Although pain is one of the most common reasons that people visit the doctor, managing it can be complicated.

So, what’s a patient—or a doctor – to do?  Here to talk about the unmet need in treating acute pain is Dr. David Dalury, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery (Emeritus) at the University of Maryland.

vrtx.com 

The results show how patients’ lives are affected by acute pain:

70% say it limits them from walking and exercising.
69% says it limits their sleep.
65% says it affects their hobbies and leisure activities.
65% say it made them feel irritable or emotionally drained.
Patients reported missing an average of 19 working days annually.

Pain is one of the most common reasons that people visit the doctor; however, treatment options for the various types and causes of pain remain limited.i,ii,iii

Approximately 40 million Americans with acute pain are prescribed an opioid to manage their discomfort each year.vii Although opioids can be effective, they also carry a labeled risk of addiction.viii In fact, roughly 85,000 U.S. adults are expected to develop opioid use disorder (OUD) within a year of their prescribed treatment of acute pain.vii

Health care providers may prescribe either acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as alternatives for milder pain or additions to opioids for severe acute pain; while these treatments are generally well tolerated, they may have limited effectiveness, particularly for moderate-to-severe acute pain.viii,ix

The survey also shows that:

77% of patients say they are interested in trying a different pain medication if they experience acute pain again.
52% say they are seeking a new pain medication with fewer side effects than their last medication.
31% say they stopped taking their medication before their pain was resolved.
On Wednesday, December 4th, Dr. David Dalury Professor of Orthopedic Surgery (Emeritus) at the University of Maryland will be available to discuss the survey results and help raise awareness about the unmet need in current pain management options and offer solutions.

Tell me about the State of Pain survey. What did it evaluate?​

Can you tell us some of the key findings? What did you learn? ​

Why is it important to focus on pain management right now? ​

Where can people learn more about the State of Pain survey?​

Interview is courtesy: Vertex Pharmaceuticals

#drdaviddalury #vertexpharmaceuticals #pain #orthopedicsurgery

The post NEW SURVEY ON PAIN SHOWS HOW IT DISRUPTS EVERYDAY LIFE & WHY THERE’S A NEED FOR ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS appeared first on Good News!.

As one of six children, born in Brownsville and raised in South Jamaica by a single mom who cleaned houses, Eric and his family did not always know if they would come home to an eviction notice on the front door or food on the table. And when he was beaten by police in the basement of a precinct house at 15, Eric faced a life-changing act of injustice.
But instead of giving into anger, Eric turned his pain into purpose and decided to change the police department from within. He joined the NYPD and became one of its most outspoken officers, calling out racism and bias in the department and pushing for major reforms.
As a founder of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, Eric would often police the streets in a bulletproof vest one day during the high-crime 1980’s and 1990’s and protest bad behavior by cops the next, marching side-by-side with his fellow civil rights advocates. He rose to the rank of captain, helping to build the first computerized system for tracking crime in the city, which led to historic gains in public safety.
Eric’s efforts to change policing began his lifelong work to improve and protect New York. From the NYPD, he moved on to the State Senate, where he represented sections of central and Brownstone Brooklyn. In Albany, Eric built winning coalitions to advance New York City’s values and goals, helping to push through measures to protect tenants and workers, combat gun violence, end the NYPD’s abuses of stop and frisk, and advance human rights — including marriage equality. He also became the first person of color to chair the Senate’s Homeland Security Committee.
Eric was then elected Brooklyn Borough President in 2013 by putting together a diverse coalition of Brooklynites to become the borough’s first Black leader. As the representative of one of the nation’s largest counties, Eric fought tirelessly to grow the local economy, invest in schools, reduce inequality, improve public safety, and advocate for smart policies and better government that delivers for all New Yorkers.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck the city, Eric moved a mattress into his office and worked around the clock to deliver donated meals and PPE to essential workers and vulnerable New Yorkers, demanding government produce more equitable relief.
In addition to continuing to fight for struggling New Yorkers and a better quality of life for all, Eric became a national leader on public health policy after learning he had developed Type 2 diabetes. Following his diagnosis, Eric completely changed his diet and his body, reversing the disease and launching a personal mission to educate New Yorkers about preventative care and wellness. His work has already led to successful proactive public health efforts across the city and increased education in schools and with high-risk populations in lower-income areas, partnering with civic organizations and health experts.
Eric is a lifelong New Yorker. He received his master’s degree in public administration from Marist College, and is a graduate of New York City Technical College and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is also a proud product of New York City public schools, including Bayside High School in Queens. Today he lives in Bedford-Stuyvesant, where he has resided for over 20 years. Eric is the proud father of Jordan, an aspiring filmmaker and a graduate of American University.

