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TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH
Taking Preventative Measures Against Sun Exposure Is Essential
BYLINE: By Dr. Keith Roach
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a question about suntanning. First off, I want to say that I get yearly skin cancer checks, love the sun, and hardly ever use suntan lotion. I monitor my time outside, so as not to get a sunburn. I see warnings about certain days being high ultraviolet (UV) days. Are they talking about UVA or UVB, and which one gives you a tan? — S.K.
ANSWER: You’re not going to like my answer, because all types of UV light exposure, whether they lead to a sunburn or suntan, cause damage to the skin and lead to an increased risk of skin cancer. A tan from sunlight leads to a small degree of protection against further UV light damage, but there is still ongoing skin damage with UV light exposure. Even people with very dark skin are susceptible to skin cancer, although their risk is a lot less than others.
UVA light is more constant throughout the year and penetrates deeper into the skin. UVB light is stronger near the equator, at higher altitudes, and closer to the summer solstice. The UV index reported by the National Weather Service considers both UVA and UVB light in its calculations, as well as the time of year, altitude, and cloud cover.
Both UVA and UVB light cause the skin to tan, but tanning from UVA light alone (for example, in a tanning machine) doesn’t provide any protection from the sun. So, while I am at least glad that you aren’t exposing yourself enough to get burned, I don’t agree with being out in the sun to get tanned.
I do recommend the liberal use of a sunscreen with protection against both UVA and UVB. It needs to be used in a large-enough quantity to provide protection — approximately an ounce for an average-sized body, plus another teaspoon for the face and neck. I recommend a high-SPF sunscreen (30 or more). I buy mineral sunscreens such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for myself and my family. Finally, sunscreen needs to be reapplied regularly, especially when exercising or swimming.
Staying out of the sun, wearing sun-protective clothing, and wearing sunscreen will not only help you avoid cancer, but also help you avoid problems that I see in my older patients, who did what you did when they were young. Now they have thinned skin that bleeds easily, as well as “age spots” and other signs of skin damage from the sun, including wrinkles.
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DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your recent column on blood pressure. I want to know what the recommended blood pressure is for a completely calm person. In other words, what if my blood pressure is always higher during the day and only stays at the recommended pressure when I’m totally relaxed at night?
I read some comments from a longtime cardiologist, stating that you need to take many blood pressure readings during the day and get the average of these readings. — J.J.
ANSWER: Normal blood pressure is considered to be less than 120 mm Hg systolic and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic. It is certainly recommended to be as relaxed as possible when you get your blood pressure taken at the doctor’s office, since many people have “reactive” or “white coat” hypertension and will be treated unnecessarily based on office readings. However, a minority of people have “masked” hypertension, meaning that the office readings are normal when they actually have high blood pressure at home and at work.
What your cardiologist said about getting many readings is correct. The more readings, the better. Best of all is a 24-hour blood pressure monitor, which has been proven to be the most accurate. I recommend a certified blood pressure monitor for all my patients and consider their home readings to be more important than office readings.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.
(c) 2024 North America Synd., Inc.
All Rights Reserved
NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE ADVISE NEW YORKERS TO BEAT THE HEAT
WATCH: Mayor Adams Warns New Yorkers About Coming Heat Wave
Heat Emergency Plan activated beginning Sunday through Tuesday.
Cooling centers will open across the city. To find locations, including hours of operation, call 311 or visit the City’s Cool Options Map.
New Yorkers should also take advantage of additional cool options such as museums, movie theaters, coffee shops, pools, houses of worship, or a neighbor, friend, or family member’s home.
July 13, 2024 — New York City Emergency Management Department and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene advise New Yorkers to take precautions to beat the heat. NYC Emergency Management is working closely with the National Weather Service to monitor the forecast as the city experiences the third occurrence of multiple days of consecutive high heat. The next few days are expected to have heat indices in the mid to upper 90s, through at least Tuesday, and possibly Wednesday.
“With another heat wave bearing down on New York City, we want to make sure New Yorkers stay safe and stay informed,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Our cooling centers will be open starting tomorrow through at least Tuesday, we will be closely monitoring the electric systems for any impacts, and we already have more lifeguards on staff than at our peak last year. As always, please check in on your neighbors, particularly older New Yorkers, as well as others who are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, like our four-legged friends. New Yorkers, be prepared, be safe, and stay cool.”
“New Yorkers should prepare for extremely hot weather this week, with heat indices in the mid to upper 90s,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “It’s going to be hot from Sunday through Wednesday. Remember, heat kills more New Yorkers than any other weather event. But as New Yorkers, we’re going to look out for one another. That means encouraging those around you to go to a cool option and spreading the word that heat is life-threatening. Use air conditioning, visit air-conditioned places, and avoid using major appliances during the day to protect our energy grid. If you don’t have air conditioning, check out cooling centers at nyc.gov/beattheheat or call 311. Learn the signs of heat stroke, stay hydrated, and stay safe.”
The New York City Emergency Management Department and the Health Department urge New Yorkers to take steps to protect themselves and help others who may be at increased risk from the heat. For more information, including heat-related health tips and warning signs of heat illness, visit NYC.gov/health or NYC.gov/beattheheat. In New York City, most heat-related deaths occur after exposure to heat in homes without air conditioners. Air conditioning is the best way to stay safe and healthy when it is hot outside, but some people at risk of heat illness do not have or do not turn on an air conditioner.
To help New Yorkers find relief from the heat, New York City cooling centers will be open throughout the five boroughs. Cooling center locations may have changed from last year. To find a cooling center, including accessible facilities closest to you, call 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115) or visit the City’s Cool Options Map. This year’s newly-revamped map is now available around the clock and allows New Yorkers to easily locate cooling centers, which the City opens during heat emergencies, and cool options, which include free spaces that offer air-conditioned spaces to escape the heat. New Yorkers can now also find cooling centers that welcome pets throughout the five boroughs. As a reminder, service animals are always allowed at cooling centers.
New Yorkers can access a range of outdoor cooling options, including spray showers, drinking fountains, and more. These resources can be found online at Cool It! NYC. Many of these resources are located in neighborhoods across New York City. New York City outdoor pools are open 11AM-7PM, Olympic and intermediate-sized pools will be open until 8PM from Sunday through Tuesday. State Parks, including Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park pool and Roberto Clemente State Park pool are open, call ahead to confirm.
During extreme heat, the Department of Social Services (DSS) issues a Code Red Alert. During Code Reds, shelter is available to anyone experiencing homelessness, where those experiencing heat-related discomfort are also able to access a designated cooling area. DSS staff and the agency’s not-for-profit contracted outreach teams engage with individuals experiencing homelessness 24/7/365 and redouble their efforts during extreme heat, with a focus on connecting vulnerable New Yorkers experiencing unsheltered homelessness to services and shelter.
ADDITIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS DURING EXTREME HEAT
Those most vulnerable to heat stress include adults aged 60 and older, and people with health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, mental health conditions, or people with cognitive impairment. Check on people who are at-risk and help them find a cool place to stay during heat events.
Go to an air-conditioned location, even if for a few hours.
Stay out of the sun and avoid extreme temperature changes.
Avoid strenuous activity, especially during the sun’s peak hours: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4:00 AM and 7:00 AM.
Remember: drink water, rest, and locate shade if you are working outdoors or if your work is strenuous. Drink water every 15 minutes even if not thirsty (avoid beverages containing alcohol or caffeine), rest in the shade, and watch out for others on outdoor teams. Employers are required to provide water, rest, and shade when work is being done during extreme heat.
Eat small, frequent meals.
Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
Participate in activities to keep cool, such as going to the movies, visiting museums, walking in an air-conditioned mall, or swimming at a pool or beach.
Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens and, in apartments where children live, window guards. Air conditioners in buildings more than six stories must be installed with brackets so they are secured and cannot fall on someone below.
Never leave a child or pets in the vehicle, even for a few minutes.
KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS OF HEAT ILLNESS
Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know has:
Hot dry skin
Trouble breathing
Rapid heartbeat
Confusion, disorientation, or dizziness
Nausea and vomiting
If you or someone you know feels weak or faint, go to a cool place and drink water. If there is no improvement, call a doctor or 911.
KEEPING YOUR PETS SAFE
Avoid dehydration: Pets can dehydrate quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water.
Walk your dog in the morning and evening: When the temperature is very high, do not let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Your pet’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn.
Know when your pet is in danger: Symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, unresponsiveness, or even collapse.
IMPROPER FIRE HYDRANT USE
The improper opening of fire hydrants wastes 1,000 gallons of water per minute, causes flooding on city streets, and lowers water pressure to dangerous levels, which hamper the ability of the Fire Department to fight fire safely and quickly.
Use “spray caps” to reduce hydrant output to a safe 25 gallons per minute while still providing relief from the heat. To obtain a spray cap, an adult 18 years or older with proper identification can go to his or her local firehouse and request one.
ENERGY-SAVING TIPS
During periods of intense electrical usage, such as on hot, humid days, it is important to conserve energy as much as possible to avoid brownouts and other electrical disruptions. While diminishing your power usage may seem inconvenient, your cooperation will help to ensure that utility providers are able to provide uninterrupted electrical service to you and your neighbors, particularly those who use electric powered medical equipment or are at risk of heat-related illness and death:
Set your air conditioner to 78°F or “low.”
Run appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers in the early morning or late at night when it is cooler outside to reduce heat and moisture in your home.
Close doors to keep cool air in and hot air out when the air conditioner is running.
Keep shades, blinds, and curtains closed. About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows.
Turn off air conditioners, lights, and other appliances when not at home, and use a timer or smart technology to turn on your air conditioner about a half-hour before arriving home. Keep air conditioner filters clean.
If you run a business, keep your door closed while the air conditioner is running.
Tell your utility provider if you or someone you know depend on medical equipment that requires electricity.
For more information, visit NYC.gov/beattheheat. New Yorkers are also encouraged to stay informed by signing up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency communications program, to receive free emergency alerts and updates in your preferred language and format by visiting NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, calling 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115), following @NotifyNYC on Twitter, or getting the free Notify NYC mobile application for your Apple or Android device.
THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HIGHLIGHTS RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR MOTHERS
This Mother’s Day, the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is reminding New Yorkers there are a variety of resources available to help mothers. As recently announced in Governor Hochul’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Sick Leave has now been expanded to cover prenatal care, a first-in-the-nation initiative, allowing pregnant people to seek the care they need without fear of taking time off work. Studies show that prenatal health care is highly correlated with improved health outcomes for mothers and infants; and that pregnant mothers who have access to regular prenatal medical visits are less likely to die in childbirth, and their newborns are more likely to be healthy.
“We know that being a mother in the workforce isn’t easy,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “Governor Hochul’s historic move to include prenatal care in sick leave builds on our progress to improve all workplaces for mothers. I encourage all mothers to use our free resources.”
Prenatal leave is part of a series of actions by Governor Hochul to support new parents and improve maternal health outcomes. Prior innovative actions include offering 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave benefits to more than 80 percent of the state workforce and extending postpartum coverage for up to a full year after the end of a pregnancy for Medicaid and Child Health Plus enrollees.
NYSDOL found in the 2023 Gender Wage Gap Report that mothers face significant challenges in the workplace that contribute to the wage gap. The report also found the pivot to remote learning and pandemic-driven closures of childcare facilities elevated the severe impact of childcare access, which has long been a major problem for working women.
With mothers bearing the brunt of care responsibilities, labor force participation for women in New York dropped from 59.3 percent to 58.9 percent from 2019 to 2021, while the unemployment rate nearly doubled from 4.2 percent to 8.2 percent. In 2021, over 405,000 women were unemployed, a significant increase from 207,000 in 2019. The report notes that even a temporary exit from the workforce can have significant long-term financial implications. Women also face salary challenges when they become mothers. It was found in the 2018 Gender Wage Gap Report that working moms were paid just 58 cents for every dollar paid to working dads.
To ease the burden of childcare on parents, Governor Hochul increased the State’s investment to an unprecedented $7.6 billion over four years to make the childcare system more accessible and affordable.
NYSDOL also has a variety of programs available that can help mothers re-enter the workforce or elevate their careers. NYSDOL’s Career Centers provide counseling to help workers find a fulfilling and family sustaining career. NYSDOL’s Salary Negotiation Guide is also available and can help workers and job seekers advocate for themselves in the workplace.
For those looking to change or advance their careers, apprenticeships are an opportunity to earn while they learn. NYSDOL has also partnered with Coursera to allow those who are unemployed to take courses for free.
New York State law protects workers’ rights to paid sick leave — which can be used for parents to care for sick children – and nursing mothers’ rights to accommodations in the workplace.
For more information and NYSDOL’s recommended solutions to achieve pay equity, visit NYSDOL’s Gender Wage Gap Hub.
AHEAD OF NATIONAL INJURY PREVENTION DAY, ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES HOSTS CHILD INJURY PREVENTION RESOURCE FAIR FOR NYC FAMILIES
ACS & Community Partners Promote Ways to Keep Children Safe & Provide Free Medicine Lock Boxes, Car Seats, Helmets & Other Safety Tools to Families
Ahead of National Injury Prevention Day, the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) hosted a Child Injury Prevention Resource Fair for families in New York City. The event aimed to raise awareness among parents and caregivers about the leading causes of unintentional injuries and promote strategies to keep children safe from harm at home and during play.
“Parents are our children’s most important protectors and so it’s of the utmost importance that they have the support and resources to keep their children safe,” said ACS Commissioner Jess Dannhauser. “As part of our ongoing to work to set children up to thrive and reduce unintentional child injuries in New York City, ACS is hosting a National Injury Prevention Day Resource Fair where families can learn more and even go home with important safety tools.”
“Keeping the people and children of New York City safe is the top priority of the FDNY,” said Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. “We are happy to partner with the ACS to spread awareness about the importance of fire and life safety. Working smoke alarms, fire safety education, and CPR are easy ways to keep children out of harm’s way and help them during emergencies. With an increase in fire fatalities this year, I cannot think of a more important time to take advantage of the of the free resources provided by ACS ahead of National Injury Prevention Day.”
“Guardian hearts, vigilant eyes-let’s wrap our little ones in a shield of safety. Together, as families, we build a fortress of prevention, ensuring every step is a secure journey for our children,” said Norma Saunders of The C.O.R.E. Family Enrichment Center.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), unintentional injuries—such as those caused by suffocation, poisoning, burns, drowning, falls, and vehicular traffic—are the leading cause of death and disability to U.S. children and result in more deaths than all other diseased combined.
ACS has a dedicated Office of Child Safety and Injury Prevention that supports ongoing efforts to reduce or eliminate preventable child injuries and fatalities, including those related to accidental ingestion of cannabis infused edibles and prescription medications, unsafe sleep practices, a lack of window guards and more.
This year’s National Injury Prevention Day Resource Fair took place on November 16th at the River Community Center at 16-19 East 174th Street in the Bronx from 10AM to 1PM. The ACS Office of Child Safety and Injury Prevention partnered with Acacia Network, the NYC Poison Center, the NYC Department of Transportation, the NYC Fire Department, the C.O.R.E. Family Enrichment Center, Bronx Health Link, Tribeca Pediatrics and Tribeca Health Link. The fair included demonstrations on crib safety, CPR, and safe medication storage, as well as raffles for car seats, bicycle helmets, and portable cribs, and other free resources for families.
For more information on ACS’s child safety campaigns, click here: https://www.nyc.gov/site/acs/for-families/your-childs-safety.page
OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH RECONVENES NEW YORK STATE SUICIDE PREVENTION TASK FORCE
Task Force will Address Concerns of Social Isolation, Depression and Anxiety Arising from the COVID-19 Pandemic, Especially Among Communities of Color
The New York State Office of Mental Health today reconvened the Suicide Prevention Task Force to bolster prevention efforts statewide and with a renewed focus on helping at-risk populations such as communities of color disproportionally impacted by suicide or suicidal ideation. Established in partnership with OMH’s Suicide Prevention Center of New York, the Task Force will build on existing prevention efforts and explore the mental health challenges laid bare during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Countless New Yorkers had their mental wellness strained and profoundly impacted by the pandemic,” Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “This pandemic also highlighted the disparities in care that exist for at risk communities. This Task Force will build on existing prevention strategies and elevate the voices of individuals in these communities to develop recommendations to ensure a more equitable and inclusive suicide prevention plan in New York State.”
The Task Force will build upon the work the state’s 2017 Suicide Prevention Task Force, which delivered its final report in April 2019. These critical recommendations included strengthening foundations for public health suicide prevention approaches; building health system competencies and pathways to mental health care; improving surveillance methods, tools, and access to timely data; and infusing cultural competence throughout suicide prevention activities.
Suicide claimed the lives of 1,660 New Yorkers in 2021. It is the second leading cause of death among individuals between the age of 25 and 34, and the third leading cause of death for youth and young adults between the age of 10 and 24.
While the suicide rate in New York State has remained relatively stable since 2012, a recent report by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlighted racial/ethnic disparities, including among black and Hispanic individuals. The report showed the suicide rate among Black individuals increased by about 19 percent and 7 percent among Hispanic individuals between 2018 and 2021.
The Task Force recommendations will build on existing efforts focused on these populations.
Earlier this month, OMH announced the availability of $15 million in suicide prevention grants for non-profit agencies and tribal organizations serving at-risk youth or young adults from historically underserved, racial and ethnic minority populations, and LGBQIA+ groups. The funding availability –part of a $1 billion effort to expand New York State’s continuum of mental health care –is aimed helping these programs incorporate unique cultural factors into their suicide prevention strategies.
How voting plays a role in health – and how health plays a role in who votes
By Michael Merschel, American Heart Association News
The act of voting is at the heart of a healthy democracy. A growing body of research is building the case that voting also plays an important role in physical health – which affects who votes.
Experts on this back-and-forth say the connections are a weave of cultural, political and other factors that studies are just starting to unravel. But it’s far from a fringe concept. Groups such as the American Medical Association, American Heart Association and American College of Physicians have endorsed the idea that voting plays a role in health, making voting access something that health care professionals should be addressing.
“I think there’s a clarity that’s growing” about the connections, said Dr. Anita Chandra, vice president and director of RAND Social and Economic Well-Being, which is based in Arlington, Virginia. Chandra co-wrote a 2019 report on how civic engagement, which includes activities such voting and volunteering, is linked with physical and mental health and overall well-being.
Just a decade ago, the idea of linking voting and health was controversial, said Chandra, whose background is in public health and child development. Today, she said, voting and other forms of civic engagement are increasingly seen as an essential element of health.
Researchers describe the process as a kind of loop: Health can affect someone’s ability to vote. Voting has a direct effect on public policy. That, in turn, influences people’s health.
“It’s not just about making sure people who are not in optimal health are engaged and voting,” Chandra said, but how voting affects things such as access to parks, construction of safe sidewalks and other public policies that affect health.
In one historical example, after women in the U.S. won the right to vote in 1920, elected officials enacted public health measures championed by women, and child deaths fell by 20,000 a year, according to a 2008 study in the Quarterly Journal of Economics.
Dr. Ross Arena, a professor who is head of the department of physical therapy at the University of Illinois Chicago, has co-written several studies that look at connections between regional culture, voting and health.
One study, published in Public Health in Practice in August, found that counties with low voter turnout fared worse on a health index that included items such as physical activity, mental health, heart disease and whether a person currently smoked. The findings suggest “poor health may be a powerful contributor to lower participation in the voting process,” Arena and his colleagues wrote.
Other factors that influence voter participation include age, race, education and income, as does access to voting methods, which varies by state.
Another article, published in The Lancet Regional Health-Americas in 2023, found that better access to voting correlated with better health as measured by an index of 12 factors such as premature mortality, infant mortality, active physicians and poverty.
Dr. Julianna Pacheco, a professor of political science at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, said that while the connections between voting and health are “pretty clear,” there are also nuances.
“If a person has physical limitations, it might be harder to get to the polls and especially burdensome to navigate the process of obtaining an absentee ballot,” depending on where they live. “For a person who is depressed, politics may not be something that is on their minds, and it may be extra difficult to learn about the candidates in a way to inform the vote.”
While some researchers have found that early civic engagement is associated with less depression later in life, Pacheco’s work has shown how depression is linked to a lower likelihood of voting later in adulthood. Her research also found that poor self-rated health at the end of adolescence is associated with a lower chance of someone voting in their first election.
Work by Pacheco and her colleagues shows that being in an educated family might mitigate the effect of poor health on voting among young people. Other research suggests poor health depresses turnout among low-income voters but not wealthier ones.
The correlations vary by disease. One 2015 study, published in the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, looked at data from eight states in the 2008 election and found that people with cancer were more likely to vote than their peers without cancer, whereas people with heart disease were less likely to vote than those without heart problems.
“Different health issues sometimes create community,” Chandra said, and some of those communities might be more supportive of political activity.
That sense of community, whether around a health condition or something broader, can be another piece of the puzzle in how voting contributes to health. Social isolation is a well-established risk factor for poor heart health and other problems. But voting, Chandra said, is an act of participation that provides a sense of connection as well as a “sense of agency” that a person has a voice.
Some researchers have suggested that if unhealthy people don’t have access to the polls, it could lead to a “health bias” in public policy, favoring the needs of healthier people.
The U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion includes increasing voter participation among the objectives of its Healthy 2030 project, a collection of data-driven goals aimed at improving public health.
While recent national elections have had the highest turnout in decades, a 2023 Pew Research Center report found that only 66% of those eligible voted in the 2020 presidential election and only 46% turned out for the 2022 midterms. In the nation’s largest cities, participation in local elections is even lower – a median 20% for municipal elections, according to researchers at Portland State University.
Arena is among those who say health care professionals at all levels have an important role to play in boosting voter access. “It should be considered part of your professional responsibility to advocate for voting rights and access to voting,” he said.
One effort to register people in waiting areas at two Bronx clinics in New York City during a 12-week period in 2012 successfully registered 114 people – 89% of those who were eligible. The effort was written about in the Annals of Family Medicine.
Arena and Pacheco noted the success of nonpartisan efforts that give physicians and nurses badges with QR codes that link patients to voter registration information or let them request absentee ballots as local laws allow.
“A lot of people do not vote simply because nobody asks them to,” said Pacheco, who said federal law gives community health care centers the discretion to support nonpartisan voter registration efforts.
Some politicians consider such efforts to be partisan. But the work of Arena and his colleagues showed that the strength of the connection between poor health and low voter turnout was similar in Democratic and Republican regions. That suggests the influence of health on participation transcends political affiliation.
“The correlations are pretty consistent,” he said. And once anyone has poor health, it could be a barrier to voting “no matter what your ideology.”
Arena’s long-term goal in exploring the connections is to find ways to reach people who, for partisan or cultural reasons, have tuned out messages about public health. “We’re not resonating with big parts of the country,” he said.
But, he said, “if, in fact, political ideology impacts health decisions, and poor health impacts voter turnout, then there’s an opportunity to have a bi-directional conversation. It’s my responsibility as a health professional to start thinking about how to improve voter access, and hey, let’s talk about how your culture and political ideology impact your health care decisions.”
Chandra also said the discussion about voting and health shouldn’t be partisan.
“Unfortunately, it, at times, has become one,” she said, “but it really shouldn’t be.”
