CKD is a progressive condition and patients with CKD have an increased risk of having heart disease.[1][3] However, most patients don’t know they have CKD, in large part because it is a “silent” disease, with most patients feeling no symptoms until the disease has progressed.[4] In fact, while approximately 15% of US adults are living with CKD, 9 in 10 are unaware they have CKD.[1]

Now, a new treatment option has been proven to help slow the progression of CKD – a huge scientific innovation for CKD patients at risk of progression with and without T2D. This approval is the most significant advancement in the treatment of CKD in over 20 years.

Because CKD may be overlooked until symptoms appear at advanced stages, it is especially important to be aware of risk factors and the serious complications that can occur.[1][5]

CKD tends to get worse over time, so the earlier treatment starts, the better the patient outcomes are. [3]

On May 19, Neil Skolnik, M.D., Professor of Family and Community Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, will be available to discuss the latest treatment option approved by the FDA. Dr. Skolnik will also discuss risk factors and the importance of early detection of CKD.

Interview Courtesy: AstraZeneca

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States, 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/publications-resources/2019-national-facts.html.

2. AstraZeneca. Diagnose CKD Now. https://www.diagnoseckdnow.com/

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Kidney Disease Basics. www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/basics.html.

4. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Kidney Disease Statistics for the United States. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/kidney-disease.

5. National Kidney Foundation. Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (Egfr). https://www.kidney.org/content/gfr]

#astrazeneca #farxiga #kidney #disease #health #chronic #patient #risk #diabetes #treatment #therapy #heart #ckd #neil #skolnik #thomas #jefferson #medicine #medical #family #factors

The post THE FIRST MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN 20 YEARS TO HELP MANAGE CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE IN PATIENTS AT RISK OF PROGRESSION WITH AND WITHOUT TYPE 2 DIABETES appeared first on Good News!.

Some 52% of Americans said that the COVID-19 pandemic has made it more difficult for them to get their prescriptions. That could be a number of factors, difficulty seeing doctors, getting to the pharmacy, and even a loss of health insurance due to high unemployment numbers.
The survey was commissioned by FemiClear for Genital Herpes, a new OTC treatment shown to be effective in reducing the severity of genital herpes outbreaks.
FemiClear has been working with Dr. Jessica Shepherd, an OBGYN and gynecological surgeon at Baylor Medical Center, to get the word out about the impact of COVID on Americans including the 1 in 6 women who suffer from genital herpes.
www.organicare.com
#caroline #goodner #trouble #americans #prescriptions #american #need #covid-19 #covid19 #covid #pandemic #factors #doctors #pharmacy #insurance #health #unemployment #femiclear #genital #herpes #otc #treatment #reducing #outbreaks #jessica #shepherd #obgyn #gynecological #surgeon #baylor #medical #center #impact #suffer #ceo

The post More than half of Americans say they are having trouble getting the prescriptions they need, according to a recent survey. appeared first on Good News!.

Important advancement in treatment for patients living with Follicular Lymphoma (FL)

• Dr. M. Yair Levy, Texas Oncology – Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center

BACKGROUND:
Cancer is a disease that almost everyone will confront at some point in their lives, either personally or through a loved one. As we continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to ensure patients receive proper care when managing a chronic cancer, like follicular lymphoma (FL).1

FL is a slow-growing and incurable blood cancer that starts in the lymphatic system, which is a system of lymph nodes found throughout the body, including the neck, underarms, chest, abdomen and groin/pelvis.1 While FL can occur at any age, it is most frequently diagnosed among people aged 55-64, with a median age of 63.2 Of the estimated 74,000 individuals diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the United States each year,3 FL accounts for approximately 20% of all cases, or about 14,800 individuals.1

It’s important for patients and doctors to remember that cancer care should not be put by the wayside due to COVID-19. By having routine and open conversations with healthcare providers via telemedicine and select in-person visits, patients can help to support their own improved health outcomes. There is also new hope as treatment advances give patients with FL, and the doctors who treat them, new, convenient options to help fight this debilitating cancer.

With the FDA’s recent accelerated approval of TAZVERIK® (tazemetostat) for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma who have received at least 2 prior systemic therapies, FL patients have a new oral treatment option to discuss with their physicians. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial(s). For more information on TAZVERIK, including full Prescribing Information, please visit: www.tazverik.com.4

Dr. M. Yair Levy, Texas Oncology – Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, will be available for interviews. He will share details about this recent approval, risk factors, symptoms and treatment options for FL.
Interview is courtesy: Epizyme, Inc.

For more information on FL, please visit: www.lymphomaresearchfoundation.org or www.lls.org
For more information on TAZVERIK, including full Prescribing Information, please visit: www.tazverik.com

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Warnings and Precautions

• Secondary Malignancies

The risk of developing secondary malignancies is increased following treatment with TAZVERIK. Across clinical trials of 729 adults who received TAZVERIK 800 mg twice daily, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) occurred in 0.7% of patients. One pediatric patient developed T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL). Monitor patients long-term for the development of secondary malignancies.

