Category: WELLNESS

New evidence that brain and body health influence mental wellbeing

The study, published in Nature Mental Health, analysed UK Biobank data from more than 18,000 individuals. Of these, 7,749 people had no major clinically-diagnosed medical or mental health conditions, while 10,334 had reported a diagnosis of either schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety.

Using advanced statistical models, the researchers found a significant association between poorer organ health and higher depressive symptoms, and that the brain plays an important role in linking body health and depression.

The organ systems studied included the lungs, muscles and bones, kidneys, liver, heart, and the metabolic and immune systems.

Dr Ye Ella Tian, lead author of the study from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne, said. “Overall, we found multiple significant pathways through which poor organ health may lead to poor brain health, which may in turn lead to poor mental health.

“By integrating clinical data, brain imaging and a wide array of organ-specific biomarkers in a large population-based cohort, for the first time we were able to establish multiple pathways involving the brain as a mediating factor and through which poor physical health of body organ systems may lead to poor mental health.

“We identified modifiable lifestyle factors that can potentially lead to improved mental health through their impact on these specific organ systems and neurobiology.

“Our work provides a holistic characterisation of brain, body, lifestyle and mental health.”

Physical health was also taken into account, as well as lifestyle factors such as sleep quality, diet, exercise, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

Professor James Cole, an author of the study from UCL Computer Science, said: “While it’s well-known in healthcare that all the body’s organs and systems influence each other, it’s rarely reflected in research studies. So, it’s exciting to see these results, as it really emphases the value in combining measures from different parts of the body together.”

Professor Andrew Zalesky, an author of the study from the Departments of Psychiatry and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Melbourne, said. “This is a significant body of work because we have shown the link between physical health and depression and anxiety, and how that is partially influenced by individual changes in brain structure.

“Our results suggest that poor physical health across multiple organ systems, such as liver and heart, the immune system and muscles and bones, may lead to subsequent alterations in brain structure.

“These structural changes of the brain may lead to or exacerbate symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as neuroticism.”

 

Find more : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2024/aug/new-evidence-brain-and-body-health-influence-mental-wellbeing?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=vpee_linkedin_newsletter&utm_content=bodyhealth_aug24

Stem Cell Therapy: A New Horizon in Breast Cancer Treatment

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women worldwide, with millions of new cases diagnosed each year. Despite advances in treatment, it remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Traditional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation have improved survival rates, but they often come with significant side effects and may not be effective in all cases, particularly in advanced or metastatic stages of the disease. As the medical community continues to seek more effective and less invasive treatments, stem cell therapy is emerging as a promising frontier in the fight against breast cancer.

Understanding Breast Cancer: A Global Challenge

Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast tissue grow uncontrollably, forming a tumor that can invade surrounding tissues and spread to other parts of the body. The causes of breast cancer are multifactorial, involving genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Early detection through screening programs like mammography has significantly improved outcomes, but the need for more effective treatments remains critical, especially for patients with aggressive or resistant forms of the disease.

Traditional treatments, while often life-saving, can have significant drawbacks. Surgery can be disfiguring and may not completely eliminate the risk of recurrence. Chemotherapy and radiation, although effective at killing cancer cells, also damage healthy cells, leading to side effects like fatigue, hair loss, and compromised immune function. Moreover, some breast cancers do not respond well to these treatments, particularly triple-negative breast cancer, which lacks the hormone receptors targeted by many therapies.

This is where stem cell therapy comes into play—a novel approach that has the potential to revolutionize breast cancer treatment.

Stem Cell Therapy: A New Horizon in Breast Cancer Treatment

Stem cell therapy has garnered significant attention in recent years as a potential game-changer in cancer treatment. Unlike traditional therapies that target the symptoms or manifestations of the disease, stem cell therapy aims to address the underlying causes by regenerating damaged tissues, boosting the immune system, and even targeting cancer stem cells that are believed to drive tumor growth and recurrence.

