Archive for the ‘Hormone Physician’ Category

NEW YORK, April 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Hormone Replacement Therapy Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Estrogen, Human Growth), By Route Of Administration (Oral, Parenteral), By Type Of Disease, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05879593/?utm_source=PRN

The global hormone replacement therapy market size is expected to reach USD 39.6 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 7.7%. A significant rise in the incidence rate of hormonal disorders in the newborns, adults, and elderly and populations is driving the market. The Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) affects one in every 15,000 newborns, thereby boosting the demand for the therapy.

Estrogen replacement hormone therapy helps in reducing the vaginal indications of menopause, such as dryness, burning, itching, and pain during intercourse.Estrogen is available in the forms of pill, gel, skin patch, cream or spray form.

It is highly successful for treating problematic menopausal night sweats and hot flashes. Around 45% of women between the ages of 40 to 60 years of age were reported taking counseling sessions from a physician regarding the advantages and disadvantages of using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause.

Growing awareness about menopausal signs and the treatment options is growing the HRT market.Owing to the significant development for ERT, there has been an initiation of very safe treatment options for the patients situated in various geographies of the world.

For example, augmentation of innovative drug delivery systems like transdermal estrogen patches and vaginal estrogen drugs.

Further key findings from the report suggest: The estrogen replacement therapy segment dominated the overall market in terms of revenue share in the year 2019. On the other hand, the parenteral segment is likely to showcase the fastest growth rate over the forecast period from 2020 to 2027, owing to the rising number of hormonal disorders Menopause is likely to showcase the fastest growth rate over the forecast period. Women are vulnerable to certain diseases and conditions such as osteoporosis and hot flashes during and after menopause. About 73% of postmenopausal women suffer from hot flashes North America dominated the overall hormone replacement therapy market in terms of revenue share in the year 2019. The increase in the incidence rate of hypogonadism due to a rise in obesity and poor health in the geriatric population drive the market. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, more than 2.5 million Americans received testosterone treatment in U.S alone in 2014 Some of the key players in this market are Abbott Laboratories; Novartis; Pfizer, Inc.; Mylan Laboratories; Merck and Co.; Novo Nordisk; Bayer Healthcare; Eli Lilly; and Genentech.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05879593/?utm_source=PRN

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Hormone Replacement Therapy Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product, By Route Of Administration, By Type Of Disease, By Region And...

For all of these reasons, stress-induced breakouts manifest in many different forms, so it's "impossible to generalize" about exactly how it will present itself (i.e. as blackheads or pustules or cysts), Marchbein explains, though she does note that cystic acne is "especially common with stress."

"Keeping routines can be profoundly helpful in times of unprecedented stress and uncertainty," Rieder says. "When we have seemingly lost control of [many of] the elements that give us peace, including our occupations, finances, and health, normalcy in any sense is welcome [and] things that we take for granted and often do automatically are important to maintain."

Perhaps number one on this list is sleep both getting enough of it and also trying to stick to regular sleep-wake hours. Sleep is crucial to our health for many, many reasons, however, as pertaining to overall skin health, the importance of getting your Zzz's ties back to cortisol. This is because when we're sleep-deprived, our bodies produce an increased amount of cortisol, which, as previously established, can spiral our skin out of balance.

Next on the list of important routines to maintain is "eating regular meals [and] having dedicated time both to yourself and for socializing, exercising, and practicing self-care in the way that you best respond to," Rieder explains. In terms of self-care, he personally recommends activities like meditation, yoga, deep breathing, exercise, and skin care, but the entire idea here is to take the time regularly to take care of yourself in a way that feels good to you.

It's also worth noting that one factor that can be both a source of self-care and stress is technology. While streaming an online exercise class is a highly recommended form of self-care among all the experts we spoke to, spending too much time on your phone or computer is not especially when it feels like terrifying news updates pour in on an hourly basis. Still, it's also important to stay informed.

Again here, it's about striking a balance that feels right to you and prioritizes your mental health. Rieder's recommendation: "Find one or two news sources that are trustworthy and spend no more than 30 minutes daily informing yourself," he says.

"It is easy to get attached to your only source to the outside world your phone and television during a time like this," Vega agrees. "While it is good to be connected, you also need to detox from the overwhelming stress of the world in general."

When it does spring up, stress pimples respond best to a few specific topicals: salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and retinol, Marchbein and Vega explain. Each ingredient works in different ways to combat breakouts. Salicylic acid can unclog pores, benzoyl peroxide is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, and retinol increases skin cell turnover rate.

That doesn't mean that you should use all three at once, however. Instead, Vega recommends using retinol as a long-term solution, and keeping either a salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide product in your medicine cabinet to use as a spot treatment as needed.

Pimple patches can also be used as a spot treatment for acne, Marchbein suggests. "These are hydrocolloid adhesive stickers that contain certain active ingredients such as salicylic acid and/or tea tree oil, which are delivered to the pimple while its in place," she explains. "By occluding the pimple, these active ingredients are able to penetrate the skin more deeply allowing them to potentially work better."

For large, painful acne, "I would typically recommend heading to your dermatologist for a steroid injection to reduce the pain and inflammation of cystic breakouts," Marchbein explains, however, "at this point, medical visits should be for true emergencies only."

If you do find yourself reaching for, touching, or picking at your skin more often than normal, Lee suggests covering trouble spots with a bandage, "or better yet, apply an acne spot treatment, a dollop of cream right over the pimple or the red bump," she says. "If you reach up to pick at the bump, you will be reminded that there is cream on the area and hopefully this will remind you to not pick at your skin."

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Stress Acne: How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Stress Pimples Expert Advice - Allure

captionStress may cause gray hair prematurely.sourceManop_Phimsit/Shutterstock

Stress can affect the body in many different ways. And while it seems that stressful life events like being president may cause gray hair, the truth is a bit more complicated.

Gray hair is likely caused by a combination of genetics, aging, and hormones, and there is some research to suggest that stress can turn hair gray prematurely. Heres what you need to know.

When youre born, your hair color is determined by natural pigments in your skin called melanin.

Human hair follicles contain two types of melanin: eumelanin and pheomelanin, says Leann Poston, MD, a licensed physician. The wide diversity of possible hair colors comes from the production ratio of these two types of melanin.

Melanin is created from melanocytes, which are the cells found in your skin and hair follicles. When melanocytes stop producing melanin, your hair color changes to gray.

Melanocytes often stop producing melanin as you age, which is why gray hair is so common among the elderly. However, its common for hair to start turning gray around age 35.

Overall, Poston says that a combination of factors such as genetics, hormones, and your environment will determine exactly when your hair turns gray.

Though stress alone will not cause gray hair, there is some research that suggests it may speed up the graying process.

For example, a 2020 study published by the journal Nature found that when mice were exposed to stress, they lost melanocyte cells and gained gray hair as a result.

This is an interesting study that links stress to an abnormal conversion of stem cells to a more differentiated form, melanocytes, Poston says.

Melanocyte stem cells typically decrease in numbers as you age. But premature activation, associated with increases in a stress hormone called norepinephrine (or noradrenaline), actually caused these cells to decline more quickly in mice leading to the gray hair that researchers observed.

Poston says she doesnt believe this animal study is enough to definitively say that the same is true for humans. But other research has also suggested that stress can accelerate graying.

For example, a 2018 study in the International Journal of Trichology observed an increase in oxidative stress as a result of psychological stress and higher levels of oxidative stress, which contributes to a complicated biological imbalance in humans, are associated with an increased risk of many chronic diseases as well as premature aging.

The study suggests that premature gray hair, or the graying of hair by age 20, is linked with higher levels of oxidative stress, which may increase with more of your everyday psychological stressors like a difficult job or the pressure to provide for your family.

In addition, cigarette smoking and vitamin deficiencies which can also increase oxidative stress have been associated with early graying.

Overall, genetics and aging are likely to be more determinate for when your hair turns gray. But, as some research has suggested, psychological stress and other unhealthy risk factors may accelerate this graying process.

Read the rest here:
Does stress cause gray hair? It may lead to premature graying - Business Insider

It might feel like were fighting a losing battle most of the time. As many of us stay home adhering to the UAEs social distancing regulations amid the coronavirus outbreak, a combination of anxiety, stress and boredom can have us skipping workouts, snacking constantly and generally eating our feelings.

That doesn't mean you should let guilt get to you or start some impossible diet, however. If you, like many other people right now, are struggling to maintain a healthy weight while stuck at home, then these simple bite-sized tips could help you get back on track.

Skipping meals can be very unhelpful, says Rita Martins, a clinical dietician with Mediclinic City Hospital. You may feel hungrier later and overdo it on unhealthy snacks.

To ensure you dont do this, Nadine Aoun, a clinical dietician at Medcare Women and Children Hospital, advises trying to maintain the same routine you have at the office. She suggests eating breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack in between each meal.

You know what they say: Eat breakfast like a king and Aoun is someone who subscribes to that belief. Never skip breakfast, she says.

Rawan Nucho, clinical dietician at Aligned Health by Right Bite, agrees. Starting your day with a balanced breakfast consisting of proteins, carbs and good fats keeps you fuller longer.

Dr Ruba El-Hourani, a clinical dietician at RAK Hospital, says some studies have shown the influence of intermittent fasting to maintain healthier body weight. This is a great way, provided that its done properly.

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Read more: Is intermittent fasting a fast track to weight loss and anti-ageing?

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Stick to a daily routine with your exercise, eating, cooking and self-care, says holistic health and nutrition coach Jo Owen. Writing up a weekly meal plan can reduce waste, save money and give you focus by cutting down on faff.

This is the same advice Baraa El Sabbagh, a dietician, sports nutritionist and recipe book author, gives. If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail, am I right? Whenever you have your meals planned the week before or even the night before, youre a lot more likely to make better decisions. By doing this, you eliminate having to make last-minute decisions because youve reached an absurd level of dizziness because of hunger.

This is near impossible to do if your cupboards are laden with crisps, cookies or cake. But if you avoid the junk food aisles in the virtual or real supermarkets, then you wont be able to reach for them. Instead, have healthy snacks like unsalted and raw nuts, dark chocolate, fat-free popcorn, fruits and vegetables, says Aoun. She suggests having vegetable sticks with guacamole or hummus, low-fat Greek yoghurt with mixed frozen berries or an apple cut up into slices and smeared with organic peanut butter, for example.

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Read more: Our comprehensive guide to healthy snacking

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Holistic nutritionist Maria Marlowe, founder of Healthy by Marlowe, says to rely on the power of vegetables. Set a goal to fill 50 per cent of your plate with veggies at every meal, she says. The more vegetables we eat, the more full we feel on fewer calories. Vegetables effectively crowd out other less healthy foods, and provide us with an abundance of nutrients and fibre that we need to stay healthy.

Whats the Ideal Plate Ratio? Marlowe explains that on top of 50 per cent vegetables, we should be aiming for our plates to contain 25 per cent healthy protein and 25 per cent whole grains or additional vegetables, and then some healthy fat on top. For protein, this equates to about 85 to 115 grams of meat or one cup of beans or lentils. Healthy fats include olive oil or avocado. Eating this way will help you feel full and energised throughout the day, keep your immune system strong and curtail mindless snacking.

If youre not a professional chef, chances are there are a few bland meals in your repertoire. Keeping your meals exciting and flavourful will make sure you dont go reaching for the nearest ready-meal or ordering delivery instead. Add garlic, onion and lots of spices such as turmeric, oregano and rosemary to your meals, advises Dr Cherry Ezzat, an anti-ageing and functional medical practitioner at Dermalase Clinic.

Its easy to rely on packaged and processed foods during this time, says Marlowe. But we are very lucky to still have access to plenty of fresh food. She suggests ordering vegetables such as kale, collard greens, broccoli and cauliflower You may want to focus on longer-lasting produce, such as cabbage, winter squash, citrus, zucchini, apples, garlic and ginger. She relies on Greenheart Organic Farms in Dubai for her vegetable deliveries.

You may have heard this saying before, but perhaps youre not sure why its being said. Dr Ezzat explains that it simply means making sure you eat plenty of colourful fruits and vegetables, as they are high in vitamins and minerals. Each colour you eat adds to your general health, she says. Red protects against heart disease. Blue and purple prevent blood clots and delay cell ageing. Green inhibits carcinogens and boosts detoxification. Orange benefits skin and vision. The more you eat of these, the more you fill up on health-boosting, nutrient-dense foods instead of high-calorie junk.

Owen says we all need to put our focus on real food. Not foods with a list of ingredients you cant pronounce. The more healthy whole foods you eat with plenty of protein and healthy fats the less room youll have for higher calorie processed comfort foods. When you give your body what it truly needs, youll have fewer cravings for empty calories and junk food, which usually leads to consuming fewer calories overall.

There are a few ingredients Marlowe always makes sure she has in the pantry in order to make quick and easy healthy meals. This includes coconut milk and curry paste. I always keep these on hand to whip up my favourite red Thai curry, she says. Simply add fresh or frozen vegetables and a protein of choice and you have a satisfying, flavourful meal ready faster than delivery. Be sure to choose a curry paste without added sugar. She uses Thai Kitchen products.

Instead of opting for regular pasta, try buying a variety with fewer calories, says Marlowe. There are so many naturally gluten-free bean and legume-based pastas on the market now that taste great and provide more fibre and protein compared to traditional pasta. I recommend throwing a steamer basket full of chopped vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and squash over your boiling pasta water for a super-quick pasta primavera. Simply add some garlic sauted in olive oil and a little salt and pepper.

A number of studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids have a range of healthy benefits and this includes reducing symptoms of metabolic syndrome, a collection of conditions that encompasses belly fat, as well as decreasing fat in your liver. Marlowe suggests keeping jarred wild sardines or anchovies in your pantry at all times. These are a quick and convenient omega-3-packed protein source that can be added to various different dishes.

Upgrade your comfort foods, Marlowe advises. You can make just about any comfort food healthier and waist-line friendly. If you want to make ice cream, for example, she suggests blending up frozen bananas instead. For sweets, you can make cocoa-date truffles.

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Read more: Why not try these vegan gelato recipes?

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In these times of social distancing, food does bring joy and comfort and thats OK, says Dr El-Hourani. However, its important to be mindful of these extra calories and create a balance to ensure you dont go overboard.

She suggests focusing on your food while you chew. Eat without distraction of your phone, computer or TV, and eat slowly to savour and activate your senses.

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Read more: How to start your mindfulness and meditation practice

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What is that, you ask? At its core, intuitive eating is learning to tap into your intuition and honour your body, Owen explains. She suggests the following these three principles: Eat nourishing foods when you feel hungry without overdoing it; learn how to feel satisfaction from other areas of life without using food for comfort, satisfaction or feeling of belonging; learn to respect your body for all it does for you and youll naturally become more gentle and mindful with your choices.

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Read more: Learn all about intuitive eating

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This is one of El-Houranis top tips. Try to have your last meal at least three hours before going to bed, so that your body can digest it better. Good digestion, she says, is key to healthy weight management.

While I dont focus on calorie counting, it can be helpful to have an approximate calorie goal range, says Owen. Why not use the extra time to evaluate your food intake and choices? If you find yourself gaining weight, its not always the case that youre eating too much, she adds. If youve been eating too few calories, weight loss can stall, too. Try playing with the numbers and see what works. She advises using apps such as Cronometer and MyFitnessPal to track your food. Most of us carry our phones at all times, which makes tracking convenient.

