Category: Health

Instead of relying on sugar substitutes, individuals should reduce their consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and opt for raw or lightly processed fruit as a source of sweetness. The new guidelines aim to assist government health organizations in implementing policy changes based on the latest scientific analysis.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation includes both low or no-calorie synthetic sweeteners and natural extracts, such as acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia and stevia derivatives, and monk fruit. According to Francesco Branca, stevia and monk fruit are newer sweeteners with less published research, but they likely share a similar physiological mechanism with other sweeteners. He states, “We cannot say they are different from the others based on the data we have — they play the same role.”

Branca emphasizes the importance of reducing dependence on free sugars and non-nutritive sweeteners, particularly in early childhood. Registered dietitian Lisa Drayer suggests training your taste buds by gradually cutting back on sugar, including artificial sweeteners, and incorporating more protein and fiber-rich foods into your diet. Additionally, she advises Sportschoosing no-sugar-added foods, avoiding sugar-sweetened drinks, enjoying fruit for dessert, and being aware of hidden sugars in various food products.

By checking nutrition facts labels and recognizing alternative names for added sugars, individuals can make healthier choices and reduce their sugar intake. This approach can help tame one’s sweet tooth and lessen dependence on sugar and sweeteners.

After more than three long years, the Covid-19 pandemic is finally coming to an end. On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that Covid-19 no longer poses a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, while the United States is set to end its own public health emergency declaration on Thursday. However, this news doesn’t mean that the world is entirely out of the woods. “Although it is a very good sign, it doesn’t mean America or the world is entirely out of the woods,” states a recent news article.

Throughout the pandemic, the United States has been described as a patient by numerous health experts. The end of the public health emergency can be considered as the patient’s discharge from the hospital after a lengthy illness. This discharge follows numerous setbacks and improvements, from stints in the ICU to triumphs of modern medicine and human ingenuity.

However, it’s imperative that all countries keep a close eye on the situation as Covid-19 is still a global threat. Last week, the WHO’s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee decided that the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) should end as a result of decreasing Covid-19-related hospitalizations and deaths, as well as high levels of immunity in the population. The committee advised that it’s time to transition to long-term management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“During the process of transitioning from emergency to long-term, the level of concern is lower,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s Covid-19 technical lead and head of its program on emerging diseases. “While we’re not in crisis mode, we can’t let our guard down. The disease and the coronavirus that causes it are here to stay.”

The WHO also wants to ensure that the pandemic is under control and that everyone follows health regulations, including testing, monitoring, and follow-up appointments, to prevent the possibility of a readmission.

“Covid-19 is still a global threat because the virus can continue to evolve and spread,” said Van Kerkhove. “We need to carefully watch for new variant strains, especially in unvaccinated populations. We also need to ensure that vaccines are accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live.”

The United States has designated May 11 as the date to end its public health emergency, which was declared in response to the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The declaration, which has been renewed 13 times, has given the US government wide-ranging flexibility in the fight against COVID-19. It has allowed for the implementation of certain policies and actions, such as a wider social safety net and free access for Americans to COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments. However, as the pandemic situation improves, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will lose access to some data used to measure the severity of the pandemic and guide its public health recommendations.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director, said that at the end of the public health emergency, the CDC will have less access to data. “We will lose our percent positivity. We won’t get laboratory reporting. We won’t get case reporting. So we’ll lose some of that,” she said. Nevertheless, the CDC is “not changing the steam at which we are working through this resolving this public health emergency.” The agency will continue to closely monitor the virus around the country, using novel approaches like genomic sequencing and wastewater testing.

The expiration of the public health emergency declaration means an end to some programs and actions, while others will wind down slowly, and some will remain in place. The US Department of Health and Human Services announced the extension of the public health emergency for the last time, subsequently allowing it to expire. The decision means that the government will no longer have the wide-ranging flexibility it once had in the fight against the pandemic.

Despite the end of the public health emergency, many Americans remain concerned about the pandemic. Experts say people must remain vigilant in adhering to precautions, such as wearing masks and social distancing, to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 infections. The CDC recommends that people continue to get vaccinated and follow its guidelines for preventing the spread of the virus.

The end of the US public health emergency does not mean the end of the pandemic. It marks a significant milestone in the fight against COVID-19, but precautions must still be taken to prevent the spread of the virus. As Dr. Walensky said, “We must remain vigilant. Nobody wants to see the patient readmitted to the hospital.”

As Covid-19 continues to ravage countries across the globe, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the end of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for the disease. However, this is not an indication that the pandemic has ended, but rather that it has shifted from an emergency phase to an endemic one. The move is a recognition of the fact that the virus is unlikely to be eradicated, and that it may become a permanent part of the infectious diseases that societies must manage, like the flu.

To understand the decision, it is important to look at the trends in the numbers. The end of January 2020 saw the first PHEIC declaration by the WHO, when no deaths had been reported in the US. Since then, there have been almost 9,900 new hospital admissions related to Covid-19 in the US for the week ending May 1, and around 1,050 deaths per week at the end of April. As a medical professional, the author stresses that while absolute numbers are important, trends are more significant in understanding the course of an illness.

Downward Trend

The decision to end Public Health Emergency (PHE) status in the US may appear premature, given the nearly 9,900 new Covid-related hospital admissions and 1,050 deaths per week. But in medicine, trends tell a richer, more complete story than absolute numbers alone. In this case, while cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are still high, they are moving in the right direction. This trend applies globally and prompted WHO’s decision to end the PHEIC declaration. However, WHO would not hesitate to declare a new global health emergency if necessary.

The philosophical question that arises is how much Covid-related sickness and death societies are willing to tolerate to avoid disruptions to daily life. It’s a question public health and other experts have grappled with for three years. The answer comes down to the number of Covid deaths societies can accept in exchange for restoring normalcy.

If the US maintained its weekly death rate at the end of April for an entire year, Covid would cause around 54,700 deaths annually, comparable to a bad influenza season. However, effective public health strategies, such as wearing high-quality masks and improving indoor ventilation, can only do so much. Social responsibility and collective action are also necessary.

“The pandemic continues to pose a severe threat, but hope is on the horizon,” said Dr. Tedros of WHO. Vaccines have the power to control Covid but require global access to be an effective solution.

“The biggest risk we face now is complacency. People are tired, and understandably so. But we cannot give up. We must continue to do everything we can to save lives,” Tedros added.

Given this state of affairs, it is essential to remember that while the end of PHE calls for cautious optimism, the virus is likely to remain endemic in the long term. Experts recommend prioritizing vaccine access, implementing effective public health strategies, and continuing to monitor trends to prevent future outbreaks.

“We can’t just flip the switch and declare victory over a virus that isn’t done with us yet. This shift in the pandemic may feel sudden, but it’s been a long time coming,” says Dr. Sauers-Ford, a public health expert. “We need to remain vigilant to prevent future spikes in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.”

Doctor’s Orders on Moving Forward

As we come to the close of this pandemic chapter, it is important to remember that there are still many Americans who are concerned about contracting Covid-19, especially those who are older and sicker. According to the CDC, the risk of hospitalization for those 75 and older is 9 to 15 times higher than for those who are 18 to 29. Additionally, people with pre-existing conditions, such as asthma, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, or severe obesity, have a higher risk of severe illness and hospitalization.

The pandemic has underscored the importance of good health, and the United States’ collective poor health put us at a disadvantage. While we had resources to fight the pandemic, we must focus on improving our overall health. “No amount of wealth can buy good health,” as Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon and CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, writes.

As people begin to venture out of the hospital and back into the world, it is essential to remember a few precautions. If you are sick, stay at home. Talk to your doctor about keeping a course of oral antivirals, such as Paxlovid, in your medicine cabinet if you are at higher risk of hospitalization or death. According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, “If you are vaccinated and boosted and have available therapy, you are not going to die [of Covid], no matter how old you are.” This should be reassuring for people, especially those in their 80s or older.

Furthermore, it is crucial to take care of your health to feel better, happier, and stronger now and in the future. Invest in yourself by adopting healthy habits such as eating well, exercising, and engaging in activities that promote mental and physical well-being.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, we have found ways to adapt, learn, and grow. We can use this experience as a launching point for personal growth and make conscious decisions that support our well-being and that of others.

Dr. Gupta writes, “I wish my patient well. I wish us all well.” Let us move forward with a renewed commitment to our health and well-being.

A year into the pandemic, the impact on physicians varied based on specialties, personal experiences and geography. But physicians now face staffing shortages, anti-science aggression, incivility and new dimensions of moral distress. These factors have contributed to a sharp increase in the burnout rate to 63% this year, compared to previous years. Professional fulfilment, on the other hand, refers to the sense of satisfaction and enjoyment that emanates from work.

Between Dec. 9, 2021, and Jan. 24, 2022, nearly 2,500 U.S. physicians responded to a survey conducted by researchers from the AMA, the Mayo Clinic, Stanford University School of Medicine and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Their findings were alarming, with professional fulfilment scores dropping from 40% in 2020 to a mere 22.4% in 2021.

The study says that “At the organization level, a number of randomized and controlled trials as well as systematic reviews and meta-analyses have reported that organizational interventions both work and are critical to creating an organizational culture and practice environment that cultivates professional fulfilment”.

In light of the reported decline in professional fulfillment and increased burnout among physicians, here are six ways to make a difference and improve joy and meaning in work:

Build Resilient Health Systems

Resilient health systems support and protect the individuals within. To address the systemic drivers of physician burnout and support the full spectrum of professional fulfillment and well-being, it is important to use feedback from physicians to drive meaningful changes, have critical conversations and track progress.

Measure the State of Staff Well-being

Ochsner performs an “Organizational Biopsy™,” which includes a burnout assessment and an expanded set of questions across key domains of organizational culture, practice efficiency and individual self-care. This allows leaders to identify drivers of professional fulfillment and assess issues such as intent to reduce work hours or leave the organization at granular department and service-line levels, while also benchmarking against other health systems.

Ease In-Basket Burden to Restore Joy in Medicine

The pandemic led to a 57% increase in patient medical advice requests via inbox messages, and the increased work demands have become the new normal for physicians. This added workload has cut into physicians’ time, and each message adds an extra 2.32 minutes of EHR active-use time while also contributing to physician burnout. Some organizations have found ways to ease this in-basket burden to restore joy in medicine. For instance, Atrius Health was able to cut the inbox volume by 25% for primary care physicians who previously received about 100 messages daily.

Gain Insight into an Organization

A chief wellness officer (CWO) can help an organization systematically improve and maintain the well-being of physicians and other health professionals. However, before implementing changes, it is important for the CWO to study and understand the organization.

Improve Organizational Culture

To reduce burnout, interventions like advanced models of team-based care with in-room support can improve practice efficiency. At the same time, interventions to improve organizational culture, including connections with colleagues and improved local leadership, can improve professional fulfillment and reduce burnout.

Focus on Joy and Meaning in Medicine

Achieving joy and meaning in medicine is essential, especially in today’s context. Organizations aiming to help physicians and other health professionals attain joy and meaning in medicine need to focus on improving operational efficiency and care experience.

Reducing physician burnout remains a critical component of the AMA Recovery Plan for America’s Physicians. The AMA develops resources that prioritize well-being and highlight workflow changes so physicians can focus on what matters: patient care. “It’s critical that we address this issue now so that we can rebuild the health care workforce and maintain access to care for millions of Americans,” said Susan R. Bailey, MD, president of the AMA.

Loneliness and social isolation have become prevalent issues that are affecting the mental and physical health of Americans, according to a warning from the surgeon general issued on Tuesday. The advisory is the first of its kind to address the problem of loneliness. It points out a 2021 poll that found more than half of Americans are lonely, with young adults twice as likely to feel isolated as those over 65.

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, who has written a book on the subject “Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World,” is calling for the country to strengthen its social fabric by prioritizing meaningful relationships. Dr. Murthy advises that everyone can benefit from rebuilding and cultivating connections with others, regardless of whether they consider themselves lonely or not. In light of this, he has offered some practical advice on addressing loneliness.

Dr. Murthy emphasizes the importance of acknowledging loneliness as a normal and prevalent experience. In seeking solutions, he encourages people to build up their support networks by prioritizing relationships and setting aside time for socializing. He advises setting realistic expectations when making connections, accepting that building strong relationships takes time and effort.

Dr. Murthy also recommends that people take steps to develop deeper connections through activities that involve shared interests and values. Social media can be helpful in fostering existing relationships, but Dr. Murthy recommends focusing on in-person interactions whenever possible. In conclusion, he emphasizes that loneliness affects everyone differently, and that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the problem of social isolation. However, by taking steps to strengthen our social bonds, we can all benefit from the healing power of human connection.

Nurture Relationships

Maintaining healthy relationships is a vital part of our lives. Whether it is familial or platonic, relationships require nurturing. Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, former Surgeon General of the United States, recommends taking 15 minutes each day to connect with a friend or family member. Dr. Murthy suggests putting a reminder in your calendar as a helpful tool to make this a priority.

“Those brief in-person interactions can make us feel good for a long time because we are hard-wired to connect,” says Dr. Murthy.

Dr. Murthy advises people to “be real” when conversing with others. You do not have to pretend to be someone you are not, just be the real you. At first, this might be scary, but remember that people are wired to connect. Sharing honestly and inviting others to reciprocate can be “incredibly powerful,” according to Dr. Murthy. Remember, your relationships need nurturing to thrive, so take time to connect with your loved ones.

Put Down Your Devices and Focus on In-Person Communication

Cell phones have the ability to distract us from personal interactions and reduce the quality of our relationships. It is important to give people our full attention, and to listen attentively to what they have to say. According to a recent report, despite the rise of social media, Americans report having fewer friends than they had in the past. This decrease in social connection has been attributed to disconnected communication caused by technology.