1. Understanding Stem Cells:

  • Stem cells are unique in their ability to develop into different types of cells in the body. They have the potential to repair or replace damaged tissues and can be used to regenerate healthy tissue in areas affected by cancer.
  • There are two primary types of stem cells relevant to cancer therapy: embryonic stem cells, which can differentiate into any cell type, and adult stem cells, which are more limited but still hold significant therapeutic potential. In breast cancer, researchers are particularly interested in the role of cancer stem cells— a small subset of cells within tumors that are resistant to conventional treatments and are thought to be responsible for relapse and metastasis.

2. The Role of Stem Cells in Breast Cancer:

  • One of the most promising aspects of stem cell therapy in breast cancer is its potential to target cancer stem cells. These cells are thought to be the root cause of tumor growth and metastasis, and they often evade traditional therapies, leading to recurrence. By specifically targeting and eliminating these cells, stem cell therapy could significantly reduce the risk of relapse and improve long-term outcomes.
  • Additionally, stem cell therapy can be used to regenerate healthy tissue damaged by surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. For example, adipose-derived stem cells (from fat tissue) are being explored for their ability to repair tissue damage after a mastectomy or lumpectomy, improving cosmetic outcomes and reducing the need for additional surgeries.

3. Current Research and Clinical Trials:

  • While stem cell therapy for breast cancer is still in its early stages, there have been promising developments in both preclinical and clinical research. Clinical trials are currently underway to evaluate the safety and efficacy of various stem cell-based therapies for breast cancer.
  • One area of focus is the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which have shown potential in targeting breast cancer cells and enhancing the effects of chemotherapy. These stem cells can be engineered to deliver anti-cancer drugs directly to tumors, increasing the precision and effectiveness of treatment while minimizing side effects.
  • Another exciting avenue is the use of stem cells in combination with immunotherapy. By enhancing the body’s immune response to cancer, stem cells could help to overcome the immune evasion tactics used by tumors, making immunotherapy more effective.

4. Challenges and Future Directions:

  • Despite the promise of stem cell therapy, there are still significant challenges to overcome. Ensuring the safety of these therapies is paramount, as there is a risk that stem cells could promote tumor growth if not properly controlled. Moreover, the complex nature of cancer stem cells means that therapies must be precisely targeted to avoid unintended consequences.
  • The future of stem cell therapy in breast cancer will likely involve a combination of approaches, integrating stem cells with existing treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy. As our understanding of cancer biology continues to grow, so too will the potential of stem cell therapy to provide more effective and less toxic treatment options for breast cancer patients.

    Conclusion: A Promising Future Ahead

    The fight against breast cancer is far from over, but the advent of stem cell therapy offers a new ray of hope. As research continues to advance, this innovative approach could become a cornerstone of breast cancer treatment, offering patients more effective, personalized, and less invasive options. While challenges remain, the potential of stem cell therapy to transform breast cancer care is undeniable, and the ongoing research in this field is something that the medical community and patients alike should watch closely.

    As we move forward, it is essential to continue supporting research and clinical trials that explore the full potential of stem cell therapy in breast cancer. With continued innovation and collaboration, we may one day see a world where breast cancer is not only treatable but curable—thanks in part to the incredible power of stem cells.

    Find more : https://www.linkedin.com/company/medipocketusa/posts/?feedView=all

Transforming Healthcare: The Power of Timely Information and Exercise in Underserved Communities

In today’s rapidly evolving world, having the right information at the right moment can determine success or failure, health or illness. As professionals, we recognize the critical impact of timely information, especially in health and wellness. It’s imperative to leverage this knowledge and take decisive action, particularly to support underserved communities.

Access to Healthcare: An Ongoing Challenge

Despite technological advancements, timely access to healthcare information remains a significant challenge in America. Disparities in healthcare access lead to varying health outcomes across different populations. Underserved communities often face systemic barriers that hinder their ability to receive prompt and adequate healthcare.

The consequences are evident: delays in health screenings, diagnostics, and treatments exacerbate conditions that could be manageable or preventable. This results in higher rates of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension among marginalized groups. The American Heart Association reports that African Americans are nearly twice as likely to have diabetes compared to non-Hispanic whites. These delays perpetuate cycles of poor health and reduced quality of life.