Rawan Nucho, clinical dietician at Aligned Health by Right Bite, says its important to cut back on coffee. Sip more on herbal teas such as peppermint, cinnamon, chamomile, ginger and much more, as they keep your urge to snack low and can provide you with great [health] benefits.

Aoun says green or black teas are two of natures most potent sources of antioxidants, and sipping them regularly has been shown to decrease the risk of heart disease and stroke, to which people with diabetes are more susceptible. For the sake of your blood pressure, choose decaffeinated tea, she adds.

Its not just sugary drinks such as Coca Cola and Sprite we should be avoiding, but also juices, smoothies and milkshakes, says Aoun. [These are] high in calories, sugars and creamers. Again, she advises sipping on herbal teas or making homemade lemonade with artificial sweetener.

Not only does drinking water help with digestion and toxin elimination, says Owen, but its also an important element in our overall health and can be helpful with weight loss. Keep your water bottle with you throughout the day for regular sipping and add in fruits like lemon or orange slices, pomegranate or mint for added flavour and natural sweetness.

Aoun advises getting in at least eight to nine glasses of water per day.

El Sabbagh, who is also a personal trainer, says we should be moving our bodies for about 60 minutes per day in order to burn calories. This can definitely help with weight management, but the benefits of exercise definitely dont stop at physical health. While were at home, its important to also maintain a positive mindset and your mental health will improve tremendously by exercising at home, because of the endorphins and feel-good hormones released after breaking the slightest sweat.

El Sabbagh says you dont have to lift weights and swing kettebells around. Ive been working out using water bottles at home, you could put on a YouTube video, engage in bodyweight exercise, yoga, dancing, Pilates, step. You also dont need to do an hour in one go. It could be broken down into 30 minutes per session or even 15 minutes per session and continue to move two to three times per day, she adds.

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Read more: How to create a home workout space without spending a fortune

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Owen is a big advocate of keeping up an exercise routine while staying at home, but shes also aware it can get boring if you dont mix it up. When we exercise, our body releases endorphins that make us feel good and further motivate us towards eating sensibly, staying focused and keeping a positive mindset. She advises going online and using platforms such as Instagram and YouTube to find free workouts from local personal trainers and gyms.

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Read more: Try these virtual yoga classes with UAE instructors

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You dont have to do actual exercise to make sure you keep moving throughout the day. Stand up or walk around while you read and answer emails and other messages on your phone, Martins suggests. Set an alarm on your phone to remind you to take an activity break. For example, take a three to five-minute standing or walking break every hour. She also reminds us that household chores also count as exercise. Mop or vacuum fast enough to get your heart pumping.

Watch this video of mobility workouts you could try:

That being said, Owen also notes that if you feel like you need to rest, then rest. If youre already tired and feeling rundown, you would be better of getting the rest you need so you can recharge and give more effort at your next workout.

This is a big deal at the moment, says Owen. When youre under stress and / or youre not getting enough sleep, the stress hormone cortisol is elevated and this can hinder weight loss. When youre tired, youre also more likely to eat more. Studies show people consume up to 25 per cent more calories when theyre tired. This also leads you to crave a quick energy fix, she adds. This usually comes in the form of sugary snacks and drinks or processed foods.

Dr Ezzat says we need to aim for at least seven to eight hours of sleep per night.

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Read more: Having strange dreams? Find out what that means

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El Sabbagh, who is also a certified dietitian and recipe book author, says its important to know the difference between when youre hungry and when youre bored. Some of the food triggers while staying at home could be boredom, emotion or even habitual, she explains. For example, if something is bothering us we might stress eat or whenever we watch TV we might have a snack. Its important to ask ourselves every time we walk into the kitchen for a snack: Am I hungry or am I eating this out of boredom/stress/habit? If you realise youre not actually hungry, then its key to distract yourself, she adds. Try a new TV series or, better yet, do something with your hands. Some people take up knitting, reading, painting, drawing or doing a puzzle. Anything to keep the hangs and mind occupied instead of eating out of boredom.

Nucho suggests that, before you start snacking unnecessarily, you have a glass of water. If you cant decide whether youre actually hungry or bored, it might just be that youre thirsty. For some people, the feeling of thirst can be mistaken for hunger, and could make you want to reach for a sweet or salty snack, which in turn will make you thirstier. And thus, a vicious cycle emerges.

No matter what you do, maybe the number of the scales just keeps getting higher. Owen says: Its worth noting that there could be other underlying conditions, including hormonal imbalances, that can hinder weight loss. So, if you suspect this it might be a good idea to seek out a healthcare practitioner who deals with this, such as your physician, a naturopathic doctor or functional medicine doctor.

Martins stresses that amid the current crisis its important to focus on the present. Some days you will feel better than others, but dont stress and keep calm, even if some days you feel like you dont want to do anything. Try to motivate yourself and think about how it will be much harder to deal with after, if you end up with unwanted extra weight. As long as you motivate yourself to maintain the weight you currently have, then youre doing well, she adds. Relax and keep active.

Updated: April 13, 2020 07:57 PM

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Worth the weight? 31 expert tips on maintaining a healthy size while staying at home - The National

Diabetes is so common you likely know someone who has it. Its a part of American life when 30.3 million Americans have diabetes. That breaks down to nearly 1 in 10 people who are managing the disease.

Because of the prevalence of diabetes, its important to have some knowledge of the disease. In fact, there are millions of people who are prediabetic or already suffering from the disease and dont yet have a diagnosis.

Diabetes has two main forms, type 1 and type 2 diabetes. What is thedifference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?

Read on to learn about the disease of diabetes and its different types.

Causes of Type 1 Diabetes

Diabetes is technically one disease, although some consider the two types of different diseases. Your body has an immune system. This system is working to fight off things like bacteria and viruses to keep it healthy.

In a person who has type 1 diabetes, the immune system works in overdrive. It attacks some of the healthy cells in the body. These cells are the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Once the body does this to its own cells, it cant make insulin.

Insulin is an important hormone in the body. Insulin helps the body manage sugar, preventing it from getting too high or too low.

Causes of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a little bit different. In type 2, the body becomes resistant to insulin. The body makes it, but the insulin cant do what its intended to do.

This makes the pancreas think theres not insulin and it makes more. When the body doesnt use the insulin the glucose will build up in the bloodstream.

What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that can be managed. More on that later. But if the disease is not managed there are several symptoms that indicate your body is having a problem. Here are some general symptoms that show for both types of diabetes:

Not all diabetes sufferers will feel all the symptoms but these are the most common ones. They all connect back to how the body is managing or NOT managing the sugar and insulin.

Type 1 and type 2 might share some common symptoms but they present in different ways.

Type 1

Type 1 symptoms typically develop quickly. They show up suddenly and with many of them at the same time. Type 1 diabetes used to be referred to as juvenile diabetes because it more commonly shows up in children or adolescents.

In type 1 patients, in addition to the above symptoms, they often become moody or irritable. They might have sudden weight loss too.

Type 2

Type 2 diabetes patients develop their symptoms slowly. Many will already be diabetic for a while before the symptoms develop. Type 2 diabetes patients also will experience numbness and tingling in their hands and feet as a symptom too.

Risk Factors

There are some risk factors associated with diabetes. Type 1 diabetes cant be prevented. Type 2 diabetes can be avoided even if you have the risk factors by making some changes in lifestyle.

Lets take a closer look at some of the risk factors for both types.

Type 1

A person is at a higher risk for type 1 diabetes if they have a family history of type 1 diabetes. So, if they have a parent and or a sibling who already has the disease and develops symptoms, they should see a doctor right away.

As already mentioned, type 1 diabetes is most common in children and adolescents but it can develop at any age.

A study of genetics shows there are certain genes that make a person have an increased risk to develop type 1 diabetes. Its interesting to note that the further you live from the equator, the higher the prevalence of type 1 diabetes cases.

Type 2

Type 2 diabetes can be avoided. There are some risk factors to be aware of. If you are or have:

If you have ever given birth to a baby that is 9 pounds or more you also have a higher risk factor to develop type 2 diabetes. Also, if you have been pregnant and had gestational diabetes, you are at a higher risk.

You can lower your risk factors to develop type 2 diabetes by doing several things. These include:

People who eat a healthy and balanced diet with lower sugar intake and regular physical activity can reduce their chances of getting type 2 diabetes even if they carry some of the other potential risk factors.

Diagnosis and Treatment

If you are showing symptoms of diabetes, you should see your primary care physician. The doctor will order a test calledtheglycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. This test will look at your blood sugar levels for the last two to three months. If levels are consistently high, they know there is an issue.

As already stated, living a healthy lifestyle with a smart diet and physical activity will be part of managing diabetes.

Diabetes managementis required for type 1 patients. They dont make their own insulin, so it is necessary to get the insulin injected into their body. Some patients do injections several times a day. While other type 1 diabetics choose to wear an insulin pump that helps to provide it throughout the course of a day.

Type 2 patients are different. With the right diet and exercise regimen, they can actually control and reverse their diabetes. For some patients, diet and exercise are not enough and medications are needed as additional support.

Regular testing of blood sugar levels is a must as a diabetic. Blood sugar spikes or drastic drops can be life-threatening, so regular testing of the blood will be a part of any diagnosis.

Understanding the Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is a serious disease but it can be managed with care and knowledge. Understanding thedifference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is an important part of understanding the disease.

For more important health-related articles like this one, be sure to visit our blog often.

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What is the Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes? - - VENTS Magazine

Dublin, April 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Hormone Replacement Therapy Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product (Estrogen, Human Growth), by Route Of Administration (Oral, Parenteral), by Type Of Disease, by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global hormone replacement therapy market size is expected to reach USD 39.6 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 7.7%. A significant rise in the incidence rate of hormonal disorders in the newborns, adults, and elderly and populations is driving the market. The Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) affects one in every 15,000 newborns, thereby boosting the demand for the therapy.

Estrogen replacement hormone therapy helps in reducing the vaginal indications of menopause, such as dryness, burning, itching, and pain during intercourse. Estrogen is available in the forms of pill, gel, skin patch, cream or spray form. It is highly successful for treating problematic menopausal night sweats and hot flashes. Around 45% of women between the ages of 40 to 60 years of age were reported taking counseling sessions from a physician regarding the advantages and disadvantages of using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause.

Growing awareness about menopausal signs and the treatment options is growing the HRT market. Owing to the significant development for ERT, there has been an initiation of very safe treatment options for the patients situated in various geographies of the world. For example, augmentation of innovative drug delivery systems like transdermal estrogen patches and vaginal estrogen drugs.

Further key findings from the report suggest:

Key Topics Covered:

1. Methodology and Scope

2. Executive Summary2.1 Market Outlook2.2 Segment Outlook2.2.1 Product2.2.2 Route of Administration2.2.3 Type of Disease2.2.4 Region2.3 Competitive Insights

3. Market Variables, Trends & Scope3.1 Market Segmentation3.2 Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping3.2.1 Market Driver Analysis3.2.2 Market Restraint Analysis3.3 Hormone Replacement Therapy Market: Business Environment Analysis Tools3.3.1 Porter's Five Forces Analysis3.3.1.1 Bargaining power of suppliers3.3.1.2 Bargaining power of buyers3.3.1.3 Threat of new entrants3.3.1.4 Competitive rivalry3.3.1.5 Threat of substitutes3.3.2 PESTEL Analysis3.3.2.1 Political & legal3.3.2.2 Economic3.3.2.3 Technological

4. Hormone Replacement Therapy Market: Product Analysis4.1 Hormone Replacement Therapy Product Market Share Analysis, 2019 & 20274.2 Hormone Replacement Therapy Product Market: Segment Dashboard4.3 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2016 to 2027 for the Product Segment4.3.1 Estrogen Hormone Replacement Therapy4.3.1.1 Estrogen Hormone replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)4.3.2 HGH Replacement Therapy4.3.2.1 HGH replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)4.3.3 Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy4.3.3.1 Thyroid hormone replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)4.3.4 Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy4.3.4.1 Testosterone hormone replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)

5. Hormone Replacement Therapy Market: Route of Administration Analysis5.1 Hormone Replacement Therapy Route of Administration Market Share Analysis, 2019 & 20275.2 Hormone Replacement Therapy Route of Administration Market: Segment Dashboard5.3 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2016 to 2027 for the Route of Administration Segment5.3.1 Oral5.3.1.1 Oral market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)5.3.2 Parenteral5.3.2.1 Parenteral market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)5.3.3 Transdermal5.3.3.1 Transdermal market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)5.3.4 Others5.3.4.1 Others market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)

6. Hormone Replacement Therapy Market: Type of Disease Analysis6.1 Hormone Replacement Therapy Type of Disease Market Share Analysis, 2019 & 20276.2 Hormone Replacement Therapy Type of Disease Market: Segment Dashboard6.3 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2016 to 2027 for the Type of Disease Segment6.3.1 Menopause6.3.1.1 Menopause market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)6.3.2 Hypothyroidism6.3.2.1 Hypothyroidism market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)6.3.3 Male Hypogonadism6.3.3.1 Male hypogonadism market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)6.3.4 Growth Hormone Deficiency6.3.4.1 Growth hormone deficiency market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)6.3.5 Others6.3.5.1 Others market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)

7. Hormone Replacement Therapy Market: Regional Analysis7.1 Hormone Replacement Therapy Regional Market Share Analysis, 2019 & 20277.2 Hormone Replacement Therapy Regional Market: Segment Dashboard7.3 Regional Market Snapshot (Market Size, CAGR, Top Verticals, Key Players, Top Trends)7.4 Market Size, & Forecasts, and Trend Analysis, 2016 to 20277.4.1 North America7.4.1.1 North America hormone replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)7.4.1.1.1 U.S.7.4.1.1.1.1 U.S. hormone replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)7.4.1.1.2 Canada7.4.1.1.2.1 Canada hormone replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)7.4.2 Europe7.4.2.1 Europe Hormone Replacement Therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)7.4.2.1.1 U.K.7.4.2.1.1.1 U.K. hormone replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)7.4.2.1.2 Germany7.4.2.1.2.1 Germany hormone replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)7.4.3 Asia Pacific7.4.3.1 Asia Pacific hormone replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)7.4.3.1.1 Japan7.4.3.1.1.1 Japan hormone replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)7.4.3.1.2 China7.4.3.1.2.1 China hormone replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)7.4.4 Latin America7.4.4.1 Latin America hormone replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)7.4.4.1.1 Brazil7.4.4.1.1.1 Brazil hormone replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)7.4.4.1.2 Mexico7.4.4.1.2.1 Mexico hormone replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)7.4.5 Middle East and Africa (MEA)7.4.5.1 MEA hormone replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)7.4.5.1.1 South Africa7.4.5.1.1.1 South Africa hormone replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)7.4.5.1.2 Saudi Arabia7.4.5.1.2.1 Saudi Arabia hormone replacement therapy market, 2016 - 2027 (USD Million)

8. Competitive Analysis8.1 Strategic Framework/ Competition Categorization (Key innovators, Market leaders, emerging players8.2 Vendor Landscape8.3 Company market position analysis (Geographic Presence, Product Portfolio, Strategic Initiatives, Employee Strength)8.4 Company Profiles

Companies Mentioned

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If you're struggling to sleep during the outbreak of Covid-19, experts have some advice on how to get more shut-eye. OcusFocus/ Istock.com pic via AFP

PARIS, April 9 You might find yourself struggling to sleep during the current Covid-19 outbreak, as stress, uncertainty and changes in our usual routine make it more difficult to relax at night and drop off.

