess a knack for business and a kind heart towards people. Turning towards Najifa's example, she relates to us how most of her business training came not from an MBA but her unquenchable curiosity; books, podcasts, networking, and conferences all fed her natural propensity towards business. "I think it's just my natural curiosity, my passion for always learning, my willingness to go out there and teach myself, even though I don't have that background, that really helped me."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As we are dealing with a product that frequently proves a life changer, no business skill would suffice without a heart inclined towards the well-being of people. Only through obvious and genuine care towards people can one build a community of loyal customers. For that reason, Najifa goes out of her way when she brings a personal touch to every order she sends out by writing thank-you notes and by sending the packages herself.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt; &lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"Be Very Honest with Yourself"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As a parting thought, we are reminded that turning passion into a full-time job calls for faith and patience. However, such virtues are not enough to strike gold in the CBD industry. "You also have to be very honest with yourself. Are you a hard worker? Are you willing to put in all these hours? Are you willing to do what it takes to have a successful business? Or are you just fantasizing about the idea of having a business, but you don't want to put in the work?" Najifa's example teaches us that helping others calls for hard work without complaints and sacrifices without regrets. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;We believe that all of us picked something today from Najifa's wisdom and made it our own, with hopes that her tremendous knowledge on CBD dispelled our misunderstandings on this wonder treatment. If you would like to learn more about Najifa's mission, don't hesitate to check out her &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.drpeacelily.com/about-us/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;website&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and her &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/navigatewithnajifa/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;personal&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/dr.peacelily/?hl=en"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;business&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Instagram accounts!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC03406-scaled-e1631559010786.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/frontline-heroes/doctor/bet-on-yourself-when-to-turn-your-passion-project-into-your-full-time-job/</url> </article> <article> <ID>13795</ID> <title>Dance Away the Pain: How Dance Can Ease the Physical and Psychological Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease</title> <publishDate>2021-09-11 20:59:49</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_49 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_108"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_119 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_102"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/love-never-grows-old-joyful-active-old-retired-romantic-couple-dancing-living-room-scaled.jpg" alt="" title="The happy elderly woman and a man dancing" class="wp-image-13805" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_108 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;One morning you wake up, and your left index finger is trembling. Another day you feel unusually stiff, and your body movements aren't as fluid as they've always been. Then you start having trouble getting your words out properly, and your body takes longer to move about. You lose your balance more than you used to, and your coordination is…off. As time goes by, you experience increasingly intense symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. You find yourself withdrawing from your social life and sinking into despair, anxiety, and depression.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Fortunately, there are ways to treat Parkinson's, gain relief from the symptoms, and slow their progress. There are medical treatments, medications, and… &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dance!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Several studies have shown that dance can improve multiple Parkinson's Disease symptoms and improve your emotional and psychological well-being.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;About Parkinson's Disease&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Parkinson's Disease attacks the areas of the brain that control the body's ability to move. Typically &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/brain,-spinal-cord,-and-nerve-disorders/movement-disorders/parkinson-disease-pd#v742388"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;beginning between 50 and 79 years&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, the disease is degenerative, and its progression is slow. Nevertheless, it can produce &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20376055"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;tremors, poor coordination and balance, slowed movement, stiff muscles, impaired speech, and more&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In addition to the physical impact on the body, Parkinson's can have &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dancing-to-music-may-halt-progression-of-parkinsons-disease"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;profound psychological effects&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. When your body does not function properly, when you can no longer do things you used to take for granted, when you feel like you're losing your independence, your mental health can suffer. In addition, your "motor symptoms lead to further psychological issues, depression, [and] social isolation."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_109"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_120 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_103"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/love-never-grows-old-joyful-active-old-retired-romantic-couple-dancing-living-room-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" title="The happy elderly woman and a man dancing" class="wp-image-13800" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_109 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Exercise: Get Moving!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How do you combat a degenerative condition that targets motion? You move! The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research states, "&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.michaeljfox.org/news/exercise?smcid=ag-a1b1R0000086fKy&amp;amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMI87jzr4aV8gIVko3ICh135QaYEAAYAyAAEgK1Y_D_BwE&amp;amp;gclsrc=aw.ds"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Exercise is one of the most powerful treatments&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; for Parkinson's Disease." Evidence suggests that it is instrumental in preventing or slowing progression, managing symptoms, and avoiding isolation.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Cleveland Clinic observes, "Exercise can help people with Parkinson's &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9200-exercise-for-people-with-parkinsons-disease"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;slow the disease and control symptoms&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. It also has psychological benefits, protecting brain cells and often providing social interaction."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Exercise can help improve flexibility, muscle strength, and balance. Any type of exercise is helpful, as long as you can handle the activity. Discuss it with your doctor, physical therapist, or other professionals on your team of caregivers to find something you can benefit from and enjoy.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How about dancing?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dance: On Your Toes or in a Chair, Raise Your Hands in the Air!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dance can be an ideal form of exercise for people with Parkinson's Disease. Compared to many other types of exercise, dance is exceptionally versatile. There are various genres from which to choose, so it can easily accommodate a wide range of interests, skills, and comfort levels. For example, if standing is difficult, you can sit in a chair and still move your arms and legs, lean to the side, and bend forward.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Psychologically, you can benefit from the social environment of your dance class. You share a common experience and can, over time, develop friendships. You have opportunities for creative expression and even just a reason to smile.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_110"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_121 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_104"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/two-beautiful-slender-girls-doing-dancing-gymnastics-dance-hall-scaled.jpg" alt="" title="girls gymnasts" class="wp-image-13799" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_110 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Research&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dancing-to-music-may-halt-progression-of-parkinsons-disease"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dance has been the subject of a great deal of research&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; on its effect on Parkinson's Disease. Some research suggests that dancing may improve your ability to walk, balance, and generally move. Exploring the long-term effects of dance on Parkinson's patients, a study conducted at York University in Canada revealed that dancing to music can impede the disease's progression and improve everyday life. Another study suggests that dance stimulates areas of the brain previously damaged by Parkinson's. In a study where 16 people with mild Parkinson's took weekly dance classes for three years, participants experienced marked, sustained improvement in both physical and psychological symptoms.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Music&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Another factor that makes dancing stand out is its partner—music. On its own, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2780534/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;music offers benefits for people with Parkinson's&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. "Music may serve as an external cue to facilitate movement." It has a rhythm, a beat, a pattern to follow, and expresses emotion in its volume, tempo, voice, and instrumentation.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Studies show that listening to music may influence brain activity related to emotion, communication, and movement. In addition, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4553388/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;rhythm can improve coordination, walking, and balance&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. For people with Parkinson's, rhythm can play "a crucial role in rehabilitation, enhancing connections between the motor and auditory systems."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Putting music and dancing together creates a powerhouse of creativity, movement, and resources to help repair what has been damaged.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dance for PD®&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;One program providing dance classes for people with Parkinson's Disease is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://danceforparkinsons.org/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dance for PD®&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, a nonprofit organization in the United States and 25 other countries. Professional dancers and movement experts teach specialized classes that incorporate modern theater, ballet, folk dance, tap, improvisation, choreographic repertory, and social dancing.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Participants, some of whom have &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://stanmed.stanford.edu/2017winter/dance-for-parkinsons-disease-at-the-stanford-neuroscience-health-center.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;described the program as "liberating,"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; can "experience the joys and benefits of dance while creatively &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://danceforparkinsons.org/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;addressing symptom-specific concerns&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; related to balance, cognition, motor skill, depression and physical confidence."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_111"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_122 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_105"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/beautiful-young-couple-s-portrait-isolated-white-studio-background-facial-expression-human-emotions-advertising-concept-copyspace-woman-man-standing-crossing-hands-dancing-look-cool-scaled.jpg" alt="" title="Portrait of beautiful couple isolated on white studio background" class="wp-image-13801" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_111 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Improving Mental Health&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Like other forms of exercise, dancing can alleviate feelings of isolation, hopelessness, the loss of control over your own body, and other mental health issues brought on by Parkinson's. Classes provide a social setting where you can interact with people whose situation is similar to yours, people who understand. Instead of gradually withdrawing from the life you once had, you have an opportunity to add to it or even start anew.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"Studies show participants feel their &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://stanmed.stanford.edu/2017winter/dance-for-parkinsons-disease-at-the-stanford-neuroscience-health-center.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;mood lighten and their anxiety decline&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. In a 2015 study published in the Journal of Neural Transmission by Westheimer and colleagues from four universities, participants reported feeling less helpless, grateful for the companionship and a general sense of improved health."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Conclusion&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dance is more than a form of exercise. While it is essentially a series of physical movements, it is also an outlet for emotional expression. Dance and the music that accompanies it give participants abundant cues and actions that strengthen the body and mind.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;For people with Parkinson's Disease, it can be a tremendous source of progress and empowerment. Multiple studies have shown the positive influence dance can have on mobility, balance, coordination, mental health, and overall well-being.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;So one morning, you wake up, and you find you have more control over how your body moves. And you smile because later that day, you'll have a dance class.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/love-never-grows-old-joyful-active-old-retired-romantic-couple-dancing-living-room-scaled.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/dance-away-the-pain-how-dance-can-ease-the-physical-and-psychological-symptoms-of-parkinsons-disease/</url> </article> <article> <ID>13706</ID> <title>What A Healthy Lifestyle Looks Like on The Other Side of The Globe</title> <publishDate>2021-09-10 21:51:27</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_50 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_112"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_123 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_106"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/What-A-Healthy-Lifestyle-Looks-Like-on-The-Other-Side-of-The-Globe.png" alt="" title="What A Healthy Lifestyle Looks Like on The Other Side of The Globe" class="wp-image-13707" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_112 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;An apple a day keeps the doctor away, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;a proverb that finds its way more and more often in our shopping lists. People are more attentive and more considerate about their diets, something that we have successfully noticed in the U.S. Does this news come as a surprise to you? Not to worry, statistics are here to surprise you; although &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db322.htm"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;36% of Americans do indulge in fast food daily&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://foodinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/IFIC-FDN-AHA-Report.pdf"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;43% of us spend extra time in the "Healthy Foods" aisle&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, while &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://foodinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/IFIC-FDN-AHA-Report.pdf"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;52% strive towards healthy foods from time to time&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Millennials and Gen Z, in particular, are fond of healthier and more sustainable food sources, and for a daunting reason - &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/04/is-the-world-getting-dangerously-fatter/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;in 2014, one in eight of the world's adults were classified as obese&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Such numbers give goosebumps even to the least interested of us, especially when the situation could continually worsen. Preserving unhealthy nutritional trends will likely result in an &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)30054-X/fulltext?rss=yes"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;18% global obesity prevalence in men&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)30054-X/fulltext?rss=yes"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;surpass 21% in women&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, while &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)30054-X/fulltext?rss=yes"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;severe obesity will surpass 6% in men and 9% in women&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;With such formidable prospects ahead, a healthy nutrition plan becomes even more of a responsibility, not just for us but also for future generations. And no, the answer does not lie far away; each culture is rich with healthy recipes that will satisfy one's hunger without being a burden to the body.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, knowing how to choose the right foods is not enough; being healthy is about adapting yourself wholeheartedly, in diet, behavior, and mindset, to achieve this long-term goal. To crayon the path that leads to a healthier lifestyle, it might pay to take a sneak peek in different cultures and learn how they &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;keep the doctor away! &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Let's find out! &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Tradition, Balance, and Cultural Shifts – Food Habits around the World&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;There is an immense amount of material on nutrition stacked on the Internet. As you are sifting through it, you might righteously raise some questions, such as, "Why do the Finnish consume fish by-weekly?" or "Why do the French recommend five portions of fruit and vegetables daily?" Numerous pieces of advice, not enough explanations, we believe. To understand a well-rounded diet, one must journey through its culture, trace, and immerse oneself in its origins.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Step one, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;tradition&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. As we travel to the exotic land of India, we learn how "&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.wellandgood.com/healthy-international-food/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;eating traditional, ancestral recipes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;" is the key to a well-rounded meal. Following in their ancestors' teaching, Indian folk can put together a simple yet scrumptious plate without obsessing over a specific nutrient; millet flatbread, cottage cheese, veggies, and Indian curry make the perfect list for a mouth-watering meal.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Step two, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;balance&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. The body knows what it wants and how to ask for it. So whenever you feel a craving, your body signals towards an unattended aspect of an otherwise well-rounded diet. Consequently, the people from Ghana have become masters of balanced meals – carbohydrates (rice, yam, plantain, or cassava), protein (fish, beef, or chicken), and a salad scream "rich, tasty meal."&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Step three, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;improvement. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Nothing ruins an appetite more than the culture of guilt, a true obsession over what we should or should not eat. Instead of planning every meal to the letter, we believe that healthier food choices will liberate us from this unwarranted feeling and allow people to enjoy a gorgeous table without remorse. The perfect example comes from Canada, whose society currently experiences a cultural shift towards vegetarianism and veganism. Healthy ingredients, such as quinoa, rice, veggies, tofu, and eggs, are enough for a well-rounded meal that will ensure your peace of mind.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Not just Eating Healthier, but Being Healthier&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As we mentioned earlier, eating healthy is only half the journey; a healthy diet must convene with a healthier state of mind to become a reality. This equation opens up a new world of cultural quirks that deserve a safe spot in our lives.  &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;One of the chief obesity causes resides in a chronic lack of exercise; many of us would rather be couch potatoes than dedicate our afternoons to a sport. However, that is not Iceland's case, the country that "&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.usnews.com/wellness/slideshows/heres-how-people-in-8-other-countries-stay-healthy"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;doesn't take swimming for a joke&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;." Aside from the obvious cardiovascular and full-body benefits, pools promote a strong sense of solidarity, unthinkably essential for a well-working society.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;On the same topic, us Americans are accustomed to knocking out shopping lists with one go. On the other hand, Germany proposes a different approach – different shops for different items within walking distance. Therefore, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.usnews.com/wellness/slideshows/heres-how-people-in-8-other-countries-stay-healthy"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the country's setup calls for constant walking&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, a helpful indirect way to keep one's weight in check.   &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Not only do &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://public.wsu.edu/~mreed/380American%20Consumption.htm"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;we eat more than necessary&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, but we also &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/features/slow-down-you-eat-too-fast#1"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;wolf down meal after meal&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Although the Information Age's keyword is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;speed, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;not the same applies to eating habits, where fast eaters are not the heroes. The French thoroughly understood the necessity of "&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2012/09/14/5-surprising-benefits-of-mindful-eating"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;eating mindfully&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;" while savoring each bite without the rush. Excluding the abundant inherent feeling of satisfaction, slow eating prevents type 2 diabetes, helps with weight management in overweight pre-teens, decreases excessive snacking and overeating at restaurants, and helps people stay lean. In short, slow meals are less stressful meals.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;More healthy bits of advice await across the ocean, this time, from the United Kingdom, where people embedded &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.usnews.com/wellness/slideshows/heres-how-people-in-8-other-countries-stay-healthy"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;home cooking&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; into their culture. Various studies show that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1085401/cooking-habits-in-the-uk/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;almost 80% of the U.K. citizens cook anywhere from every day to once or twice per week&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, with the majority busying themselves in the kitchen daily. Furthermore, not only do they cook more often, but they also travel more often to the grocery store in search of fresh, unprocessed foods. Talk about a way to cut down on overeating takeout food or at restaurants!&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Conclusion&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Health, diet, and peace of mind are all intertwined, which is why we hope that today's read will encourage you to experience a healthy lifestyle holistically, starting from &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;what &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;and heading towards &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;how &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;why &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;we eat. We wish you a scrumptious, well-rounded, healthy meal!&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;BIBLIOGRAPHY:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;ol&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.usnews.com/wellness/slideshows/heres-how-people-in-8-other-countries-stay-healthy"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://health.usnews.com/wellness/slideshows/heres-how-people-in-8-other-countries-stay-healthy&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/05/what-do-healthy-eating-guidelines-look-like-around-the-world/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/05/what-do-healthy-eating-guidelines-look-like-around-the-world/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.wellandgood.com/healthy-international-food/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://www.wellandgood.com/healthy-international-food/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/04/is-the-world-getting-dangerously-fatter/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/04/is-the-world-getting-dangerously-fatter/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)30054-X/fulltext?rss=yes"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)30054-X/fulltext?rss=yes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1085401/cooking-habits-in-the-uk/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://www.statista.com/statistics/1085401/cooking-habits-in-the-uk/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25848315/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25848315/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2012/09/14/5-surprising-benefits-of-mindful-eating"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2012/09/14/5-surprising-benefits-of-mindful-eating&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ol&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/What-A-Healthy-Lifestyle-Looks-Like-on-The-Other-Side-of-The-Globe.png</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/what-a-healthy-lifestyle-looks-like-on-the-other-side-of-the-globe/</url> </article> <article> <ID>13696</ID> <title>Is The Mediterranean Diet for You?</title> <publishDate>2021-09-08 21:42:52</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_51 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_113"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_124 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_107"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/mediterranean-food.png" alt="" title="mediterranean food" class="wp-image-13697" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_113 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;All the health-conscious people have surely heard of the Mediterranean diet by now. Most doctors, nutritionists, and dietitians have been actively recommending this diet for optimal health for a long time. But should you really take on the diet? Let’s find out below. &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;All about the Mediterranean Diet&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The people living in the surrounding areas of the Mediterranean Sea live a very active life and rarely ever fall sick with cardiovascular and cancerous ailments. Do you know the reason? Because of the diet -- they consume low saturated fat, sugar, and red meat that keeps them healthy for long.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Moreover, the Mediterranean diet consists of rich nuts, organic produce, and other healthful food sources. Because of this highly nutritious composition of meals, the Mediterranean diet eaters enjoy multiple health benefits, including:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Diabetes control and prevention&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Cancer prevention&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Brain health&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Heart health&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Weight loss&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Hence, besides avoiding several chronic diseases through this diet, you also get to maintain a healthy weight.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Typical Ingredients of a Mediterranean Diet&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A typical style of the Mediterranean diet will include a host of the following food items:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Moderate or low amounts of poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; The primary fat source in this diet would be olive oil&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; You will always find lots of nuts, seeds, beans, potatoes, bread, vegetables, fruits, and other grains present in this diet.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The other features of this diet include fruits instead of sweets as dessert and moderate or low consumption of wine. A Mediterranean diet style does not include too much red meat intake and instead focuses more on poultry and fish. This diet also features more plant-based foods and significantly fewer processed items.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Is the Diet Good for You?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you look at some stats, you will discover that the Mediterranean diet ranks at the top in the World Report and U.S News every year. This is because it has consistently maintained its reputation as the best diet, and you have a panel of the most professional judges vouching for that.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Every year health experts come together as a team to judge multiple eating plans and diets that have been trending. They judge the health level of the diet, how they work, convenience in following, and nutrition level they provide.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What does the AHA say?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;According to the AHA (American Heart Association), the Mediterranean diet provides a healthy dietary routine. A healthy dietary routine according to the AHA should include:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Poultry, fish, fat-free, and low-fat dairy products&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Nuts and non-tropical vegetable oil&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; The AHA’s recommended diet pattern must emphasize more legumes, beans, whole grains, fruits, and vegetable consumption&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Should limit processed and fatty meat, saturated fats, refined carbohydrates, highly processed food, sodium, sugary beverages, and added sugars.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The AHA proclaims that such a diet pattern will be instrumental in preventing strokes and cardiovascular diseases for people. It will also reduce the threats of diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;According to some research, the use of rich virgin olive oil in the diet also plays an active part in eliminating the excess of harmful cholesterol from the body, with this function. As a result, the blood vessels and the arteries remain open and regulate a healthy blood flow.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Multiple dietitians and health organizations from around the world proclaim the Mediterranean diet as one of the healthiest. With so much evidence to support it, there is no doubt that the Mediterranean diet is a good approach for health maintenance for everyone.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;BIBLIOGRAPHY:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/mediterranean-diet"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/mediterranean-diet&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="https://health.usnews.com/best-diet/mediterranean-diet"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://health.usnews.com/best-diet/mediterranean-diet&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324221"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324221&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/mediterranean-food.png</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/health-nutrition/is-the-mediterranean-diet-for-you/</url> </article> <article> <ID>13687</ID> <title>How Telemedicine is Shaping The Future</title> <publishDate>2021-09-07 21:32:30</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_52 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_114"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_125 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_108"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Telemedicine.png" alt="" title="Telemedicine" class="wp-image-13688" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_114 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;Telemedicine has been around for quite some time, but it wasn't until the COVID-19 outbreak that it took centeWith everyone being too terrified to enter a hospital in fear of catching the virus, people turned to online consultations. Although there are definite downsides to telemedicine, such as the inability to do physical examinations, the convenience of receiving healthcare online has made thousands of people vouch for the new service.r stage.  Consequently, telemedicine is not only here to stay, but it will pave the way for a new era in medicine. Here's how telemedicine is shaping the future. &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; 1. Telemedicine is improving access to healthcare while reducing costs.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Many people who live in rural areas, have busy work schedules, have no reliable means of transportation, or are just too sick to travel have difficulty making an appointment to go to the hospital - but with telemedicine, that is no longer a problem. With just a click of a button, people can now seek professional medical advice and access healthcare 24/7. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;And because telemedicine is all done online, it dramatically reduces healthcare costs as well. For example, telemedicine enables physicians to conduct appointments without needing additional office staff, and it reduces the financial impact of patient no-shows. Overall, telemedicine reduces unnecessary office, emergency room visits, and hospital admissions, which leads to improved patient outcomes.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;2. Telemedicine will be the new go-to for preventive care.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;According to the CDC, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/pdf/2009-power-of-prevention.pdf"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;chronic diseases avoidable through preventive care make up for 75% of the nation's healthcare expenses&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. With telemedicine, patients with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes can now have easy around-the-clock access to follow-up care. They can see specialists right away for faster diagnosis and treatment. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Moreover, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5747596/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;recent studies&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; suggest that home monitoring for chronic disease patients is an untapped market for telemedicine. Patients with chronic disease often require visits to their doctors, so targeting this patient population with telemedicine may significantly decrease the number of hospital admissions.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;3. Telemedicine gives direct access to specialists.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In the past, primary care physicians would recommend patients from one specialist to the next, which can become time-consuming and costly. With telemedicine, your primary doctor can connect you to a specialist with one dial. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The hospital-at-home model is another growing area in telemedicine. Patients who meet the criteria for hospitalization but are otherwise stable can be treated at home for diseases like pneumonia and heart failure, with a specialist ready to call on anytime. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2011.1132"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Research&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; has shown that when the hospital-at-home model is appropriately implemented, it is more cost-effective, results in shorter treatment periods, and lessens &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.6307"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;delirium&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; in patients. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Great success has been found in telemedicine programs for radiology, psychiatry, stroke care, and intensive care, with mortality rates almost on the same level as that of the hospital model. The future of telemedicine will revolve around innovations on making home-based monitoring the new norm and hospital visits a more seldom occurrence.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Telemedicine.png</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/how-telemedicine-is-shaping-the-future/</url> </article> <article> <ID>13677</ID> <title>Eyelids and Fingernails: How Smartphone Cameras May Help Diagnose Anemia</title> <publishDate>2021-09-05 18:13:19</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_53 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_115"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_126 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_109"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Eyelids-and-Fingernails.png" alt="" title="Eyelids and Fingernails" class="wp-image-13678" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_115 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What if you could test yourself for anemia by simply taking a picture with your smartphone? You can!&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The smartphone has become an integral part of our lives. If you’re old enough to remember life before them, you may sometimes wonder how you ever managed without one. For example, among thousands of available apps, hundreds manage health. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Now your smartphone has a new function—a diagnostic tool for anemia. Recent studies have shown that pictures of the inside of your lower eyelid or your fingernail’s nail bed can detect signs of anemia. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Given that almost everyone from the young to the old has a smartphone, this new technology expands access to medical care and early detection of disease. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;About Anemia&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Anemia is a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-anemia-smartphones/smartphone-app-could-screen-for-anemia-idUSKBN1O42R8"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;low level of hemoglobin&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, the part of red blood cells that delivers oxygen. The most prevalent cause is iron deficiency, but &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351360"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;causal factors may include&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; other vitamin deficiencies, disease complications, infection, and genetics. The condition varies from short to long term and from mild to severe or life-threatening. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;According to the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-anemia-smartphones/smartphone-app-could-screen-for-anemia-idUSKBN1O42R8"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;World Health Organization&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, there are almost two billion people in the world with some form of anemia, and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://bme.gatech.edu/bme/news/smartphone-app-anemia-showcased-ntac-challenge"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;83 million&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; of those people live in the United States. In a study conducted between 2003 and 2012, the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0166635"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; found that about 5.6% of the U.S. population had anemia, and 1.5% had moderate to severe anemia. The groups at highest risk were the elderly, children, pregnant women, and women of childbearing age. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The most common symptoms of anemia are fatigue, weakness, and dizziness. Depending on the type of anemia, symptoms may also include &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0253495"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;headache, difficulty breathing or mentally focusing&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, as well as &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351360"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;chest pains, pale skin, and an irregular heartbeat&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Traditional diagnosis of anemia requires a complete blood count (CBC). Such a requirement involves &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0253495"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;professional technicians&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; drawing blood then using chemical reagents and complex laboratory equipment to produce results that can take hours or days to process. The process, however, can be expensive for people without adequate medical coverage and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-smartphone-cameras-may-be-used-to-detect-anemia"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;difficult to access&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; for people in specific rural or urban settings. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Smartphones and Healthcare&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It is estimated that by 2019, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351360"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;36 percent of the world’s population&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; had smartphones, including &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0253495"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;people of every socioeconomic status&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Moreover, this number was expected to increase each year faster than the world’s population growth rate. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;For healthcare professionals, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/digital-health-center-excellence/device-software-functions-including-mobile-medical-applications"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;medical apps offer new options&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; for improving patients’ health and the ways they deliver services. Even the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encourages consumers and healthcare providers to use these apps to distribute and obtain important health information.  &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Medical apps can enhance communication between you and your doctor, provide an inexpensive way to help manage chronic health issues, and empower you to be better informed and in charge of your health. For example, instead of just providing your doctor with a list of symptoms, you can collect and report your data. In some instances, you can bypass expensive appointments and tests therefore accelerating the diagnostic process.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Recently scientists have developed new methods for diagnosing anemia with your smartphone camera -- simply take a picture of your inner lower eyelid or your fingernail’s nail bed, and the software tells you whether you may have anemia. You then share this with your doctor. Compared to the CBC test, this new method is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-smartphone-cameras-may-be-used-to-detect-anemia"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;inexpensive, noninvasive, and available on demand&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. As a result, it gives you a more significant role in your care.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Inside the Lower Eyelid&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In a recent study, a picture taken with a smartphone camera of the inside of the lower eyelid &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-smartphone-cameras-may-be-used-to-detect-anemia"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;can predict anemia&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; with an accuracy rate of approximately 72 percent. During the study’s Phase 1, researchers took smartphone pictures of the inner lower eyelids of 142 patients. They used these pictures to create an algorithm comparing images to hemoglobin levels.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;During Phase 2, they tested the algorithm on 202 additional patients. Results showed that their model &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-smartphone-cameras-may-be-used-to-detect-anemia"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;accurately predicted anemia at the rate of 72.6 percent&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. However, the accuracy rate for predicting severe anemia (severe enough to require a blood transfusion) was higher: 86.0 to 94.4 percent. The one limitation researchers cited was variation in image quality. Not all smartphones are alike, after all. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0253495"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;This method works&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; because hemoglobin is a strong chromophore—the part of a molecule that gives it its color—and is available for spectroscopic evaluation. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://sicklecellanemianews.com/2020/05/28/smartphone-app-may-help-assess-anemia-using-eyelid-pictures/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;By employing spectroscopic analysis&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, the software detects hemoglobin through its absorption of light. The result is hemoglobin levels as measured by a spectrum of light signals. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0253495"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;inner eyelid membrane&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; is free of blood vessels and tissues that interrupt the transmission of light. Using this method does not require medical expertise. You simply expose the inside of your lower eyelid, take a picture, and the software does the rest. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0253495"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The next step&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; involves creating a smartphone app that combines image collection and evaluation. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Fingernails’ Nail Beds&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://bme.gatech.edu/bme/news/smartphone-app-anemia-showcased-ntac-challenge"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;National Institute of Health&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; (NIH) awarded &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://sanguina.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Sanguina, Inc.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; third place in the 2020 NIH Technology Accelerator Challenge (NTAC) for its smartphone anemia app, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://sanguina.com/anemocheck-mobile/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;AnemoCheck Mobile&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Researchers developed an algorithm that accurately detects signs of anemia by taking smartphone pictures of a patient’s &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-anemia-smartphones/smartphone-app-could-screen-for-anemia-idUSKBN1O42R8"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;fingernail nail beds&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and evaluating the color. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;This new app was tested on 100 volunteers, both with and without anemia. After volunteers took pictures of their fingernails, the app analyzed the pictures. As a result, it &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-anemia-smartphones/smartphone-app-could-screen-for-anemia-idUSKBN1O42R8"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;accurately identified 97 percent&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; of the volunteers with anemia.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;AnemoCheck Mobile is another &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://bme.gatech.edu/bme/news/smartphone-app-anemia-showcased-ntac-challenge"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;noninvasive diagnostic tool&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; you can use at any time to track your condition and participate more fully with your doctor. For example, you can measure your blood hemoglobin levels and monitor changes in those levels over time. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusion&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;With the ever-increasing cost of healthcare looming over us all, using something as simple as a smartphone camera as a diagnostic tool is a welcome addition to more elaborate testing methods. It is readily accessible to anyone with a smartphone, easy to use, and inexpensive. In addition, it does not require blood to be drawn, and results are almost immediate. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Please keep in mind, however, that this technology is still new and not 100 percent accurate. It should complement, not replace, traditional medical care. Even if your smartphone indicates that you may have anemia, it is still essential to ask for a second opinion from a specialist.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In a device no bigger than a kitchen sponge, a device used for games and social media, you have a powerful tool for collaborating with your doctor and taking on a greater role in your healthcare. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Bibliography:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;ol&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-smartphone-cameras-may-be-used-to-detect-anemia"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-smartphone-cameras-may-be-used-to-detect-anemia&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0166635"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0166635&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0253495"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0253495&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-anemia-smartphones/smartphone-app-could-screen-for-anemia-idUSKBN1O42R8"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-anemia-smartphones/smartphone-app-could-screen-for-anemia-idUSKBN1O42R8&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://bme.gatech.edu/bme/news/smartphone-app-anemia-showcased-ntac-challenge"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://bme.gatech.edu/bme/news/smartphone-app-anemia-showcased-ntac-challenge&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://sicklecellanemianews.com/2020/05/28/smartphone-app-may-help-assess-anemia-using-eyelid-pictures/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://sicklecellanemianews.com/2020/05/28/smartphone-app-may-help-assess-anemia-using-eyelid-pictures/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351360"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351360&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/digital-health-center-excellence/device-software-functions-including-mobile-medical-applications"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/digital-health-center-excellence/device-software-functions-including-mobile-medical-applications&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ol&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Eyelids-and-Fingernails.png</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/eyelids-and-fingernails-how-smartphone-cameras-may-help-diagnose-anemia/</url> </article> <article> <ID>11310</ID> <title>TopDocDX: Diagnosing Chronic Disease in Asymptomatic Patients</title> <publishDate>2021-08-31 14:17:00</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_54 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_116"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_127 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_116 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Today's society is quickly shifting its focus towards a proactive medical approach. More and more people, especially &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.harvardpilgrim.org/hapiguide/millennials-health-benefits/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Millennials&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, are less keen on taking shots in the dark with their health and pursue the promising direction of preventive medicine. Not to mention the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which had us second-guessing our overall health and well-being. For patients, the time for sitting with their arms crossed is over.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Over the past two years, one of the most resonating words we daily heard was &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002217.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;asymptomatic&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;mainly restricted to the COVID-19-pandemic field. The fear of carrying a virus without any notice was both overwhelming and scary for many of us. "What if I have the virus?" "What if I unwillingly infect someone else?" Such questions definitely are not any novelty. However, what if we take the word &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;asymptomatic &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;and apply it to our overall health? Could there be any latent diseases ready to strike us without notice?&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Disease prevention is a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;sine qua non &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;prerequisite for a healthy, well-balanced life. Here at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;we envisage a world where early health screenings can detect future diseases in asymptomatic patients. Therefore, we are striving to equip physicians with all the technology necessary for early detection medicine (EDM) – &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;e.g., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;preventive screenings – to identify disease indicators in asymptomatic patients proactively while, at the same time, increasing their revenue and patient number. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Look no further; the answer lies in our newest testing system designed to help both physicians and patients collaborate towards disease prevention in a non-invasive and all-encompassing way – the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdocrx.com/topdocdx/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;TopDocDX Microvascular Testing System&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;! Join us today and learn how TopDocDX will become the future of early detection technology with improved efficiency and no additional costs to physicians!&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Presenting the TopDocDX Microvascular Testing System&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;This clinically powerful and non-invasive testing system for hidden diseases in asymptomatic patients provides the patient with an inside-out look on their health. Compared with other preventive tests, such as the electrocardiogram (EKG), which only tests the patient in a calm, peaceful environment, TopDocDX presents a real-life picture to the patient, with all its positive and negative influences. Therefore, physicians will have an enhanced understanding of the patient's overall health.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The TopDocDX Active Scan Machine (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;i.e., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the TopDocDX device) consists of three tried-and-true FDA-approved tests that have received recognition in the cardiology field: &lt;/span&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;The &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/ankle-brachial-index-test" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ankle Brachial Index&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt; (ABI) &lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;– this test observes the blood pressure ratio in opposite body parts (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;e.g., &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;left and right arm, left and right ankle, etc.) and submits data for analysis. As long as the ratio is balanced, the patient will experience no issues at a microvascular level; with a healthy microvascular system, the macrovascular system can thrive as well. Ideal for tobacco consumers, diabetic patients, and people suffering from hypertension and high cholesterol levels.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4463960/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sudomotor Test&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt; – &lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;testing the sweat gland function. Patients place their hands and feet on stainless-steel electrodes, exposing themselves to an incremental low direct voltage that causes sweating. This approach provides evidence of any sweat dysfunction and gives the physician information on the patient's health years ahead on any visible disease symptoms.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23931777/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Function Test&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt; – &lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The TopDocDX Active Scan Machine checks the health of the ANS and its main components, the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. Together, they control and regulate numerous internal organs and physiologic processes, including blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, metabolism, sweating, etc.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The TopDocDX Clinical Applications&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The TopDocDX Microvascular Testing System successfully uncovers and analyzes propensities towards a myriad of medical conditions, such as:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy (CAN) &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy (DAN) &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Cardiac Arrhythmia&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Congestive Heart Failure &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Asthma &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Peripheral Vascular Diseases &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Circulation Problems &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Pain Management &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Neurological Conditions &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Anxiety/Stress &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Parkinson's Disease &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Psychological Conditions&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Once the patient performs the 20-minute test, the physician receives and analyzes the results together with the patient's medical history by using our TopDocDX algorithm. This approach provides a predictive model for the patient's future cardiovascular and neurological health! Furthermore, the results come in the shape of a 35-page color-coded report, where:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;GREEN&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; stands for “OPTIMAL HEALTH”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;YELLOW &lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;advises patients to implement specific lifestyle choices, and&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;RED &lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;calls for urgent medical care &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Instead of assailing the patient with a mountain of information, TopDocDX shrinks the report into a two-page summary, more appropriate for physician-patient discussions!&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;By analyzing the results, physicians and patients can discuss ways to enhance the latter's overall health and schedule follow-up tests for performance tracking. Although this might sound like additional costs for the patient, we are here to affirm quite the opposite; both the FDA and the Centers for Medicare &amp;amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) approve of the TopDocDX Testing System. Therefore, insurance companies will cover all the costs, another fantastic reason for patients to undergo preventive screenings!&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Continuing the Patient Care Mission with TopDocRX Remote Patient Monitoring&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Drawing the necessary conclusions from the results is only half the battle; for you, the physician, the road to patient care is just beginning. Now is the time for you to carefully monitor your patients' health and prevent future aggravation of existing conditions, and the easiest way towards that is through Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)! &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, implementing an RPM system is no walk in the park, neither for you nor for your wallet. The costs (staff training, RPM kit, initial office setup, software costs, etc.) for a 300-patient system could go as high as $260,000.00! With such daunting costs on sight, RPM might seem like a futuristic dream.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, TopDocRX is here to change the game! By understanding the physicians' need for a reliable and streamlined approach to remote patient care, TopDocRX has put together its own RPM system that saves time and removes additional costs for physicians! Instead of breaking the bank to keep your patients safe, you will make use of our specialized monitoring equipment and personnel, that's right, free of charge! Our job is to arm your patients with all the data collection devices, wearables, and health kits while providing you with essential information (heart rate, glucose, step count, etc.) on a user-friendly interface. With our TopDocRX RPM systems, you can be sure that the testing work will not have been in vain; on the contrary, you will get to see your patients improve their health and, consequently, their future lives!&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;No Up-Front Costs, Positive Cash Flow, and No Financial Risk&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;So, how do you, the physician, benefit from employing the TopDocDX Active Scan Machine in your office(s)? And, most important, what are the initial costs? "Do I have to break the bank for this screening system?" Quite the contrary; instead of spending about $60,000 on equipment, you will receive the TopDocDX testing supplies free of charge! &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, would not new technology call for additional practitioners and, subsequently, more people on a payroll to get the job done? Not if we assign an on-site medical assistant from our team to perform the tests, together with technical staff and a billing service. Instead of becoming a nuisance, the TopDocDX Active Scan Machine will work for you without any intrusion. All you need to provide is a 5x5 foot area and patients, and you are good to go!&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In return, you and your practice will benefit from:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;$160-170 net revenue per screening (after taxes)&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Increase office visits by 15-20%&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;No capital expenditure&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;No clinical staff training&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;No burden on the billing staff&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;We believe that this opportunity is the physicians' golden ticket into a world where patients learn about their potential diseases timely enough for a remedy to be implemented. Both patients and physicians now have all the tools necessary to ensure a healthy future for the patient without expensive investments or burdensome medical bills. If you are ready to join the future of preventive medicine with TopDocDX, more details await you &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdocrx.com/topdocdx/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;here&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;!&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/pexels-alex-green-5699431-scaled.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/health-nutrition/topdocdx-diagnosing-chronic-disease-in-asymptomatic-patients/</url> </article> <article> <ID>12886</ID> <title>Revenge Bedtime Procrastination</title> <publishDate>2021-08-30 14:30:14</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_55 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_117"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_128 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_110"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/3664931.jpg" alt="" title="3664931" class="wp-image-12887" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_117 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h1&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Revenge Bedtime Procrastination&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The current business climate created a new trend that has drawn attention from the public and the press. People in high-stress jobs sacrifice a bulk of their day for efficiency and try to make up for the loss of entertainment in a rather detrimental way. Between work, cooking, running errands, walking the dogs, raising children, and other essential daily life activities, many people have little time to do things for fun and pleasure. Consequently, they tend to procrastinate during bedtime to do the things they love.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The refusal to go to bed when you should is a psychological phenomenon known as “revenge bedtime procrastination,” which describes the decision to sacrifice sleep for more pleasurable activities such as bingeing and scrolling through social media. Bedtime procrastination is a relatively new concept that came up in a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00611/full"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;study paper&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; by Dr. Floor Kroese and colleagues from the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University in the Netherlands, published in 2014.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Kroese and her colleagues describe this procrastination as “going to bed later than intended while no external circumstances are accountable for doing so,” meaning that a person who chooses to delay bedtime without genuine reason engages in bedtime procrastination. The word “revenge” was added to the phrase, and it started appearing in China in late 2016. It was further introduced to English speakers by Daphne K. Lee. Revenge Bedtime Procrastination is a deliberate decision to stay awake past bedtime to create a “me time.” People naturally revenge on sleep almost as an act of rebellion to take back some precious time they lost to recoup on the ever-increasing demands at work and home.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Even though it is evident that sleep deprivation takes a toll on mental health, people who engage in this infamous practice want to get enough rest, but they fail to do so. This behavioral pattern is known as the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29739503/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;intention-behavior gap&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. With that in mind, experts warned that insufficient sleep is a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6473877/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;global public health epidemic&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. According to a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.philips.com/a-w/about/news/archive/standard/news/press/2019/20190307-in-recognition-of-world-sleep-day-philips-presents-its-annual-global-sleep-survey-results.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;global sleep survey&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; across 12 countries with over 11,000 responses revealed that 62% of adults feel they get fewer hours of sleep than needed, averaging 6.8 hours than the 8 hours recommended by sleep experts.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;People procrastinate on sleep for so many reasons, but some factors will be considered for sleep deprivation to be deemed bedtime procrastination:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Delaying going to sleep and reducing total sleep time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Staying awake later than necessary for no serious reasons.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Knowing that the delay will have a negative consequence on mental health.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Even though a study in &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7460337/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the international journal of environmental research and public health&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; showed that adolescents are the most apparent bedtime procrastinators, another &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31619947/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;study&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; also showed that women and students are more likely to engage in bedtime procrastination. However, research on the sleep phenomenon is still in the early stages, and further research will reveal those most affected by it.