In-person communication enables the exchange of more than just words, but also allows for the exchange of nonverbal cues and a deeper experience of connection. It is important to remember to put down cell phones, reduce use of social media, and provide full attention while communicating in person to create more meaningful relationships.

“Over thousands of years we evolved to not only understand the content of what someone was saying but also to respond to the tone of their voice, to read their body language, and to experience their presence,” said Dr. Murthy, emphasizing the importance of face-to-face communication.

Don’t Ignore Calls, Pick Up and Talk

Imagine receiving a call from your college best friend whom you haven’t talked to for a while. However, instead of picking up, you decline the call, intending to call back later when you have enough time to talk.

Next time, Dr. Murthy said, pick up the phone and talk. If you’re in the middle of something, say, “Hey, it’s really good to hear your voice,” and then find another time to talk.

“That 10 seconds feels so much better than going back and forth on text,” he said.

Volunteering for Others Can Help Combat Loneliness

According to research, volunteering can alleviate loneliness and expand our social connections. You could contribute your time to a local organization or offer assistance to your family, colleagues, or acquaintances.

“When we help other people we establish an experience or a connection with them — but we also remind ourselves of the value that we bring to the world,” Dr. Murthy said. “And that’s essential because when people struggle with loneliness over time, it does erode their self-esteem and their sense of self. It can make them believe over time that they’re lonely because they’re not likable or they’re not lovable. And when we serve others, we come to see that that’s not the case.”

Seek Assistance

If you are experiencing loneliness, do not hesitate to confide in a family member, friend, therapist, or healthcare provider. Additionally, if persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness are disrupting your daily routines and hindering your participation in activities you enjoy, seeking professional help is crucial. Having thoughts of harming yourself is a serious issue that requires immediate attention, so use the 988 crisis hotline for assistance.

“Continuing the excellent efforts to help their motherland by the members of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), building on the successful program, ADOPT-A-VILLAGE with the goal of adopting 75 Villages in India, commemorating India’s 75th Independence Day, AAPI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Doctors of Rajasthan International (DORI) to carry out screenings in five villages initially in the state of Rajasthan, and hoping to have several additional villages,” Dr.  Ravi Kolli, President of  AAPI announced here today.

Present during the MOU signing ceremony were prominent DORI members from across the globe, including Drs. Jaivir Rathore, Brahma Sharma, Ranvir Singh Rathore, AAPI EC including Drs. Ravi Kolli, Anupama Gotimukula, Satheesh Kathula, and President and CEO of GTC, Dr. Radha Ramana Murthy Gokula.

While India has made substantial progress in health care as evidenced by the fact that life expectancy in India at birth now is 71 years as opposed to 58 years in 1990 and 41 years in 1960, there are significant gaps and divergences in health metrics in different regions in India.

India needs to redouble and continue its efforts and dedicate resources to tackle these perennial challenges. The post-graduate training of physicians specializing in Family Medicine in every teaching institution will create motivated and well-trained family physicians to address these deficits and deliver accessible, affordable, economical, and continuous preventive and primary care to rural as well as urban poor populations to raise health outcomes across India.

Realizing the need to bridge this gap, AAPI has launched this much-needed and popular ADOPT-A-Village Program, chaired by, Dr. Satheesh Kathula, the current Vice President of AAPI. while Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, Dr. Jagan Ailinani and Dr. Murthy Gokula serve as members of the Committee.

AAPI has embarked on free screening for NCDs in 75 villages to commemorate 75 years of India’s independence. The screening tests include CBC, HbA1C, lipid profile, creatinine, pulse oximetry, measurement of blood pressure, height, and weight.

To date, through the efforts of AAPI and its local organizers in these states, over 8,0000 patients in several states across India including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, and Telangana have been screened. Now with an MOU Rajasthan, people in this state will have an opportunity to screen a few thousand more in rural India.

AAPI initiated the Digital Integrated Prevention And Management Program (DIPAM), a Rural Health Initiative in India in a virtual launch event on Gandhi Jayanthi on October 2nd, 2022. The data collected from the screenings has been very interesting which will help the Health Officials in India establish a preventive health task force in India. AAPI in partnership with Global Teleclinics (GTC) is currently working on a Digital Integrated Prevention and Management (DIPAM) program with the vision of raising awareness of disease management and reversal of NCDs to improve healthcare outcomes by connecting rural India with medical providers and other partners.

Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, Immediate Past President of AAPI referred to the goals of Adopt-A-Village. “As India celebrates her 75th anniversary of Independence Day, AAPI has been working on adopting 75 villages across India in several states, where the rural people of India are being offered ‘Free Health Screenings in 75 Villages, for Anemia (CBC), DM (HbA1C), High Cholesterol, CKD, Malnutrition, Obesity, and Hypoxemia.  Results are being analyzed by GTC, and further treatment plans are recommended by their team of experts with follow-ups. This is a small contribution by AAPI to Mother India in celebration of Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav.”

Dr. Satheesh Kathula, Chairman of AAPI’s Adopt a Village Program pointed out the need for this noble initiative. He said, “India has nearly 700,000 villages, where 77 percent of the poor live. The majority of the population has no access to basics such as safe drinking water and healthcare. “By adopting one village at a time and working with the government and NGOs, NRIs can make a huge difference,” he said.

Dr. Kathula referred to the rural initiative as “A much-needed project to prevent silent killers such as Hypertension, diabetes, Hypercholesterolemia, and chronic kidney disease. Adopt A Village program also helped rural India with the supply of cloth masks, and clean drinking water and has helped thousands of people across India. We are excited about providing continuous healthcare in India with DIPAM.”

Dr. Brahma Sharma said, “By adopting one village at a time and working with the government and NGOs, NRIs can make a huge difference in the lives of millions of people in India. Each project will involve a tripartite partnership between the NRI, state government, and a local NGO.”

Dr. Murthy Gokula, President of Global Teleclinics said, “Adopt-A-Village is a great opportunity to enhance the effectiveness of telehealth through awareness, education, and sustainable development in all villages.”

The project is aimed at bringing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) screening and prevention to rural people at their doorsteps of India and raising awareness of disease management and reversal of Non-Communicable Diseases to improve health outcomes and connect rural India with medical providers and partners.

Initially launched with the goal to adopt and screen 75 villages for: Hypertension, Diabetes, Anemia, Chronic Kidney disease, and Hyperlipidemia, the phase 2 project aims at providing: in person complete physical exam for positive NCD patients every 3 months; Giving 3-month medications for the identified illnesses; Daily teleclinic through the app-based solution; Communication with the villagers through WhatsApp or telephone; Access to a local health care worker hired by global teleclinics for daily interaction and emergencies; and, Utilize local medical resources: RMPs, PHC personnel for immediate care,

While there is no instant solution for rural India’s myriad problems, by adopting one village at a time, and working with the government and NGOs, NRIs can make a difference, and over time, an improved village could lead to an improved region, state, and country.

Dr. Kolli thanked the AAPI members for their generous support of this noble work of AAPI and for sponsoring their ancestral villages. Dr. Kolli urged “AAPI members to consider joining this movement and adopt a village. Maybe your own village of origin. AAPI will work with you in coordinating the efforts and through the support system we have in several states, will help you achieve this goal of giving back to our motherland.” AAPI members/families can sponsor a Village by emailing: [email protected] and [email protected].  For more details, please visit www. aapiusa.org

Walking after a meal has long been considered a beneficial habit for clear thinking and improved digestion. However, it has been discovered that even small amounts of walking, for as little as two to five minutes, can activate benefits, particularly reducing blood sugar levels. A recent meta-analysis published in the journal Sports Medicine looked at seven studies that examined the effects of walking versus sitting or standing on heart health. The studies showed that light walking after a meal can improve blood sugar levels, which is particularly helpful in warding off Type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Kershaw Patel, a preventive cardiologist at Houston Methodist Hospital, who was not involved in the study, says that “each small thing” you do will have benefits.

For example, light walking almost instantly impacts blood sugar levels, especially when done within 60-90 minutes after eating a meal. This can make a significant difference in minimizing blood sugar spikes. Walking during this time can reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes because sharp spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels are thought to contribute to developing the condition.

Very light walking reduces blood sugar levels

The seven studies that examined walking versus sitting or standing showed that light walking improves blood sugar levels compared to sitting at a desk or lounging on the couch. When participants walked even for short amounts of time, their blood sugar levels rose and fell more gradually. For people with diabetes, sharp fluctuations in blood sugar levels can be particularly problematic, making it more important for them to stabilize their levels. Those with pre-diabetes or Type 2 diabetes can benefit from walking, as spikes and troughs in blood sugar levels can contribute to a higher risk of developing the disease.

Walking within 60 to 90 minutes after eating delivers the best results.

Standing also helps lower blood sugar levels, but it does not have the same degree of impact as light walking. Standing has some benefits, but the researchers found “light-intensity walking was a superior intervention.” Light walking challenges muscles and uses fuel from food circulating in the bloodstream, reducing excess glucose in the muscles. Jessie Inchauspé, author of the book Glucose Revolution: The Life-Changing Power of Balancing Your Blood Sugar, says that “your muscles will soak up some of that excess glucose,” indicating that light walking helps reduce the impact of a meal on the body.

Mini-walks are more practical during the workday

Aidan Buffey, a graduate student at the University of Limerick in Ireland and author of the research paper, recommends a mini-walk of two to three minutes during a workday. It is more practical to perform during the workday, and people are more likely to engage in this activity than to go for a run. Buffey suggests getting up to make coffee, walk down the hallway or take a stroll after lunch. These activities can lead to measurable changes, as shown in the studies, and will enhance other dietary changes that people may be making to improve their blood sugar levels.

Dr. Euan Ashley, a cardiologist at Stanford University, who was not associated with the study, says “moving even a little bit is worthwhile.” He provides a continuum concept of incremental benefits that show each step or walk seems to have a benefit. Dr. Patel agrees with this concept and indicates that the benefits of physical activity exist on a continuum. He notes that “it’s a gradual effect of more activity, better health.”

Taking a small walk after a meal can benefit those who want to stabilize blood sugar levels, which is especially important for people with diabetes and for those who want to avoid developing it. Walking for just two to five minutes after a meal can make a difference in comparison to sitting at a desk or lounging on the couch. For the most significant impact on stabilizing blood sugar levels, taking a short walk within 60 to 90 minutes of eating is the most effective. A mini-walk of two to three minutes during a workday is more practical and feasible for most people, which makes it an excellent option to improve overall health.

Newswise — People who live in countries with more stringent alcohol policies drank less than people in countries with less strict policies, according to a large multi-country analysis published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research. The more stringent policies were associated with reduced drinking overall and showed more significant associations in drinkers aged 18 to 24 and those with 13 or fewer years of education. The findings suggest that countries could reduce adverse health consequences by adopting cost-effective alcohol policies.

The researchers investigated whether the International Alcohol Control (IAC) Policy Index is associated with drinking patterns in the overall population and specific demographic groups in a diverse set of countries. The IAC Policy Index measures the implementation and enforcement of policies shown by previous studies to be cost-effective in reducing alcohol use, namely policies restricting alcohol availability, marketing, pricing, and drinking and driving. In this study, researchers examined the strength of these policies in ten diverse countries to determine each country’s International Alcohol Control Policy (IAC) score. The higher the IAC score, the stronger the country’s alcohol policies are. Drinkers in each country were surveyed about drinking behaviors, including frequency, quantity, and locations of alcohol consumption.

The study found that the IAC score was significantly associated with the volume and frequency of drinking in the ten countries, with greater interaction in certain demographic groups. Overall, with each additional increase in the IAC score, the average volume of alcohol consumed in the prior six months decreased by 17 percent, and the frequency of drinking decreased by 14 percent. By age group, young adults aged 18 to 24 showed the largest decrease in alcohol consumed on a typical occasion. In countries with less restrictive alcohol policies, this age group shows the highest quantity of alcohol consumption.

There was also an association between stronger policies and drinking quantity by education level. In countries with weaker alcohol control policies, those with less education drank more on each occasion than those with more than 13 years of schooling. As alcohol policies strengthened, the number of adults with less education who drank per occasion decreased to levels similar to those of more educated respondents.

By gender, men’s and women’s consumption decreased as the IAC score increased, but men’s consumption decreased more slowly than women’s.

More than 17,000 people across ten countries participated in the study. The countries participating in the study included five high-income and five middle-income countries, namely New Zealand, England, Australia, Scotland, South Africa, St. Kitts and Nevis, Mongolia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Turkey, with IAC scores ranging from 5 for New Zealand to 13.9 for Turkey. The study focused on the most effective policies and did not measure the possible influence of other policies or cultural traditions on respondents’ behaviors.

India’s population growth rate on a steady decline since ’90s

According to the UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), India’s population in 2021 stood at 1,393.4 million with an average annual rate of change of population of 1%

(Chicago, IL: April 16, 2023) “Congratulations and best wishes to the new team of AAPI leadership, who have been elected to lead AAPI in the coming years,” Dr. Ravi Kolli, President of AAPI, and Chief Election Officer Dr. Kusum Punjabi and Past BOT Chair of AAPI, jointly announced here today. “We thank the election officers Dr. Ashok Jain, Dr. Sunita Kanumury, Dr. Sharad Lakhanpal, and  Dr. Shashi Shah, and all the members of AAPI for participating in the democratic election process and exercising their role as the electoral college members.”