Exercise is Medicine: A Call to Action

The CDC’s extensive research underscores the benefits of regular physical activity. Our task is to ensure that underserved communities can access and utilize this powerful tool. The focus is on making fitness accessible to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.

Healthcare providers, fitness professionals, and community leaders must disseminate accurate and actionable information about exercise, empowering individuals to make healthier choices. It’s about promoting physical activity and breaking down barriers to make fitness accessible to all.

A Successful Example: HEALTHEFIT DWF in Covington, GA

HEALTHEFIT DWF in Covington, GA, exemplifies how integrating Exercise is Medicine (EIM) and Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) can revolutionize healthcare delivery in underserved communities. As a trusted advisor from its inception, I have seen firsthand how their innovative Medical Fitness Therapy program significantly enhances patient care.

Patients at HEALTHEFIT DWF benefit from real-time updates and personalized recommendations delivered via advanced digital platforms. This seamless integration of technology into healthcare management allows for easier chronic condition management and better adherence to treatment plans.

The success of HEALTHEFIT DWF is built on several key elements, including:

  • Integration of Cutting-Edge Technologies – HEALTHEFIT DWF uses advanced digital health solutions for continuous patient monitoring. These platforms collect and analyze data on vital signs, physical activity, and other health indicators, enabling prompt responses to emerging health issues.
  • Personalized Health Plans – Patients receive tailored health plans with specific exercise regimens, dietary recommendations, and lifestyle modifications, continuously updated based on real-time data and progress to meet their unique health needs and goals.
  • Enhanced Patient Engagement – Digital platforms have improved patient engagement by providing access to health data and facilitating easy communication with healthcare providers. This transparency fosters ownership and active participation in treatment plans.
  • Community Outreach and Education – HEALTHEFIT DWF emphasizes community outreach and education through regular workshops and seminars on exercise and healthy living, empowering individuals to take proactive steps towards better health.
  • Collaboration with Healthcare Professionals – The success of HEALTHEFIT DWF stems from collaboration between fitness professionals and healthcare providers, ensuring comprehensive care that addresses both medical and fitness needs, enhancing overall treatment effectiveness.
  • Measurable Health Outcomes – HEALTHEFIT DWF’s approach has led to measurable improvements in managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Timely health information and personalized care plans have resulted in better health outcomes and quality of life.

Conclusion: Information and Exercise as Catalysts for Change

The challenges in healthcare access underscore the transformative power of timely information and the promotion of exercise as medicine. Whether delivering health advice or emphasizing the benefits of physical activity, receiving the right information at the right time is crucial for individual and collective well-being.

The example of HEALTHEFIT DWF in Covington, GA, illustrates how integrating EIM and RTM can revolutionize healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved communities. Their proactive approach, leveraging cutting-edge technology and personalized care, has led to significant health improvements for their patients. This model provides valuable insights and a blueprint for future healthcare initiatives aiming to bridge the gap in healthcare access and outcomes.

As we reflect on our progress and future goals, let us commit to ensuring that everyone has access to the information they need for a healthy and fulfilling life. By prioritizing timely and equitable access to healthcare information—especially regarding exercise as medicine and RTM—we can advance toward a healthier and more just society.

This is our call to duty. Let’s remain vigilant in our pursuit of timely information and accessible exercise opportunities, understanding that these are not just conveniences but fundamental rights that can unlock freedom, health, and opportunity for all.

References:

  • American Heart Association. “African Americans & Cardiovascular Diseases.” Retrieved from heart.org.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Physical Activity and Health.” Retrieved from cdc.gov.

