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Home – Stay Healthy Fitness

HOME-MADE HEALTHY ROCKET ROLLS! | Fitness on Toast

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HOME-MADE HEALTHY ROCKET ROLLS! | Fitness on Toast

HOME-MADE HEALTHY ROCKET ROLLS! | Fitness on Toast

Short on time, but desperate for some existentially-redefining delicious food? Well dear reader, look no further, for these seriously-yum & super-easy-to-make ROCKET ROLLS are precisely what you’ve been looking for. Search your feelings, you know this to be true. They look so pretty & are guaranteed to impress all possible guests with their colourful, versatile & healthy ingredients. They are also the perfect lunch to take to work, given how neat and filling they are. Aside from that delectable sauce, the ingredients are all pretty healthy, consisting mainly of fresh veggies and herbs – they combine to deliver a proper knockout flavoursome punch! When it comes to the dressing, it has quite a rich essence and therefore you don’t actually need to use that much of it. The rolling of the rice sheets can demand some dexterity, but frankly by the third one, you’re guaranteed to get the hang of it. Click MORE to see the full recipe – I hope you love them as much as I do!

 

Fitness On Toast Faya Blog Girl Healthy Workout Training Exercise Vietnamese Healthy Roll Cuisine Easy Food Quick Diet Recipe Idea-9

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Lack of Access to PrEP

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Lack of Access to PrEP

Lack of Access to PrEP

When HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, was first identified in the 1980s, it almost certainly a death sentence. More than 100,000 Americans died from the new disease in that decade. The idea that one day there might be medicines to prevent infection was a fantasy.

Today, these medicines, called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), do exist, but most people who could benefit don’t take them. The policies that govern these medicines — and the enforcement of those policies — are largely to blame.

PrEP is wildly effective. PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by 99%, and from injection drug use by nearly 75%, when taken as prescribed.

Read: PrEP and PEP: Prevention for HIV >>

An estimated 1.2 million people in the United States could benefit from PrEP. These are people who test negative for HIV, are sexually active and either have a sexual partner with HIV, have not used or do not use a condom consistently, and/or have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection in the past six months. PrEP can also benefit people who inject drugs and share needles or have an injection partner with HIV.

But less than 4 out of 10 people who could benefit were prescribed PrEP in 2022. That’s up from 2 out of 10 in 2019 — but we’re still a long way from accessing its full potential.

Use of PrEP is uneven. Among people who could benefit, 94% of white people have been prescribed PrEP, compared with just 24% of Hispanic/Latino people and 13% of Black people. These statistics are particularly troubling since Black and Hispanic people make up 70% of new HIV cases each year.

The gender split is also stark: In 2022, 41% of men who could benefit from PrEP received a prescription, compared to just 15% of women.

Barriers to PrEP access

One of the biggest barriers to PrEP is cost and insurance coverage. A 2022 report from the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute estimates that 55% of people taking PrEP are privately insured and 20% are uninsured. Without insurance, the cost of the drug can be more than $20,000 per year, not including required lab tests, which can be another $15,000.

But cost should not be a barrier. People without insurance can often get PrEP through copayment assistance programs or community-based clinics. Nationwide, 85,000 people get PrEP at community health centers.

Most people with insurance should be fully covered for PrEP medications plus the clinic visits and lab tests needed to get and keep the prescription. The Affordable Care Act requires most insurers to cover preventive care, including PrEP, without copayments. A 2019 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation reinforced that PrEP should be covered without consumer costs, and in 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor clarified how the rules about free preventive care apply specifically to PrEP. Many states have also passed laws that ensure PrEP is available without costs to consumers.

Even with clear rules, many patients are still being charged for PrEP, according to Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute.

“One of the big pluses is that we now have coverage and $0 cost-sharing,” Schmid said. “The problem is it’s not always implemented. The insurers are still charging lots of people.”

