ST. LOUIS, Mo. Summer has only just unofficially begun, but tick season is already well underway. While you can find ticks year-round, the summer push to get outside means this is when we see the bloodsuckers more often. That can be worrisome because ticks can carry serious diseases.

Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, there is tularemia, said Dr. Deanna Bajala, a Family Medicine physician with SSM Health Medical Group.

Lone star ticks, American dog ticks, and deer ticks are common in both Missouri and Illinois. If you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors, be ready.

Make sure you are wearing long sleeves, long pant legs, and long socks. Youll actually tuck the pant legs into the socks, Bajala said. Make sure you are wearing your hair up if you have long hair. And use an EPA registered insect repellent.

When you come inside, get do a thorough tick check. If you find one, remove it.

Get some sort of tweezers, she said. You want to grab as close to the head as possible, try not to squeeze, and just pull it directly out.

Watch for any side effects. Thats when youll need to see a doctor.

Theyll come in with some sort of rash. They might come in with fever or chills or headaches, she said.

But what about your pet? The Humane Society of Missouri often sees dogs and cats covered in these blood suckers and anemia and tick-borne illness is a big concern.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Ehrlichiosis are much more prevalent in Missouri and they can really affect pets. Theres an emerging tick-borne disease in cats call bobcat fever, said Dr. Travis Arndt, medical director of the Animal Medical Center of Mid-America.

Dogs and cats have a lot of fur but you should give them a thorough check after a prolonged period of time outside.

Ticks really like to attach inside the pets ear. So really try to look in there. There isnt as much hair in there. Also, look on the inside of their rear legs, Dr. Arndt said.

The best thing to do to help your best friend is to make sure they are on a tick preventative medicine.

Theres an external preventative. Its a topical you apply on their coat, on their neck and between their shoulder blades. Or theres the oral products which can last anywhere from one to three months.

The rest is here:
Summer is here and so are ticks! - KTVI Fox 2 St. Louis

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (NewsNation Now) Some businesses across the country are still doing temperature checks to spot potential coronavirus cases, but according to some medical experts, its a waste of time and effort.

With the easing of restrictions, L.A. Boutique owner Anna Tabakman also eased up on taking temperatures.

Obviously if someone had a high temperature I wouldnt let them in, but that never actually happened, said Tabakman.

Im not against it, but I dont think it really helps that much, said one person.

For over a year they became part of the daily routine.

The temperature check and the symptom screening really have no value, and theyre really worthless, said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, a University of Southern California preventative medicine specialist.

Klausner is among those health experts urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to update its guidance for medical offices and businesses.

Theres no benefit to continuing the temperature or symptom screening. In fact, the CDC itself stopped temperature screening its own employees many, many months ago, said Klausner.

The CDC recommends the screening of employees as an optional strategy and admits it is not completely effective.

The agencys own study of more than 760,000 travelers last year found only one case of COVID-19 for every 85,000 screened.

With coronavirus cases way down and many people now vaccinated, fewer businesses are doing temperature checks.

Some business owners say theyve provided some peace of mind during the pandemic.

So the more you have sanitizer here and everyones in masks then theyre not scared to come in, especially if youre checking temperature, checking everyones temperature, so were fine, said Tabakman.

Doctors say there is no real harm in doing the screenings still. They emphasized that the safety measures like temperature checks were in response to a brand new disease.

According to Dr. Klausner, hindsight will reveal other response missteps. As an example, he cited the fact that some COVID-19 patients never developed a fever so the temperature checks would miss cases.

Theres a lot of measures that were put in place over the past year. Its gonna take some time to roll things back. I would prioritize the rollback of this measure because it really doesnt have much value at all, said Klausner.

While temperature screenings could go, experts say social distancing and masking remain effective prevention tools in many settings, especially for the unvaccinated.

California is one state thatll continue requiring masks for employees, including those that are vaccinated.

The CDC also still encourages mask wearing in areas with large crowds like concerts and airports.

Read more:
Debate over continued temperature checks at businesses - NewsNation Now

Getty Images

In this Sept. 2, 2020, file photo, a student receives a temperature check before leaving the car to enter STAR Eco Station Tutoring & Enrichment Center in Culver City, California.