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Reducing sleep hours as a form of revenge and retaliation is dangerous to health, and it can lead to a plethora of harmful mental and physical health issues that can affect the quality of life. Getting eight or more sleep hours refreshes the mind, and lack of it negatively affects reasoning, alertness, reaction times, and working memory. Another effect of sleep deprivation includes diabetes, obesity, heart disease, hormone-related problems, and a weaker immune system. When you deprive yourself of adequate sleep for a long time, your odds of dying early from any cause increase.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Overcoming bedtime procrastination requires healthy sleep hygiene, which involves creating a conducive sleeping environment and good sleep habits. Creating a set nighttime routine to facilitate sleep can help reduce the impulse to stay awake longer than necessary. Listed below are some examples of sleep habits you can incorporate into your daily schedule:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Find your proper sleep and wake-up time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Keep electronic devices away from your reach.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Shut down your social media and other notifications.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Avoid taking caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol in the afternoon and evening.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Do some yoga or meditation to help ease you into sleep.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Skip big night meals.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Sticking to these healthy sleep habits can improve your life significantly and also improve your quality of life. Thankfully, the awareness of the inherent danger associated with bedtime procrastination is an excellent step in the right direction. If your negative sleep patterns persist, talk with a doctor who can provide a professional evaluation of your health and determine if you have a sleep disorder.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/3664931.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/health-nutrition/revenge-bedtime-procrastination/</url> </article> <article> <ID>10566</ID> <title>Leaky Gut Syndrome: Causes and Symptoms</title> <publishDate>2021-08-29 17:50:29</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_56 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_118"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_129 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_118 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Hanna, a Canadian-based nutritionist blogger, lost her mother from health complications when she was only 19. ‘Her death was a wake-up call for me. I began studying nutrition and the benefits of eating right.’ From personal experiences, expert opinion, and years of research, Hanna concluded that, amongst other lifestyle choices, healthy food choices played an important role in people’s health. The leaky gut syndrome— a sickness caused by the increased permeability of the intestines, and many other body system sickness, can, to an extent, be prevented by our decisions to eat healthy diets.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;b&gt;Leaky Guts: Symptoms and Misdiagnosis&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The digestive system comprises many organs that work together to break down food, consume nutrients and water, and eliminate waste. To keep potentially dangerous chemicals out of your body, your intestinal lining serves as a buffer between your stomach and bloodstream. The majority of nutrient and water digestion take place in the intestines. Tight junctions or narrow openings in your intestines cause nutrients and water to flow through your bloodstream. Intestinal permeability refers to how quickly liquids slip through the intestinal walls.These close junctions will loosen as a result of certain health problems, potentially causing dangerous substances such as bacteria, toxins, and undigested food particles to reach the bloodstream. According to her, a leaky gut causes systemic inflammation and induces an immune response, resulting in a variety of health conditions known as leaky gut syndrome. “When we look into these people who suffer from the very popular IBS—Irritatble Bowel Syndrome—a health complication that affects between 25million and 45million people in the United States, that's a very strong indication of the leaky gut,” Hanna said.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Increased intestinal permeability is a well-known cause of leaky gut, which arises in conjunction with several chronic diseases such as celiac disease and type 1 diabetes. Certain proteins, such as zonulin and inflammation markers, give some insight into what causes leaky gut. Long-term NSAID—Non Steroidal Anti-inflamatory Drugs, use and a bacterial imbalance in the stomach, known as gut dysbiosis, are two other possible causes.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Histamine intolerance is caused by an excess of histamine in the body. Histamine resistance can be caused by drugs, medical problems, the environment, dietary disorders, and diet. Histamine is used in a variety of foods and beverages. In most cases, the enzymes DAO and HNMT break down swallowed histamine, stopping it from being consumed in the gut and entering the bloodstream. However, certain factors can affect how DAO and HMNT function, as well as how much of both of these enzymes are present in the gut. “We test for histamine intolerance and histamine and low ratio,” She told Top Doctor Magazine.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; “Many of the signs of leaky gut are similar to those of other illnesses. This will make it impossible for physicians to diagnose the disease. Chronic diarrhea, constipation, or bloating, dietary deficits, nausea, headaches, and trouble focusing are also signs of a leaky gut.” She says. Bad nutrition, alcohol intake, parasites, autoimmune diseases, stress, and diabetes are all causes of the leaky gut.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; “&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Proper testing gives me more information on how the guts are functioning.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;On her adaptation to telemedicine, she said “I went through using my children’s quick course and learnt how to use zoom and any other platforms to stay connected with my patients,” Hanna said. Telehealth is growing to the forefront of medicine as hospitals and medical institutions around the world scramble to find healthy treatment for their patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote treatment will also be delivered to patients in their homes, offices, or assisted living centers as an alternative to in-person appointments with both primary and specialist care, thanks to the advancement of mobile technology. Virtual tele-visits can be used to collaborate with the primary care provider and/or other health therapists to create a team of care.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Telemedicine Trend&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;While technology is unavoidable, there are now more opportunities available than ever before. New apps, start-ups, and entrepreneurs are assisting people in making smarter, safe choices by cutting through the noise. “That's the good thing with technology. We have so many tools to figure out what’s going on in our bodies”  Hanna says. Fooducate and Easy Diet Diary, for example, will do the heavy lifting for you instead of you wasting hours searching through details online or manually recording your dietary intake. These applications allow you to check every object in a grocery store or when eating it to get an ingredient and calorie breakdown. Some applications will also offer you a rundown of  healthy alternatives. For those with a lack of health awareness, applications like Health IQ have a wealth of information on issues like food allergies, childhood health, and portion control. Then there are apps like Paprika, Mealime, and Mealboard, which will assist in planning, shopping, cooking, and even suggesting a range of quick, nutritious meals.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;b&gt;On the Combination of Medicine with Alternative Medicine Practices&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;On a final note, Hanna says “Eating healthy should be a top priority for each individual. Eating healthy goes a long way in living a good life. Today, we have many wonderful practitioners around the whole world who knows how to evaluate and decide what tests to run, and things to do to ensure that their patients enjoy a healthy life.” She says, ‘I think this is something which I will love to see going hand in hand with the typical academic medicine.” &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/1610295983714.jpeg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/health-nutrition/leaky-gut-syndrome-causes-and-symptoms/</url> </article> <article> <ID>13667</ID> <title>What Does AI Look Like in the Medical Field</title> <publishDate>2021-08-28 15:42:47</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_57 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_119"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_130 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_111"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/brain-study-background-mental-health-care-medical-technology-e1630683203531.jpg" alt="" title="brain-study-background-mental-health-care-medical-technology" class="wp-image-13672" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_119 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What Does AI Look Like in the Medical Field&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Imagine the future. You are sitting on a plush couch, but you don't feel well. So, you insert your arm into your AI machine, which monitors your blood and heart rate. After the machine samples your blood and runs the tests, it sends the data and the analysis to your doctor for review. There is no traveling, long lines, and wait time, but instead an analysis accuracy that beats human judgment with precision. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;This dream of artificial intelligence paving the way for an effortless revolutionary world is not so far away as incredible advances in medicine are being made. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A Helpful Tool&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;When people think of artificial intelligence, they think of how we portray AI in Sci-Fi movies. And while Sci-Fi movies do entice our imaginations, they don't provide an accurate picture of how artificial intelligence works. Although AI robots are stereotyped as the villains of the story, AI in real life isn't limited to a robot and looks more like a fantastic way of processing data through algorithms. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;a href="https://www.brookings.edu/research/what-is-artificial-intelligence/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Artificial intelligence&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; in its current form is best described as a machine programmed with algorithms designed to make data-based judgments. Programmers create the algorithms to perform tasks with speed and accuracy. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Within the medical field, programmers have experimented with creating algorithms that will spot the difference between healthy and unhealthy cells. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2019/artificial-intelligence-in-medicine-applications-implications-and-limitations/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;According to Harvard&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, the AI test trials have a 99% accuracy rate and could lead to treating root causes of diseases instead of mediating the symptoms. As a result, AI could be one of the best tools a doctor has at disposal. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Benefits of AI in the Medical Field&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The potential benefits of AI cannot be overstated. For example, one AI machine can process data and then provide a detailed summary faster and more accurately than a doctor can. However, such a development doesn't render doctors obsolete. Instead, the machine will help doctors serve more people and focus on their connection with their patients with the time freed up. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In addition to more time, doctors can review the AI's results to give the patient a detailed diagnosis and recovery plan. The implications of AI's early detection involve better medicine, higher life expectancy, and lower mortality rates. In addition, AI virtually eliminates human error.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;When AI is used more commonly within medicine, the out-of-pocket cost for patients per visit should decrease. With more of the work shouldered by AI machines, doctors and patients alike benefit from the convenience and efficiency AI offers.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Gaining Credibility and Trust&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Currently, AI still has a few hurdles to jump before becoming an integrated part of medicine. Before it reaches doctors en masse, it must go through extensive testing and receive an FDA approval. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The testing isn't arbitrary either. Programmers test AI by having the algorithms provide an analysis. The analysis is compared with the correct outcome and then repeated with new data or adjusted to make the algorithm more accurate. This process is scrutinized to make sure any mistakes in the algorithm and its results are caught and fixed.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What may prove to be the biggest hurdle is gaining acceptance among patients who are skeptical of AI being used with a doctor. AI is not exactly personable, and some patients may feel more comfortable with a doctor making a diagnosis, even if it is wrong. Hopefully, refined AI algorithms will inspire confidence in patients that the benefits far outweigh the initial unfamiliarity.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;To The Future&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;An AI directly involved in medicine is still years away, but steady progress and continual education will make medicinal AI much closer to reality. The potential of AI and the advancement of better medicine is excellent and promising, making the future seem all the more bright.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you enjoyed this article, you may enjoy this as well: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://topdoctormagazine.com/telehealth/the-next-telehealth-revolution-is-here/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"The Next Telehealth Revolution is Here."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &amp;nbsp;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/brain-study-background-mental-health-care-medical-technology-e1630683203531.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/what-does-ai-look-like-in-the-medical-field/</url> </article> <article> <ID>12873</ID> <title>Taking the Proactive Approach to Healthcare with Tim Spooner</title> <publishDate>2021-08-27 15:10:09</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_58 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_120"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_131 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_112"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/tim-spooner-portrait-400x461-1.jpg" alt="" title="tim-spooner-portrait-400x461" class="wp-image-12875" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_120 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h1&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Taking the Proactive Approach to Healthcare with Tim Spooner&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;After over 35 years of experience as a physical therapist, Tim Spooner was happy just to continue helping his patients. On any given day, he could treat a tennis champion, a 71-year-old downhill skier, or a grandmother looking for help to play with her grandchildren.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Recently he could not ignore an alarming trend: his patients (and their employers) were seeing skyrocketing healthcare costs.  The leading cost in a health plan is Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). Health care premiums for his patients have steadily increased while payouts from healthcare insurance companies have simultaneously decreased. This discrepancy results in wasteful overspending by employers and many aspects of insurance plans effectively  limit  people from promptly receiving care for their pain. Almost as bad, it was significantly reducing the financial health of millions of Americans. In his interview with &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Tim Spooner discusses his solutions to this problem and how he is disrupting the current healthcare model with his company, Proactive MSD.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Employees are Your Number One Asset&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Spooner starts by saying&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, “I have never met a single CEO that didn’t tell me, ‘Our people are our greatest asset.’” &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Despite this, every year, thousands of employers in the United States are losing employees and money to the number one cause of disability, Musculoskeletal Disorders. “&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Everyone twists their back, strains a muscle, or tweaks a joint during work or recreational activities.” &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Spooner says that 85% of these pain issues can be solved with conservative care, but because of insurance barriers, these patients are either not seeking care or not receiving the correct intervention.  Taking it even further, he says that left untreated, these problems will worsen and individuals may choose to seek self-medication with an extremely high risk of opioid addiction.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Only One Out of Ten Patients Gets Referred for MSDs&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Tim Spooner describes the current healthcare model as “dangerously wasteful.” The overspending affects both his patients’ health and their employers’ bottom line. Health insurance companies have steadily increased their deductibles and  patients may spend several visits to a primary care doctor or a specialist before they even get to the physical therapist’s office. This delay in receiving care means the patient suffers longer and also tends to lead to more costly interventions.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It’s a Biomechanical Problem&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Spooner’s company, Proactive MSD (a joint venture with Solveglobal), takes a disruptive approach to the current system.  By offering a complete population health strategy for MSD’s at a fixed cost, they help employers decrease wasteful overspending on healthcare. This pricing model targets self insured employers looking for a transparent price and reduced run-around time due to multiple appointments from medical doctors. “&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Most MSD’s start as a biomechanical problem, not a medical one.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;   Proactive MSD’s goal:  Right Care, Right Time, Right Provider, Right Value.  When employers fix their healthcare costs and eliminate barriers to services, their employees are more likely to receive prompt medical attention.  This proactive approach decreases expensive interventions which drive up health insurance premiums.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;No One Industry Is Good at Everything&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The late Clayton Christensen studied hospitals and found that only 1 out of every 10 dollars in a large system actually goes towards patient care.  Hospitals are trying to be good at everything, and end up being a large driver of waste and inefficiency. Proactive MSD focuses its efforts on creating a Data-Centric, Risk and Opportunity Analysis for company leadership to determine the specific health risks a business faces, and to reduce wasteful costs found in expensive testing, limited accessibility, rigid appointments, and other traditional “reactive” approaches. Proactive MSD also uses confidential,  monthly workforce engagement surveys, and the data reveals the opportunities for MSD intervention.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Not All Therapies are Created Equal&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;After over three decades of patient care, Tim Spooner has noticed many individuals and large organizations assume that all physical therapists deliver equal results . It is not unusual for patients to stop attending physical therapy after only two or three visits. He attributes this to several reasons.  As healthcare providers, there is a need to connect with patients and their goals.  There is a need to educate patients on the recovery process and the timetables involved.  As therapists, there is a need to be flexible to changing symptoms and adjust the movement prescription to obtain the desired results.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Spooner got into physical therapy through a  background in sports, experience with exercise, and a love of teaching. Although the work can be demanding both physically and mentally, seeing patients achieve their goals is very satisfying.  Today’s disruptive healthcare environment will create many new and financially rewarding opportunities for those entering the physical therapy profession. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Physical Therapy of the Future&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Many innovations are moving the industry forward. Telehealth has allowed Spooner to treat patients during the COVID-19 pandemic safely. “Telehealth has been very useful in reaching patients who could not access facilities and those that travel for work.  I expect this trend to continue as patients expect greater convenience and value from their healthcare providers.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Proactive MSD’s disruptive business model is enticing business owners to recalibrate their healthcare spend.  “We reallocate what employers are currently spending and help their employees move and feel better.”   In return, the employer saves on wasteful overspending and can deliver higher wages and additional benefits to employees.  These direct contracts between healthcare providers, such as Proactive MSD, and employers are helping to reshape how healthcare is both delivered and received.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt; &lt;/h1&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/tim-spooner-portrait-400x461-1.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/frontline-heroes/doctor/taking-the-proactive-approach-to-healthcare-with-tim-spooner/</url> </article> <article> <ID>12817</ID> <title>Dr. David Hernandez - The Miami Love Doctor</title> <publishDate>2021-08-26 12:23:03</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_59 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_121"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_132 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_113"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/download-1-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" title="download (1)" class="wp-image-12822" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_121 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. David Hernandez is steadily growing in popularity as Miami's Love Doctor. He educates patients and physicians alike on sexual health and regenerative options to improve people's sex lives. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Hernandez has overcome many hurdles before becoming a sexual health specialist and educator. As a child, he wanted to become a paramedic firefighter. With the inspiration of his hardworking parents, Dr. Hernandez became a paramedic for the American Medical Response. He then worked in the ER at Jackson Memorial Hospital as an emergency room technician. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It wasn't until a doctor saw his skill and challenged him to study medicine that Dr. Hernandez realized a medical degree was in the books for him. He studied in the Dominican Republic at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Santo Domingo and was touched by the humble appreciation of his patients. His hands-on experience prepared him for his move into sexual health and regenerative medicine. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/download-3.jpg"&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/download-3-683x1024.jpg" width="293" height="440" alt="" class="wp-image-12825 alignnone size-large" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Improving People's Sexual Health&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The pandemic increased the proximity of most couples and, subsequently, Hernandez's number of patients. Spreading the word on such a sensitive topic as sexual health is not easy, even as Dr. Hernandez's patients have had success in restoring their sex lives. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Hernandez offers IV nutrition, shockwave therapy, vampire facelifts, and O and P shots. His work entails helping patients improve their sex lives by educating them on how decreasing stress balances patients' sympathetic nervous system and thus improves their sex lives. Dr. Hernandez has been helping patients rediscover the joys of sex and helps them feel more comfortable in their skin. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"I make intimacy more enjoyable for both males and females," Dr. Hernandez said. "And the most rewarding part that I've seen is when you know the patient comes back and says, 'Thank you, you saved my marriage' or 'I don't know what I was going to do with my life; thank you!'"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/download-4.jpg"&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/download-4.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="" class="wp-image-12824 alignnone size-full" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pornography and Sex&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Some aspects of sexual health are not as easy to navigate for patients. Dr. Hernandez has noticed young people having sexual health problems that are much more common in much older patients -- all due to pornography addictions. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"It creates this altered reality," Dr. Hernandez said. "Since our brain is instinctively designed to take the easy way out, it's a lot easier to sit in front of a computer screen watching porn and masturbate than it is to seduce somebody."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Hernandez doesn't think that porn is wrong, but he does think the addiction is harmful to a sexually healthy life. He tells his patients that if they can get aroused without any pornography stimulus and hold until climax, they do not have a pornography addiction. It's when porn becomes the only way to attain climax that an addiction is present.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/download-2.jpg"&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/download-2-683x1024.jpg" width="272" height="407" alt="" class="wp-image-12826 alignnone size-large" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Smart Moves&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"Sexual health is part of your overall health. It has a lot of ties to not only your physical but also to your mental health," Dr. Hernandez said. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As the pandemic helped people reflect on their values and what truly matters, Dr. David Hernandez hopes that people will continue seeking education and action to improve their sexual health. He hopes to expand his reach, which is why he has been promoting sex education and well-being on his social media platforms. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;To learn more about Dr. Hernandez and his work, you can visit him over at his Instagram and Facebook.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/download-3-683x1024.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/dr-david-hernandez-the-miami-love-doctor/</url> </article> <article> <ID>13649</ID> <title>Could This Popular Treatment Eliminate Your Chronic Pain?</title> <publishDate>2021-08-25 15:02:20</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_60 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_122"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_133 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_114"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Best-e1630680271892.jpeg" alt="" title="Best" class="wp-image-13654" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_122 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;Could This Popular Treatment Eliminate Your Chronic Pain?&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Jim Moharter suffered from an unfortunate accident back in 2003, when his vehicle took part in a massive car crash. Severe injuries to his neck and spine plagued his existence ever since, nor could he find an adequate solution to his pain – high-dose narcotics and pain medicine became the word of order, mainly comprising dangerous opioids such as Fentanyl. In addition, the accident impaired Moharter's locomotor abilities up to the point where he could not avoid the wheelchair any longer.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Such was Moharter's state when &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.dukehealth.org/find-doctors-physicians/aashish-jay-kumar-md"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Aashish Jay Kumar&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, a Wayne State University graduate who runs his clinic in Raleigh, NC, under Duke Health, welcomed him into his office. "When he first came here, he was on high-dose narcotics; he was in a wheelchair, he didn't walk." Instead of replacing the narcotic Band-Aid, Dr. Kumar decided to replace this vicious approach with a tangible and practical solution in the shape of a neuromodulation procedure. Now, Moharter is free to walk at will, without worrying about past pain or medication. "It's very empowering, psychologically and physically."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Moharter's story has a happy conclusion; however, thousands of chronic pain patients out there would be much better off after a neuromodulation procedure in a painless, medication-free world. Dr. Kumar kindly agreed to share his wealth of knowledge with the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;team in order to help these patients and raise more awareness on the astounding benefits of neuromodulation. Now, it is our turn to synthesize his thoughts and present to our readers the science behind neuromodulation and the benefits stemming from this narcotic-free approach!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Explaining a Neuromodulation Procedure&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A wind of change is sweeping the interventional pain field, bringing about neuromodulation's rise in popularity. Instead of long narcotic spans, small devices work their magic in inhibiting pain signals from arriving at the brain; such news can only cheer up 8 out of 10 patients, who, as Dr. Kumar discloses, do not require controlled substances as treatment. Instead, their best and safest bet lies in a neuromodulation procedure capable of delivering electric stimulation benefits in one go!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The neuromodulation procedure entails little to no effort from the patient's side. First, a thin &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;lead&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; is implanted under the skin and guided to the target nerve through X-ray and ultrasound. Then, the doctor will attach an &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;impulse generator &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;to your skin to communicate with the lead. Once in place, you can cause the device to send electrical stimulation to the nerve through a remote called a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;patient programmer&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The impulse generator delivers low-dose electrical stimulation to the target nerve to "reset" the nerve and provide pain relief. For a more precise understanding, Dr. Kumar proposed the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;circuit&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;overload&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; analogy – the exterior electrical stimulation block the pain signals traveling from the nerve to the brain. Thus, instead of focusing on the pain, the nerve will turn its attention towards the novel stimulation, consequently liberating you from pain!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Treating Multiple Types of Pain with Versatility&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Neuromodulation travels far and wide when it comes to treatable pain areas. Anything from fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy, and chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) falls under neuromodulation's jurisdiction. Whether it is in the knees, wrists, shoulders, or back, neuromodulation inhibits the painful sensation left after certain surgeries, such as replacement surgery. It might sound surprising, but even patients plagued by migraines from occipital neuralgia see Dr. Kumar for neuromodulation!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Neuromodulation's versatility lies not only in the treatable pain types; the Duke Health team understood the need to accommodate the device to the patient's needs. Therefore, while some patients cannot wait to enjoy the permanent benefits of neuromodulation, others might want to give it a test run. Consequently, Dr. Kumar spoke to us of two device types:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Temporary peripheral nerve stimulation devices: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;the patient wears the device for sixty days until removal, with pain relief effects lasting upwards of two years. At Duke Health, temporary devices come in the shape of the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sprtherapeutics.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;SPRINT device&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Permanent peripheral nerve stimulation devices: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;no different from their temporary counterparts, except for two things – they are permanent and do not malfunction underwater! Duke Health recommends the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="about:blank"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Bioness StimRouter&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; as a permanent peripheral nerve stimulation solution.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. Kumar does not see an issue with patients who make their debut on temporary devices; on the contrary, the opportunity to experience the peripheral nerve stimulation benefits prompts patients to transition to permanent devices. "If it works well enough, they're going to want to get it permanently anyway. 'I want a permanent version of this so that I don't have to come back every two years.'"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Raising Awareness around Neuromodulation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Over the past few years, neuromodulation has experienced a steady rise in popularity. The growing number of distributors and the patients' willingness to avoid invasive treatments and narcotics brought traction to peripheral nerve stimulation devices. "It's something that patients can consider to be less invasive than something going in their back. So, I think that's why it's gaining traction." Because of this increase in popularity, Dr. Kumar performs around fifteen neuromodulation procedures every month.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, for the time being, the snowball still needs time before it turns into an avalanche. Akin to other pain relief methods, such as CBD-based products, neuromodulation must wait for more data, more research papers, and more publicity before turning mainstream.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In the meantime, Dr. Kumar and his pain relief peers hope to see more patients bring positive change to their lives through neuromodulation. Insurance companies cover the procedure; therefore, numerous patients could potentially benefit from a peripheral nerve stimulation device right away!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Best-e1630680271892.jpeg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/could-this-popular-treatment-eliminate-your-chronic-pain/</url> </article> <article> <ID>12052</ID> <title>8 Healthy Eating Habits to Start Today</title> <publishDate>2021-08-24 03:28:26</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_61 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_123"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_134 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_115"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/unnamed.jpg" alt="" title="unnamed" class="wp-image-12053" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_123 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Introduction&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Modifying your eating habits, including eating at the right time, can help you turn your life around. It takes a certain degree of dedication and commitment to introduce new habits into your daily routine. In time, you will be surprised how it can help your body become stronger and healthier.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Drink More Water&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, you have to drink more than a few glasses of water a day. One case &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23803882"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;study&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; after &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19661958"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;another&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; proves the short-term and long-term benefits of drinking a lot of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17519319"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;water&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Drinking more water leads to weight loss and burns more calories each day.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Eat Greek Yogurt&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Thick and creamy Greek yogurt is another healthy food for your daily routine. Greek yogurt is an ideal source of protein that provides a long-lasting feeling of fullness. It will allow you to manage your appetite and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23107521"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;consume&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; fewer &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18448177"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;calories&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; over time. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Get the Whole-Grain Bread&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;You may like the taste, but white bread is not your friend. Whole-grain bread, on the other hand, is a healthier choice. Besides, refined grains come with a lot of health issues. Eat whole-grain bread to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23608304"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;decrease&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; potential type-2 diabetes, cancer, and heart disease &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24478050"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;risk&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Have a Proper Breakfast&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;You should also introduce eggs into your breakfast. Eggs can be pretty healthy so long as you consume them during your morning breakfast. Eggs contain high-level protein and create a feeling of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20226994"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;fullness&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; in the morning. A &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22948783"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;study&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; shows that people consume less food after an egg-based breakfast in the morning.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Set a Normal Eating Pace&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Just because you skipped lunch doesn’t mean you can devour the dinner in an instant. Ideally, you should take your &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21802566"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;time&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and make sure to chew while eating. Consequently, slow-paced eating will reduce the chance of obesity and signal your brain that you’re full.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Try to Cook More at Home&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you want to adopt a healthier eating lifestyle, start cooking more at &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5561571/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;home&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Of course, It’s no harm to eat out every now and then at your favorite restaurants. However, try to learn to cook more dishes at home. Besides, there is an ocean of recipes and available material online. It would help if you took your time to perfect your home cooking skills. In time, you will feel and look healthier. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Eat More Protein&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;When it comes to nutrients, protein is king. Think of protein as a supercharged nutrient that can &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16469977"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;affect&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; your daily hunger. One &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16002798"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;research&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; demonstrates that a high protein intake propels individuals to consume less food over a long period.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-level="1"&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;More Baking Less Frying&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Your method to prepare food matters, and frying food comes with serious health consequences. You may love your meat or fish deep-fried, but it also &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26878284"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;leads&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to heart diseases and cancer. So, if you don’t want to intake toxic &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26776018"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;compounds&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; because of frying and grilling methods, focus on baking more.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sum Up&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Remember not to confuse healthy eating with dieting. Healthy eating is more than about losing weight – it’s about feeling mentally and physically sound. Think of healthy eating as a balanced approach for your body to get necessary nutrients and ensure optimal bodily functions. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;From vegetables to fruits to fats to starches to proteins, healthy eating also makes you more mindful about what you drink and eat. The more you lean towards healthy eating habits, the faster you can cut out processed or fried foods from your life.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;REFERENCES:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Brennan, F. (2021). 17 healthy eating habits to start today, according to our medical experts. Retrieved 2021, from https://www.eatthis.com/news-healthy-eating-habits-etnt-medical-experts/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;How to make healthy eating a habit. (n.d.). Retrieved 2021, from https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-healthy-eating-habits&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Migala, J., Macht, H., Migala, J., Lawler, M., Palinski-Wade, E., Revelant, J., . . . Rapaport, L. (n.d.). Why are healthy eating habits important?: Everyday health. Retrieved 2021, from https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/importance-healthy-eating-habits/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Murad, A. (2020). 5 key habits of healthy eaters. Retrieved 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/5-key-habits-of-healthy-eaters/art-20270182&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Murad, A. (2020). 5 key habits of healthy eaters. Retrieved 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/5-key-habits-of-healthy-eaters/art-20270182&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The top 10 benefits of eating healthy. (n.d.). Retrieved 2021, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322268&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/unnamed.