Prick-free device can now be accessed by BC residents living with diabetes - My PG Now

BC residents living with diabetes are now able to apply to receive a FreeStyle Libre.

According to the province, the flash glucose monitor allows users to read their blood sugar level by just swiping a hand-held device right over the sensor.

This will better assist those living with the condition and to also avoid finger-pricking several times per day.

BC Pharmacare started covering the Dexcom G6 monitor two years ago.

Pharmacare covers roughly 13,000 patients of usage of the Dexcom G6 but some will be given the green light to switch over.

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Can vaping cause lung cancer? UAE doctors raise awareness, urge people to quit smoking - ZAWYA

On World Lung Cancer Day, observed every August 1, doctors in the UAE once again emphasised the urgent need for people to quit smoking. They stress that vaping, often perceived as a less harmful alternative, is equally addictive and not a safe substitute for traditional smoking.

Doctors noted, “If regular tobacco cigarettes contain around 7,000 chemicals – many of which are toxic – there is no doubt that vaping, or the process of inhaling a vapour created by an e-cigarette (electronic cigarette) or vape pen, also contain toxic chemicals like traditional cigarettes."

Dr Raiza Hameed KH, specialist pulmonology at Aster Clinic Bur Dubai (AJMC), explained to Khaleej Times: “In vaping, the liquid is vapourised, and organic compounds like aldehydes are released, which causes intense damage to lungs. The chemicals in the vape lead to chronic lung inflammation, eventually leading to cancer.”

Objectively speaking, Dr Hameed noted: “E-cigarettes have not been around long enough and hence more research is still needed to understand the lung cancer risks associated with vaping. It takes a while for the cancer to develop, and we need to follow study subjects over a period of time.”

“But preliminary studies have shown that nicotine and other chemicals from vape can stimulate cancer development and growth,” she underscored.

“Vaping can cause chronic lung inflammation. It can also cause other health effects like throat irritation, chronic bronchitis, asthma, head ache, anxiety, heart disease, acute lung injury, etc. Dr Hameed continued.

Highly addictive

Is vaping bad for you? Doctors noted nicotine is the primary agent found in regular cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and it is highly addictive. Nicotine also raises blood pressure and spikes adrenaline that can increase heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack.

“People need to understand that e-cigarettes are potentially dangerous to your health,” noted Dr Gopal Chawla, specialist pulmonologist at NMC Specialty Hospital - Dubai Investments Park. He added: “There are emerging data that link chronic lung disease and asthma, and the dual use of e-cigarettes and (traditional) smoking with cardiovascular disease. Those who are vaping are exposing themselves to to all various chemicals that we don’t yet understand but are probably not safe.”

Not a tool to stop smoking

Dr Mitchelle Lolly, specialist pulmonologist at Prime Hospital, said: “An e-cigarette is composed of a battery, a heating element, and a place to hold a liquid. Although it was brought into the world to help people quit smoking, it was later found in various studies that it could be equally harmful and carcinogenic due to the various substances that are inhaled.”

Dr Lolly enumerated the chemicals found in vaping. She said: “The aerosol generated contains nicotine (may not be present), ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs, flavouring agents such as diacetyl (a chemical linked to a serious lung disease), cancer-causing chemicals and heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead.”

“Due to the harmful substances that are produced by the aerosol, the US Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved of it to be used for quitting smoking cessation. In fact around 47 countries have banned its and sale due to its possibility of harmful effects. and to protect the future generation. Those who vape must understand that it is equally harmful and should not be used as smoking cessation tool,” she added.

Common substances in e-liquid:

Diacety – this additive used to enhance e-cigarette flavour can damage small passageways in the lungs

Formaldehyde – toxic chemical that can cause lung disease and contribute to heart disease.

Acrolein – most often used as a grass killer, this chemical can also damage lungs.

Quit now

Dr Noordin Wadhvaniya, specialist respiratory medicine at Canadian Specialty Hospital Dubai, said: “Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. It can harm nearly every organ in your body, including your heart, as nearly one-third of deaths from heart disease are the result of smoking and secondhand smoke.”

Copyright © 2022 Khaleej Times. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Angel Tesorero

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Lanark horse tests positive for eastern equine encephalitis virus - CTV News Ottawa

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit is reminding everyone to take precautions against mosquito bites, after a horse tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis virus.

Health officials say a horse in Lanark County recently tested positive for EEEV, which is normally found in wild birds but can occasionally spread to horses and humans through a mosquito bite.