When you enter doctor's offices, hospitals, gyms, and many other businesses in southern California, you will still get your temperature taken before being allowed inside -- a method used for over a year to screen people for COVID-19.

But now the CDC, and some medical experts, say temperature screenings are useless and even misleading.

"Temperature screening will miss many many people with infections," said Dr. Jeff Klausner, a preventative medicine specialist at USC's Keck School of Medicine.

When the pandemic began, many businesses and medical offices required temperature screenings before letting people indoors, and if you had a temperature over 100.4 degrees, you would be turned away.

But over the course of 2020, the CDC examined cases of 766,044 travelers entering the U.S. who were screened for temperatures and other symptoms. The report says only 1 case of COVID was found for every 85,000 travelers screened.

The CDC has now concluded "Symptom-based screening programs are ineffective."

"I think temperature screenings are problematic because many times people can have Covid without a fever," said USC's Dr. Klausner.

The NBC4 I-Team has found another problem with temperature screenings, specifically with the accuracy of no-touch thermometers used by most businesses.

Last summer, the I-Team's Joel Grover tried out five popular no-touch thermometers sold online, with the help of registered nurse Alice Benjamin, a professor at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.

Nurse Benjamin first took Grover's temperature with a standard oral thermometer, which gave a reading of 98.5within the range considered normal.

But two of the five no-touch thermometers gave a reading of about three degrees less; that's well out of the normal range.

"As a healthcare professional, that concerns me," said Benjamin.

Other medical experts also told the I-Team they also have concerns about no-touch thermometers.

"I think these devices, in general are less reliable and less accurate," said Dr. James Lawler of the Global Center for Health Security, at the University of Nebraska.

Even though the CDC now says temperature checks are ineffective, LA County's Department of Public Health is still recommending that businesses do them.

That could change June 15, when the state of California goes to a full reopening and further updates protocols for preventing COVID-19.

"I think people got in the habit of doing temperature checks," said Dr. Klausner. He added, "Its tough to break a bad habit."

Read more from the original source:
Temperature Checks Now Thought to Be 'Useless' to Screen for COVID-19 - Reverb MSN Music

It's one of the most important elements of a healthy lifestyle. There's no sweat or pain, no major time commitment, and no memberships or high-priced equipment to buy. Still, men are incredibly apprehensive and do everything they can to avoid it, despite the added risk men carry due to the unhealthy choices they make.

What could be so treacherous to prompt the manliest of men to do almost anything to avoid it? How about the annual physical?

While it represents the foundation for healthy behavior, the routine doctor's visit is not so routine for many men. The "why" behind this behavior is well documented, though not well reasoned. The answer, like so many of the behavior-based challenges in medicine, seems to lie somewhere between the stereotypical views of manhood and a change in cultural norms.

Yes, while some men may perceive themselves as the less-emotional, more rational gender, when it comes to the simple act of making a doctor's appointment, a man's behavior is quite the contrary.

In a survey conducted by the Cleveland Clinic,only 50% of men said they consider getting their annual check-up a regular part of taking care of themselves. Worse, even among the men who take their health more seriously, researchers foundthat 20% admitted they have not been completely honest with their doctors.

The American Academy of Family Physicians found that 55% of men surveyed had not seen their doctors for a physical exam in the previous year, even though 40% of them had at least one chronic condition. Nearly one-fifth of men ages 55 and over said they had never undergone screening for colon cancer, and almost 30% said they "wait as long as possible" to seek medical attention when they are feeling sick or in pain.

An online survey issued by the Orlando Health hospital system found there are several reasons whymen may be reluctant to visit the doctor for an annual exam. They included: too busy to go (22%), afraid to find out what may be wrong (21%), getting prostate, rectal or other uncomfortable exams (18%), answering personal questions (8%), getting on the scale (7%), not wanting to be naked under a gown (7%), the exam rooms are cold (4%), and something else (9%).

Really? Clearly, while men may profess to be concerned about their health, if not for themselves but for the others in their lives, the evidence proves otherwise and the rational is lame.

According to Duke University Health System,annual physicals create a health baseline and strengthens the patient-physician relationship, which is important to maximize wellness. They suggest that a face-to-face wellness visit helps you connect with your doctor, establish trust and share your health care preferences before serious illness hits. It's also an opportunity to discuss important health issues like disease screening and lifestyle changes tailored to you. The best way for you to receive comprehensive, personal care is for your doctor to know you at all levels of health.