Here, we round up some expert advice on how you can try to maintain a regular sleep pattern and get a more restful night's shut-eye.

Try to stick to the same bedtime and wake-up time

Waking up and starting your day at the same time every day is the most important way to stabilise your body clock, says Professor Greg Murray, at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia. He advises sticking to consistent sleep and wake times which fit your natural rhythm.

If you're a night owl, it's okay to stay up a little later and get up a little later, just make sure these bedtimes and wake up times are the same every day, he says.

Dr Elizabeth Cozine, a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician, agrees, Try to go to bed at the same time every night, maybe sleeping in a little bit later than you normally would because you're not rushing to get to the office. And see if you can try to get somewhere between seven and nine hours of sleep, which is what most adults need, and make that a regular part of your day.

Avoid napping

Professor Murray also advises trying not to nap during daylight hours, as it can make it hard to fall asleep at night. If you must nap, he says to restrict your sleep to just 30 minutes.

Get some sunlight during the day

Professor Kevin Morgan, who is a sleep expert at the University of Loughborough, UK, says that staying indoors means we don't soak up enough sunlight, and this can affect our sleep patterns and our need to nap during the day.

To help synchronise our body clock, we should try to get enough sunlight during the day, particularly in the morning, to let our body know it's daytime. He recommends exercising outdoors, if you can, or at least just walking to the grocery store or sitting in the garden.

And avoid bright light in the evening

In the evening, Professor Murray says we should avoid bright light, as this suppresses the production of the hormone melatonin, which makes us feel sleepy. This also includes avoiding the blue light from computer screens and smartphones, so try to read a book or take a bath instead of watching TV to help you relax.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine

Be careful how much caffeine you have every day, says Professor Morgan, who adds that working from home, or just being at home, offers more opportunities for tea and coffee breaks. Caffeine suppresses the chemical adenosine which contributes to sleepiness and promotes sleep.

He also advises limiting your alcohol intake, as although it can help you fall asleep it can also cause you to wake up early, as well as affect the quality of your sleep so you actually feel more tired the next day.

Try to relax

Psychiatry professor Adam Abba-Aji at the University of Alberta, Canada, says that if you're feeling anxious during the Covid-19 outbreak, usually the first sign of it will be a lack of sleep.

It becomes difficult to switch our brains off, he said. Where there's a lack of sleep, people sometimes resort to ... alcohol or some other sedatives.

Instead, Abba-Aji suggests trying to relax and switch off with some yoga before you head to bed.

Try meditation

You might not have tried meditation before, but Dr. Cozine says there's a lot of evidence to suggest it can improve sleep, as well as help ease stress and anxiety.

I've found that it helps me turn off those hamster wheels of thoughts that are rolling in my brain, and it also helps me to get ready for the next step, she says.

I'm not talking about sitting Zen, cross-legged for three hours thinking about I don't know like a desert or something. I'm talking about maybe five minutes where you just reset. AFP-Relaxnews

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Women have to deal with a fair share of health inconveniences that come across as the sign of being healthy but can be equally disturbing and painful. One such inevitable function of the female body is menopause. Menopause is a stage that comes during aging where the female body diminishes its reproductive abilities, and the long period of menstrual cycles come to an end. It might sound convenient to some, but it often goes far from that, and each woman can have a different experience. Menopause induces several changes in a female body, which can be hard to deal with. Along with the decline in the production of hormones such as Progesterone and Estrogen, there are various side effects of this natural process.

The changes that menopause brings with it are not only limited to being physical but it also drastically affects mental well being. Most women don't take it seriously, though when it crashes upon them, things can get a little tough to handle. Medications, for sure, offer benefits and help to heal the symptoms, but some can also achieve the same through the usage of natural remedies. One such ingredient, called CBD, is gradually gaining popularity among women to treat symptoms of menopause.

What is CBD?

CBD or cannabidiol is the non-psychoactive component of the plant cannabis, which is rich in innumerable healing properties. The therapeutic product is widely used worldwide to treat health ailments, and women are gradually accepting it to treat various menstrual conditions as well. Being a completely natural ingredient, it can provide benefits for some while furnishing minimal side effects. The good thing is that you can get CBD products from various websites that offer high-quality products, ranging from providing seeds used in medical treatments to CBD infused products, the choices are endless.

Here are five menopause symptoms that CBD might help with:

1. Reducing depression and anxiety

The hormonal changes that menopause brings with it, give rise to a hormonal imbalance in the female. Estrogen and progesterone have a direct influence on the mental well being of a woman, and in the series of its fluctuation during menopause, it is very likely for a woman to feel depressed or deal with anxiety. CBD is an excellent ingredient to help one with these symptoms. This powerful ingredient owns anti-anxiolytic properties that help in reducing anxious thoughts. It also influences the production of Serotonin, which is a happy hormone that helps to reduce frequent mood swings and make you feel pleasant.

2. Promotes a healthy sleeping pattern

Lack of sleep can leave you feeling groggy and disoriented, imagine experiencing it when you need it the most to ease your already worn-out body. Tragic, isn't it? A widespread symptom of women going through menopause is experiencing disturbances in their regular sleeping pattern. Sleep is a significant function that our body needs to carry out both as a healing method and to regulate several body functions. Still, menopause can make it hard to fall into deep slumber easily. CBD is known to offer a good night's sleep without any side effects. So if you are experiencing a disturbed sleeping pattern, then it may be worth taking into consideration the help of CBD products.

3. Heals body pain

Body ache is a common condition that people face while aging though if you have recently started facing it, then it can be due to the several hormonal changes that your body is undergoing. Menopause brings body pain with it that can sometimes leave a woman bed-ridden. Other than ingesting medications based on the recommendation of a physician, CBD can be highly beneficial in easing pain to a great extent. The anti-inflammatory properties of cannabidiol can help to protect your joints against inflammatory damage that can take the shape of severe arthritis.

4. Improves genital health conditions

Deteriorating genital health in females is one of the concerns that the majority of menopause medications might fail to improve. The imbalance of hormones can reduce the blood flow in the pelvis area, which, as a result, can reduce the elasticity and health of the vagina. Surprisingly, CBD products offer its benefits to improve genital health as well. Being an efficient vasodilator, CBD helps to increase the blood flow in the pelvic region to regain the lost elasticity. At the same time, the anti-inflammatory properties help to combat inflammation.

5. Adjusts hormonal homeostasis

Hormonal imbalance is one of the major concerns during menopause, which leads to almost every other condition that women suffer during this period. Hormones have a significant role in shaping and regulating our body functions, and fluctuation in hormones generally invites several ailments with itself. Edibles and other products containing CBD can directly influence the hormonal balance, but it has an active role in regulating the endocannabinoid system of the body. With supplementation of efficient fuel, the endocannabinoid system regulates the homeostasis in the body to produce different hormones, hence creating a healthy balance.

These are a few of the ways that CBD might be able to help to heal menopause symptoms. It is recommended to consult an expert regarding its safe usage, to help you make a plan to manage these symptoms.

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Right now, our homes are our safe havens. They keep us protected, healthy, and hopefully virus-freeeven if they can get pretty boring at times. But in order to make sure that our homes remain safe sanctuaries, it means that we have to maintain their cleanliness every single day, too. Whether it's the first time you've ever spent this long at home or you're a working-from-home pro, you could likely use a lesson on how to disinfect for coronavirus from those who know best: doctors and cleaning experts.

We rounded up a few of the leading experts in healthy cleaning practices for their top advice on keeping your home clean during quarantine. Get ready to turn that boredom into inspiration with these expert cleaning tips. And for more advice on what could use a wipe down, check out25 Things You Should Clean Every Day and How to Do It.

There's a big difference between cleaning your space and disinfecting, says Marcela Barraza, founder of MB Green Cleaning. Cleaning removes germs without killing them whereas disinfecting stops them in their tracks. That's why she recommends cleaning first and then disinfecting for coronavirus.

"It is very important that you clean [to] remove dirt and debris from surfaces first, because germs and bacteria might hide under the dirt. Once the surface is clean with the least amount of bacteria, the disinfectant will do its purpose by killing them," Barraza says.

Allow the disinfectant to sit for three to five minutes so it can do its job. "If you spray and wipe right away, you are taking the disinfectant away before it can do its job," she says.

It's imperative right now to clean all the surfaces you touch every day. "We all know we have to disinfect areas like the bathrooms, light switches, and doorknobs, but we should also focus on not-so-obvious areas," Barraza says. Think about laptops, kitchen cabinet handles, toilet handles, sink faucets, remote controls, and desks (especially if you're working from home at the moment). Remember: Clean first, then disinfect. And for more surfaces that could use your attention, check out 15 Things in Your House Experts Say You Should Wipe Down Every Day.

Not all cleaners are made with the right ingredients. Audrey Sue, MD, internal medicine physician in Southern California, says to "be sure to check out this list of EPA-approved detergents, which meet criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19." And for more ways to keep your home safe, here are 15 Ways to Protect Yourself From Coronavirus at Home.

Whether you're using hand sanitizer or alcohol-based cleaners on your kitchen counter, you'll want to make sure the alcohol content is strong enough to kill germs. "Make sure they consist of at least 70 percent alcohol in order to be effective," advises Sue. You can tell by checking the back of the container.

Just because two types of cleaners are good on their own, it doesn't mean they're meant to be mixed together. "Some common household cleaning products when mixed together can become lethal, literally," explains former critical care nurse Robert Lambert, RN, founder and owner of Iatric Professional Cleaning Service. "These combinations can cause eye, nose, throat, and lung problems, nerve damage, and in some cases, explosives." For example, bleach mixed with ammonia can release chloramine vapors. So leave the mixing up to the chemists and just use that multi-surface cleaner you already know and love.

Right now, it can be easy to feel the need to go overboard with disinfecting surfaces for coronavirus. But this isn't necessarily a good thing, especially when it comes to bleach. "Using more bleach is not going to be better," says Lambert. "Bleach is a skin and eye irritant [and] can cause respiratory issues if [you're] breathing vapors in a poorly ventilated space." And for more cleaning products to be wary of, check out 15 Cleaning Products You Should Keep Far from Your Kids.

You might be used to reusing your gloves when you clean, but now's not the time for that. "Wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting and discard them immediately after," Barraza recommends.

You might be wearing mostly loungewear these days, but that shouldn't stop you from keeping up with your laundry. In addition to your usual loads, Barraza recommends disinfecting your hamper and washing its fabric lining if it has one. And for more on your clothes and COVID-19, check out Is Coronavirus on My Clothes? Experts Weigh In.

"Consider washing your sheets and towels more often than you normally do," Barraza says. Plus, you'll want to change hand towels daily.

The sanitize setting on your laundry machine is key. "The sanitize cycle is designed to reduce the amount of microorganisms on clothing, like germs and bacteria," explains Barraza.

Don't double dip, Lambert says. No, he isn't talking about chips and salsahe's referring to rags. "I am talking about wringing out a dirty cloth and using it again," he says. If you do this, you're introducing germs into your cleaner and then rubbing them onto new surfaces.

"This is especially true with the COVID-19 situation. Have a stack of clean clothspreferably microfibersubmerged into a bucket of solution," he says. Once you've used one, toss it into a laundry bag and repeat.

None of us clean our sponges as much as we should, but now is the time to change that. "You can kill the germs on your sponge by nuking it in the microwave for about a minute," says Natasha Bhuyan, MD, regional medical director at One Medical. Just be careful to soak the sponge in water first so it doesn't catch on fire in the microwave.

It's important to use your hands in addition to your eyes to make sure that you're cleaning things thoroughly. For example, Lambert says that some kitchen counters made with stone or granite can look deceivingly clean when they're not. "If you think you can 'see' that your counter is clean after scrubbing it, you may be fooling yourself," he says. So use your gloved hand to see if there's a spot you missed.

"There are many myths about household items that can be used against COVID-19 that are not accurate," explains Bhuyan. "Hand dryers, spraying chlorine on yourself, and using a UV disinfection lamp on your skin are not effective ways to kill coronavirus. They're also potentially unsafe for your health." So keep to the cleaners that are recommended by health professionals and the CDC instead.

"This may sound counterintuitive coming from a cleaning service owner, but don't lose your mind about cleaning while you're quarantined at home," says Jonathan Browne of Sparkle Clean Maids. "Being overly anxious has scientifically studied effects on your immune system. Cortisol, the stress hormone, causes your immune system to become dramatically more vulnerable to infection from viruses." So, yes, it's important to keep your home clean, but don't stresstoo much over making it absolutely perfect.

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How to Disinfect for Coronavirus in Your House, According to Experts - Best Life

With change and situations out of our control comes stress. It's a natural response during crisis, and the novel coronavirus pandemic is no different.

Adding a quick gratitude exercise to your day could help reduce stress, allowing your immune system to function at its best.

Image Credit: MundusImages/E+/GettyImages

As the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19 keep mounting, so do our anxieties. And unfortunately, stress can come with some serious consequences for the immune system.

"When we're chronically stressed, we stay in red-alert mode practically full time," Tanya Peterson, certified counselor and author of The 5-Minute Anxiety Relief Journal: A Creative Way to Stop Freaking Out, tells LIVESTRONG.com. "This harms our immune system by either weakening it so we are less effective at fighting off viruses or sending it into overdrive, potentially leading to serious autoimmune conditions."

The good news? A little bit of gratitude can go a long way in combatting the effects of stress.

Read on for more on the connection between stress and immunity and the five-minute gratitude practice that can help you recenter.

Psychological stress leads to high cortisol levels, which impairs the immune system's functions, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Cortisol, the hormone produced in response to stress, is released by the adrenal glands to manage acute stressors, explains Brandi Moore, NMD, a naturopathic physician with Reclaim Integrative Health in Scottsdale, Arizona.

"When used this way, it works to support immune function by decreasing inflammation," Moore says. "However, when a person is chronically stressed, cortisol can suppress the immune system, making them more susceptible to becoming sick."

Chronic stressors such as financial problems, caregiving or worries related to the current coronavirus pandemic can elicit a "threat response," according to the University of California. That response physiologically wears out our cells, making it more difficult for our bodies to recover.

Decreasing stress is the best way to lower cortisol and in turn bolster the immune system. Moore says one easy way to do this is by practicing gratitude.

Many studies agree. Practicing gratitude, which means acknowledging the goodness in life, was linked to significantly lowered levels of stress in an October 2018 study in Psychology, Health & Medicine.

A February 2019 study in Clinical Psychological Science also linked a positive mindset to a stronger immune system.

"When an individual practices gratitude, it shifts their perspective, giving them a more positive outlook on life and decreasing stress," Moore says.

You can change anxious thoughts to grateful thoughts, which pulls your attention away from whats wrong and onto whats right."

Image Credit: Leonardo De La Cuesta/Moment/GettyImages

Being grateful and having a positive outlook may be easier said than done, especially when you're feeling overwhelmed by stress.