"Similar to West Nile Virus, humans get infected with EEEV through the bite of an infected mosquito (humans do not get infected from a horse or another human)," the health unit said in a statement.

"The mosquitoes that carry the virus are usually found close to flooded woodlands."

There have been three human cases of eastern equine encephalitis in Ontario over the years, according to the health unit.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, EEE symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and drowsiness. There is no vaccine against EEEV for humans.

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit offers the following tips to protect yourself and your family:

• Apply insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin, making sure to follow label directions. 
• Wear light-coloured clothing, long sleeves, pants and socks when outside.
• Avoid being outside at dusk and dawn, as mosquitoes are the most active at that time.
• Ensure that all containers in or around the yard such as tires, pool covers, saucers for flowerpots, wading pools and children’s toys are regularly emptied of standing water.
• Ensure that screens, windows and doors are fully sealed to prevent mosquitoes from entering the house.  

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Canada is recommending COVID boosters this fall. Who really needs one? - National Post

While doctors fear a lacklustre response from the public to more boosters, some experts outside Canada are questioning the need for an expansive round of boosting

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The “who to boost” debate comes as a sizable proportion of the Canadian population already appears COVID-booster weary. Photo by Getty Images

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Canada’s vaccine advisors are recommending a COVID-19 booster dose of yet another reformulated vaccine this fall. It may prove a tough sell.

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With uptake diminishing, dose after dose, COVID vaccines may be approaching “sort of an acceptability settling point,” immunologist Dr. Matthew Tunis, executive secretary to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), said in an interview with National Post.

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Additional “promotional activities” and communication strategies may be needed, he said, “to explain and rationalize what value the vaccine program can bring.”

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Others also fear a lacklustre response. “My worry is that we will have very low uptake of vaccines in the fall,” said Dr. Fahad Razak, an internist with Unity Health in Toronto and a past scientific director of Ontario’s COVID-19  scientific advisory table.

However, some experts outside Canada are questioning the need for an expansive round of boosting. “I believe we should stop trying to prevent all symptomatic infections in healthy, young people by boosting them with vaccines containing mRNA strains that might disappear a few months later,” pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit, a member of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisory committee, wrote in the influential New England Journal of Medicine earlier this year.

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Boosters are probably “best reserved” for high-risk groups, Offit said, like the elderly and immunocompromised. The level of neutralizing antibodies doesn’t tell the whole story, he said. Human T cell defence, cellular immunity, appears to be coping with SARS-CoV-2 mutations, Offit said in an email to the National Post.

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“The good news is that the epitopes (parts of the spike protein) recognized by T cells, which are critical in protection against severe disease, have remained relatively well conserved,” Offit said.

“So, even if you were only vaccinated with the original ancestral strain, protection against severe disease in those who are relatively young and healthy appears to be holding up.”

1. 

   Canadian governments guilty of 'major pandemic failures,' influential journal says

2. 

   COVID is at the lowest levels in a long time. Why some people still wear masks

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Not everyone agrees with him. SARS-CoV-2 “has evolved dramatically in the last three years,” Razak said. “The mutations that have emerged in many ways makes the virus nearly unrecognizable to the immune system, and to the protections we had in place against the original variant.”

The “who to boost” debate comes as a sizable proportion of the Canadian population already appears booster weary. While 83 per cent of the population has received at least two doses of a COVID vaccine, just over half — 51.5 per cent — are “fully vaccinated” with a third dose, according to the COVID-19 Vaccination Tracker.

Only about 26 per cent of Canadians aged five and older received one of the bivalent vaccines that rolled out last September — a 50-50 mix that contained some of the original strain, plus the then-rapidly spreading Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.

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Razak said that if someone is eligible for a booster — they’re six months or more out from their last vaccine or last COVID infection — “don’t go out and get vaccinated now, unless you have a specific, high-risk reason to do so.” Instead, he said people should wait until the updated shots are available in the fall, when peak circulation of the virus is expected.

The latest formulations, now under review by Health Canada, have dropped the original strain entirely, which is essentially extinct, no longer circulating in humans. They target newer Omicron subvariants, specifically the dominant circulating strain XBB.

“Individuals vaccinated with the updated formulation are expected to benefit from a better immune response against these variants compared to current vaccines,” NACI said in its latest advice.