David Rachal III, MBA, EIM-C, MFP-C, is a Medical Fitness Practitioner with decades of experience in chronic disease management and preventive solutions. David is dedicated to integrating digital health solutions into traditional healthcare practices to enhance patient outcomes and promote a healthier lifestyle. He has been instrumental in the start-up phases of DWF Wellness in Covington, GA, and continues to serve as a trusted advisor.

read more :

Transforming Healthcare: The Power of Timely Information and Exercise in Underserved Communities

It’s never been more important to focus on cancer prevention

With an ageing population, cancer cases predicted to increase from 17 million to 30 million by 2040 and rising levels of overweight and obesity, it’s never been more important to focus on cancer prevention. Over 40% of cancers could be prevented if we all lived healthy lifestyles, including maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active and eating a healthy diet.

But what does this mean in practice? Every day we’re bombarded with information about what’s healthy and what isn’t. It can be confusing and seem contradictory: what’s missing is the context – how do all the disparate pieces fit together to make a coherent picture?

That’s where our Global Cancer Update Programme, formerly known as the Continuous Update Project, comes in. This huge undertaking pulls the puzzle pieces together to show how what we eat, what we weigh and how active we are all affect our risk of cancer. The Expert Paneloverseeing the process then use that information to develop Recommendations for Cancer Prevention.

A while back I wrote about how this work was moving into a new and exciting phase of development. This new phase has now started and the programme has changed in a number of ways. It’s more:

  • targeted – looking at specific research questions such as early life exposures and their impact on cancer risk later in life.
  • collaborative – to increase the reach and scope of the work a number of collaborations with leading international research groups will take place that focus on specific areas such as dietary patterns and the life course.
  • efficient – we are shifting from reviewing all risk factors for every cancer to systematically scanning the evidence to identify which topics are likely to be the most fruitful areas of detailed study. Integrating more automation into the review process will be central to this.
  • inclusive – in addition to looking at cancer prevention, the work will expand to encompass cancer survivors. With improved diagnosis and treatment the good news is that there is a growing population of people living with and beyond cancer. The Global Cancer Update Programme will help us to understand how diet, nutrition and physical activity can improve long-term health and prolong survival after a cancer diagnosis.

There are four major themes to the work:

1. Cancer incidence

Looking at how a wide range of factors relating to diet, nutrition and physical activity as well as patterns of diet and lifestyle can affect cancer risk – either through decreasing risk or increasing it.

2. Cancer survivors

Focusing on the impact of diet, nutrition and physical activity on long-term health (cancer and non-cancer related morbidity, mortality and quality of life) after a cancer diagnosis. As part of this, we will look to determine for the first time the impact of diet, nutrition and physical activity on childhood cancer survivors.

3. Cancer mechanisms

Understanding the biological processes that underpin the links between diet, nutrition and physical activity and cancer.

4. Obesity

Ensuring previous work in relation to overweight and obesity remains up to date, given its critical role in increasing the risk of many cancer types. In addition, we will explore whether more specific guidance can be made for preventing obesity in adulthood and early life.

This comprehensive programme of work will allow us to look more deeply at how diet, nutrition and physical activity affect cancer risk and survival. In the next few years, the Global Cancer Update Programme will enable a more sophisticated understanding, with a more personalised approach to cancer prevention and survival than ever before.

Find out more about our Global Cancer Update Programme

Commercial determinants of health: how they are driving up rates of cancer and other NCDs

A new report from the WHO Regional Office for Europe looks at the impacts of the commercial determinants of health

Tobacco, alcohol, highly processed foods and fossil fuel industries cause 19 million deaths per year globally. These shocking statistics, reported in Commercial Determinants of noncommunicable diseases in the WHO European Region, show how commercial activities are harming our health and increasing the global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer (WCRF International contributed to two case studies to this report, one on civil society engagement and one on alcohol warning labels).

The commercial determinants of health (CDOH) assess how commercial industries and their products can influence and impact the overall health and health equity of people, and whole societies.

Impacts of CDOH are felt across society, from the individual consumer, their health behaviours and choices, extending to global levels of consumption, and the politics and economics of increasing globalisation.

Health-harming industries

Commercial determinants that negatively impact health involve products from unhealthy commodity industries, which produce and sell health-harming products such as:

  • tobacco
  • alcohol
  • highly processed foods
  • and fossil fuels

The recent WHO/Europe report shows how exposure to these health-harming products is driving up already exceptionally high rates of cancer and other NCDs globally.