To her, the focus should be on improving lives by helping people engage with their communities. “If we’re trying to enhance life expectancy, enhance life satisfaction, enhance optimism and reduce the diseases of despair, then I would say engagement as a general principle is certainly nonpartisan.”
Peter Riguardi, Chairman and President of JLL Leads American Heart Association’s New York City Heart Challenge
NEW YORK, October 21, 2024 — Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in New York City and Peter Riguardi, Chairman and President, New York Region of JLL is working hand-in-hand with the American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, to change that. Riguardi will serve as chair for the 2024-2025 New York City Heart Challenge™, a community campaign focused on engaging local companies, corporations and their employees to join the fight against heart disease and stroke.
Throughout his career, Peter has been a part of defining and at times, redefining the New York City skyline. He has led transformative projects in New York’s most pivotal moments from the rebuilding of Downtown after 9/11 to the redefining of Midtown west by way of the Hudson Yards development and other new developments across New York City. Many of his transactions are ranked as New York’s largest and most complex, including some of the only transactions completed during the pandemic. As Chairman and President, Peter additionally co-leads JLL’s Tri-State region, with responsibility for 2,700 professionals across seven offices. An innovative leader, Peter has been instrumental in shifting JLL from the traditional brokerage model to an advisory model, similar to the function of an investment bank. That new ethos and dedication to deep, strategic relationships with investor and occupier clients, along with recruitment of top talent in key disciplines, and investments in new technology and services catapulted JLL to the market leader in the New York Metropolitan area.
“I am honored to serve as chair of the New York City Heart Challenge. I hope to bring greater awareness to the devastating effects of cardiovascular disease and contribute to positive changes that will help my community live longer, healthier lives,” said Peter Riguardi.
As chair of the Heart Challenge™, Riguardi will lead a team of New York City executives to recruit companies and organizations to take part in various Heart Challenge™ initiatives including the Wall Street Run & Heart Walk®, New York City CycleNation™, and Executives with Heart. Through these initiatives, the leadership team and supporting organizations will raise funds for the American Heart Association while leading action-oriented conversations about employee health, corporate engagement, community health and community transformation.
This year, companies participating in the Heart Challenge will play a crucial role in the American Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers™ initiative, a national effort aimed at doubling cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030.
“We envision a future where at least one person in every household and colleagues in every business know CPR,” said Riguardi. “The impact of having trained and confident lifesavers across New York City cannot be overstated. By joining the American Heart Association’s Heart Challenge, companies are helping to turn our community from bystanders into lifesavers, ensuring that when a cardiac emergency occurs, there is someone ready to step in and make a difference.”
Heart disease and stroke are largely preventable and how you eat, move and manage stress impacts your well-being, physically and mentally. Heart Challenge™ provides resources, tools and activities to support both mental and physical well-being for employers and employees.
“We are incredibly grateful to Peter Riguardi who is stepping up to move the needle when it comes to heart disease and stroke” said Meg Gilmartin, Senior Executive Director, Regional Senior Vice President, American Heart Association in New York City. “Through the various Heart Challenge initiatives, we are able to drive maximum impact through employee engagement and corporate fundraising. Together, we can save lives in New York City.”
Heart Challenge in New York City is sponsored by Brookfield, Citi, JLL, NYU Langone Health and Scotiabank.
New York City entrepreneurs addressing health disparities make finalist in nationwide American Heart Association initiative
New York City entrepreneurs addressing health disparities make finalist in nationwide initiative
The American Heart Association announces business accelerator finalists vying for $75,000 in support
NEW YORK, NY September 26, 2024 — New York business founders, dedicated to closing the health equity gap, have been chosen as competitive finalists for a nationwide American Heart Association initiative. The program offers financial and technical assistance to local companies focused on addressing health disparities within the community. Three companies – Balto, FibriCheck and TheraMotive have applied for $75,000 in funding to benefit New Yorkers.
Across the United States, start-up businesses are igniting impact in their communities by founding enterprises designed to help people improve their quality of life. Evidence suggests that innovative solutions from health technology to farming can help close health equity gaps resulting from barriers to the availability of health care resources and services.[1] The American Heart Association, celebrating 100 years as a global force for longer healthier lives for all, has selected 11 business founders across the country to participate in the EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator™ program. The accelerator provides technical training, evaluation and funding to enhance their local business models.
The finalists include:
Daniel Wolkowitz, founder, Balto
Balto is building a remote-first work marketplace that enables near real-time personalized patient care from anywhere in the U.S., helping solve the physician shortage, driving down hospital admissions and making it easy to get quality care from home. The marketplace will connect Rural hospitals struggling to hire for Physicians of all types, with a remote workforce of Physicians who can solve critical, non-in person, care work that takes place in hospitals. By 2034, our health care system will consist of 77 million patients over the age of 65, while simultaneously experiencing a shortage of 125,000 physicians. Balto aims to alleviate these issues, all while helping U.S hospitals to stay revenue efficient, through preventative care.
Lars Grieten, founder of FibriCheck
FibriCheck is a digital health platform focused on revolutionizing heart-health monitoring through innovative mobile technology. By providing users with a simple yet powerful tool to detect heart rhythm disorders, FibriCheck aims to enhance early diagnosis and improve overall health outcomes. The company’s mission is to make heart-health monitoring as easy and accessible as checking your pulse, ultimately contributing to a healthier, more informed society.
And
Lola Omishore, founder of TheraMotive
TheraMotive is building the future of physical therapy with mobile clinics powered by AI, virtual reality and wearable technology. Driven by its mission to break free from geographic barriers to care, TheraMotive designs clinics to adapt, evolve and move with their clients to deliver care where they live, work and play.
This year, the 11 finalists were selected from nearly 300 nationwide applicants based on the strength of their existing business models as well as their ability to impact health equity barriers at the local level. The finalists will be formally evaluated by the Association’s professional science health metrics evaluation experts and scored based on a variety of evidence-based criteria — health impact, innovation, and scalability. The winners will receive business development financial grants of $75,000.
Finalists must identify and address a specific, measurable, health impact case study. Finalist candidates will incorporate their company story with the practical business models taught as part of the program. Final grant recipients will ultimately be selected by an independent panel of judges that includes tech entrepreneurs and small business investment experts at the virtual finale on October 9, 2024.
“With the knowledge gained in the EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator, these local change makers will be well suited to take the next steps to improve health and wellness where they are needed most in New York City,” said Meg Gilmartin, Senior Executive Director, Regional Senior Vice President, American Heart Association in New York City. “We are eager to see the innovative breakthroughs that will come from this experience.”
Now in its eighth year, the Business Accelerator has engaged and celebrated the work of more than 160 individuals, non-profits and for-profits, who are developing innovative ways to impact the health of the communities where they live, work and play.
To see more information on the finalists please visit: https://www.empoweredtoserve.org/en/business-accelerator-program/national/finalists
Special Olympics New York staff learn CPR and join the AHA Nation of Lifesavers
Special Olympics New York staff learn CPR and join the Nation of Lifesavers
The American Heart Association and Special Olympics provided CPR education to headquarters staff to improve cardiac emergency outcomes
NEW YORK, September 24, 2024 – While the number has increased over the last two years, 65% of people surveyed are still do not confident in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)[1]. CPR especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. That’s why Special Olympics New York prioritized staff learning Hands-Only CPR at the organization’s 2024 annual summit this week in Albany. Nearly 40 employees completed the American Heart Association’s Heartsaver® CPR AED (automated external defibrillator) course, which provides the highest quality evidence-based training in the lifesaving skills of CPR, as well as the appropriate use of an AED.
“Early recognition and action in a cardiac emergency can be the difference between life and death. When seconds matter it is important to have people nearby who can confidently and competently perform CPR. This event with Special Olympics is helping to support that critical link in the community,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “As we celebrate 100 years of lifesaving work, we know that with every CPR training we perform we are one step closer to ensuring that everyone, everywhere is prepared and empowered to perform CPR and become a vital link in the chain of survival.”
Compression-only CPR, known as Hands-Only CPR, can be equally effective as traditional CPR in the first few minutes of emergency response and is a skill everyone can learn. It is as simple as calling 911 if you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse and then push hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and a depth of approximately two inches.
“Special Olympics New York is proud to have worked with the American Heart Association to offer training in CPR and AED use for staff from all across the state,” said Special Olympics New York president and chief executive officer Stacey Hengsterman. “While we hope these skills are never needed at an event involving our community, our athletes and families can continue to feel safe knowing that staff have been trained to act in an emergency.”
The Nation of Lifesavers™ movement is the Association’s most recent commitment to CPR with the goal to double survival rates of cardiac arrest by 2030. Through the Nation of Lifesavers initiative, the Association is committed to turning a nation of bystanders into lifesavers. The multi-year initiative supports CPR education, extends AED use and engages employers, policymakers, philanthropists and others to increase the chain of survival. The long-term goal is to ensure that in the face of a cardiac emergency, everyone, everywhere is prepared and empowered to perform CPR.
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Bystander CPR | Bystander CPR Infographic (PDF)
Hands-Only CPR Resources
Hands-Only CPR vs CPR with Breaths
Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack
Reducing Disparities for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest – Community Toolkit: English and Spanish versions available
Take 90 seconds to learn how to save a life at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 – our Centennial year – we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
About Special Olympics New York
Special Olympics New York is the largest state chapter in the country, serving more than 45,000 athletes across New York with year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health screenings. The organization also partners with more than 300 schools statewide to offer Unified Sports, where students with and without disabilities compete as teammates. All Special Olympics New York programs are offered at no cost to athletes, their families or caregivers. The organization has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.com and a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, making it one of the most trusted charities in the business nationally. For additional information about Special Olympics New York, to learn more about getting involved, or to make a donation, visit www.specialolympicsNY.org.
“NYC STEM Goes Red” Campaign to Empower Young Women in STEM Careers, Chaired by Liz Powitzky, Owner of 212 Degrees
NEW YORK, NY, September 23, 2024 – Preparing the next generation of female scientists, doctors, inventors and changemakers is essential if we want to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. That’s why the American Heart Association is working to close the equality gap in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) through an educational program called STEM Goes Red. The program draws from our strong legacy of science, education and discovery to help propel young women into rewarding careers in STEM.
Returning to NYC in March 2025, STEM Goes Red will inspire young women to pursue rewarding careers in STEM fields, while also putting their own health at the forefront. Students will gain first-hand experience, connect with inspiring professionals and learn about new career paths they never dreamed of before. It’s our hope that once these students graduate, they will work alongside us to save and improve lives.
Leading the charge as Chair of STEM Goes Red is Liz Powitzky, Owner of 212 Degrees, a boutique coaching and leadership development consultancy. Liz evolved from a training specialist to a general partner at Edward Jones, gaining a deep understanding of a financial services firm. Liz’s true passion lies in partnering with senior leadership, guiding them through the highs and lows of their careers.
“As a parent of two children, I am deeply passionate about the STEM Goes Red campaign because I believe every child deserves the chance to dream big and break barriers,” said Ms. Powitzky. “Science, technology, engineering, and math are not just subjects—they are the keys to unlocking endless possibilities. I want to ensure that every young person, especially our daughters, has the opportunity to lead, innovate, and change the world for the better.”
Although women fill close to half of all the jobs in the U.S. economy, they hold only 27% of jobs in STEM fields. In fact, of 100 female students working toward a bachelor’s degree, only four will work in a STEM job 10 years after graduation, leading to persistent disparities in women’s health. By equipping and empowering young women to pursue STEM careers, we can ensure women are represented in critical sectors that impact health and well-being such as healthcare, research and technology.
The American Heart Association’s STEM Goes Red initiative was launched in 2017 as part of the Go Red for Women® movement, which for more than 20 years has served as a catalyst for change, improving women’s lives by advancing equitable research and care, advocating for inclusive health policies and raising awareness of women’s No. 1 health threat—cardiovascular disease.
“We invite all young women with a passion for STEM to reach out to our team and discover the limitless possibilities awaiting them,” encouraged Ms. Powitzky.
Go Red for Women is nationally sponsored by CVS Health and in, New York City, locally sponsored by Platform Sponsors Northwell Health and Bettina Equities. New York City STEM Goes Red is locally sponsored by Innovator Sponsors Infor and 212 Degrees LLC and Pioneer Sponsor Estée Lauder Companies.
For more information about STEM Goes Red and to register for the event, please visit 2024-2025 NYC STEM Goes Red (ejoinme.org).
Research Links Contentment With Fewer Heart Attacks and Strokes
Happy with your life? Research links contentment with fewer heart attacks and strokes
People satisfied with their lives may be less likely to develop heart disease and/or stroke, finds a new study in the Journal of the American Heart Association
Research Highlights:
People who are satisfied with their lives or feel contentment or well-being may be less likely to develop heart disease and stroke than their unsatisfied counterparts.
The analysis of health records for more than 120,000 adults in the United Kingdom found a link among people reporting the highest levels of well-being — they were less likely to develop coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart failure or have a stroke than those with lower levels of well-being.
Researchers suggest a holistic approach to life, such as regular physical activities, social activities and/or stress management techniques, as effective ways to enhance personal well-being.
Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024
DALLAS, Sept. 18, 2024 — People who are content with their lives or feel a sense of well-being may be less likely to develop heart disease and/or stroke compared to those with a lower sense of well-being, according to a new analysis published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.
“Our findings support a holistic approach to health care, where enhancing a person’s mental and emotional well-being is considered an integral part of preventing heart disease and stroke,” said senior author Wen Sun, M.D., Ph.D., associate director of the Stroke Center at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, China. “Health care professionals might consider including strategies to improve life satisfaction and happiness as part of routine care, such as recommending regular physical activities, social activities or stress management techniques as effective ways to enhance personal well-being.”
It is well-known that life satisfaction, or well-being, can increase mental health. However, the influence of well-being on cardiovascular health is less clear, the study authors wrote.
After reviewing questionnaires of more than 120,000 participants in the UK Biobank database, investigators assessed well-being as it related to satisfaction with family, friendships, health, finances and general happiness. Researchers analyzed the potential connection of well-being with the development of four major cardiovascular diseases: coronary heart disease, heart attack, heart failure and stroke. The study also examined the impact of well-being on lifestyle factors and inflammatory markers. An additional analysis, a Mendelian randomization, used genetic variations to address potential cause-and-effect questions about how modifiable risk factors may have influenced different outcomes.
The analysis found:
Compared to adults with a low sense of well-being, the overall risk of developing cardiovascular disease was 10% to 21% lower for people with the highest well-being scores.
Specifically, compared to adults with a low sense of well-being, people with the highest well-being scores had a 44% lower risk of coronary artery disease, 45% lower risk of stroke, a 51% lower risk of heart failure and a 56% lower risk of heart attack.
A two-step Mendelian randomization analysis suggested that people with higher levels of well-being tended to adopt healthier lifestyles and had lower inflammatory markers. Researchers said this supports a potential cause-and-effect relationship between higher well-being and reduced cardiovascular risk.
“These results underscore the profound impact that emotional and psychological health can have on physical well-being, shedding light on intricate biological mechanisms that were not fully appreciated before,” Sun said.
A 2021 American Heart Association scientific statement, Psychological Health, Well-Being, and the Mind-Heart-Body Connection: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association, notes that psychological health can positively or negatively impact a person’s health and risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
Glenn N. Levine, M.D., a professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and chair of the scientific statement, said, “While these findings are not unexpected, they add to the growing body of data that psychological health can impact cardiovascular risk.
“Much of the focus on psychological health has understandably been on negative factors such as depression and stress. This study emphasizes the importance of positive psychological health, including the more global factor of a person’s sense of well-being,” said Levine, who was not involved in the study.
Although the current study found a strong connection, there were several limitations.
First, questionnaires do not always yield precise information since people may forget or
answer incorrectly. Second, the study did not have information about how blood markers of inflammation may have changed over time. Finally, study participants were primarily white adults who were relatively affluent (characterized by living in less economically deprived areas, with a higher likelihood of owning property and a lower likelihood of having mortgages, shared ownership or living in rental accommodations). In addition, all participants lived in the United Kingdom, so these findings may not apply to people living in other countries.
Study details and background:
The data reviewed was from the UK Biobank, which recruited study participants from health centers throughout the United Kingdom from 2006 to 2010.
Participants in this analysis included 121,317 adults without heart disease when they enrolled. Their average age was 57 years old, and 45% were men.
Over a median follow-up period of nearly 12 years, ending in October 2022, health records indicate there were 3,323 heart failure cases, 5,990 strokes, 6,462 heart attacks, and 9,177 coronary heart disease cases.
Researchers reviewed patient questionnaires, blood tests, electronic health records and hospital procedure codes through October 31, 2022.
In a patient survey on well-being taken at enrollment, participants rated their general happiness and satisfaction with family, friendships, health, finances and job as “Extremely happy,” “Very happy,” “Moderately happy,” “Moderately unhappy,” “Very unhappy” or “Extremely unhappy.”
Sun said future research will build on these current findings and “explore how psychological well-being might influence cardiovascular health as well as other health conditions. This line of investigation is crucial for developing a holistic understanding of how mental well-being influences overall health.”
Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the manuscript.
American Heart Association Announces NYC Go Red for Women® Casting Call for Survivors
Survivors to be highlighted at the NYC Go Red for Women Celebration in April
NEW YORK, NY, September 17, 2024 – Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the No. 1 killer of women and affects nearly half of women ages 20 and older, yet too many women remain unaware of their greatest health threat.
To raise awareness, the American Heart Association in New York City is searching for stories from local women who have been touched by heart disease or stroke and asking them to share their journey.
New York City is not backing down, because we know that when women come together and Go Red, we are more powerful against cardiovascular disease.
The 2025 New York City Go Red for Women Class of Survivors will be a group of local ambassadors who share their personal journey with heart disease and stroke and highlight the urgent need for women of all ages to take charge of their health.
To be part of this exciting new initiative, survivors can share their story and apply to be part of the 2025 NYC Go Red for Women Class of Survivors at the following link: http://easternstates.heart.org/nycgrfwclassofsurvivors
“As a survivor of congenital heart disease, I’ve dedicated my life to spreading the lifesaving mission of Go Red for Women,” said Cristina Civetta. “I am so excited to be a part of this campaign and look forward to meeting many amazing women who will share their stories of survival. I know the Class of Survivors will be an effective way of spreading lifesaving awareness throughout the five boroughs!”
The surprising faces of cardiovascular disease are everyday women, and will represent a wide variety of ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds whose stories reflect the unique life stages that women experience that can affect their risk for CVD.
The Class of Survivors will serve as ambassadors for the NYC Go Red for Women movement throughout the year, appearing in media, awareness campaigns, on the web, and at our local events.
The application period is open from September 13 through October 11, 2024.
Who can apply?
Women who have survived a cardiac event, stroke and/or are living with cardiovascular disease and are 18 years of age or older.
The American Heart Association in New York City is looking for women who represent diverse backgrounds, races, and ethnicities. We also encourage women who are bilingual, mothers who have children affected by CVD or active military or veterans to apply.
Interested in being part of the 2025 New York City Go Red for Women Class of Survivors? Submit a 60-second video on http://easternstates.heart.org/nycgrfwclassofsurvivors describing your heart or stroke journey and why you should be selected to be part of this unique and elite group.
Go Red for Women is nationally sponsored by CVS Health and in, New York City, locally sponsored by platform sponsors Bettina Equities, Northwell Health, and Pfizer. New York City Go Red for Women Class of Survivors is sponsored by Cristina Civetta and Ed Scheetz.
Work-related stress may increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm
Job strain and effort-reward imbalance at work were associated with a greater chance of developing an abnormal heart rhythm condition, finds new study in the Journal of the American Heart Association
Research Highlights:
- Adults in white-collar jobs in Canada with high job strain and for whom significant efforts are met with low rewards (such as low salary or recognition) may face a 97% increased risk for developing the irregular heart rhythm condition known as atrial fibrillation, or AFib or AF, compared to workers not exposed to these work stressors.
- Separately, high job strain alone was associated with an 83% higher risk of developing AFib, and effort-reward imbalance alone was associated with a 44% greater risk.
- Recognizing and addressing these stressors at work may be an effective strategy to prevent atrial fibrillation in adults, researchers said.
Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024
DALLAS, Aug. 14, 2024 — Work-related stress caused by job strain and an imbalance between efforts applied vs. rewards received may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.
Also known as AFib or AF, atrial fibrillation is the most common form of arrhythmia – an abnormal heart rhythm. It can lead to stroke, heart failure or other cardiovascular complications. More than 12 million people are projected to have AFib in the United States by 2030, according to the American Heart Association’s 2024 heart disease and stroke statistics.
Previous research linked high job strain and effort-reward imbalance at work with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. This research is the first to examine the adverse effect of both psychosocial stressors at work on atrial fibrillation, said the study’s senior author Xavier Trudel, Ph.D., an occupational and cardiovascular epidemiologist and associate professor at Laval University in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
“Our study suggests that work-related stressors may be relevant factors to include in preventive strategies,” Trudel said. “Recognizing and addressing psychosocial stressors at work are required to foster healthy work environments that benefit both individuals and the organizations where they work.”
Trudel and team studied the impact of job strain, which refers to a work environment in which employees face high job demands, such as a heavy workload and tight deadlines, and low control over their work with little say in decision-making and how they execute their tasks.
Another factor assessed in the study was the effort-reward imbalance. This occurs when employees invest significant effort into their work but perceive the rewards they get in return — such as salary, recognition or job security — as insufficient or unequal to their performance.
Researchers examined medical database records for nearly 6,000 adults in white-collar jobs in Canada, with 18 years of follow-up data. The analysis found that:
- employees who said they experienced high job strain had an 83% higher risk of developing AFib compared to workers unaffected by the stressors;
- those who perceived an effort-reward imbalance had a 44% greater risk, compared to workers who did not report this imbalance; and
- combined perceptions of high job strain and effort-reward imbalance were associated with a 97% increased risk of AFib.
“The effectiveness of workplace interventions to reduce psychosocial stressors that may also reduce the risk of AFib should be investigated in future research efforts,” Trudel said. “Our research team previously conducted an organizational intervention designed to reduce psychosocial stressors at work, which was shown to effectively reduce blood pressure levels. Examples of organizational changes implemented during the intervention included slowing down the implementation of a large project to prevent increased workload; implementing flexible work hours; and holding meetings between managers and employees to discuss day-to-day challenges.”
Limitations of the study include that participants were all white-collar workers encompassing managers, professional and office workers in Canada which means results may not apply to other types of workers or to workers in other countries.
Study details, background or design:
- Researchers collected data through the PROspective Quebec (PROQ) Study on Work and Health, which started in the Quebec region in 1991-1993 and recruited white-collar workers from 19 public and semi-public organizations.
- A total of 5,926 workers (49% men, 51% women) were included in this analysis. Their average age was 45 at the beginning of the study (1999-2001) and 65 at the end of the follow-up (Dec. 2018). Most study participants were white adults.
- Work stress was assessed from self-reported questionnaires.
- The analysis identified 186 AFib cases, and among that group, 19% of the people with AFib reported high job strain; 25% said they perceived effort-reward imbalance; and 10% reported experiencing both stressors simultaneously.
- More than one-third of participants had been diagnosed with coronary heart disease or heart failure before their AFib incidence.