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Starting in the fall, for those previously vaccinated against COVID-19, NACI recommends a dose of the new vaccines for people in whichever age groups are ultimately authorized, if it’s been at least six months from the previous COVID vaccine or known SARS-CoV-2 infection, “whichever is later.”

Immunization is particularly important for those at increased risk of severe disease, NACI said.

Immunity from even hybrid protection — vaccination plus infections — wanes with time, NACI said.

The best way to protect the vulnerable “is to have everyone boosted,” said McMaster University immunologist Dawn Bowdish.

There isn’t a health system in Canada that isn’t struggling currently, with COVID circulating at low levels, Bowdish said. “It’s imperative we get vaccinated so that during cold and flu season we don’t see the same disruptions to health care that we saw last year.”

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Part of the problem is calling them “boosters,” she said, suggesting people are getting a “top up.” Like a yearly flu shot, “you can’t reasonably expect to be protected from symptomatic infections or hospitalization unless you are recently vaccinated with a matched vaccine.”

Ultimately it will be up to the provinces and territories to decide on a fall roll-out.

In Canada, rates of hospitalizations and deaths are highest for the 60 and older, and highest still among those 80 and older “and those who are unvaccinated,” NACI said. Rates are lowest for those recently vaccinated, and those with hybrid immunity (a combination of immunity from vaccinations and infections), particularly if the previous infection was with an Omicron strain.

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Most Canadians have already contracted COVID. Data from blood donors suggest nearly 80 per cent of the population overall had infection-acquired antibodies in May. The vast majority were infected with Omicron.

COVID isn’t the unpredictable, severe respiratory illness it once was. Overwhelming COVID pneumonias, where people rapidly deteriorated, requiring high levels of oxygen, many of them dying, “are very, very rare now,” Razak said.

Infections that don’t land people in hospital “can still be very disruptive,” he said. They can be the “tip over” event, exacerbating heart failure or other chronic illnesses. “We are trying to move towards this position of having a stable, post-pandemic period for Canada…. We want to live the healthiest, least disruptive lives possible,” Razak said.

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There is “nothing that I have seen scientifically,” he said, to suggest that the immune system can become exhausted by repeated exposures to the vaccines.

There’s been a “consistent trend” of waning protection from the vaccines, Tunis said, “and we’re still early in our understanding of hybrid immunity,” including how hybrid immunity is performing in the XBB era, he said.

“We’re not at a point yet in the evolution of the science around this pandemic where we can really proclaim with certainty that hybrid immunity with a certain number of doses can protect you for X number of years,” Tunis said.

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For more health news and content around diseases, conditions, wellness, healthy living, drugs, treatments and more, head to Healthing.ca – a member of the Postmedia Network.

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PharmaCare covers new medical device for people with diabetes | BC Gov News - BC Gov News

People living with diabetes will benefit from BC PharmaCare’s coverage of FreeStyle Libre, a flash glucose monitor (FGM) that allows users to read their blood-sugar levels by swiping a hand-held device or smartphone over the sensor.

The FreeStyle Libre will be covered by BC PharmaCare as a limited-coverage benefit beginning Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.

Glucose monitors enable patients or their caregivers to take action sooner, and help protect people by empowering patients, caregivers and clinicians to identify glucose trends and adjust medications, activity and food intake.

An FGM system uses an externally worn glucose sensor that is inserted under the skin of a person’s upper arm. When the sensor is “flashed” or scanned with a reader device or smartphone, it transmits the real-time glucose reading and information to the user. A sensor can be worn continuously for as many as 14 days.

Similar to the Dexcom G6, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) covered by PharmaCare since June 2021, the FreeStyle Libre helps people living with diabetes better manage their blood-sugar levels without having to prick their finger multiple times a day to test manually. Some people may prefer how the FreeStyle Libre is applied or its reduced frequency of sensor replacement.

PharmaCare currently covers approximately 13,000 patients for the Dexcom G6. Some of these patients may switch to the FreeStyle Libre. New patients may use a FreeStyle Libre once it becomes a PharmaCare benefit.

Diabetes affects the body’s ability to regulate blood-glucose levels. The complications of poorly controlled diabetes range from acute (e.g., fatigue, ketoacidosis, seizures) to chronic (e.g., nerve and organ damage). In Canada, diabetes is the sixth-leading cause of death and the leading cause of blindness, end-stage kidney disease and non-traumatic amputation.

