From eNewsletter 8/18/2021
DID YOU KNOW that a new position statement from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine emphasizes that sleep is a biological necessity, and insufficient sleep and untreated sleep disorders are detrimental for health, well-being, and public safety? Data show that 34.1% of children, 74.6% of high school students, and 32.5% of adults in the U.S. fail to get a sufficient duration of sleep on a regular basis. Published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, the statement notes that sleep is vital for health and well-being in children, adolescents, and adults. There is a significant need for greater emphasis on sleep health in education, clinical practice, inpatient and long-term care, public health promotion, and the workplace. One excerpt from the statement is significant: "Healthy sleep is as important as proper nutrition and regular exercise for our health and well-being, and sleep is critical for performance and safety." Finally, the authors implore that by 2030:
Sleep education should have a prominent place in K-12 and college health education, medical school and graduate medical education, and educational programs for other health professionals.
Clinicians should routinely inquire about sleep habits and symptoms of sleep and circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders during patient encounters, and hospitals and long-term care facilities should optimize sleep conditions.
Healthy sleep should be targeted by public health and workplace interventions to improve health-related outcomes, and behaviors that help people attain healthy sleep should be actively promoted.
More sleep and circadian research is needed to further elucidate the importance of sleep for public health and the contributions of insufficient sleep to health disparities.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Wellness First Aid Kit for College Students College students should have these on hand. These are general recommendations and should be individualized. For Every Day Use
Intestinal and Oral Probiotic (to balance gut and nasopharynx microflora)
Magnesium Glycinate (anxiety and stress)
Monolaurin 600 mg (infection preventive)
Vitamin D3 1000 - 5000IU (immune system support)
Vitamin C (with flavanoids optional)
Zinc (15-30 mg)
Targeted multivitamin
Take As Needed
Andrographis (to be taken at first hint of infection to limit severity and reduce duration of illness)
Grapefruit Seed Extract Throat Spray (soothe sore throat, respiratory issue)
Zinc Sulfate Solution (soothe sore throat, respiratory issue)
Melatonin 0.5 - 3 mg. (sleep support)
Alka Support (sour, upset stomach)
Rhodiola rosea (stress, mood support)
Steve's Niacinamide Review For those of you who like to read research reviews, Steve just finished reviewing the evidence for niacinamide (also known as nicotinamide) for its efficacy as a treatment and preventive for certain types of skin cancer. Bottom line: niacinamide is effective. Here is the paper in its entirety Niacinamide is an Effective Chemopreventive.
Food Intolerance Test Blood Draw Update Next available Saturday blood draw date for the Biotrition food intolerance test is October 23rd.
Text Us To better serve your needs, we now have the ability to accept text messages. Simply type in (847) 498-3422 and text away!
UPDATE - COVID-19 Vaccine Information We updated this document Wednesday, August 18th.
Virus Prevention And Treatment Vaccines will minimize COVID-19 related mortality and hospitalizations, but SARS-CoV-2 is not going away, as evidenced by its ever-mutating variants. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 is not the only virus we fight. There are influenza (flu), norovirus (stomach flu), adenovirus (common cold), and four other coronaviruses (common cold), among others.We highly recommend continuing your immune support. For more information, refer to our Prevent and Fight Viruses 2.0 Protocol.
COVID-19 Condition Monograph For those interested in conventional and integrative treatments for COVID-19 with over 250 references, this is our COVID-19 Condition Monograph.
Post-COVID Syndrome The official diagnosis for post-COVID syndrome (PCS) are symptoms that last for 12 weeks or more. If you, a family member, friend, coworker, or neighbor is suffering from PCS, diligently following our Post-COVID Syndrome Action Plan for purchase, or free to paid members here, can bring measurable improvement.
Have a happy, healthy day! Steve and Bonnie Minsky
IN TODAY'S ISSUE...