While thanking the tens of thousands of Indian American physicians, who are active members of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), and the record number of large number voters who participated in the election process, Dr. Kolli said, “We have successfully concluded our elections for the year 2023-24 for AAPI leadership positions. We want to thank AAPI members who enthusiastically participated in the AAPI’s electronic voting process and have elected a new, diverse, balanced, and experienced team to lead AAPI, the largest ethnic medical organization in the United States in the coming year and beyond.”

Dr. Kusum Punjabi, Chief Election Officer – 2023, who along with the election committee conducted the elections and counting process in the virtual presence of all the candidates and their representatives communicated the results of the election to the AAPI president to be released to all the members of AAPI and noted that  Dr. Amit Chakrabarty has been elected as the Vice President of AAPI, Dr. Sumul Raval was elected as the Secretary, and  Dr. Sreeni Gangasani was elected Treasurer of AAPI for the year 2023-24.

Dr. Syamala Erramilli, Dr. Hetal Gor, and Dr. Narendra Maheshwari have been elected to the AAPI’s Board of Trustees for a three-year term. Dr. Vijay Gunuganti has been elected as the South West Central Regional Director of AAPI, and Dr. Anuradha Mann will be the new Regional Director of AAPI’s South East Central Region.

“As the incoming President of AAPI, I would like to congratulate my incoming new team for the fiscal year 2023-24,” said Dr. Anjana Samadder, who will assume charge as the President of AAPI during the 41st annual convention in Philadelphia, PA in July this year. “I’m very honored and consider myself fortunate to be bestowed with the responsibility of leading the four-decades-old strong organization with the cooperation and collaboration of an excellent team of dedicated, hardworking, and loyal officers and executive committee members who are with me to take AAPI to newer heights,” she added.

Dr. Sammader did not have to contest the election this year, as she has been serving as the President-Elect during the past year. Dr. Satheesh Kathula, who has been serving as the Vice President in the current year also did not have to face elections, as he automatically becomes the President-Elect of AAPI for the coming year.

Dr. Anjana Samadder, the only 5th woman president of AAPI in its 41 years long history, will have a dynamic and diverse team comprising of Dr. Satheesh Kathula as the President-Elect, Dr. Amit Chakrabarty as the Vice President; Dr. Sumul Raval as the Secretary; Dr. Sreeni Ganagasani as the Treasurer; and Dr. Lokesh Edara – as the Chair, Board of Trustees; Dr. Ravi Kolli will continue to guide AAPI as the Immediate Past President of AAPI.

Dr. Lokesh Edara will serve as the Chair of the AAPI Board of Trustees for the year, 2023-24. “As the BOT Chair, I am looking forward to working towards strengthening the goals and mission of AAPI and to help make AAPI a healthcare leader in the US and globally and work in the best interests of our Physicians and our community here in the US and serve our motherland, India,” said Dr. Edara. “We will work together to promote our values of professionalism, collegiality, and excellence in patient care and enhance AAPI’s reputation as a premier professional organization offering educational programs and advocacy.”

While congratulating the newly elected leaders to the Executive Committee, Dr. Kathula, the President-Elect in 2023-24 said here in a statement: “I want to congratulate all the winners of the election. I want to especially thank all the candidates for their passion and dedication to serving AAPI and regardless of the outcome, we need you as a valuable team member of our beloved AAPI.”

Dr. Amit Chakrabarty, who won the election to be the next Vice President of AAPI, said, “I am humbled and honored to be bestowed with this responsibility. Thank you all for your support and for making my 25 years quest come true.  I thank all for believing in me.  I will work to the fullest of my abilities to reach our goals, address the challenges, and advance the issues important to our members. I look forward to working with you and making AAPI a powerful force. I am a live example that dreams do come true with dogged perseverance, dedication, and loyalty to AAPI.”

Dr. Sumula Raval, Secretary-Elect of AAPI said, “It is with great joy and gratitude that I stand before you today as the newly elected Secretary of AAPI for the year 2023-2024. I am humbled by the overwhelming support and trust you have placed in me, and I am deeply honored to serve this esteemed organization in such a significant role. I am committed to building upon past achievements and leading AAPI with integrity, transparency, and innovation. I will focus on promoting diversity and inclusion in healthcare, advocating for the needs of our members, and fostering collaboration. Let us continue to work hand in hand to make a positive impact on healthcare and uphold the values of AAPI.”

Dr. Sreeni Gangasani, the newly elected Treasurer of AAPI said, “I am thrilled and deeply humbled to have been elected as AAPI Treasurer for 2023-24. It is an honor to have your trust and confidence in me to help manage the finances of this fantastic organization. I promise to uphold the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and integrity in managing our finances. I will work to ensure that our resources are used effectively to further our mission of promoting excellence in patient care, research, and education. I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for our organization.”

Dr. V. Ranga, the outgoing BOT Chair thanked the Election Committee for their meticulous planning and organizing the elections with integrity and fairness. He said, “I congratulate the winners and the new leadership who are entrusted with the responsibility of leading AAPI in the year 2023-24 and beyond. I wish them the very best and my wholehearted support.”

While conceding the election to Dr. Amit Chakrabarty to be the next Vice President of AAPI, Dr. Krishan Kumar said, “Thank you so much for supporting me all these years.  I am glad to see the healthy spirit of all candidates (winners or not) for the association.” In his message, Dr. Raj Bhayani, while conceding the election said, “I am thankful to my supporters who gave me their precious vote honoring my many years of service for AAPI.”

Dr. Sujeeth Punnam in his message to the elected leaders, said, “Congrats to all the winners. We sacrifice time from family, practice, and resources to work in this great organization. The only reward is the ultimate feeling that we are contributing to the greater good of Indian physicians in the US and humankind in general. I wish Dr. Sumul Raval the best of luck as he moves forward with his new responsibility.” Dr. Mukesh Nigam in his congratulatory note to Dr. Gangasani and all the winners, said, “I will continue to serve this great association, AAPI. AAPI is a big family full of talented people.  I cherish every moment of being part of it.”

The growing influence of physicians of Indian heritage is evident, as increasingly physicians of Indian origin hold critical positions in healthcare, academic, research, and administrative positions across the nation. We the physicians of Indian origin are proud of our great achievements and contributions to our motherland, India, our adopted land, the US, and in a very significant way to the transformation of Indo-US relations.

Serving 1 in every 7 patients in the US, AAPI members care for millions of patients every day, while several of them have risen to hold high-flying jobs, shaping the policies and programs, and inventions that shape the landscape of healthcare in the US and around the world.

“Since its inception in 1982, AAPI has been at the forefront, representing a conglomeration of more than 125,000 practicing physicians in the United States, seeking to be the united voice for the physicians of Indian origin. I trust and believe that the new Team under Dr. Anjana Samadder will continue the noble mission and strengthen our efforts to make AAPI reach greater heights,” said Dr. Ravi Kolli.  For more details about AAPI, please visit: www.appiusa,org

Amusement and pleasant surprises — and the laughter they can trigger — add texture to the fabric of daily life.  Those giggles and guffaws can seem like just silly throwaways. But laughter, in response to funny events, actually takes a lot of work, because it activates many areas of the brain: ones that control motor, emotional, cognitive and social processing.

As I found when writing “An Introduction to the Psychology of Humor,” researchers now appreciate laughter’s power to enhance physical and mental well-being.

Laughter’s physical power

People begin laughing in infancy, when it helps develop muscles and upper body strength. Laughter is not just breathing. It relies on complex combinations of facial muscles, often involving movement of the eyes, head and shoulders.

Laughter — doing it or observing it — activates multiple regions of the brain: the motor cortex, which controls muscles; the frontal lobe, which helps you understand context; and the limbic system, which modulates positive emotions. Turning all these circuits on strengthens neural connections and helps a healthy brain coordinate its activity.

Laughing with others helps to create social bonds and can increase intimacy.

By activating the neural pathways of emotions such as joy and mirth, laughter can improve your mood and make your physical and emotional response to stress less intense. For example, laughing may help control brain levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, similar to what antidepressants do. By minimizing your brain’s responses to threats, it limits the release of neurotransmitters and hormones such as cortisol that can wear down your cardiovascular, metabolic and immune systems over time. Laughter’s kind of like an antidote to stress, which weakens these systems and increases vulnerability to diseases.

Laughter’s cognitive power

A good sense of humor and the laughter that follows depend on an ample measure of social intelligence and working memory resources.

Laughter, like humor, typically sparks from recognizing the incongruities or absurdities of a situation. You need to mentally resolve the surprising behavior or event — otherwise you won’t laugh; you might just be confused instead. Inferring the intentions of others and taking their perspective can enhance the intensity of the laughter and amusement you feel.

To “get” a joke or humorous situation, you need to be able to see the lighter side of things. You must believe that other possibilities besides the literal exist — think about being amused by comic strips with talking animals, such as those found in “The Far Side.”

Laughter’s social power

Many cognitive and social skills work together to help you monitor when and why laughter occurs during conversations. You don’t even need to hear a laugh to be able to laugh. Deaf signers punctuate their signed sentences with laughter, much like emoticons in written text.

Laughter creates bonds and increases intimacy with others. Linguist Don Nilsen points out that chuckles and belly laughs seldom happen when alone, supporting their strong social role. Beginning early in life, infants’ laughter is an external sign of pleasure that helps strengthen bonds with caregivers.

Later, it’s an external sign of sharing an appreciation of the situation. For example, public speakers and comedians try to get a laugh to make audiences feel psychologically closer to them, to create intimacy.

By practicing a little laughter each day, you can enhance social skills that may not come naturally to you. When you laugh in response to humor, you share your feelings with others and learn from risks that your response will be accepted/shared/enjoyed by others and not be rejected/ignored/disliked.

In studies, psychologists have found that men with Type A personality characteristics, including competitiveness and time urgency, tend to laugh more, while women with those traits laugh less. Both sexes laugh more with others than when alone.

Laughter’s mental power

Positive psychology researchers study how people can live meaningful lives and thrive. Laughter produces positive emotions that lead to this kind of flourishing. These feelings — such as amusement, happiness, mirth and joy — build resiliency and increase creative thinking. They increase subjective well-being and life satisfaction. Researchers find that these positive emotions experienced with humor and laughter correlate with appreciating the meaning of life and help older adults hold a benign view of difficulties they’ve faced over a lifetime.

Laughter in response to amusement is a healthy coping mechanism. When you laugh, you take yourself or the situation less seriously and may feel empowered to problem-solve. For example, psychologists measured the frequency and intensity of 41 people’s laughter over two weeks, along with their ratings of physical and mental stress. They found that the more laughter experienced, the lower the reported stress. Whether the instances of laughter were strong, medium or weak in intensity didn’t matter.

Maybe you want to grab some of these benefits for yourself — can you force laughter to work for you?

A growing number of therapists advocate using humor and laughter to help clients build trust and improve work environments; a review of five different studies found that measures of well-being did increase after laughter interventions. Sometimes called homeplay instead of homework, these interventions take the form of daily humor activities — surrounding yourself with funny people, watching a comedy that makes you laugh or writing down three funny things that happened today.

You can practice laughing even when alone. Intentionally take a perspective that appreciates the funny side of events. Laughing yoga is a technique of using breathing muscles to achieve the positive physical responses of natural laughing with forced laughter (ha ha hee hee ho ho).

Researchers today certainly aren’t laughing off its value, but a good deal of the research on laughter’s influence on mental and physical health is based on self-report measures. More psychological experimentation around laughter or the contexts in which it occurs will likely support the importance of laughing throughout your day, and maybe even suggest more ways to intentionally harness its benefits.  (Courtesy: https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/01/health/laughter-mind-body-wellness-partner/index.html)

Depression is defined by the American Psychological Association as intense melancholy or despair that lasts longer than days. It disrupts daily activities and may result in physical symptoms including discomfort, weight gain or loss, irregular sleeping patterns, or a lack of vitality.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 264 million people are affected by depression, making it the biggest cause of disorder globally. Psychologists polled for the 2020 APA study claim that more people have come out to ask for professional advice and assistance over the course of the pandemic. Even while being acknowledged by many, this disorder is still stigmatized highly and is often misunderstood for being lazy or inactive in certain activities.

The myths associated with depression are also something to look out for. “It’s unimportant,” “simply snap out of it,” sadness just affects women, “talking or thinking about the same would only make the problem worse,” and “all emotions related with sad circumstances are part of being depressed.” Just as we see there are lot of misconceptions and misleading facts about the same. People need to do a lot of study and understand the topic of concern before labeling something on themselves and each other.

Regardless of age, gender, or social situation, anyone can develop depression. Several aspects, including as heredity, trauma, persistent stress, and drug usage, might also be involved. The symptoms associated with it could be mixed feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthiness, and the difficulty to perform everyday activities, lose of interest in activities once enjoyed, changes in appetite and sleep pattern, and thoughts in suicide.

The first step towards any healing is to ask for help, and then proceeding towards taking on the treatments, like therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes from exercises, healthy eating habits to stress reduction techniques. It is also advised to seek professional help.

While overindulgence could dig you an early grave, a daily alcoholic drink may neither be harmful nor offer any health benefits, according to a new study of 4.8 million people.

The benefits and drawbacks of alcohol have been much debated. While some studies claim that even a small portion can lead to death, others say it has health benefits.

Researchers from the universities of Victoria and Portsmouth in Canada and UK respectively, conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 107 studies published between 1980 and 2021.

The findings showed that low and moderate drinkers have similar mortality rates to those who abstain entirely. On the other hand, women who enjoy more than one standard drink per day are at least 20 per cent likely to die prematurely.

“In this updated systematic review and meta-analysis, daily low or moderate alcohol intake was not significantly associated with all-cause mortality risk,” the researchers wrote in the paper, published on the JAMA Open Network.