A report commissioned by consumer representatives to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) showed that health plans often provide incomplete information about coverage of preventive services, including PrEP. Among six health plans evaluated, half did not list PrEP as a preventive service available without cost-sharing, and only one provided a comprehensive explanation of coverage for all aspects of PrEP.

Even as advocates fight for enforcement of the rules, the rules themselves may be in jeopardy. A 2020 lawsuit filed by a religiously affiliated business in Texas argued that the requirement to cover PrEP without cost-sharing violated its constitutional rights to religious freedom. In 2022, a federal judge agreed and questioned the validity of using USPSTF recommendations as the basis for the requirements.

While no changes to the rules are in effect yet, the case may go to the U.S. Supreme Court for an ultimate decision. Depending on that decision, insurers and employers may no longer be required to cover PrEP, though they could choose to.

Even today, insurers who adhere to the no-cost-sharing rules for PrEP often put up other barriers, such as prior authorization requirements. Requiring consumers to get insurance approval before the plan will pay for PrEP may be legal, but it violates the spirit of widely accessible preventive care.

Schmid explained that, as part of prior authorization processes, insurers may want to assess the consumer’s risk for HIV. But, he said, that’s between the patient and their healthcare provider, not the business of the insurance company.

“Our goal is to get PrEP to people who need it as easily as possible,” Schmid said. “If you want to be on PrEP, there’s a reason, and you should get it without all these insurance barriers.”

Ironically, he said that he frequently hears that it can be easier to get PrEP for people without insurance than with insurance because of those barriers.

The federal budget for fiscal year 2024 included nearly $600 million in funding for a comprehensive initiative called Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE). Funds cover HIV prevention and testing, as well as treatment. Spread across hundreds of clinics throughout the country, it’s not a huge amount.

The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute report suggested that properly expanding outreach and navigation would cost more than $6 billion over 10 years, and would prevent nearly 75,000 person years of HIV and more than $2 billion in HIV treatment costs.

Instead of expanding funding, though, some members of the U.S. Congress are trying to eliminate the budget for EHE altogether — an initiative that advocates are fighting.

In addition to more funds, Schmid supports better enforcement of existing rules and expanded requirements for PrEP access regardless of insurance type, including Medicare. Other ways to improve access include analyzing claims to quantify (and reduce) health insurance barriers, requiring health plans to clearly communicate what consumers are entitled to and encouraging state-level rules and enforcement. Streamlined medical billing would also make it easier for healthcare providers to prescribe PrEP.

“PrEP is a commitment,” Schmid said. “You are taking a drug for something that you’re not sick [from].”

There’s a lot of room for federal and state policymakers to match that commitment.

Resources

Ready, Set, PrEP

This educational resource was created with support from Merck.

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Top 23 Tips on Prayer

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Top 23 Tips on Prayer

Top 23 Tips on Prayer

Photo by Dev Benjamin on Unsplash

In 2015, I hosted a podcast called Health Matters where I interviewed leading health experts. Believing that Bible study and prayer are to the spirit what eating healthy and exercise are to the body, I asked each expert their “quick tip” for the four disciplines of Bible study, exercise, eating healthy, and prayer.

I share excerpts from interviews with top health experts on prayer.

1. Do Scripture prayers

“My quick tip would be to do scripture prayers. Scripture prayers with powerful Bible verses would be a good way to get a biblical mindset on food and on life in general.” ~Barb Raveling

2. Pray first thing

“Before my feet hit the floor, I just wake up and say, ‘Good morning. Thank You Jesus for another day. Before I even get out of this bed help me get my mind right and get ready to go out there and do whatever it is You got me planned to do that day.’ ~Rusty Nokes

4. Pray boldly

“This comes right from a sermon I recently heard that when we go into prayer to pray boldly and to ask God boldly with our petitions. In this sermon, it’s just like when a child asks their father to fix a toy boldly. They know their dad can do it, and they boldly don’t have any doubts. And that is how we should come before our Heavenly Father in prayer.” ~Rachel Almstedt