"Thankfully, we're not at the mercy of our stress response but can actually control it," Peterson says. "Journaling is a powerful tool to help us intentionally slow our thoughts and change our perspective."

Moore also recommends journaling to her patients. It's a simple idea: Write down how you feel or what you're thinking. And to get the most out of it, have a clear goal in mind for why you're doing it.

"You can change anxious thoughts to grateful thoughts, which pulls your attention away from what's wrong and onto what's right," Peterson says. "When you journal, you not only rein in your racing thoughts but you guide them and develop new perspectives."

It's especially helpful to focus on the mind-body connection, she adds. "What happens to one manifests in the other," she says. "When your body is stiff and sore, what is often going on in your mind? How do your beliefs affect you physically?"

Read more stories to help you navigate the novel coronavirus pandemic:

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A Gratitude Exercise to Reduce Stress and Support Immunity - LIVESTRONG.COM

Thank you," "To Our Heroes" and "We Love You," read some of the signs. Hundreds of cars drove past Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Friday evening to give thanks to medical staff. Bridgewater Courier News

The coronavirus is causing fear, stress and anxiety for many, potentially preventing them from getting a good nights sleep.

Xue Ming, a professor of neurology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and a specialist in sleep disorders, said in a statement that sleep helps the immune system fight inflammation, infection and disease while producing proteins that are needed to recover from illness.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has increased anxiety, often fueled by reading news on screens, which is extending bedtimes, exposing people to blue light and keeping the adrenaline system up," Ming said. "Also, our daily routines have changed work and school hours are less structured, and people are sleeping in later than usual. Without strong discipline, a person could sleep later, following their biologic circadian rhythm, which is more than 24 hours."

Reduce stress:NJ mental health efforts, tips to combat stress during coronavirus crisis

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Making sure your child gets enough quality sleep is important for health and development.(Photo: PeopleImages, Getty Images)

Ming offered the following suggestions toavoidsleep disruption:

The earliest sign of depression is sleep disruption, Ming stated, and depression makes sleep fragmented even though some depressed persons sleep longer.

"Anti-depressants can further suppress the quality REM sleep," she said. "Sleep deprivation also can lead to irritability, hyper-reactivity and mood swings."

Among the supplements that help with insomnia include amino acids, such as glutamate, Ming stated, and they are involved in the production of GABA, a major sleep neurotransmitter.

Coronavirus tips: : How to handle groceries during the pandemic

When insomnia persists, Ming suggested herbal supplements, such as tryptophan, which also is an amino acid; melatonin or valerian root.

"A balanced diet rich in proteins ensures GABA synthesis," Ming said. "Vitamins and essential minerals are important to bodily functions that maintain sleep health. For example, vitamin B and D play important roles in biochemical pathways in the cells.

"Sleep aids should not be used frequently or long-term, however," she continued "Always seek the advice of your physician before using these sleep aids. For example, valerian root has been reported to cause liver damage in some people."

When sick, the body needs more sleep to increase immunity, Ming stated, and a natural defense mechanism adapts inflammation-induced sleep, which helps fight infection.

"If your sleep is disrupted by a chronic cough, use cough medicine at bedtime under a physicians guidance," Ming suggested.

Keeping a bedtime routine and regular sleep time can condition your body to fall and stay asleep, she stated.

About two hours before bedtime, Ming suggested dimming the lights; practicingmeditation, yoga and deep breathing; listen to light music; wear a visor or sunglasses if in a lighted environment,and wear earplugs if necessary.

"Do not drink caffeinated or hot beverages or take a shower as that can rev up your adrenaline system," she suggested. "Stop using any blue light-emitting device, which can affect your bodys production of melatonin, a sleep hormone. Avoid anything that prompts anxiety, such as an argument, watching horror movies, vigorous exercise, hot beverages or shower/bath, which are all counter-productive for falling and staying asleep.

Also avoid alcohol at bedtime. While alcohol can induce sleep, when the alcohol level drops a few hours later, your sleep becomes fragmented. Likewise, eating close to bedtime can lead to gastric reflux due to a full stomach, which can disrupt sleep."

Circadian rhythm dictates the optimal times for falling asleep effortlessly and can vary by age, Ming stated.

The best time for adults is to go to sleep is from 9 to 11 p.m. earlier if elderly and they should get seven to nine hours of sleep, she suggested. For older teens and young adults, the optimal time to go to sleep is between 10 p.m. to midnight and haveeight to 10 hours of sleep, she continued. For young children and those who are school age, a bedtime between 7 and 8 p.m. is optimal, with nine to 11 hours of sleep, she concluded.

Email: bmakin@gannettnj.com

Bob Makin covers Rutgers for MyCentralJersey.com and the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey. To get unlimited access to his informative and entertainingwork,please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

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COVID-19 has such a wide range of symptoms that you'd be hard-pressed to talk to two people who experienced the same exact thing.

COVID-19 looks different on everyone. It's not the flu; it's not the common cold. Unlike those viruses, the novel coronavirus doesn't come with a set of symptoms that show up in everyone. Some people experience a scratchy throat; some people experience shortness of breath. Some people get diarrhea and some lose their sense of smell. Most run a fever and experience debilitating fatigue.

Despite the breadth of symptoms, one thing is for certain: COVID-19 does not discriminate. People of all ages, backgrounds, social and economic classes, races, sexualities and origins can get this coronavirus -- here are the stories of some who have recovered, and not one is the same.

Keep track of the coronavirus pandemic.

These stories are not meant to scare you, but instead shine a light on what people are experiencing. I hope that these stories reveal how serious the coronavirus pandemic is -- that even the healthiest people are at risk -- and encourage you to follow your state's public health mandates and stay-at-home orders.

Olivia, who prefers to disclose only her first name, was studying abroad in Paris in late January. She flew back to the states on Sunday, March 15. The following Tuesday, she says she began to feel like she had a cold.

"I thought nothing of it and figured it was from the travel, since the only symptoms I had were congestion and a headache," Olivia tells CNET. "The next day I started feeling worse, but still hadn't shown any of the major signs of [the coronavirus] until I woke up at 3 a.m. Thursday morning and I was running a 100.2 fever."

Olivia's symptoms quickly progressed at that point, and she soon felt as if she had the flu: body aches, chills, extreme fatigue and a fever up to 102 degrees. At some point between the Tuesday when she first began to show symptoms and the following Thursday, Olivia also lost her sense of taste and smell, and thus lost her appetite.

She got tested on Saturday, March 21.

"I started to feel better over the next couple of days, my fever broke, and I was able to get up and move around and started to feel like myself," Olivia says, with the congestion and loss of taste and smell the only lingering symptoms.

"Now, just a little over two weeks since I started seeing symptoms, I consider myself to have completely recovered," she says. "I remained quarantined the entirety of my two weeks being sick and maintained limited contact with my family as well."

Looking back, Lauren Rowello, a freelance writer, says the first sign was minor coughing in her children. Her youngest had one day of fever, but nothing seemed serious.

"I vaguely remember my spouse also coughing and not feeling great, but that seems like so long ago," Rowello tells CNET. "We're in New Jersey. My spouse commutes a few times per week to NYC and travels throughout the US for work as well," she says, adding that her spouse is likely patient zero for their family.

Rowello didn't realize she had COVID-19 until a minor cough progressed to bronchitis and eventually led to pneumonia. Her cough turned into hacking and wheezing -- she was spitting up mucus and experiencing shortness of breath. This all happened within a matter of days.

Because the difference between bronchitis and pneumonia can sometimes be tricky to spot, Rowello had to get a chest x-ray.

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"I should have followed the trail of symptoms and illness through my house, but I didn't expect any of it to be a big deal -- especially since everyone else dealt with it so easily," Rowello says. "The severity of my symptoms seemed to come out of nowhere and progressed so fast that I didn't have much time to react to them."

Rowello's doctor put her on steroids to treat the inflammation and counteract her overwhelming immune response. She was also put on multiple medications for breathing assistance. Three weeks later, she's still coughing -- although infrequently -- and dealing with fatigue.

"I'm mostly back to normal -- working, cooking and doing some child-rearing again -- but I'm constantly exhausted and still dealing with some breathing issues," she says. "I'm still taking multiple medications to assist with that."

Dr. Tracy Gapin, a board-certified urologist and mens' health specialist, is still not feeling 100% himself four weeks after he first developed coronavirus symptoms.

One Friday night in early March, Dr. Gapin was at home watching TV with his wife. Out of nowhere, he suddenly developed "shaking chills." His skin began to hurt and he was running a fever of 100.

Luckily for Dr. Gapin, those were the worst of his symptoms. Prior to breaking out in chills, he experienced night sweats a couple of times, which he thinks may be related. At the time, though, he didn't pay it any mind because he felt fine otherwise.

He ran a fever for only one day and had no respiratory symptoms whatsoever -- no coughing, no wheezing, no mucus gunkiness in the chest.

Now playing: Watch this: Keep in touch with loved ones while keeping your distance

1:32

Since that Friday night with the chills, Dr. Gapin says he's been dealing with a particularly intense, persistent fatigue. "This isn't simply being tired," he says, "but it's a dense brain fog that has really limited my cognitive function I've had to take multiple naps on some days to get through the day."

Still, he feels fortunate that his symptoms were mild overall.

Dr. Gapin believes that everything he practiced before the coronavirus outbreak, and everything he preaches to his patients, is actually what saved his life -- that his habit of optimizing immunity prevented his case of COVID-19 from progressing to severity or fatality.

"Every aspect of my health was really a big part in my getting over this virus," he says. "Immune optimization, hormone health, nutrition, fitness -- all of it is important."

Interestingly, Dr. Gapin notes, his wife, two children and 70-year-old mother-in-law -- all of whom he was around before developing symptoms -- had no signs of the coronavirus. Gapin says he assumes they are all asymptomatic carriers, a stark reminder that anyone can have COVID-19 and not even know it.

Many people who have had COVID-19 and recovered are sharing their stories online. People share for different reasons -- to enlighten the public about what it's like to have coronavirus, to explain that everyone is at risk for the virus, to encourage people to stay home. Here's a collection of stories about the coronavirus that recovered patients have shared online. Interpret them how you will.

Though the medical community says that the coronavirus generally causes more severe illness among elderly and immunocompromised folks, a 22-year-old woman shared her harrowing experience with contracting coronavirus.

While people with compromised immune systems are at great risk of contracting the coronavirus, young people who are otherwise healthy can and have been infected. This 31-year-old reporter shares his experience with it.

Anyone can be infected and the symptoms can be harsh even if you are otherwise totally healthy, as this historian shared on Twitter.

Chris Cuomo, CNN host and the brother of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, contracted the coronavirus and shared his experience.

This virus is protean in nature, Dr. Michael Hall, a physician who has formed a working relief group with World Health Organization colleagues and Third Wave Volunteers to fight the coronavirus in the southern US states and Caribbean, tells CNET.

"It displays in each individual a myriad of signs and symptoms," Dr. Hall explains. "It's very stealthy and takes two to 14 days after exposure to display signs of infection." The early signs are "quite profound and very pathologic," he says, noting that anosmia -- loss of smell -- is apparently very common.

Other signs of infection can include nasal congestion and headaches, which may be mild to severe in nature. A cough -- typically dry, like a tickle in the throat -- and fever are also common, Hall says. Gastrointestinal upset, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, is on the symptom list, too.

Dr. Hall, who's treated patients with COVID-19, says the duration of illness seems to be rather long, and at some point, many people develop a feeling of "lung burn." He equates this to what you might feel when breathing at a very high altitude.

COVID-19, in short, is tricky -- advice, guidelines and public health mandates keep changing and are expected to continue changing.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Here is the original post:
What it's like to have the coronavirus, according to people who've recovered - CNET

Newswise The constant barrage of news about the global coronavirus pandemic is causing fear, stress and anxiety for many during waking hours and preventing them from getting a good nights sleep.

Xue Ming, a professor of neurology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, and a specialist in sleep disorders, talks about how COVID-19 is bringing new challenges to sleep cycles, how sleep helps the immune system fight inflammation, infection and disease while producing proteins that are needed to recover from illness, and what can be done to get on the right track to a healthy sleep routine.

How have the pandemic and social isolation brought new challenges to sleep?

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased anxiety, often fueled by reading news on screens, which is extending bedtimes, exposing people to blue light and keeping the adrenaline system up. Also, our daily routines have changed work and school hours are less structured and people are sleeping in later than usual. Without strong discipline, a person could sleep later, following their biologic circadian rhythm, which is more than 24 hours.

What are some tips for avoiding sleep disruption?

Schedule an anxiety and worry time. For example, in the morning make a list of anxiety-provoking thoughts, such as job insecurity, health and education. Then, put this list away and out of your bedroom. Keep the same lights-out time, whether you have to get up at certain time or not. Nightshift workers should expose themselves to bright light to keep awake while working and then wear sunglasses when returning home in the morning and take melatonin if falling asleep is an issue.

How can sleep affect your mood?

The earliest sign of depression is sleep disruption. Depression makes sleep fragmented even though some depressed persons sleep longer. Anti-depressants can further suppress the quality REM sleep. Sleep deprivation also can lead to irritability, hyper-reactivity and mood swings.

Are there supplements people with insomnia can take?

Amino acids, such as glutamate, are involved in the production of GABA, a major sleep neurotransmitter. A balanced diet rich in proteins ensures GABA synthesis. Vitamins and essential minerals are important to bodily functions that maintain sleep health. For example, vitamin B and D play important roles in biochemical pathways in the cells. When insomnia persists, you can try herbal supplements, such as tryptophan (an amino acid), melatonin (13 mg) or valerian root. These sleep aids should not be used frequently or long-term, however. Always seek the advice of your physician before using these sleep aids. For example, valerian root has been reported to cause liver damage in some people.

If you get sick, how should you change your sleep routine?

When you are sick, your body needs more sleep to increase immunity. Our natural defense mechanism adapts inflammation-induced sleep, which helps us fight infection. If your sleep is disrupted by a chronic cough, use cough medicine at bedtime under a physicians guidance.

Remind us what good sleep hygiene means.

Keeping a bedtime routine and regular sleep time can condition your body to fall and stay asleep. Start about two hours before bedtime: dim the lights; practice meditation, yoga and deep breathing; listen to light music; wear a visor or sunglasses if you have to be in a lighted environment; and wear earplugs if necessary.

Do not drink caffeinated or hot beverages or take a shower as that can rev up your adrenaline system. Stop using any blue lightemitting device, which can affect your bodys production of melatonin, a sleep hormone. Avoid anything that prompts anxiety, such as an argument, watching horror movies, vigorous exercise, hot beverages or shower/bath, which are all counter-productive for falling and staying asleep. Also avoid alcohol at bedtime. While alcohol can induce sleep, when the alcohol level drops a few hours later, your sleep becomes fragmented. Likewise, eating close to bedtime can lead to gastric reflux due to a full stomach, which can disrupt sleep.

Are there optimal times for people to fall asleep? A persons circadian rhythm dictates the optimal times for falling asleep effortlessly. This can vary by age. The best time for adults is to go to sleep is from 9 to 11 p.m. earlier if elderly and they should get seven to nine hours of sleep. For older teens and young adults, the optimal time to go to sleep is between 10 p.m. to midnight and have eight to 10 hours of sleep. For young children and those who are school age, a bedtime between 7 and 8 p.m. is optimal, with nine to 11 hours of sleep.

