LifeMinute Podcast: Health and Wellness

In the United States, more than 10 million people over the age of 40 live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a chronic lung disease that limits air flow and causes breathing-related symptoms. COPD primarily affects people aged 40 and older, with current and former smokers having a higher risk of developing the disease. Patients with COPD have various symptoms that impact their daily life, including persistent cough and breathlessness. Those living with the disease often experience exacerbations, or flare ups, of their symptoms which may reduce lung function and can impair their ability to perform routine activities such as getting dressed, walking up stairs and going to work. Each time a patient experiences an exacerbation, there may be permanent, irreversible lung damage. Additionally, a subset of people living with COPD also have a high number of a type of white blood cell, called blood eosinophils, that can contribute to COPD. These patients may be at increased risk for exacerbations and even hospitalizations due to their condition. Although there’s been some progress in the treatment of COPD, there has been a strong unmet need for novel treatment approaches, particularly for patients with inadequately controlled COPD and an eosinophilic phenotype. A first-of-its-kind treatment was recently approved to use with other medicines and was shown in clinical trials to help reduce COPD exacerbations, while improving patients’ ability to breathe and their health-related quality of life. The approval of this innovative treatment provides patients, their caregivers and physicians with a new option to treat this chronic disease. Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at the University of Michigan, Dr. MeiLan Han joined us to discuss the impact inadequately controlled COPD has on daily life and a new breakthrough treatment.

Though 96% of Americans know they need to modify their lifestyle to achieve greater health, only 17% are confident they can manage it on their own*. The reality: We all need a coach—regardless of whether you’re a professional athlete, starting a new fitness routine, or wanting to reach your goal weight. That’s why OPTAVIA, known for its habit-focused, coach-guided approach to wellness, highlights the critical role of coaches in achieving health goals. From motivating you to the knowledge they provide, we are talking about the critical role of support and all things coaching as we celebrate those who help us reach our goals. As anyone on a weight loss journey knows, hours of hard work and a commitment to healthy habits are instrumental in hitting your goal weight. That’s the difference between OPTAVIA and other programs—they provide a personal coach to help you reach your goals. And with National Coaches Day coming up on October 6, it’s the perfect time to highlight the impact a supportive coach can have on your life. Independent Coach Kristen Glass from OPTAVIA, the habit-based, coach-guided lifestyle solution, and her client and friend, Holly Anastasio, hit the LifeMinute Studios to talk about how powerful a coach can be in your wellness journey. For more info go to optavia.com/results. *Source: Independent IPSOS research commissioned by OPTAVIA, June 2023.

For 35 years, Natrelle has delivered excellence and innovation in breast cosmetic and reconstructive surgery with the highest manufacturing and safety standards—providing countless women the opportunity to enhance or restore their bodies according to their desires and needs.And yet, despite the popularity and profound impact of breast reconstruction/augmentation procedures on patients, these topics often remain shrouded in stigma and misconceptions. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month and beyond, Natrelle aims to educate and create an open dialogue around these procedures, empowering women to make informed decisions and embrace their choices confidently.Dr. Kelly L. Killeen, a board-certified plastic surgeon, has teamed up with Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company—the only authorized manufacturer and supplier of Natrelle to help educate us on breast augmentation and breast reconstruction options.For more information, go to natrelle.com.

Cohen Veterans Network unveils Mind the Gap: Preventing Suicide After Service to bring awareness to the critical transition period where suicide rate is 2.5 times higher than active duty military personnel

As the seasons change, it can be difficult to know if allergies or the common cold cause your sniffles. Board-certified in allergy and immunology, and ZYRTEC partner, Dr. Tania Elliott stopped by to share the scoop on how to effectively tell the difference and share tips to help you and your family navigate symptoms and get you back to feeling your best selves. How do we determine if the symptoms someone is experiencing are caused by allergies or the common cold? Based on the early symptoms, it can be hard to decipher between allergies and a cold. Symptoms of both can include a runny or stuffy nose and sneezing. While you might think it’s a cold, in colder months, allergies can be triggered all year. It's important to know what you’re dealing with to ensure you get the best possible treatment. There are three easy ways to tell the difference. First, a cold can cause a mild fever and physical discomfort. Allergies will not cause a fever or swollen lymph nodes. Second, allergy symptoms develop immediately after exposure to allergy triggers such as dander, dust, and pollen. In the fall especially, ragweed pollen is prominent across the country and a common outdoor trigger for allergy symptoms. Cold symptoms develop slower and are milder in the beginning. Lastly, cold symptoms typically last 7-10 days, while allergies can last longer and/or be recurrent if allergens are present. In fact, fall allergy season can persist until the first frost. If you think you’re struggling with these symptoms, it's helpful to see a doctor to decide on possible treatment to relieve your symptoms. Rest, hydration, and good hygiene are all important, whether it's allergies or a cold. The first line of treatment is avoidance of triggers, so take a shower as soon as you get home to rinse off pollen, launder your clothes right away, and use an air purifier. However, if allergy symptoms persist, Dr. Elliott tells her patients they don’t need to, and shouldn’t, suffer through it. By treating your allergy symptoms, you can get back to doing the things you love, without allergy symptoms getting in the way. That’s why she recommends ZYRTEC to her patients. It’s the #1 allergist-recommended brand among OTC oral antihistamines with a wide variety of products for the whole family. For those on-the-go, ZYRTEC Dissolve Tabs dissolve instantly in your mouth, with no water needed, and they provide fast, 24-hour relief from both indoor and outdoor allergies starting at hour 1 to help treat those allergy symptoms like runny nose, and sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes, nose and throat. And for your kids, Children’s ZYRTEC is available in a variety of forms and flavors all of which provide 24-hour relief from indoor & outdoor allergies, suitable for ages 2+. While allergies and colds share many symptoms, antihistamines like ZYRTEC directly block the histamine molecules that trigger allergy symptoms. Cold medicines without an antihistamine are not designed for allergies, so they will not block those histamine molecules and will not be as effective if allergies are causing your symptoms. As for colds, rest is vitally important, as well as hydration and stress reduction. When we are stressed, our immune system doesn’t work as well. Now is a great time to pick up a meditation practice or incorporate daily exercise into your routine to help prevent a cold. Talk to your healthcare provider about the right treatment option based on your cold symptoms.