5. Make time for deep prayer

“I don’t want us to forget that we need to make time for that deep, quiet prayer without interruption. That’s when we go into our room, we can close the door, we can kneel before the Lord, and we can cry out to Him. We can be so silent before Him. And I want that to be the prayer tip is that we don’t forget to go to that secret, quiet place with Him on a regular basis.” ~Jennifer Waddle

6. Keep it simple

“Oh, people are so hung up on prayer. It’s just talking to God like I’m talking to you. Don’t worry about the position you’re in, whether you’re standing or speaking in Latin. God just wants a, ‘Hi, how are you? Let me know how things are going today.’ Just be simple with Him and He will treat you with decency and listen in return.” ~Brenda Wood

7. Talk with Daddy

“If reading your Bible is like throwing down soul grub then prayer is simply talking with Daddy. I think if we really begin to look at this whole thing like Daddy just wants us to hop up on his lap and talk with Him. It’s not a pressure thing. It’s not, ‘I got to get so many minutes in prayer or I’m a horrible believer.’ It’s really about the privilege of hopping on a Father’s lap who just wants us to talk with Him and share everything on our hearts, our concerns, and give Him our praise.” ~CJ Hitz

8. Find a place

“It’s important to have a place for me to go. For me, on a very local level, it’s my chair. I just love to light a candle, there’s just something about that. I like it early in the morning before the sun comes up, the candle’s going, it provides this atmosphere of peacefulness. There’s a sense that this is a sacred place. A sense that sets me into a mode of prayer and just quiet. We need that quiet for our souls. So find your place. It’s a spot where you realize you’re going to come away from there with so much peace and joy and power.” ~CJ Hitz

9. Make it a habit

“Make it a habit just like brushing your teeth. You don’t have to get out of your bed. Stretch like an animal stretch and say your prayers right there. Say your prayers before you even go out of the house. Just a few minutes every day. Some people can’t do it or forget to do it, but I think if you do it every day for 21 days you build a good habit. So you can pray as soon as you go out the door, at lunch, at dinner, and pray before you go to bed.” ~Renee Wiggins

10. Join a prayer group

“You can have a prayer group over the telephone. At 5 o’clock the phone rings and everybody prays. So if you need to pray in a group, pray. Because prayer helps heal the soul, body and mind. Prayer helps. Believe me, it does.” ~Renee Wiggins

11. Pray for others

“Quick tip for prayer is to have others in mind. If we can focus on serving others and having others first, prayer can be so much sweeter. And having a journal to write those down and those requests and truly show compassion for others. It’s way easy to get wrapped up in our own lives when there are others who really need our help. And prayer is a powerful thing when you’re focused on the right objectives.” ~John Hayden

12. Pray the Word

“Prayer is something that we have to consistently do every day and it’s simply communicating with God. But I love to pray, and the surefire way to pray is to find out what the problem is and then pray the Word. Find it in the Word, the solution in the Word, and pray the Word.” ~Sabrina Memminger

13. Take a prayer walk

“I’m a firm believer in prayer walking. I go to a nature trail nearby my home at least 3 to 4 times a week and I combine my exercise time with prayer for my family, my community, my church, and others in my life who I know are struggling. That is such a powerful time when you can become more connected to the Father and actually spend time with Him giving prayers for others and then also receiving from Him as He speaks to you while you’re walking through nature. It can be so powerful to combine the two.” ~Laurie Graves

14. Pray anywhere

“I say pray as much as possible throughout the day, anywhere, everywhere. If you’re driving in the car turn off the music for a minute and pray. If you’re going to the bathroom, go ahead and pray. If you’re in the shower, go ahead and pray. If you could start and make it part of your daily life, it becomes like you get these little pieces of energy, little nuggets of energy throughout the whole day where you’re connecting with the Father and you’re drawing from Him.” ~Summer Breskow

