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The Health IDEA
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These 8 tips from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) will help you enjoy the Spring season instead of sitting it out indoors.
By following these 8 commonsense tactics from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), you can get ahead of your allergies and keep them in the rear-view mirror all season long.
(BPT) - Spring. The time of year when, as poet Alfred Lord Tennyson famously said, a young man’s (and woman’s) fancy "lightly turns to thoughts of love." That is, of course, if you're not sneezing, coughing or dealing with itchy eyes. Spring allergies seem to get worse every year. Is there anything you can do to avoid them?
Yes, says allergist Todd Mahr, MD, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). “You might feel like suffering from allergies is going to happen every spring no matter what, but there are ways to help alleviate your symptoms.” These 8 ACAAI tips will help you enjoy the season instead of sitting it out indoors. 1. See an allergist. Before the season kicks in, make an appointment with an allergist to find out exactly what is causing those itchy, watery eyes. Discovering the allergen that you’re reacting to is the first step in treating it. The ACAAI’s Allergist Locator can help you find a board-certified allergist in your area. 2. Find out if it’s allergies or asthma. Or both. The symptoms from asthma can be similar to those of allergies. To make matters worse, allergies plus asthma can be a one-two punch for some allergy sufferers. Almost 75 percent of asthma sufferers also have allergies. Your allergist can diagnose what's causing your symptoms and offer suggestions for treatment so you can start living the life you want to live. 3. Consider allergy shots… They may be the best way to treat tree, grass, mold, dust mite, cat and dog allergies. Allergy shots are immunotherapy. That means your allergist will gradually give you increasingly larger doses of whatever you’re allergic to. There are also tablets that melt under your tongue to treat allergies to ragweed, grass pollen and dust mites. Both forms create a tolerance within your immune system. 4. …or get a prescription. Research has shown that most allergy sufferers find prescription medications more effective than those they can get over the counter. But most people don't go in search of a prescription. An allergist can discover exactly what you’re allergic to and prescribe the right medication to ease your symptoms. 5. Start medication before the season hits. Don’t wait. Much like successful pain management involves getting in front of pain before it kicks into high gear, by taking your allergy medications before the worst symptoms develop, you’ll be doing a lot to alleviate those symptoms. If you usually start feeling it in March or April, start taking your medications in February. 6. Commit to a thorough spring cleaning. It's not just to give the house a fresh look after the long winter. A deep clean will reduce allergens like mold, which build up in basements and other areas where you might not go every day. It’s also a great way to get rid of the pet hair and dander that have built up in places like your sofa. Wash throw rugs regularly, too, in hot water. 7. Wash the day away before going to bed. Take a shower and wash your hair before hitting the hay to rinse away pollen and other allergens you've picked up during the day. Similarly, wash your sheets and bedding once a week in hot water. 8. Use the AC. It’s tempting to throw open the windows and let that fresh spring air waft into the house. The only problem is, pollen and other allergens will waft in with it. Instead, use your air conditioner and make sure the filter is clean. Change your filter every three months and use one with a MERV rating of 11 or 12. With a few commonsense tactics, you can get ahead of your allergies and keep them in the rear-view mirror all season long. About ACAAI The ACAAI is a professional medical organization of more than 6,000 allergists-immunologists and allied health professionals, headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill. The College fosters a culture of collaboration and congeniality in which its members work together and with others toward the common goals of patient care, education, advocacy and research. ACAAI allergists are board-certified physicians trained to diagnose allergies and asthma, administer immunotherapy and provide patients with the best treatment outcomes. For more information and to find relief, visit AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org. Join us on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.
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Why home delivery of prescription medications may be a very smart - and money saving - move for you!
One big change transforming how we receive health care services is home delivery of prescription medications. But is this option right for you? Susan Peppers, vice president of pharmacy practice at Express Scripts, answers the six most frequently asked questions about home delivery for prescription medications.
(BPT) - In recent years, technology has changed every aspect of our daily life. We interact with friends and family on social media, use the GPS to guide us to our desired destination, and products we buy online are delivered right to our home.