Mount Sinai Medical Centersays that when you have regular medical checkups, there's a much greater chance of discovering any health issues than if you were to rely on discovering them at home. Doctors are trained to observe symptoms, and to know what causes those symptoms, so early detection gives you a much better chance of overcoming a health problem or disease, because it's caught in its early stages. Early detection also leads to far less expensive medical treatment. Whether you're paying for health costs out of pocket, or you have a good insurance package, the cost of prevention and early detection is far less than the cost of treating a disease or any kind of significant health issue.

Research from Frontiers in Psychologyacknowledges that motivating people disinclined to engage in health behavior presents a significant challenge. They argue that effective strategies to promote behavior change among so-called"amotivated individuals" are relatively scarce.

However, the researchers contend that there are viable approaches. For example, by focusing on your values the things that are most important to you, what you want most in life, and reconciling how your behavior fits in with your goals and values you can help spur the motivation to change your behavior. Examining the discrepancies between your ideal life conditions and actual conditions may induce a desire to recalibrate daily behaviors to be more congruent with deeply-held, amotivated beliefs.

Other research has focused on behavioral economics, the use of financial incentives to spur healthy behavior. We're seeing this today with COVID-19 vaccines, but such strategies have been in use for several years.

Many health insurers have started member incentive programs that provide cash payments or other forms of value tied to physician visits or other healthy behaviors such as health club memberships. For the insurer, these payments are investments that reduce the risk to them of covering more serious and expensive health outcomes. It is also a bet that the member may ultimately continue these behaviors in the absence of the incentive.

Critics of behavioral economics argue that the key to sustaining behavior change is the internalization of the behaviors, and finding value beyond the monetary incentive, which they believe is restricted short-term change.

In my book, I've discussed the neanderthal culture that still persists among men. To this day, it is frequently cited when men are asked about their aversion to an annual physical. Men continue to believe that they are not supposed to be vulnerable to illness, and that visiting a physician is a sign of weakness.

Guys, its 2021. Come out of the cave. Put down your club, and get to the doctor. Be part of a cultural shift where men give their bodies the preventative care and attention they give to their cars. It's a rational choice and a routine worth starting.

Read the rest here:
Men, it's time to make the routine doctor's visit a habit - PhillyVoice.com

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION Diarrhea is a natural part of life all pets (and pet owners) have had it at some point.

While diarrhea can be smelly, messy, and potentially embarrassing, Dr. Michael Hung, a small animal internal medicine resident at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, explains what causes it and when a pet owner should be worried.

Diarrhea is defined as loose, watery, and more frequent bowel movements, and simply indicates that something is irritating the GI tract, according to Hung.

It occurs when something either impairs the intestines ability to absorb water or causes the intestine to secrete more water, he said. This can be from a problem originating within the intestines such as parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, a sudden change in diet, or even stress.

When diarrhea is caused by something obvious such as a pet getting into the garbage or eating too many table scraps, intestinal worms, or stress from a recent move and the episode passes quickly, it can be considered normal and self-resolving.

However, diarrhea can also reflect a more serious issue elsewhere in the body, Hung warns.

More sinister causes may include infectious diseases, the ingestion of poisonous substances, and a variety of illnesses, such as kidney disease or even cancer.

While there are serious causes for diarrhea, the majority of diarrhea cases are uncomplicated and do not require hospitalization, Hung said.

If a pet has a sudden bout of diarrhea, there are some at-home measures that pet owners can take to help their loved ones.

Hung says that pet owners can make sure that plenty of water is available to their pets, although they should never force feed the water.

A bland and low-fat diet can also be offered for a short period of time. Examples include shredded, non-seasoned, fully cooked chicken breast or cottage cheese mixed with cooked, plain white rice. Since this diet is not balanced, however, it should not be offered for more than a couple of days.

Pet owners also can try to prevent diarrhea by making sure their pets are on appropriate, thoroughly cooked, and balanced diets.

Treats (including human food) should be kept to a minimum, Hung said. Any changes to diet should occur gradually over a couple of days. Pets should also be kept on a consistent parasite preventative regimen and vaccine schedule.