However, “increased risk was evident at higher consumption levels, starting at lower levels for women than men,” they added.

The study also found no significant protective associations of occasional or low-volume drinking (moderate drinking) with all-cause mortality.

But it showed an increased risk of all-cause mortality for drinkers who drank 25 g or more and a significantly increased risk when drinking 45 g or more per day.

When they looked at previous studies that suggest people who drink a little are less likely to die early or from heart disease than people who don’t drink at all, they found the evidence was skewed by systematic bias.

“For example, light and moderate drinkers are systematically healthier than current abstainers on a range of health indicators unlikely to be associated with alcohol use, (like) dental hygiene, exercise routines, diet, weight (and) income,” they wrote. (IANS)

“The government is spending more in Medicare, we are getting more people with prostate cancer, more deaths with prostate cancer, [and] more metastasis with prostate cancer. While it is so simple: today, PSA is still there,” says Navin Shah, MD, MS, FACS, FICS, FACIP.

A recent study found a decrease in rates of prostate biopsy and an increase in rates of high-grade prostate cancer following a decision by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to recommend against prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for men of all ages.1

The study retrospectively analyzed 1703 patients who underwent a prostate biopsy from 2010 to 2012 and 1006 patients who underwent a biopsy in 2018, 2019, and 2021. The 2 cohorts were stratified as Group A (having received a biopsy prior to USPSTF update on recommendations) and Group B (having received a biopsy after the USPSTF update on recommendations).

The total study cohort consisted of 76% Black patients, 14% White patients, and 11% other. Data showed that after the USPSTF recommending against screening, the annual rate of prostate biopsy went down by 41% between the 2 cohorts, from 567 patients per year in Group A compared with 335 patients per year in Group B. Despite the 41% reduction in prostate biopsies, the total number of positive biopsies doubled.

Further, the investigators found that diagnosis of high-grade prostate cancer (Gleason sum score 7-10) increased from 51.5% in Group A compared with 59% in Group B. This marked an 8% increase in high-grade disease after the recommendation was issued. They also found a 64% decrease in digital rectal examinations and a 39% decrease in PSA screening between the 2 cohorts.

In an interview with Urology Times®, Navin Shah, MD, MS, FACS, FICS, FACIP, lead author of the study, commented on these findings, saying “Screening has gone down by 50%. The digital rectal examination is down by 60%. PSA screening is down by 41%…All [that] does is increase the prostate cancer, increase the metastasis, and increase the death.”

Findings from the study are consistent with recently released data from the American Cancer Society,2 which showed that rates of prostate cancer are on the rise for the first time in 2 decades, with the leading cause of this increase attributed to the diagnosis of advanced cases of disease.

The ACS data also showed that the prostate cancer incidence rate was 70% higher among Black men compared with White men, and the prostate cancer mortality rates for Black men are 2 to 4 times higher than for other racial groups.

“We’re doing a disservice and putting harm to Black people by not screening them. What I would say that 50 years and onwards, screening should be done. Let urologists decide. Now, things are different. Now, there is active surveillance. Now, there is parametric MRI biopsy. Now, we have got [prostate-specific membrane antigen] to see whether disease has spread or not,” said Shah, who is a urologist with MidAtlantic Urology Associates in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Shah also highlighted statistics on total spending for prostate cancer by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), saying, “In 2010, when we were doing screening, [CMS spent] $10.9 billion. Then in 2016, because no screening was done, more people got metastasis, [and] the cost increased to $15.3 billion. In 2020, [CMS spent] $20 billion. So I don’t know who’s benefiting. The government is spending more in Medicare, we are getting more people with prostate cancer, more deaths with prostate cancer, [and] more metastasis with prostate cancer. While it is so simple: today, PSA is still there.”

Based on these findings, Shah and the other study authors support annual PSA screening for all men over 50 years of age, especially for high-risk patients such as Black men or those with a family history of prostate cancer. They also recommend screening for men aged 70 to 80 years, given that they found that 33% of all positive prostate biopsy patients were in that age group. Currently, the USPSTF recommends against screening for men aged 70 and older.

“You must be aggressive right from the beginning to cure the prostate cancer, not wait till it spreads and [becomes] aggressive. There is no point in that,” concluded Shah.

References

1. Shah N, Ioffe V, Chang JC. Increasing aggressive prostate cancer. Can J Urol. 2022;29(6):11384-11390.
2. Siegel RL, Miller KD, Wagle NS, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2023. CA Cancer J Clin. 2023;73(1):17-48. doi:10.3322/caac.21763.

Obesity is not a disease, but a lifestyle disorder that has emerged from the choices we make in terms of what we consume and how much we exercise.

It is a challenge that has been evolving rapidly in recent years and is now ranked among one of the primary causes of preventable deaths across the globe. What’s surprising is that 50 years ago, there was no disease as obesity, presumably because at the time individuals led more active lives, and did not have access to the high-calorie, processed foods that we have at present.

Decoding the primary causes of obesity

One of the primary reasons for this disorder in the current generation is the absence of physical work on a day-to-day basis, individuals have become increasingly lethargic.

Another major cause for a considerable surge in obesity rates is unorganised eating habits. There is not adequate awareness about the nutritive value of the meals we consume, and individuals usually eat without considering the effects on their health.

Today, individuals frequently consume more calories than their body requirements, resulting in weight gain and gradual obesity. However, despite the significant challenges that our current lifestyle and obesity pose to our health, they can be overcome by following these simple strategies in our day-to-day life:

Keep your calorie intake in check

To combat obesity, we must comprehend that our calorie intake should be proportional to our physical activity. This implies that we need to lead more active lives and consume meals that are nutritious and healthy. A healthy lifestyle is built on two pillars- Good nutrition and regular exercise. Disregarding either of these pillars will negatively influence our overall health.

Aim for natural weight loss

It is also essential to note that the emphasis should be on natural weight loss strategies rather than opting for cosmetic surgeries like liposuction. While these surgeries may yield temporary results, they can be detrimental in the long run. Rather, we must focus on weight loss techniques that are sustainable and healthy.

A proficient fitness coach can do wonders!

Another important element of fighting obesity is picking a fitness coach who has the required knowledge and expertise. Here, it gets crucial to understand the difference between a trainer and a teacher. While a host of individuals in the market claim to be fitness coaches, they lack the essential qualifications and experience. Hence it gets pivotal to shortlist a coach who possesses the necessary experience to advise us on the right path.

Make sustainable changes in your lifestyle

One of the most efficacious methods to fight obesity is to enlighten ourselves about the significance of healthy living. We need to be conscious of the nutritional value of the food we consume and comprehend the impact of our choices on our health.

A result-yielding strategy here would be to make short, sustainable changes in our lifestyle. For instance, we can begin by making minor changes in our diet, like lowering the intake of high-calorie, processed foods and increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables. We can also begin by including more physical activity into our daily routine, such as walking or cycling to workplaces.

By encouraging healthy lifestyles and making healthy choices easier, we can prevent and address obesity, enhance overall health outcomes, and lessen the burden on healthcare frameworks. (IANS)

High blood pressure is typically symptomless, can quietly damage blood vessels and leads to serious health problems. While there is no cure for high blood pressure, it is important for patients to take steps that matter, such as making effective lifestyle changes and taking BP-lowering medications as prescribed by their physicians. In turn, those changes can enhance their quality of life and reduce their risk of heart and kidney disease, stroke and more.

The AMA’s What Doctors Wish Patients Knew™ series gives physicians a platform to share what they want patients to understand about today’s health care headlines, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here is a to-do list for patients drawn from this series on what doctors wish patients knew about addressing—and managing—high blood pressure, a condition that nearly half of adults in the United States have. Hypertension was the primary or contributing cause of death for more than 670,000 people in the country in 2020.

Measure your BP at home

Many patients with high blood pressure don’t have their hypertension under control. But when patients measure their BP regularly, and share those measurements with their doctors, they are playing an important role in their care. Here is what patients need to know about taking their own blood pressure measurements outside of the clinical setting, also commonly referred to as self-measured BP.

Make appropriate lifestyle changes

There is a growing need for people to commit to making lifestyle changes to help prevent chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, yet patients are often uncertain of what changes they should make to improve their health and well-being. This article outlines some of the key changes patients should make.

Eat healthful food when you can

What you eat plays a leading role in your health and well-being. When someone eats healthfully, it helps to protect against many chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity. But with so many fad diets and food recommendations out there, it can be hard for patients to navigate what to eat and what not to eat. Two physicians offer realistic, tested advice on healthful eating.

Avoid unhealthy alcohol use

Disrupted routines combined with the uncertainty of the pandemic have led many people to feeling isolated at home while experiencing greater stress. As a result, some people became their own bartenders and progressed into heavier drinking patterns to cope with pandemic anger, stress and anxiety. Learn when drinking is a problem, and what can be done about it.

Use medications to reach BP goals

While “lifestyle change is very beneficial for reducing blood pressure, many patients need medication to reach their BP goal,” according to Neha Sachdev, MD, a family physician who is the director of health systems relationships at the AMA. “Your doctor and you should talk about what medications are being prescribed and how the medications work to lower your BP.”

Watch your sodium consumption

While sodium is an essential nutrient, most people consume too much and are not even aware they are doing so. Excess sodium can increase a person’s risk for developing high BP. That is why it is important to understand where most salt intake is coming from and how to lower it. Learn more about where sodium resides and which choices to make to avoid it.

Be mindful of your cholesterol

High cholesterol and high blood pressure tend to run together. But, while one does not necessarily cause the other, it is common to see both in an individual. Nearly 94 million adults over the age of 20 have what could be considered borderline high cholesterol, yet as with hypertension many patients are unaware of it until they visit their doctor. Sorting through the good, the bad and the ugly about high cholesterol can be confusing. One family physician explains what to keep in mind.

The AMA has developed online tools and resources created using the latest evidence-based information to support physicians and care teams to help manage their patients’ high blood pressure.

These resources are available to all physicians and health systems as part of Target: BP™, a national initiative co-led by the AMA and American Heart Association.

Another great resource from the AMA is the US Blood Pressure Validated Device Listing (VDL™). The website details which of the thousands of BP-measurement devices have been validated for clinical accuracy in the United States.

Newswise — March 17 marks World Sleep Day, an annual call to action from the World Sleep Society to spread awareness of the need to get sufficient sleep to stay healthy.

Maya Ramagopal, an associate professor at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and sleep medicine expert, discusses the importance of sleep in a healthy lifestyle — and where Americans are falling short.

Do Americans get enough sleep?

Ramagopal: The amount of sleep needed varies by a person’s age. Toddlers need 11 to 14 hours daily, which includes naps. School-age children need 9 to 12 hours of sleep, teens need eight to 10 hours and adults need at least seven hours.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, six in 10 middle schoolers and seven in 10 high schoolers don’t consistently get enough sleep. The CDC also reports that 35 percent of U.S. adults are not getting the recommended amount of sleep.

How does sleep affect your health?

Ramagopal: Sleep is critical for overall good health. Lack of sleep has been shown to be associated with obesity, Type 2 diabetes, poor mental health, accidents during driving, attention or behavior problems and poor school performance.

What is good sleep hygiene?

Ramagopal: I believe the biggest factor fot people of all ages not getting sufficient sleep is because they use electronics close to bedtime. Technology stimulates your brain, which makes it more difficult to fall asleep. Even with blue light filters, the content can be a factor in preventing sleep onset.

To improve sleep, a consistent sleep schedule should be maintained, including on weekends — even though it is tempting to sleep in. Make sure the room temperature is comfortable and the room is as dark as possible. Avoid eating a large meal at least three hours before bedtime and do not consume caffeine at least six hours before going to bed. While moderate to vigorous exercise can increase sleep quality by reducing the amount of time it takes to fall asleep, you do not want to engage in vigorous activity within the hour before bedtime.

It is important for adults to model good sleep behavior for children in their home.

Is climate change affecting our sleep?

Ramagopal: New research seems to indicate that it is. A study published last year in the journal One Earth showed that increased temperature shortens sleep primarily through delayed onset, increasing the probability of insufficient sleep. The researchers estimated that by the end of the century, warmer temperatures could result in people sleeping about 8 to 10 minutes less per night.

9More than half of the world’s population will be overweight or obese by 2035 unless governments take decisive action to curb the growing epidemic of excess weight, a report has warned. About 2.6 billion people globally – 38% of the world population – are already overweight or obese. But on current trends that is expected to rise to more than 4 billion people (51%) in 12 years’ time, according to research by the World Obesity Federation.

More than half of the world’s population will be obese or overweight by 2035, according to a new report from the World Obesity Federation.

In the 2023 World Obesity Atlas report, the organization projected that 51% of the global population will be “living with overweight and obesity within 12 years if prevention, treatment and support do not improve.”

If current trends prevail, the report also predicts childhood obesity could more than double compared to 2020 levels.  “Rates are predicted to double among boys to 208 million (100% increase) and more than double among girls to 175 million (125% increase) and are rising more rapidly among children than adults,” the report states.

The World Health Organization defines overweight and obesity “as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese.”

Without widespread use of tactics such as taxes and limits on the promotion of unhealthy food, the number of people who are clinically obese will increase from one in seven today to one in four by 2035. If that happens, almost 2 billion people worldwide would be living with obesity. Evidence shows that obesity increases someone’s risk of cancer, heart disease and other diseases.

More than half of the world’s population could be overweight or obese by 2035, with childhood obesity predicted to more than double, a report from the World Obesity Federation has warned.

The report predicts that the economic impact of the condition could exceed $4.32 trillion per year by 2035, representing almost 3 per cent of global gross domestic product, if prevention and treatment measures are not improved.