One big change transforming how we receive health care services is home delivery of prescription medications. But is this option right for you? Susan Peppers, vice president of pharmacy practice at Express Scripts, answers the six most frequently asked questions about home delivery for prescription medications. 1. Is home delivery an option for the medications I take on a regular basis? Home delivery is best used when you are on medications for a chronic condition because it removes the burden of remembering to get a prescription refilled by the patient and encourages adherence to the prescribed therapy. These drugs, which can also be referred to as maintenance medications, are the ones your doctor prescribes to manage long-term health conditions, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes. 2. Could I save money through home delivery? Yes. When using home delivery for your prescription medications you will receive a 90-day supply. This could save up to approximately 66 percent in out-of-pocket expenses when compared to the cost of filling prescriptions at retail. With no-cost standard shipping, home delivery could be a great way to also save on gas costs associated with the trip to the pharmacy. 3. What if I have questions about my medications? Home delivery pharmacies include 24/7 access to specialist pharmacists, trained in chronic and complex diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes, available online or on the phone. A pharmacist can answer questions regarding your medication or a reaction you may be having to your medication all in the privacy and convenience of your home. These pharmacists are also at work behind the scenes reviewing prescriptions before they are dispensed to prevent the possibility of harmful interactions. 4. Will I get my next prescription on time? Medications are automatically sent in advance of when your previous prescription will run out and usually delivered within four days. You can also call or go online to check on the status of your order. If you are traveling for an extended period within the U.S., you could request the medication be delivered to the address where you will be staying. 5. Why can home delivery be good for my health? In addition to saving time and money, studies have shown that home delivery can improve adherence to medications. Adherence, or taking your medications as prescribed by your doctor, is one of the most important things you can do to manage chronic conditions and improve your health outcomes. 6. How do I make sure my temperature-sensitive medication is properly managed through home delivery? Temperature-protective coolers can ensure medications stay within a safe temperature range — even if the package is sitting outside for several hours after delivery. At Express Scripts we use new technology that takes into consideration the acceptable temperature range for each medication and the entire forecasted weather patterns that the medication will pass through along its journey to the patient’s home to determine how and when to deliver the medication. “A home delivery pharmacy is a great alternative for those wanting to save money on their prescription medications,” said Peppers. “With a dispensing accuracy rate that is greater than 99.9995 percent, and leading-edge systems and technology that carefully monitors each prescription, we are proud to continue forging new paths in healthcare.”
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Angela, an early-stage breast cancer patient, used the test to inform her treatment.
While no two breast cancer patients — or their tumors — are alike, there is only one predictive genomic test to help doctors prescribe individualized treatment with definitive information about the benefit of chemotherapy. The test, which is covered by Medicare and most private health insurance providers, can help patients with early-stage breast cancer determine if they are among the approximately 70,000 women each year who can avoid chemotherapy and its unnecessary side effects while still receiving effective treatment.
(BPT) - New results from the largest ever clinical study of early-stage breast cancer patients are changing the game when it comes to who should receive chemotherapy treatment.
The study, called TAILORx (Trial Assigning Individualized Options for Treatment (Rx)), used the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® genomic test to determine exactly who will benefit from treatment with chemotherapy. Approximately 260,000 women are diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer each year in the U.S., and each of them must decide if chemotherapy is necessary to treat their disease or if they can be effectively treated with hormone therapy alone. Published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the groundbreaking study clearly identified that 70 percent of women with early-stage breast cancer receive no benefit from chemotherapy and the minority of women for whom chemotherapy can be life-saving. Dr. Ray Lin, co-director of the Breast Cancer Program at Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center in San Diego and one of the principal investigators of the study, has been using the test to inform personalized treatment recommendations for breast cancer patients at his medical practice for several years. “The recent results, which studied more than 10,000 women, are changing the way that doctors around the world treat the disease by making regular use of the Oncotype DX test in breast cancer diagnosis and individualized treatment,” said Lin. With this new information, doctors can now provide patients with a clear yes or no recommendation about undergoing chemotherapy based on their genomic test score. Used for early-stage breast cancer patients, the test assesses the level of activity of 21 cancer-related genes generating a Recurrence Score result — a number between 0 and 100. A Recurrence Score result in the range of 0-25 means that cancer is less likely to come back if treated with hormonal therapy alone and that chemotherapy will not change the clinical outcomes in most patients over hormonal treatment. A Recurrence Score result in the range 26-100 suggests a greater risk that cancer will come back, and that chemotherapy is very likely to provide substantial benefit in reducing this risk in addition to hormone therapy. At age 42, Angela was diagnosed with breast cancer after her annual mammogram. Following a mastectomy, her doctor recommended hormonal therapy and chemotherapy. She was hesitant to pursue chemotherapy after learning about its immediate side effects and potential long-term effects. As a mother of four, she was worried that chemo would inhibit her ability to care for her family and her parents, who relied on her. Then, her friend suggested she ask her doctor about the test to help her make a more informed decision about whether or not to undergo chemotherapy. “My Oncotype DX score was a 22 and provided me with information I could count on to create an optimal treatment plan for my cancer, giving me increased confidence to forgo chemotherapy,” said Angela. She recommends checking out www.mybreastcancertreatment.org to learn more about her story and for patient-friendly resources on breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. While no two breast cancer patients — or their tumors — are alike, there is only one predictive genomic test to help doctors prescribe individualized treatment with definitive information about the benefit of chemotherapy. The test, which is covered by Medicare and most private health insurance providers, can help patients with early-stage breast cancer determine if they are among the approximately 70,000 women each year who can avoid chemotherapy and its unnecessary side effects while still receiving effective treatment. Patients and caregivers can visit http://www.mybreastcancertreatment.org/ to determine if they are eligible for the test and for resources to help explain treatment options and prepare for appointments.