In the European Region alone, almost two thirds (61.3%) of deaths caused by NCDs can be attributed directly to risk factors linked to unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, alcohol and tobacco consumption.

This equates to an estimated 2.7m deaths annually, or more than 7,400 deaths every day. Many of these deaths could be prevented with reduced exposure to these commercial products.

Corporate channels of influence

You will certainly have experienced commercial forces at play in the world in both visible and invisible ways. Industries influence and impact health, and undermine policymaking through the following corporate channels:

  • marketing and advertising
  • engaging in corporate social responsibility strategies and activities
  • lobbying governments and policymakers; and
  • deflecting attention away from their role and responsibilities in causing health harms

Marketing and advertising enhance the acceptability and desirability of health-harming products. Often selling a certain lifestyle, aesthetic or experience, it normalises these products as part of everyday life, as well as more aspirational ways of living.

Marketing and promotions have been found to disproportionately target low socioeconomic status or minority populations, with industry tactics ranging from timing marketing campaigns to coincide with the distribution of benefits from food assistance programmes, to aiming advertisements directly at children.

Corporate social responsibility activities serve to improve corporate brands and reputations. Coca-Cola or PepsiCo’s frequent sponsorship of sports teams, events, and funding children’s physical activity programmes seeks to shift focus away from how their own products contribute to the obesity epidemic, and instead reflect favourably on their support for physical activity promotion.

DrinkAware, an alcohol-industry funded health information organisation, promotes “responsible drinking” campaigns (despite alcohol being classified as a Group 1 carcinogen that is causally linked to 7 types of cancer), and engages in partnerships with government and public health agencies.

Lobbying governments and policymakers works to avoid or circumvent regulation. Examples include the food and beverage industry’s opposition to sugar-sweetened beverage taxes, or the alcohol industry’s use of legal threats to stop the implementation of health warning labels.

Public health experts are also targeted through less obvious channels, such as Coca-Cola’s emails to the US Centre for Disease Control (obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests) to advance corporate objectives over health, including trying to influence the WHO.

Other tactics include funding research and political parties to sway the evidence base and policymakers in their favour—influencing all levels of policy, from scientific evidence through to policy development and implementation.

Where does the buck stop?

Perhaps the most significant and insidious tactic used by health-harming industries is their deflection of responsibility. Industry uses the rhetoric of ‘personal responsibility’, ‘individual’ or ‘freedom of choice’ around the consumption of their products.

These messages shift the blame away from health-harming industries, and onto their customers. This argument is used not only to shape societal views around consuming tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy foods, but also in legal arguments to deny or downplay their responsibility and liability for the costs they impose on society.

Do not be mistaken: these efforts are intentionally well-crafted and funded. Health-harming industries seek to protect their own interests and offload their responsibility at the expense of public health. These narratives serve to manufacture doubt and increase uncertainty in the public, while simultaneously undermining trust in government agencies and scientific evidence to normalise the prevalence and use of their products.

Is addressing commercial determinants of health anti-business?

It’s also important to recognise what addressing CDOH is not. Addressing CDOH is not anti-business; but rather, it challenges the existing status quo and power imbalances. It also does not assume a solely negative impact: it accounts for industry actors to drive health and equity in either direction.

Profitable business and health promotion do not need to be mutually exclusive. For example, a coalition of Nestlé shareholders (co-ordinated by Share Action) has filed a resolution to challenge the company to increase their proportion of sales from healthier products.

Work to address CDOH is also not an attack on the free market, or personal liberties. It is about a consumer’s right to know about the risks involved with consuming a harmful product.

Say for instance you had a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Would knowing that drinking alcohol increases your risk of developing it, or 6 other types of cancer, impact whether you decide to consume alcohol? When buying products, would you want to be thoroughly informed about the risks you take?

Interestingly, critics of responses aimed to address CDOH often (knowingly or unknowingly) follow the same script taken straight from health-harming industries’ playbook.

