Now that we are having nicer weather, everyone is eager to get outside and enjoy it. However, there are some threats to your family’s safety. Below are some tips to protect them, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sun Safety
Spending time outside is a great way to be physically active and reduce stress. You can work and play outside without raising your skin cancer risk by protecting your skin from the sun.

UV rays can reach you on cloudy and cool days, and they reflect off of surfaces like water, cement, and sand. In the continental United States, UV rays tend to be strongest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daylight saving time. LEARN MORE

Prevent Tick Bites
Reducing exposure to ticks is the best defense against tickborne diseases. Tick exposure can occur year-round, but ticks are most active during warmer months (April-September). You and your family can take several steps to prevent tick bites. LEARN MORE

Prevent Mosquito Bites
Take steps to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites that can make you sick. Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents. Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants. Wear clothing and gear treated with permethrin. Control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors. LEARN MORE

Air Quality
Outdoor air quality has improved since the 1990s, but many challenges remain in protecting Americans from air quality problems. The EPA regulates six pollutants as “criteria” air pollutants. It regulates them using human health-based and environmentally based criteria. Ground-level ozone and particle pollution are two of these criteria pollutants. The other pollutants are carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides. LEARN MORE

Lightning Strikes
Lightning can strike anyplace on Earth. In fact, there are about 6,000 lightning strikes every minute, which is more than 8 million strikes every day. You can protect yourself and your loved ones if you know what to do when you see lightning or when you hear thunder as a warning. Learn indoor and outdoor safety tips to protect yourself and your loved ones from lightning. LEARN MORE

On National Doctors Day, AAHPO celebrates the dedication, compassion, and expertise of healthcare professionals who work tirelessly to heal, comfort, and make a difference in the lives of others. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to caring for us all!

AAHPO Board Member Tsoline Kojaoghlanian, MD, a pediatrician specialized in Infectious Diseases at Maimonides Medical Center, provided guidance this week in a WCBS | CBS New York news report about the current measles outbreaks. She emphasized the seriousness and dangers of this infection, & how to prevent it. Read the full article and click the image to watch the video:

Dr Kojaoghlanian says “The majority of children with measles will recover after a prolonged debilitating illness. However, 1 out of 500 infected children will develop brain infection, which can be either fatal or leave the child with severe intellectual disabilities; and 1 out of 15 infected children will develop a pneumonia that will need intensive care and a breathing tube to treat. That’s why we want to prevent this infection with vaccines, which have been around for 40 years, and are very safe and effective. As you can imagine, the higher the number of measles cases gets, the higher the number of children with the complications of and fatalities from measles.”

Canned tuna products sold at major stores nationwide are being recalled for a potential botulism risk.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently posted a notice that Tri-Union Seafoods is recalling select lots of canned tuna products sold under the Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B and Trader Joe’s brand names.

The recall is being made out of an abundance of caution following a notification from the company’s supplier that the “easy open” pull tab can lid on limited products encountered a manufacturing defect that may compromise the integrity of the product seal (especially over time).

This can cause it to leak, or worse — be contaminated with clostridium botulinum, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning.

Consumers are warned not to use the products, even if they do not look or smell spoiled, according to the recall notice. Those feeling unwell should seek immediate medical attention.

READ FDA POSTING

AAHPO member Dr. Tro Kalayjian is a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine and Medical Director of Toward Health. He recently published a paper in Frontiers of Nutrition which presents research confirming the health benefits of lifestyle-based metabolic care. Key findings include:

• 15.5% average body weight loss (43 lbs at 12 months)
• 76% of patients still losing weight at one year
• $2,000 saved per patient in deprescription costs
• 2 fewer medications per patient

READ MORE

By Samuel Badalian, Chair of Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bassett Healthcare Network

I’m thrilled to share a major milestone for hashtag#Urogynecology in hashtag#Armenia! Today, our five fellows officially received their licenses from the hashtag#Ministry of Health, allowing them to practice the newly established subspecialty of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery.

This achievement is the result of four years of dedication and hard work. Since launching in 2021, our Urogynecology fellowship has trained specialists who can now provide evidence-based care in Armenia. This program was organized and implemented by the International Urogynecological Association for Armenia and supported by the Foundation for Urogynecological Assistance (FIUGA).

Congratulations to our fellows and everyone who contributed to this success!

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Photo Credit: MedicalNews Today

A nasal spray that contains esketamine — a potent derivative of ketamine — can now be taken on its own to treat adults with severe depression, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says. The nasal spray is offered under the trade name SPRAVATO®.

AAHPO member and psychiatrist Louis Najarian, MD, helps us to understand what this means: “There is much excitement about the benefit of ketamine for treatment-resistant depression. The improvement is much better when ketamine is injected intravenously under the supervision of an anesthesiologist and nurse. The infusion usually takes two hours and requires two to three treatments per week until there is improvement. This treatment continues while under the care of the patient’s psychiatrist, including continuation of whatever interpretant medication is prescribed. It is obvious the nasal spray is easier to apply daily at home with supervision by the prescribing doctor. The intra venous delivery remains more effective.”

Treatment-resistant depression is defined as major depressive disorder (MDD) that has shown an inadequate response to at least two oral antidepressants. MDD is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, with an estimated 21 million adults in the U.S. living with MDD. About one-third of adults will not respond to oral antidepressants alone, which has a significant negative impact on the quality of life of those affected. MDD has a high economic burden, with nearly half of it attributable to treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

Learn more about Spravato

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Alcon Laboratories is voluntarily recalling one (1) lot of Systane Lubricant Eye Drops Ultra PF, Single Vials On-the-Go, 25 count (Lot 10101). These eye drops were distributed nationally.

Alcon evaluated a consumer complaint of foreign material observed inside a sealed single use vial and determined the material to be fungal in nature.

Fungal contamination of an ophthalmic product is known to potentially cause eye infections. If an infection occurs, it may be vision-threatening, and in very rare cases potentially life-threatening in immunocompromised patients. To date, Alcon Laboratories has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall.

Consumers that have the recalled Systane Lubricant Eye Drops Ultra PF, Single Vials On-the-Go, 25 count (Lot 10101) which is being recalled should stop using them immediately and return to the place of purchase for a replacement or refund.

Learn more from the FDA

AAHPO member and rehabilitative medicine expert Laurie Dabaghian, MD offers guidance to anyone who is starting or ramping up a workout program.

“Here are some key tips when starting a workout program at any age. Proper warm-ups, gradual increases in intensity and supportive footwear are key to injury prevention in running or walking. Prioritize your form and always listen to your body. Outside of the aerobic activity, work on strengthening important stabilizing muscles, like your core, to protect your joints and maintain good alignment, minimizing stress on your body and helping you prevent injury.”

Learn more about Dr. Laurie Dabaghian

The World Health Organization’s decision to declare mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years may seem like déjà vu — but there are key differences between the strain that’s causing international concern now and the one that spread in 2022. (Photo at left: WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Photo credit: WHO)

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral infection characterized by painful lesions. It’s spread by direct contact with an infected person, animal or contaminated items like clothing or bedding.

The virus is classified into two distinct groups: clade I and clade II. Clade II was responsible for the 2022 outbreak, which has led to around 100,000 cases worldwide.

But now, a version of clade I has spread internationally. The outbreak started in January 2023 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and has since reached 12 other countries in the region.

Last week, Sweden confirmed the first known infection of clade I outside Africa, though Swedish health officials said the person was infected while spending time in Africa. Health authorities in Pakistan also confirmed a case of mpox on Friday but have not identified the strain yet.

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