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Helpful Tips to Choose the Right Doctor for You and Your Family
Choosing a new doctor is an important decision that nearly everyone experiences at one time or another, whether it’s finding a new family physician or pediatrician after a move or searching for a specialist after being diagnosed with a condition such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer. This information can help you find the right physician for your and your family.
Choosing the Right Doctor for You and Your Family
(Family Features) What matters to you when finding a doctor to treat you or your family members? A recent survey commissioned by the American Board of Medical Specialties found that four out of five people ranked Board Certification as an important factor when selecting a doctor, second only to whether the doctor is covered by their insurance. Choosing a new doctor is an important decision that nearly everyone experiences at one time or another, whether it’s finding a new family physician or pediatrician after a move or searching for a specialist after being diagnosed with a condition such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer. When selecting a physician, you want to know the doctor you choose is qualified and that you and your family will receive the best care. Board Certified doctors hold themselves to a higher standard and have demonstrated their knowledge and expertise in their specialty. This higher standard has been found to be important to patients. “Choosing a doctor is one of the most important decisions you’ll make regarding your health,” said Richard E. Hawkins, MD, president and chief executive officer, American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the leading not-for-profit organization overseeing physician certification in the United States. “Today’s patients have a greater expectation for quality. Board Certified physicians offer people confidence that their doctor has the specialized knowledge, skills and clinical judgment to provide the high-quality care they expect and deserve.” 
What is Board Certification?
To find a Board Certified doctor near you, visit CertificationMatters.org. Photos courtesy of Getty Images SOURCE:American Board of Medical Specialties KEYWORDS
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Exciting new research on how Nicotine may help treat memory loss
A study funded by the National Institutes of Health is testing whether the nicotine patch can improve memory and functioning in people who have mild memory loss or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
Nicotine to Help Treat Memory Loss?
(Family Features) A study funded by the National Institutes of Health is testing whether the nicotine patch can improve memory and functioning in people who have mild memory loss or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The largest and longest running study of its kind, the MIND (Memory Improvement through Nicotine Dosing) Study is looking for 300 volunteers at sites across the United States who have mild memory loss but are otherwise healthy, non-smokers over the age of 55. “The MIND Study will provide valuable information for researchers with regard to early memory loss that is associated with normal aging and early Alzheimer’s disease, but we need volunteers if we are going to succeed,” said Dr. Paul Newhouse, MD, director of the Vanderbilt Center for Cognitive Medicine and lead investigator for the MIND Study. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, approximately one in five people age 65 or older have mild memory loss or MCI and are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Currently, there is no FDA-approved medication indicated to treat this condition; however, nicotine stimulates an area in the brain known to be important for thinking and memory, and scientists believe it could be an effective treatment for adults with MCI. “People often think nicotine is addictive and harmful because it is in tobacco products, but it’s safe when used in patch form,” Newhouse said. “Nicotine is an inexpensive, readily available treatment that could have significant benefits for people experiencing mild memory impairment.” The MIND Study needs 300 people to enroll in sites across the United States. Researchers are looking for healthy, non-smoking adults over the age of 55 who are in the earliest stages of memory loss to participate in the MIND Study.
Potential study volunteers can learn more by visiting MINDStudy.org or calling 1-866-MIND-150. Photo courtesy of Getty Images SOURCE:Memory Improvement through Nicotine Dosing (MIND) KEYWORDS
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