- The study measured the work-related stressors through self-reported questionnaires specifically on job strain and effort-reward imbalance, controlling for a broad list of socioeconomic characteristics (sex and education), health risks (diabetes status and high blood pressure) and lifestyle factors (smoking and alcohol).
Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the manuscript.
Nurses play key role in addressing mental well-being for people after a stroke
Regular screening is vital for early detection and treatment of psychosocial health conditions among stroke survivors, according to a new scientific statement from the American Stroke Association.
Statement Highlights:
- The latest research indicates that 16% to 85% of people recovering from a stroke experience at least one psychosocial symptom, including depression, anxiety, stress, fatigue and/or decreased quality of life.
- Critical nursing interventions, such as regular mental health screenings, education, symptom management and follow-up care, are key to reducing the negative effects on a patient’s mental well-being after a stroke, yet only a small proportion of patients receive treatment.
- More research is needed to develop stroke-specific mental health screening tools and evidence-based interventions to improve psychosocial health for stroke survivors.
Embargoed until 4 am CT/5 am ET Monday, August 19, 2024
DALLAS, August 19, 2024 — Nurses play a key role in helping patients manage emotional and social health challenges, or psychosocial health, after a stroke, and improved screening and assessment for psychosocial needs are essential to provide optimal patient care. These findings are highlighted in a new statement from the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, titled “Nursing’s Role in Psychosocial Health Management After a Stroke Event,” published today in the Association’s peer-reviewed scientific journal Stroke.
While there have been significant advances in stroke prevention and treatment, stroke remains the second leading cause of death globally and a major cause of disability. The latest research indicates that 16% to 85% of stroke survivors experience psychosocial symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, stress, fatigue and/or a decreased quality of life during their recovery.
“Stigma often surrounds discussions about psychosocial health. Therefore, it is crucial for nurses and all health care professionals to create a safe and therapeutic environment for patients and offer hope and comprehensive education on the topic,” said Chair of the scientific statement’s writing group Patricia A. Zrelak, Ph.D., R.N., FAHA, a regional stroke program quality nurse consultant for Kaiser Permanente Northern California and a member of the American Heart Association’s Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing.
The scientific statement details a comprehensive review of the latest evidence published from 2018-2023 about psychological health in patients who experienced a stroke. The statement addresses the effects, underlying causes, screening, diagnosis and treatment for five key emotional and social health factors, including depression, stress, anxiety, fatigue and quality of life. The scientific statement aims to establish a guide for nursing care throughout a patient’s recovery after a stroke, from prevention of adverse psychosocial health conditions to identifying and managing symptoms.
“Emotional, cognitive, behavioral and/or personality changes may occur after a stroke,” Zrelak said. “These conditions can emerge immediately after a stroke or have a delayed onset, sometimes occurring more than a year later, and they may also fluctuate in intensity over time. In addition, psychosocial symptoms are interrelated, and patients who experience one are at higher risk of developing other mental health conditions. Effective and regular screening are vital for early detection and treatment.”
Depression
Depression affects about 30% of stroke survivors and is particularly common within the first three months after a stroke. Symptoms of depression may include persistent sadness, anxious or “empty” mood; restlessness and irritability; loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities; difficulty in concentrating and thinking; increased or decreased sleep; changes in appetite; and weight gain or loss. Post-stroke depression worsens cognitive and functional recovery and increases the risks of death and/or another stroke.
The AHA/ASA Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke recommend routine depression screening for all patients after a stroke. Nurses can help educate stroke survivors and their families on symptom recognition, prevention and treatment options, such as medication management and/or cognitive behavioral therapy.
Stress
A 2022 study found that post-stroke stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects about one in six (about 16.5%) stroke survivors. These conditions may increase the risk of additional health issues, including anxiety and poor medication adherence. Screening stroke patients for stress and PTSD should occur when they are hospitalized and continue during rehabilitation and outpatient visits after hospital discharge.
Nursing interventions that may help lower patients’ distress include stroke education and self-management strategies, such as mindfulness and meditation. Nurses may also consider stroke survivors’ coping styles. People with high-anxious coping styles face
a significantly higher risk of experiencing PTSD after a stroke in comparison to people with low-anxious coping styles.
Anxiety
The frequency of anxiety ranges from 20%-25% in the first months after stroke, increasing to 32% as the year progresses, with a five-year prevalence of 34%. Factors such as younger age at the time of the stroke, lower income, inability to work, social isolation, previous mental health conditions and/or severity of the stroke are factors that increase the risk of developing anxiety. Anxiety is also linked to a higher risk and severity of depression.
Standard screening for anxiety and prompt detection may lead to early treatment, greater patient engagement and improved recovery for stroke survivors. Although established clinical guidelines for treating general anxiety exist, more research is needed on anxiety interventions after different types of strokes.
Fatigue
Post-stroke fatigue may develop anytime, however, it is most common within the first six months after a stroke. Symptoms of fatigue may include reduced physical and mental energy levels that interfere with daily activities and difficulty with self-control, emotions and memory. Women and people with depression, sleep problems, anxiety and/or multiple health conditions are at higher risk for developing post-stroke fatigue.
More research is needed for effective management strategies for post-stroke fatigue, as there are currently no proven treatments. However, interventions focused on improving general physical fitness may help prevent, reduce or treat post-stroke fatigue and other components of psychosocial health.
Quality of Life
Returning to the same quality of life after a stroke is challenging and even more so after a severe stroke. Physical strength, speech, depression, anxiety and the ability to return to work and social activities are factors that contribute to a stroke survivor’s quality of life. However, conditions such as chronic pain can negatively impact recovery and return to independent living.
Physical activities that also include interpersonal engagement, such as yoga and tai chi, have shown positive effects on patients’ quality of life. Nurses can help stroke survivors improve their post-stroke quality of life by linking patients to social services in their local area, such as post-stroke support groups and community-based organizations.
“Mental and emotional well-being are crucial for recovery, and nurses play an important role in supporting patients after a stroke,” Zrelak said. “It’s important to engage stroke survivors and their caregivers so they are aware of these psychosocial
conditions and ways they can help. Early detection of symptoms and treatment have the potential to improve post-stroke recovery.”
The statement also highlights existing research that shows stroke outcomes vary significantly among people in different racial and ethnic groups. Social determinants of health, such as structural racism, socioeconomic status, inadequate housing and/or limited access to health care including mental health services, may all influence a stroke survivor’s recovery.
Zrelak added, “The stroke care team is crucial in addressing these health inequities, using targeted interventions and customized treatments to improve mental health support and overall care coordination for those most at risk. More research is needed to help us understand how best to support psychosocial well-being for people after a stroke, so they are better able to return to their routine daily activities and have a better quality of life.”
This scientific statement was prepared by the volunteer writing group on behalf of the American Heart Association’s Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing and the Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health. American Heart Association scientific statements promote greater awareness about cardiovascular diseases and stroke issues and help facilitate informed health care decisions. Scientific statements outline what is currently known about a topic and what areas need additional research. While scientific statements inform the development of guidelines, they do not make treatment recommendations. American Heart Association guidelines provide the Association’s official clinical practice recommendations.
Additional co-authors and members of the writing committee are Vice Chair Karen B. Seagraves, Ph.D., M.P.H., FAHA; Samir Belagaje, M.D.; Wendy Dusenbury, Ph.D., D.N.P., FAHA; James J. García, M.S., Ph.D.; Niloufar Hadidi, Ph.D., FAHA; Kiffon M. Keigher, D.N.P., M.S.N., FAHA; Mary Love, Ph.D., M.S.N., R.N.; Gianluca Pucciarelli, Ph.D., FAHA; Erica Schorr, Ph.D., R.N., FAHA; and Cesar Velasco, B.S.N., R.N.
Shake it or skip it? Here's expert advice on salt.
By Rachel Crowell, American Heart Association News
A sprinkle of sea salt, a smidgeon of table salt, a kiss of kosher salt: Seasoning with salt is often seen as vital to cooking. Salt also has been used to preserve food and even used as currency.
But it’s the excess salt consumption that experts say poses a gigantic public health problem.
Table salt is made up of two minerals: sodium and chloride. Small amounts of sodium help the body control its fluids and play a role in nerve and muscle function. However, too much sodium in your diet can lead to high blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
“So, if we can reduce our blood pressure, that’s going to save so many lives,” said Dr. Tali Elfassy, a research assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Reducing “sodium is just one tool” for fighting high blood pressure, she noted.
Most adults should limit their daily sodium intake to a maximum of 2,300 milligrams, according to federal dietary guidelines. The ideal limit for most adults, especially those with high blood pressure, is 1,500 mg per day, the American Heart Association says.
Using different types of salt – table salt, kosher salt or sea salt – doesn’t change those recommended limits. But the sodium amounts may differ based on the coarseness of the salt. “The coarser the salt and the bigger the crystals, the less actual amount fits on the spoon, and therefore the sodium level will be lower comparatively,” said Michelle Routhenstein, a registered dietitian nutritionist who specializes in heart health at her private practice in New York.
Reducing salt intake to meet the recommended limits can seem daunting. But workarounds exist to help.
One big hurdle to overcome is the myth that reducing sodium intake means cooking flavorless food. Routhenstein said she encourages keeping the recommendations in perspective. “I have seen in my clients that people are looking for zero milligrams of sodium” when they read nutrition labels, she said. “You don’t need a no-salt diet.”
Think of the sodium recommendations as a daily salt budget. People often think 150 mg of sodium in a food item is too high, Routhenstein said. However, if you have high blood pressure and want to stay under the recommended 1,500 mg, “and you have three meals and two snacks, that can be divided as 350 milligrams per meal and 200 milligrams per snack,” she said.
Routhenstein and Elfassy said putting down the saltshaker likely won’t help with some of the biggest sources of sodium: packaged items and prepared foods, including those purchased from restaurants and fast-food chains. “There are some menu items that have 2,000 to 7,000 milligrams of sodium,” Routhenstein said.
Finding information about sodium in restaurant food can require some sleuthing. It’s unlikely to be listed, Elfassy noted.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, some chain restaurants are required to have nutrition information, including amounts of sodium, available upon request. This information is also often available online. However, the same information for restaurants not subject to this requirement, such as stand-alone local establishments, might be difficult to find.
Diners can ask for meals to be prepared with less salt. Eating smaller portions and saving half of the meal to eat the next day also reduces sodium intake when eating out.
When people frequently eat foods with a lot of salt, they often don’t realize it, Routhenstein said. However, taste buds can change after switching to a low-salt eating pattern. “You then start realizing, ‘Wow, that tastes overly salty to me,'” she said.
There are ways to add flavor to foods while relying less on salt. Experiment with different options and see what works best, Routhenstein said.
“Vinegars are a great way to cut back on salt and add a good amount of flavor,” said Routhenstein, who uses a homemade sauce made from balsamic vinegar, sesame oil and ginger. “I use this as an umami soy sauce alternative to mimic teriyaki sauce without the high sodium level.”
Spice lovers may gravitate toward low-sodium hot sauces or red pepper flakes. Food doesn’t have to be ho-hum when “you can even go to the grocery store and buy salt-free mixes (such as) a 21-spice seasoning that’s made with parsley, oregano, cumin, garlic and paprika,” she noted. Lemon or lime juice can also make great alternatives.
Even small changes can help. “If you’re shopping and have two cans of beans … go for the low-sodium option,” Elfassy said. Rinsing canned foods before cooking also can reduce the sodium content.
Potassium-rich foods, such as potatoes, tomatoes, bananas and tuna, can relax blood vessels and increase the amount of sodium that leaves the body, thus lowering blood pressure. But check with a health care professional first about the right amount of potassium, especially if you have a kidney disorder.
When people can cut back on salt, blood pressure can respond very quickly, Elfassy and Routhenstein said. Indeed, research shows blood pressure can be lowered within a week of making those changes.
BYLINE: By Lucie Winborne
* A California man who made a personalized license plate that said “No Plate” received more than 2,500 parking tickets.
* Omphalophobia is the fear of belly buttons.
* Avid readers won’t be intimidated by a hefty novel, but they’ll still surely be impressed by what’s been deemed the largest book ever. Weighing more than 3,000 pounds and measuring 16.40 feet by 26.44 feet with 429 pages inside, the book, which is titled “This is Muhammad,” was created in 2012 by 50 people working together in the United Arab Emirates.
* Prior to 1949, tennis court grass was kept at 2 inches long — that is, until a player was bitten by a snake. It’s now typically maintained at a length of 8 mm.
* Scientists have found evidence of take-out restaurants in the remains of Pompeii.
* Japan has the highest density of vending machines worldwide, with approximately 5 million machines, or one machine for every 23 people. You can buy everything from live lobsters and bread in a can, to underwear and Buddhist amulets from a vending machine.
* The first European who learned to smoke from the natives was arrested back home because people thought he was possessed by the devil.
* Dolly Parton’s parents paid the doctor who delivered her with a bag of cornmeal.
* The most expensive domain name ever sold was Voice.com, which was acquired for $30 million in 2019.
* Caribbean sperm whales have their own accents.
* After an 8.0 magnitude earthquake hit Mexico City in 1985, nearly all newborn babies survived a collapsed hospital for seven days without nourishment, water, warmth or human contact.
* A flea can accelerate faster than a space shuttle.
***
Thought for the Day: “Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.” — Danny Kaye
MOMENTS IN TIME: The History Channel
* On Nov. 11, 1831, Nat Turner, an American slave and educated minister who believed that he’d been chosen by God to lead his people into freedom, was hanged in Jerusalem, Virginia, for leading a revolt with 75 followers through Southampton County, killing about 60 white people.
* On Nov. 12, 1969, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh revealed the extent of the U.S. Army’s charges against 1st Lt. William L. Calley at My Lai, Vietnam, in a cable picked up by more than 30 newspapers, saying that “The Army says he [Calley] deliberately murdered at least 109 Vietnamese civilians during a search-and-destroy mission in March 1968, in a Viet Cong stronghold known as ‘Pinkville.'”
* On Nov. 13, 1979, Philadelphia 76ers center Darryl Dawkins leaped over Kansas City Kings forward Bill Robinzine for a memorable slam dunk that shattered the fiberglass backboard. His equally memorable comment on the move, which was not his last and the sound of which spectators likened to a bomb going off: “It wasn’t really a safe thing to do, but it was a Darryl Dawkins thing to do.”
* On Nov. 14, 1882, outlaw Frank “Buckskin” Leslie shot and killed Billy “The Kid” Claiborne, who had publicly challenged him, in Tombstone, Arizona.
* On Nov. 15, 1984, Baby Fae, a month old infant who received the world’s first baboon heart transplant, died at California’s Loma Linda University 20 days after the operation. Three other people had received animal heart transplants, but none survived longer than a few days.
* On Nov. 16, 2001, British author J.K. Rowling’s most famous and beloved creation, the bespectacled boy wizard Harry Potter (played by Daniel Radcliffe in his first major role), made his silver-screen debut in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” which went on to become one of the highest-grossing movies in history.
* On Nov. 17, 1903, the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party split into two factions: the majority Bolsheviks and minority Mensheviks. The Bolsheviks went on to become the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES KEY MILESTONES AND STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE CRUCIAL 911 MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE INITIATIVE
Mental Health Emergency B-HEARD Teams Responded to 73 Percent of All Eligible 911 Calls in Pilot Area, Total of 14,900 Calls Over Last Fiscal Year, Doubling Prior Year
43 Percent of Individuals Who Received Behavioral Health Assessments Were Provided with Connections to Community-Based Behavioral Health Services Instead of Being Brought to Hospital
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released new data showing the milestone achievements of the Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division (B-HEARD), New York City’s health-centered response to 911 mental health calls. Over Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, B-HEARD teams responded to 14,900 calls, which accounts for 73 percent of all eligible mental health calls in the pilot area during the program’s operation hours. The FY24 figure is more than double the previous fiscal year’s responses when teams responded to almost 7,200 calls, which comprised approximately 55 percent of eligible calls. In total, B-HEARD teams have responded to over 24,000 mental health 911 calls since launching in spring of 2021.
Additionally, the Adams administration announced two new policy strategies to strengthen its ability to provide as many New Yorkers as possible with a health-centered crisis response. Both strategies went into effect in June 2024. The first is to prioritize deploying B-HEARD teams to calls that have been fully triaged by the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Emergency Medical Services 911 call-takers where the teams are more likely to have the patient on-scene where they arrive, maximizing the time B-HEARD teams spend serving individuals in need. The second is to eliminate police precinct boundaries within the existing pilot area, which covers 31 police precincts. This significant program modification will allow existing teams to be nimble in their ability to respond to nearby calls outside a precinct boundary once they have completed a call.
“Responding to New Yorkers’ mental health needs of all kinds is a priority for our administration,” said Mayor Adams. “That is why we have established ‘Teenspace,’ a free telehealth service for youth, which has already provided services to over 16,000 young people; launched the Subway Co-Response Outreach Team alongside the MTA to help New Yorkers affected by severe mental illness in our subway system; and sued the owners of five major social media companies for their role in contributing to the mental health crisis of our young people. For too long, our systems were not equipped to respond to people in mental health crisis. I am proud that under our leadership, we have responded to New Yorkers on over 24,000 mental health 911 calls through the groundbreaking B-HEARD program and have expanded this crucial emergency service to ensure even more New Yorkers get the support they need, especially when they need it most.”
“B-HEARD is another tool to reach New Yorkers in most need and help them get the care they require,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Roughly four in 10 folks engaged by a B-HEARD mental health clinician have been connected to community mental health supports and B-HEARD teams have reached out to more than 70 percent of eligible calls overall. We will continue to build on these efforts and give every New Yorker in need access to mental health support.”
“As we continue to refine the B-HEARD program, the Adams administration is committed to ensuring that every New Yorker experiencing a mental health crisis receives the compassionate, appropriate care they deserve,” said Mayors Office of Community Mental Health (OCMH) Executive Director Eva Wong. “The latest data highlights significant progress of the B-HEARD program, and the positive impact of New York City’s first-ever health-centered response to mental health emergencies. Through ongoing innovation and collaboration to prioritize fully triaged calls and eliminate precinct boundaries, we are taking significant steps to enhance our response capabilities and better serve our communities.”
“The B-HEARD program is a valuable resource for New Yorkers experiencing mental health crises,” said FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker. “As a pilot program, it is a patient-driven, health-centered response that has allowed New Yorkers to get the help they need, and we are constantly working to refine the program to ensure we continue to meet the needs of those who need our help the most.”
“B-HEARD continues to enhance the ways NYC Health + Hospitals serves high-needs communities across the city,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Deputy Chief Medical Officer and System Chief of Behavioral Health Omar Fattal, MD, MPH. “The B-HEARD teams are in communities engaging individuals on a daily basis, ensuring that New Yorkers in crisis are provided the recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and person-centered support they need to stay in the community. B-HEARD’s success as a health-led response is evident by the fact that nearly half of its patients who receive an assessment are assisted in their community instead of making an unnecessary trip to the emergency room.”
B-HEARD is an interagency collaboration between the FDNY and NYC Health + Hospitals with oversight from OCMH. B-HEARD partners with emergency medical technicians (EMTs)/paramedics and mental health clinicians to respond as a team to 911 mental health calls that do not have violence or weapons as the primary concern. The goal of the program is to connect individuals to the best level of care for their needs and reduce unnecessary use of the emergency department and police resources. The teams work with individuals to understand their needs, de-escalate, and, whenever possible, speak with their family members and the individual’s current clinician to determine the best path forward. Each B-HEARD response reflects New York City’s commitment to providing people who are experiencing a mental health crisis with the most appropriate care by pairing mental health clinicians with EMTs for the first-time ever.
The latest data brief shows that the program has made steady progress in responding to a higher percentage of total mental health 911 calls since launch. There has also been an increase in the number of calls that are eligible for a B-HEARD response and the city is responding to more eligible calls. During the 16 hours a day when the program was operational from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, there were 20,541 eligible 911 mental health calls in the pilot area and an overwhelming majority of those calls received a B-HEARD response, with teams responding to 73 percent of all eligible calls. This is a significant increase from the previous fiscal year when B-HEARD teams responded to 55 percent of all eligible calls. Approximately 50 percent of all B-HEARD responses, or 7,417 B-HEARD patients, engaged with a B-HEARD team. Of those instances where the B-HEARD teams made contact with a patient, in FY24, about 50 percent, or 3,691 B-HEARD patients, received a behavioral health assessment.
The data also shows that B-HEARD is helping New Yorkers access community-based options for mental health care through the 911 system — which was not possible prior to B-HEARD — as individuals can be treated by a mental health professional within minutes. In FY24, of the 3,691 individuals that received a behavioral health assessment by a B-HEARD team, 43 percent of them were able to remain in the community, potentially reducing the number of unnecessary transports to hospital emergency rooms. Before B-HEARD, transportation to an emergency department was the only option for mental health treatment available through the 911 system.
The strategies announced today build on previous modifications made by the Adams administration to strengthen mental health operations over the last three years. Since launching B-HEARD in 2021, the city’s approach has always been to learn as much as possible to refine the program to best meet the unique needs of New Yorkers. Accordingly, the city has implemented modifications over the last three years to strengthen operations, such as developing and implementing a new algorithm to automate call triaging to more effectively identify calls that are appropriate for a B-HEARD response; hiring more EMS 911 call-takers in FY24; and conducting a B-HEARD satisfaction survey that showed overwhelmingly positive feedback.
In 2023, Mayor Adams announced a sweeping mental health agenda, “Care, Community, Action: A Mental Health Plan for New York City,” with $20 million in new commitments that invested in, among other initiatives, an online hub to connect New Yorkers with serious mental illness to care and a substantial expansion of the clubhouse program.
Alongside the Adams administration’s focus on mental health, Mayor Adams also launched “HealthyNYC” last November, an ambitious plan to extend the average lifespan of all New Yorkers by reducing the impact of mental health related deaths like overdoses, suicide, and homicides by 2030. Additionally, HealthyNYC expands access to culturally-responsive mental health care and social support services, including early intervention for communities of color and LGBTQIA+ youth, and helps address the impact of social media on youth mental health and suicidal ideation to reduce suicide deaths.
Later that month, Mayor Adams announced “Teenspace” — the city’s tele-mental health service available to all New York City teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 years old at no cost. In the first six months of the program, the service — created in partnership with online therapy platform Talkspace — allowed more than 6,800 New York City teenagers connect with a licensed therapist through phone, video, and text. In the four months since that announcement — and less than a year after the launch of the program — have benefitted from Teenspace.
“My district’s 104th Precinct has been a part of the B-HEARD pilot program. This has proven to be a life-saving initiative that we must expand citywide,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. “B-HEARD demonstrates our City’s commitment to a public safety response that fits the needs of every situation. Indeed, mental health crises require first responders trained to address these issues and de-escalate the situation. The numbers show that B-HEARD has been a success, responding to 14,900 calls in the last fiscal year—a 50 percent increase from the year before—comprising 73 percent of all eligible calls. I am proud to partner with the mayor to expand this life-saving program across all five boroughs.”
THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS ANNOUNCES OPENING OF NEW INTEGRATED OUTPATIENT AND OPIOID TREATMENT PROGRAM IN WATERTOWN
New Program Provides Range of Addiction Services in One Location
Designed to Cut Down on the Need for Individuals to Travel to Multiple Different Providers
The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) today announced the opening of a new comprehensive integrated outpatient and Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) in Watertown. Operated by THRIVE Wellness and Recovery and located at 611 West Main Street, the new facility provides medication for addiction treatment, including methadone, as well as a comprehensive array of other addiction services. OASAS is providing more than $240,000 through the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund to support the integration of outpatient and OTP services in this new setting.
“This new center is a game-changer for the North Country region,” OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said. “Medication for addiction, like methadone, is a safe and effective treatment that has been proven to save lives by reducing the risk overdose death by as much as 50%. As the first program of this type in Jefferson County, this facility will help more people access a range of lifesaving care without the need to travel long distances and will further support our efforts to provide lifesaving services to those in need.”
Comprehensive integrated and OTP programs provide more opportunities to access person-centered services, including medication treatment for opioid use disorder, by co-locating both an outpatient treatment program and an OTP at the same site. These programs are designed to centralize medication treatment, including methadone, and other addiction and healthcare services to make it easier for New Yorkers seeking treatment for substance use disorders to access multiple services in one location.
OASAS has provided more than $18 million through the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund, as well as federal grant programs, to establish more than 40 integrated outpatient and OTP programs across the state.
New York State leads the nation in making settlement funding available, and has made $335 available to providers across the state to support various initiatives to address the opioid and overdose crisis. Additional funding from the settlement fund is being used to support other initiatives to increase medication for addiction treatment, as well as outreach services to connect at-risk individuals to services and resources, increased support for recovery centers, and more than $100 million delivered directly to municipalities across the state for them to address the opioid and overdose crisis on a local level. Details of this spending are available on the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund Tracker.
The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports oversees one of the nation’s largest systems of addiction services with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment and recovery programs serving over 731,000 individuals per year. This includes the direct operation of 12 Addiction Treatment Centers where our doctors, nurses, and clinical staff provide inpatient and residential services to approximately 8,000 individuals per year.
New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).
THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS ANNOUNCES OPENING OF NEW INTEGRATED OUTPATIENT AND OPIOID TREATMENT PROGRAM IN WATERTOWN
New Program Provides Range of Addiction Services in One Location
Designed to Cut Down on the Need for Individuals to Travel to Multiple Different Providers
The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) today announced the opening of a new comprehensive integrated outpatient and Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) in Watertown. Operated by THRIVE Wellness and Recovery and located at 611 West Main Street, the new facility provides medication for addiction treatment, including methadone, as well as a comprehensive array of other addiction services. OASAS is providing more than $240,000 through the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund to support the integration of outpatient and OTP services in this new setting.
“This new center is a game-changer for the North Country region,” OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said. “Medication for addiction, like methadone, is a safe and effective treatment that has been proven to save lives by reducing the risk overdose death by as much as 50%. As the first program of this type in Jefferson County, this facility will help more people access a range of lifesaving care without the need to travel long distances and will further support our efforts to provide lifesaving services to those in need.”
Comprehensive integrated and OTP programs provide more opportunities to access person-centered services, including medication treatment for opioid use disorder, by co-locating both an outpatient treatment program and an OTP at the same site. These programs are designed to centralize medication treatment, including methadone, and other addiction and healthcare services to make it easier for New Yorkers seeking treatment for substance use disorders to access multiple services in one location.
OASAS has provided more than $18 million through the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund, as well as federal grant programs, to establish more than 40 integrated outpatient and OTP programs across the state.
New York State leads the nation in making settlement funding available, and has made $335 available to providers across the state to support various initiatives to address the opioid and overdose crisis. Additional funding from the settlement fund is being used to support other initiatives to increase medication for addiction treatment, as well as outreach services to connect at-risk individuals to services and resources, increased support for recovery centers, and more than $100 million delivered directly to municipalities across the state for them to address the opioid and overdose crisis on a local level. Details of this spending are available on the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund Tracker.
The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports oversees one of the nation’s largest systems of addiction services with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment and recovery programs serving over 731,000 individuals per year. This includes the direct operation of 12 Addiction Treatment Centers where our doctors, nurses, and clinical staff provide inpatient and residential services to approximately 8,000 individuals per year.
New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).
NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE ADVISE NEW YORKERS TO BEAT THE HEAT
Heat Emergency Plan activated Wednesday through at least Thursday.
Cooling centers will open across the city through Thursday, Aug. 1. To find locations, including hours of operation, call 311 or visit the City’s Cool Options Map.
New Yorkers should also take advantage of additional cool options such as museums, movie theaters, coffee shops, pools, houses of worship, or a neighbor, friend, or family member’s home.
July 31, 2024 — New York City Emergency Management Department and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene advise New Yorkers to take precautions as dangerously high heat is expected beginning Wednesday afternoon and extending through at least Thursday. NYC Emergency Management is working closely with the National Weather Service to monitor the forecast as the city faces another heat advisory. Additionally, beachgoers are urged to exercise caution at beaches due to a high risk of life-threatening rip currents.
NYCEM and the Health Department urge New Yorkers to take steps to protect themselves and help others who may be at increased risk from the heat. For more information, including heat-related health tips and warning signs of heat illness, visit NYC.gov/health or NYC.gov/beattheheat. In New York City, most heat-related deaths occur after exposure to heat in homes without air conditioners. Air conditioning is the best way to stay safe and healthy when it is hot outside, but some people at risk of heat illness do not have or do not turn on an air conditioner.
To help New Yorkers find relief from the heat, New York City cooling centers will be open throughout the five boroughs. Cooling center locations may have changed from last year. To find a cooling center, including accessible facilities closest to you, call 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115) or visit the City’s Cool Options Map. This year’s newly-revamped map is now available around the clock and allows New Yorkers to easily locate cooling centers, which the City opens during heat emergencies, and cool options, which include free spaces that offer air-conditioned spaces to escape the heat. New Yorkers can now also find cooling centers that welcome pets throughout the five boroughs. As a reminder, service animals are always allowed at cooling centers.
New Yorkers can access a range of outdoor cooling options, including spray showers, drinking fountains, and more. These resources can be found online at Cool It! NYC. Many of these resources are located in neighborhoods across New York City. New York City outdoor pools are generally open 11AM-7PM, Olympic and intermediate-sized pools will be open through 8PM on Wednesday. State Parks, including Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park pool and Roberto Clemente State Park pool are open, call ahead to confirm.
During extreme heat, the Department of Social Services (DSS) issues a Code Red Alert. During Code Reds, shelter is available to anyone experiencing homelessness, where those experiencing heat-related discomfort are also able to access a designated cooling area. DSS staff and the agency’s not-for-profit contracted outreach teams engage with individuals experiencing homelessness 24/7/365 and redouble their efforts during extreme heat, with a focus on connecting vulnerable New Yorkers experiencing unsheltered homelessness to services and shelter.
ADDITIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS DURING EXTREME HEAT
Those most vulnerable to heat stress include adults aged 60 and older, and people with health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, mental health conditions, or people with cognitive impairment. Check on people who are at-risk and help them find a cool place to stay during heat events.
Go to an air-conditioned location, even if for a few hours.
Stay out of the sun and avoid extreme temperature changes.
Avoid strenuous activity, especially during the sun’s peak hours: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4:00 AM and 7:00 AM.
Remember: drink water, rest, and locate shade if you are working outdoors or if your work is strenuous. Drink water every 15 minutes even if not thirsty (avoid beverages containing alcohol or caffeine), rest in the shade, and watch out for others on outdoor teams. Employers are required to provide water, rest, and shade when work is being done during extreme heat.
Eat small, frequent meals.
Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
Participate in activities to keep cool, such as going to the movies, visiting museums, walking in an air-conditioned mall, or swimming at a pool or beach.
Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens and, in apartments where children live, window guards. Air conditioners in buildings more than six stories must be installed with brackets so they are secured and cannot fall on someone below.
Never leave a child or pets in the vehicle, even for a few minutes.
KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS OF HEAT ILLNESS
Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know has:
Hot dry skin
Trouble breathing
Rapid heartbeat
Confusion, disorientation, or dizziness
Nausea and vomiting
If you or someone you know feels weak or faint, go to a cool place and drink water. If there is no improvement, call a doctor or 911.
KEEPING YOUR PETS SAFE
Avoid dehydration: Pets can dehydrate quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water.
Walk your dog in the morning and evening: When the temperature is very high, do not let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Your pet’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn.
Know when your pet is in danger: Symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, unresponsiveness, or even collapse.
IMPROPER FIRE HYDRANT USE
The improper opening of fire hydrants wastes 1,000 gallons of water per minute, causes flooding on city streets, and lowers water pressure to dangerous levels, which hamper the ability of the Fire Department to fight fire safely and quickly.
Use “spray caps” to reduce hydrant output to a safe 25 gallons per minute while still providing relief from the heat. To obtain a spray cap, an adult 18 years or older with proper identification can go to his or her local firehouse and request one.
ENERGY-SAVING TIPS
During periods of intense electrical usage, such as on hot, humid days, it is important to conserve energy as much as possible to avoid brownouts and other electrical disruptions. While diminishing your power usage may seem inconvenient, your cooperation will help to ensure that utility providers are able to provide uninterrupted electrical service to you and your neighbors, particularly those who use electric powered medical equipment or are at risk of heat-related illness and death:
Set your air conditioner to 78°F or “low.”
Run appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers in the early morning or late at night when it is cooler outside to reduce heat and moisture in your home.
Close doors to keep cool air in and hot air out when the air conditioner is running.
Keep shades, blinds, and curtains closed. About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows.
Turn off air conditioners, lights, and other appliances when not at home, and use a timer or smart technology to turn on your air conditioner about a half-hour before arriving home. Keep air conditioner filters clean.
If you run a business, keep your door closed while the air conditioner is running.
Tell your utility provider if you or someone you know depend on medical equipment that requires electricity.
For more information, visit NYC.gov/beattheheat. New Yorkers are also encouraged to stay informed by signing up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency communications program, to receive free emergency alerts and updates in your preferred language and format by visiting NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, calling 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115), following @NotifyNYC on Twitter, or getting the free Notify NYC mobile application for your Apple or Android device.
Last week, we joined A Night in Full Bloom – raising awareness of fibroids and their impact on women’s health. We’re so grateful to join this incredible group of influential and inspiring women to share our stories and discuss work to educate and provide more outreach on fibroids. A special thank you to our Hosts, Cynthia Bailey & Kym Lee, and our special guests, Kenya Gibson, Angela Yee, and Cara Maria. We are grateful to our Founder & CEO of USA Fibroids Clinic, Dr. Yan Katsnelson, for your commitment and leadership in creating important spaces to discuss fibroids and our collective work. Thanks to everyone who joined us from near and far for an inspiring night in full bloom.
NEW YORK STATE ANNOUNCES SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM TO SERVE AT-RISK YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS ON STATEN ISLAND
Nearly $3.7 Million Awarded to the ‘MISSION’ Project to Strengthen Student Mental Health at the Borough’s Public Schools and Two College Campuses
The New York State Office of Mental Health announced today that nearly $3.7 million in federal funding has been awarded to help prevent suicide among at-risk youth and young adults on Staten Island. Administered by OMH’s Suicide Prevention Center of New York, the funding over five years will help implement the ‘MISSION’ project, which combines clinical interventions for at-risk youth and young adults with suicide prevention approaches.
“Effective suicide prevention requires communitywide action,” Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “The ‘MISSION’ project will bring together institutions, providers, and community members across Staten Island to develop a collaborative approach. This multi-tiered approach highlights Governor Kathy Hochul’s ongoing commitment to addressing youth mental health and ensuring young New Yorkers have the supports they can rely on to live and thrive.”
The project will develop prevention services for students and strengthen behavioral health supports, including training for adults to identify and refer at-risk youth to an integrated system for rapid referrals; and providing universal screening and evidence-based interventions in behavioral health settings. The initiative will also develop a partnership for crisis stabilization, suicide-specific interventions, and rapid response to the specialized needs of youth with suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Prevention will be integrated into local public schools in the borough, Wagner College, and the College of Staten Island, which is part of the CUNY system, along with four major behavioral health organizations serving the area. The project will involve a collaboration between the Suicide Prevention Center, and the Staten Island Borough President’s Office, the state Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness, and Staten Island’s public schools, in conjunction with the Jewish Board for Family and Children’s Services, Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island University Hospital, and Project Hospitality.
Through the duration of the five-year grant, the project will provide prevention services to more than 30,000 youth and young adults between the ages of 10 and 24 who are at-risk for suicide. An additional 12,000 youth will be provided clinical services through the initiative, with an additional 2,500 receiving specialty services.
Staten Island was selected for the project due to the area’s elevated rate of youth suicide and overdose deaths. The borough also has a youth suicide rate similar to the rest of the state, is relatively self-contained in that most residents receive education and healthcare locally; and reflects the overall diversity of New York.
The funding was announced during Suicide Prevention Month, which is dedicated to promoting awareness, education, and action to prevent suicide. The recognition honors the lives lost to suicide, supports the survivors of suicide loss, and reinforces New York State’s commitment to mental health and wellness for all.
Suicide claimed the lives of more than 1,700 individuals in New York in 2022. It is the second leading cause of death among individuals between the age of 25 and 34, and the third leading cause of death for youth and young adults between the age of 10 and 24.
Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said, “Today’s announcement builds upon New York State’s efforts to bring essential suicide prevention services to youths and young adults. The ‘MISSION’ Project mirrors the work we at OASAS—alongside our OMH partners—undertake every day to meet the often-co-occurring substance use and mental health needs of young people. This care, which includes suicide screenings, is woven throughout our prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery continuum of care.”
New York State Psychiatric Institute Executive Director Dr. Joshua A. Gordon said, “Supporting the mental health of our youth is a critical investment in the future of our communities. By identifying and addressing the unique needs of at-risk individuals on Staten Island, the ‘MISSION’ project will create a framework for targeted interventions that can prevent crises before they occur. The collaborative nature of this initiative reflects the power of partnerships in tackling such a complex issue as youth suicide.”
Suicide Prevention Center Director Dr. Jay Carruthers said, “The ‘MISSION’ project is a first of its kind initiative for the State that aims to break through silos in healthcare and education in service of youth mental health with implications for the rest of the City and State.”
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella said, “We are grateful to receive funding to start this unique youth mental health program. In fact, it is the first mental health program in the country that has been created by our community for our community. We are grateful to all the individuals and organizations that came together to try to help young people who may be experiencing troubles that could lead to something far worse. We want to get kids the help they need, before it is too late. We are pleased that the New York State Office of Mental Health has been with us from day one, and equally appreciative of SAMSHA for providing the funding that will make a difference.”
New York State Announces $2.7 Million Available to Develop New Flexible Assertive Community Treatment Teams
Evidence-Based Program to Provide Services to Difficult-to-Engage New Yorkers Living with Serious Mental Illness Throughout Their Recovery | |
New York State today announced up to $2.7 million is available to develop Flexible Assertive Community Treatment teams to serve New Yorkers living with serious mental illness, but who are disengaged from the traditional system of care. Administered by the state Office of Mental Health, the funding will help establish 37 multidisciplinary teams, which will have the flexibility to provide critical outpatient mental health services based on the evolving needs of the individuals enrolled for treatment. “ACT teams engage people with mental illness in their own homes and communities and provide services when and where the client wants and needs them,” Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “These new Flexible ACT teams will work with individuals to help them develop the skills they can use to lead successful and independent lives.” OMH-licensed service providers can apply for $75,000 in start-up funds to create 37 Flexible Assertive Community Treatment teams, which are based on the evidence-based model also known as ACT. These teams, however, incorporate greater flexibility so that individuals served by them can receive services based on their changing needs, ensuring that mental health services evolve as the client progresses and their treatment needs change. Flexible ACT teams offer support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and meet daily to review every individual in their caseload, providing a level of accountability that allows for immediate changes in service planning and leads to improved outcomes for clients. Most services provided by the teams are offered in the individuals’ home or community, which allows newly acquired living skills to be applied in their own real-world environment and situations. Over the past seven years, New York State has significantly increased the licensed ACT teams in operation. There are now 124 licensed teams, including 68 in New York City alone, providing mobile, high intensity services to the most at-risk New Yorkers. Those enrolled in ACT teams tend to have more engagement with mental health care providers; improved housing stability and employment status; and fewer visits to emergency rooms or psychiatric hospitalizations, according to data collected by ACT teams and submitted to OMH’s Child and Adult Integrated Reporting System. And at discharge, a lower percentage of ACT participants reported recent homelessness, psychiatric hospitalization and substance use compared to their status at admission. Governor Kathy Hochul’s $1 billion plan to strengthen New York’s continuum of mental health care calls for establishing 42 additional ACT teams. These multidisciplinary, evidence-based teams provide comprehensive and flexible treatment, support, and rehabilitation services to individuals in their community. |
Home Care Nurses Help Vulnerable Communities Make It Through Latest Heat Wave
As triple digit temperatures hit New York again, it is some of the most vulnerable in our community who are “feeling the heat” the most. While rising temperatures pose a danger to all New Yorkers, individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are especially at risk.
High temperatures can be particularly dangerous for people dealing with dementia as they often lack the ability to perceive internal temperature changes, leading to heat stroke or dehydration. It can even impact functioning of internal systems that regulate body temperature. And with 80% of dementia patients living at home, they are also faced with challenges tied to heir unique home environment.
No one understands this dilemma more than home care nurses. Across the city, home care nurses are pounding the pavement rain or shine, and whether a patient lives in a fifth-floor walkup without A/C, to a palatial home near the water, they are especially in-tune to the impact heat can have on someone with a chronic condition, including dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Story and Interview Opportunities
On behalf of the nonprofit VNS Health (formerly Visiting Nurse Service of New York), we’d like to offer you the opportunity to connect with our experienced clinicians who can speak to the challenges heat waves pose for people with chronic diseases including dementia, as well as tips and advice on how to stay safe.
In addition, our clinicians speak 50+ languages, and we can provide high-quality video and images for stories. Reach out for more info!
CONSUMER ALERT: As High Temperatures Continue, the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection Reminds New Yorkers to Never Leave Children and Pets in Hot Cars
Take Precautions to Keep Children and Pets Safe and Prevent Heat Stroke
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Secretary Mosley: “As temperatures continue to rise this week and throughout the summer, I urge all New Yorkers to remember these life-saving tips and remain attentive when getting in and out of your car because just a simple mistake or a few minutes’ time can put your loved one in serious danger.”
As high temperatures continue across New York State, the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is warning New Yorkers of the danger children and pets face when left in hot cars. Unfortunately, multiple deaths have been reported after children and pets have been left in a hot vehicle. Heatstroke or death due to hot cars occur most commonly when an adult unintentionally forgets a child or pet, who may be quiet or sleeping in a in a rear-facing seat. Along with these incidents, children can also gain unsupervised access to parked cars and get stuck inside, especially if child safety locks are on. There is a real and severe danger in extreme weather and when temperatures don’t “feel” hot. At 60 degrees outside, after just one hour a closed car can get as hot as 105 degrees.
“Hot weather can pose many risks to New Yorkers, and one of the most prevalent dangers comes from children or pets being left unsupervised in hot cars,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “As temperatures continue to rise this week and throughout the summer, I urge all New Yorkers to remember these life-saving tips and remain attentive when getting in and out of your car because just a simple mistake or a few minutes’ time can put your loved one in serious danger.”
Tragically, 1,083 children have died nationwide due to Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke since 1990. Fifteen of these were in New York State. According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), every year many pets die from heat exhaustion because they are left in parked vehicles. In 2023 alone, 163 animals died due to heat–related deaths and another 855 were rescued from the heat. Anyone found responsible for leaving a child or pet alone in a hot car could face criminal charges.
Safety Tips for Children
- Never leave a child in an unattended vehicle in the warm weather, not even with the windows slightly open or down, due to the risk of heatstroke (hyperthermia).
- If you see a child in a hot car, call 911 right away and follow their instructions. Emergency personnel are trained to respond.
- Teach children not to play in or around vehicles and to alert an adult when a friend is playing in a vehicle without supervision. Make sure children understand the dangers of trunk entrapment (suffocation, heatstroke, etc.).
- Place something you need, like keys, a purse or bag, or your cell phone, next to your child’s car seat so you will remember to check the backseat before you lock the car. Alternatively, place a stuffed toy in your child’s car seat when not in use and move the toy to the front passenger seat when your child is in his/her car seat as a reminder that your child is in the vehicle.
- Use drive-through services whenever possible while driving with a child in a vehicle.
- It is vital to recognize the symptoms of heatstroke in children. Symptoms include absence of sweat, confusion, disorientation, flushed skin, loss of alertness, unconsciousness or rapid/shallow breathing.
Safety Tips for Pets
- Never leave a pet unattended in the car. Like children, dogs and other animals have a harder time staying cool, leaving them extremely vulnerable to heatstroke.
- A car can overheat even when the window has been left cracked an inch or two. Parking in the shade or leaving water in the vehicle won’t prevent your pet from overheating, either.
- According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), young, overweight or senior animals or those with short muzzles or thick or dark coats are most at risk for overheating.
- If you see a pet in a hot car, call 911 immediately.
- Recognize the symptoms of heatstroke in pets and take action if you see them. Symptoms include restlessness, heavy panting, vomiting, lethargy and lack of appetite or coordination.
About the New York State Division of Consumer Protection
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The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides voluntary mediation between a consumer and a business when a consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on their own. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/
CONSUMER ALERT: NYS DEPARTMENT OF STATE’S DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION OFFERS TIPS TO AVOID COSTLY MISTAKES WITH GYM MEMBERSHIPS
Tips To Help Gym Membership Choices Work Out for Consumers
Secretary Rodriguez: “Our Division of Consumer Protection is alerting the public so they are aware that gym fees can become a burden to those consumers who are looking for their services but may not be aware of many hidden non-refundable registrations charges that can lead to expending hundreds of dollars in fees for initiation, maintenance, and/or cancellation.”
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As we begin a New Year, many of us will be setting new goals and resolutions. One of the most popular resolutions is to get fit and healthy, and to achieve this, many people will be joining a gym or renewing their gym membership. The New York State Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) shares practical tips to help guide New Yorkers on what they need to know before signing up or a renewing a health club or gym membership.
“For many New Yorkers, the new year may include a resolution to be healthier and in better physical shape,” said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. “Our Division of Consumer Protection is alerting the public so they are aware that gym fees can become a burden to those consumers who are looking for their services but may not be aware of many hidden non-refundable registration charges that can lead to expending hundreds of dollars in fees for initiation, maintenance, and/or cancellation.”
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR BEFORE SIGNING UP FOR A GYM MEMBERSHIP:
Carefully review the contract before signing it:
Read the fine print and be aware of any hidden fees that may come with it. While the advertised monthly fee may seem reasonable, gyms often include additional fees for things like initiation, cancellation, and maintenance. These fees can quickly add up and leave you with a much higher bill than you expected.
Be aware of add-ons:
When signing up for a gym membership, it’s important to understand the fees and policies that come with it. Here are some key things to keep in mind:
- Initiation or registration fees are typically non-refundable, so be sure the location and schedule are convenient to you.