What are the keys to healthy aging? Research suggests that genetics contribute only about 20% to the cellular aging process—with lifestyle (diet, exercise, and stress) playing a significant role. While you can’t change your genes, you can control your life habits. Double board-certified integrative medicine physician and founder of CentreSpringMD, Dr. Taz Bhatia, joined us to discuss why aging starts in our cells and what we should be doing. We may think our true age is our chronological age, the number of years since birth. But the reality is that aging starts within our cells, known as our cellular or biological age. Due to factors like genetics, more importantly, lifestyle, it may not always match our chronological age. Think of your body as a complex machine, with cells as its tiny gears and parts. Oxidative stress is a natural cellular process caused by free radicals—tiny molecules that can cause damage to cells, proteins, and DNA, which impact their efficiency and contribute to the aging process. Luckily, our bodies have a defense system—antioxidants—that help neutralize free radicals and defend against age-related oxidative stress. Dr. Taz always tells her patients that a healthy diet and lifestyle are important at any age. But as we age, it becomes increasingly important to support your body’s natural antioxidant defenses. So, it may sound cliché, but eating right, exercise, water, and good sleep are crucial for supporting your cellular health. She also recommends that her patients add supplements to their healthy diet and lifestyle and has partnered with One A Day. One A Day just released Age Factor Cell Defense, which includes key ingredients that support cell health and resilience. It is formulated with antioxidants, including olive polyphenols from olive fruit extract, which help defend against oxidative stress and have been shown to make a measurable impact on biomarkers associated with cellular aging. It also has omega-3 fatty acids, resveratrol, and vitamins B3, C, and D to help support cell resilience as you age. And One A Day goes beyond the supplement to support your healthy aging journey with the age factor ecosystem. The ecosystem includes the supplement, a free wellness app, and a saliva-based biological age test by Chronomics. The app and the test will give you valuable insights into your habits and how to make incremental changes to support your healthy aging journey. The One A Day Age Factor Cell Defense Dietary Supplement is available online and at retailers like Walmart or Target. If you buy Age Factor on Amazon, you can claim 10% off using the code 10AGEFACTOR. Learn more about the Age Factor ecosystem and download the wellness app at shop.oneaday.com.

Approximately 1.3 million individuals enter menopause each year. It’s so important to know that menopause is not one-size-fits-all. Every person’s experience can be very different. Many of us know about hot flashes and night sweats, but there are over 34 symptoms, including unexpected ones like mood swings, memory lapses, loss of collagen in the skin, and more. Because of this, it is common for people not to realize they are entering menopause because the symptoms can be subtle and vary in intensity. Understanding your experience may differ from others is a crucial step in understanding and unlocking ways to manage symptoms. Symptoms can be confusing and leave you feeling isolated, but resources can help you from becoming overwhelmed. The digital-first platform, VERSALIE, was created to redefine how we think and talk about health, hormones, and menopause so that individuals can better understand their bodies and confidently discover what may work best for their personal needs. The platform includes a virtual care component called VERSALIE CARE, where individuals can book one-on-one visits with experienced medical professionals trained in the most up-to-date menopausal care. During visits, individuals can discuss menopause symptoms, hormonal and non-hormonal prescription options, and everyday care considerations such as healthy eating, exercise, stress management, and more. This piece is key to not feeling overwhelmed and isolated with your symptoms. There’s also a plethora of products specifically designed to address menopause-related symptoms and challenges. Not only does VERSALIE have a curated storefront where you can shop by symptom, but the brand just launched its own line of skincare products clinically tested on menopausal complexions. Using dermatologist-recommended, gentle, and effective ingredients, the brand has products that support menopause skin changes as a result of estrogen-depleted skin like loss of firmness and radiance, dryness, fine lines, and wrinkles—a great go-to for those looking to address these symptomatic changes. To learn more, check our Versalie.com to find the best resources to cater to your menopause symptoms and even tackle them before they start.