More than half of the global population is expected to have a high body mass index (BMI) by the end of this period, with one in four people living with obesity, compared to one in seven today.

Childhood obesity rates are predicted to double among boys by 2035 and to increase by 125 per cent among girls, with lower income countries facing the most significant increases in obesity.

Nine of the 10 countries with the highest expected increases in obesity are low- or lower-middle-income countries in Africa and Asia.

The federation’s latest World Obesity Atlas annual report calls for comprehensive national action plans to be developed to prevent and treat obesity and support those affected. It also warns that without urgent and coordinated action, rates of obesity will continue to rise.

The report will be presented at a high-level policy event on March 6 to UN policymakers and member states.

While obesity is often considered a problem for higher income countries, the report reveals that obesity levels are increasing most rapidly in lower income countries, which are often the least able to respond to obesity and its consequences.

What is Obesity?

Obesity is a condition characterized by excessive body fat that can have negative effects on health. Adults are generally considered obese if they have a body mass index of 30 or above.

BMI is a value derived from the mass and height of a person. The BMI is defined as the body mass divided by the square of the body height, expressed in units of kg/m².

An adult is generally considered overweight if their BMI is between 25 and 29.9.

BMI is not a perfect measure of body fatness, as it does not take into account factors such as muscle mass or body composition. However, it is a useful tool for quickly estimating a person’s level of body fat and assessing their risk for certain health conditions.

‘Clear warning’

Prof Louise Baur, President of the World Obesity Federation, said: “This year’s Atlas is a clear warning that by failing to address obesity today, we risk serious repercussions in the future. It is particularly worrying to see obesity rates rising fastest among children and adolescents. Governments and policymakers around the world … need to look urgently at the systems and root factors that contribute to obesity, and actively involve young people in the solutions.”

Rachel Jackson Leach, Director of Science at the federation, said: “If we do not act now, we are on course to see significant increases in obesity prevalence over the next decade.”

“The greatest increases will be seen in low and lower-middle income countries, where scarce resources and lack of preparedness will create a perfect storm that will negatively impact people living with obesity the most”, she said.

More than half of the world’s population will be obese or overweight by 2035, according to a new report from the World Obesity Federation.

In the 2023 World Obesity Atlas report, the organization projected that 51% of the global population will be “living with overweight and obesity within 12 years if prevention, treatment and support do not improve.”

If current trends prevail, the report also predicts childhood obesity could more than double compared to 2020 levels.

“Rates are predicted to double among boys to 208 million (100% increase) and more than double among girls to 175 million (125% increase) and are rising more rapidly among children than adults,” the report states.

The World Health Organization defines overweight and obesity “as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese.”

The increases forecast in the report would mean 1 in 4 people will be living with obesity, compared to 1 in 7 today.

“This year’s Atlas is a clear warning that by failing to address obesity today, we risk serious repercussions in the future. It is particularly worrying to see obesity rates rising fastest among children and adolescents,” said Louise Baur, president of the World Obesity Federation, in a statement about the report. “Governments and policymakers around the world need to do all they can to avoid passing health, social, and economic costs on to the younger generation. That means looking urgently at the systems and root factors that contribute to obesity, and actively involving young people in the solutions.”

While obesity is often seen as an issue for wealthier countries, where rates are generally higher, the report found lower income countries are facing rapid increases‚ adding that these countries are the “least able to respond to obesity and its consequences.”

Marijuana, cocaine, LSD, sedatives, opioids, heroin, and nicotine vaping—the increased use of these substances is seen to be on the rise. A continuous and addictive pattern of using dangerous substances for mood-altering objectives is known as substance abuse. The repeated usage of harmful substances without the prescription or advice of an educated person could eventually show significant health-related failures; the person could fail to meet responsibilities regarding their physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being.

The addiction to alcohol and drug intake could lead the person to develop mental health related issues and later put the individual at risk of suicidal ideations. Some immediate behavioural changes include recklessness, violence, and aggression. Long-term users may exhibit withdrawal from commitments and the public, isolation, depression, deteriorating behavior, weight loss, and decreased appetites. The following are some facts about substance abuse and suicidal ideation:

• Heavy drinkers are five times more likely to die by suicide than casual social drinkers.
• 1 in 5 suicides involves someone who was intoxicated at the time.
• Several suicides involve the use of drugs like marijuana, cocaine, or amphetamines.

According to a few studies, the frontal lobe does not fully develop until a person is in their mid-20s, which explains why young individuals have a propensity for making rash decisions on drug and alcohol intake. Other factors for the development of addiction in young adults could be associated with the curiosity that comes with age, social media toxicity, the need for adventure, experimentation, and peer pressure.

Cocaine, or the coca alkaloid obtained from the plant Erythroxylum coca, commonly known as coke or crack, acts as a neurotransmitter dopamine. It produces a stimulating effect in the human brain, which, as a result, gives out a sense of euphoria and increased energy for the users. The excessive intake of the same could cause hallucinogenic thoughts and effects in the individual. The certain effects of euphoria and a temporary feeling of happiness after the intake of the drug are what lead an individual down the road of addiction.

The first step towards prevention and control in substance abuse-related situations is to identify them. Identify, and look out for one another. Observe and communicate with the individual. The next step is to educate yourself and seek help. A number of organisations are putting in a great effort to support and help individuals struggling with addictions seek out professional and medical help. Creating awareness and providing support could also be used as measures.

Dr. Avinash Gupta, an Indian American cardiologist, has been appointed a member of the Ocean County Board of Health. The appointment took place at the regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of Ocean County in New Jersey on Jan. 18, 2023, as per the news release.

“Gupta is looking forward to promoting public health in Ocean County,” the release stated. Specialized in Cardiology, Nuclear Cardiology, and Clinical Lipidology, he has practiced the domain for almost three decades in Lakewood, New Jersey.

Dr. Gupta is very active in community service and has served as President of the Monmouth Ocean County Association of Physicians from India (MOCAAPI) and Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America (BJANA).

He also holds the prestigious title of Chief of Cardiology at Monmouth Medical Center and President of the Medical Staff at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus.
He is chairman of Shree Siddhivinayak Temple of USA, Indian Cultural & Community Center in Toms River, and was recently elected as Executive Vice President of FIA.

Dr. Gupta was recently honored for his exemplary work in public health and social service, especially for COVID-19-related relief and humanitarian work in India and the US. “Being involved with community groups and helping others has always been my passion. Community service is very rewarding and fulfilling. It has enriched me as a person,” said Gupta who received the humanitarian award from the Monmouth Medical Center-Southern Campus Gupta at a function in New Jersey on Diwali eve.

He has been married to his wife, Dr. Geeta Gupta for over 35 years.  They have one son, Abhinav who is currently in his surgical residency. Dr. Gupta has made numerous contributions to healthcare, including initiatives both in the local area and in India to promote vaccinations against COVID-19. He was recognized as an honoree at MMCSC Humanitarian Gala in October last year.

The number of people dying from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the US escalated during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, from 874,613 CVD-related deaths recorded in 2019 to 928,741 in 2020, a new study has revealed.

The rise in the number of CVD deaths in 2020 represents the largest single-year increase since 2015 and topped the previous high of 910,000 recorded in 2003, according to the data published in American Heart Association’s flagship, peer-reviewed journal Circulation.

It means that more people died from cardiovascular-related causes in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, than in any year since 2003, according to data reported in Association’s 2023 Statistical Update. The largest increases in deaths were seen among Asian, Black and Hispanic people.

“While the total number of CVD-related deaths increased from 2019 to 2020, what may be even more telling is that our age-adjusted mortality rate increased for the first time in many years and by a fairly substantial 4.6 per cent,” said Connie W. Tsao, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

“I think that is very indicative of what has been going on within our country, and the world, in light of people of all ages being impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially before vaccines were available to slow the spread,” said Tsao, also an attending staff cardiologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

There was a substantial increase in the loss of lives from all causes since the start of the pandemic. “That this likely translated to an increase in overall cardiovascular deaths, while disheartening, is not surprising. In fact, the Association predicted this trend, which is now official,” said Michelle A. Albert, the American Heart Association’s volunteer president and a professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF).

The virus is associated with new clotting and inflammation.

Several people who had new or existing heart disease and stroke symptoms were reluctant to seek medical care, particularly in the early days of the pandemic.

“This resulted in people presenting with more advanced stages of cardiovascular conditions and needing more acute or urgent treatment for what may have been manageable chronic conditions. And, sadly, appears to have cost many their lives,” said Albert.

Cardiovascular disease continues to be the top killer globally, taking the lives of more than 19 million people around the world each year, including people of all ages, genders and nationalities.

Recent research makes it clear that any amount of drinking can be detrimental. Here’s why you may want to cut down on your consumption beyond Dry January.

Sorry to be a buzz-kill, but that nightly glass or two of wine is not improving your health.

After decades of confusing and sometimes contradictory research (too much alcohol is bad for you but a little bit is good; some types of alcohol are better for you than others; just kidding, it’s all bad), the picture is becoming clearer: Even small amounts of alcohol can have health consequences.

Research published in November revealed that between 2015 and 2019, excessive alcohol use resulted in roughly 140,000 deaths per year in the United States. About 40 percent of those deaths had acute causes, like car crashes, poisonings and homicides. But the majority were caused by chronic conditions attributed to alcohol, such as liver disease, cancer and heart disease.

When experts talk about the dire health consequences linked to excessive alcohol use, people often assume that it’s directed at individuals who have an alcohol use disorder. But the health risks from drinking can come from moderate consumption as well.

“Risk starts to go up well below levels where people would think, ‘Oh, that person has an alcohol problem,’” said Dr. Tim Naimi, director of the University of Victoria’s Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research. “Alcohol is harmful to the health starting at very low levels.”

If you’re wondering whether you should cut back on your drinking, here’s what to know about when and how alcohol impacts your health.

How do I know if I’m drinking too much?

“Excessive alcohol use” technically means anything above the U.S. Dietary Guidelines’ recommended daily limits. That’s more than two drinks a day for men and more than one drink a day for women.

There is also emerging evidence “that there are risks even within these levels, especially for certain types of cancer and some forms of cardiovascular disease,” said Marissa Esser, who leads the alcohol program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The recommended daily limits are not meant to be averaged over a week, either. In other words, if you abstain Monday through Thursday and have two or three drinks a night on the weekend, those weekend drinks count as excessive consumption. It’s both the cumulative drinks over time and the amount of alcohol in your system on any one occasion that can cause damage.

Why is alcohol so harmful?

Scientists think that the main way alcohol causes health problems is by damaging DNA. When you drink alcohol, your body metabolizes it into acetaldehyde, a chemical that is toxic to cells. Acetaldehyde both “damages your DNA and prevents your body from repairing the damage,” Dr. Esser explained. “Once your DNA is damaged, then a cell can grow out of control and create a cancer tumor.”

Alcohol also creates oxidative stress, another form of DNA damage that can be particularly harmful to the cells that line blood vessels. Oxidative stress can lead to stiffened arteries, resulting in higher blood pressure and coronary artery disease.

“It fundamentally affects DNA, and that’s why it affects so many organ systems,” Dr. Naimi said. Over the course of a lifetime, chronic consumption “damages tissues over time.”

Isn’t alcohol supposed to be good for your heart?

Alcohol’s effect on the heart is confusing because some studies have claimed that small amounts of alcohol, particularly red wine, can be beneficial. Past research suggested that alcohol raises HDL, the “good” cholesterol, and that resveratrol, an antioxidant found in grapes (and red wine), has heart-protective properties.

However, said Mariann Piano, a professor of nursing at Vanderbilt University, “There’s been a lot of recent evidence that has really challenged the notion of any kind of what we call a cardio-protective or healthy effect of alcohol.”

The idea that a low dose of alcohol was heart healthy likely arose from the fact that people who drink small amounts tend to have other healthy habits, such as exercising, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and not smoking. In observational studies, the heart benefits of those behaviors might have been erroneously attributed to alcohol, Dr. Piano said.

More recent research has found that even low levels of drinking slightly increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease, and the risk goes up dramatically for people who drink excessively. The good news is that when people stop drinking or just cut back, their blood pressure goes down. Alcohol is also linked to an abnormal heart rhythm, known as atrial fibrillation, which raises the risk of blood clots and stroke.

The growing influence of physicians of Indian heritage is evident, as they are increasingly recognized and hold critical positions in healthcare, academic, research, and administrative positions across the nation. With their hard work, dedication, compassion, and skills, they have thus carved an enviable niche in the American medical community. Not satisfied with their own professional growth and the service they provide to their patients around the world, they are in the forefront, sharing their knowledge and expertise with others, especially those physicians and leaders in the medical field from India.

The 16th annual Global Healthcare Summit (GHS) 2023, organized by the Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) in Visakhapatnam in the state of Andhra Pradesh from January 6^th to 8^th, 2023 offers a unique forum for them to come together, sharing their knowledge and expertise with their fellow physicians from around the world, and to learn from one another.

According to Dr. Ravi Kolli, President of AAPI, “AAPI has been engaged in harnessing the power of Indian Diaspora to bring the most innovative, efficient, cost-effective healthcare solutions to India. The upcoming GHS 2023 with the theme of “True and Total Health is the Wellbeing of Mind, Body, and Spirit” with its focus on Mental Health, Infant and Maternal Mortality as well as various other medical specialty updates, Medical Jeopardy, and Research Poster presentations by medical students will be a great way to accomplish this mission of AAPI. In addition, advocacy to dismantle the stigma of mental illness and Suicide Prevention will be the highlight of the program.”