- Look out for annual maintenance charges. Make sure to read the contract carefully and understand the terms regarding this annual surcharge.
- Locker rentals are often not free, so ask ahead to plan where you’re going to keep your belongings. Some gyms require you to purchase your own padlock or locker assignment.
- Termination fees are important to consider in case you need to cancel your membership. Make sure you understand the gym’s policies regarding termination to avoid any unexpected charges.
- Premium classes and personal training sessions may come with additional charges. While the first training session may be offered for free, subsequent sessions will likely come at a cost. Be sure to ask about the hourly rate, understand the costs involved and inquire if/when prepaid training sessions expire.
- Be sure to check the equipment requirements before attending a class to avoid any unexpected charges. Classroom extras such as yoga mats, steps, and stretch bands may require a rental fee if you don’t have your own equipment.
To learn more, check out these tips from the New York State Attorney General.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WHEN CANCELLING OR RENEWING A GYM MEMBERSHIP:
New York State law requires businesses with automatic renewal programs to disclose the terms of auto-renewal offers clearly and conspicuously, cancellation policies, and minimum purchase obligations. These terms must be stated when consumers are enrolling or signing up, close to the time of purchase.
A business that allows auto-renewal must also provide simple user-friendly cancellation options for consumers to make it easier to unsubscribe or cancel memberships. They must provide a toll-free telephone number, email address or other cost-effective, timely, and easy-to-use option for consumers to cancel after agreeing to a contract. Consumers who purchase these services online must be allowed to terminate the agreement online.
Additionally, businesses must provide consumers with an acknowledgement that outlines the terms of any auto-renewal offer and, if the original offer includes a “free” trial offer or gift, information on how the consumer can cancel the service before they pay for goods or services.
CONSIDER OTHER MONEY SAVINGS IDEAS TO REACH YOUR WELLNESS GOALS:
- Engage in outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, skating, skiing, or biking.
- Take advantage of community recreation center classes, which may be low cost or free.
- Contact your nearby state park to learn more about their fitness programs and workshops. The Empire State Trail is a new initiative from the state of New York to promote outdoor recreation and healthy lifestyle choices. With a focus on community vitality and tourism-related economic development, this trail is a hit with locals and visitors alike.
- Some health insurance plans will cover gym memberships costs, access to fitness activities at no extra cost, or provide reimbursement.
If it is believed a company is not following the law when offering recurring services or free gifts, consumers should file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Protection at www.dos.ny.gov/
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The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides voluntary mediation between a consumer and a business when a consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on their own. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/
FORWARDING: NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE URGE NEW YORKERS TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND PREPARE FOR POOR AIR QUALITY
July 17, 2023 — The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, together with NYC Emergency Management, today issued an advisory alerting New Yorkers to prepare for potential deteriorations in air quality. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s projected forecast places the Air Quality Index (AQI) at a level potentially unhealthy for at risk groups, with conditions anticipated to persist for the initial part of the upcoming week. Monday’s AQI of 120 indicates the necessity for targeted populations—specifically children, older adults, and individuals of all ages with respiratory or cardiac conditions—to exercise additional caution. With an AQI within the range of 101-150, these sensitive groups may experience adverse effects due to reduced air quality. When the AQI goes over 150, all New Yorkers should begin to take precautions.
While forecasting smoke conditions over the next few days presents a formidable challenge, indications suggest that smoke originating from regions north of the city is likely to impact air quality across the metropolitan area significantly. In light of this, NYC Emergency Management, the agency coordinating the city’s response to such environmental risks, is advocating for New Yorkers to increase their vigilance.
“We have a robust infrastructure in place and stand fully prepared to respond to air quality conditions,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “While our teams work tirelessly behind the scenes, we urge all New Yorkers, especially those in high-risk categories, to adopt precautionary measures to safeguard their health. Alongside these actions, let us remember the power of community resilience. Times like these underscore the vital importance of looking out for one another, particularly for those of us who are more vulnerable to health risks.”
“While we may see fluctuation in the air quality in the coming days, we also have tools and guidance to help us navigate conditions,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Pay attention to airnow.gov, listen to your body and take action if you’re feeling the effects of poor air quality.”
NYC Emergency Management is proactively promoting a broad range of preventative measures. These efforts include distributing masks available at local public libraries, FDNY firehouses, and NYPD precincts, and urging New Yorkers to subscribe to the Notify NYC alert system. While Notify NYC remains a crucial conduit for relaying emergency communications about air quality conditions, it is complemented by coordinated efforts with community and faith-based leaders, and the Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). Another specialized tool in the agency’s communication strategy is the Advance Warning System, a communication tool for organizations that serve people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. In addition to these measures, public-private partnerships are being leveraged to enhance communication effectiveness. The Strengthening Communities plan is also being deployed, leveraging an extensive network of 35 community groups that have strategized communication plans for emergencies. Each of these diverse initiatives is a critical component of the agency’s comprehensive strategy, purposefully designed to provide residents with the necessary tools and information to safely navigate this week’s anticipated conditions.
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and NYC Emergency Management, in concert with a broad spectrum of critical City agencies are committed to a strong interagency collaboration to ensure that all New Yorkers stay safe, informed, and prepared amidst any potential environmental shifts affecting the city’s overall health.
Safety Tips
- Full guidance from the NYC Department of Health is available at https://www.nyc.gov/assets/
doh/downloads/pdf/eode/aqi- guidelines-general.pdf - The best way to limit exposure to poor air quality is to reduce time outside and limit strenuous activities. The threshold to take these actions, depends on your individual level of risk.
- Call 911 if you or someone you’re caring for has trouble breathing.
- Monitoring air quality conditions and being prepared. Visit the EPA’s air quality website airnow.gov or download the AirNow mobile app.
- Now is a good time to pick up a mask, in case air quality deteriorates. The city is already making masks available at FDNY firehouses and NYPD precincts and is looking to expand supplies to more vulnerable communities.
- When air quality is poor, wearing a high-quality mask (e.g., N95) can reduce exposure to harmful pollutants. We will continue to communicate with New Yorkers about air quality through the summer. The situation will change regularly but we can be prepared for the months ahead.
- The City will provide alerts if conditions deteriorate further (e.g., AQI above 200), but warnings sent by your body are equally important. New Yorkers should listen to their body. Reactions to poor air quality can include watery eyes, scratchy throat, headaches, or shortness of breath.
- If you feel any of these conditions, go indoors and limit time outside.
New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency notification system, to stay informed about the latest weather updates and other emergencies. To learn more about the Notify NYC program or to sign up, visit NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, call 311, or download the free app for your Android or Apple device. You can also follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter. .
NYS Office of Mental Health and Mental Health Association of New York State Partner to Launch Free Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
Trainings designed to teach adults how to help young people in crisis — Additional funding will provide training for teens to support their friends and learn how to cope with crises | |
The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS) have partnered to provide free Youth Mental Health First Aid training to adults who regularly interact with young people, including parents, caregivers, healthcare providers, teachers and others. The trainings help adults recognize and assist young people ages 12 to 18 who are experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis. OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “The trainings offered by MHANYS will help adults who work with or interact with young people to recognize warning signs of potential behavioral health issues, which will help children and youth get the support and services they need earlier, leading to better health outcomes. MHANYS has been a great partner to OMH in our shared mission to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the services they may need.” Glenn Liebman, CEO of MHANYS, said, “Through the leadership of Governor Hochul and Commissioner Sullivan, New York has created a pathway to the expansion of resources for young people and those that work with them. Combining Youth and Teen Mental Health First Aid will provide mental health information and resources to thousands of New Yorkers. The numbers of young people with mental health issues is staggering across the nation and New York is utilizing their resources to help respond to this crisis in an innovative and practical way.” Last year, MHANYS’s School Mental Health Resource Center began its Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) Across NYS project. The project provides YMHFA training to adults that regularly interact with youth. OMH awarded MHANYS with a $1 million grant to develop and facilitate the trainings. Funding for the award was provided to OMH through expansion of the federal Community Mental Health Services Block Grant, which is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This year, OMH provided an additional $1 million in State funds to expand the trainings to include Teen Mental Health First Aid, which is designed to teach teens ages 15-18 how to support a friend or classmate. Young people will be prepared to provide support for their peers as well as better cope with mental health challenges they themselves face. MHANYS expects to provide Teen Mental Health First Aid by this Fall. Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents. Training focuses on how to best help young people who may be experiencing a mental health issue or a substance abuse problem. MHANYS anticipates facilitating 40 in-person training sessions and 120 virtual sessions which will provide training to up to 3,600 participants. MHANYS will also provide instruction to individuals who wish to deliver Youth Mental Health First Aid training themselves. This “train the trainer” model will help further expand access to training in communities across New York State. MHANYS will host two “Train the Trainer” sessions, which will prepare up to 32 people to become Youth Mental Health First Aid trainers. Studies show that those who trained in Mental Health First Aid have greater confidence in providing help to others, greater likelihood of advising people to seek professional help, improved concordance with health professionals about treatments, and decreased stigmatizing attitudes. People interested in receiving Youth Mental Health First Aid training can learn more and register by visiting the MHANYS website at: https://www.mentalhealthednys. https://www.mentalhealthednys. |
Van Cortlandt Jewish Center (VCJC) Organizes Blood Drive to Save Lives
Bronx, NY, July 10, 2023 – The Van Cortlandt Jewish Center (VCJC) is proud to announce its upcoming blood drive aimed at making a positive impact on the community. The event will take place on Sunday, July 30, 2023 from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM at the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center on 3880 Sedgwick Avenue, Bronx, NY 10463. This initiative is part of VCJC’s ongoing commitment to saving lives and supporting the New York Blood Center.
With blood shortages becoming a growing concern, especially during the summer, the VCJC is taking proactive steps to address this critical issue. By hosting this blood drive, the VCJC aims to ensure that hospitals and medical centers have an adequate supply of blood to meet the needs of patients in our community.
“We believe that giving blood is a mitzvah, a good deed that has the power to save lives,” said Mr. Stuart Harris, president of VCJC. “Through this blood drive, we hope to bring the community together and make a tangible difference in the lives of those in need.”
The blood drive will be conducted in accordance with the highest standards of safety and hygiene, adhering to all necessary protocols to ensure the well-being of donors and staff. Trained healthcare professionals will be on-site to guide donors through the process and ensure a smooth and comfortable experience.
Individuals interested in participating are encouraged to schedule an appointment in advance to help manage the flow of donors and minimize wait times. Appointments can be made by visiting the NY Blood Bank website at https://donate.nybc.org/donor/
The Van Cortlandt Jewish Center extends its gratitude to all those who choose to participate in this life-saving event. By donating blood, community members will be making a direct impact on the lives of those in need, potentially providing hope and healing to patients in our local hospitals.
ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES EXPANDS PILOT PROGRAM TO HELP PARENTS BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS WHEN THERE IS A CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATION
After a Successful Pilot, ACS is Taking Steps to Move Citywide to Provide Parents With Written Notification of Rights Before Entering their Home
The NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) is expanding its work to help parents better understand their rights at the outset of a child protective investigation. The announcement comes following the completion of an initial pilot program in parts of Brooklyn and the Bronx, in which child protective specialists distributed over four hundred notifications to parents who were the subject of an allegation of child abuse or neglect. The notifications explain that, while ACS has a legal requirement to assess the safety of the child, parents are not required to let ACS into their homes and can seek the assistance of an attorney. If ACS is not allowed to check a child’s safety as required, the notification explains that ACS may seek permission from Family Court to complete the assessment. Commissioner Jess Dannhauser today announced that ACS will begin distributing written notifications to families in two more zones, with full implementation planned by July of 2024.
Providing this information builds upon ACS’s ongoing work to address systemic flaws that have existed in child welfare historically and promotes equity and fairness, including a citywide strategy to reduce the number of unnecessary child welfare investigations. ACS has been working closely with city agencies that serve children and families and external stakeholders to ensure families are being connected to the services and supports they need without the need for a child abuse or maltreatment report or an investigation.
“ACS is committed to keeping children safe, and, at the same time, respecting families because New York City children and families deserve both,” said Jess Dannhauser, Commissioner of the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). “To this end, we are expanding the pilot to provide families with information about their rights during a child protective investigation citywide by July of this year. In doing so, we are taking an important step towards the mayor’s vision of safety, equity and justice.”
“In order to support children, we need to also act to support parents. With the expansion of this pilot, child protective specialists will help inform more parents of their rights during a child protective case. This pilot also shows how ACS is working to make the system more equitable and fair for families,” said Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom
The new written materials – which are available in ten languages in addition to English – being provided to families include the following information: “The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) has received a report from the New York Statewide Central Register (SCR) with concerns about your child(ren). ACS has a legal obligation to assess the safety of your child(ren) to complete an assessment of the concerns. We are requesting your permission to enter your home to have a conversation with you about the alleged concerns and to explain the process. We want you to know that you have a right to not let ACS into your home. If you choose not to let ACS into your home, ACS is required by law to determine how best to assess the safety of your child(ren). This may include seeking permission from Family Court to complete the assessment. We also want you to know that you may call an attorney at any point during this investigation. We have an informational packet that includes contact information for your local family defense organization, along with other resources within your community.”
Through a wide range of initiatives, ACS has been working to address the disparities that exist at each of the stages throughout the child welfare system, as well as the number of families impacted by a child welfare intervention. As a result of this work, substantial progress has been made: the number of Black non-Hispanic families experiencing an indicated investigation declined 38 percent from 2018 to 2022; the number of Black non-Hispanic families in family court filings related to abuse and neglect dropped by nearly half; the number of Black non-Hispanic families experiencing an emergency removal declined by one-third; and the number of Black non-Hispanic families with a child placed into foster care as a result of a child abuse or neglect investigation was down 20 percent. Today, the number of children in New York City’s foster care system is less than 6,500. Comparatively, 25 years ago, there were more than 40,000 children in New York City’s foster care system.
ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES LAUNCHES NEW PROVIDER AGENCY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR CONTRACTED PROVIDER STAFF PURSUING A MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK (MSW) DEGREE
Today, Commissioner Jess Dannhauser, of the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), announced the launch of the Provider Agency Scholarship Program, which will help support contracted provider agency staff as they advance their careers. The program builds off an existing program for ACS staff and will offer tuition support and continuous professional development opportunities to provider agency employees pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree who are committed to working in NYC’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
“The Provider Scholarship Program is an expansion of our existing programming available to ACS staff to support professional development. As a social worker myself, I know how much a MSW can further advance the work we do with families, ensuring they have every opportunity to thrive and succeed. This new program is a wonderful way to recognize provider staff who have demonstrated incredible commitment to working in NYC’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems and provide them with real support in advancing their training and career,” said Commissioner Jess Dannhauser.
“In New York City, we are making sure all those in child welfare are supported with the right training and professional development to help make them experts in their fields,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “ACS’s Provider Scholarship Program is yet another way for individuals who work tirelessly on behalf of children and families to provide the highest level of expertise to those they serve.”
In the first year of the program, 50 MSW scholarships will be awarded to contracted provider agency staff. Eligibility requirements include two years of satisfactory job performance; a current performance evaluation of Very Good; no pending disciplinary action; and letters of recommendation from agency senior leadership. Applicants must have been accepted and/or enrolled in an accredited degree-bearing MSW program affiliated with PDP in the greater New York City area. Scholarship recipients are required to commit to working in the Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice systems in New York City for up to two years following graduation. The program provides post-graduation networking and continuing education (CEU) opportunities to ensure recipients are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary for long-term success in their careers.
ACS will hold information sessions for provider agency leadership and prospective applicants during July and Augus
AIR QUALITY HEALTH ADVISORY ISSUED FOR LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK CITY METRO, LOWER HUDSON VALLEY, UPPER HUDSON VALLEY, EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO, CENTRAL NEW YORK AND WESTERN NEW YORK In Effect for Thursday, June 8, 2023
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and State Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. James McDonald issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for the Long Island, New York City Metro, Lower Hudson Valley, Upper Hudson Valley, Eastern Lake Ontario, Central New York and Western New York regions for Thursday, June 8, 2023.
The air quality is forecasted to reach ‘Unhealthy’ AQI levels on Thursday in the New York City Metro, Long Island, Eastern Lake Ontario, Central and Western regions.
The pollutant of concern is: Fine Particulate Matter
The advisory will be in effect from 12 a.m. through 11:59 p.m.
DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale, with a higher AQI value indicating a greater health concern.
FINE PARTICULATE MATTER
Fine particulate matter consists of tiny solid particles or liquid droplets in the air that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter. PM 2.5 can be made of many different types of particles and often come from processes that involve combustion (e.g. vehicle exhaust, power plants, and fires) and from chemical reactions in the atmosphere.
Exposure can cause short-term health effects such as irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath. Exposure to elevated levels of fine particulate matter can also worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. People with heart or breathing problems, and children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive to PM 2.5.
When outdoor levels are elevated, going indoors may reduce exposure. If there are significant indoor sources of PM 2.5 (tobacco, candle or incense smoke, or fumes from cooking) levels inside may not be lower than outside. Some ways to reduce exposure are to minimize outdoor and indoor sources and avoid strenuous activities in areas where fine particle concentrations are high.
New Yorkers also are urged to take the following energy saving and pollution-reducing steps:
- use mass transit instead of driving, as automobile emissions account for about 60 percent of pollution in our cities.
- conserve fuel and reduce exhaust emissions by combining necessary motor vehicle trips;
- turn off all lights and electrical appliances in unoccupied areas;
- use fans to circulate air. If air conditioning is necessary, set thermostats at 78 degrees;
- close the blinds and shades to limit heat build-up and to preserve cooled air;
- limit use of household appliances. If necessary, run the appliances at off-peak (after 7 p.m.) hours. These would include dishwashers, dryers, pool pumps and water heaters;
- set refrigerators and freezers at more efficient temperatures;
- purchase and install energy efficient lighting and appliances with the Energy Star label; and
- reduce or eliminate outdoor burning and attempt to minimize indoor sources of PM 2.5 such as smoking.
Additional information on ozone and PM 2.5 is available on DEC’s website and on DOH’s website. To stay up-to-date with announcements from DEC, sign up for DEC Delivers: DEC’s Premier Email Service.
The Thursday, June 8, Air Quality Health Advisory regions consist of the following: Long Island which includes Nassau and Suffolk counties; New York City Metro which includes New York City, Rockland, and Westchester counties; Lower Hudson Valley which includes Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Ulster, and Sullivan counties; Upper Hudson Valley which includes Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Washington counties; Eastern Lake Ontario which includes northern Cayuga, Jefferson, Monroe, Oswego, and Wayne counties; Central New York which includes Allegany, Broome, southern Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, southern Herkimer, Livingston, Madison, Onondaga, Oneida, Ontario, Otsego, Tioga, Tompkins, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, and Yates counties; and Western New York which includes Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties.
Important story for American Heart Month: Four Bronx-Based Rehabilitation Facilities Now Provide Remote Cardiac Rehab For Patients Returning Home
Making a huge change for thousands of regional cardiac patients, four of New York City’s leading sub-acute rehabilitation centers are expanding patient services with telehealth to optimize recovery. A nationwide pioneer in remote cardiac rehab is partnering with Bainbridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, East Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Mosholu Parkway Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and The Wayne Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing to provide cardiac care to patients when they return home.
February marks American Heart Month, still so critical since heart disease is still the number one cause of death. Reflective of the overworked, understaffed healthcare staffers overall – remote cardiac rehab takes some of the pressure off those who have to treat patients in–house. It also expands Medco centers’ staff capabilities with access to a national program.
Please see more information below and let us know if you are interested in speaking with a representative from RecoveryPlus.health or these facilities for further comment.
RecoveryPlus.health Partners with Bronx-Based Sub-Acute Rehabilitation Facilities to Offer New Remote Cardiac Rehab For Patients Returning Home
Clinically Proven Virtual Rehab Platform Reduces Relapses and Rehospitalizations While Improving Long-Term Prognosis
NEW YORK – RecoveryPlus.health, a national pioneer in cardiac patient healthcare, has partnered with four of New York City’s leading sub-acute rehabilitation centers to expand patient services and optimize recovery for thousands of regional cardiac patients.
With this new exclusive collaboration, these facilities — Bainbridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, East Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Mosholu Parkway Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and The Wayne Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing — offer onsite inpatient sub-acute cardiac rehab certified by RecoveryPlus.health. In addition, the facilities are introducing a virtual telerehabilitation regimen for patients once they are discharged to the community. The goal of the partnership is to ensure that patients continue to maintain, and improve, their heart health once they return to the community, avoiding rehospitalizations that are common in the cardiac patient population.
The four Bronx-based locations –operating under MEDCO — each provide advanced Physical, Occupational and Speech Rehabilitation treatment in addition to specialized nursing care, empowering patients diagnosed with heart disease or other cardiovascular and pulmonary issues to reach optimal independence.
With this new Sub-Acute Cardiac Rehab program, patients are under the care of an onsite Cardiac Nurse Practitioner who works with the interdisciplinary team to assesses and develop an individualized cardiac rehab plan of care. Upon discharge from the facility, patients will have access in the community to continue their cardiac rehab therapy through this medically certified remote platform to help them continue a heart-healthy lifestyle at home. The physician-prescribed program is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most commercial insurance plans. Experienced clinicians personalize the system to meet the specific needs of each patient.
“Everyone can relate to the difficulty of maintaining exercise and good habits on one’s own,” says RecoveryPlus.health CEO and Co-Founder Peter Niemi. “While outpatient facilities are available, people often face mobility or travel challenges; they may have scheduling, financial or even emotional reasons for not leaving home. Remote cardiac rehab, accessible on demand, under the guidance of experienced healthcare professionals, is a cost effective step toward improving patient care, reducing costs and reinforcing overall long-term health .”
“Nothing is better than in-person rehab and exercise therapy with a skilled healthcare professional who expertly customizes care and motivates patients to do their best to get better,” says Todd Ostrow, COO, MEDCO. “When our patients return home, however, not all are able to continue the recommended activities on their own. Many have strong support systems at home, but others can benefit from ongoing guidance for as long as needed. This new program integrates physical movement, medication adherence, monitoring of vital signs and more.”
With a greater acceptance of telemedicine practices and simplified technology for smartphones and computers, the Centers provide this medically and clinically certified, HIPAA-approved remote rehab program with a physician referral. The post-nursing center platform incorporates one-on-one personal sessions for as long as the patient wants to continue, with seamless insurance billing and automated reporting back to the prescribing physicians.
About MEDCO
The four facilities operate under the MEDCO management network, which represents a dedicated commitment to upholding the highest standards in quality and compassionate healthcare services.
About RecoveryPlus.health
RecoveryPlus.health is the first nationally available, personalized remote cardiac rehab platform for patients recovering from a heart condition or surgery, as well as long Covid, type 2 diabetes, asthma or other conditions. The clinically proven program is especially designed to make recovery and rehabilitation accessible to those unable to participate at a traditional facility. The completely virtual plan includes exercise and movement activity, vital signs monitoring, progress evaluation, and reports back to the referring physician. Most important, RecoveryPlus.health maintains the personal one-on-one guidance by experienced exercise therapists and rehab specialists, adapting a variety of routines to each individual patient. RecoveryPlus.health is telerehabilitation to help you get back to living.