PharmaCare continues to improve access to the medical devices and prescription drugs that people in B.C. need. In January 2019, B.C. made a $105-million investment over three years to reduce and/or eliminate Fair PharmaCare deductibles and co-payments for British Columbians with lower incomes. 

Learn More:

For more information about diabetes, visit:
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/illnesses-conditions/diabetes/diabetes

To learn more about the Dexcom 6 CGM, visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021HLTH0113-001142

About PharmaCare coverage of diabetes supplies:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/pharmacare-for-bc-residents/what-we-cover/medical-supplies-coverage/diabetes-supplies

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B’luru witnesses rising trend of lung cancer cases among women, non-smokers - Sakshi Post

Bengaluru, Aug 1 (IANS)  On the World Lung Cancer Day health experts have expressed concern over the rising trend of lung cancer among women and non-smokers in the IT capital of the country, Bengaluru.

Dr. Vivek Anand Padegal, Director - Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru stated that lung cancer is experiencing a surge among women in the state capital. Based on a recent study conducted by the Indian Cancer Society, the incidence of lung cancer in female residents of Bengaluru has escalated by 20 per cent over the past five years.

This concerning pattern is particularly alarming because lung cancer stands as one of the primary causes of cancer-related fatalities among women in India. Various factors seem to contribute to this growing issue. One significant factor is the increasing number of women who have taken up smoking. Since smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, the rise in the number of female smokers in Bengaluru in recent years has likely contributed to the surge in cases. Passive smoking in no-smokers could be contributing as well, said Dr Vivek Anand Padegal.

Another potential contributor is the escalating pollution levels in the city. Bengaluru's air quality, which is among the poorest in India, presents a known risk factor for lung cancer, potentially worsening the situation for women in the city, he says.

Dr Padegal further explained that the increasing incidence of lung cancer among the women in Bengaluru necessitates serious attention from a public health standpoint. "It is crucial for women to be informed about the risk factors associated with lung cancer and to take proactive measures to mitigate their risk. These actions encompass refraining from smoking, avoiding exposure to secondhand smoke, and minimizing contact with air pollution. By adopting such preventive measures, women can take steps towards safeguarding their health and well-being," he said.

Dr Niti Krishna Raizada, Senior Director Medical, Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru explained that lung cancer happens to be the most common cancer among men in India. However, there is a noticeable rise in the number of cases in women, and this increase is often unrelated to smoking, although second-hand smoking can still be a contributing factor.

"Another significant factor includes exposure to indoor smoke and outdoor pollution, both of which are on the rise in Bangalore. The number of lung cancer cases observed in our regular practice is definitely increasing. Additionally, we are seeing younger patients, particularly women. Among women, almost 50 per cent have a target or actionable mutation, leading us to administer newer types of therapies to them. For those not included in this subset, we explore the potential role of immunotherapy in their treatment," said Dr Raizada.

Dr. Lohith Reddy, Consultant, Radiation Oncology, HCG Cancer Hospital, Bengaluru said, "Bengaluru witnesses a rising trend of lung cancer cases among women and non-smokers. The city's pollution, occupational exposures, and lifestyle factors contribute to this concerning scenario.

Based on the Karnataka population-based cancer registry (PBCR), the incidence of lung cancer is 10 per cent in males among the annually diagnosed cancer patients and 2.3 per cent in females among the annually diagnosed cancer incidences, and the trend seems to be increasing, Dr. Reddy stated.

“It is vital to emphasize that lung cancer can affect anyone, irrespective of smoking history, and early detection is crucial in improving survival rates. In Bangalore, we urge the community to be vigilant about common symptoms, such as persistent cough, difficulty breathing, unexplained weight loss, blood in sputum and seek medical attention promptly. At HCG, we are committed to promoting lung cancer awareness, advocating for regular screenings and providing compassionate care to all patients and their families. Through increased collaboration, research, and access to cutting-edge treatments, we aim to bring hope to those battling lung cancer in the city of Bangalore," he states.

Dr. Deepak Koppaka, Consultant - Medical Oncology, CARE Hospitals, HITEC City, Hyderabad said that lung cancer is a significant health concern among women in India, ranking as the third most common cancer after breast and cervical cancer. In 2020 alone, there were an estimated 16,547 new cases of lung cancer in Indian women, leading to 10,606 tragic deaths. The statistics reveal the urgent need to address this growing issue in the country.