• Embryo-Fetal Toxicity

Based on findings from animal studies and its mechanism of action, TAZVERIK can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. There are no available data on TAZVERIK use in pregnant women to inform the drug-associated risk. Administration of tazemetostat to pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis resulted in dose-dependent increases in skeletal developmental abnormalities in both species beginning at maternal exposures approximately 1.5 times the adult human exposure (area under the plasma concentration time curve [AUC0-45h]) at the 800 mg twice daily dose.

Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with TAZVERIK and for 6 months after the final dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with TAZVERIK and for 3 months after the final dose.

Adverse Reactions

In 99 clinical study patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma receiving TAZVERIK 800 mg twice daily: Serious adverse reactions occurred in 30% of patients who received TAZVERIK. Serious adverse reactions occurring in ≥2% were general physical health deterioration, abdominal pain, pneumonia, sepsis, and anemia. The most common (≥20%) adverse reactions were fatigue (36%), upper respiratory tract infection (30%), musculoskeletal pain (22%), nausea (24%), and abdominal pain (20%).

Drug Interactions

Avoid coadministration of strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitors with TAZVERIK. If coadministration of moderate CYP3A inhibitors cannot be avoided, reduce TAZVERIK dose.

Avoid coadministration of moderate and strong CYP3A inducers with TAZVERIK, which may decrease the efficacy of TAZVERIK.

Coadministration of TAZVERIK with CYP3A substrates, including hormonal contraceptives, can result in decreased concentrations and reduced efficacy of CYP3A substrates.

Lactation

Because of the potential risk for serious adverse reactions from TAZVERIK in the breastfed child, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with TAZVERIK and for one week after the final dose.

Please see full Prescribing Information for TAZVERIK, available at www.tazverik.com

MORE ABOUT DOCTOR*
Dr. Levy received his medical doctorate at the University of Wisconsin at Madison School of Medicine. He served his residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and his hematology fellowship at Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. He also served on the faculty at Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Levy specializes in hematology, including lymphoma, myeloma and leukemia.

###

References:
1. Lymphoma- Non-Hodgkin: Introduction. Cancer.Net. Accessed September 15, 2020. Available at: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/lymphoma-non-hodgkin/introduction
2. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. Cancer stat facts: NHL – follicular lymphoma. Accessed September 15, 2020. Available at: https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/follicular.html.
3. About Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. American Cancer Society. Accessed September 15, 2020. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/about.html.
4. TAZVERIK® (tazemetostat) Prescribing Information. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: Epizyme, Inc; June 2020.

*Spokespeople are subject to change based on availability. Individual experience with diagnosis and treatment of follicular lymphoma will vary by patient.

Produced for: Epizyme, Inc.

#yair #levy #hope #patients #living #incurable #blood #cancer #follicular #lymphoma #texas #oncology #disease #love #covid #covid-19 #covid19 #pandemic #lymph #nodes #tazverik #risk #factors #epizyme #hodgkin #lymphoma #foundation #safety

The post NEW HOPE FOR PATIENTS LIVING WITH AN INCURABLE BLOOD CANCER appeared first on Good News!.

CURRENT OUTBREAK:
UNDERSTAND YOUR RISK FOR HEPATITIS A
AN INFECTIOUS LIVER DISEASE

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PREVENTABLE DISEASE – FROM SYMPTOMS TO RISK FACTORS – AND THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATION

Dr. Len Friedland, practicing physician, vaccine researcher and Vice President and Director, Scientific Affairs and Public Health, Vaccines, GSK

BACKGROUND:
October is National Liver Awareness Month, an important time to learn about vaccine-preventable forms of viral hepatitis, including Hepatitis A, a highly-infectious virus that affects the liver and can lead to sickness, hospitalization and even death, in some cases.[i] The US is currently experiencing a nationwide Hepatitis A outbreak, yet awareness and vaccination among adults remains shockingly low (~15%).[ii] After a consistent 20-year downward trend in cases, in 2017, Hepatitis A cases spiked nationwide, with 27 states experiencing active outbreaks in 2020. During this time, there have been more than 34,000 reported cases, with over 61% of infected people hospitalized, and 333 deaths, making it the largest person-to-person Hepatitis A virus outbreak in the postvaccine era.[iii]^,[iv]

DID YOU KNOW?