Recent Report Show Increase in Deaths of People Experiencing Homelessness, Nearly Half Due to Overdose
Help Reverse the 340B Carve-Out!
What has happened in just three month that the indicators have risen to today’s levels, and what do Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams plan to do to lower these percentages?
TOP VIDEO RENTALS & SALES
1. Smile 2
(R) Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt
2. The Wild Robot
(PG) Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal
3. Terrifier 3
(NR) Lauren LaVera, David Howard Thornton
4. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
(PG-13) Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder
5. We Live in Time
(R) Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh
6. Joker: Folie à Deux
(R) Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga
7. Piece by Piece
(PG) Pharrell Williams, Morgan Neville
8. Transformers One
(PG) Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry
9. Saturday Night
(R) Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott
10. The Nightmare Before Christmas
(PG) Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND DELIVER MASSIVE $110 MILLION IN FED FUND RELIEF TO MONTEFIORE HEALTH FOR INCURRED COVID-19 EXPENSES; NY HOSPITALS PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS TO KEEP THE BRONX & WESTCHESTER COUNTY SAFE AMID PANDEMIC; REIMBURSEMENT HELPS CONTINUE STRONG HEALTHCARE AT MONTEFIORE; SCHUMER SUCCESSFULLY PUSHED FEMA TO REIMBURSE NY HOPSITALS FOR 100% OF THEIR COVID COSTS
NY Hospitals Undertook An Incredible Pandemic Response For Over 2 Years, And Because Of Schumer’s Push, Millions Upon Millions Of Dollars In Expenses Are Being Reimbursed By FEMA; Montefiore’s $110M Reimbursement Is Latest Example, In Addition To More Than $169M Already Delivered To Montefiore For COVID Costs & $625M Received Via Provider Relief Fund
Senators Say Every Dollar Counts In A Hospital System & Applaud FEMA For Working Closely With Hospitals To Deliver Reimbursements
Schumer, Gillibrand: Montefiore & FEMA Have Done Extraordinary Work Across NYC & Westchester County To Keep Healthcare Strong
U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $110,518,745.96 in emergency federal funds they pushed to deliver for Montefiore Health System Inc. These federal funds were administered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) via a reimbursement structure Schumer helped shape.
“New York’s hospitals, especially Montefiore, undertook an incredible pandemic response and the hospital system both deserves and needs to be repaid for the funds they expended on COVID-19 related supplies, equipment and staffing,” said Senator Schumer. “These federal funds will reimburse Montefiore for the cost of ventilators, testing kits, personal protective equipment, disinfection supplies, and medical staffing that helped limit the spread of the virus and kept patients and staff as safe as possible during such a stressful and unpredictable time. I applaud FEMA for its responsiveness to the needs of New York’s hospitals and the unique challenges they faced during the pandemic.”
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Montefiore Health System’s facilities provided life-saving care for countless New Yorkers,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This $110 million in federal funding will reimburse Montefiore Health System for the emergency response and protective measures that helped protect the health and safety of thousands during the pandemic. I am proud to deliver this federal funding and will continue to fight for federal resources to keep New Yorkers safe.”
Schumer explained that Montefiore Health System, comprised of ten hospitals and more than 200 outpatient ambulatory care sites, has previously received more than $169 million in federal funding to reimburse COVID-19 costs. This latest award of $110 million brings the total reimbursement to more than $279 million. Montefiore also received $625 million from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF), which made payments to eligible providers who diagnosed, tested, or cared for individuals with possible or actual cases of COVID-19 and had health care-related expenses and lost revenues attributable to COVID-19. These federal funds will be used to cover the full cost of resources needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including ventilators, medical equipment, cleaning and disinfection supplies, diagnostic testing kits, personal protective equipment (coveralls, face shields, medical gowns, medical gloves, N95 respirators, surgical masks, shoe covers and medical caps), and medical staffing. All supplies purchased and contracted services were directly related to and used to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Schumer secured historic funding levels for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the American Rescue Plan and prior COVID response and relief bills. He also ensured that hospitals can receive up to 100% reimbursement for costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic, many hospitals and health centers have exceeded their normal and assisted operating budgets as they undertook emergency protective measures. FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program reimburses hospitals and medical facilities for these activities as they worked day and night to protect our communities against COVID-19. This significant federal investment will be used to cover previous COVID-19 response and operational costs.
MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORT ON IMPACTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA
First-in-Nation Report Explores Relationship Between Social Media Use and Mental Health Among Families
Children, Teens, and Parents Who Use a Form of Social Media Report Higher Rates of Anxiety
Amidst Rising Concern of the Effects of Social Media on Young People’s Mental Health, U.S. Surgeon General Recently Proposed Putting Warning Labels on Platforms
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan today announced the release of “Special Report on Social Media and Mental Health,” a data report exploring the many factors around social media use and its impact on users’ mental health. The report — a first in-the-nation from a public health agency — includes the results of two new surveys aimed at exploring the social media habits and mental health status of caregivers and their children. The survey was completed by 22,484 parents, guardians, or other caregivers of a child or teen between the ages of 5 and 17 residing in New York City. The report follows numerous measures Mayor Adams and his administration have taken in the last year to tackle the youth mental health crisis, including taking multiple actions to hold social media companies accountable for their role in helping to fuel this crisis.
Today’s report also comes amidst a groundswell of concern about the effects of unregulated social media on young people’s mental health, including a proposal by the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy to put warning labels on social media platforms.
“The results of this survey provide yet another confirmation of what we have long known: Social media platforms help to create a toxic environment that has detrimental effects on our young people,” said Mayor Adams. “Our administration is committed to supporting our youth and bettering their mental health by launching programs like TeenSpace and by increasing access to mental health clinics in our public schools, as well as by taking on social media companies that are using their platforms to harm our children. As this week’s actions by the U.S. surgeon general demonstrate, we must all act to quickly combat this detrimental issue, or our children will be the ones who continue to suffer.”
“Social media is a useful tool to learn new things, connect with people, and so much more,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “However, it is important we continue to understand its implications for our young people and this report helps us do just that. Approximately 93 percent of New York City teens use some form of social media and those who use these platforms report higher rates of anxiety than their counterparts not using the platforms. Thus, this report, the first-of-its-kind by a city health department, helps us chart a path forward as we continue supporting young people and families with the report’s recommendations and advocating for greater state and federal action in building stronger guardrails for young people online.”
“A stronger and locally-based understanding of the connections between social media and mental health is critical to our continued efforts to protect the wellbeing of New York’s children and teens,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Vasan. “Everyone — from educators to parents to policymakers — are wrestling with the everyday impacts that social media is having on all of us, and how to implement effective and protective approaches to mitigate harm, particularly on our young people. These findings will inform and advance our policies and programs designed to address the mental health challenges our young people face, and the role that social media is playing.”
Findings of today’s report include:
- A majority of children, teens, and adults report using social media and while more than 40 percent of parents surveyed feel that their children use “too much” social media, 78 percent believe the government should put restrictions on the type of access social media companies give to teens.
- Parents of New York City teens who use social media are more likely to report that their teen has an anxiety diagnosis (27 percent) or depression diagnosis (14 percent) than parents of teens who do not use social media. Parents who use social media are also more likely to have indicators of depression or anxiety, compared with those who do not.
- Frequency of mental health diagnoses and symptoms increase with rates of use. Among teens who report using social media daily, 90 percent report worrying in general and 56 percent report at least some depressive symptoms.
- Most teens surveyed report turning to social media to be entertained, to learn new things, or out of boredom. Those who report boredom as their top reason are more likely to report worrying about the future compared with those who do not report boredom as their top reason.
- Rates of use and impacts vary by neighborhood poverty and type of school attended. Teens who live in areas of very high poverty report using social media more than their counterparts who live in wealthier neighborhoods, representing a nearly 10 percent difference between the two groups.
- Children who attend public or charter schools are more likely to use social media than their counterparts in private school.
Recommendations from the report include expanding access to educational resources to raise awareness of healthy habits; implementing social media safety and digital literacy programs to help teenagers use social media responsibly; expanding community resources to offer social alternatives to time online; establishing and enforcing regulations requiring social media companies to implement robust content moderation policies, digital well-being features, and data privacy protections to better protect teens; and continuing to study the impact of social media on mental health for young people.
Along with this report, DOHMH is releasing resources to support parents, caregivers and youth-serving organizations.
The Adams administration has long been vigilant in its pursuit to support New Yorkers, particularly young people, needing mental health care as a result of the toxic environment caused by social media platforms. Last November, Mayor Adams announced “TeenSpace” — the city’s tele-mental health service available to all New York City teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 years old at no cost. In its first six months alone, the service — created in partnership with online therapy platform Talkspace — has allowed more than 6,800 New York City teenagers to connect with a licensed therapist through phone, video, and text.
In his State of the City address earlier this year, Mayor Adams announced that DOHMH issued a Health Commissioner’s Advisory, identifying unfettered access to and use of social media as a public health hazard, just as past U.S. surgeons general have done with tobacco and firearms, and recommending parents delay initiation of social media for their child until at least age 14. This was soon after followed by the Adams administration filing a lawsuit to hold the owners of five social media platforms — TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube — accountable for their role in helping to fuel the nationwide youth mental health crisis and force tech giants to change their behavior, as well as the release of a social media action plan to hold different platforms accountable, provide education and support to young people and families, and study the long-term impacts of social media on youth.
Additionally, in April, in partnership with the New York City Department of Education and NYC Health + Hospitals, the administration announced it will open 16 mental health clinics in New York City public schools over the next six months to serve over 6,000 students across the Bronx and Central Brooklyn.
And last month, DOHMH released the “State of Mental Health of New Yorkers,” which presented data from across age groups, spanning children and youth to adults, including formal diagnoses, measures of well-being, and environmental factors that may affect mental health outcomes, and established a clear post-pandemic baseline for mental health in the city.
All of these actions followed the release of “Care, Community, Action: A Mental Health Plan for New York City,” Mayor Adams’ sweeping mental health agenda — with over $20 million in new commitments — that invested in, among other initiatives, child and family mental health. With the release of that plan, DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Vasan issued a separate commissioner’s advisory highlighting the risks of social media and tools to help build healthier habits around use. Additionally, the plan laid the groundwork for a 2023 summit on social media the Adams administration hosted with more than 150 advocates, researchers, technologists, and caregivers, in partnership with New York City youth, to lay out potential pathways for action to protect the mental health of children and youth.
Alongside the Adams administration’s focus on mental health, Mayor Adams also launched “HealthyNYC”last November, an ambitious plan to extend the average lifespan of all New Yorkers, including reducing the impact of mental health related deaths like overdoses, suicide, and homicides by 2030, and by expanding, among other initiatives, access to culturally responsive mental health care and social support services, including early intervention for communities of color and LGBTQIA+ youth, and addressing the impact of social media on youth mental health and suicidal ideation to reduce suicide deaths.
“This crucial study makes it clear: big social media companies have been wreaking havoc on young people’s mental health,” said New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes. “That’s why I’m so proud the state recently passed my legislation to regulate addictive algorithms and predatory data collection, so that big tech companies don’t profit unchecked off of our kids. Like cigarettes, car crashes, and other public health crises, tackling this problem requires bold, creative work from leaders at every level of government. I’m grateful to Mayor Adams and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for this important report.”
“The data is clear: there is a direct correlation between the explosion of social media and a rise in the rates of self-harm, anxiety and depression, and suicide amongst kids and teens,” said New York State Assemblymember Nily Rozic. “Now, New York is taking the lead with decisive action to protect our kids from the harmful influence of addictive algorithms and unchecked data collection enacting the SAFE for Kids Act and the New York Child Data Protection Act. This is a very significant step in protecting young people in the digital age and I thank Mayor Adams and Commissioner Vasan for their efforts and today’s report.”
“Today we release a historic first-in-the-nation report exposing how unregulated social media is harming the mental health of millions of families,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. “Social media use is a driver of depression, anxiety, and negative body images — all of which place tremendous strains on families. Worst of all, some parents must face the pain of burying their children who died attempting social media challenges. Ever since we filed the groundbreaking lawsuit against social media companies, we have been making a full-frontal assault against the public health crisis social media wrought. I was proud to help pass the SAFE for Kids Act to crack down on addictive social media algorithms luring in our children and am building on this work with my own original legislation creating a state office to oversee algorithms. Together, we will free our children from social media addiction and end its negative influence.”
“The data is clear: we are experiencing a mental health crisis in our nation that is being further exacerbated by the additive effects of social media on our youth and their families,” said Bronx Borough Vanessa L. Gibson. “I believe social media to be an invaluable tool with benefits that have helped to advance our society, but social media has also had devastating effects on the mental well-being of our residents and their families. I want to thank Mayor Adams and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for prioritizing this issue. I look forward to working with the administration to develop concrete strategies and solutions that support our residents’ emotional, mental, and physical well-being.”
“Social media has a significant impact on everyone, particularly young people whose minds are still forming,” said New York City Councilmember Lynn Schulman, chair, Health Committee. “That is why this report on the impact of social media on families is so important and timely. With the city’s investment in this first-of-its-kind study, we now have the information necessary to address the mental health issues that have arisen as a result of social media use.”
NEW YORK CITY ANNOUNCES THE ABCs OF HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
Interactive Web-based Resources for Building Healthy Relationship Skills in Elementary School-Aged Children
NEW YORK—The Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) in partnership with the Department of Education (DOE), leading youth dating violence prevention organization Day One, the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, and the Jerome Chazen Fund to Address Domestic Violence are excited to announce the launch of “The ABCs of Healthy Relationships.” The ABCs of Healthy Relationships is an interactive web-based toolkit to help elementary school students develop healthy relationships with their friends and classmates as building blocks for healthier partner relationships as they grow older, as well as toolkits for their educators, and their caregivers. Using vibrant and relatable illustrations, the toolkits support the development of healthy relationship foundations such as respect, consent, boundaries, body autonomy, safety, and trust.
The ABCs of Healthy Relationships student toolkits and parent, caregiver and educator guides are free and are available to all young people and adults in NYC through the ENDGBV website, and DOE Parent University. To celebrate the launch of this exciting resource, ENDGBV and DOE will host a virtual program for parents and caregivers on October 19. “Helping Our Kids Build Healthy Relationships” will be livestreamed on Parent University and will provide an opportunity for parents and caregivers to walk through the toolkits and engage with early childhood experts on effective ways to talk with children about healthy relationships.
“Teaching children how to set boundaries and recognize controlling and abusive behavior, helps them learn how to develop healthy relationships,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. “This new toolkit expands on our commitment to break the cycle of domestic violence and prevent trauma.”
“No child is too young to talk to about healthy relationships,” said New York City Deputy Mayor Melanie Hartzog. “We are committed to providing young people the tools they need to build the relationships they want, which means addressing dating violence, and all forms of gender-based violence.”
“The ABCs of Healthy Relationships will strategically build upon current City efforts to prevent domestic and gender-based violence including ENDGBV’s Healthy Relationship Training Academy; the Human Resource Administration’s Relationship Abuse Prevention Program (RAPP); and the Early RAPP program championed by First Lady of New York City Chirlane McCray which has brought community educators into more than 100 middle schools throughout the city,” said Cecile Noel, Commissioner, NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. “This program will engage children at an early age and provide them crucial tools to help build healthy relationships with self and community.”
The 2017 New York City Risk Behavior Survey found that 3,000 New York City public school students aged 14 and younger who were dating had been physically harmed by a dating partner in 2017. In addition, 6,000 students also aged 14 and younger reported that they had been forced to do sexual things they did not want to do, such as kissing, touching, or being physically forced to have sexual intercourse by someone they were dating. Understanding the need to address healthy relationships in earlier grades as detailed in the New York City Department of Education K-5 Health Education Scope and Sequence includes learning about healthy relationships at a young age.
With support from the Jerome Chazen Fund to Address Domestic Violence through the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, the City has contracted with Day One to create The ABCs of Healthy Relationships.
“As educators it is our duty to equip our young people with the knowledge to build healthy relationships, recognize boundaries, and advocate for themselves as they mature,” said Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter. “I’m grateful to our agency partners for developing this critical resource for New York City students, which will help ensure our children are healthy, happy, and empowered as they navigate relationships throughout their lives.”
“An important step to ending gender-based violence starts with early intervention,” said Daniele Baierlein and Jorge Luis Paniagua Valle, Co-Executive Directors of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. “That’s why we’re so excited to be partnering with the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, Department of Education, Day One, and the Chazen Foundation to give children the opportunity and tools they need to build healthy relationships and learn about the physical and emotional safety they’re entitled to.”
“We believe strongly in the need to provide young children with the tools and skills they need to prevent unhealthy relationships of all kinds before they reach dating age,” said Jerome A. Chazen, the Jerome Chazen Fund to Address Domestic Violence. “We are thrilled to be part of this city-wide initiative and believe broad education programs reaching all youth are critical to help ensure we turn the page on unhealthy relationships.”
“In order to reduce rates of domestic violence and sexual assault substantially, we must begin earlier,” said Stephanie Nilva, Executive Director of Day One. “Day One is proud to collaborate with ENDGBV on the ABCs of Healthy Relationships, which will equip children and adolescents with language and skills to have healthy interactions with friends and to build safe intimate relationships in their dating and adult years.”
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About the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence
The Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) develops policies and programs, provides training and prevention education, conducts research and evaluations, performs community outreach, and operates the New York City Family Justice Centers. We collaborate with City agencies and community stakeholders to ensure access to inclusive services for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence (GBV). GBV can include intimate partner and family violence, elder abuse, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. Read more about the term.
The NYC Family Justice Centers are co‐located multidisciplinary service centers providing vital social services, civil, legal, and criminal justice assistance for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence and their children—all under one roof. For more information, visit nyc.gov/ENDGBV or visit us on visit us on Facebook, Instagram or Twit
About the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City
The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization working with 50 City agencies and offices, 300 institutional funders, and 100 community-based partners. The Mayor’s Fund works in partnership with the business and philanthropic communities to advance initiatives that improve the lives of residents in all five boroughs. It seeks to seed promising, evidence-based models; evaluate the efficacy of new public programs and policies; bring innovative solutions to scale; and respond to the emerging needs of the city by building public-private partnerships. First Lady of New York City Chirlane McCray is chair of the Mayor’s Fund Board of Directors. In addition, the Mayor’s Fund has an Advisory Board of prominent civic and business leaders to advise and assist the Board of Directors. Follow the Mayor’s Fund @NYCMayorsFund on Twitter and subscribe to their newsletter here.
About The Jerome Chazen Fund to Address Domestic Violence
The Jerome Chazen Fund to Address Domestic Violence was created in 2014 to continue the work Mr. Chazen started when he was Chairman of Liz Claiborne Inc. and on the Liz Claiborne Foundation. The Fund supports organizations in and around New York City that develop and implement primary prevention programs – in particular those focused on school-age children.
About Day One
Day One’s mission is to partner with youth to end dating abuse and domestic violence through community education, supportive services, legal advocacy and leadership development. Day One was founded in 2003 to provide critical education and guidance to New York City’s youth on dating abuse and domestic violence. Since then, Day One has educated more than 110,000 young people on how to identify and maintain healthy relationships, obtain legal protection when necessary, and assist others experiencing abuse. Day One has trained more than 10,000 professionals to identify relationship abuse among youth and to provide supportive, nonjudgmental guidance to teens. Additionally, we’ve delivered thousands of hours of therapeutic counseling and legal assistance to young people in court. Adolescents and teenagers participate in year-round leadership development programs and help guide the mission and services of Day One. Hundreds of thousands of educational materials have been distributed to youth nationwide and are available at www.dayoneny.org.
Doctors on Tripledemic Available for Interviews in English, Spanish, Chinese
With the ‘Tripledemic’ upon us, communities of color across NYC have seen an increase in cases of the flu, RSV, as well as a resurgence of COVID. Doctors from SOMOS Community Care are available to speak in English, Spanish, and Chinese on these cases. These doctors provide health care to over 20% of all Medicare/Medicaid patients in NYC and have seen an influx of patients with these illnesses.
- Dr. Carmen Garcia-Albarran, Pediatrician at Mount Sinai Health Systems
- Dr. Juan Tapia-Mendoza, Pediatrian and founder/CEO of Pediatrics 2000
- Dr. Maria Molina, Pediatrician
- Dr. Yomaris Peña, Internal Medicine, and Chief Medical Officer for SOMOS Community Care
- Dr. Henry Chen, Primary Care Physician & President of SOMOS, serves residents of Chinatown/Little Italy
According to a recent CDC study, the most recent bivalent omicron booster is 84% effective at preventing seniors from being hospitalized with Covid. As holiday and family gatherings increase, it is important for New Yorkers to understand what they should do to best protect themselves and their loved ones, especially our oldest family members who remain the most vulnerable to severe illness. NYC Health reports that only 30% of Hispanic and 28% of Black New Yorkers have received the additional booster shot.
I’m happy to connect you with any of the above doctors to contribute to the stories you are working on.
Best,
Carolyn
CONSUMER ALERT: NYS DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION WARNS NEW YORKERS ABOUT DANGERS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING, FIRE HAZARDS AND STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES IN THE UPCOMING WINTER WEATHER
Secretary Robert J. Rodriguez, “The Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection urges New Yorkers to take proper safety precautions while using candles and space heaters, install fire and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries in your alarms on an annual basis to help decrease the risk of fire hazards in your home.”
Consumers Must Pay Careful Attention to Carbon Monoxide and Fire Safety
The NYS Division of Consumer Protection Offers Tips to Help New Yorkers Stay Safe and Healthy During Upcoming Winter Months
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection today alerted consumers of the dangers of fire hazards, carbon monoxide poisoning and performing strenuous outside activities in the upcoming cold weather. As the winter months approach and the temperatures drop, consumers may turn to dangerous heating alternatives to stay warm. Propane heaters, generators and space heaters all pose lethal risks of carbon monoxide poisoning and fire hazards when used improperly. As strong winter storms continue to hit the United States, consumers need to exercise caution to stay safe and healthy during snow cleanup activities.
“Taking preventative action is your best defense against dealing with extreme cold weather,” said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. “The Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection urges New Yorkers to take proper safety precautions while using candles and space heaters, install fire and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries in your alarms on an annual basis to help decrease the risk of fire hazards in your home.”
Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Daniel W. Tietz said, “In addition to providing assistance to help cover home heating costs, the Home Energy Assistance Program can help with getting heating equipment cleaned and serviced so it is safe and operating at peak efficiency, and even cover the cost of repairing or replacing faulty heating equipment. These services are vital to helping New Yorkers stay safe and warm through the harsh winter months. Anyone in need of this assistance should apply as soon as possible.”
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection offers the following tips to keep families safe and warm this winter:
When temperatures plummet, home heating systems may run constantly and the potential for CO poisoning increases. During and after dangerous weather, using alternative sources of power can also cause CO to build up in the home.
Carbon-Monoxide Dangers and Safety Tips:
- Install carbon monoxide alarms. Have a carbon monoxide alarm on every floor and outside sleeping areas.
- Inspect all fuel-burning equipment every year. Have a trained service technician inspect your home heating systems. Make sure that all gas heaters are properly vented to the outside.