August is National Hair Loss Awareness Month, and renowned trichologist and hairstylist Penny James joined us at the LifeMinute Studios to share her expert insights on maintaining healthy hair, debunking common myths about hair loss, and offering practical solutions. Some initial signs of hair loss can be noticing more hair in your hairbrush, excess hair in the shower or bath drain, and seeing more of your scalp showing. Hair is part of our identity and contributes to our inner self-confidence. Yet hair thinning and hair loss are common, frustrating parts of life. The Viviscal Hair Growth Supplement is a clinically proven solution for those suffering from fine or thinning hair to achieve thicker, fuller hair in as little as three months with two pills daily. For 25 years, Viviscal has been dedicated to helping its users achieve thicker, fuller-looking hair with easy solutions such as daily supplements, shampoo and conditioner, and many other great products. They are all formulated with scientifically proven ingredients like biotin, keratin, and Viviscal’s proprietary AminoMar™ collagen complex, all great for promoting hair growth. One common myth James often encounters is that frequent shampooing causes hair loss. In reality, washing your hair regularly with a gentle shampoo can help maintain scalp health and prevent buildup, which is beneficial for hair growth. Another myth is that frequently cutting your hair makes it grow faster. While regular trims can help maintain the health of your hair by preventing split ends, they don't affect its growth rate. Additionally, many believe that hair loss is solely determined by genetics and that there is nothing you can do about it. While genetics play a role, lifestyle factors such as diet, stress, and hair care practices also influence hair health. It's essential to address these factors to promote healthy hair growth. There are some easy things people can do to promote healthy hair and overall well-being. Incorporating essential wellness practices into your daily routine can significantly promote healthy hair and overall well-being. Firstly, maintaining a balanced diet rich in nutrients, like vitamins A, C, D, and E, and minerals like iron and zinc is crucial for supporting hair growth and strength. Additionally, supplementing your diet with Viviscal Hair Growth Supplements can provide the necessary nutrients to nourish thinning hair and promote existing hair growth. Regular exercise not only reduces stress, which can contribute to hair loss, but it also improves circulation, delivering vital nutrients to the hair follicles. Managing stress through relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or yoga also can have a positive impact on hair health. When it comes to hair care, use gentle products, like Viviscal Thickening Shampoo Strengthening Conditioner, which can strengthen and cleanse hair to prevent breakage for thicker-looking hair. Finally, when it comes to hair loss, don’t feel alone. There are resources for you. Viviscal has an online community where you can ask questions, get recommendations, and learn more about products and practices that are right for you. Always prioritize yourself, your health, and your well-being, and take the time to do the little things that make you feel good. Whether putting on extra makeup in the morning, completing a workout, or eating your favorite snack, stay positive and keep yourself happy. That ultimately translates into better health, including hair health.

Cancer is very much in the news this week following the tragic passing of actress Shannen Doherty. But for many women cancer patients and their surviving family members around the nation, a critical deadline is approaching that they may not be aware of. Anne Andrews, a personal injury and project liability attorney, and her client Nonnie HighTower detail Nonnie’s heartbreaking story of being diagnosed with late-stage cancer after using Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products, like tens of thousands of others who have sued the company. They joined us to discuss why Nonnie voted for a historic and ground-breaking multi-billion-dollar settlement plan to end years of fruitless litigation over her claim. Next week, tens of thousands of women who contracted cancer as a result of using talcum powder will have an opportunity to vote on an $8 billion settlement plan that would resolve years of litigation. The deadline is 5 pm Eastern Time on Friday, July 26. Vote for the plan at OfficialTalcClaims.com. Claimants and potential claimants can also call 1-888-431-4056.

Many women in the U.S. are experiencing anxiety and uncertainty about their ability to manage and make decisions about their reproductive health and the healthcare options available to them today. That's why it's so important to ensure all women have access to contraception and education to help prevent unintended pregnancies and support their autonomy. Dr. Ali Rodriguez, MD, OB-GYN, joined us to fill us in on some options and where to find them. As always, condoms are effective and widely found at local drug, grocery, and convenience stores. They also have the benefit of helping to prevent the transmission of STIs and give longer-acting contraception backup. Cadence OTC has made it easier for couples to access Morning After Pill 24/7 at neighborhood convenience stores like 7-Eleven and Circle K so they can get emergency contraception right away after an "oops" moment without even having to wait until morning. It is called "emergency contraception" because it is time-sensitive. While it must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, the sooner you take it, the better it works. The Morning After Pill does not interfere with future fertility, regular birth control, or stop a current pregnancy. It prevents pregnancy completely by stopping the egg from meeting the sperm or adhering to the womb. Get more information at getmorningafterpill.com.