Pastor Gil Monrose – Gilford Monrose is a pastor, philanthropist, and a proud husband and father, renowned for using his platform to bring together people of all backgrounds. Pastor Gil proves that a flourishing city is not a soulless one by bridging the gap between communities, congregations, government, and law enforcement in his everyday work as the Faith Advisor for the Mayor Eric Adams of New York City. He is appointed to expand the Center For Faith and Community Partnerships. This office sector builds bridges among City government, diverse religious communities and nonprofit organizations to better serve all New Yorkers.

“Leading, building, and promoting the awakening of a generation of socially conscious and free thinking leaders.”

#mayorericadams #pastorgilmonrose #marklindeno’meara #earthday #manhattangoesgreen

The post Mayor Adams and Pastor Gil Monrose share a MOTHER EARTH POES at the Earth Day, Times Square Concert, titled Manhattan Goes Green on April 22, 2024. appeared first on Good News!.

One in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness. Some people living with a mental health condition may also experience an involuntary movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia (TD). TD is a chronic condition, associated with taking certain mental health medicines (antipsychotics) to treat conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, or anxiety disorder. It is unlikely to improve without treatment.
Approximately 600,000 people in the U.S. may be affected by TD, yet only approximately 25% have been diagnosed. The condition is characterized by uncontrollable, abnormal, and repetitive movements often seen in the face, torso, limbs, and fingers or toes. It can impact patients socially, emotionally, and physically–these movements can cause worry, frustration, and self-consciousness. According to a survey of 350 patients with diagnosed or suspected TD, patients reported the condition moderately or extremely affected them in the following areas:

Ability to work: 46%

Ability to sleep: 53%

Ability to eat & drink: 35%

Despite the number of people impacted by the condition, many people are still unfamiliar with TD. However, for patients living with the condition, their families, and their care partners it’s important to know they’re not alone.

As of this year, 50 states and Washington, D.C. and various advocacy groups have recognized Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week as the first full week of May (May 1-7, 2022) to support people in the U.S. with TD. May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, and as efforts are underway to increase awareness and support for those impacted by mental health conditions, it’s important to remember those living with a mental illness and taking antipsychotics for a prolonged time may develop or already have TD.

Dr. Rakesh Jain, Clinical Professor Department of Psychiatry, Texas Tech University School of Medicine, Austin, TX, will be available to discuss the emotional, physical, and social impact of TD as well as talk about the condition’s signs and symptoms. Dr. Jain will also explain how critical TD Awareness Week is to those living with a mental health condition and TD.

Interview courtesy: Neurocrine Biosciences

#maymentalhealthawareness #tardivedyskinesia #disorder #tdcondition #medicines #antipsychotics bipolardisorder #schizoaffectivedisorder #depression #anxietydisorder #treatment #abilitywork #abilutysleep #abilityeatdrink #neurocrinebiosciences #rakeshjain

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Americans may not realize it but if they are tossing their prescription medicines in the household trash or flushing them down the toilet, they are actually adding to the nation’s pollution problem and potentially harming our critical natural resources.

After being flushed or poured down the drain, many medications pass through sewer and septic systems. Because these systems can’t always treat or remove all the medications, they may end up in streams, lakes, and groundwater. This can cause adverse effects in fish and other aquatic wildlife as well as unintentional human exposure to chemicals.

In addition to harming our environment, disposing of medication in the trash, makes it easier for drugs to fall into the wrong hands and continue the cycle of misuse.

A recent survey showed that Americans often hold on to their unused prescriptions for future use, for fear of their illness returning or because they don’t know how to get rid of them. In fact, 47% of Americans currently have 1-3 bottles of unused prescriptions in their medicine cabinet followed by 8% with 4-6 bottles, 2% with more than 10 bottles and 2% with 7-10 bottles.

With no knowledge of safe disposal practices, one in four (25%) Americans admit to flushing leftover/unused prescription drugs down the drain, and another 25% toss unused prescriptions in the trash.