15. Do it first thing

“Every morning — even before I pick up the phone, get on social media or look at what’s happening on the news — I try to say my quick Lord’s prayer just to remind me to be thankful, to be mindful, to stay focused for the rest of the day. And try to keep things in perspective. So do it as often as you can, usually first thing in the morning to start your day off right.” ~Nicole Swiner

16. Put on spiritual armour

“Put on your spiritual armour every single day when you pray. My daughter and I have done that — my youngest daughter — since she was three. We put on our armour every morning and every night before we go to sleep. The second thing is we always ask for the fruit of the Spirit. We do those two things and we pray for our children’s future spouses, and our future grandchildren, great-grandchildren and that our lineage will know Christ intimately.” ~Liz Faison

17. Let prayer set the tone

“My quick tip for prayer would be to allow prayer to set your tone for the day. That is the time when you take the time to ground yourself and as I was saying earlier include your health in your morning prayer and let that be the tone.” ~Cathy Morenzie

18. Pray Psalms

“Prayer and praise and worship kind of go together for me, so I’ll find myself sometimes singing songs or praying Psalms just walking around the house doing housework or whatever.” ~Angel Barrino

19. Get alone

“Get alone. I have two kids, and we’re living in my parent’s house right now while we’re waiting for a house to come through, and I just find that when I don’t get alone with God, I’m missing time with my best friend. You think, ‘Well I don’t have time for that because I have so much going on’ but you need time, you need to make the time. Because you need it. His strength can’t be perfect if you don’t have it.” ~Kimberly Rae

20. Try popcorn prayers

“Prayer is your time to get cozy with God. This isn’t a one-time thing each day. This is an all-day thing. I go to God all throughout the day. I call them “popcorn” prayers. He’s constantly guiding me each and every step. Whether it’s in my business, my life as a mom, or my life as a wife, these popcorn prayers go up every single day, all throughout the day.” ~Casey Sollock

21. Praise God

“Learn to praise God. I like to make a list of the attributes of God and how He deals with people and then I use my list — I call that my God list — to say back to Him His attributes. As I learn to praise my God I find that my heart is filled up. He says He inhabits the praises of His people, Psalm 22:3 KJV. And I really believe that since He placed eternity in my heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11) that by praising Him I’m filled up in a way that I might not have been before. So praising God puts Him in His place and me in my place.” ~Heidi Bylsma

22. Be real

“When you talk to God, talk to God. When you’re in this healing process what you’re going to do is you’re going to be real with Him about exactly what you feel at that moment because it’s no surprise to Him, but it’s healing to you to be able to talk to Him. Try to see Him as the loving God and one of your closest friends.” ~Linda Williams

23. Pray with joy

“My tip would be to pray with the mindset, the motivation, of joy and pleasure. In His presence is the fullness of joy. In His right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 37:4). And when we come to prayer with that sense that I get to just sit at His feet and just come and soak in the Presence, that’s when amazing things start to happen. That’s when we really begin to behold glory and it’s just a different approach than obligation. Come at it with a sense of joy and expectancy that you’re going to experience God’s goodness.” ~Adam Luckey

24. Use a prayer journal

“My quick tip for prayer is something I do every morning. I have a journal. It’s very simple, I just start with gratitude and then I write whatever I’m grateful for and then I turn that gratitude into prayer. Prayer for people, answer to prayer. Whatever I’m looking to pray for, to me writing it down seems to be part of my prayer; the actual writing of it. And then I can always look back and see when there’s been answer to prayer, which is awesome, right?” ~Julie Endl

Tips to Manage Menopause Symptoms Naturally

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Tips to Manage Menopause Symptoms Naturally

Tips to Manage Menopause Symptoms NaturallyMenopause represents a natural milestone in a woman’s life, indicating the conclusion of her reproductive years. While this milestone is a normal part of aging, it often brings a range of symptoms that can impact quality of life. At New River Women’s Health, we understand the importance of supporting women through this phase with practical strategies for managing symptoms naturally. In this blog, we’ll explore common menopausal symptoms and offer tips for our patients in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Radford and Salem, VA to navigate this transformative journey with greater ease and comfort.