- Use generators safely. Do not use a gas or electric generator in a home, garage, basement or any enclosed space. Plug in appliances to the generator using only individual heavy-duty, outdoor-rated electrical cords. When used, gas generators should be located at least 20 feet from any window, door, or vent — preferably in a space where rain and snow does not reach them.
- Avoid build-up of carbon monoxide fumes. Open the fireplace damper before lighting a fire and keep it open until the ashes are cool. Never use a gas range, oven or grill to warm up a home. Never leave a vehicle running while parked in a garage attached to a home, even if the windows are open. Have vehicles’ mufflers and tailpipes checked on a regular basis to prevent accidental CO build-up.
- Keep furnace and dryer vents clear of ice and snow. Check furnace and dryer vents on the exterior of your house during and after heavy snowfalls, and clear snow away from the vents’ openings if it builds up. When a furnace or gas dryer vent is blocked, carbon monoxide can build up inside the home, and on newer furnaces, the system may shut off completely as a safety measure leaving the home without heat. While electric dryers do not pose a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, a blocked vent could still be a fire hazard.
- If one suspects carbon monoxide poisoning, they should get to fresh air immediately and then call 911.
Colder temperatures also increase the risk of fire hazards. Home fires can happen at any time, but they generally increase during the fall and winter, with December and January being the peak months.
Winter Home Heating & Fire Safety Tips:
- Working Smoke Alarms Saves Lives. According to the National Fire Protection Association, roughly 3 out of 5 fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms so remember to have working smoke alarms on every floor and in every bedroom. The early warning provided by smoke alarms can save a life.
- Safely operate fireplaces, wood stoves and other combustion heaters. Use fireplaces, wood stoves, or other combustion heaters only if they are properly vented to the outside and do not leak flue gas into the indoor air space. If planning to use a wood stove, fireplace, or space heater, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not burn paper in a fireplace.
- Keep your home properly ventilated. Ensure adequate ventilation if using a kerosene, propane or other fuel heater. Also, use only the specific type of fuel a heater is designed to use—don’t substitute with another source.
- Keep space heaters away, stable, and uncovered. Space heaters should be kept at least three feet away from beds, clothes, curtains, and other flammable materials. Never cover a space heater or place on top of furniture or near water. Space heaters should not be left unattended when used near children. If a space heater has a damaged electrical cord or produces sparks, stop use immediately.
- Check your extension cords. Extension cords should not be overloaded or run where they can become a tripping hazard. Never run extension cords under carpets or rugs. Avoid using extension cords with a space heater.
- Prepare for emergencies. Keep a multipurpose, dry-chemical fire extinguisher near the area to be heated.
- Regularly review fire safety plans with your family, especially with homes with young children, older adults, and persons with disabilities. Make sure there is a working smoke alarm on every level and outside of sleeping areas, and that the batteries in the alarm are functional.
- If there is a power failure at home, use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns instead of candles, if possible. If you must use candles, use extreme caution. Never leave lit candles unattended, and do not burn them on or near anything that can catch fire. Extinguish candles when you leave the room and before sleeping.
New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) can help eligible New Yorkers heat their homes. The program provides up to $1,126 to eligible homeowners and renters depending on income, household size and how they heat their home. Administered by the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, applications for HEAP are accepted at local departments of social services in person or by telephone, with funding provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents outside of New York City may also?apply online?for regular heating assistance benefits. New York City residents can obtain program information?online and download an application. To qualify for benefits, a family of four may have a maximum gross monthly income of $5,485, or an annual gross income of $65,829.
For households facing no-heat situations due to non-working heating equipment, OTDA is also accepting applications for its heating equipment repair or replacement benefit. Eligible homeowners can apply for up to $4,000 for repairs or $8,000 for replacement of a furnace, boiler or other direct heating equipment necessary to keep the household’s primary heating source working. Additionally, eligible households can receive energy efficiency services, which include the cleaning of primary heating equipment to allow for safe and efficient operation. Interested households can apply with their local HEAP contact.
As the recent historic storm in Buffalo showed, snow and winter storms can be dangerous and even deadly. Snow shoveling can contribute to a number of health risks for many people, from back injuries to heart attacks. New Yorkers must exercise caution when doing snow or ice cleanup as the strenuous activity can be dangerous for vulnerable individuals.
The following tips can help keep you safer when you set out to shovel:
- Warm up. Warm your muscles before heading out to shovel by doing some light movements, such as bending side to side or walking in place.
- Push rather than lift. Pushing the snow with the shovel instead of lifting can help reduce the strain on your body. When lifting snow, bend your knees and use your legs when possible.
- Choose your shovel wisely. Ergonomically designed shovels can help reduce the amount of bending you have to do.
- Lighten your load. Consider using a lighter-weight plastic shovel instead of a metal one to help decrease the weight being lifted.
- Hit the pause button. Pace yourself and be sure to take frequent breaks. Consider taking a break after 20 to 30 minutes of shoveling, especially when the snow is wet.
- Consider multiple trips. Consider shoveling periodically throughout the storm to avoid having to move large amounts of snow at once.
- Keep up with snowfall. Try to shovel snow shortly after it falls, when it is lighter and fluffier. The longer snow stays on the ground, the wetter it can become. Wet snow is heavier and harder to move.
- Wear layers. Dress in layers and remove them as you get warm to help maintain a comfortable body temperature.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated while shoveling
Does AI Improve Doctors’ Diagnoses? Study Puts It to the Test
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Nov. 13, 2024 – With hospitals already deploying artificial intelligence to improve patient care, a new study has found that using Chat GPT Plus does not significantly improve the accuracy of doctors’ diagnoses when compared with the use of usual resources.
The study, from UVA Health’s Andrew S. Parsons, MD, MPH and colleagues, enlisted 50 physicians in family medicine, internal medicine and emergency medicine to put Chat GPT Plus to the test. Half were randomly assigned to use Chat GPT Plus to diagnose complex cases, while the other half relied on conventional methods such as medical reference sites (for example, UpToDate©) and Google. The researchers then compared the resulting diagnoses, finding that the accuracy across the two groups was similar.
That said, Chat GPT alone outperformed both groups, suggesting that it still holds promise for improving patient care. Physicians, however, will need more training and experience with the emerging technology to capitalize on its potential, the researchers conclude.
For now, they say, Chat GPT remains best used to augment, rather than replace, human physicians.
“Our study shows that AI alone can be an effective and powerful tool for diagnosis,” said Parsons, who oversees the teaching of clinical skills to medical students at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and co-leads the Clinical Reasoning Research Collaborative. “We were surprised to find that adding a human physician to the mix actually reduced diagnostic accuracy though improved efficiency. These results likely mean that we need formal training in how best to use AI.”
Chat GPT for Disease Diagnosis
Chatbots called “large language models” that produce human-like responses are growing in popularity, and they have shown impressive ability to take patient histories, communicate empathetically and even solve complex medical cases. But, for now, they still require the involvement of a human doctor.
Parsons and his colleagues were eager to determine how the high-tech tool can be used most effectively, so they launched a randomized, controlled trial at three leading-edge hospitals – UVA Health, Stanford and Harvard’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
The participating docs made diagnoses for “clinical vignettes” based on real-life patient-care cases. These case studies included details about patients’ histories, physical exams and lab test results. The researchers then scored the results and examined how quickly the two groups made their diagnoses.
The median diagnostic accuracy for the docs using Chat GPT Plus was 76.3%, while the results for the physicians using conventional approaches was 73.7%. The Chat GPT group members reached their diagnoses slightly more quickly overall – 519 seconds compared with 565 seconds.
The researchers were surprised at how well Chat GPT Plus alone performed, with a median diagnostic accuracy of more than 92%. They say this may reflect the prompts used in the study, suggesting that physicians likely will benefit from training on how to use prompts effectively. Alternately, they say, healthcare organizations could purchase predefined prompts to implement in clinical workflow and documentation.
The researchers also caution that Chat GPT Plus likely would fare less well in real life, where many other aspects of clinical reasoning come into play – especially in determining downstream effects of diagnoses and treatment decisions. They’re urging additional studies to assess large language models’ abilities in those areas and are conducting a similar study on management decision-making.
“As AI becomes more embedded in healthcare, it’s essential to understand how we can leverage these tools to improve patient care and the physician experience,” Parsons said. “This study suggests there is much work to be done in terms of optimizing our partnership with AI in the clinical environment.”
Following up on this groundbreaking work, the four study sites have also launched a bi-coastal AI evaluation network called ARiSE (AI Research and Science Evaluation) to further evaluate GenAI outputs in healthcare. Find out more information at the ARiSE website.
Early Treatment for Nerve Tumors Prevents Serious Problems, Study Finds
Patients Without Symptoms Benefit From Noninvasive Radiosurgery
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Nov. 12, 2024 – Patients with a small cranial nerve tumor that can cause hearing loss, vertigo, imbalance and ringing in the ears have typically been watched rather than proactively treated, as the risks of early intervention were thought to outweigh the benefits. However, even those patients benefit significantly from non-invasive stereotactic radiosurgery, a multicenter, international study led by UVA Health physicians has found.
Doctors typically treat larger forms of the tumors, called vestibular schwannomas, while taking a “watch and wait” approach to smaller tumors that aren’t causing appreciable problems. But the new research, from UVA Health neurosurgeon Jason Sheehan, MD, PhD, and collaborators, could change how asymptomatic schwannomas are managed. Their findings demonstrated that stereotactic radiosurgery – a highly targeted form of radiation therapy – can prevent small tumors from growing over time while at the same time sparing patients from potentially irreversible problems in the future.
“This study and our recent Vestibular Schwannoma International Study of Active Surveillance versus Stereotactic Radiosurgery [VISAS] trial demonstrate that radiosurgery affords effective and durable tumor control while more often avoiding the neurological complications that come from watching a vestibular schwannoma,” Sheehan said. “Over time, Gamma Knife radiosurgery bends the curve of growth and problems that commonly arise from watching even the smallest of vestibular schwannomas.”
About Vestibular Schwannomas
Vestibular schwannomas are growths on a cranial nerve that connects the brain and inner ear. This nerve transmits information about head movements, helps us control our balance and allows us to hear. The growths, however, can disrupt the nerve’s important functions, causing hearing loss, unsteadiness, headaches, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), facial numbness/paralysis and other problems.
Seeking to improve care for patients with these tumors, Sheehan and his team performed a trial through the International Radiosurgery Research Foundation looking at 261 adults with the smallest category of vestibular schwannomas. These were usually picked up early, and the patients often were high functioning and had the most to lose from tumor growth over time. Of the study participants, 182 received stereotactic radiosurgery, while 79 did not.
The patients who underwent radiosurgery using the Gamma Knife system showed consistently better tumor control over time. In this group, 99% of the patients’ tumors either stayed the same size, grew very little (less than 25%) or shrank. This was true at 3 years, 5 years, and 8 years. Only one patient’s tumor significantly increased in size.
Tumor control was much worse among those who didn’t receive radiosurgery: 37% saw their tumors grow significantly at 3 years, 50% at five years, and 67% at eight years.
That difference was seen plainly in the symptoms the patients experienced. Radiosurgery was associated with a 54% lower rate of tinnitus, a 51% lower rate of cranial nerve deterioration and an 83% lower rate of vestibular dysfunction that causes dizziness and loss of balance.
Even with Gamma Knife radiosurgery to treat the tumor arising from this very delicate neural structure, hearing was preserved similarly in both groups.
Sheehan, an expert in stereotactic radiosurgery and brain tumors, urges physicians to take note of the findings because tumor symptoms are often irreversible as the tumor grows. Acting early, before symptoms develop, could greatly improve patients’ long-term quality of life, he says.
“In brain surgery, particularly involving the hearing and balance nerve, our approach must be exceedingly refined,” he said. “This study shows that Gamma Knife radiosurgery substantially improves the future trajectory of vestibular schwannoma patients.”
Many Moms Fall Asleep While Feeding, Endangering Their Babies, Study Finds
Falling Asleep in Chair or Sofa Ups Risk of Infant Death 49 Times or More
FOR REPORTERS: Dr. Ann Kellams is available for interviews between 10:30 and 11:30 today, while Dr. Fern Hauck is available between 11 and 1 and 3 and 5. To arrange interviews, contact Josh Barney at 434.906.8864 or jdb9a@uvahealth.org. High-resolution portraits are available as well.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Nov. 7, 2024 – More than a quarter of new mothers have fallen asleep recently while feeding their babies, putting the infants at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine reveals.
More than 80% had not intended to fall asleep, and many had chosen to feed in chairs or on sofas rather than in a bed. Unfortunately, the cushions and confines of those locations can be very unsafe for babies, raising the risk of death by 49 to 67 times.
The researchers, with UVA Health and UVA Health Children’s, are urging care providers to provide additional guidance for new parents on safe feeding practices, such as informing new moms that a hormone naturally released during breastfeeding will make them feel sleepy.
“While falling asleep while feeding young infants is not in itself too surprising, what is very alarming is that the majority of mothers did not plan to fall asleep, so the sleep space was potentially unsafe for the baby while both slept,” said researcher Fern Hauck, MD, MS, a safe-sleep expert at UVA Health and the UVA School of Medicine. “This highlights the need for parents to be educated about the potential risk of falling asleep while feeding and to plan for that possibility by making the space around the baby as safe as possible. That would include removing pillows and blankets to ensure an open airway for the baby.”
Safe Infant Feeding
Hauck and her collaborators, including UVA’s Ann Kellams, MD, and Rachel Moon, MD, analyzed survey results collected from more than 1,250 new mothers as part of the Social Media and Risk-reduction Training (SMART) study conducted at 16 U.S. hospitals in 2015 and 2016. Most respondents completed the survey when their infant was between 2 and 3 months of age.
Among the respondents, more than 28% said they had “usually” or “sometimes” fallen asleep during feeding in the prior two weeks. Of those, a whopping 83.4% said falling asleep was unplanned.
Women who fed in bed were more likely to fall asleep (33.6%) than those who fed on a chair or couch (16.8%). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends mothers at risk of falling asleep while breastfeeding should do so in an adult bed rather than a chair or couch.
Many of the women who fell asleep on chairs or sofas said they chose those locations specifically to avoid falling asleep, to avoid locations (such as a bed) they had been told were unsafe or to avoid disturbing someone else. (The AAP warns moms against sharing a bed or other sleep space with an infant because of the risk the parent might accidentally roll over and smother the child, or that the child could become tangled in bedding. But the group also says that beds are safer than chairs and sofas if falling asleep while feeding is a possibility.)
“We need to meet families where they are and come up with a nighttime plan for sleeping and feeding their baby that works for them and is as safe as possible,” said Kellams, a pediatrician and breastfeeding and lactation medicine specialist at UVA Health Children’s. “Our data suggest that too many of these falling asleep incidents are not planned, so discussions about how to plan for feeding your baby when you are very tired are important.”
The researchers note that providing parents with information about safe sleep and feeding has been shown to reduce risk of unexpected death significantly. But this educational outreach needs to be expanded, they say. Care providers should acknowledge that moms face a very real risk of falling asleep while feeding, even if they are trying not to, and provide practical advice on how to reduce that risk. Further, the researchers are urging additional studies to find ways to assist parents in both safe-sleep practices and breastfeeding.
“We hope that parents of young infants will think proactively about what might happen in the middle of the night,” said Moon, a pediatrician and safe-sleep expert at UVA Health Children’s. “Feeding your baby in your bed is safer than feeding on a couch or armchair if you might fall asleep.”
In Beer Yeast, Scientists Find Potential Path to Starving Cancer Surprise Discovery About How Cells ‘Sleep’ to Survive Stress Could Lead to Better Cancer Care
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Oct. 15, 2024 – The discovery of a surprising way yeast used to brew beer can survive starvation could open the door to new treatments for cancer.
The discovery, from University of Virginia School of Medicine scientists and their collaborators at EMBL in Germany, reveals a never-before-seen adaptation that helps yeast cells go dormant when nutrients are scarce. This ability to hibernate during stress mirrors cancer’s ability to survive nutrient shortages that accompany the cancer cells’ unchecked growth.
The unexpected findings could lead to new strategies for making cancer cells more vulnerable to starvation and easier to treat, said researcher Ahmad Jomaa, PhD, of the School of Medicine’s Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics.
“Cells can take a break when things get tough by going into deep sleep in order to stay alive, then at a later point they seemingly just come back,” said Jomaa, part of UVA’s Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology. “That’s why we need to understand the basics of adaptation to starvation and how these cells become dormant to stay alive and avoid death.”
Surviving Stress
S. pombe is a species of yeast that has been used for centuries to brew beer. But it’s also an invaluable research tool for scientists because of its similarity to human cells. By better understanding S. pombe, we can better understand fundamental cellular processes in both healthy cells and cancerous ones.
Working with Simone Mattei, PhD, and colleagues at EMBL, Jomaa and his team discovered that when the yeast cells’ batteries go into hibernation to avoid stress, they wrap themselves in an unexpected blanket. The surfaces of these batteries, called mitochondria, become coated with deactivated ribosomes, cellular machinery that normally make proteins.
It remains a mystery why these inactive ribosomes attach themselves to the mitochondria. “There could be different explanations,” Mattei said. “A starved cell will eventually start digesting itself, so the ribosomes might be coating the mitochondria to protect them. They might also attach to trigger a signaling cascade inside the mitochondria.”
The researchers were able to visualize how the ribosomes attach to the mitochondria down to the molecular level using astonishingly powerful single-particle cryo-electron microscopy and cryo-electron tomography. They were surprised to discover that the ribosomes had attached themselves “upside down,” using a small subunit of their anatomy. This type of interaction had never been seen before and could help decipher the secret of how cells enter and wake up from dormancy. “We knew that cells will try to save energy and shut down their ribosomes, but we were not expecting them to attach in an up-side state on the mitochondria,” said Maciej Gluc, a graduate student in Jomaa’s lab and co-first author of a new scientific paper describing the discovery.
The new findings could have important implications for our understanding of cancer. Cancer cells face perpetual nutrient shortages because of their unchecked growth, and they often slip into dormancy, or “quiescence,” to survive and escape detection by our immune systems. Understanding how they do this could lead to new ways to target the cancer cells to improve patient outcomes and prevent relapses.
“For the next steps, we aim to understand not only how cells regulate entry into dormancy but also how they awaken from this deep sleep. For now, we will use yeast because it is much easier to manipulate. We are now also investigating this in cultured cancer cells, which is not an easy task,” Jomaa said. “Ultimately, I hope that my group’s research will lay the foundation for discovering new markers to track dormant cancer cells. These cells are not easily detected in diagnostic settings, but we are hopeful that our research will generate more interest in helping us reach our goal.”
Better understanding cancer and finding innovative ways to treat it are primary missions of UVA Cancer Center, recognized as one of only 57 “comprehensive” cancer centers by the National Cancer Institute. The designation recognizes cancer centers with the finest cancer research and treatment programs in the country.
Faulty ‘Fight or Flight’ Response Drives Deadly C. Difficile Infections, Research Reveals UVA Discovery Opens Door to New Treatment Approaches
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Oct. 10, 2024 – The portion of our nervous systems responsible for the “fight or flight” response can shape the severity of potentially deadly C. difficile infections, new research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine reveals.
The findings suggest that doctors may be able to save patients from the infections – a plague for hospitals and nursing homes – by using drugs to quiet the hyperactive nervous system response, the researchers say.
“Compared to how much we know about immune system influences in C. difficile infections, the field is just scratching the surface in understanding neuronal contributions to disease,” said researcher William A. Petri Jr., MD, PhD, of UVA Health’s Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health. “Newly identifying components of the nervous system that worsen inflammation will allow us to determine potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for patients at risk of severe disease.”
About C. Difficile
C. difficile, or C. diff as it is commonly known, is a perpetual burden for healthcare facilities. The bacterium naturally lives in our guts, but extensive antibiotic use, particularly among patients who are hospitalized or in nursing care, can allow it to establish dangerous infections. Approximately 500,000 Americans develop C. difficile infections each year, and about 30,000 die.
Further, patients who make it through the severe diarrhea, nausea, fever and colitis C. difficile can cause are not necessarily in the clear: One in six will develop another C. diff infection within eight weeks, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The new UVA research reveals the critical role the nervous system plays in severe C. difficile infections. The researchers found that the “sympathetic” nervous system – the branch that responds to dangerous situations – can be a key driver of serious C. diff.
Normally, our “fight or flight” response is helpful for avoiding danger. It helps us respond quickly, improves our eyesight, boosts our strength. It also can stimulate our immune system and help us recover from injury. But in C. difficile cases, the nervous system can have a hyperactive response that becomes part of the problem, and UVA’s new research explains why.
“Neurons are the first responders that coordinate defenses against toxic attacks. Sometimes those responders don’t recruit the right size and kind of artillery and that can make things worse,” said researcher David Tyus, a neuroscience graduate student at UVA. “Interestingly, the receptor we identified as important in C. difficile infection [the alpha 2 adrenergic receptor] has also been linked to irritable bowel syndrome. I’m curious to know if there could be a unifying underlying mechanism between the two disease contexts.”
Promisingly, the researchers found that targeting the receptor in lab mice reduced intestinal inflammation and decreased C. difficile severity and mortality. That suggests that, with further research, doctors may be able to take a similar tact to better treat severe C. diff infections in patients. For example, they may be able to surgically remove a portion of nerves in the gut, or they may be able to develop medicines to target the alpha 2 receptor – as Petri and Tyus are attempting to do.
“Our next step is to determine which cells with the alpha 2 receptor are receiving signals from the sympathetic nervous system and play a role in C. difficile-mediated disease,” Petri said. “We are very excited to think about how our findings translate to clinic and how the sympathetic nervous system might play a role in recurrent infection. I hope that this study sets the foundation for future findings of how neurons affect the course of C. difficile infection outcomes.”
Scientists Discover Switch Important in Blood Pressure Control Certain Cells Have Surprising Superpowers – Here’s How They Work
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Sept. 25, 2024 – University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have discovered how certain cells have the amazing ability to transform their function to help our bodies control our blood pressure.
These cells include smooth muscle cells, which line our arteries. Normally, smooth muscle cells help control blood pressure by contracting and relaxing. But when blood pressure levels decrease significantly and for long periods, smooth muscle cells in the kidney, and some other kidney cell types, can take on a whole new job: producing renin, a substance typically manufactured in specialized cells in the kidneys to help maintain blood pressure.
Scientists have been uncertain what genomic triggers regulate this sudden shift to renin production, but the UVA researchers have found answers, identifying a crucial biological “switch” that controls the changeover and explains the cells’ secret superpower.
“Discovering how the switch works will help us understand how our bodies control blood pressure,” said researcher R. Ariel Gomez, MD, of UVA’s Child Health Research Center. “Knowing how vascular cells change their identity could help develop new medications to treat high blood pressure and vascular diseases.”
Understanding Blood Pressure
Gomez and his collaborator Maria Luisa S. Sequeira-Lopez, MD, are leading researchers into the role of renin in blood-pressure control. For their latest investigation, they worked with UVA senior scientist Jason P. Smith, PhD, and collaborators to better understand how certain cells can suddenly remember how to make renin long after they have stopped doing so.