But you can be part of the solution to this problem. There’s a helpful strategy easily available that can help: drug deactivation and disposal pouches. They’re a safe, effective choice that can be used to destroy and properly dispose of unused, unwanted, and expired medications. With the simple addition of tap water, any medications placed in a pouch are rendered harmless by its patented activated carbon technology. Then, the plant-based pouch is completely safe to dispose of in normal household trash, preventing contamination of landfills and water systems.

Nancy Devine, Verde Environmental Technologies Inc. Chief Operating Officer as she outlines what you can do to be greener at home beginning this Earth Day. She’ll also provide details on how to keep your medications from polluting the environment by using safe deactivation and disposal methods.

Interview is courtesy: Verde Environmental Technologies www.deterrasystem.com

#deterrasystem #nancydevine #pollutionproblems #protecttheenvironment #americans #medicines #trash #toilet #meds #prescriptions #waste #medication #verdeenvironmentaltechnologies #safe

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LORETTA- TELL US ABOUT YOUR STORY.

DOCTOR, EXPLAIN WHY IT IS NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL SITUATION FOR TREATMENTS

DOCTOR- DO YOU HAVE HOPE THAT SCIENTISTS WILL FIND A CURE OR MORE EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS FOR EPILEPSY PATIENTS IN YOUR LIFETIME?

LORETTA – WHAT DO YOU WANT OTHER EPILEPSY PATIENTS AND PATIENT ADVOCATES TO KNOW?

LORETTA- WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHERS WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH EPILEPSY OR HAVE A LOVED ONE WHO IS DIAGNOSED?

BIO: Dr. Henrik Klitgaard – Vice President and Fellow, UCB Medicines
Neuroscientist and epilepsy researcher
Henrik Klitgaard, PhD, is currently Vice President, UCB Fellow, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area and is located in Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium. He received a PhD in Human Physiology in 1989 at the August Krogh Institute at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. During his university career, Dr. Klitgaard worked at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France, and at Harvard University, Boston, US.

Dr. Klitgaard has published around 100 peer-reviewed original papers, reviews and book chapters, and is a frequent speaker at neuroscience and epilepsy science meetings. His memberships and accolades include a position on the U.S. National Institute of Health’s epilepsy advisory committee and membership on the Neurobiology Committees of both the International League Against Epilepsy and American Epilepsy Society. In 2013 he was the recipient of the Lifetime Accelerator Award of the Epilepsy Therapy Project and Epilepsy Foundation for his contribution to the advancement of therapies for the treatment of epilepsy.

For more than 25 years, Dr. Klitgaard has conducted antiepileptic drug (AED) discovery in the pharmaceutical industry. He has contributed numerous publications on basic and applied aspects of epilepsy research and has frequently been an invited speaker at epilepsy congresses and meetings. During his career in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Klitgaard has been involved in the discovery and development of several AEDs at both Novo Nordisk A/S and at UCB, most notably Levetiracetam and Brivaracetam.
 
BIO: Loretta – Epilepsy Patient and Advocate
Loretta has a long history of living with epilepsy, from her older sister’s epilepsy to her own seizures as a teenager, to the epilepsy diagnoses of three of her sons. During her own seizures, Loretta struggled with feeling different. Even after she gained greater seizure control by getting serious about taking her various epilepsy medications as directed, something she continues to this day, the stigma lingered.
But the real challenges with epilepsy began when her son Daniel began having seizures as a toddler. The number of his daily seizures skyrocketed and the family had trouble keeping track of his seizures. Although Daniel was on medication, the seizures continued and he began having severe side effects that affected his behavior. Brain surgery and a VNS implant did little to lessen his seizures.
She didn’t give up on finding something that would help Daniel, and eventually worked with his doctor to add a new medication that would control his partial seizures. Today, they’ve found medication that works for Daniel and he is able to live and work more independently.
Despite SUDEP taking the lives of two of her three sons, Loretta has made peace with epilepsy being part of her life. As an Epilepsy Advocate, Loretta hopes sharing her personal experiences will build further awareness and understanding on living well with epilepsy.

The post SCIENTISTS RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING CUTTING-EDGE ADVANCES IN MEDICINE THAT TREAT THEIR ILLNESS. appeared first on Good News!.

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