Understanding Menopause

Menopause generally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average age being around fifty one. It is characterized by the cessation of menstruation for twelve consecutive months, marking the end of a woman’s fertility. During menopause, hormonal changes, particularly a decline in estrogen and progesterone levels, can lead to a variety of physical and emotional symptoms.

Common Symptoms of Menopause

While every woman’s experience of menopause is unique, some common symptoms include:

  • Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Sudden, intense feelings of heat, often accompanied by sweating and flushing.
  • Sleep Disturbances: Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, often caused by night sweats or hormonal fluctuations.
  • Mood Swings: Mood changes, irritability, anxiety and depression may occur.
  • Vaginal Dryness: Lower estrogen levels can cause vaginal dryness, itching and discomfort during intercourse.
  • Changes in Libido: Decreased sex drive or changes in sexual response may occur.
  • Weight Gain: Hormonal changes can affect metabolism and lead to weight gain, particularly around the abdomen.
  • Bone Loss: Decreased estrogen levels can increase the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Tips for Managing Menopausal Symptoms Naturally

While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an option for managing menopausal symptoms, many women prefer natural approaches. Here are some tips for managing menopausal symptoms naturally:

  • Healthy Diet: Prioritize a well-rounded diet abundant in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. Incorporate foods high in calcium and vitamin D to support bone health. Reduce intake of caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods, as they can trigger hot flashes.
  • Regular Exercise: Engage in regular physical activity to help alleviate menopausal symptoms such as mood swings, weight gain and bone loss. Strive for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week.
  • Stress Management: Practice stress-reducing techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, yoga, or tai chi to help manage mood swings and promote relaxation.
  • Stay Cool: Dress in layers and use fans or cool compresses to help manage hot flashes. Keep your bedroom cool and use moisture-wicking bedding to minimize night sweats.
  • Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and help reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes.
  • Herbal Remedies: Some women find relief from menopausal symptoms with herbal remedies such as black cohosh, red clover, or evening primrose oil. However, it’s essential to speak with your healthcare provider before trying any herbal supplements, as they can interact with medications or have side effects.
  • Vaginal Moisturizers and Lubricants: Use over-the-counter vaginal moisturizers or lubricants to relieve vaginal dryness and discomfort during intercourse.
  • Supportive Undergarments: Wear breathable, moisture-wicking undergarments to help manage night sweats and minimize skin irritation.
  • Pelvic Floor Exercises: Practice pelvic floor exercises, such as Kegels, to help strengthen pelvic muscles and improve bladder control, which may be affected by hormonal changes.
  • Regular Health Screenings: Continue to see your healthcare provider regularly for preventive screenings and health assessments, including bone density testing to monitor for osteoporosis.

Contact Us to Schedule an Appointment in Blacksburg, VA Today

Menopause is a natural phase of life that brings significant changes for women, both physically and emotionally. While it can be challenging to navigate, there are many natural strategies available to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life during this transition. At New River Women’s Health, we proudly serve families in Montgomery County. We’re here to support you throughout your menopausal journey. By adopting healthy lifestyle habits, seeking support, and exploring natural remedies, you can embrace menopause with confidence and vitality. If you have any questions or concerns about managing menopausal symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact our team.

The Best Foods For Fertility

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The Best Foods For Fertility

Getting Pregnant & Improving Fertility Part 2: Foods for Fertility

If only there was a magic list of every single food to eat to ensure you get pregnant. The problem with that is every single body is different. Foods that work well for some, won’t for others. In today’s part 2 of our Getting Pregnant & Improving Fertility series we’ll chat about foods for fertility.

Foods for YOUR Body

Here’s the deal with all of the lists of “best foods for fertility” that are out there, a lot of foods that are good for fertility can cause major sensitivities and inflammation for people. In Part 1 of this series, we went over inflammation and egg health, if you missed it, you can read it here. Essentially, inflammation in your body causes your egg health to age, which obviously isn’t great for fertility.