• Anyone who isn’t vaccinated can be at risk for Hepatitis A as it can be spread person-to-person or through contaminated food or drink.¹
• People with Hepatitis A may not know that they are infected and can transmit the disease to others.¹
• Most people in the US have not been vaccinated for Hepatitis A; creating opportunities for infection and spread. Additionally, more than half of older adults have never heard of or are unfamiliar with a vaccine for Hepatitis A (56%).[v]
• Hepatitis A vaccination isn’t only for higher risk groups or people traveling to certain parts of the world. The general public can come into contact with the virus when traveling even within the US and through contaminated food. For example, where food is prepared and served by food handlers infected with the Hepatitis A virus.¹
• The CDC advises that anyone who wishes to be protected against Hepatitis A speak to their doctor or pharmacist about vaccination. Most commercial plans are required to cover vaccines recommended by the CDC and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

Raising awareness about Hepatitis A and vaccination is more important than ever.

• Immunization rates for most vaccines across all age groups have dropped significantly during COVID-19 and adult vaccination rates have dropped by over 80 percent since the peak of the pandemic.[vi] Everyone, not just those at high risk, can talk to their doctor or pharmacist about all vaccine-preventable forms of viral hepatitis and other CDC-recommended vaccines that may be needed during their next well visit. It is important to stay up-to-date on recommended vaccines to prevent unnecessary sickness and hospitalization, especially during the pandemic.[vii]
• For more information, visit CDC.gov/hepatitis/hav.

Good News Planet Hepatitis Q&A

1. If someone has fatty liver, is it even more important to get the vaccination for hepatitis A and hepatitis B?

When living with fatty liver disease, it’s important to prevent any additional sources of potential liver damage. The US Centers for Disease Control and prevention recommends hepatitis A and B vaccination for people living with chronic liver diseases, including fatty liver disease and hepatitis C.¹

1. What is the difference between Hepatitis A and B and how do you recognize it? Is there a different treatment?

Hepatitis A and B are both viruses that affect the liver, and can cause serious illness or even death, but are transmitted in different ways and can cause a different course of illness.¹ Hepatitis A is highly infectious, and is transmitted through person-to-person contact or contaminated food/drink, and usually causes a short-term illness.¹ Hepatitis B is transmitted from mother to child during birth, blood, or through sexual contact, and can cause short or long-term illness, depending on the age of someone when they contract it.[viii] In the current outbreak, Hepatitis A has been associated with a high rate of hospitalization (nationally 60% of cases), with treatment mainly administered to combat unpleasant symptoms.^1,4 Short-term treatment of hepatitis B may be similar, but long-term hepatitis B infections may require ongoing antiviral treatment to manage the virus and prevent liver damage.[ix]

1. Can you get both [Hep A and B] vaccinations the same day and who gives this vaccination?

Hepatitis A and B vaccinations can be administered by a physician or pharmacist and can be given at the same time. The hepatitis A vaccine is a 2-dose vaccine series, for children 1 year of age and older, and adults, that can be completed in 6 months.[x] The hepatitis B vaccine is available in a 2-dose series for adults 18 years of age and older, which can be completed in 1 month, or a 3-dose series for all ages, which can be completed in 6 months.[xi] There is also a hepatitis A and B combination vaccine series available for adults 18 years of age and older, to provide protection against both viruses. While routine infant vaccination has been recommended for hepatitis A since 2006, and hepatitis B since 1991, most adults in the US are not protected against these viruses.[xii]^,[xiii] Nationally, only about 20% of adults 18 years of age and older have received even 1 dose of the hepatitis A vaccine and only about 25% of adults 19 years of age and older have completed the hepatitis B vaccine series.[xiv]^,[xv]

2  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccination coverage among adults

with chronic liver disease. Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5805590/pdf/nihms934589.pdf.

3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis A Outbreaks in the United States. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/outbreaks/hepatitisaoutbreaks.htm.

4  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Widespread person-to-person outbreaks of hepatitis A across the United States. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/outbreaks/2017March-HepatitisA.htm.

5 GSK Survey by The Harris Poll. US Awareness Poll-Adults 50-79 years of age and PCPs 18 years. July-August 2020.

6 Medscape. Vaccine Rates for All Ages Drop Dramatically During COVID-19. Available at https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/931913.

7 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccination Guidance During a Pandemic. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pandemic-guidance/index.html.

8 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis B Questions and Answers for the Public. Accessed at: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/bfaq.htm.

9 Mayo Clinic. Hepatitis B. Accessed at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20366821.

10 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis A VIS. Accessed at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/hep-a.html#:~:text=Children%20need%202%20doses%20of,months%20after%20the%20first%20dose.

11 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in the United States: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Accessed at: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/rr/rr6701a1.htm.

12 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis A Vaccination Coverage Among U.S. Children Aged 12–23 Months — Immunization Information System Sentinel Sites, 2006—2009. Accessed at: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5925a3.htm?s_cid=mm5925a3_w.