The rest is here:
How to Sleep Healthy During the Pandemic - Newswise

Sleep: The most underrated antioxidant

07-Apr-2020 New Delhi

Posted 03 Apr 2020

Have you ever wondered what is the importance of day and night, what is the role of sleep, how do we set a good circadian rhythm? Well all this revolves around the hormone melatonin!!

Setting up the circadian rhythm helps in production of good amounts of melatonin hormone. Melatonin does help in reducing the pigmentation, anti-ageing and also reduces hair fall so on and so forth.

Dr. Pallavi Sule, Dermatologist and Aesthetic Physician, starts by first explaining the meaning of Melatonin: "Melatonin is a hormone primarily secreted by the pineal gland which is known to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. Usually it is consumed in the form of tablets to help people in jet lag, shift works by regulating the circadian cycle as a short term treatment for trouble in sleeping".

She explains:

How does melatonin get secreted?

The pineal gland is sensitive to light. When it is dark the body secretes more melatonin and prepares the body to sleep and when it is day/ light (artificial lights) the production of melatonin decreases. Low levels of the hormone give brain signals to stay awake.

So what's new about this hormone and why is it studied in more detail than before?

Sule said: "Melatonin is also known for its antioxidant benefits!! We all are living in a very stressful environment, be it the external or internal stressors like pollution, food consumed (adulteration), solar radiation, sleep patterns, work environments and so forth!! Any kind of stress releases free oxygen radicals in the body, which damages our DNA, causing degenerative diseases and autoimmune diseases. Oxidative damage also leads to aging and hair fall which we know is one of the major causes.Melatonin hormone serves as a potent antioxidant, presumptive anti aging substance and anti cancer agent."

Let's understand how sleeping according to the body clock helps our body in general health and well being!

Sule further elaborates on this imperative subject adding, "Maintaining good sleep hygiene and a good sleep quality has many advantages. The sleep wake cycle governs two hormones- Cortisol and Melatonin."

Release of Human Growth Hormone: Experts estimate that 75 per cent of this hormone is released during sleep. It is released in the Stage 3 of sleep cycle which is usually 1-1.5 hrs after one falls asleep. Sleep deprivation or altered cycles affects the release of this hormone. In children it will affect the growth and health.

Sleep and its relation with Liver: There is a great relationship between sleep cycles and liver functions. Scientific studies suggest that most patients with advanced liver diseases have disturbed sleep patterns. The liver has its own clock for detoxification and regulation of hormones. Disturbed sleep results in raised cortisol levels (stress levels) and vice versa. This hampers the regulation of hormones by the liver. Here, now the liver is overworked and cortisol levels in the body are high during daytime. This circulating cortisol hampers the liver's regulations of melatonin and so the melatonin hormone levels are also high during daytime. Resulting in day time fatigue and drowsiness, and night time alertness.

Lastly, how can we increase melatonin levels?

"Many formulations are available in the market in the form of tablets and gels for topical application. But we must not forget the most important factor in production of the right amount of melatonin hormone in the body is sleep." IANS

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Sleep The most underrated antioxidant - The Weekend Leader

Many readers of the Post must be taking angiotension receptor blockers (ARBs) for high blood pressure. As products these are tagged with names ending in -sartan. My personal poison is candesartan, but theres a losartan, a valsartan and many others. Well call them sartans here to cut down on the acronyms.

In my column for Saturdays paper I gave a whimsical overview of hypothetical treatments for COVID-19, and I forgot to so much as mention the sartans. Strange error for me to make. But it could be because these drugs have undergone a strange swing in reputation in the COVID era.

For a few weeks physicians and researchers studying COVID and the nasty little cuss that causes it, SARS-CoV-2, were nervous about the sartans (and their older cousins, the ACE inhibitors). It had quickly become apparent that SARS-CoV-2, like the classic SARS virus Canadians know too well, uses the natural enzyme ACE2 to penetrate cell walls in the lung and possibly other organs.

ACE2 is angiotensin converting enzyme 2. It is part of the fiendishly complicated renin-angiotensin hormone system that the kidney uses to tell the rest of the body to send it enough blood to do its job. This is the same system that the sartans fool with to lower your blood pressure, so there was an immediate question of interaction between the drug, the enzyme and the virus that exploits the enzyme.

Sartans increase ACE2 expression: they upregulate it, in the language of pharmacologists. This sounds bad if youre frightened of a virus that uses ACE2 opportunistically to turn your lungs into hamburger. It sounded bad to enough family doctors that medical authorities had to put out advisories telling them not to run wild and start switching their high blood pressure patients away from sartans.

This now seems like a good call, because the latest thinking subject to change at any moment, no doubt is that sartans might actually help fend off the virus. Original SARS was shown in mice to actually downregulate or reduce ACE2 while exploiting it; this caused high blood pressure and lung failure, making the virus more or less the opposite of a sartan. Taking sartans actually appears to give you more ACE2 receptors, and that is, paradoxically, what you might want. Rather than increasing the attack surface for the virus, it gives you more receptors to spare so that the system keeps working.

Well, there are about two dozen people on Earth who understand this stuff and Im not one of them. But the concept seems credible to those who studied original SARS closely. They even thought about using sartans as a treatment for SARS when there still seemed some danger it would run amuck, as SARS-2 is doing.

Pictured taken March 26, 2020. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez

This is all theory (an untested mechanistic hypothesis, grumble the Olympian deities of evidence-based medicine), but it has found some empirical support. As the COVID virus was executing its cavalry charge through the city of Wuhan and Hubei province, a group of Chinese doctors were retrospectively studying the medication histories of persons who had both COVID and chronic high blood pressure. They wanted to check whether sartans and other pills for hypertension were bad. In their data, sartans came out looking very good, with users having significantly lower odds of developing severe COVID. It is an effect strong enough to have shown up in a fairly small universe of 511 patients.

I am not promising that the sartans will save us, but if you are a fellow user, you can feel slightly more comfortable about having to take em

It could still be due to chance, and Im sure none of you are keen on trusting that two and two make four if someone in mainland China says so. But doctors in other countries are now working on replicating the Chinese effort in a similar way, and in countries with state-provided medicare and good electronic records, signs of sartan protection (or harm) could be sought, very quickly, at the level of whole national populations. (I know it sounds as though Ive described Canada in that sentence, but forget that: we are a shambles. Think Denmark.) I am not promising that the sartans will save us, but if you are a fellow user, you can feel slightly more comfortable about having to take em.

National Post

Twitter.com/ColbyCosh

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Colby Cosh on COVID-19: Sartans at Thermopylae? Blood pressure meds vs. the coronavirus - News Lagoon

5 months after its launch within the U.S., Disney+ has made its debut in India. Content material from the streaming service has been built-in into Disney-owned Hotstars library, and that is a sensible transfer as a result of Hotstar already has over 300 million customers within the nation.

Disney+ is binging its authentic reveals like The Mandalorian, and providing titles from your complete Star Wars franchise, Pixar and Marvel content material, and a lot extra. Many of the Disney+ content material is obtainable in regional languages, with customers in a position to stream in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil.

This is every thing you should learn about Disney+ Hotstar in India.

With the combination of Disney+ content material, Hotstar has been rebranded to Disney+ Hotstar. Theres a free tier that features adverts, and two paid plans. The Disney+ Hotstar VIP plan prices 399 ($5.30) a yr, and it contains entry to chose TV sequence and flicks from Disneys again catalog together with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Lion King, Mickey Mouse, Doraemon, and extra in a number of Indian languages.

Finest on-line studying instruments for teenagers: ABCmouse, Studying IQ, & extra

The Disney+ Hotstar VIP plan additionally contains entry to all main sporting occasions, together with cricket, soccer, Components 1, and extra. This plan used to value 365 ($2.85), and the minor enhance in value is nicely price entry to all the brand new Disney content material.

If you wish to stream Disney+ originals and entry worldwide TV reveals from the likes of HBO, Showtime, and Fox, you may wish to subscribe to Disney+ Hotstar Premium. This plan helps you to stream reveals like The Mandalorian, your complete Star Wars franchise, and a lot extra. You additionally get limitless entry to all of Hotstars sporting content material.

Disney+ Hotstar Premium prices 1,499 ($20) a yr, a rise of 500 ($7.75) from Hotstars earlier premium plan. What which means is that you simplyre principally paying simply 500 a yr for Disney+ content material in India. And no, in the event youre questioning, there isnt a method to simply subscribe to Disney+ content material on Hotstar.

Like Hotstars earlier plans, you solely get to stream premium content material on one machine at a time. That is the trade-off for the low annual price, so if you should stream reveals on a couple of machine, you may should arrange one other account. This limitation is just for content material that is tagged premium; different TV reveals and flicks may be streamed on two gadgets directly.

Should you paid for Hotstars VIP or Premium plans, youll be upgraded to the Disney+ plans at no additional value all through your membership. Youll have to pay the up to date charge when you renew your subscription. So in the event youre on the Premium tier, it is possible for you to to entry all of Disney+ originals till your subscription runs out. To resume, youll have to shell out 1,499 as an alternative of 999.

The Hotstar UI hasnt modified a lot, however theres now a devoted Disney+ part that hosts all of the Disney content material. Just like the Disney+ app in different areas, its damaged down into 5 classes: Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and Nationwide Geographic. The category-wise breakdown makes it simple to seek out your favourite TV reveals and flicks.

Again when Disney+ launched, it made a giant deal about providing The Simpsons, the primary time the present was accessible on a streaming service. Nevertheless, the present will not be accessible in India. I additionally could not discover X-Males: The Animated Collection, and flicks from the again catalog, together with The BFG, The Sound of Music, and so forth.

For now, the notable omission is The Simpsons. However theres lots of content material accessible to stream on Disney+ in India, and this is a brief listing of the very best TV reveals and flicks accessible proper now:

No. Hotstar remains to be restricted to 1080p content material, and there isnt any Dolby audio right here both. The bitrate hasnt modified, and I measured a median of three.5Mbps at 1080p. For some context, most Netflix reveals at 1080p have greater than double that bitrate, and I often see a bitrate of seven.5Mbps to 10Mbit.

After all, Disney+ content material within the U.S. is obtainable in 4K, and once I examined the service over there, I acquired a bitrate of 17Mbps to 20Mbps. Having mentioned that, you are basically paying a tenth of what Disney+ prices in different markets, so it is not too dangerous a trade-off.

That is simply the beginning of Disney+ in India, and we should always see much more from the service within the coming months and years. Disney mechanically gained entry to an enormous userbase by integrating its catalog inside Hotstar, and that solidifies the rebranded Disney+ Hotstar as the very best streaming platform in India.

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Disney+ is now live on India's Hotstar: Everything you need to know - Best gaming pro

Newtown Apr 2, 2020 (Thomson StreetEvents) -- Edited Transcript of Onconova Therapeutics Inc earnings conference call or presentation Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 8:30:00pm GMT

* Abraham N. Oler

Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. - VP of Corporate Development & General Counsel

Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. - CFO

Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. - Chief Medical Officer and Senior VP of Research & Development

* Steven M. Fruchtman

Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. - CEO, President & Director

Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd., Research Division - MD of Healthcare Research & Senior Biotechnology Analyst

H.C. Wainwright & Co, LLC, Research Division - MD of Equity Research & Senior Healthcare Analyst

Good afternoon, and welcome to Onconova Therapeutics Corporate Update and Full Year 2019 Financial Results Conference Call. (Operator Instructions) As a reminder, this call may be recorded.

At this time, I would like to turn the call over to Avi Oler, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and General Counsel.

Abraham N. Oler, Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. - VP of Corporate Development & General Counsel [2]

Thank you, operator. Good afternoon, and welcome to Onconova's fourth quarter and full year 2019 corporate update and financial results conference call. Earlier this afternoon, we issued a press release outlining our financial results and business progress during the year. If you have not seen this press release, it is available on the Investor Relations page of our website at http://www.onconova.com.

On today's call, Dr. Steve Fruchtman, President and CEO, will discuss the company's recent highlights and anticipated clinical and business milestones. After Steve completes his opening remarks, Mark Guerin, our CFO, will review our 2019 financial results. Following Mark's report, we will move to the Q&A portion of the call, which will be joined by Dr. Rick Woodman, our Chief Medical Officer. Lastly, Steve will come back with some final brief comments and a review of upcoming milestones.

Before we begin, I'll remind everyone that statements made today during this conference call will include forward-looking statements under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made as the underlying facts and circumstances may change. Except as required by law, Onconova disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future information, events or circumstances. Please see the forward-looking statements disclaimer in the press release issued this afternoon and the risk factors in the company's current and future filings with the SEC.

With that, I'll turn the call over to Steve.

Thank you, Avi. Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for joining today's call. I would like to apologize for the delay in initiating the call. There were some technical factors from the operating system that really was out of our control. I also hope all of you are safe and practicing the guidelines as per our CDC. As you know, this is a very serious pandemic. So obviously, please take good care.

2019 and early this year represented a period of significant advancement in Onconova, highlighted by our recently completed enrollment of the pivotal Phase III INSPIRE trial in higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes. With planned INSPIRE enrollment now complete, we await the reporting of 288 survival events before releasing top line survival data. As disclosed earlier this afternoon, we expect top line survival data to be available during the second half of 2020.

Survival events INSPIRE trial are occurring at a slower rate than anticipated from historical published data. The reporting of this data set is expected in the second half of this year. This is our best estimate at this time, however, the impact of the evolving situation with COVID-19 is not known.

As you recall, the INSPIRE trial is an open-label, randomized, controlled international study designed to determine the efficacy, safety and tolerability of single agent intravenous rigosertib in the treatment of patients with second-line higher-risk MDS. Patients in this study are less than 82 years of age and have progressed on, relapsed or failed to respond to previous treatment of methylating agent therapy. The study randomizes patients to receive either rigosertib with best supportive care or the physician's choice of therapy with best supportive care. The primary endpoint of this study is overall survival of all randomized patients in the intent-to-treat population.

There is a second opportunity for an FDA approval, which is the sequential analysis of the overall survival of the very high-risk subgroup as defined by the revised International Prognostic Scoring System. Should rigosertib prolong survival in the INSPIRE trial in a statistically significant manner, we believe rigosertib could be the first new treatment for higher-risk MDS in more than 15 years.

In addition to the INSPIRE trial, we are preparing for a pivotal Phase II/III combination trial of oral rigosertib and azacitidine for the treatment of adult patients, which [aid the risk] HMA-naive, high-risk MDS. We received feedback from the FDA in 2019 and are preparing a Phase II/III protocol. We anticipate this study will begin later this year in conjunction with the data readout from the INSPIRE study.

At the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in December 2019, Onconova presented a number of abstracts highlighting our development programs for both intravenous and oral rigosertib. The genomic data from the INSPIRE trial identifies the most common mutations in high-risk MDS following azacitidine failure, including those of the RAS pathway that are targeted by rigosertib. We believe the Phase II data of oral rigosertib in combination with azacitidine forms a foundation of a future adaptive trial in HMA-naive, high-risk MDS patients. We appreciate the recognition by ASH expert reviewers designate this data to be of such value that it was given an oral presentation at ASH.