It’s Not One-Size-Fits-All

The first step in determining the best foods for you in your fertility journey is to test! Take a food sensitivities test before you go “all-in” on any foods for fertility list you find online. Once you determine what your individual sensitivities are, the next step is to see how your body digests these foods. 

Okay but I’m not sensitive to them so I should be fine right? 

Not quite. Your visceral system is in the same place as your reproductive system. So, if your body is working overtime to digest certain “foods for fertility” that you’re not sensitive to, this can also lead to inflammation. And again, inflammation leads to poor egg health. You want to make sure you’re adding in some digestive enzymes so your body can break down some of those foods you have a harder time digesting. The moral of the story here is to find out your personal food sensitivities, understand how your body reacts to them and fuel your body with healing AND nutrient-dense foods. Remember, eating whole, unprocessed foods is good for everyone, not just people trying to get pregnant.

For the full conversation with Elizabeth King, a certified international fertility coach, watch below!

Diets for Fertility:

  • The Mediterranean Diet – salmons, natural butters, omegas, etc.
  • The Paleo Diet – eating whole foods, unprocessed foods etc.

Stress, Strange Objects & Seeds

We can’t stress enough that what works for one person in terms of “fertility foods” might not work for you. Every body is different. We’ve seen people become extremely obsessive with some of the fertility foods and lists which can be very unhealthy and also internalize in your body. Stress affects the nervous system and your cortisol levels which can prevent pregnancy as well. If your body is okay with certain foods off any list you might be following, then you can still eat those things. Bottom line, if the lists are causing you more stress, they aren’t worth following!

Another thing to be mindful of is anything that is in your body that didn’t originate there. Think breast implants, rods in your back, etc. Things that aren’t natural to your body can also cause inflammation in the body, so it’s worth having a look at! The last thing we want to mention is seed cycling for ovulation. The general idea here is to consume 1 tablespoon of flax and pumpkin seeds day 1-14 of your cycle for estrogen and then 1 tablespoon of sesame and sunflower seeds day 14-28 of your cycle for progesterone (if you’re not on a 28 day cycle, adjust accordingly).

No matter the stage of life you’re in, fueling your body properly, reducing inflammation, and understanding your individual sensitivities are so important. That’s why we created the Core Nutrition Program. The greatest wealth is your health, especially during pregnancy!

The Best Foods For Fertility

 

Women’s Health Info Site – Women’s Health Education Program: PrEP Awareness Among People of Color

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Women’s Health Info Site – Women’s Health Education Program: PrEP Awareness Among People of Color

Women’s Health Info Site – Women’s Health Education Program: PrEP Awareness Among People of Color                           
During my recent
community health rotation, I was curious about understanding and identifying
the factors behind why certain high-risk communities were hesitant to start
PrEP. Some factors that I thought of included lack of knowledge about PrEP,
decreased access to healthcare, and not trusting physicians. I came across an
article (Ojikutu et al.) that addressed those factors and more. The article looked at
socio-demographic characteristics and barriers to PrEP use among black
individuals across the United States. There were 855 participants, of which
38.2% were identified as high risk based on the stratification criteria, and
54.5 % were female. What took me by surprise was that among all participants,
only 14.5% were actually aware of PrEP.


The study found that only 35.1% of high-risk patients
were willing to use PrEP. Furthermore, the most common
reason for lack of willingness to use PrEP was low risk perception where 65.1%
of the patients in the high-risk category believed that they were not at increased
risk for getting HIV. Other common reasons included not believing that
PrEP would actually work, and potential side effects of the medication.