This upholds the narrative that responsibility solely rests with the individual and does not hold corporations accountable for the health impacts of their products, or their influence through the four corporate channels.

Getting rid of the industry playbook; reframing the issues

But this criticism is misplaced: rather than effecting a ‘nanny-state’ or ‘prohibition’, addressing CDOH is an act to abolish and break free from the false-narratives and manipulation that industries employ for their own profit and gains.

Given the scale and size of transnational corporations, some with incomes higher than GDPs of whole countries, putting a focus on the CDOH and their impacts will have a global effect.

This is a movement to shift the focus and alignment of political will in a direction that better serves public health and health outcomes, including the reduction of health inequities, and incidence of cancer and other NCDs.

For more information on CDOH
> WHO Europe Report Commercial Determinants of noncommunicable diseases in the WHO European Region – the report also contains a number of case studies, which WCRF International has contributed to.

Consumer wearables could make ‘positive contribution to routine care’

Consumer wearables that measure heart rate and physical activity provide similar clinical value to standard hospital tests for atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure, new research has found.

The study, published in Nature Medicine, examined whether a commercially-available fitness tracker and smartphone could continuously monitor the response to medications, and provide clinical information similar to in-person hospital assessment.

The wearable devices, consisting of a wrist band and connected smartphone, collected a vast amount of data on the response to two different medications prescribed as part of a clinical trial called RATE-AF, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Researchers used artificial intelligence (AI) to help analyse over 140 million datapoints for heart rate in 53 individuals over 20 weeks.

They found that digoxin and beta-blockers had a similar effect on heart rate, even after accounting for differences in physical activity.

This was in contrast to previous studies that had only assessed the short-term impact of digoxin.

A neural network that took account of missing information was developed to avoid an over-optimistic view of the wearable data stream.

Using this approach, the team found that the wearables were equivalent to standard tests often used in hospitals and clinical trials that require staff time and resources.

The average age of participants in the study was 76 years, highlighting possible future value regardless of age or experience with technology.

Professor Dipak Kotecha from the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Birmingham and the lead author of the study said: “People across the world are increasingly using wearable devices in their daily lives to help monitor their activity and health status.

“This study shows the potential to use this new technology to assess the response to treatment and make a positive contribution to the routine care of patients.”

“Heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation and heart failure are expected to double in prevalence over the next few decades, leading to a large burden on patients as well as substantial healthcare cost.

“This study is an exciting showcase for how artificial intelligence can support new ways to help treat patients better.”

https://www.htworld.co.uk/news/wearables/consumer-wearables-could-make-positive-contribution-to-routine-care/

 

CANCER MAY CONTROL YOUR BODY FOR A WHILE, BUT ΝΟΤ YOUR SOUL…

We dreamed it, we organized it and we finally accomplished it!

Kapa3, always thinking and implementing actions whose main priority and beneficiaries are the patients with cancer, overcoming barriers, social, economic, and social and cultural characteristics! Cancer has no gender, no country, no color, no religion!!!

The team of Kapa3 could not ignore the challenges and needs of people who are forced to leave their countries of origin and, having the problems of their disease out of their priorities, put themselves in danger, crossing the borders of our country, hoping for a better and safer future.

Thus, studying the needs of these people, the group of professionals of KAPA3, being active and present in the wider region of Macedonia and Thrace, submitted a proposal for the implementation of actions in these areas, targeting the refugees and migrants of the region.

With great pleasure, we received the response of the King Baudouin Foundation, which recognized in this proposal our vision and approved funding to support and develop the Cancer Patient Guidance Centre-Kapa3, to provide immediate assistance to refugees and migrants crossing the borders of our country.

Together we can achieve the impossible! Looking cancer in the eye and fighting every day together, is a small but important battle for life, against cancer!

More specifically: The development of the existing network, the addition of mental health professionals, and the development of actions and activities in new places, with new partners, will allow us to help much more in the process of better and more complete treatment of the incidents and difficulties we face.