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/health-nutrition/8-healthy-eating-habits-to-start-today/</url> </article> <article> <ID>10404</ID> <title>Embracing Telemedicine: How COVID-19 Is Forcefully Transforming An Industry Resistant To Change</title> <publishDate>2021-08-23 18:13:44</publishDate> <description>Technology has brought incredible developments in every sector of the economy to facilitate improvements in all aspects of human lifestyle and business. Technological innovation influenced overall performance, job efficiency, effectiveness, and improvement in the quality of service delivery. Yet, implementing telemedicine and all other aspects of digital health has been slow over the years, and multiple great technologies have failed to penetrate the healthcare system. &lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/cynthia_headshot.jpg"&gt;&lt;img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10405" src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/cynthia_headshot.jpg" alt="" width="299" height="299" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Some professionals who enjoy their routine for several decades tend to become resistant to any disruptions threatening the status quo. Technology is a notorious disruptor that can trigger a sweeping change capable of transforming an industry. Some of these professionals are often reluctant to adopt new technological change out of disinterest and skepticism that it will improve efficiency. The healthcare industry is a notable example of an industry that has been resistant to change. As a result, the adoption of technological innovation in the healthcare system has been challenging. However, the recent pandemic triggered a pervasive healthcare emergency globally, and its overwhelming effect necessitated an immediate change to health care delivery. Healthcare providers have resorted to telemedicine to maintain social and physical distancing while meeting people's demand for healthcare service and many have realized its value and ability to provide greater access to quality care. Dr. Cynthia Horner, a licensed, Board-Certified Family Physician and medical director at Amwell Medical Group, a physician owned and operated medical practice that provides telehealth care exclusively on Amwell, has been practicing virtually many years - long before the pandemic - and experienced first hand the impact that telehealth can have on patient care as well as the provider experience. In an interview with &lt;em&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/em&gt; Dr. Horner , told us, "I started practicing virtually as I was looking for a lasting change in my career because I found that many of the administrative burdens in how we deliver care didn't have to be there. Even though there are technological devices around, we failed to leverage these digital tools. We could not get access to people's health information and access their data. There should be a faster, more efficient, and effective way to do this." &lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_11.png"&gt;&lt;img class="wp-image-10332 aligncenter" src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_11.png" alt="" width="1151" height="518" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Speaking further on the need for telemedicine, Dr. Horner said that the ability to meet people in their home and to provide evidence-based, high-quality care when they need it, where they need it, where she does not have to keep them waiting in a waiting room for 30 to 45 minutes with a bunch of other sick people is an invaluable upgrade to healthcare delivery. For example, Dr. Horner alluded to a recent experience with a mom who was reluctant to take her daughter to the local emergency room, where many COVID-19 patients would surround her. "We had a video visit, and I was able to help them. I took a look at the child's breathing and counted her respiratory rate. Basically, I was able to help her know that there are some things that we can do." Dr. Horner further explained that she reconnected with the mom the next day and told her that she didn't need to go to the ER. "Call me back if something comes up. That really helped her. And she did call back the next day, and the child was doing a thousand times better." Dr. Horner said. &lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_12.png"&gt;&lt;img class="wp-image-10333 aligncenter" src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_12.png" alt="" width="968" height="529" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Dr. Horner pinpointed regulatory restrictions as a major obstacle inhibiting the previous adoption of digital health. Healthcare providers are required to apply for medical licensure across each state before COVID-19, however, some of those restrictions were peeled back during the public health emergencies enacted during the pandemic. "I think during COVID, we saw that some States relaxed their restrictions or included reciprocity agreements with other States that allowed cross-state line medical care. Reducing some of the regulatory barriers to a national care provision is one important factor, and financing is another. Above all, there is a need to create guidelines for digital health in a way that will eliminate fear, provide lower-cost, more efficient care, but not at the expense of quality of care." Aside from the overarching benefit of digital health, Dr. Horner believes that telehealth has an opportunity to decrease the cost of care while improving its efficiency. "I think that's why some health plans, in particular, are very interested in the ability of telehealth to close gaps in care which can not only improve care outcomes but also reduce costs." "As we go forward, what the future of healthcare looks like is an interesting question. I think we're going to find a lot more video care, but virtual will never fully replace in-person - there are still some care interactions that will need to be conducted in-person like labs, surgeries, etc. Still, there is so much we can do virtually today and through digital technologies, we have an ability to make healthcare a much more efficient and better experience for all, " Dr. Horner concluded.</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_10.png</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/frontline-heroes/doctor/embracing-telemedicine-how-covid-19-is-forcefully-transforming-an-industry-resistant-to-change/</url> </article> <article> <ID>11705</ID> <title>Leading with Excellent Service: An Interview with Dr. Harry Pan</title> <publishDate>2021-08-22 11:53:23</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_62 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_124"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_135 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_116"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2016-10-0711.16.24.jpg" alt="" title="2016-10-07+11.16.24" class="wp-image-11706" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_124 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Harry Pan is the lead primary care doctor at his practice, Sagebrush Medical Center in Henderson, NV. He balances the work of a businessman, a doctor, a husband, and a father of two. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As for many physicians, COVID-19 was a determinant of their business survival under intense pressure. Dr. Pan and his team were no different as they faced difficulties within their community as a fairly young practice.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Managing the COVID-19 Crisis&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As the pandemic's spread and seriousness increased, Dr. Pan and his team had to determine how to treat their patients. Consequently, adapting telemedicine was a must. With some schedule reworking, Dr. Pan could retain all of his staff on reduced hours, which have begun to increase back to normal hours as more patients have gotten vaccinated. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"We can never really predict what the future brings. Our core mission is to be there for our patients, to be the primary care clinic that adapts to their needs," Dr. Pan said. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;He explained that the crucial aspect of primary care was an intentional relationship between patient and doctor. Those honest relations led to Dr. Pan and his team improving the quality of care their patients receive. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Intentional Care&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A direct and involved relationship with the patients drew Dr. Pan to opening his private practice in 2017. In addition, his work at hospitals made him realize how transactional visits were and how important having a detailed understanding of the patients' prior medical history could benefit their overall care and future diagnosis. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"Over the last four years, I've had patients from the day our clinic opened. Being able to serve them and see them grow with me is, I think, the most fascinating and fulfilling part of the job," Dr. Pan said. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Part of Dr. Pan's intentional care involves screening for mental health issues. He cannot stress enough the value of making sure the whole of the patient is healthy.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"I think if we take an extra five minutes to just sit down with them and address these [mental health] issues, we can actually help our patients better. Sometimes I just pause in addressing their external issues and ask, 'Hey, how are you really doing?', and I occasionally get people who just cry."&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Caring and addressing the internal state of his patients in hand with solving the external physical problems has led Dr. Pan to be a highly recommended doctor in his region. Patients have consistently written how much they appreciate his service. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;In the future, Dr. Pan hopes to increase the quality of care he offers and expand his practice. If you would like to learn more about him and his team, you can &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sagebrushmedicalcenter.com/meet-our-clinicians" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;visit them here&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2016-10-0711.16.24.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/leading-with-excellent-service-an-interview-with-dr-harry-pan/</url> </article> <article> <ID>13640</ID> <title>Giving the Power to the Patients: An Interview with Dr. Gregg DeNicola from Caduceus Medical Group</title> <publishDate>2021-08-21 14:32:19</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_63 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_125"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_136 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_117"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/thumbnail_image0.jpeg-e1630678490917.jpg" alt="" title="thumbnail_image0.jpeg" class="wp-image-13644" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_125 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;h1&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Interview with Dr. Gregg DeNicola - Co-founder of Caduceus Medical Group&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;When he was merely a high schooler, Dr. Gregg DeNicola discovered his passion for practicing medicine while volunteering at a pediatric ward. "I remember watching kids light up when we visited, and the faces of their parents too." Coming from a proud, hardworking, blue-collar family with a small liquor store business, Dr. DeNicola was determined (and pushed by his parents) to become professional by trade and used his volunteering experience as a sign that he belonged in medicine. In his interview with &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, Dr. DeNicola describes his experience of practicing Family Medicine for over thirty-five years and co-founding Caduceus Medical Group (CMG), an innovative physician-owned multi-specialty group in Orange County.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Medical Training and a Double-edged Corporate Experience&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. DeNicola has a bright academic record, received a Bachelor of Science Cum Laude, and completed medical school at Creighton University. He completed his internship and residency at Northridge Hospital (UCLA School of Medicine). In the early 80s, Dr. DeNicola started in a small Family Practice Group, allowing him to start an Independent Physicians Association (IPA) managed care group a few years later. This business was a very successful venture and handled things like HMO contracts and managed care. Due to its success, they took the company public in the 90s. By 1997 Dr. DeNicola started to see the problem with the single-minded obsession with corporate profits - "We discovered that a doctors group probably shouldn't be a publicly run company, maybe for hospitals or pharmaceutical companies - that's OK, but not doctors… In the public marketplace, the need to make a profit is so great, but health care really shouldn't be about making a profit."&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Co-founding Caduceus Medical Group&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Fed up with the drag of a constant corporate need for profit, Dr. DeNicola co-founded &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.caduceusmedicalgroup.com/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Caduceus Medical Group&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; on January 1, 1999. Under his leadership, Dr. DeNicola and a handful of other close physician co-founders created a new kind of multi-specialty medical group that was less weighed down by shareholders and government interference. The group was also not locked into certain hospital systems and specific pharmaceutical companies. Instead, Caduceus Medical Group's business model puts the doctors and community they serve first by giving their patients an innovative high amount of freedom of choice in specialists, hospitals, medicine, cash price lists, and guaranteed access to care as a cornerstone of operating philosophy. This setup is similar to the local community multi-specialty medical group business model that was commonplace before the corporate takeover of medical groups in the 1970s and 1980s. However, the difference between those early multi-specialty practices and Caduceus Medical Group is that CMG created six locations throughout Orange County without outsourcing any billing, collection, coding, or upper management. "We're definitely run by our doctors, and we're fiercely independent, so we don't allow hospitals to affiliate with us, or any HMO, or health system.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;We truly only have one customer, and that's our patients,"&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. DeNicola proudly states.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Expanding the Business&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Caduceus Medical Group has added several expansions to the group through the years. What started with just a mix of Family Practice, Pediatrics, and OB-GYN specialists has expanded into Physical Therapy, Radiology, Psychology, Urgent Care, and labs. "We did it organically. We didn't really make any acquisitions. Maybe a few tiny ones, but we mostly kept reinvesting profits in ourselves, and that prevented us from going to hospitals on our knees,"&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. DeNicola shares.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Today, CMG is open to more investment and looking to hire more doctors and specialists to expand the company into Los Angeles and Southern California.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Differences in Business Model from Competitors&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;"They all have the term 'healthcare system' - which means they control the doctors, the hospital, the health plan, the pharmacy, as much of the pie as they can control is what makes them a 'system.' We're very proud not to be part of a system. We're your doctor." In short, Dr. DeNicola tells us that CMG gives the patient the power to choose their desired hospital or specialist (provided their insurance companies will cooperate), which sets them apart from other healthcare systems.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;COVID-19 and Telemedicine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Fortunately, Dr. DeNicola tells &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Top Doctor Magazine &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;that his organization has been using telemedicine for patients since 2014. When the first wave of the pandemic rocked the country's healthcare system, CMG was able to quickly adapt to the pandemic with their existing online/app appointment system and a fully operational telemedicine healthcare protocol in place. Despite this, unfortunately, several of the staff were still affected by the pandemic. Dr. DeNicola himself also suffered from lingering severe effects of coronavirus pneumonia, which has sidelined him from caring for patients in person.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;What's Next for The COVID-19 Long-Haulers?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. DeNicola is currently concerned about treating the next phase of this pandemic, the COVID-19 long-haulers. "&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;By long haulers, we mean patients who have symptoms of COVID-19 two months or more after they had the bug. Usually, these symptoms are different from when they were sick. Depression, PTSD, heart attack strokes, these things aren't rare." &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Dr. DeNicola is hopeful for national herd immunity to be achieved possibly by Halloween this year, and perhaps then a shift into preventing it from coming back. Still, Dr. DeNicola is noticing a need for vigilance against the virus, "I tell my patients, it's like the coronavirus is a poodle. And COVID-19 didn't mutate into a pitbull…it mutated into a pack of wolves. It's one really, really mean virus." Despite the pandemic, Dr. DeNicola is adamant that new doctors be wary of focusing on profits. They need to go back to putting patients first now more than ever.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/thumbnail_image0.jpeg-e1630678490917.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/business/financial/giving-the-power-to-the-patients-an-interview-with-dr-gregg-denicola-from-caduceus-medical-group/</url> </article> <article> <ID>10399</ID> <title>Pain Management - A Comprehensive Care Guide with James Boesiger DMSc,PA-C</title> <publishDate>2021-08-20 18:08:56</publishDate> <description>James Boesiger, DMSc, PA-C, has been at the forefront of pain medicine's evolution for over three decades. However, he still can't forget the profound effect of his childhood experience when he came home to his mother wearing sunglasses in bed and vomiting from chronic pain brought on by severe migraines. And so, it is no coincidence that along with his specialty in chronic pain medicine, Boesiger has a sub-specialty in headache medicine. In his interview with &lt;em&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/em&gt;, Boesiger describes some of the recent advances in chronic pain treatment, the unique challenges of practicing pain management during the pandemic, and where he sees the field moving towards the future. &lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Boesiger_Photo.jpg"&gt;&lt;img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10400" src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Boesiger_Photo.jpg" alt="" width="205" height="300" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;h2&gt;From Emergency Medicine to Pain Medicine&lt;/h2&gt; Boesiger started his career practicing emergency medicine in 1986, but in the fall of 2005, a life-changing continuing-education conference sponsored by the American Society of Pain Educators (ASPE)  inspired him to change fields, follow his passion for pain management, and become one of Nevada’s first Certified Pain Educators (CPE) by the American Society of Pain Educators. The field of pain management has grown considerably since the first 50 people at that Las Vegas conference. Now, Boesiger has seen that small group grow into PAINWeek, a massive annual pain management conference taking up three floors at the Cosmopolitan conference center in Las Vegas with thousands of attendees. Boesiger was also a Credentialed Pain Practitioner from the Academy of Integrative Pain Management. In 2019 he earned his Doctorate of Medical Science (DMSc), from the University of Lynchburg, the first of its kind and an innovative program designed specifically for PAs. &lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_28.png"&gt;&lt;img class="wp-image-10349 aligncenter" src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_28.png" alt="" width="953" height="481" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Advances in Headache Medicine&lt;/h2&gt; This path into chronic pain management would lead Boesiger to one of his passions, headache medicine. The field has experienced evolution since the 1960s when Boesiger's mother suffered from migraines -"we are light-years ahead of where we were." He first learned of the sub-specialty through the Diamond Headache Foundation, promoting headache education in the medical field. Boesiger has a Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) through the American Headache Society. He tells &lt;em&gt;Top Doctor Magazine &lt;/em&gt;that one of the first breakthroughs during his career was moving from opioid treatment of migraines to using a class of drugs called “triptans”  , the first one, sumatriptan approved for use in 1991 as a subcutaneous injection. More recently, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptides (CGRP) has been lauded as a profound paradigm shift in the treatment of migraines, "Right now, we are in the middle of another revolution in migraine medicine. It's definitely an exciting time for a headache medicine." &lt;h2&gt;Multimodal Pain Management&lt;/h2&gt; Today, Boesiger practices at the Nevada Comprehensive Pain Center in Las Vegas. The company has six clinics spread across the Las Vegas valley and incorporates a multi-disciplinary approach to chronic pain. "There are a variety of pain conditions we treat, but the majority of patients at the pain center are treated for cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine pain." Osteoarthritis of the knees and other joints, post-surgical pains, diabetic peripheral neuropathy are seen frequently as other neuropathic conditions including fibromyalgia. The clinic uses various interventional procedures such as epidural injections and nerve blocks for pain relief. On the more technical end neuromodulation is implanted for spinal stimulation for severe neuropathies and radiculopathies. Nevada Comprehensive Pain Center also firmly pushes for conservative therapy, weight loss, stop smoking, physical therapy, yoga, and chiropractic care. "With pain patients, there's no such thing as one size fits all," Boesiger says. &lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_29.png"&gt;&lt;img class="wp-image-10350 aligncenter" src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_29.png" alt="" width="954" height="468" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;h2&gt;A Challenging Regulatory Environment&lt;/h2&gt; Strict government regulations of medications are necessary but complicated for pain management, especially for the prescription of opioids. For Boesiger, Nevada's AB 474 statute brought on several confusing mandates for medical professionals, "It really changed the face of pain management in this state, and I'm sure other states that adopted similar restrictive mandates." Boesiger recalls&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;that these laws' language was so confusing that several primary care physicians, dentists, and pain management specialists just stopped prescribing pain medication altogether. Likewise, patients had to jump through several expensive hoops just to receive the same pain medication they have been reliant on for years. &lt;h2&gt;COVID-19 and Pain Management&lt;/h2&gt; In April 2020, Boesiger's practice went full telemedicine, which is not an easy choice for a field that traditionally relied on face-to-face interaction. Fortunately, for Boesiger, his clinic had already transitioned to some essential systems to be fully electronic, such as the electronic prescription software system for medications, "I can only imagine the complications we would have endured just to deliver paper prescriptions. It would have been quite complex." At one point in late 2020, so much of the staff was either quarantined from being sick or for being in direct contact with a family member that was sick, that it was just Boesiger and his medical assistant seeing the patients for a few days. We were “Last Man (and Woman) Standing!”  Although so much of the practice during the pandemic was improvisationally problem solving on a daily basis, the Nevada Comprehensive Pain Center's six clinic locations allowed for some staffing flexibility during the peak of staff infection or quarantine. Boesiger gives credit to the management team who was able to shuffle staff around from different clinics just to continue patient care. &lt;h2&gt;What's in the Future for Pain Management?&lt;/h2&gt; Boesiger believes in telemedicine expansion, but it remains a complicated issue for pain management due to several drawbacks. If you have a good audio and visual interface, you can assess breathing and respiratory rates. Moreover, you can also assess specific muscles and teach patients particular body movements and therapeutic maneuvers online. Protocol for documentation of the visit has serious potential and could be an invaluable data set down the road for a patient's treatment. "Some ailments, like headaches and migraines, are all in the patient's history, so much of that can easily be done with a telemedicine visit." &lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_31.png"&gt;&lt;img class="wp-image-10352 aligncenter" src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_31.png" alt="" width="1092" height="553" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Traditional Ways Beyond the Limits of Telemedicine&lt;/h2&gt; With over three decades of experience, Boesiger is wary of his field drifting too far into the telemedicine world. One of the first concerns is a practical one, insurance reimbursement. Some payers will pay 40% less for a telemedicine visit versus an in-person one, which is untenable for most businesses showing thinning margins due to recent complicated regulatory laws and already diminished payouts from insurance companies. Deeper concerns for Boesiger are losing the traditional hands-on approach and relationship-defining moments with patients, "The hand holding, the touch, the compassion, the empathy, the 'pat-on-the-back' if you will." COVID-19 reminds us that we take simple treatments like listening to the lungs and palpitating the abdomen as a given during a hospital visit. Still, these crucial interactions are lost during a telemedicine assessment. Patients are overall reporting to Boesiger that most prefer in-person visits, aside from a few specific cases. &lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_32.png"&gt;&lt;img class="wp-image-10353 aligncenter" src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_32.png" alt="" width="1081" height="503" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Stigmatization of People in Chronic Pain&lt;/h2&gt; Boesiger's doctoral thesis focused on the stigma that pain patients experience sometimes on a daily basis. He looked at the impact of glances from strangers, the rolling of eyes from a pharmacist or a co-worker, the challenge of even picking up medication. It can sometimes be attributed to severe depression or adverse developments in mental health observed during the pandemic. For Boesiger, the key to pain management is the earned trust and relationship during the healing process, "The subtle moments of looking into a patient's eyes as they tell their story, means so much to them, perhaps more so than getting a prescription or a shot."