Black
individuals are disproportionately affected by HIV and as a result, increasing
their awareness about their risk along with the benefits of primary prevention
through methods like PrEP should be explained to them more thoroughly. While
improving access may be more of a long-term goal in situations like this,
trying new methods such as increasing pharmacy access and online purchasing may
benefit these communities. Recently, California enacted legislation stating
that high risk individuals who tested negative for HIV should be informed about
PrEP during post-test counseling. Having these post-test counseling sessions
nationwide will be crucial to increasing patients’ knowledge about PrEP and
increasing their awareness of being high risk.

Another study (Roth et al) pointed out that as of 2016, Pennsylvania was ranked ninth in the number of new HIV
diagnoses, with most cases occurring in Philadelphia, where there are a variety
of cultural backgrounds leading to significant racial and ethnic disparities.
Of the newly diagnosed cases, 56.2% was among women and 86.4% occurred Black
and Latin people.  What
they found was that the overall PrEP awareness was very low at 4.9% and lower
among those who had seen a physician in the last 12 months than those who had
not!  This was extremely discouraging because it indicates that people of
color and women actively seeking care are still not being actively informed
about PrEP and its benefits, especially the those who are at high risk for
getting HIV due to their risky behaviors. The only variable that was associated
with increased PrEP awareness was participation in an HIV prevention
intervention (specifically with HIV prevention physicians). 

All providers need to be cognizant
of asking about their sexual practices and other activities that could
potentially put patients at risk for contracting HIV. Physicians need to be
comfortable asking these intimate questions because that’s how patients will
understand how they’re putting themselves at risk, and it’s the most efficient
way to educate patients about PrEP.  The disconnect between physicians and
people of color is something that is creating a huge barrier to patients
getting the care that they need so it is up to physicians to come up with a
consistent method to ensure that every patient who may be at high risk is informed
of primary prevention options, like PrEP.

Lakshana Senthilkumar 
DUCOM 2020

 

Ojikutu, B. O., Bogart, L. M., Higgins-Biddle, M., Dale, S.
K., Allen, W., Dominique, T., & Mayer, K. H. (2018). Facilitators and
barriers to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among black individuals in the
United States: results from the National Survey on HIV in the Black Community
(NSHBC). AIDS and Behavior, 22(11), 3576-3587.

Roth, A. M., Tran, N. K., Piecara, B. L., Shinefeld, J.,
& Brady, K. A. (2019). Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Awareness Is Low
Among Heterosexual People of Color Who Might Benefit From PrEP in
Philadelphia. Journal of primary care & community health, 10,
2150132719847383.






 

TriStar Health announces HCA Healthcare’s $600,000 gift to Meharry Medical College

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TriStar Health announces HCA Healthcare’s 0,000 gift to Meharry Medical College

TriStar Health, an affiliate of HCA Healthcare, announced today that we will give $600,000 to Meharry Medical College to support paid internship and scholarship opportunities over four years for graduate students in the School of Applied Computational Sciences (SACS). This investment is part of HCA Healthcare’s $10 million pledge to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).

“We are thrilled to continue our support of Meharry Medical College and provide additional opportunities for graduate students to further their education through scholarships and internships. Our organization is committed to increasing access to healthcare careers across the Middle Tennessee community.”

Mitch Edgeworth, president of the HCA Healthcare TriStar Division

Meharry Medical College is one of the nation’s oldest and largest historically Black academic health science centers. In addition to a medical school, Meharry Medical College is home to a dental school, graduate school and applied computational sciences school. Founded in 2021, Meharry’s SACS offers both M.S. and Ph.D. Data Science and Biomedical Data Science degrees.

“It is a pleasure to work with Meharry Medical College, a long-standing and respected institution here in Nashville, to provide opportunities for young professionals to explore fulfilling careers in healthcare and data science,” said Sherri Neal, chief diversity officer of HCA Healthcare. 

This gift will support paid internships annually for students in Meharry’s SACS. Students in good standing will be recommended by SACS faculty for internships in HCA Healthcare’s Information Technology Group (ITG). The gift will also be used to provide scholarships for students enrolled in Meharry’s SACS graduate data science degree programs. Both scholars and interns will have access to recruiting events, year-round leadership development opportunities and guest lectures.