With funding from the King Baudouin Foundation, over the next 6 months, we will strengthen our network of psychologists, sociologists, and social workers, with a focus on the 15-24 age group, to continue providing primary care and support throughout their treatment. Part of the funding will be used to translate the Kapa3 online portal into at least two languages, in addition to English, with Ukrainian being the first, so that our citizen’s accessibility to any portal of the Public Health System is immediate and seamless.

The Organization has a website and an app where it provides general support and information as well as personalized support to each beneficiary. The staffing of the network with permanent personnel will become the basis for the successful targeting, which is, No One Feels Alone! The activation of psychological support for patients, the categorization of patients by age and the activation of actions to solve additional problems related to each of these age groups are some of the actions that we are ready to take to support these vulnerable groups!

We are well aware that the Greek health system and the support of medical care for cancer patients provided mainly in the country’s public hospitals, given high care costs and economic conditions, are not chosen by a significant number of patients, mainly immigrants, and refugees. The fact that Kapa3 operates in the structures and departments of hospitals that exclusively support cancer patients allows us to be able to record cases and extract qualitative and quantitative data and results to improve and create new actions in this direction.

Our vision has inspired and found support beyond borders! Cancer can control the body of patients for a while, but the soul, which strengthens the power in the battle with cancer, cannot be controlled!!!

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Depression Is Often Overlooked in Cancer Patients

When Carly Flumer was a teenager, she was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. She saw a psychiatrist and a therapist regularly, and got medication and counseling. She managed her mental health well for over a decade. But in January 2017, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of thyroid cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes by the time it was diagnosed.

That’s when things got complicated again.

Flumer, then 27, underwent surgery to remove her thyroid. She also received intensive radiation. To all observers, she got a clean bill of health — at least with regard to her cancer. But, she says, her mental health had suffered.

“People absolutely do not understand the panic a cancer diagnosis can cause,” Flumer says. “My depression and anxiety got worse when I got diagnosed. I also have had more suicidal thoughts because of the cancer,” she says. “The side effects of treatment are real. So is the stress of waiting to see if the cancer comes back again.”

The Economics of Health for All and the Transformative Power of the Arts

In the first-ever report of its kind, the WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All has outlined a bold new path to reorient economies to deliver what matters – health for all.

The Council has put forward a bold new narrative grounded in new economic wisdom to reorient economies to deliver health for all across four interrelated themes:

  1. Value – valuing and measuring what matters through new economic metrics;
  2. Finance – how to finance health for all as a long-term investment, not a short-term cost;
  3. Innovation – how to advance health innovation for the common good;
  4. Capacity – how to strengthen dynamic public sector capacity to achieve health for all.

Meet the new WHO Goodwill Ambassadors for Arts and Health

The appointments of Fleming and Yende underscore the profound link between arts and health. Engagement in creative activities, such as music, art, and dance, positively impacts physical, mental health, social well-being, and overall quality of life.

Through their roles as Goodwill Ambassadors, Fleming and Yende will promote the integration of arts into healthcare systems, advocate for access to creative arts therapies, and champion the importance of artistic expression in improving health outcomes globally.

Health for All Film Festival

A shortlist of 93 films has been selected for the 4th Health for All Film Festival out of more than 780 entries received.

Watch the shortlisted films here. Winners will be announced on 6 June.

Key highlights from the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly

As the world faces ongoing health and humanitarian emergencies, the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly focuses on driving forward health for all. This year’s session of the World Health Assembly determines the immediate and longer-term future of WHO, starting with the program budget for the next two years, key decisions about the sustainable financing of the Organization and changes put in place to improve WHO’s processes and accountability. Delegates also deliberate about the critical role that WHO has in the Global Health Emergency Architecture.
Read more :

World Health Organization

3 Ancient Greek Words That Will Help You Lead a Happy, Successful Modern Life

Having lived in Cyprus for the last decade, I’ve invested an incredible amount of time into learning to speak Greek–with, I am sad to report, only modest success. All those hours conjugating verbs and wondering why one language could possibly need 12 versions of “the” definitely helps me communicate with friends, family, and supermarket checkout clerks. But I sometimes wonder, given there are only 12 million Greek speakers in the world and the fact that I have a business to run, was this really the best use of so much of my energy and time?