As presented at ASH, a Phase II combination of oral rigosertib and azacitidine showed an overall response rate of 90%, 9-0, and a complete response rate of 34%. Complete response or CR, by definition, signifies the patient has a normal-appearing bone marrow and the bone marrow produces a normal peripheral blood count. Thus, these patients who are typically transfusion-dependent are rendered transfusion independent, which clearly offers great clinical benefit. The median duration of response is 12.2 months. The company believes this data support the design of a planned Phase II/III adaptive trial in HMA-naive high-risk MDS patients.

We have also made important progress with additional pipeline programs as well. Beyond rigosertib's focus in MDS, we are pleased about our other pipeline progress. And in particular, the progress of our plans to study rigosertib in RAS-driven cancers, including a study in KRAS-mutated lung adenocarcinoma. We anticipate the first patient to be entered onto the trial once the COVID-19 environment improves sufficiently. While a checkpoint inhibitors represent a significant advancement in the standard of care in treating lung cancer, tremendous unmet medical need remains. In our view, making our novel combination approach, which now will target RAS, of great interest to pursue.

ON123300 is our investigational first-in-class dual inhibitor of CDK4/6 and ARK5, which we believe has the potential to treat numerous cancers, including refractory metastatic breast cancer where CDK4/6 inhibitors have helped authority approval. As a reminder, we entered into a license agreement with HanX Biopharmaceuticals for ON123300 in December of 2017, under which HanX will provide all funding required for Chinese IND-enabling studies performed for Chinese health authority IND approval. We and HanX also intend for these studies to comply with FDA standards. The IND was approved in January of 2020 by the Chinese health authority. The manufacturer for ON123300 has been identified already and qualified. We plan to file a U.S. IND to ON123300 in the fourth quarter of 2020 after obtaining the required manufacturing data for the aspirant.

For those who are not familiar with the field, CDK inhibitors have emerged as promising compounds targeting very large indications such as hormone receptor positive metastatic breast cancer. The current generation of commercially-approved CDK inhibitors has limitations. Due to its unique targeting of ARK5 as well as CDK4 and 6, we believe ON123300 has the potential to overcome many of these limitations, making our drug candidate potentially suitable for certain cancers that may not be responsive to the current generation of CDK4/6 inhibitors. If successful, we believe ON123300 could address this very large market opportunity with a potentially better therapeutic. We maintain global rights to ON123300 outside of China.

The fourth quarter of 2019 and early 2020 was productive on the business development front as well. We executed a license agreement for rigosertib for Canada with Knight Therapeutics, we executed a license agreement for rigosertib for Australia and New Zealand with Specialised Therapeutics, we reacquired the rights to rigosertib in Greater China from HanX Biopharmaceuticals and we entered into a pre-approval access collaboration with Inceptua Medicines for rigosertib in select countries outside of the United States.

As a reminder, Onconova retains the rights in the United States, Europe and China for rigosertib, and we look forward to further business development opportunities.

And now I'd like to turn the call over to Mark Guerin, our Chief Financial Officer, for a discussion of our financial results for fourth quarter 2019. Mark, please?

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Mark Patrick Guerin, Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. - CFO [4]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks, Steve, and good afternoon, everyone. Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2019, totaled $22.7 million compared to $17 million as of December 31, 2018. Besides the $9 million of net proceeds from the financing we closed in early 2020, common stock warrant exercises since December 31, 2019, have added $5.7 million to the company's cash balance, resulting in a cash balance at February 29, 2020, of approximately $32.6 million. Based on our current projections, we expect that our cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund ongoing trials and operations into the third quarter of 2021.

Our net loss was $21.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $20.4 million for the comparable period in 2018. Research and development expenses were $15.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, and $16.9 million for the comparable period in 2018.

General and administrative expenses were $8.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 and $7.6 million for the comparable period in 2018. We continue to manage our resources carefully while maintaining our primary focus on completing the INSPIRE trial.

This completes my financial review. I'll now turn the call back to Steve.

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Steven M. Fruchtman, Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. - CEO, President & Director [5]

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Thank you so much, Mark. With that, we'd like to open the call for questions. After the Q&A, I'll finish with some closing comments.

Because of COVID-19, the Onconova office is closed. So to make this as expeditious as possible, when a question is asked, I will -- we're all in our home offices, so I will ask our internal expert to answer your question.

So operator, please go forward.

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Questions and Answers

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Operator [1]

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(Operator Instructions) Our first question comes from Dr. Joe Pantginis with H.C. Wainwright.

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Joseph Pantginis, H.C. Wainwright & Co, LLC, Research Division - MD of Equity Research & Senior Healthcare Analyst [2]

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Hope you're all well and hope you all stay well. A few questions, if you don't mind. First, on INSPIRE. Steve, I want to merge 2 of your prepared comments. Obviously, as you said, that nothing is new in 15 years, especially in the advanced population. And then you had your comment that based on observations for unblinded data, it appears to have a slower rate of events versus historical controls. So I'd like to approach that from a devil's advocate perspective. Obviously, all of us want to hope that it's due to the presence of rigosertib. So I guess from a devil's advocate perspective, what do you believe could also be impacting that? Obviously, beyond the placebo group or the control group acting better than expected, but no changes in therapeutic regimens, et cetera. So I'm just curious what your thoughts might be.

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Steven M. Fruchtman, Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. - CEO, President & Director [3]

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So Joe, thank you for that question. I will ask our expert devil's advocate, Dr. Rick Woodman, to answer your question. Rick?

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Richard Charles Woodman, Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. - Chief Medical Officer and Senior VP of Research & Development [4]

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Thank you, Steve, for that illustrious introduction. So thank you for the question, Joe. I think we have to keep in mind that the historical data regarding survival was collected well over 12 years ago and was not really collected in a randomized controlled trial. I think one of the potential factors that could be contributing to the event rate not being what we historically anticipated is improved supportive care that's occurred since that time the original azacitidine studies were done and survival was captured. I think that at this point in time, we do not see any impact of COVID on the survival events. But obviously, this is something we're monitoring through our safety reporting process, and we will continue to go forward with that, looking very carefully on a regular basis at the event rates.

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Joseph Pantginis, H.C. Wainwright & Co, LLC, Research Division - MD of Equity Research & Senior Healthcare Analyst [5]

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Very, very helpful. And then I'll put 2 in here at the same time. With regard to the news flow around INSPIRE, based on your goal of hitting a medical conference later this year, I guess, presumably ASH, if the data -- or if you hit the events ahead of time, would you anticipate just putting out a more simplistic press release that the -- maybe the primary had been met and then hold the data until ASH? And then secondly, based on the relatively late addition of additional geographies enrolling sites like in Brazil, are you looking at any potential over enrollment?

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Steven M. Fruchtman, Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. - CEO, President & Director [6]

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So I'll take the first one first, Joe, if I may. So regarding release of information, if -- it looks like it's aligned and ideally, we will present the survival data at ASH. Clearly, if we have the data prior to ASH, we will be in discussions with ASH to inform them of our need based on SEC guidance that the data needs to be released to the Street, and we will do that in a timely fashion via a press release of some sort. And at the same time, make sure we inform ASH that the data will be released and yet ASH will permit us to present the data at that medical conference. And I think you had a second question, Joe, that I'll ask Rick to take.

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Richard Charles Woodman, Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. - Chief Medical Officer and Senior VP of Research & Development [7]

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Yes. Thank you, Joe. Your question was regarding over enrollment in INSPIRE now that we've reached 360. The current industry practice for sponsors is that patients who have consented to the study prior to achieving planned enrollment be given the opportunity to be screened and considered the study for participation. We are doing that. We are obviously following closely health authority guidelines such as the FDA's as well as national guidelines. None of those guidelines have yet said that over enrollment with screened patients is not possible. So I anticipate there may be a few patients that would still come into the study.

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Joseph Pantginis, H.C. Wainwright & Co, LLC, Research Division - MD of Equity Research & Senior Healthcare Analyst [8]

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Got it. And my last question. Obviously, you had some BD developments as well with regard to China rights to rigosertib from HanX, but you're obviously still dealing with that company for 123300, which is a mouthful. You got to get a better name. But the -- just curious how things might be going and potentially relicensing in China and beyond.

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Steven M. Fruchtman, Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. - CEO, President & Director [9]

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Thanks, Joe. Avi, can you take that, please?

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Abraham N. Oler, Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. - VP of Corporate Development & General Counsel [10]

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Sure. Thanks for the question, Joe. And you're right. We have an existing program with HanX Biopharmaceuticals, but the program with rigosertib is now -- China rights are available. So that means the largest markets in the world outside of Japan and in China, Europe and the United States, Onconova maintains all those rights. And now we've licensed rights in the fourth quarter, as Steve mentioned, to partners in Canada and in Australia and New Zealand. Those territories very much remain available. And as we complete enrollment here and as we approach data, we believe it's going to be an exciting time for Onconova on various fronts, including business development.

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Operator [11]

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Our next question comes from Dr. Ahu Demir with NOBLE Capital.

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Ahu Demir, NOBLE Capital Markets, Inc., Research Division - Biotechnology Research Analyst [12]

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Nice to hear everyone's voice, and I hope you're safe and you all stay safe. So my first question, first of all, congratulations. We needed some good news. Congrats on the completion of enrollment. So since you're expecting data in the second half, do we expect any genomic, any other types of data that will be press released or presented at the conference prior to the top line data?

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Steven M. Fruchtman, Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. - CEO, President & Director [13]

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Rick, please?

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Richard Charles Woodman, Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. - Chief Medical Officer and Senior VP of Research & Development [14]

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Read more:
Edited Transcript of ONTX earnings conference call or presentation 24-Mar-20 8:30pm GMT - Yahoo Finance

Have you ever wondered what is the importance of day and night, what is the role of sleep, how do we set a good circadian rhythm?? Well all this revolves around the hormone Melatonin!!Setting up the circadian rhythm helps in production of good amounts of melatonin hormone. Melatonin does help in reducing the pigmentation, anti ageing and also reduces hair fall so on and so forth..Dr. Pallavi Sule, Mumbai based Dermatologist and Aesthetic Physician starts by first explaining the meaning of Melatonin, HOW DOES MELATONIN GET SECRETED?

So what's new about this hormone and why is it studied in more detail than before??

Dr. Pallavi Sule, explains, "Melatonin is also known for its antioxidant benefits!! We all are living in a very stressful environment, be it the external or internal stressors like pollution, food consumed (adulteration), solar radiation, sleep patterns, work environments and so forth!! Any kind of stress releases free oxygen radicals in the body, which damages our DNA, causing degenerative diseases and autoimmune diseases. Melatonin hormone serves as a potent antioxidant, presumptive anti aging substance and anti cancer agent."

Dr. Sule further elaborates on this imperative subject saying, "

Go here to see the original:
Sleep is the most underrated antioxidant - Times of India

Komen is providing breast cancer patients with transportation, food delivery and other resources to meet critical needs during the stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Mike DeWine.

One of Downtowns most visible, crowd-drawing events is on the postponed list. But the needs of the cancer patients it serves are not.

Citing concerns for the health and safety of participants, supporters and staff, Susan G. Komen Columbus recently decided to postpone the 2020 Komen Columbus Race for the Cure scheduled for May 16. The event is the largest Race for the Cure in the United States. Last year it drew more than 21,000 participants.

With its primary fundraiser on hold, Komen still tends to the real-time needs of people living with breast cancer. Were hoping we can still see pink. We have a vision for an actual race, says Julie McMahon, Komen Columbus interim executive director. But our primary mission is to help women today.

McMahon says Komen still provides transportation, food delivery and other resources to meet critical needs during the stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Mike DeWine. It is launching programs to provide special support to immunosuppressed patients so their treatment isnt disrupted, using sources like Uber Health for transportation and Amazon delivery for food.

Komen Columbus is hosting virtual support groups and wellness activities such as yoga and coping skills education, and its Facebook page livestreams content as well. This is only made possible by our tens of thousands of supporters here in Central Ohio. Our partners and sponsors have been amazing, McMahon says.

The Komen website details information on its response to the pandemic.

The organization is helping breast cancer patients grapple with unanswered questions, such as whether their treatment protocol makes them especially vulnerable at this time. For example, McMahon says, most hormone therapy does not cause immunosuppression, while most chemotherapy does. Its also talking with clients about whether treatment can be paused or delayed. For people about to start treatment, this is especially scary, she says.

She says the information provided by Komen is by no means medical advice but offers general guidance about questions that may be on patients minds or things to consider. Of course, you consult with your physician on your personal treatment.

Komen is guiding women on postponing routine screening mammograms so those resources can be targeted directly toward patients now undergoing treatment.

The re-allocation of resources now required during a world pandemic has immediate consequences for patients who are relying on clinical trials to give them hope. Research is affected, and many clinical trials are at a halt for women with no remaining options, McMahon says. We pray for them, and we pray with them.

Last years local Race for the Cure raised more than $1.3 million last yearwhich represents about 80 percent of the organization's annual budget. It uses the funds for education, screening and research. Money also is used for community outreach and programing for underserved and uninsured women.

The organization was about to host another fundraiser when Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton closed the Arnold Expo and Classic to most spectators and visitors. When the CDC issued guidelines that limited gatherings to 50, we were very concerned. We want to be leaders and show how important we think this is, says McMahon, who has a background in public health and epidemiology.

The decision to postpone major events threw crucial fundraising support into a tailspin that will reverberate for months or years to come. We cant stop fundraising right now, but it will look differently. The Race for the Cure sustains us year-round. Its going to be difficult for us moving forward.

Laurie Allen is a freelance writer for Columbus CEO.

See the rest here:
The Komen Columbus race is postponed, but heres how its still helping patients - Columbus CEO

Family Features Michele Adams is quick to say, I dont want to throw anyone under the bus, but it took her being hit by a car for her thyroid disease to finally be diagnosed.

Adams has always been an active person, but for a few years, she had felt tired and had a constant tightness in her throat. She was diagnosed with post-nasal drip but did not feel relief after a year of treatment.

I thought this exhaustion, hoarse voice and lump in my throat were just my new normal, Adams said. Id accepted it, and I shouldnt have.

During this time, Adams went on a bike ride in northeastern New Jersey something she still does frequently. However, on this day, Adams was struck by a car as she was biking.

The incident resulted in an MRI scan. Adams was not seriously injured, but doctors noticed something unexpected. The scan revealed nodules in her lower neck, which suggested thyroid disease?.

I now realize I had symptoms of a thyroid condition for years, Adams said. Id had it up to here with not feeling like myself. Once I had the MRI results, I knew to seek out a thyroid expert, and I found an endocrinologist.

What you probably do not know about your thyroid

Thyroid disease is more common than diabetes and heart disease, but more than half of Americans with thyroid disease are unaware, according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE). This lack of awareness can endanger a persons health and well-being.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located low in the front of the neck below the Adams apple. It produces thyroid hormones that influence almost every cell, tissue and organ in the human body.

Common signs of thyroid diseases include:

Unexplained changes in weight

Depression, anxiety or feelings of irritability

Changes in memory or ability to concentrate

Joint or muscle pain or weakness

Fatigue or trouble sleeping

Fast or irregular heartbeat

Irregular menstrual periods

Cheryl Rosenfeld, D.O., is a thyroid expert and AACE member. Rosenfeld is also the physician who treated Adams thyroid disease.