“This conference will focus on bringing the highest caliber of internationally acclaimed faculty and will develop a very robust agenda in collaboration with leading experts from India. The enhanced focus on conducting skills enhancement workshops, hands on experience with advanced techniques,” Dr. V. Ranga, Chair of AAPI BOT said.

CME sessions with academicians from the United States will offer unique opportunities for local medical staff and healthcare professionals to advance leanings and provide the best possible care for the people of India. Nearly 400 Physicians are expected to attend the AAPI GHS 2023.

Invited guests include Professors, Heads of Educational Institutes, Deans as well as chairs and members of the National Medical Council Board, in addition to the dignitaries, including Hon. Health Minister of India, Hon. Chief Minister and the Hon. Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Sponsors will have opportunities for Exhibits, Product Theaters, NGO booths to promote their services, products, and values.

Dr. Prasad Chalasani, Chair of AAPI GHS-USA says, “The scientific program and workshops of GHS is developed by leading experts with contributions from the Scientific Advisory Board and the International Scientific Committee. The workshops will be led by world-famous physicians on topics relevant to the needs of the time.”

“AAPI has plans to collaborate with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to initiate a very ambitious program to address mental health and wellness of all the students in the high schools in AP,” Dr. Ravi Raju, Chair of GHS-India said.

Discussions and deliberations will address the Stigma of Mental illness, Suicide prevention, Management of Chronic diseases and NCD and, other Global Health Issues including Climate Change and its impact on health will be discussed.

Dr. Sampath Shivangi, AAPI Legislative Committee Chair said, “We are collaborating with senior leaders from leading healthcare organizations including pharmaceuticals, device and medical equipment manufacturers and major medical teaching institutions, hospitals, and the Ministries of Health, External/Overseas Affairs and regulatory bodies to attend and coordinate with AAPI with an ultimate goal to providing accessible and affordable high-quality healthcare to all people of India.”

Dr. Manoj Jain,Chair of CETI – Collaboration to Eliminate TB in India supported by CDC and USAIDwill lead comprehensive discussions on the TB Elimination Projects in India, with tangible goals achieved and the plan for the future.

Dr. Sreeni Gangasani, CME Chair, and Academic Chair Dr. Sharma Prabhakar said, some of the topics for the CMEs will include Psychiatry, Ophthalmology, Pediatrics, Gastroenterology, Neurology, and Oncology. “In our efforts to realize the core mission of AAPI, which is to share the best from leading experts from around the world, to collaborate on clinical challenges, the GHS in Visakhapatnam will have clinical tracks that are of vital to healthcare in India,” Dr. Gangasani added.

Dr. Lokesh Edara and Dr. Brahma Sharma, who are the co-chairs of International medical education will conduct a high-powered panel discussion by International Medical Education experts including CEOs of ECFMG, WFMC, and National Medical Council officials. Dr. B K Kishore, an academic expert will lead discussions on research methodology and scientific writings. Latest Advances, CME, ENLS, Discussions on Research Methodology and Scientific Writing by Academic Experts will be part of the summit.

According to Dr. Joseph Chalil, Chair of AAPI’s CEO Forum and Strategic Advisor, “The CEO forum will focus on Equity, Ethics and Physician Burnout Issues” while the Women’s Forum chair, Dr. Udaya Shivangi said, “Women’s Forum will focus on empowerment, gender bias and leadership.”

Walkathon on the beach will be held to challenge mental health stigma and promotion of healthy lifestyle changes and stress management of and several other initiatives also will be announced including effective treatment modalities on non-communicable medical diseases, reducing the infant and maternal mortality and HPV Vaccination.

The Summit will have a research competition for medical students and post graduate students from all over India. AAPI will confer Awards of excellence and lifetime achievements. “AAPI will work collaboratively with GAIMS – Global Association of Indian Medical Students and will be conducting the Research Competition for Medical, Students, Residents, Fellows, and Junior Doctors,” said Dr. Anjana Samadder, President-Elect of AAPI.

“With the changing trends and statistics in healthcare, both in India and US, we are refocusing our mission and vision, AAPI will continue to make a positive meaningful impact on the healthcare delivery system both in the US and in India,” said Dr. Satheesh Kathula, Vice President of AAPI.

“January is #CervicalCancer Awareness Month! In coordination with the local organizers of the GHS, AAPI will continue its efforts to create awareness and offer financial assistance to eradicate this preventable disease,” said Dr. Meher Medavaram, Secretary of AAPI. “AAPI’s this new initiative through education and awareness programs is aimed at helping save millions of lives in India,” she added.

Dr. Sumul Rawal, Treasurer of AAPI pointed out, “India needs to redouble and continue its efforts and dedicate resources to tackle the perennial health challenges. Many of these projects and programs need regular funding and management of resources. We are grateful to dozens of AAPI members who have committed to serving India with an ongoing commitment.”

This international healthcare summit is a progressive transformation from the first Indo-US Healthcare Summit launched by AAPI USA in 2007. With the objective of enabling people in India to access high-quality, affordable, and cost-effective world-class health services, the Summit to be held in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs & the Ministry of Health, will have participation from some of the world’s most well-known physicians and industry leaders.

The scientific program of GHS 2023 is developed by leading experts with the contributions of a stellar Scientific Advisory Board, Continuing Medical Education Committee and Academic Committee of AAPI and Indian counterparts. The Conference in collaboration with several professional associations from all over the world, 12 hours of credits from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

“With the changing trends and statistics in healthcare, both in India and US, we are refocusing our mission and vision of GHS 2023, and AAPI would like to make a positive and meaningful impact on the healthcare in India,” Dr. Kolli says. “In our quest to fulfill the mission of AAPI, we are proud to share best practices and experiences from leading experts in the world and develop actionable plans and projects that enable access to affordable and quality healthcare for all people. To help accomplish this mission, please join us at the GHS 2023.” For more information on Global Health Summit, please visit: www.summit.aapiusa.org and www.GHS2023.com

AAPI Urges Government to prevent violence and bring to justice those harm Physicians

Chicago, IL: November 29, 2022:  “AAPI is very concerned by the recent and ongoing assaults on Doctors and Medical Professionals in India and joins American Kerala Medical Graduates Association (AKMG ) and Kerala Medical Post Graduates Association in condemning the recent physical assault on a female Doctor at Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College on  November 23rd that was caught on the CCTV,” Dr. Ravi Kolli, President of American Association of Physicians of India Origin (AAPI) said here today.

The leadership of AAPI, including Drs. Ravi Kolli, President of AAPI, Dr. Vishweshwar Ranga, Chair, BOT of AAPI, Dr. Raghu Lolabhattu, Vice Chair, AAPI BOT, Dr. Anjana Samadder, President-Elect of AAPI, Dr. Satheesh Kathula, Vice President of AAPI, Dr. Sujeeth Punnam, Chair, Alumni Committee of AAPI, Dr. Geetha Nair, President of AKMG,  Dr. Nigil Haroon, immediate past President of AKMG, and Dr. Subra Bhat,  past President of AKMG,  and the entire Executive Committee and Board Of Trustees of AAPI, stand in solidarity with our fellow physicians and medical professionals, who are on the front line, work very hard, day and night to serve and take care of patients diligently and dutifully, Dr. Kolli said in a statement issued here.

Quoting media reports last month that pointed to a very grim situation in the state of Punjab in India, Dr. Kolli said, it is shocking to learn of “Recent incidents of physical assaults and misconduct have once again instilled a sense of fear in the mind of on-duty medical staff. As per the data, compiled by the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association, over 400 incidents of violence against medical staff, including doctors, have been reported over the past two years.”

Recalling that from ancient times, physicians across the world have been revered for dedicating their lives for the noble mission of preventing people from getting and saving millions of lives of people from illnesses, Dr. Anjana Samadder, President-Elect of AAPI said. “We as a community of physicians and individual members of this fraternity have decided to go into the medical profession with the best of intentions. We as physicians want to help people, ease suffering and save lives. Physicians of Indian origin are well known around the world for their compassion, passion for patient care, medical skills, research, and leadership.”

“We strongly urge both the central and state governments to take decisive and drastic actions to curb these anti-social behaviors that endanger doctors serving patients,” Dr. Ranga, BOT Chair of AAPI said.  He agreed with the health experts who “want a multi-pronged approach to prevent such attacks, involving reducing the crowd by strengthening peripheral hospitals, increasing staff and providing better security.”

Dr, Satheesh Kathula, Vice President of AAPI said, “These incidents are unfortunate. We urge the federal and the state governments to provide adequate security at all hospitals and healthcare centers.” AAPI supports the petition calling for justice to the Doctor attacked in Thiruvananthapuram, which has gained support from the Kerala Medical Post Graduate Association, who stated that it is unsettling that such attacks occurred in medical campuses, which are supposed to be a secure location, he added.

“AAPI members share their angst as there is not enough support from the state and federal governments and the larger society as the attacks on Medical Professionals in India continue to rise, Dr. Meher Medavaram, Secretary of AAPI said.

Pointing to the trend of increasing violence against the Medical Professionals, and the actions against the perpetrators are disproportionately low, Dr. Sumul Raval, Treasurer of AAPI said, “Medical Professionals cannot provide the best possible health services to the people until there is a safe working environment. Potential fear of violence always looms, especially in the overcrowded Government Hospitals.”

Several aspiring Physicians have expressed concerns following the assault on the female doctor at Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College last week. The attacked female Doctor is quoted to have told Dr. Sulphi N, the Indian Medical Association state president, that she was shocked and regretted her decision to pursue a career as a Doctor and even as a neurosurgeon.

“Despite the noble intentions to save lives and prevent pain and suffering among the patients, Doctors and Medical Professionals continue to put their own lives on the line in the course of their jobs, it is shocking that face such attacks from the very people they are trying to help,” Dr. Sujeeth Punnam, Chair, Alumni Committee of AAPI added.

Dr. Raghu Lolabhattu, Vice Chair, AAPI BOT said, “AAPI urges the Government of India and the State Governments across the country to bring to justice those behind the cruel attacks on the physicians who have dedicated lives for serving the sick, especially during the critical Covid pandemic, risking his own life and that of his dear ones.”

“We at AAPI, the largest ethnic medical organization in the United States urge the Government of India and every state in India to make all the efforts needed to prevent violence against medical professionals and enable them to continue to serve the country with dignity, pride and security. We are shocked by the lack of coherent action against such violence and protect members of this noble fraternity. And we want immediate action against the culprits, who have been carrying on these criminal acts.” For more information on AAPI, please visit: www.aapiusa.org

A family was shopping at Sam’s Club.  Father and mother and their two children of six and two years.   A man who never saw this family followed them.  He assumed that they came from China.  He found a steak knife somewhere in the store.  He approached the father and made a cut on the father’s face before disappearing from the store.  A little while later, he returned to Sam’s Club with another sharp knife from outside.  He then located the young family and then started attacking the two children who were sitting the basket at the front of the shopping cart.  The six-year-old child was cut on the face. Before he could do anything further, the people around blocked him and handed him to the police.  He confessed to the police that the family came from China and that they were careers of COVID virus.  He also confessed that his intention was to kill the six-year-old child. The incident took place on March 14, 2020.

On October 3rd, the police arrested a thirty-seven-year-old man for assaulting and robbing fourteen women between the ages of fifty and seventy-two.  The incidents occurred within two months.  All the victims were wearing saris or other Indian clothes.  In one incident, a husband and wife who were walking along the road were approached by the man and asked for directions. He then walked behind the couple and pushed the woman to the ground.  He then turned to the husband and punched his face.  Before running away, he snatched the woman’s necklace.  The woman suffered a broken wrist and husband a fractured nose.  Police say the attacks were motivated by communal hatred.

This past April, the New York Times reported that Sikhs were physically assaulted three times on the same block in a quiet part of Queens, New York.

Thousands of incidents of discrimination on the basis of color, class, race and heritage have been reported.  From March 2020 to March 2022, more than 11400 anti-Asian hate related incidents have been tracked by Coalition for Asian American Pacific Islanders.  There is no statistics of the unreported actual incidents.  These incidents not only destroy the lives of the victims but also traumatize and disrupt their families and relatives. They are creating fear, suspicion and conflict in the community they belong to. It makes you feel out of place in society. Many feel marginalized.  The right of the victimized individuals, of their loved ones and of the people in the community they belong to boldly, freely and safely go out is eroding.

Since the beginning of immigration, Asian Americans have been subject to struggles for equality, social inclusion, and recognition.  Suspicion, fear and loathing of strangers, which Asians have been experiencing from time to time, have reached a peak in recent years, especially with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Discrimination through words, behavior, and pretending to be invisible is common, as is physical and psychological abuse. Hate killing is on the rise in our society.

Such incidents of xenophobia and intolerance, which are so frequent as to damage the values and integrity of the community itself, should be seen as a call for concerted and strong efforts by the affected Asian American communities.  Many of those who witness heinous violence and discrimination want to help or stop the victims, but are rendered helpless by their own insecurities.  Hate violence doesn’t happen at a specific place or time. The trend suggests that we are all increasingly vulnerable to discrimination and hatred. As with the possibility of witnessing events.

US Census Bureau and US Department of Labor group Chinese, Indians, Filipinos, Pakistan and people from other South and South East Asian countries, and people from the Pacific Islands are counted as a single racial group.  This demographic group, known as Asian American Pacific Islanders, is led by Chinese (5.1 million), Indians (4.5 million) and Filipinos (4.1), according to the last count. In New York state, the Asian Pacific Islander community of 2.5 million is considered the fastest growing community in the state.

Asians are seen as a model minority because of the community’s perceived higher degree of socioeconomic success than the other communities.  The ironic truth is that this cosmetic stereotype blankets the underserved struggling individuals and families in the community.