And then I come across something like newsletter Classical Wisdom’s rundown of 12 ancient Greek words that should make a comeback and remember the value of striving to master even a relatively little-spoken language.

Linguists and psychologists insist that learning foreign terms broadens the array of words we can use to describe the world around us and our reactions to it. Which isn’t just handy for communication. Being able to more accurately describe your feelings and experiences actually helps you understand and control your emotions. A richer vocabulary leads to more emotional and practical smarts.

“Emotional granularity [aka having the exact right term for a feeling] helps your brain figure out when to act … and what to do,” neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett explains. So which ancient Greek terms help us pinpoint and respond to important aspects of modern life? Classical Wisdom lists a dozen, but three struck me as particularly useful.

1. Eudaimonia 

In English we lean heavily on the word “happiness” when we want to convey an overall sense of contentment. But psychologists say the word is problematic; there are several different types of happiness. There is the momentary joy of pleasant sensations–the kind of happiness you get from eating a slice of cake. And then there is the overall feeling of accomplishment that comes from a life well lived, which researchers–if not laypeople–generally distinguish by using the term “life satisfaction.”

As Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman has pointed out, these two types of happiness are often in tension. You need to give up a lot of cake and leisurely days to experience the broader life satisfaction that comes from completing your first marathon or building a successful business.

This might be a distinction everyday English struggles to express, but ancient Greek provided a word to convey the larger sense of overall life satisfaction. “Eudaimonia is regularly translated as happiness or welfare; however, ‘human flourishing or prosperity’ and ‘blessedness’ have been proposed as more accurate translations. In Aristotle’s works, eudaimonia was used as the term for the highest human good,” explains Classical Wisdom.

Having a word that conveys the idea of this higher happiness — the sum total of a life well lived and the peace and satisfaction it brings — and reminds us of the sacrifices it generally takes to achieve could help us all navigate the complex tradeoffs of modern life.

2. Arete 

“Arete in its basic sense, means ‘excellence of any kind.’ The term may also mean ‘moral virtue.’ In its earliest appearance in Greek, this notion of excellence was ultimately bound up with the notion of the fulfillment of purpose or function: the act of living up to one’s full potential,” explains Classical Wisdom.

Why might this be a useful word to know even if you’re not planning to translate Homer anytime soon? People throughout the ages have wondered what to chase in life. Many today strive to be “successful.” But how do you measure success? Usually by looking at whether you’re doing better than your neighbor or work rival. And there is always someone with a bigger bank balance or fancier title than you. You can never get off the treadmill, and the constant running makes a lot of people miserable.

So how about chasing arete instead? Aiming for excellence and making the most of your talents, is a more surefire route to outer impact and inner peace than chasing success.

3. Aidos 

I don’t think I’m going to have to say a lot to convince you that aidos is a concept the modern world is in desperate need of.

Aidos is “that feeling of reverence or shame which restrains men and women from wrong. It also encompassed the emotion that a rich person might feel in the presence of the impoverished, that their disparity of wealth, whether a matter of luck or merit, was ultimately undeserved. Ancient and Christian humility have some common points, they are both the rejection of egotism and self-centeredness, arrogance and excessive pride, and is a recognition of human limitations. Aristotle defined it as a middle ground between vanity and cowardice,” says Classical Wisdom.

Less ego and a greater appreciation for the role of luck in success would make for a more pleasant and compassionate society. But even if you’re not interested in a kinder world (and you really should be), intellectual humility helps you learn faster, listen better, and be smarter. Aidos, which encompasses both the precariousness of good fortune and the possibility of error, is a quality that’s in conspiculously short supply in our divided society.

If you’re fascinated by these ancient Greek concepts and how they illuminate modern life, check out Classical Wisdom for many more.

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Πηγή: inc.com