</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_27.png</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/health-nutrition/pain-management-a-comprehensive-care-guide-with-james-boesiger-dmscpa-c/</url> </article> <article> <ID>12796</ID> <title>Psoriasis: 8 Things You Should Know About This Chronic Skin Disease</title> <publishDate>2021-08-19 14:45:48</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_64 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_126"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_137 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_118"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/untitled-design-2019-09-20t115434196-1.jpg" alt="" title="untitled-design-2019-09-20t115434196" class="wp-image-12802" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_126 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you’re suffering from having red, scaly, inflamed, and itchy patches around your skin that sometimes cause burning sensations or even bleeding, there’s a big chance that you could have Psoriasis. But don’t worry - you are not alone. In fact, 7.5 million people in the United States are affected with psoriasis, and not even celebrities like Kim Kardashian or Cara Delevigne are spared from this disease. Although psoriasis is a common ailment, there are still many things about it that the public misunderstands, which is why we’re here to help clear things out.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;b&gt;1. Psoriasis is not just a rash. It is an autoimmune disease.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;We tend to mistake psoriasis with just another rash, but many experts believe it is an autoimmune disease, meaning that specific triggers can cause the immune system to malfunction by &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/psoriasis-immune-system#relationship" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;launching an inflammatory response to attack healthy cells&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;These triggers result in having a build-up of red, scaly, and inflamed skin plaques.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;b&gt;2. Psoriasis is not contagious.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;When you see someone with flushed, scaly patches of skin, don’t be afraid to shake their hands or hug them. Psoriasis is not contagious; therefore, you shouldn’t treat the person struggling with them differently. However, studies have shown that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4285384/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;psoriasis can come from genetics&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, and if both of your parents have them, there is a 50% chance you will get them as well.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;b&gt;3. Psoriasis is not curable, but it is manageable.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;To date, there is still no cure for psoriasis - but that doesn’t mean you should give up hope. This chronic skin disorder is easily manageable if you go and see a dermatologist who can recommend the right treatment plan, whether using skincare products, applying topical medication, or changing your lifestyle. If you’re seeking a dermatologist who can help you with this skin condition, you may visit the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.psoriasis.org/navigationcenter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) Patient Navigation Center&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; for assistance. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;b&gt;4. There are different kinds of psoriasis.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Psoriasis can manifest itself in more than one way. The most common type we see is plaque psoriasis, which translates into having red scaly patches on the skin. However, 30% of people suffer from &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316757" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;psoriatic arthritis&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, which happens when there is joint inflammation.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;b&gt;5. Psoriasis can appear all over your body.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The most common parts of your body that psoriasis takes over are your scalp, elbows, knees, hands, and feet. Patches on the scalp can even lead to hair loss, and when psoriasis occurs around your nail beds, sometimes the nails can become brittle and not grow back.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;b&gt;6. An unhealthy lifestyle makes psoriasis worse.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;While half of the psoriasis cases are genetic, environmental factors cause the other half. Stress, alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of sunlight, viral infections, and certain medications usually trigger flare-ups in adults. If you want to keep your psoriasis dormant, try to maintain a healthy lifestyle with proper exercise and diet. Studies even show that a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6143029/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Mediterranean diet&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; is a key to slow down psoriasis progression.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;b&gt;7. Psoriasis can cause other diseases. &lt;/b&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If not treated, psoriasis can lead to other more severe diseases such as heart disease, obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and even depression. Since psoriasis causes inflammation in and around your body, it is highly plausible for inflammation to affect your blood vessels and interfere with the transfer of blood and oxygen needed to function correctly.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;b&gt;8. Most people have mild cases.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Luckily, the majority of people living with psoriasis only experience mild cases. Only 20% have moderate to severe cases, wherein severe cases cover more than &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5389757/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;5 percent of the body’s surface area. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If you suspect that you are exhibiting symptoms of psoriasis or know someone who is, be sure to contact your doctor or visit the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.psoriasis.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;NPF website&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to ask for the necessary help.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/untitled-design-2019-09-20t115434196.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/psoriasis-8-things-you-should-know-about-this-chronic-skin-disease/</url> </article> <article> <ID>10393</ID> <title>Could a Once-a-week Insulin Injection Alter the Treatment of Diabetes?</title> <publishDate>2021-08-18 18:02:40</publishDate> <description>In a new turn of events, &lt;a href="https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2021/04/15/dc20-2878"&gt;&lt;u&gt;research&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt; trials showed that weekly insulin can work as a treatment to treat and manage diabetes. Some medical professionals concur that it is the right move in the right direction. The research involved hundreds of patients with type 2 diabetes. Research analysts managed to evaluate the efficacy and safety concerns of long-form insulin called “insulin Icodec.” The extensive research also involved participants from various countries. The second trial of the research proved that people with diabetes could move from daily insulin injections to weekly Icodec-based injections. The research shows the transition from daily to weekly to be effective and safe for people with diabetes. &lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_24.png"&gt;&lt;img class="wp-image-10345 aligncenter" src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_24.png" alt="" width="1033" height="544" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Once-a-Week Insulin Injection: What Will be the “Next” Move?&lt;/h2&gt; The research still requires more affirmation and reaffirmation of findings. Still, it is excellent news for Individuals who have no choice but to inject insulin on a day-to-day basis. Besides, more than &lt;a href="https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics-report/index.html"&gt;&lt;u&gt;10%&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt; of the U.S. population suffers from diabetes. It means over 7 million Americans have to use standard insulin to manage blood sugar levels. However, the tide is changing, and the new research brings a new ray of light for people with diabetes across the U.S. You have to understand that essentially, an insulin compound is a hormone produced by the pancreas that moves sugar from the bloodstream into the cells. However, a diabetic’s body can no longer produce the required insulin or no insulin at all. &lt;h2&gt;Insulin Treatment and Insulin Administration&lt;/h2&gt; Sure, no one can deny the fact that insulin is an excellent treatment, but the added burden to administer insulin is another story. And that’s why the timing of this new research couldn’t be more perfect. It is no longer a fantasy for people with diabetes to take their insulin injections once a week. In fact, more findings will help realize this convenience for people with diabetes and bring down traditional administration barriers for people. You may not be aware of it, but medical professionals and scientific researchers worldwide have been on the lookout to find a more efficient and effective way to inject insulin. Besides, people with diabetes don’t deserve the exhaustion (and embarrassment) of injecting insulin every single day. &lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_25.png"&gt;&lt;img class="wp-image-10346 aligncenter" src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_25.png" alt="" width="1007" height="442" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Research Phase 2 and How Insulin “Icodec” Works&lt;/h2&gt; It is crucial to remember that the new extensive research involves a combination of sequential studies. Phase 2 of these studies showed promising results of weekly insulin injections for type 2 diabetes. Scientifically, insulin Icodec reversibly binds the insulin to the binding albumin. As a result, the binding agent, albumin, slows down the release of an insulin analog and extends the life of the insulin for one week. &lt;h2&gt;Limitations of Contemporary Insulin Therapies&lt;/h2&gt; Contrary to misguided perceptions, there is no mindless practice to inject insulin without any cause of concern. Before a person with diabetes injects insulin, they have to figure out the proper dose of medication that would support “their” levels of blood sugar. This variation can differ from one person to another and depends on stress level, exercise, and total carbohydrates in a diet. &lt;h2&gt;Insulin Injections are More Complicated than You Think&lt;/h2&gt; It would be an understatement to call insulin injections complicated. When it comes to injecting insulin daily, people with diabetes often make injection site or dosage errors. Over time, these types of mistakes create more complications like diabetic &lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325136#symptoms"&gt;&lt;u&gt;ketoacidosis&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and low or high blood sugar for diabetic patients. &lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_26.png"&gt;&lt;img class="wp-image-10347 aligncenter" src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_26.png" alt="" width="1108" height="581" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Icodec injections: New Standard for Insulin Therapy?&lt;/h2&gt; Over the years, there have been several scientific advancements in current insulin therapy. But there are still new opportunities for researchers to explore to make insulin administration more effective and safe for people with diabetes across the globe. And icodec injections have the power to alleviate the suffering and burden of millions of diabetic patients. &lt;h2&gt;More Focus on Convenience&lt;/h2&gt; When it comes to managing and controlling type 2 diabetes, individuals want more convenience than ever. And the new research findings are optimistic and offer a more convenient approach to people with diabetes to take insulin injections. Some people with diabetes require more than one injection per day. But the results of this research come across as game-changing that would favor people with diabetes. Dr. Ildiko Lingvay, the lead author of the published research, affirms that weekly insulin is far more convenient and practical for diabetic patients. &lt;h2&gt;Final Thoughts&lt;/h2&gt; If further examination of the findings proves correct, this scientific study will become a savior to patients who take seven insulin injections per day. In hindsight, there are some strings attached to the new research, but it doesn’t change the fact that the weekly insulin injection option is much better for people with diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels and live healthy and normal lives. &lt;strong&gt;REFERENCES:&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;ol&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/once-a-week-insulin-treatment-may-be-a-novel-way-to-treat-diabetes"&gt;&lt;u&gt;https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/once-a-week-insulin-treatment-may-be-a-novel-way-to-treat-diabetes&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/949924"&gt; &lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/949924"&gt;&lt;u&gt;https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/949924&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2021/04/15/dc20-2878"&gt; &lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2021/04/15/dc20-2878"&gt;&lt;u&gt;https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2021/04/15/dc20-2878&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210419135655.htm#:~:text=2-,Once%2Da%2Dweek%20insulin%20treatment%20could%20be%20game%2D,changing%20for%20patients%20with%20diabetes&amp;amp;text=Summary%3A,of%20two%20international%20clinical%20trials"&gt;&lt;u&gt;https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210419135655.htm#:~:text=2-,Once%2Da%2Dweek%20insulin%20treatment%20could%20be%20game%2D,changing%20for%20patients%20with%20diabetes&amp;amp;text=Summary%3A,of%20two%20international%20clinical%20trials&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-09-once-a-week-insulin-diabetes-early-trial.html"&gt;&lt;u&gt;https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-09-once-a-week-insulin-diabetes-early-trial.html&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ol&gt; &amp;nbsp;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_24.png</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/frontline-heroes/doctor/could-a-once-a-week-insulin-injection-alter-the-treatment-of-diabetes/</url> </article> <article> <ID>12359</ID> <title>10 Triggers of Psoriasis and How to Avoid Them</title> <publishDate>2021-08-17 07:38:11</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_65 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_127"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_138 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_119"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/10-Triggers-of-Psoriasis-and-How-to-Avoid-Them.jpg" alt="" title="Man hand scratching an itch on red mark sensitive skin as food o" class="wp-image-12400" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_127 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;People living with psoriasis know that skin flares come and go. Some days, they’re mild, with only a few red patches here and there. Other days, they’re unbearable and take over the whole body. What triggers psoriasis flares may differ for each person, but we’ve listed all of them below to help you become more cautious about possible triggers and how to avoid them.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;1. Stress&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Stress can be a trigger for many types of diseases, including psoriasis. Unfortunately, these two often go hand in hand -- psoriasis causes stress for many people, and the stress can make outbreaks worse. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Finding ways to reduce stress can help avoid worsening the condition. For example, try practicing yoga and meditation or soaking in a tub with a scented candle. Calling a friend to vent or joining a support group is also another great way to minimize stress.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;2. Infection&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Some common infections like strep throat, bronchitis, tonsillitis, respiratory or ear infections may cause a flare-up &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/scaly-skin/psoriasis/tips-for-managing-psoriasis/are-triggers-causing-your-psoriasis-flare-ups"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;2 to 6 weeks&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;after the infection. Since infections attack the immune system, which is also responsible for psoriasis, a disturbance will likely trigger flares. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;To avoid getting any infection, keep the immune system up by taking vitamin C, eating healthy food, and exercising regularly. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;3. Medication&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Some &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/causes"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;medications&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; may also cause psoriasis flares after a couple of weeks from using them. For example, doctors have linked antimalarial drugs (Plaquenil or chloroquine), beta-blockers (Inderal for high blood pressure), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Indomethacin for arthritis), and lithium for psychiatric disorders to flare-ups. Even steroids, which are essentially given as medication to deal with flares, may end up triggering an outbreak after withdrawal from long-term use of the drug.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, these drugs are also necessary to treat other ailments, and they may impact a person’s health if they stop using them. If flare-ups occur, make sure to consult with a doctor or dermatologist to figure out what medication is causing the flares and find a way to treat it. Some physicians may even offer alternative medication that won’t trigger flares.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;4. Skin Injury&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Cuts, scratches, bruises, bug bites, extreme sunburn, or broken skin signs can also trigger a psoriasis outbreak. Flares are more likely to appear around the injured skin area.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;It’s quite easy to get minor injuries from daily activities like cooking, cleaning, gardening, or exercising -- to avoid that, try to be more careful. And when injured, quickly treat the lesion, so it heals before flares start to show.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;5. Alcohol Consumption&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Drinking alcohol can make symptoms worse for someone with psoriasis in many ways. According to a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-4632.2011.05100.x"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;2011 study&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, alcohol consumption can trigger the production of inflammatory proteins and increase a person’s risk of infection, which both contribute to psoriasis symptoms. Moreover, alcohol also interferes with &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/scaly-skin/psoriasis/tips-for-managing-psoriasis/are-triggers-causing-your-psoriasis-flare-ups"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;methotrexate&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, which is a medication that treats psoriatic arthritis. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As enticing as a nice cold beer or a refreshing margarita sounds, it’s best to stay away from drinking alcohol (or at least limit your consumption) to prevent psoriasis flare-ups.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;6. Smoking&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Smoking is not only harmful to a person’s overall health, but it can also set off a psoriasis flare. Based on a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(05)02299-1/fulltext"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;2006 study&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, smoking and tobacco use may also increase your risk of developing palmoplantar pustular psoriasis, a rare psoriasis type that affects the hands and feet. Additionally, smoking can also reduce the effectiveness of psoriatic arthritis medication. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Avoid smoking and secondhand smoking at all costs if you want to keep psoriasis flares at bay.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;7. Food&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A person’s diet may influence psoriasis symptoms. For example, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13555-017-0183-4"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;studies suggest&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; that people who eliminate gluten, red meat, dairy products, nightshade vegetables (like eggplants, potatoes, and tomatoes), and fatty, sugary foods from their diet have fewer psoriasis outbreaks.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The study also found that taking vitamin D and following a strict vegetarian, vegan, or Mediterranean diet could help alleviate psoriasis symptoms.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;8. Weight Gain&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;According to a recent study by the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.psoriasis.org/advance/diet-psoriasis-research"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;National Psoriasis Foundation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, overweight people with psoriasis are more likely to develop severe symptoms and are at greater risk for heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. In addition, since psoriasis causes inflammation in the cells, the inflammation may block blood flow and make it harder for cells to absorb sugar.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;People who are overweight should reduce their calorie intake, exercise more often, drink lots of water, and eat less junk. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;9. Hormones&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Changes in hormone levels in females can cause psoriasis flare-ups, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3888685/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;based on a 2013 study&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Flares tend to occur when women have low estrogen levels, which explains why women experience psoriasis outbreaks during puberty, menopause, or after giving birth. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;However, when estrogen levels are higher, symptoms tend to improve - that’s why psoriasis flares are less common during pregnancy.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;10. Weather&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Some people may find their psoriasis symptoms worsen when temperatures drop, and others may experience an outbreak after too much sun exposure. Therefore, it is essential to set balanced conditions at home to prevent outbreaks.