Coalition of Asian American Children and Families is a collaborative organization that advocates for social equity and justice and equal rights for educational opportunities for families and children. The Indian Nurses Association of New York (INANI), the voice of Indian nurses in New York state, is partnering with this organization to address anti-Asian hate.  It is currently engaged, among other goals, in raising awareness in the community and equip individuals with skills to prevent violence without compromising their own safety.

The strategy, known as Bystander intervention uses 5D methods to develop the awareness, skills and courage needed to intervene in a situation when another individual is in need of help.  INANY intends to use community forums and small groups as appropriate platforms and fulfills its mission through them.   Dr. Anna George, an associate professor at Molloy University and president of INANY noted that ECHO for Help, a prominent volunteer and charity organization based in Long Island offered the first forum for INANY to provide the training.   Dr. Anna George and Dr. Ani Jacob, a Nurse Scientist at Northwell Health System presented for the first time at the ECHO for Help.

Dr. George expressed her gratitude Sabu Lukos and Raju Abraham of ECHO for their unconditional welcome and support for making unity and acceptance a path to compassion.  The next presentation against anti-Asian hatred will be at INANY’s general body meeting on November 19 at Dilbar Restaurant in Floral Park in Queens, Dr. George indicated.  America’s first Indian Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Director of New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation Dr. Solymol Kuruvila and Paul D Panakal will be speaking on the 19th of November.

A FICCI report says nursing is becoming less desirable as a profession and is witnessing increased migration to foreign countries, which has left India facing one of its worst shortages of nursing staff in recent years 

Following a lull over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, government data now indicates a continued sharp rise in the demand for nurses trained in India from several countries, including Ireland, Malta, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, the U.K. (Wales), and Belgium. 

India ranks second after the Philippines in the number of nurses working overseas for better employment opportunities, higher salaries, and other benefits.

“Currently, there’s a growing demand for nurses, especially in the ambulance services, critical care, mental health, and geriatric care sectors. There’s also a demand for medical technicians,’’ said Anoop K.A., Managing Director of the Kerala Government’s Overseas Development and Employment Promotion Consultants (ODEPC).

Overall, only 300 nurses were recruited abroad through the ODEPC in 2019-20. But in the period between August 2020 and February 2021, the organisation has sent over 420 nurses to the U.A.E., Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the U.K. “And this number is on the rise,’’ Mr. Anoop said.

Evelyn P. Kannan, secretary general, Trained Nurses Association of India, Delhi, said that worldwide, countries are strengthening their healthcare systems after the pandemic. “We are definitely seeing a growing demand for trained nurses. Increased salary, healthcare benefits, family visa, etc., make the shift a lucrative deal,’’ Ms. Kannan said. 

The sentiment is echoed by nurses — even those working in Central government hospitals in the national capital. “In India, working as a nurse is becoming challenging and less attractive with long duty hours and comparatively less pay. The growth prospects are also limited,’’ a staff nurse at a government hospital in Delhi, who did not want to be named, said.

According to the Indian Nursing Council’s 2021 annual report, India has 5,162 nursing institutes, of which 87% are privately managed and 13% are government-run institutes. The country has the annual capacity to train 1,92,679 diploma-holding nurses (auxiliary nursing midwifery or ANM, and general nursing and midwifery or GNM); 1,33,299 graduate nurses (B.Sc. and Post Basic B.Sc.), and 17,141 postgraduate nurses (M.Sc and Post Basic M.Sc.).

‘Strengthening Healthcare Workforce in India: The 2047 Agenda’, a report by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), states: “Nursing is becoming less desirable as a profession and is witnessing increased migration to foreign countries, which has left India facing one of its worst shortages of nursing staff in recent years.’’

The report notes that nurses make up most of the employees in the healthcare industry and are essential for providing quality treatment to the patients, adding: “There is a great need for qualified nurses who are not only technically sound but also have specialised in various fields and are up to date on the most recent medical technology.”

In India, more than 60% of doctors and 50% of nurses/midwives are employed in the private sector. Also, while two-thirds of the country’s population is rural, only a third of the health workforce is available in rural areas, the report points out.

By, Nicoletta Lanese

Oxytocin, sometimes called the “love hormone,” may help heal broken hearts — literally. In a new study of zebrafish and human cells, scientists found that the brain-made hormone may help heart tissue regenerate after injury and, in theory, could someday be used in the treatment of heart attacks, according to the researchers.

Because the new study was conducted in fish tanks and lab dishes, however, this theoretical treatment is still far from realization.

Oxytocin has been nicknamed the “love” or “cuddle” hormone for its known role in forging social bonds and trust between people, and its levels often rise when people cuddle, have sex or orgasm. However, the so-called love hormone also serves many other functions in the body, such as triggering contractions during childbirth and promoting lactation afterward. Oxytocin also helps guard the cardiovascular system from injury by lowering blood pressure, reducing inflammation and diffusing free radicals, a reactive byproduct of normal cell metabolism, according to a 2020 review in the journal Frontiers in Psychology (opens in new tab). 

The new study, published Friday (Sept. 30) in the journal Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (opens in new tab), highlights yet another potential benefit of oxytocin: At least in zebrafish, the hormone helps the heart replace injured and dead cardiomyocytes, the muscle cells that power heart contractions. Early results in human cells hint that oxytocin could stimulate similar effects in people, if delivered with the right timing and dose.

The heart has a very limited ability to repair or replace damaged or dead tissue, the study authors noted in their report. But several studies suggest that after an injury, like a heart attack, a subset of cells in the heart’s outermost membrane, called the epicardium, don a new identity. These cells migrate down into the layer of heart tissue where muscles reside and transform into stem-like cells, which can then turn into several heart cells types, including cardiomyocytes. 

This process has largely been studied in animals and there’s some evidence to suggest that it may also occur in adult humans. Unfortunately, if the process does occur in people, it seems to unfold too inefficiently and in too few cells to result in meaningful tissue regeneration after a heart attack, the study authors said in a statement (opens in new tab). By somehow encouraging more epicardial cells to morph into cardiomyocytes, the authors theorize, scientists could help the heart rebuild itself after injury. 

The study authors found they could jump-start this process in human cells in a lab dish by exposing them to oxytocin. They also tested 14 other brain-made hormones, but none of the others could coax the cells into the desired stem-like state required to make new cardiomyocytes, according to the statement.  

The team then conducted follow-up experiments in zebrafish, a fish in the minnow family known for its impressive ability to regenerate tissues in its body, including the brain, bones and heart. The team found that, within three days of a cardiac injury, the fishes’ brains began pumping out oxytocin like mad, producing up to 20 times more than they had prior to the injury, the team found. The hormone then traveled to the heart, plugged into its receptors and kicked off the process of transforming epicardial cells into new cardiomyocytes. 

These experiments provide early hints that oxytocin may play a key role in heart repair after injury, and by boosting its effects, scientists could develop new treatments to improve patients’ recovery after heart attacks and reduce the risk of future heart failure, the authors concluded. These treatments might include drugs that contain oxytocin or other molecules that can plug into the hormone’s receptors. 

“Next, we need to look at oxytocin in humans after cardiac injury,” senior author Aitor Aguirre, an assistant professor in the Michigan State University Department of Biomedical Engineering, said in the statement. “Overall, pre-clinical trials in animals and clinical trials in humans are necessary to move forward.” (Courtesy: https://www.livescience.com/oxytocin-heart-regeneration)

By, Jeffrey Bendix

Burnout was a significant problem for doctors and other health care workers (HCWs) even before the arrival of COVID-19. Now a new study reveals just how much worse the pandemic has made it.

Researchers surveyed more than 107,000 HCWs across a wide range of health care-related occupations in 2019, 2020 and 2021-22 to measure and compare both individual levels of emotional exhaustion (EE) and workers’ perception of EE among their colleagues. They found that the overall EE rate among HCWs jumped from 31.8% in 2019 to 40.4% in 2021-22. The increase in individuals’ perception of EE among others—what the authors call the emotional exhaustion climate—was from 54% to 65%.

Perhaps surprisingly, EE among the three categories of physicians studied—residents, attending/staff physicians and physicians not working in a hospital–remained the same or declined between 2019 and 2020 a result the authors attribute to decreases in patient volume and the flexibility offered by telehealth resulting from the pandemic.

But the situation reversed dramatically in the following years, so that by 2021-22 the percentage of residents reporting EE had increased from 24.6% to 34.4%, from 33.4% to 40.1% among attending/staff physicians, and 29% to 34.6% among doctors not working for a hospital. These were, the authors say, “the largest single-year increases reported by any roles across any time frame, exceeding what was found during a three-year period when EHRs were introduced nationally.”

Among non-physicians, the largest growth in EE—from 27% to 39%–was among physical, occupational and speech therapists. Other occupations seeing significant increases included technologists (32% to 43%), technicians (33% to 42%), administrative support staff (29% to 38%), and nurses (40.6% to 49.2%).

Based on their findings and those of other studies, the authors call HCW burnout a “parallel pandemic that will be felt for many years to come.” Addressing it, they say, will require focusing on HCW well-being using both institutional and individual resources. Moreover, those resources need to be evidence-based and accessible to all employees, and their use must be role-modeled by organizational and institutional leaders.

The study, “Emotional Exhaustion Among U.S. Health Care Workers Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2019-2021” was published September 21 on JAMA Network Open.

(https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/senator-moves-to-end-covid-19-pandemic-national-emergency)

The Indian Nurses Association of New York (INANI), the voice and representative organization of Indian professional nurses in New York State, has received a grant from New York State for its work against discrimination and hatred against Asian Americans.  The grant amount is ten thousand dollars. The INANY leadership is proud stand behind this grant as a recognition and acknowledgment of the services this professional organization of nurses has rendered over the years and its ability to effectively influence the communities it represent.

Asians in America have been subjected to a great deal of discrimination and hate violence since the start of the Covid pandemic.  Similarly, the University of Southern California’s Center for Economic and Social Research’s Understanding Coronavirus in America survey reports that Asians experience mental illness at a higher level than other social groups consequent to the beginning of the pandemic.

A recent survey by Pew Research Center finds that 63 per cent of Asian Americans say that violence against Asian Americans in the US is increasing.  Dr. Anna George, the Association’s current president said “At a time when there is a need to take evidence-based measures to alleviate this problem or address the hate, violence, and discrimination experienced by Asian Americans and Asian immigrants, INANY is ready to step forward in partnership with other community service organizations of interest”.

About 2.1 million, about 11 per cent of New York State’s population are Asian Americans.   It is nicknamed the ‘model minority’ because it generally stands ahead of all other social groups due to educational attainment, socioeconomic success, representation in managerial and professional occupations and household income.

The stereotype has also created consequences.  The poor and helpless are often ignored, misunderstood or left unaccounted for.   The reality is that those who suffer from poverty, linguistic isolation and overcrowded housing are invisible behind the big headline of ‘model minority’.   The Asian American Pacific Islander Community Fund is included in the New York State budget to address this plight.

Dr. George explained that the project of INANY Grant will be implemented in collaboration with the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families.   A committee of professional nursing leaders including Dr. Soleymole Kuruvilla, Dr. Shyla Roshin, Paul D Panakal, Dr. Ani Jacob, Grace Alexander, Aleyamma Appukkuttan, Jessy James,  Jincy Chacko and Dr. George who have rendered selfless services in the society has been formed for the project.  She emphasized that the project will have completed its implementation in March 2023.

Burnout was a significant problem for doctors and other health care workers (HCWs) even before the arrival of COVID-19. Now a new study reveals just how much worse the pandemic has made it.

Researchers surveyed more than 107,000 HCWs across a wide range of health care-related occupations in 2019, 2020 and 2021-22 to measure and compare both individual levels of emotional exhaustion (EE) and workers’ perception of EE among their colleagues. They found that the overall EE rate among HCWs jumped from 31.8% in 2019 to 40.4% in 2021-22. The increase in individuals’ perception of EE among others—what the authors call the emotional exhaustion climate—was from 54% to 65%.

Perhaps surprisingly, EE among the three categories of physicians studied—residents, attending/staff physicians and physicians not working in a hospital–remained the same or declined between 2019 and 2020 a result the authors attribute to decreases in patient volume and the flexibility offered by telehealth resulting from the pandemic.

But the situation reversed dramatically in the following years, so that by 2021-22 the percentage of residents reporting EE had increased from 24.6% to 34.4%, from 33.4% to 40.1% among attending/staff physicians, and 29% to 34.6% among doctors not working for a hospital. These were, the authors say, “the largest single-year increases reported by any roles across any time frame, exceeding what was found during a three-year period when EHRs were introduced nationally.”

Among non-physicians, the largest growth in EE—from 27% to 39%–was among physical, occupational and speech therapists. Other occupations seeing significant increases included technologists (32% to 43%), technicians (33% to 42%), administrative support staff (29% to 38%), and nurses (40.6% to 49.2%).

Based on their findings and those of other studies, the authors call HCW burnout a “parallel pandemic that will be felt for many years to come.” Addressing it, they say, will require focusing on HCW well-being using both institutional and individual resources. Moreover, those resources need to be evidence-based and accessible to all employees, and their use must be role-modeled by organizational and institutional leaders.

The study, “Emotional Exhaustion Among U.S. Health Care Workers Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2019-2021” was published September 21 on JAMA Network Open.

(https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/senator-moves-to-end-covid-19-pandemic-national-emergency)

By, Paul Panakal

The Indian Nurses Association of New York (INANI), the voice and representative organization of Indian professional nurses in New York State, has received a grant from New York State for its work against discrimination and hatred against Asian Americans.  The grant amount is ten thousand dollars. The INANY leadership is proud stand behind this grant as a recognition and acknowledgment of the services this professional organization of nurses has rendered over the years and its ability to effectively influence the communities it represent. 