Occasional diarrhea is unavoidable, and a pet may be able to overcome minor bouts on their own or with the help of their owners.

Ultimately, the cure for diarrhea depends on its cause, Hung said, adding that some pets may need to see a veterinarian for medical help.

Any diarrhea that is profuse and watery, mostly bloody, or that lasts longer than seven to 14 days should be addressed by a veterinarian, Hung advises. Because diarrhea can be a warning sign of a systemic disease, if not addressed in a timely manner, these systemic diseases can progress and become harder to treat.

Ongoing diarrhea can result in weight loss, nutrient deficiencies, and dehydration. Signs of dehydration, including lethargy, inappetence, unwillingness to drink, also indicate the need for veterinary attention.

That said, if your pet has diarrhea but is eating and drinking and seems like themselves don't panic. Although a pet with diarrhea in the house can certainly be stressful, it is not necessarily an emergency, he said. You can schedule an appointment with your family veterinarian, and they can help you decide what is needed for your pet.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be found on the Pet Talk website . Suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvm.tamu.edu .

Continued here:
PET TALK: Pet diarrhea: When to go to the vet - Houston Chronicle

During May, Integrated Diagnostics Holdings (IDH) the Company, IDHC on the London Stock Exchange a leading consumer healthcare company with operations in Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, and Nigeria, announced that it had listed 30 million shares on the EGX to be the first listed company to do a dual listing of ordinary shares on the EGXs main market.

The action came few days after the call by the Egyptian Immigration Minister that urged the Egyptian expats to trade on the listed companies on the EGX and to tap the securities investment ground as a bid to spur investment climate in Egypt.

The listing was the first for the company in the EGX.

In an exclusive interview, Ahram Online discussed with IDHs CEO Hend El-Sherbini what the action means for the company and for Egypt's market.

She also covered the companys future plans in Egypt.

El-Sherbini unveiled that IDH eyes value accretive acquisitions in African and Middle Eastern markets where its business model is well suited to capitalise on similar healthcare and consumer trends as well as capture significant shares of fragmented markets.

Ahram Online: How does IDH see the Egyptian market among others in the region?

Hend El-Sherbiny: There are compelling structural growth drivers in the Egyptian market that we have seen. These include a large, rapidly growing population and growing health consciousness among the patient populations we serve. The medical sector in Egypt is very fragmented. Patients and customers drive the market in terms of quality and choose their service provider based on where they receive the best care.

Our presence in Egypt has allowed us to raise the bar in terms of quality. Our competitive edge stems from our unwavering commitment to quality and the provision of best-in-class diagnostic services. We have obtained the College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation in 2010 and are currently the sole operator of a CAP-accredited facility in Egypt.

In terms of behaviour and mindset, Egypt has invested in creating a culture shift towards preventative medicine. Raising awareness is a critical part of that and IDH is playing its part. Presidential initiatives, such as the '100 Million Healthy Lives' campaign, have also encouraged more testing, particularly for Hepatitis C and diabetes. The IDH has carried out over four million tests. This was done across the country through our network of over 430 branches in Egypt, where we operate under the brands: Al-Borg Laboratories and Al-Mokhtabar along with Al-Borg Scan.

In addition to services, I believe Egypt is rich in qualified human resources. Our management team combines several decades of healthcare experience and our board of directors is composed of healthcare and finance experts with knowledge around the region.

AO: Was the companys performance and revenues affected by the COVID-19 crisis, especially in Egypt?

HS: 2020/21 has been an eventful year for IDH. Despite the exceptional difficulties it faced at the start of the pandemic in 2020 with the country being in lockdown and several branches operating under shorter hours, IDH leveraged its flexible business model and adaptive service offering to deliver strong growth and robust profitability. We have achieved excellent results and shown a strong performance during FY2020; with recorded revenues of about EGP 2.7 billion - equivalent to an increase of about 19 percent compared to FY2019. We have also recorded profits of EGP 609 million - equivalent to an increase of 21 percent, while the net profit margin reached 23 percent.

IDH has also served over 7.1 million patients in 2020 and performed more than 27.1 million tests across our regional network of over 480 branches in Egypt, Nigeria, Sudan and Jordan. In Egypt we have expanded our network, adding up to 35 new branches during the year.