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COVID-19 Update
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COVID-19 UPDATE
Steve and Bonnie: Recent data shows the Moderna mRNA vaccine may be more effective than Pfizer at preventing COVID-19 infections from the delta variant. At this juncture, it is too early to take this as gospel. In addition, you must consider that the Moderna vaccine may not be as effective as Pfizer for new variants that supplant the delta variant. There are simply too many unknowns. Moreover, we still recommend Pfizer over Moderna for women because there are less side effects. Finally, let's remember why you got the mRNA vaccine in the first place: to avoid severe illness and death. We still recommend both mRNA vaccines, but prefer Pfizer for women. Booster Shots Imminent As widely reported yesterday, public health officials and the Biden administration will recommend booster shots in mid-September to any American eight months after they were fully vaccinated. We hate to say we told you so, but we told you so ;) Are we recommending that our clients get booster shots? Absolutely not. Only in select immunocompromised individuals who show no B or T cell immunity should a booster be warranted. Why are we recommending against boosters shots?
Public health officials and the Biden administration must first officially change the spacing of the two-dose vaccine schedule to six-12 weeks, depending upon the age of the individual. Most experts now say the 21 to 28 day regime was too close together and should be spaced out for more robust protection, like many other countries have done.
Public health officials and the Biden administration must include self-care and adhering to an optimal lifestyle as part of its messaging. This is woefully overdue and has contributed to many more illnesses and deaths than were necessary.
The purpose of the vaccines was to avoid severe illness and death, which they do very well, without boosters.
Those who have been fully vaccinated have done their civic duty. Fully vaccinated individuals should not have to get a third shot before an immense portion of the country has not had a single dose.
The lack of robust data showing efficacy and safety from a booster at this time does not inspire confidence.
Thiamine for Critically Ill In a Critical Care study, thiamine (vitamin B1) used as adjunctive therapy has potential survival benefits in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Additionally, it was associated with a lower incidence of thrombosis. Along with the 82% reduction in death from vitamin C as we cited last week, this would seem to be a powerful combination, no? Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and COVID-19 Two new studies bring further clarity for IBD patients taking medication. In the first study from Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, immunomodulators and biologics prescribed in patients with IBD do not appear to increase the severity of COVID-19 infection. Another study in Gastroenterology purports that full vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 was more than 80% effective at reducing serious illness in those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) even if taking immunosuppressive medications. Forest Bathing, Green Spaces A study from Medrxiv examined the associations between green spaces and one-years’ worth of SARS-CoV-2 infection rates across all 3,108 counties in the United States. Proximity to green spaces at the county level exhibited a significant drop in infection rates. Among all types of green spaces, forest yields the most consistent and strongest association. Proximity to a forest within a moderate walking distance may provide the greatest protection against the risk of infection. Animal Feed Stores Running Out of Ivermectin Because so many humans are purchasing the over-the-counter, antiparasitic medication ivermectin from animal feed stores, there is a shortage for horses, pigs, sheep, and cows. In the US, ivermectin is by prescription only for humans. Ivermectin has exhibited some positive studies for its effectiveness as a preventive/treatment COVID-19. However, we never suggest self-medicating. Please seek out a physician who will work with you to prescribe it. COVID-19 Reinfection in Vaccinated Versus Unvaccinated A new study published in the August 6th Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report shows that people who have recovered from COVID-19, but haven't been vaccinated, have more than double the risk of testing positive for the virus again, compared with someone who was vaccinated after an initial infection. It is looking more and more like six to seven months is the maximum amount of time that someone who had COVID-19 infection can expect to fight off reinfection. After that, reinfection rates start going up. For vaccinated persons, it seems that five to seven months after full vaccination, breakthrough infection susceptibility starts to increase. EU Adding, Looking Into, Vaccine Side Effects No causal link between COVID-19 vaccines and menstrual disorders has been found so far, according to Europe's drugs regulator. However they are recommending that three new conditions be added as possible side-effects of J&J's coronavirus shot: immune thrombocytopenia (low blood platelets), dizziness, and tinnitus (ringing in the ear). Moreover, The European Medicines Agency is studying three new conditions reported by a small number of people who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines provided by Moderna and Pfizer: Erythema multiforme, an allergic skin reaction; Glomerulonephritis, or kidney inflammation; Nephrotic syndrome, a renal disorder. The EMA is assessing whether these conditions could be possible side effects of the vaccines, which would then warrant new label warnings.
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