The UVA team identified several biological mechanisms involved in this transformation. For example, the researchers identified nine genes that play key roles in the three biological “pathways” that regulate renin production. These genes are responsible for causing smooth muscle cells to stop producing renin and for triggering them to resume when needed. The scientists note that while such cells stop producing renin naturally, they remain “poised” to jump back into action.
Further, the scientists discovered factors that trigger the genes to resume renin production. This “epigenetic” switch is the lynchpin to understanding how renin production is controlled in these cells that don’t normally produce renin.
“We expected to find the region in your genome where this gene is located to be inaccessible when renin is turned off, but it turns out this spot stays generally accessible in cells that are ready to be called into action when more renin is needed,” Smith said. “Ultimately, since renin is so critical for our own health, a better understanding of how our bodies control its production may prove foundational to how we treat hypertension [high blood pressure] and the long-term effects of common blood pressure medications on kidney function and disease.”
The UVA researchers’ work provides a comprehensive map of this form of renin regulation, they note in a new scientific paper. The findings give important direction to future research, they say, and could provide important insights into the progression of dangerous kidney damage called fibrosis. It’s possible, they say, that targeting the renin-control processes could lead to new treatments for high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
“Now we want to identify markers and potential targets to mitigate and hopefully control unwanted effects of chronic stimulation of the renin cells,” Sequeira-Lopez said. “It is crucial to understand the basic secrets of our cells to design more and more effective therapies with less or no adverse effects.”
Findings Published
The researchers have published their findings in the scientific journal Hypertension. The research team consisted of Smith, Robert Paxton, Silvia Medrano, Nathan C. Sheffield, Sequeira-Lopez and Gomez.
Online Insomnia Treatment Can Help Caregivers Get Much-Needed Sleep, Research Suggests Study Assesses SHUTi Intervention Developed at UVA School of Medicine
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Sept. 24, 2024 – Providing care for a family member with a disabling illness can be a demanding job that leaves many people unable to sleep, but an online insomnia treatment developed at the University of Virginia School of Medicine can help, new research shows.
Not only did the SHUTi (Sleep Healthy Using the Internet) sleep intervention help caregivers get better rest, it most benefited those shouldering the greatest responsibilities in caring for their loved ones, the researchers found.
The results suggest the online format of the program holds great promise for helping people access insomnia treatment who otherwise could not because of their demanding caregiving responsibilities, the investigators say.
“Compared to the general population, caregivers are more likely to experience insomnia but have a harder time getting help for this problem,” said researcher Kelly M. Shaffer, PhD, a clinical psychologist at UVA Health who is part of UVA’s Center for Behavioral Health and Technology. “Effective and accessible Internet-based interventions like SHUTi can give more caregivers meaningful relief.”
Caregivers and Insomnia
Approximately one in six Americans provides physical, emotional or medical care for a loved one disabled by illness. This can place a huge emotional and physical toll on caregivers. Many end up stressed and sleep-deprived but still struggle to fall asleep even when they have the opportunity.
SHUTi has helped many people overcome sleep difficulties in previous research trials. Shaffer and her fellow researchers wanted to see if this intervention, and the cognitive behavioral therapy it provides, would be helpful for caregivers.
To determine that, the researchers provided SHUTi to 100 “high-intensity” caregivers struggling with insomnia. Of those, 60 completed the program, while 22 started but did not finish it. Of the 18 who didn’t use the program, most said they had not because of concerns about the time it would require and fitting it into their caregiving obligations. Overall, the verdict was very positive, with most participants who used the program finding it user-friendly and seeing benefit in the cognitive-behavioral strategies provided.
Notably, the most engagement and the best outcomes were largely seen in participants with the most challenging caregiving situations. In particular, caregivers reporting more guilt about taking time for their own well-being at the start of the study tended to show some of the greatest improvements in their sleep quality and number of awakenings through the night. Many of these caregivers appreciated that SHUTi gave them space to focus on their own health goals.
Users also said that they liked that SHUTi helped them manage their feelings of stress, anxiety and overwhelming responsibility. This made it easier for them to stop their minds from racing as they tried to fall asleep, the researchers report.
The results suggest that SHUTi could be a useful tool for helping busy caregivers access insomnia treatment they might not be able to get in person. Further, the research suggests that the program is helpful as is, even without custom tailoring for caregivers, such as content on how to fall asleep more easily after helping a loved one during the night. Still, this tailored information may be helpful for some caregivers, and the researchers hope to study this next.
“Family caregivers fill an irreplaceable role in their loved ones’ healthcare teams,” Shaffer said. “In turn, they deserve care for their own health concerns that is effective, affordable and practical. Our study provides hope that Internet-based interventions like SHUTi can make that a reality.”
Findings Published
The researchers have published their findings in a pair of papers in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine. The research team consisted of Shaffer, Daniel J. Buysse, Heidi Donovan, Jillian V. Glazer, Julie Klinger, Meghan K. Mattos, Kate Perepezko, Lee M. Ritterband and Wen You. The authors’ disclosures are included in the papers.
Study Identifies Breastfeeding Obstacles, Keys to Success Findings Offer Useful Guidance for Parents, Care Providers, Researchers
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Sept. 18, 2024 – A sweeping campaign to identify ways to encourage breastfeeding has concluded that existing efforts place too much emphasis on individual breastfeeding duration and not enough on the many outside factors that determine breastfeeding success.
Doctors consider breastfeeding ideal for the health of infants and mothers alike, but, for some moms, breastfeeding can be difficult or impossible. To find ways to support parents through the breastfeeding process, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) and Reaching our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE) brought together families, community members, healthcare workers and researchers to explore the challenges associated with breastfeeding and identify ways to overcome them.
The results, published in the scientific journal Breastfeeding Medicine, provide important insights into the difficulties many parents face. Participants described how they often felt social pressure to give their babies formula rather than breast milk, even though all major medical groups recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Many participants talked about how they felt poorly prepared for the difficulties they would face when breastfeeding. Some described impersonal care from healthcare workers and lack of support from family members.
The findings will guide future breastfeeding initiatives and reveal where additional study is most needed, said researcher Ann Kellams, MD, a breastfeeding expert at UVA Health Children’s.
“It doesn’t help anyone to say you should breastfeed and then not have the support and evidence-based best care that we know helps families reach their infant feeding goal,” said Kellams, a pediatrician and breastfeeding and lactation medicine specialist. “In this study, we asked the breastfeeding person themselves what is important to them, what they need in order to be successful.”
Breastfeeding Challenges
The ABM partnered with ROSE specifically to engage with non-Hispanic Black women, a group that has the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the United States. ROSE conducted virtual town halls in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. The researchers also performed outreach to other groups, including conducting an online survey shared widely through social media and electronic mailing lists for parents and lactation-support providers.
The effort sought to foster dialogue about the challenges of breastfeeding by asking open-ended questions such as “What question(s) do you have about help getting started with breastfeeding?” and “What questions do you have about how to treat medical problems that can come up during breastfeeding?”
The responses spoke to how lonely and overwhelmed parents can feel when it comes to breastfeeding. Many wanted to “transform the lived experience for families,” the researchers report. Participants recommended fostering opportunities for family members to “experience being a village,” such as community events, and called for more holistic approaches to healthcare, such as increased integration of community health workers and doulas. Participants also wanted more access to telehealth, more flexible healthcare scheduling and more guidance on when and how to seek help with breastfeeding.
In the short term, Kellams says, the feedback will be invaluable for healthcare workers seeking to encourage breastfeeding. But it also offers a critical roadmap for future breastfeeding initiatives and research, so that such efforts reflect parents’ wants and needs. For example, the results suggest that there is significant demand for more study of the effectiveness of different approaches to managing common breastfeeding problems such as pain and limited milk supply.
“We hope to take what we have learned from families and translate that into effective interventions,” Kellams said. “Breastfeeding is a ‘team sport,’ and whether you are a healthcare professional, family member, friend or community member, we are all on the team. In order for us to have healthier lives on a large scale, we all need to do our part to support breastfeeding success.”
About the Research
The breastfeeding paper was authored by Kellams, Laura Kair, Kimberley Broomfield-Massey, Kimberly D. Harper, Kimarie Bugg and Alison Stuebe. They have no financial interest in the work.
The study was supported by a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award, EASCS-22866. In addition, Kair was supported by a Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health award, K12 HD051958, funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Office of Research on Women’s Health, Office of Dietary Supplements and National Institute of Aging.
To keep up with the latest medical research news from UVA, subscribe to the Making of Medicine blog at http://makingofmedicine.virginia.edu.
Top Doctors Improving the Multidisciplinary Care of Brain Metastases International Experts Develop Indicators of Care Delivered to Patients with Cancer that Spread to Brain
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Sept. 16, 2024 – An international panel of top cancer doctors led by UVA experts has identified indicators that reflect the effectiveness of coordinated team care to improve outcomes for patients with brain metastases – cancers that have spread to the brain.
“Metastases are the most frequent type of brain cancer, but the care of patients is often inconsistent and uncoordinated,” said Camilo E. Fadul, MD, a neuro-oncologist (a neurologist with brain cancer specialization) at UVA Health. “We propose a set of indicators that can improve treatment decisions. This will identify quality improvement strategies and generate benchmarks for resource utilization.”
“Until now, there hasn’t been agreement on how the quality of care of patients with brain metastases should be measured. This new tool allows researchers and providers to recognize how to improve the quality of care and outcomes,” said co-author Roger Anderson, PhD, a population health scientist and associate director of UVA Cancer Center.
‘Urgent Need’ in Brain Metastases Care
Fadul, Anderson and UVA colleagues Jason P. Sheehan and Gloribel Bonilla
are among the authors of an article in the scientific journal Lancet Oncology that details the consensus findings of an international panel of experts in five fields – medical oncology, neuro-oncology, neurosurgery, radiation oncology and palliative care. The experts reviewed 48 potential indicators of high-quality metastasis care before settling on 29 measurements agreed to be of critical importance.
The indicators include metrics such as time from diagnosis to the start of treatment, and documentation that doctors discuss with patients about the potential benefits and side effects of different treatment approaches, all to ensure the patients are actively engaged in their care.
Other indicators include screening patients for quality-of-life concerns such as anxiety, depression and pain; documenting discussions of patients’ prognoses in their medical records; and having care recommendations come from an interdisciplinary team or tumor board.
“This set of indicators from the physicians’ perspective is the first in a multistep process that the UVA Brain Metastases Program has embarked on,” Fadul said. “We have an ongoing study involving other academic medical centers to assess the values and needs of patients and caregivers when making treatment decisions. Our goal is to prolong and preserve the quality of life of patients with brain metastases by transforming the delivery of care.”
UVA Cancer Center has the only multidisciplinary Brain Metastases Program in Virginia.
The National Cancer Institute has recognized UVA Cancer Center’s efforts to improve cancer care and pioneer new and better ways to treat cancer by designating UVA as one of only 57 “comprehensive” cancer centers in the country. The designation honors elite cancer centers with the most outstanding cancer programs in the United States.
Checklist Published
The Lancet Oncology article was written by Fadul, Sheehan, Julio Silvestre, Bonilla, Joseph Bovi, Manmeet Ahluwalia, Riccardo Soffietti, David Hui and Anderson. A list of the authors’ disclosures is included in the paper.
UVA Cancer Center supported the study.
To keep up with the latest medical research news from UVA, subscribe to the Making of Medicine blog at http://makingofmedicine.virginia.edu.
Out-of-Body Experiences Can Profoundly Increase Empathy Research Could Lead to New Ways to Promote Social Harmony
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Sept. 9, 2024 – Out-of-body experiences, such as near-death experiences, can have a “transformative” effect on people’s ability to experience empathy and connect with others, a scientific paper from University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers explains.
The fascinating work from UVA’s Marina Weiler, PhD, and colleagues not only explores the complex relationship between altered states of consciousness and empathy but could lead to new ways to foster empathy during a particularly fractured time for American society – and the world.
“Empathy is a fundamental aspect of human interaction that allows individuals to connect deeply with others, fostering trust and understanding,” said Weiler, a neuroscientist with UVA’s Division of Perceptual Studies. “The exploration, refinement and application of methods to enhance empathy in individuals – whether through OBE [out-of-body experience]-related ego dissolution or other approaches – is an exciting avenue with potentially profound implications for individuals and society at large.”
How Out-of-Body Experiences Affect Empathy
Weiler’s paper examines the possibility that the dramatic increases in empathy seen in people who undergo out-of-body experiences may result from what is known as “ego dissolution” – the loss of the sense of self. In these instances, people feel they have been severed from their physical form and have connected with the universe at a deeper level. Sometimes known as “ego death” or “ego loss,” this state can be brought on by near-death experiences, hallucinogenic drugs and other causes. But people who undergo it often report that their viewpoint on the world, and their place in it, is radically changed.
“The detachment from the physical body often leads to a sense of interconnectedness with all life and a deepened emotional connection with others,” the researchers write. “These sensations of interconnectedness can persist beyond the experience itself, reshaping the individual’s perception and fostering increased empathy, thereby influencing personal relationships and societal harmony.”
Out-of-body experiences can seem more real than reality itself, the researchers note, and this sense of transcendental connectedness can translate into “prosocial” behaviors afterward. Experiencers often become more compassionate, more patient, more understanding. More than half in one study described their relationships with others as more peaceful and harmonious. Many become more spiritual and more convinced of the possibility of life after death.
In their paper, Weiler and her co-authors explore potential explanations for what is happening within the brain to cause these changes. But while that remains unclear, the lasting effects of OBEs are not. And by understanding how these life-changing experiences can enhance empathy, researchers may be able to develop ways to help foster it for society’s benefit during a conflicted age.
“Interest in cultivating empathy and other prosocial emotions and behaviors is widespread worldwide,” the researchers conclude. “Understanding how virtues related to consideration for others can be nurtured is a goal with personal, societal and potentially global implications.”
Findings Published
Weiler and her colleagues have published their article in the scientific journal Neuroscience and Behavioral Reviews. The research team consisted of Weiler, David J. Acunzo, Philip J. Cozzolino and Bruce Greyson, all part of the Division of Perceptual Studies and UVA’s Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences. The authors have no financial interest in the work.
Scientists ID Cause, Potential Treatments for Persistent COVID-19 Lung Problems Existing Arthritis Drugs Could Halt Harmful Inflammation, Research Suggests
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Sept. 5, 2024 – Arthritis drugs already available for prescription have the potential to halt lingering lung problems that can last months or years after COVID-19 infections, new research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine and Cedars-Sinai suggests.
By examining damaged human lungs and developing an innovative new lab model, the scientists identified faulty immune processes responsible for the ongoing lung issues that plague an increasing number of people after they’ve otherwise recovered from COVID-19. These lasting harms of COVID infection, known as “post-infection lung fibrosis,” have no good treatments. The new research, however, suggests that existing drugs such as baricitinib and anakinra can disrupt the malfunctioning immune response and finally allow damaged lungs to heal.
“Our collaboration with doctors and computer biologists at UVA and Cedars-Sinai, including Drs. Chen and Zang, led us to uncover the root cause of persistent lung inflammation and scarring after severe acute COVID-19 and possibly other respiratory infections like the flu,” said researcher Jie Sun, PhD, of UVA’s Carter Center for Immunology Research and UVA’s Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health. “Using advanced technologies like spatial transcriptomics and sophisticated microscopy, we compared lung tissues from patients and animal models we developed in the lab. We found that malfunctioning immune cells disrupt the proper healing process in the lungs after viral damage. Importantly, we also identified the molecules responsible for this issue and potential therapeutic options for patients with ongoing lung damage.”
“‘Spatial-omics’ are state-of-the-arts technologies that can measure the molecular features with spatial location information within a sample,” explained researcher Chongzhi Zang, PhD, of UVA’s Department of Genome Sciences. “This work demonstrates the power of spatial transcriptomics combined with data science approaches in unraveling the molecular etiology of long COVID.”
The researchers note that the findings could prove beneficial not just for lung scarring from COVID but for lung fibrosis stemming from other sources as well.
“This study shows that treatments used for the acute COVID-19 disease may also reduce the development of chronic sequelae, including lung scarring,” said Peter Chen, MD, the Medallion Chair in Molecular Medicine and interim chair of the Department of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai. “Our work will be foundational in developing therapies for lung fibrosis caused from viruses or other conditions.”
Understanding COVID-19 Lung Damage
The researchers – led by Sun, Chen and Zang – to better understand the cellular and molecular causes of the lingering lung problems that can follow COVID infections. These problems can include ongoing lung damage and harmful inflammation that persists well after the COVID-19 virus has been cleared from the body.
The researchers began by examining severely damaged lungs from transplant patients at both UVA and Cedars-Sinai. None of the patients had a lung disease that would have required a transplant prior to contracting COVID-19, so the scientists were hopeful that the lungs would provide vital clues as to why the patients suffered such severe lung damage and persistent fibrosis. Using the insights they obtained, the scientists then developed a new mouse model to understand how normally beneficial immune responses were going awry.
The researchers found that immune cells known as CD8+ T cells were having faulty interactions with another type of immune cell, macrophages. These interactions were causing the macrophages to drive damaging inflammation even after the initial COVID-19 infection had resolved, when the immune system would normally stand down.
The scientists remain uncertain about the underlying trigger for the immune malfunction – the immune system may be responding to lingering remnants of the COVID-19 virus, for example, or there could be some other cause, they say.
The new research suggests that this harmful cycle of inflammation, injury and fibrosis can be broken using drugs such as baricitinib and anakinra, both of which have already been approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration to treat the harmful inflammation seen in rheumatoid arthritis and alopecia, a form of hair loss.
While more study is needed to verify the drugs’ effectiveness for this new purpose, the researchers hope their findings will eventually offer patients with persistent post-COVID lung problems much-needed treatment options.
“Tens of millions of people around the world are dealing with complications from long COVID or other post-infection syndromes,” Sun said. “We are just beginning to understand the long-term health effects caused by acute infections. There is a strong need for more basic, translational and clinical research, along with multi-disciplinary collaborations, to address these unmet needs of patients.”
Findings Published
The scientists have published their findings in the prestigious journal Nature. The research team consisted of Harish Narasimhan, In Su Cheon, Wei Qian, Shengen Shawn Hu, Tanyalak Parimon, Chaofan Li, Nick Goplen, Yue Wu, Xiaoqin Wei, Young Min Son, Elizabeth Fink, Gislane de Almeida Santos, Jinyi Tang, Changfu Yao, Lyndsey Muehling, Glenda Canderan, Alexandra Kadl, Abigail Cannon, Samuel Young, Riley Hannan, Grace Bingham, Mohammed Arish, Arka Sen Chaudhari, Jun sub Im, Cameron L.R. Mattingly, Patcharin Pramoonjago, Alberto Marchesvsky, Jeffrey Sturek, Jacob E. Kohlmeier, Yun Michael Shim, Judith Woodfolk, Zang, Chen and Sun. Sun receives support for work unrelated to this research from Icosavax, while Woodfolk receives unrelated support from Regeneron.
How Drugs Could Fix Damaged Hearts UVA Researchers Explore Ways to Regenerate Heart Cells
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Aug. 14, 2024 – New research from UVA Health scientists seeking to identify drugs to regenerate tissue after a heart attack is highlighting the promise of their approach.
The team, led by Jeff Saucerman, PhD, previously developed a method to identify drugs that might make new cardiomyocytes, the heart cells responsible for pumping blood. In their follow-up work, the researchers analyzed five of the 30 compounds they initially identified and determined how these compounds regenerate cardiomyocytes, which could help replace damaged heart tissue.
The scientists say this new understanding of the how the compounds work in heart cells will be invaluable in the development of the drugs to treat or reverse heart damage and heart failure, a potentially fatal condition that affects more than 5 million Americans.
“Once you lose cardiomyocytes after a heart attack and form a scar, there’s usually no going back. These compounds are promising in their potential of producing new cardiomyocytes to repopulate the heart,” said Saucerman, of the University of Virginia’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, a joint program of the School of Medicine and School of Engineering. “I hope that this research provides biomedical researchers with new ideas of biochemical pathways and drugs that may one day enable regeneration of heart tissue in patients.”
Irreversible Heart Damage?
Heart failure occurs when the heart loses the ability to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. This can lead to weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, fluid buildup in the lungs and other symptoms that rob patients of their quality of life. It is irreversible and ultimately often fatal.
Heart failure can be triggered by heart attacks and other conditions that damage the heart tissue. Doctors have no way to repair this damage because the body stops making cardiomyocytes shortly after birth. That has Saucerman and his team eager to find drugs that can turn that natural production line back on.
Working with scientists from AstraZeneca, the UVA scientists combined a traditional approach – looking at live cells with microscopes – with advanced image-processing algorithms. This allowed them to identify 30 compounds that triggered cardiomyocyte production in culture dishes.
Those results, while promising, came with no guarantee they would work. The scientists needed a better understanding of the effects the drugs would have – how, precisely, they might stimulate cardiomyocyte production. So the UVA team selected five different compounds that acted on different cellular targets and set out to find answers.
The scientists were uncertain how the compounds worked because they targeted proteins unrelated to previous studies on cardiomyocyte production. To take a broader view, the researchers used a sophisticated “multi-omic” analysis, meaning they looked at the expression of all of the genes in the genome as well as a large set of proteins. Using machine learning, they connected the multi-omic data into a network that explained the cascade of effects the compounds would cause. They found that the drugs acted in similar ways to promote cardiomyocyte production and did so without toxicity – a promising sign.
The new insights bring the scientists closer to translating their lab work into new treatments to help patients, a major goal for both UVA Health and UVA’s upcoming Paul and Manning Institute of Biotechnology.
“Based on these results, we’re now assembling the data into a large-scale computational model of cardiomyocyte production, as well as testing selected compounds in animal models,” said Saucerman, who is part of UVA’s Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center. “Normally, our ability to produce new cardiomyocytes is lost shortly after birth. One day, I hope new drugs can restore this regenerative capacity to treat heart attacks.”
Findings Published
The researchers have published their findings in the scientific journal iScience. The research team consisted of Laura A. Woo, Kaitlyn L. Wintruba, Bethany Wissmann, Svyatoslav Tkachenko, Ewa Kubicka, Emily Farber, Ola Engkvist, Ian Barrett, Kenneth L. Granberg, Alleyn T. Plowright, Matthew J. Wolf, David L. Brautigan, Stefan Bekiranov, Qing-Dong Wang and Saucerman.
Some of the team members are current or former employees of AstraZeneca, but Saucerman and the other UVA researchers have no financial interest in the work.
The research was supported by AstraZeneca, a grant from the UVA-AstraZeneca Strategic Cardiovascular Alliance, UVA’s Pinn Scholar Award and the National Institutes of Health, grants T32-HL007284, S10 OD021723, HL160665 and HL162925.
UVA’s research alliance with AstraZeneca is led by Gary K. Owens, PhD, the director of UVA’s Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center. “Dr. Saucerman and his team of AstraZeneca and UVA scientists are to be commended for completion of this highly innovative research that may lead to marked improvements in treating patients with heart failure who currently have a life expectancy of less than 5 years unless they get a heart transplant,” Owens said.
To keep up with the latest medical research news from UVA, subscribe to the Making of Medicine blog at http://makingofmedicine.
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