AO: How do you assess the actions and policies Egypt has been adopting to protect its economy and navigate the crisis?

HS: The Egyptian governments goal to address the current crisis and place Egypt on a strong footing for economic recovery is clear. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak globally, many decisions have been taken to protect Egyptian citizens and to achieve the highest safety levels for them in a way that does not conflict with providing all the necessities of their daily life and firmly dealing with this crisis to reduce the spread of the virus.The performance of the Egyptian economy considering the coronavirus pandemic exceeded expectations, according to the testimony of international institutions and credit rating institutions, including the International Monetary Fund; the World Bank; Golden Man Sachs; Standard & Poor's; Moody's, and Fitch

AO: From your perspective, what sort of procedures does Egypt need to take to catalyse the private sector and to unleash its role in the countrys development and economy?

HS: Egypts government and leaderships vision along with its directives have dictated synergy between the public, private and civil society sectors and that is evident in the number of projects and developments that are in terms of infrastructure, healthcare and manufacturing in recent years.

Egypt's economic reform plan within the framework of Egypts Vision 2030 has also proven successful, with the first phase demonstrating economic resilience. The second phase is expected to help Egypt recover from the repercussions of the pandemic, through private sector-led development efforts.

AO: How do you see the recent initiative on the EGX launched by the Minister of Immigration along with EGX in boosting Egypts stock market during the present?

HS: The recent initiative, launched by the EGX in cooperation with the Ministry of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs, will see great benefits for us and other local brand names in boosting performance. This initiative helps spread the culture of saving and investment through the Egyptian capital market, while raising awareness for the fundamentals of investing, therefore encouraging Egyptians abroad to benefit from the Egyptian economic development, and helps them invest in their home country.

With this initiative, the Egyptian Stock Market adds another layer of attractiveness to international and local business, considering listing as it brings access to a different investor base across different markets.

AO: How is the new finance secured through the IFC expected to boost healthcare services in Egypt, particularly via IDH?

HS: IDH holds the largest market share in Egypt in terms of private sector diagnostics and we place customer healthcare at the top of our priorities. Our competitive advantage comes from our strict commitment to quality and the provision of the best medical diagnostic as well as analysis services in all its forms.

The IFC has stringent policies when providing finance and IDHs strong strategy for growth and solid financial position, gave us an advantage in securing the financing. Through this new debt financing agreement, we are once again reinforcing our commitment to the healthcare sector across emerging markets, delivering on our shared strategy and aligned ESG goals to provide communities with the tools they need to better their lives.

Our multi-pronged approach to sustainable growth revolves around the strategic expansion of our branch network to improve accessibility and reach new segments of the population, where we, on average, add 30 to 35 new branches yearly.

The $45 million debt financing package will allow IDH to expand healthcare accessibility by growing its regional footprint through potential acquisitions, as well as expanding our current medical service offering, geographical reach and digital offering. All to ensure that we provide access to as many patients as possible.

Additionally, this new agreement further strengthens our existing long-term strategic cooperation that began with our co-investment in Nigeria, where we have jointly deployed millions of dollars to bring best-in-class medical diagnostic practices and technology to Africas most populous country.

AO: What are IDHs future plans for the Egyptian market?

HS: Currently, at the top of our priorities is implementing our four-pronged growth strategy that focuses on expanding customer reach beyond opening laboratories in new geographies, in addition to reaching out to new customers with focused tactical marketing activities as well as new customer services.

In addition to organic expansion, we continue to seek value accretive acquisitions in African and Middle Eastern markets where the business model is well suited to capitalise on similar healthcare and consumer trends and capture a significant share of fragmented markets. While opening more branches will add both patients and tests, our strategy also looks at increasing tests per patients. This means that we will further diversify the test portfolio in combination with compelling offerings of promotionally-priced test packages which will drive the key financial metric of number of tests per patient.

The Group also looks to add diagnostic and medical services not currently provided on a large scale, believing its scale and experience position it well to take advantage of developing services opportunities that would raise the IDH profile to that of a one-stop-shop provider.

Short link:

Read the original here:
INTERVIEW: Egypt's call on expats to tap the EGX opportunities will see great benefits to domestic market: IDH's CEO - Economy - Business - Ahram...