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;If it is too cold or dry, using a humidifier at home may help reduce flares. Getting sun and the vitamin D that comes with it is also an excellent way to manage flares, but remember to only go for 5 to 10 minutes to avoid sunburn, which also causes psoriasis flares.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Although there is no found cure for psoriasis yet, understanding triggers and finding ways to prevent them can help you manage your symptoms. Don’t forget to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.psoriasis.org/navigationcenter/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;seek support and find a doctor&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; you trust to help you overcome a life-long battle with this skin disease.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/10-Triggers-of-Psoriasis-and-How-to-Avoid-Them.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/10-triggers-of-psoriasis-and-how-to-avoid-them/</url> </article> <article> <ID>12304</ID> <title>Types of Psoriasis</title> <publishDate>2021-08-16 07:21:48</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_66 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_128"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_139 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_120"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Psoriasis.png" alt="" title="Psoriasis" class="wp-image-12325" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_128 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Written by: Yuko Tabasa&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;affects over 8 million adults in America today&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. This autoimmune condition occurs when an overactive immune system speeds up the skin cell growth three times faster than normal, and the body hasn’t had the time to shed old skin cells yet. The phenomenon results in a build-up of skin that manifests as red plaques and scaly patches all over the body. There are different types of psoriasis, and knowing what they look like can help people get a more accurate diagnosis that will help them treat the skin disease accordingly.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Plaque Psoriasis&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Plaque psoriasis is the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/psoriasis/what/overview"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;most common type of psoriasis&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, with up to 80 to 90 percent of people with psoriasis developing plaques. Usually, the skin takes &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.papaa.org/learn-about-psoriasis-and-psoriatic-arthritis/common-questions/psoriasis-a-simple-explanation/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;21 to 28 days&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to regenerate new skin cells, but in psoriasis, the immune system attacks healthy skin cells, so new ones develop every 4 to 7 days. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Plaque psoriasis will leave skin with red, irritated patches, and the damage causes the skin to have itchy grayish-white scales. These plaques usually show up in the scalp, elbow, knees, face, hands, and feet. Some people with more severe plaque psoriasis cases can develop psoriatic arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Guttate Psoriasis&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;According to the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.psoriasis.org/guttate/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;National Psoriasis Foundation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;, about 8% of people with psoriasis have guttate psoriasis, which is the second most common psoriasis type. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Guttate &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;is the Latin word for “drop,” which perfectly characterizes the little red raindrop-shaped patches on the skin. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Compared to the large red and silvery lesions in plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis has much smaller and thinner patches. Several hundred of these tiny drop-shaped patches may appear on the arms, legs, torso, scalp, face, and ears. Most people affected by guttate psoriasis usually start to see symptoms during childhood or young adulthood, and a common trigger for this in children is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155412"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;strep throat&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pustular Psoriasis&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5683122/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pustular Psoriasis&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; is a rare and severe form of psoriasis characterized by pustules, painful white pus-filled bumps with possible surrounding inflamed skin. Light skin will appear red in the affected areas, and dark skin will appear darker in color. And although the pustules may look worrisome, the pus in the pustules is not contagious as it consists of white blood cells. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pustular psoriasis is also categorized into three types:&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;b&gt;General pustular psoriasis (GPP) or von Zumbusch psoriasis&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; affects large body areas and can develop quite rapidly. The onset of symptoms often comes with fever, chills, severe itching, heart rate change, and fatigue.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;b&gt;Localized pustular psoriasis or palmoplantar pustular psoriasis (PPPP)&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; affects the palms of the hands and/or the foot soles. &lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;b&gt;Acropustulosis&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; affects the tips of the fingers and/or toes. This type rarely appears, usually after a skin injury or infection.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pregnant women may also experience pustular psoriasis as hormonal changes can affect the immune system. This condition is called &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3875976/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;impetigo herpetiformis&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; and typically occurs during the third trimester.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Treatment for Psoriasis&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Psoriasis is a life-long condition that many have to carry. Although there is no cure yet, a simple lifestyle change such as avoiding alcohol and nicotine, exercising regularly, and eating nutritious food is enough to reduce flare-ups. A trip to the doctor is also recommended for a suitable treatment plan tailored to each type of psoriasis. Check out the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.psoriasis.org/health-care-provider-directory/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;National Psoriasis Foundation Health Care Provider Directory&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; to help find the right doctor for you or your loved one.&lt;/span&gt;&#10;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Psoriasis.png</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wellness/lifestyle/types-of-psoriasis/</url> </article> <article> <ID>10387</ID> <title>Bringing Hope for a Brighter COVID-19-Free World - An Interview with Dr. David Ramin</title> <publishDate>2021-08-15 17:43:57</publishDate> <description>The COVID-19 virus shows encouraging signs of falling behind in the U.S. With the advent of the first FDA-approved vaccines at the end of last year and an efficiently coordinated vaccination campaign, the U.S. has experienced a steep drop in new daily COVID-19 cases (&lt;a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=number+covid+cases+usa&amp;amp;oq=number+covid+cases+usa&amp;amp;aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30l5j0i390l3.3268j0j7&amp;amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;amp;stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgVuLVT9c3NMwySk6OL8zJecTYxMgt8PLHPWGpyklrTl5jLOYS901NyUzOzEt1ySxOTSxO9clPTizJzM8T0uNic80rySypFFLhEpRCNUeDQYqfC1VISIOLA65XhotXilM_V9_AMtm83ACompsLweXZxcTtkZqYU5IRXJJYUryIVSyvNDcptUghOb8sM0UhGeiIYoXS4kQAG3bLnr4AAAA&amp;amp;ictx=1&amp;amp;ved=2ahUKEwivuqjCiPPwAhX9wQIHHZcuAQkQyNoBKAF6BAgTEAc"&gt;&lt;u&gt;11,500 cases on May 29&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=number+covid+cases+usa&amp;amp;oq=number+covid+cases+usa&amp;amp;aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30l5j0i390l3.3268j0j7&amp;amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;amp;stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgVuLVT9c3NMwySk6OL8zJecTYxMgt8PLHPWGpyklrTl5jLOYS901NyUzOzEt1ySxOTSxO9clPTizJzM8T0uNic80rySypFFLhEpRCNUeDQYqfC1VISIOLA65XhotXilM_V9_AMtm83ACompsLweXZxcTtkZqYU5IRXJJYUryIVSyvNDcptUghOb8sM0UhGeiIYoXS4kQAG3bLnr4AAAA&amp;amp;ictx=1&amp;amp;ved=2ahUKEwivuqjCiPPwAhX9wQIHHZcuAQkQyNoBKAF6BAgTEAc"&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;), coupled with an even steeper growth in daily (&lt;a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=number+vaccine+covid+19+usa&amp;amp;ei=poO0YLzZHMeBi-gPyuuMoA0&amp;amp;oq=number+vaccine+covid+19+usa&amp;amp;gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBggAEBYQHjoHCAAQRxCwAzoECAAQQzoECC4QQzoCCAA6AgguOggILhDHARCjAjoHCAAQyQMQQzoFCAAQkgM6CAghEBYQHRAeUJTwAVjXjAJgoI0CaAFwAngAgAHmAogBgRSSAQgxLjExLjAuM5gBAKABAaoBB2d3cy13aXrIAQTAAQE&amp;amp;sclient=gws-wiz&amp;amp;ved=0ahUKEwi8xMvupvPwAhXHwAIHHco1A9QQ4dUDCA4&amp;amp;uact=5"&gt;&lt;u&gt;41% of the population fully vaccinated&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;). &lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/1572950.jpg"&gt;&lt;img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10388" src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/1572950.jpg" alt="" width="285" height="365" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Understanding Prevention Is More Important Than Treatment&lt;/h2&gt; The prospects could not be merrier for the battle-hardened general population, who is ready to reclaim, once again, its freedom of movement and live in an environment devoid of fear. For Dr. David Ramin, a Wayne State University School of Medicine alumnus and &lt;a href="https://www.beverlyhillsinternist.com/"&gt;&lt;u&gt;head of his private practice in Beverly Hills&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, this environment of fear exacerbated the global pandemic. It caused numerous people to experience something similar to the entrapment feeling felt by a claustrophobic person. He even shared with &lt;em&gt;Top Doctor Magazine&lt;/em&gt; a patient story that speaks for itself on this matter: “I had one patient who had twice a week COVID-19 testing done. He did so much that he ended up having trouble with his nostrils and getting perforation.” Hurting oneself is an unexpected yet ordinary outcome of exaggerated self-care. In Dr. Ramin's view, the physician bears responsibility for educating the patient on the significance of prevention to restrict this environment of fear to a minimum: "The most important thing as physicians is to make sure they (&lt;em&gt;i.e., &lt;/em&gt;the patients) are not living in fear. You have to educate them not to live in fear." &lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_3.png"&gt;&lt;img class="wp-image-10324 aligncenter" src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_3.png" alt="" width="918" height="462" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;h2&gt;An Epidemic of Misinformation&lt;/h2&gt; This educational work can put the brakes on today's tendency towards self-education from unverified sources, giving rise to our contemporary misinformation epidemic. "Up to 30% of patients who seek assistance for a doctor are worried about certain things that might not be true; they read on Google, and they think they have cancer or some sort of illness, they have very few months left to live, or they're going to die." In a world where the concept of authority is constantly put to the test, Dr. Ramin reminds us that the scientific world's bedrock resides on &lt;em&gt;continuous learning&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;data analysis. &lt;/em&gt;"Anybody can put things on the internet. […] As patients, it's very hard, anybody can come and comment, and those comments might be taken as data." The formidable task of separating presuppositions from actual research is not for anyone to undertake, although this reality might hurt a few egos; however, for Dr. Ramin, the consequences of this unwarranted research are real and troublesome: "People are able to search things and start worrying by things that they shouldn't be." &lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_1.png"&gt;&lt;img class="size-full wp-image-10322 aligncenter" src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_1.png" alt="" width="824" height="366" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Constantly Improving Oneself&lt;/h2&gt; The second component of a robust and trustworthy scientific world is continuous learning. Dr. Ramin utilizes his teaching experience from the USC Keck School of Medicine to diversify and improve his practice. As an educator, he firmly believes that preparing the next generation of physicians can only be achieved through constant learning. "When you teach medical students, you have to keep updated. I like teaching because that keeps me more up to date." He communicates with &lt;em&gt;Top Doctor Magazine.&lt;/em&gt; &lt;a href="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_2.png"&gt;&lt;img class="wp-image-10323 aligncenter" src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_2.png" alt="" width="929" height="516" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Finding Superior Ways to Treat Diabetes&lt;/h2&gt; Owing to his General Internal Medicine training, Dr. Ramin works with patients whose morbidities cover an extensive range. Out of all, treating patients with endocrine disorders such as diabetes is paramount to his work. "Diabetes is the number one cause of blindness, kidney failure and causes a lot of morbidity and mortality associated with heart disease and stroke." Taking on this prevalent medical issue (&lt;a href="https://www.who.int/health-topics/diabetes#tab=tab_1"&gt;&lt;u&gt;which affects over 400 million people worldwide&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;) truly is a daunting task, never mind the COVID-19 pandemic, which added the proper ingredients, such as poor diet and lack of activity, to an already diabetes-friendly recipe. However, Dr. Ramin believes that he found an excellent way to treat diabetes in the shape of, you've guessed it, &lt;em&gt;prevention. &lt;/em&gt;"It's the simplest way of treating diabetes," he conveys to &lt;em&gt;Top Doctor Magazine. &lt;/em&gt;Through constant prevention tactics and weight loss, the blood sugar in diabetes patients will gradually decrease, leading to a decrease in insulin resistance. Less insulin resistance calls for a shorter necessary drug list and facilitates disease amelioration. Dr. Ramin improves his diabetes prevention tactics through specific medicine that facilitates weight loss.  Diabetes patients can achieve weight loss either by disposing of blood sugar through the urine or by causing a feeling of satiety, leading to reduced food intake. Patients will not return to their original eating habits with an already shrunk stomach regardless of how much weight they lost. To conclude, both approaches center on the same issue, namely insulin resistance. "I've changed our practice of medicine, too, to the point that we are going back and getting rid of what's the hallmark, which is insulin resistance." &lt;h2&gt;"If Your Passion Is Medicine, Go for It!"&lt;/h2&gt; Dr. David Ramin successfully illustrates the physician's sworn quest towards an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and an unbreakable will to help and educate patients daily. While not always a walk in the park, medicine will always reward those who practice it with passion, with love, and with selflessness. "I've spent past 20 years going to hospitals, emergency rooms, being in my office, having my phone ring in the middle of the night, during the day, during weekends, taking care of patients; it's the most rewarding career anybody could have; you deal with the patients, you deal with people's lives." However, for those who are not passionate about medicine, happiness and fulfillment lay somewhere else: "If your passion is medicine, go for it. If your passion is not medicine, you aren't going to be a happy person doing medicine; people who are passionate about medicine become pretty good doctors. People who are not passionate about medicine shouldn't go into medicine." As a parting reminder, Dr. Ramin reiterates the urgent need for a continuous dialogue between physicians and patients in an effort to remove the latter's insecurities and help them recover after this besieged-by-fear pandemic. "It's very important to have an understanding of them (&lt;em&gt;i.e., &lt;/em&gt;the patients) and have a way of communicating with them to make sure they can come back and leave their lives because the lack of social interaction will devastate a generation of us." For more information on Dr. David Ramin and his practice, check out &lt;a href="https://www.beverlyhillsinternist.com"&gt;&lt;u&gt;the following website&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.</description> <images>https://topdoctormagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/1572950.jpg</images> <url>https://topdoctormagazine.com/research/news/bringing-hope-for-a-brighter-covid-19-free-world-an-interview-with-dr-david-ramin/</url> </article> <article> <ID>12291</ID> <title>What to Watch for in The Growing Skincare Industry</title> <publishDate>2021-08-14 07:02:29</publishDate> <description>&lt;div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_67 et_section_regular" &gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_129"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_140 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_121"&gt; &lt;span class="et_pb_image_wrap "&gt;&lt;img src="https://548804-1761066-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/amanda-dalbjorn-fvInY-Gh7sc-unsplash.jpg" alt="" title="amanda-dalbjorn-fvInY-Gh7sc-unsplash" class="wp-image-12293" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_129 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"&gt; &lt;div class="et_pb_text_inner"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;More organic product awareness as compared to their synthetic counterparts is driving an increase in production demand. Organic products come from natural resources and are free from damaging toxins and chemicals. Their benefits compel manufacturers to launch new products and conduct more research on new developments. As more people turn to these products, the trend will likely continue in the future. Consequently, the market for organic skincare products is also expanding.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Why are Organic Skincare Products Becoming Popular?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The growing popularity is not the only factor that is driving demand for organic skincare products. A steady increase in distribution channels is allowing consumers to choose the best products. E-commerce platforms allow consumers to enjoy access to products they can’t buy from their local malls and stores. Such advancements pave the path for numerous emerging skincare brands.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Products indicate the evolving preferences of consumers for better health, beauty, and hygiene in modern times. Thus, R&amp;amp;D efforts and new technologies will result in the development of oral care and other hygiene products from various brands.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The modern consumer is willing to pay a high price for such products, first, because consumers now trust organic products more, especially from countries like Japan, U.S., China, and India; second, because organic products claim more benefits than synthetic products. Consumers are keen to purchase these products because natural ingredients ensure fewer to no side effects.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Effect on Popular Beauty Brands&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Successful brands are already working to capture the target audience that is slowly shifting towards organic products. Big brands are now setting up internal incubators that are quick to launch groundbreaking skincare products. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;For instance, Unilever, the brand behind world-famous products such as Suave and Dove, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.unilever.com/news/press-releases/2015/unilever-to-acquire-dermalogica-skincare.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;acquired new skincare-focused brands&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. Another famous brand, Procter &amp;amp; Gamble, added another skincare brand to their portfolio when they bought &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://retailleader.com/pg-acquires-kiwi-skin-care-brand#:~:text=The%20company%20has%20acquired%20New,also%20includes%20SKII%20and%20Olay."&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Kiwi&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. That’s because the company&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; from New Zealand was making headlines because of their natural products.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Additionally, the skincare industry is observing a shift from an older consumer base to a &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mintel.com/blog/beauty-market-news/beauty-trends-for-younger-consumers"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;younger consumer base&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; Thanks to the global impact of fashion influencers on the internet, teens are now beginning to capture the market more than women do. Hence, skincare brands are now targeting the younger generation and making efforts to retain their older consumer base.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The U.S. skincare industry is now focusing on using natural ingredients for manufacturing safe and organic products&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;. According to a survey, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/survey-35-of-women-plan-to-increase-purchases-of-all-natural-beauty-products-in-next-two-years-300334992.html"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;35% of women&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; showed interest in using all-natural and organic skin products in 2016.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Hence, brands continue to develop innovative skincare products that are great for us and the environment. The concept of using locally sourced ingredients and adapting &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/organic-cosmetics-market"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;eco-friendly&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt; production methods is also gaining more popularity.&lt;/span&gt; &amp;nbsp; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;The Future of Anti-Aging Organic Products&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Emerging and successful brands are producing a variety of organic anti-aging creams, lotions, and serums. Today’s consumers are more wellness-conscious than before. Groundbreaking trends like CBD, Ayurvedic herbs, and personal rituals are changing the way consumers use skincare products.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Modern consumers look forward to developing a deeper relationship with their wellness. That’s the reason many brands focus on creating an “experience” rather than a “product.” Another factor to consider is that many of our current interest-driving skin concerns were less relevant in the past. Work-related stress during the pandemic, sun protection, and pollution influence brands to develop new and improved skincare products. UV exposure, daily exposure to pollution, and pr