If the thyroid does not function correctly, it can affect every possible aspect of a persons life, Rosenfeld said. Remember that thyroid conditions can cause changes in mental health, including depression. Ive also spoken to patients whove experienced an inability to concentrate, which seriously affected their performance at work.

Several disorders can arise if the thyroid produces too much hormone (hyperthyroidism) or not enough (hypothyroidism).

Other thyroid diseases include:

Nodules

Thyroid cancer

Graves disease

Hashimotos thyroiditis

Thyroid eye disease

Undiagnosed thyroid issues can also place a person at increased risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, infertility and other serious conditions.

What to do if you are up to here with not feeling like yourself

Once I was placed on treatment for Hashimotos and hypothyroidism, my life changed completely, Adams said. My throat is no longer sore, and Im able to go out with my family or spend time at the gym without feeling completely drained of energy.

The first step to ensure your thyroid gland functions properly is to speak with a health care provider about your symptoms and whether a thyroid test is needed.

An endocrinologist is a specially trained doctor who is qualified to diagnose and treat hormone-related diseases and conditions, including thyroid cancer and all other diseases related to the thyroid gland.

Visit thyroidawareness.com to learn more about thyroid health.

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BY JEFFREY L. BAYLIFFDuring our virus closures and movement restrictions I thought it would be a perfect time to ...

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What you need to know about your thyroid | News, Sports, Jobs - Lock Haven Express

The clich health is wealth mantra is timeless and now, more important than ever. Immune system supplements are flying off shelves and everyone (including myself) wants to do everything in their power to avoid illness and seasonal issues like allergies and the flu. But not so fast. Straight-forward as it may appear, its vitally important to remember that supplements made specifically for supporting your immune system arent a magic bullet cure for anything, though taking one certainly isnt a bad idea either.

Your immune system, aka the part of your body that helps prevent disease and illness, is composed of many, many cells and chemicals that work together toward one common goal. The upside of attempting to bolster this singular system is that there is actually more than one way to do it. Outside of the always-recommended healthy eating/drinking and daily exercise guidelines are supplements with the potential to give your body an extra layer of security against the bad stuff. Of course, its best to consult with a physician before starting one (especially if you have a health condition or take prescribed medication), but there are some options that are generally okay for most of us to try.

As someone who swears by daily supplements but definitely isnt a doctor, I knew getting the 411 on immune system boosters from Dr. Josh Axe, D.N.M., C.N.S., D.C was a smart move. The best-selling author just so happens to be the founder of Ancient NutritionandDrAxe.com, two very popular destinations that thankfully still have plenty of immune boosters in stock. Keep scrolling for his top-recommended options and why you need each one.

Ancient Nutrition.

Immune health is tied to gut health there are no two ways about it. Today, we know your gut houses between 70 percent and 80 percent of the cells that make up your immune system, which is why I believe maintaining the integrity of the gut is a crucial, and often underappreciated, form of supporting your immune system health. And this is nothing new. Theres a reason cultures all around the world relied on probiotic-rich, fermented foods like kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt and apple cider vinegar over the centuries. In general, probiotics possess the capacity to support healthy immune system function and more.

Choosing survivable probiotic strains, though, is key in my viewpoint, because these strains are known to survive higher temperatures and a harsh environment (i.e., stomach acid). So while you may think you need to choose probiotics that require refrigeration, that isnt necessarily true. Our bodies generally run at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, so we selected hardy, no-fridge-required probiotic strains for Ancient Probiotics-Immune so they can make it to your digestive tract.

NutriFlair.

How many times growing up did your mother remind you to get enough vitamin C? Kiwi fruit, spinach, strawberries, oranges, and black currants serve as rich natural sources, but for times when you need more, we created a body-ready capsule version. (Editor note: Alternative above until Dr. Axes recommendation is back in stock.)

Ancient Nutrition.

One-third of Americans take multivitamins to help fill nutritional gaps, but how those vitamins are created varies greatly. Some contain filler ingredients, food dyes, artificial sweeteners, GMOs and even synthetic nutrients. These ingredients are often cheaper than sourcing the real thing, but I believe in feeding the body with what it knows and recognizes: whole food sources. Thats why our multivitamin helps you build a foundation with food-based ingredients and no fillers or synthetic ingredients, ever.

Solgar.

Vitamin D is involved with healthy immune system function, and our immune cells actually contain receptors for this vitamin. We can get vitamin D from foods like wild-caught salmon, beef liver and egg yolks, and our bodies naturally manufacture vitamin D, which is actually a hormone, with sun exposure.

But according to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey statistics, were falling short. More than 90 percent of people with darker skin pigments living in the United States now suffer from vitamin D insufficiency, while 75 percent of the white population is deficient. Of course, this is one statistic, but the bottom line is that we are often coming up short on vitamin D.

Ancient Nutrition.

An essential trace mineral involved in hundreds of enzymatic functions in the body including supporting healthy immune system functions zinc plays a crucial role in overall wellness. Generally speaking, zinc catalyzes nearly 100 enzymes and is essential for proper protein synthesis in the human body. Zinc supports immune system health in its own right and also relies on vitamin C to maximize its role in the human body.

As humans, we need to take in zinc each day because our body doesnt manufacture it. Zinc-rich foods, including pumpkin seeds, lentils, chickpeas and cocoa powder, can help us get the zinc we need, although animal sources like grass-fed beef or kefir are often more bioavailable in the body. If supplementing is what youre looking for to hit your zinc goals, I recommend my supplement below because it pairs organic vitamin C with zinc to support zincs potential.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think youll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Original post:
5 Expert-Approved Supplements to Boost Your Immune System (and Beauty Routine) - STYLECASTER

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, ENDO 2020, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, was postponed until June 2020. In lieu of the meeting, which was originally scheduled for March 2831, 2020, in San Francisco, organizers held virtual news conferences March 30 and 31 to share the latest emerging science in endocrinology. All ENDO 2020 studies will be published in a supplemental issue of the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

The worlds first use of a drone to deliver insulin to a patient living in a remote community was performed late last year in Ireland, an accomplishment that has implications for wider use of drones to deliver medications in trying circumstances. Such circumstances might include infectious-disease pandemics like the COVID-19 outbreak.

An international team of researchers spent a year planning the drone test flight from Galway, Ireland, to the Aran Islands, about 12 miles off the west coast of Ireland. The drone was used to drop off insulin and return with the patients blood sample so that a doctor could check the patients glucose levels, says Spyridoula Maraka, MD, an endocrinologist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System in Little Rock.

The project was conceived after healthcare professionals in Ireland noted the difficulties people faced obtaining critically needed medications during a 2017 hurricane and a 2018 blizzard in Ireland, Dr. Maraka says. People with diabetes who require insulin could fall critically ill if they run out of their medication, she says. Drones are already used in remote parts of Africa to deliver blood supplies.

Medicine has a track record of practicing for emergencies before they happen, Maraka said. There are multiple medical delivery drone opportunities.

Irelands Diabetes Drone Mission was launched with a team of experts across different fields, including medical, pharmaceutical, technical, flight operations, telecommunications, and regulatory agencies. The team selected a Wingcopter 178 drone for the first flight and received Irish Aviation Authority approval to conduct the mission.

The team plans to scale up the program to deliver medications to remote areas in the future. It will be important to gain the publics confidence in the program, as well as negotiate with airspace authorities to allow delivery access, Maraka says. That may be challenging in more densely populated areas.

RELATED: 9 Diabetes Care Tips During the COVID-19 Pandemic

A common chemical called PFAS detected in the blood of pregnant women is linked to a higher risk of obesity in their granddaughters. PFAS per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are man-made chemicals used as oil and water repellents and coatings for common products including cookware, carpets, and textiles, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. They are known as endocrine-disrupting forever chemicals because they persist when released into the environment and accumulate over time.

The study, by researchers at the Public Health Institute in Berkeley, California, featured an analysis of data from a project known as the Child Health and Development Studies. Blood samples from pregnant and postpartum women in the 1960s were collected and stored. In the early 2000s, the researchers measured the weight, height, and waist circumference of a subset of the study participants daughters and granddaughters. They determined the risk of total obesity and abdominal obesity in the daughters and granddaughters. The study included 213 sets of grandmothers, mothers, and granddaughters. The California Department of Toxic Substance Control then measured PFASs and other chemicals in the stored blood of the grandmothers.

The study showed that a granddaughters combined risk of abdominal and whole-body obesity increased 53 percent with a doubling of PFAS blood levels in her grandmother, when her grandmother also had lower cholesterol (in the bottom 25 percent). This translated to an estimated 2.3-fold increase in the combined risk of abdominal obesity and whole-body obesity for women whose grandmothers were in the top 25 percent of PFAS exposure compared with the bottom 25 percent of PFAS exposure. Cholesterol is somehow involved in the transport and metabolism of the chemicals, the researchers note.

Pregnancy appears to be based on our study and animal research and other work in progress a critical window of exposure for three generations in humans, says the lead author of the study, Barbara A. Cohn, PhD, the director of Child Health and Development Studies, who is based in Oakland, California.

These findings may help to explain the current U.S. and worldwide increases in obesity in young adults, she says. We dont understand the mechanisms for this association. We do know it has implications for the current epidemic of obesity if this can be confirmed.

Consumers can reduce their exposure to the chemicals by avoiding eating out of take-out and to-go food containers and using glass or stainless steel food storage containers. Another source of exposure is stain- and water-resistant carpet.

But, she says, Personal measures probably are not going to be enough because, like other legacy compounds, they have been so ubiquitous. There is so much everywhere.

RELATED: New Report Finds Toxic Forever Chemicals in Drinking Water in 31 States

People with diabetes who have a stroke have a better chance of preserving cognitive function if they have good blood glucose control after the stroke, according to a study from the Sheba Medical Center and the Sackler School of Medicine of Tel Aviv University in Israel.

The study involved patients who had lacunar strokes, which are a common type of stroke that occurs in a blocked artery deep within the brain. The stroke can cause neurological damage. Researchers looked at 942 adults with diabetes who had a lucunar stroke to assess their A1C management following the stroke. A1C is a measurement doctors use to assess how well a person with diabetes is managing his or her glucose. Its also used to diagnose diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study showed better glucose management was linked to greater cognitive function and less cognitive decline. The research was observational, meaning that it only links better glucose management with cognitive benefits following stroke. A clinical trial could help prove a causal effect between the two, the authors said.

Still, Understanding potentially modifiable risk factors has large public health implications. One such factor may be A1C control, says the study's lead author, Tali Cukierman-Yaffe, MD, a physician and researcher at the Sheba Medical Center and the Sackler School of Medicine of Tel Aviv University. For example, she says, It may be that individuals with cognitive impairment who have difficulty managing their disease would have worse glucose control.

Current medical recommendations urge healthcare providers to screen older people with diabetes for cognitive impairment, she notes.

Cognitive assessment should be part of the routine checkup of older people with diabetes, she said. The reasons for that are, one, the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and diabetes self-care; and the other is that cognitive function is another complication of diabetes that we should be looking for.

RELATED: Why Some Researchers Are Calling Alzheimers a Type 3 Diabetes

A minimally invasive endoscopic technique that has been approved in Europe can help people with poorly managed type 2 diabetes improve their A1C. The procedure, called Revita duodenal mucosal resurfacing (DMR), has not been approved for use yet in the United States.

During the procedure, doctors insert a balloon catheter through the mouth into the duodenum, which is part of the upper small intestine. They deliver thermal energy to remove or ablate the duodenal lining. After the damaged duodenal lining is removed, a new layer of tissue eventually forms.

Data from a new study of 70 people, dubbed REVITA-2, showed that people who received DMR had improved blood glucose levels and liver insulin sensitivity three months following the procedure compared with patients who underwent a sham procedure.

The novel technique is based on research that shows the duodenal lining is critical to the hormone changes and hormone signaling that lead to insulin resistance. Destroying the lining can interrupt the process underlying diabetes, the study authors say.

A major question about DMR is how long the effects last. Researchers reported evidence that some patients have improved diabetes control for up to two years. But its not known if the procedure will have to be regularly repeated.

This procedure would be for patients who have not been helped by previous treatments, says the study investigator David Hopkins, MBChB, a physician and the director of the Institute of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity at Kings Health Partners in London. But, he adds, treatment earlier in the course of diabetes could likely produce the most benefit by changing the course of disease.

RELATED: How to Stabilize Your Blood Sugar

In another study on bariatric surgery released from ENDO 2020, researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor have found that bariatric surgery that takes place prior to the development of diabetes is more effective in facilitating weight loss.

Researchers studied 714 participants who had either gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy surgery. All of them had a body mass index (BMI) of more than 40 prior to surgery. Those without diabetes at the time of surgery had a 1.6 times higher chance of losing at least 50 percent of total body weight, regardless of the type of surgery.

The presence of diabetes before surgery is a predictor of future weight loss outcomes, says a study coauthor, Yingying Luo, PhD, of the University of Michigan.

The study suggests that having bariatric surgery before developing diabetes may be an important preventive strategy, says a lead researcher,Elif A. Oral, MD, of the University of Michigan. More research is needed to confirm the study results, the authors said. Yet doctors and patients should consider the timing of bariatric surgery.

We know that bariatric surgery may protect or delay the onset of diabetes, Dr. Luo says. We need a larger sample size. If we can find a true impact on the presence of diabetes, maybe it suggests we should take a step forward to have the surgery.

RELATED: Bariatric Surgery Cuts Heart Risks in People With Obesity and Diabetes

People with diabetes who lose a gland that helps lubricate the eye by producing tears may have elevated blood glucose levels, say the authors of a study from the University of California in San Francisco.

People with diabetes can experience dry eye and eye discomfort. They may have a loss of the meibomian glands in the eyes. The study looked at people with type 2 diabetes diagnosed with dry eye. People with higher A1C levels, a measure of blood glucose levels, were more likely to have the loss of the meibomian glands compared with those with more controlled A1C levels. Even among people who did not have diabetes, those with higher A1C levels had greater loss of meibomian glands.

Doctors should check the eyelids of individuals with diabetes who complain of dry eye, says the coauthor Gloria Wu, MD, an adjunct faculty member at the University of California in San Francisco.

Some people have severe discomfort and pain, she says. This is an easy diagnostic way of looking at diabetes.

RELATED: 5 Ways to Lower Your A1C Levels

People with type 1 diabetes using the Medtronic MiniMedTM 670G insulin pump system are able to maintain blood glucose levels in the targeted range over 71 percent of the time, according to a study that analyzed some 6 million days of real-world data.

The data compares favorably to the results found in clinical trials that led to approval of the device. The MiniMed TM 670G system is the first hybrid closed-loop system approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for people with type 1 diabetes.

Sometimes referred to as an artificial pancreas, the device consists of an insulin pump with a tiny infusion catheter worn under the skin and a small continuous glucose monitor that is also placed under the skin. The device measures glucose levels every five minutes and sends the results to the pump to dispense insulin as needed. Individuals upload data from the device to a website so that physicians can monitor their patients.

The real-world study involved more than 51,000 people. Researchers found that individuals were able to maintain blood glucose levels in the targeted range more than 71 percent of the time. When managing diabetes, the goal is to be in the target glucose range of 70180 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) more than 70 percent of the time.