"Tobacco smoking remains the primary risk factor for lung cancer, exerting a significant impact on the increasing incidence among women. Additionally, exposure to secondhand smoke, radon, and air pollution also contribute to the rising cases. It is crucial to raise awareness about these risk factors and promote preventive measures to curb the disease's progression," he said.

"One alarming trend is the surge in adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer more prevalent in women than men. This rise is attributed to the growing popularity of filtered cigarettes, which are believed to be linked to an increased incidence of adenocarcinomas. This underscores the importance of addressing tobacco consumption, especially among women," stated Dr. Koppaka.

Examining the statistics further, the age-standardized incidence rate of lung cancer in Indian women is 2.7 per 1,00,000, while the age-standardized mortality rate is 1.7 per 1,00,000. Unfortunately, the 5-year survival rate for lung cancer in India stands at a mere 13 per cent, indicating the urgency of early detection and timely intervention, he stated.

Quitting smoking, avoiding secondhand smoke, and minimizing exposure to air pollution are crucial steps in reducing the risk of lung cancer, said Dr.Koppaka.

"Lung cancer poses a substantial threat to women in India, necessitating immediate action to reverse the increasing trend. Through comprehensive awareness campaigns, robust policies, and personal lifestyle changes, we can collectively strive to reduce the burden of lung cancer and improve the overall well-being of women in the country," he said.

--IANS

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Disclaimer: This story has not been edited by the Sakshi Post team and is auto-generated from syndicated feed.

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New Alberta study examines drug poisoning cases involving fentanyl and benzodiazepines - CBC.ca

An Alberta doctor who specializes in addiction says a forthcoming study based on data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) is "eye-opening" and underscores the role fentanyl is playing in the province's illicit drug supply.

The study, which will appear in the journal Forensic Science International's September issue and was published online in July, looked at concentrations of fentanyl and benzodiazepine drugs in the blood of people who died of fentanyl toxicity over the last three years.

Advocates and experts have been sounding the alarm about the combination of fentanyl and benzodiazepines, known as "benzo-dope." Health Canada says mixing benzodiazepines with other depressants like alcohol or opioids can be dangerous and increase the risk of overdose. 

The combination has become increasingly prevalent in Alberta and other provinces in recent years. The study says that between 2020 to 2022, the OCME reported 2,812 fentanyl cases, of which approximately 45 per cent had at least one benzodiazepine drug.

The study found that the concentration of fentanyl in benzo-dope cases was considerably higher than in cases where no benzodiazepine drug was detected. The study suggests fentanyl toxicity is the primary cause of death in most benzo-dope cases, not the combination of those drugs. 

"The concerns of the increased dangers associated with the local drug supply in Alberta may be related to an increase in fentanyl concentration, rather than the addition of the benzodiazepine," the paper says. 

Dr. Monty Ghosh, an assistant professor at the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary and an addiction medicine physician, said the study is "eye-opening."

"We always thought that the mix of benzos with the illicit drug supply was making it harder for us to reverse these overdoses," he said. 

Dr. Monty Ghosh is an assistant professor and addiction specialist who works in Edmonton and Calgary. (Monty Gosh)

He said this data shows that the concentration of benzodiazepines seemed to be too low to have caused respiratory depression (slower breathing).

He said people who are using benzodiazepines may be requiring higher amounts of fentanyl to feel the same euphoria.

"There are a lot of people who are now addicted and suffering withdrawal from benzodiazepines and therefore are at a higher risk of being in a situation where they have to consume drugs more quickly, less carefully, with maybe less stringency around their supply," said Euan Thomson, an independent researcher who writes the Drug Data Decoded newsletter.

Thomson advocates for regulating the supply of drugs, so people know what's in the substances they are using.

Dr. Craig Chatterton, chief toxicologist at the chief medical examiner's office and the lead author of the study, said the research was intended to provide scientific information for people in the toxicology and medical examiner communities. 

"I would not expect the public to draw conclusions, scientific or otherwise, from this study," he said in an email to CBC News.

Thomson said the information, though limited, is useful for people working on the front lines and he would like to see it included in the province's substance use surveillance dashboard.

The current platform shows drug-poisoning deaths in which benzodiazepine was listed as causing death on the death certificate. 

"Those numbers don't represent the reality of how many people are dying with benzodiazepines in their system, which is critical to understand," Thomson said. 

Ghosh said people who respond to drug poisonings should probably have more more naloxone doses on hand, given how high fentanyl concentrations are. 

"This may shift our strategy in terms of how much Narcan we may need to use," he said.

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