13 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule — United States, 1995. Accessed at: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00038256.htm

14 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccination Coverage Among Adults in the United States, National Health Interview Survey, 2016. Accessed at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/coverage/adultvaxview/pubs-resources/NHIS-2016.html.

15 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccination Coverage among Adults in the United States, National Health Interview Survey, 2017. Accessed at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/coverage/adultvaxview/pubs-resources/NHIS-2017.html.

#hepatitis #october #liver #awareness #len #friedland #physician #vaccine #researcher #president #director #scientific #affairs #public #health #vaccines #gsk #covid #covid19 #covid-19 #symptoms #risk #factors #disease #cdc #virus #vaccination #infected #hospital #sick #pandemic

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Do you have a sleep disorder?

Before you start making changes to your lifestyle, it may be a good idea to talk to your doctor about the potential of having a sleep disorder. According to Harvard University, there are many different types of sleep disorders, from insomnia to obstructive sleep apnea, the latter of which can be fatal. Rule out any serious medical concerns before moving forward.

Diet and exercise

Now that that’s out of the way, take a look at your diet. If you’re pregnant, you may have started eating differently than you did before. Hopefully, this means that you’ve added lots of healthy foods to your diet. But even the healthiest dinner can keep you awake all night if it’s too heavy. First, as your abdomen expands, it takes less food to feel full. Plus, your body — and sense of smell — reacts differently to even your favorite foods, meaning that tacos may wind up giving you unbearable heartburn until delivery. Instead of overdoing it at the dinner table, have a light meal and a healthy snack before bed. You can also use this trick on children who tend to toss and turn the first part of the night.

Did you know that certain minerals and vitamins can improve your sleep quality? Calcium, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins D and E can all give you a little extra help sleeping, so make sure you’re taking a quality multivitamin. A multivitamin can also reduce sluggishness and prevent your mood from dipping.

You’ll also want to make sure you’re getting plenty of exercise since this is the best way to wear your body out and bring on uninterrupted slumber.

Environmental factors

Your behaviors are only one thing that can bring on unwelcomed insomnia. If your family hasn’t purchased new mattresses in a few years, it’s time to start evaluating your sleep styles. Many adults find that sleeping on a firmer mattress is most comfortable. Kids, however, might cozy up better on a soft bed with a down topper. A good mattress to try is Purple, which is a middle-of-the-road brand (it’s not luxury, but it’s not low-end either). When picking a mattress, keep your body weight in mind. If you’re on the larger side, the firmer, the better since your body weight will exert more force on the top few layers, making a mattress that the kids would call “brick-like” feel a bit too soft and squishy for you.

If you’ve switched mattress out and still can’t sleep, pay attention to the temperature. Most experts agree that somewhere in the mid-60s is good for sleep. But, if you have hormones swirling through your blood, you may experience night sweats, which can wake you from a deep sleep. Consider changing your bedding to a material that wicks moisture away and can handle frequent laundering. Keep in mind that night sweats are not just for moms; people of all ages – about three percent of the population – experience it due to medication, diabetes, or, for women, menopause.

Finally, if you’re eating well and have a comfortable surface to rest on at night, you may have to concede that the problem is your bed partner. Snoring and tossing and turning from the other side of the bed isn’t pleasant. And as much as you may not want to, there is no shame in separating bedrooms temporarily. This applies not only to husbands but to kids and pets as well. You can always try sleeping in earplugs or with a sound machine if noise is the only issue.

Remember, sleep isn’t a luxury – at least it should not be. Getting eight hours on most nights is one of the best ways to improve your mood and your health overall. It is not always easy when you have a growing family, but making a few changes, such as eating well and utilizing a mattress that fits your sleep style, is a good start.

Julia Merrill

The post Here’s How to Get More ZZZs appeared first on Good News!.

A recent study predicts that the number of people with the bone-thinning disease will double by the year 2040 – so the time to learn about your risk is now.

In recognition of World Osteoporosis Day on October 20th, we have here with us Dr. Andrea Singer, director of Women’s Primary Care and Bone Densitometry, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medicine at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. to tell us more.

Dr. Andrea Singer Biography: Andrea Singer, MD, FACP, CCD is Associate Professor of Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. After graduating from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, Dr. Singer completed her residency training in internal medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center. Dr. Singer is currently Division Director of Women’s Primary Care within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She is also Director of the Bone Densitometry Program, is a Certified Clinical Densitometrist, and is the Medical Director of the MedStar Georgetown Fracture Liaison Service. Dr. Singer is also Clinical Director of the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) and a member of the Board of Trustees. Dr. Singer is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine. She is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, a member of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry, the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the North American Menopause Society, and the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists. Dr. Singer is also an Amgen spokesperson. Her interests include the primary care of women, midlife women’s health, osteoporosis, sexuality and sexual dysfunction, weight management, fibromyalgia, and depression in women, and she has published and lectured extensively in these areas.

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