Real-world experience does not necessarily live up to the results seen in a clinical trial that recruits highly motivated participants who are under close supervision, says the study's principal investigator, Robert Vigersky, MD, the chief medical officer of Medtronic Diabetes, in Northridge, California. Our results demonstrate that the glycemic control using the MiniMedTM 670G in the real world is excellent and mirrors the results of the small pivotal trials that led to the systems approval.

In February, the FDA announced Medtronic had recalled MiniMed 670G insulin pumps with broken or missing retainer rings following reports that a broken or missing part could lead to incorrect dosing. Insulin pumps with the retainer ring intact do not need to be returned to Medtronic.

The rest is here:
ENDO Online 2020: The Top Diabetes News From March 30 - Everyday Health

By now we are all well-versed in the COVID-19 lingo of flattening the curve, self-quarantining and learning all about physical distancing. But life does tramp on, meals need to be made, and health continues to be our No. 1 priority.

Heres a sampling to help you make the best of the coming weeks, and to help you stay healthy and stable in these unstable times.

Chef Mareya Ibrahim, author of Eat Like You Give a Fork: The Real Dish on Eating to Thrive

BLUEPRINT YOUR FRIDGE:

Youve done the shopping and stocked your cupboards and fridge. Now what? Well-known celebrity chef Mareya Ibrahim, author of Eat Like You Give a Fork: The Real Dish on Eating to Thrive, says its now time to blueprint your fridge. Especially when you discover that $7 box of organic berries you recently purchased are covered in mould, and the spinach you thought would have been used by now has wilted and discharged green slime all over the floor of the crisper.

If you want your food to last and you dont want to search through the chaos of overstocking Ibrahim offers the following tips thatll save your food and your mind!

Mareya Ibrahims Refrigerator Essentials and Foodie Blueprint Tips:

THE TOP SHELF: Stock it with ingredients that help you create simple sauces and marinades, like low-sodium broths, stocks, veggie purees and nut milks.

FRIDGE BINS HOLD SMART SNACKING VEGGIES: The hearty ones that hold up nicely and dont require much prep, like grape tomatoes, miniature bell peppers, Persian cucumbers, and radishes. Keep them in open containers at eye level so theyre visible and ready to munch. These great raw veggie snacks will satisfy your need to crunch.

THE BOTTOM SHELF: Holds grab n go meals, prepped and ready for you and your family. You can also have veggies and fruit that can be easily converted into meals

CRISPER: Fill the crisper drawer and baskets with prewashed greens, ready to throw into a smoothie, salad, soup, or entree. Fill the meat/cheese drawer with precooked proteins and grains, including chicken, ground turkey, quinoa, farro, and such.

STOCK: the fridge door with sauces and toppings, pickles, etc. that will accessorize your meals with flavour. Check out Mareyaibrahim.com for more details; @EatCleaner

Dr. Alok Trivedi

BOOST TO STAY YOUR BEST: Doctors top tips to boost your immune system and stay healthy in this COVID-19 world.

Were all pulling together to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by focusing on things like social distancing, self-quarantining, washing hands and not touching our faces. But what else can you do to boost your immune system, optimize your health and stay safe?

Dr. Alok Trivedi is a U.S.-based human behaviour and performance expert and author of Chasing Success: Lessons in Aligned Performance, who has spent years studying the neurological and psychological connection to physical health. Here he offers some of his top tips to keep healthy, especially during these trying times of self-isolation and, in some cases, quarantine:

Drink a lot of water: Staying hydrated is always good advice. Coconut water is also a good alternative because it has a lot of potassium. When your sodium and potassium levels are in balance, youre going to be healthier.

Get enough vitamins and minerals: In other words, eat a lot of fruits and veggies, especially green vegetables. It is best to get the nutrients you need through real living food, but during this pandemic you can also supplement with the use of high-quality vitamins and minerals.

Boost your immune system with vitamin C, zinc and echinacea: Of course, always talk to your own personal physician first

Drink apple cider vinegar: Drink one to two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed with water each day.

Avoid sugar and processed foods: This is also good advice in general, but even more so during these times. Sugar causes inflammation and obesity. If you cant cut it out altogether, eliminate it as much as you can. Similarly, avoid processed foods and stick to living foodswhich will aid in digestion.

Dont drink OJ: While orange juice may be high in vitamin C which can boost the immune system, its also loaded with sugar. Opt for eating a real orange instead which is much healthier and has loads of vitamin C.

Get a lot of aerobic exercise: The idea is to get the blood pumping and oxygenate the lungs. One of the simplest ways to do this is to go for a walk every single day. It can help protect you from viruses and is great for your overall health.

Avoid family arguments: If you are avoiding crowds and self-quarantining, you are going to be spending a lot of time around family. Tensions can quickly rise and you can become stressed. Too much stress lowers the white blood cell count, and white blood cells areneeded to fight off infection. Focus on coming together and appreciating the time together.

Do something productive toward combating the virus: Whether its social isolation, self-quarantining, washing your hands, wiping down surfaces in your home, doing something that gives you a sense of accomplishment toward beating the virus is a good immune system boost. It also changes your mental attitude for the better knowing you have taken steps to protect yourself and your family.

Check out Aloktrivedi.com for additional details.

PARAMOUNT STEPS UP

Paramount Fine Foods is taking steps to ease some of the burden caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by donating nearly 2,000 meals to food banks and shelters across the GTA to support the most vulnerable during these uncertain times.

Its about supporting each other and understanding that everyone is experiencing hardship right now, says Mohamad Fakih, founder of the Middle Eastern restaurant chain. We must come together as a community to best support one another and fight through this together as one strong entity.

The company will also be working with Feed Our Heroes, an initiative to support hard-working frontline health-care workers through meal delivery.

For additional details, check out Paramountfinefoods.com.

TEA FOR YOU AND ME

Feeling stressed (and who isnt during these trying times), then reach for a cuppa. A recent study by the Tea Advisory Panel has found that herbal infusions could benefit certain aspects of health. Herbal infusions are a good source of flavonoids and other polyphenols in the human diet. According to recent research on emerald.com, herbal infusions have long been used in traditional medicine and are a popular global beverage choice. These health benefits were based on 1-3 daily cups with infusion rates of up to 15minutes per cup. The panel suggested the following teas for various ailments:

German Chamomile sleep quality Spearmint osteoarthritic stiffness and hormone control

Lemon balm for stress

Rosehip primary dysmenorrhea, or something for menstrual cramps

For additional details, check out tea.ca.

A TOAST TO CANADA

Heres a bit of cheery news: The Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery recently struck gold at the 2020 World Spirits Award, being named Distillery of the year and World-Class Distillery for 2020.

The company was awarded nine gold medals, four silvermedals and one bronze at the World Spirits awards in Austria. Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery is Western Canadas original craft distillery, dating back to 2004. The distillery sprung from the idea of using 100% locally grown fruits and grains to make premium,world-class spirits just a tractor-ride away from the orchards and fields where the base ingredients were grown.

B.C.s original farm-to- flask distillery now offers a selection of more than 30 internationally awarded spirits. To have the honour of representing Canada and to come away with so many medals is a dream come true, says Okanagan Spirits president Tony Dyck.

Our entire team is so honoured to be in the company of some of the best distillers from around the world honestly, the magnitude of how this places craft Canadian spirits on the world map is only now starting to sink in.

Check out Okanaganspirits.com.

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Tips to help you while flattening the coronavirus curve - Toronto Sun

A colourisedscanning electron micrograph of a cell infected with SARS-COV-2 viruswhich causes the Covid-19 disease.

While Switzerland continues to be a hotspot for coronavirus cases, Swiss scientists and drug companies are playing an important role in the global effort to develop treatments or a vaccine for the virus.

The scientific community has responded much more effectively to the Covid-19 outbreak than to the SARS outbreak, Francesco Stellacci, professor at Lausannes Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) said.

Stellacci has been working on developing a broad-spectrum anti-viral drug for the past 10 years. In an interview published by EPFLexternal link, he said data had been shared very quickly and everyone has helped each other out.

The scientific community truly grasped the importance of expanding the scope of research and sharing everything openly.

The collaboration appears to be bearing fruit. Only three months have gone by since Chinese health officials first informed the World Health Organization about a cluster of 41 patients with a mysterious pneumonia in Wuhan on December 31. Despite the short time frame, there is a lot of progress to report on the research side.

The Department of Immunology at the University Hospital in Bernhas been working on a vaccine since January. Initial sequences of the virus were quickly isolated. The vaccine has already been tested on animals.

Meanwhile,Peter Burkhard, an immunologist with a private laboratory in cantonBasel City, has alsodeveloped aprecursor of the Covid-19 vaccine, which has been tested on animals and he is now testing on himself. See the full report in this swissinfo.ch video .

There will soon be more research in the pipeline after the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) put out an emergency call for proposals on research into coronaviruses on February 25 to tackle the current crisis and prepare for future likely epidemics. A sum of CHF5 million ($5.2 million) has been earmarked for projects.

The first call of its kind ever organised by the SNSF received 220 applications. The majority of projects were biomedical, including studies of viruses and infections, the immune response in humans and the spread of the disease.

The selected projects will provide a basis for the subsequent industrial development of active agents. The grants available are between CHF50,000 and CHF300,000 per project.

The best defence against this virus is a vaccine, but since it is likely to take at least 18 months to develop one, a broad-spectrum anti-viral drug could buy us some time, according to Franceso Stellaccio.

While a miracle cure is still the dream of all those working hard in the lab, Stellaccio explains that a less effective drug would also be beneficial to society.

Current data show that every person who catches the virus infects 2.6 other people on average. So a drug with an efficacy of 50% would reduce this figure to 1.3, and that would slow the viruss spread considerably.

It is often the case that a drug developed for one condition can turn out to be useful for other indications. In a promising development, Relief Therapeutics, headquartered in Zurich, is making progress with its erectile dysfunction drug Aviptadil, which has been found to be helpful in treating patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Sydrome (ARDS).

With the coronavirus, death is primarily caused by ARDS, in which severe inflammation causes the lungs to fill with fluid. Aviptadil is a patented formulation of Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP), a naturally occurring peptide hormone that is concentrated in the lungs.

Relief Therapeutics announced on March 26external link that it has filed an investigational new drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in collaboration with an American drug development company, NeuroRx. The application is for a phase two trial of Aviptadil in the treatment of acute and moderate respiratory distress in patients infected by the coronavirus.

Also in the last week, Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche announced it was launching a clinical trial of a potential new Covid-19 drug, another case of repurposing. Roche is working with the FDA and the US government to initiate a phase three trial to evaluate the safety of Actemra, a drug used to treat two inflammatory diseases. The drug is known as RoActemra outside the US. As reported on March 20, the study will enrol about 330 patients globally starting next month, including in the US. Actemra works by inhibiting the bodys immune response.

Meanwhile, a number of Swiss university hospitals in Zurich, Lausanne, Geneva and St Gallen are preparing to carry out serological tests to detect the presence of Covid-19 antibodies in the blood.

The aim is to estimate the proportion of the population that is already immune to the disease. The higher the proportion, the better the protection against a second wave of infections.

"Today we know that we have a certain number of infected people but we dont have the exact denominator, because only symptomatic people are being tested. It would be useful to have those numbers to better manage the crisis as a whole, Gilbert Greub, senior physician at the Institute of Microbiology in Lausanne University Hospital told Swiss public television RTS.

Although many different avenues are being pursued simultaneously, there will be no quick fix to the immediate problem through a drug or vaccine. Professor Stellacci stressed the importance of managing the expectations of the public in this stressful time.

We have to be clearer about what were doing, the challenges we face and the time it will take. Otherwise we may be selling false hope.

Switzerland is oneof the countries most affected by the coronavirus, with more than 19,000 positive tests and more than 550deaths.

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What Swiss researchers are doing to beat Covid-19 - swissinfo.ch

Texas resident Hunter Howard shares journey ater testing positive for coronavirus.

Texas resident Hunter Howard shares journey ater testing positive for coronavirus.

Texas resident Hunter Howard shares journey ater testing positive for coronavirus.

Texas resident Hunter Howard shares journey ater testing positive for coronavirus.

Texas resident shares personal journey of testing positive for coronavirus

It has been 14 days since Hunter Howard first suspected he had contracted COVID-19.

Ten days since it was confirmed.

Now Howard, a 50-year-old Dallas resident, is recovering and out of quarantine. Yet his breathing is labored at times, his sense of taste is altered and intestinal problems ensue.

Coronavirus: How Harris County's stay-at-home order compares to other counties, states

I went for a walk yesterday and after about five blocks, I had to sit down. I couldnt breathe, Howard said Wednesday.

Howard, who has no underlying health conditions, believes he caught the virus via an infected passenger seated behind him on a flight home from Aspen, Colo.,on March 9. Upon his return to Dallas, it was life as normal.

Until March 12.

I had a slight fever and a dry cough. It is a light tickle in the back of your throat. There was no phlegm or mucus, said Howard, who is the president of Dallas-based Hormone Therapeutics.

By the next day, he began experiencing head and body aches, fatigue and night sweats. His fever was also rising, but he had no way to measure his temperature due to a shortage of thermometersamid the coronavirus pandemic.

Houston: Rapper Scarface says he tested positive for coronavirus

He relied on Gatorade to help replenish his electrolytes. I was incredibly thirsty. I was surprised by how much Gatorade I needed, Howard said.

After calling his doctor, Howard decided not to seek additional medical attention.

My physician told me there were only 42 testing units allocated to Dallas at that time and unless I needed a ventilator, I should stay home and rest, said Howard. He also said if I felt like I needed help to come in.

Two days later, his symptoms worsened considerably.

My fever was much higher and my breathing was really labored. I felt like my lungs were two paper bags. I could hear them crackling every time I would take a breath, said Howard.

He also experienced intense body pains, including discomfort in his back and chest.

I felt like I had a strap around my chest. The pain felt like it was coming out of the bottom lobes of my lungs and rib cage. It was uncomfortable to lie down, he said.

But the most alarming thing was the fear of the unknown.

The symptoms were worsening and I did not know how much worse it might get. I was being told to self-quarantine unless I needed ICU breathing support, he said. When do you make a decision to go in? At what point do you need to take better care of yourself?

After taking physician-advised doses of 1600mg of Tylenol, his situation improved. My fever broke and I have been feeling better ever since, said Howard.

On March 16, four days after he originally suspected he may be afflicted, Howard received a physician referral to get tested for COVID-19 at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Greenville.

The test requires a swab from a hard-to-reach area of the throat. To get there, technicians insert a nasopharyngeal swab essentially a giant Q-tip deep into the patients nose.

It stings the nostrils but only takes around 10 seconds, Howard said. A day later, it was confirmed that Howard had the coronavirus.

Howard was released from quarantine this week, but complications from the virus remain. His sense of smell and taste buds are still slightly off, and he has ongoing nausea and intestinal problems.

Still, he believes the worst is behind him. Now, hes dishing out advice to others.

Most of us will get the coronavirus. Safeguard your immune system, eat well and rest, Howard said.

We need to all protect the elderly and those with immunosuppression or lung and breathing issues by following social guidelines, and with the lack of beds and ventilators and medication, I believe we need shelter-in-place to slow down the transmission of this virus.

@marcydeluna

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Texas resident shares personal journey of testing positive for coronavirus - Laredo Morning Times