Asians in America have been subjected to a great deal of discrimination and hate violence since the start of the Covid pandemic.  Similarly, the University of Southern California’s Center for Economic and Social Research’s Understanding Coronavirus in America survey reports that Asians experience mental illness at a higher level than other social groups consequent to the beginning of the pandemic.  

A recent survey by Pew Research Center finds that 63 per cent of Asian Americans say that violence against Asian Americans in the US is increasing.  Dr. Anna George, the Association’s current president said “At a time when there is a need to take evidence-based measures to alleviate this problem or address the hate, violence, and discrimination experienced by Asian Americans and Asian immigrants, INANY is ready to step forward in partnership with other community service organizations of interest”. 

About 2.1 million, about 11 per cent of New York State’s population are Asian Americans.   It is nicknamed the ‘model minority’ because it generally stands ahead of all other social groups due to educational attainment, socioeconomic success, representation in managerial and professional occupations and household income.  

The stereotype has also created consequences.  The poor and helpless are often ignored, misunderstood or left unaccounted for.   The reality is that those who suffer from poverty, linguistic isolation and overcrowded housing are invisible behind the big headline of ‘model minority’.   The Asian American Pacific Islander Community Fund is included in the New York State budget to address this plight. 

Dr. George explained that the project of INANY Grant will be implemented in collaboration with the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families.   A committee of professional nursing leaders including Dr. Soleymole Kuruvilla, Dr. Shyla Roshin, Paul D Panakal, Dr. Ani Jacob, Grace Alexander, Aleyamma Appukkuttan, Jessy James,  Jincy Chacko and Dr. George who have rendered selfless services in the society has been formed for the project.  She emphasized that the project will have completed its implementation in March 2023.

Suicide, especially among children and adolescents is a growing phenomenon of concern and the numbers tell a shocking story. Every 40 seconds someone takes their own life according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Bringing awareness on this critical issue, September 10th is being observed each year as World Suicide Prevention Day across the world.

Observing World Suicide Prevention Day, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) organized a live online seminar on “Treating Depression in Children and Adolescents in Primary Care” on September 10th, 2022. Attended by a record number of physicians from around the nation, the online seminar was led by Dr. Ravi Kolli, President of AAPI and a Board-Certified Psychiatrist from Pittsburgh, PA.

Dr. Kolli set the context for the Webinar, by drawing the attention of the AAPI members to the prevalence of suicidality among people of all walks across the United States. “Nationally in 2020, there was approximately one death by suicide every 11 minutes. In the same year, for people aged 10–14 and 25–34 years, suicide was the second leading cause of death. From April 2020 to 2021 over 100,000 people died of drug overdose alone,” Dr. Kolli said. “Over 44,000 people die by suicide annually. As many as 123 people die by suicide every day. Over 1.3 million people attempt suicide each year, and suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for all age groups,” Dr. Kolli pointed out.

Mental health issues like depression are known to be the leading cause for attempting suicide. Suicide often occurs in a moment of unbearable pain or deep despair. Millions of Americans consider suicide, make a suicide plan, or attempt suicide every year – especially young Americans for whom suicide is the second leading cause of death.

“By drawing attention to the problem of suicide in the United States, the suicide prevention campaign also strives to reduce the stigma surrounding the topic, as well as encourage the pursuit of mental health assistance and support people who have attempted suicide,” Dr. Kolli, a board-certified psychiatrist told the AAPI members. “With the objective of strengthening and expanding the Lifeline infrastructure to respond to crisis calls, texts, and chats anytime and establishing a system that provides more opportunities for crisis service, the Federal Government has initiated the soft launch of Emergency Suicide Prevention Number, 988, transitioning from 1-800-273-TALK to 988,” Dr. Kolli pointed out. Dr. Kolli educated the participants on ways to respond to crisis and talked about the impact from “Reaction vs. Response.”

Dr. Malti Mehta, a member of AAPI BOD and a moderator of the session, stressed the importance of understanding how from inception onwards, the family dynamics contributes to depression and suicidality among children, especially among children of Indian heritage. “Let us work together with our family, friends, healthcare workers, religious and political leaders to prevent suicide through active counseling and support. It is time we empowered others to be in charge of their lives and value the one life they have.”

In her eloquent and comprehensive presentation on “Treating Depression in Children and Adolescents in Primary Care” Dr. Aparna Vuppala, Medical Director, SPEAK project of       HHF -Huntsville Hospital Foundation and a Psychiatrist from Huntsville, AL educated the audience on: the prevalence of suicide in children; Criteria for depressive disorders in children; Etiology and stressors worsening depression; Screening u Differential Diagnosis and comorbidity; Suicide prevention measures; Non-pharmacologic Treatment and Pharmacologic Treatment available today.

“In 2011, for the first time in 20 years in the US, more teens died from suicide than homicide,” Dr. Vuppala pointed out. “In 2017, the suicide rate was more than twice the homicide rate. In 2018, Suicide has become the second leading cause of death in 10–24-year-old children.”  Dr. Vuppala shared with the audience her own experiences in efforts to prevent suicide among school-going kids in Alabama. “The mayor’s office has recognized our efforts, providing funds for the program,” she said. She offered her team’s services to other parts of the nation.

Addressing the challenges of Pediatric Depression, Dr. Vuppala said, “Most depression research has been done on adults. Childhood depression is not necessarily the same illness as adult depression. We use the same DSM-V criteria as for adults. Childhood emotional instability is a challenge to understand and treat. AAP Guidelines recommend screening all youth 12 years and older for depression.”

Educating the parents about the consequences of untreated depression with the need for treatment compliance, she said. It is possible that 9 out of 10 kids are likely to share their issues with someone close to them or express their views on social media. Identifying them and recognizing them in advance is a sure way to prevent suicidality, Dr. Vuppala said.

She recommended that “parents must ask directly and matter-of-factly about suicide with children. Do not underestimate the threat of suicide or invalidate feelings. Do not be judgmental. Do not argue or debate if suicide is right or wrong. Do not say that their pain/stressor is not a serious enough reason. Do not lecture on the value of life. DO NOT be sworn to secrecy.” Among other things, she stressed the need for a minimum of 8.5 hours of sleep at night and limiting screen time with less than 2 hrs./day of recreational screen time for school-age children, and less than 1 hr./day for 2-5 yrs. old children.

Referring to treatment modalities to address depression and suicidality, Dr. Vuppala highlighted the importance of individual psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps increase awareness of thoughts-emotions-behaviors and change thinking pattern. In addition to Parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) and medications to treat depression, she referred to Dialectical Behavior therapy (DBT) which has been found to be helpful in preventing SI/self-harm by offering techniques to cope healthily with stress, regulate emotions, and improve relationships with others. Mindfulness has been found to a way for compassion and being grateful, while pet therapy and nature therapy are found to be useful.

During the interactive session, Dr. Kolli and Dr. Vuppala shared their insights on how “mindfulness and meditation” have contributed to stress reduction and prevent suicidality. Research on meditation and mindfulness has been shown to improve holistic person. Spirituality is found to be a valuable resource in combating loneliness and depression, Dr. Vuppala said.

American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI,) the largest ethnic organization in the United States, representing nearly 120,000 physicians and Fellows of Indian origin in the United States. For more details on AAPI and its programs, please visit: www.aapiusa.org

The NORTHEASTERN Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) in partnership with the local Red Cross has planned to organize its 2nd Community Blood Donation Drive at the Training Room, 256 North Sherman Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 on Monday, September 26, 2022 from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Dr. Dipti Pancholy Founding President NEPA-AAPI, said, “After the first ever Blood Drive held in Dember last year, we are excited to organize our 2nd Blood Drive in fulfilling our mission, which is to improve quality, access and delivery of health care by creating an environment of professionalism, and rewarding service as well as merit in Northeastern PA and globally.”  Excited about the very positive and encouraging support from the community for the 1st ever Blood Drive, Dr. Pancholi had said, “We plan to conduct future blood drives in the 11 counties that north eastern Pennsylvania.”

Dr. Pancholi praised the efforts and contributions of her Team members, who are working towards the success of the Blood Drive by meticulously planning the event on Sep 26th, including, Dr. Kishori Veerabhadrappa, a Hematologist by profession and the Coordinator of Blood Drive for NEPA-AAPI; Dr.  Sanketkumar Dalwadi, Chairperson of Community Service Committee; Dr. Sandhya Desai, Secretary NEPA AAPI; Ms. Judy McGovern, Red Cross Volunteer; and, Ms. Heidi Deleo Lackawanna, County Red Cross Director for their generous support in helping organize the highly successful event.

“I am looking forward to the dozens of local AAPI Chapters, and the newly formed NEPA AAPI Chapter  for initiating and organizing the Blood Donation Drives and Stem Cell Registration across the nation, in honor of the Fallen Heroes of Covid-19, and as India is celebrating 75 years of our Independence, AAPI has taken  this initiative to do National AAPI Blood Donation Drives in 75 cities,” said Dr. Ravi Kolli, President of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI,) the largest ethnic organization in the United States.

“Well done, Dr.  Dipti Pancholi and NEPA AAPI team. So glad you all are an integral part of our AAPI team. AAPI has launched 75 city blood donation drive. It only takes 15 minutes of one’s time and each pint of blood can save 3 lives. So let us all be the heroes and life savers. We all are one humanity and one family, Vasudhaiva Kutubakam,” said Dr. Ravi Kolli added.

Each blood component of whole blood transfusion can help up to three different people. Pointing to the fact that Blood cannot be manufactured despite medical and technological advances. The only way we can give blood to those who need it is through donation. It doesn’t cost us anything to donate but your donation saves lives. Blood is needed every two seconds, said Dr. Meher Medavaram, Chair of the national blood donation drive.

NEPA-AAPI is a newly formed, nonprofit association of physicians and dentists in the 11 counties of northeastern Pennsylvania and a chapter of the American Association of Physician of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic physician organization in the United States

To join the Blood DSrive and Donate Life saving Blood to people who need, please Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: NEPA APIO to schedule an appointment.

Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history
questions on the day of your appointment. You may download the Blood Donor App today. Get your digital donor card, schedule your next appointment, track your lifetime donations, view your blood pressure, and follow your donation on its way to a hospital.

“We are grateful to Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (NEPA AAPI) for participating in a national initiative of AAPI that has initiated and organized Blood Donation Drives across the United States, in honor of Fallen Heroes of Covid-19,” said Dr. Pancholy. For more details on AAPI, please visit: www.aapiusa,org

The world has never been in a better position to end the Covid-19 pandemic, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said in a news briefing in Geneva on Wednesday.

“Last week, the number of weekly reported deaths from Covid-19 was the lowest since March 2020,” he said. “We have never been in a better position to end the pandemic. We’re not there yet, but the end is in sight.

“A marathon runner does not stop when the finish line comes into view; she runs harder with all the energy she has left,” Tedros said. “So must we. We can see the finish line, we are in a winning position, but now is the worst time to stop running. Now is the time to run harder and make sure we cross the line and reap the rewards of all our hard work.”

There is still a risk of more variants, deaths, disruption and uncertainty, he said, “so let’s seize this opportunity.”

WHO released six policy briefs Wednesday that outline key actions for governments to take to end the pandemic. The briefs are based on the evidence and experience of the past 32 months and offer guidance on how to save lives, protect health systems and avoid social and economic disruption. They are “an urgent call for governments to take a hard look at their policies and strengthen them for Covid-19 and future pathogens with pandemic potential,” Tedros said.

Although official case counts have become significantly underreported, trends have shown a steady drop in cases both globally and in the US.

According to latest WHO update, weekly case counts are falling in all regions, with an overall fall of 28% compared to a week before. And in the United States, cases have been steadily dropping for the past two months, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

WHO’s weekly epidemological update said that there were just over 11,000 fatalities reported between September 5 and 11, a 22% decrease compared with the week before.

Decreases were reported in five of the WHO regions: 31% in the European Region, 25% in the South-East Asia Region, 22% in the Region of the Americas, 11% in the Western Pacific Region and 10% in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. There was a 10% increase in deaths in the African Region.

The United States reported the highest number of weekly deaths followed by Japan, Russia, Brazil and the Philippines.

Overall, there have been more than 6.4 million deaths reported globally as of September 11.

About two-thirds of the global population – and about the same in the US, specifically – are vaccinated with at least their initial series. But significant disparities in Covid-19 vaccination rates persist among lower-income countries, and rates are changing little now, especially in the US.

Forecasts published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that new hospitalizations and deaths will hold steady for the next month.

The Tej Kohli and Ruit Foundation, a non-profit funded by Indian born British billionaire, Tej Kohli, has successfully cured 17,289 people from remote and underserved communities of cataract blindness. The London-based organization is co-founded by Nepal-born Dr. Sanduk Ruit, famously known as the ‘God of Sight’ for curing thousands of people from blindness and becoming one of the most respected eye surgeons in the world.

he lockdowns of 2021 saw the beginning of a remarkable partnership between two sexagenarians who are bringing social and economic change to the most deprived communities in the developing world.

Tej Kohli and Dr Sanduk Ruit may live 4,582 miles away from each other, in Europe and Southern Asia, but distance has proven no barrier to them in co-founding a charity that is transforming communities by curing blindness.

Since its launch, the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation has screened 63,257 patients and cured 5,335 people of blindness, mostly in Nepal, in a series of microsurgical outreach camps.

In 2022 Tej Kohli and Dr Sanduk Ruit will scale up their activities by taking free treatments into poor and remote communities in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Pakistan, Indonesia, Laos and Bhutan.