“HCA Healthcare and TriStar Health’s partnership is a testimony to the importance of educating data science students at Meharry. Thanks to HCA Healthcare’s support, we will educate more students who will ethically apply artificial intelligence – without algorithmic and societal biases – to improve health care.”

Meharry President James E.K. Hildreth, Ph.D., M.D.

“I meet so many bright students from diverse backgrounds whose only barrier to improving health care through data is affording their degree,” said Fortune S. Mhlanga, Ph.D., dean of the School of Applied Computational Sciences. “This scholarship and internship support from a global leader in health care will launch talented students into successful careers.”

HCA Healthcare and TriStar Health have a long-standing relationship, with many Meharry students going on to practice at TriStar Health hospitals. Members of HCA Healthcare leadership have also served on Meharry’s Board of Trustees. In addition, TriStar Health hosts Meharry medical students during their third-year clerkships at TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center for family medicine and TriStar Skyline Medical Center for emergency medicine.

TriStar Health announces HCA Healthcare’s 0,000 gift to Meharry Medical CollegeTriStar Health announces HCA Healthcare’s 0,000 gift to Meharry Medical College
On September 23, 2024, HCA Healthcare announced a $600,000 gift to Meharry Medical College to support paid internship and scholarship opportunities over four years for graduate students in the School of Applied Computational Sciences (SACS).

HCA Healthcare has a history of partnering with higher education institutions across the country to help strengthen the diversity of the organization’s talent pipeline. Included among these partnerships:

About HCA Healthcare’s TriStar Health:

TriStar Health is one of the largest and most comprehensive healthcare providers in the region, comprised of ten hospitals, 21 imaging centers, 93 physician offices, five freestanding ERs, eight outpatient surgery centers, 21 CareNow® Urgent Care centers and ten medical parks. TriStar Health utilizes advances in clinical technology and innovative procedures while delivering high-quality care. The TriStar Health network had over 900,000 encounters last year, including 478,000 ER visits, 93,000 inpatient admissions and 8,000 babies delivered. The network is supported by over 2,400 physicians and 10,000 employees – including more than 2,800 nurses – who, above all else, are committed to the care and improvement of human life. TriStar Health is an affiliate of HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare services. Learn more at TriStarHealth.com.

Healthy treat of the week

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Healthy treat of the week

Healthy treat of the week

I’ve always had a sweet tooth so instead of indulging in all of the sweet treats with high calories I had to find some healthy alternatives! I mean Deliscious healthy alternatives with all of the goodness minus the guilt! And I will be sharing a healthy treat on here weekly.

This weeks healthy treat is a Strawberry Kiwi Smoothie. Before I share the recipe I’d like to share   some of the health benefits with you. (I also recommend having your smoothie in the morning cause its a great way to start your day!)

1.) Boosts energy

2.) Rich in nutrients and antioxidants 

3.) High in vitamin C

4.) Helps maintain healthy skin (Produces Collagen)

5.) Improves sleep

6.) Supports heart health

7.) Good for digestion

8.) Helps prevent cancer

9.) Rich in fiber

10.) Helps reduce blood pressure

11.) Improves gut health

12.) Improves eye health 

14.) Boost healing

Now that you know the health benefits here is the recipe:

Strawberry Kiwi Smoothie

2 cups whole ice cube in blender

5 Kiwis (sliced)

1 banana

12 strawberries 

2  6oz strawberry kiwi yogurts (I use yoplait)

2 cups spinach (add more if you like)

3/4 cup pineapple juice

3/4 cup orange juice (I USE TROP 50 w/no pulp)

Honey to taste 

Put all ingredients in blender and blend away!

Enjoy!

Why AI Breast Cancer Screenings Aren’t Accurate for Black Women

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Why AI Breast Cancer Screenings Aren’t Accurate for Black Women

Artificial intelligence, better known as AI, entered the breast mammography space to enhance interpretation of malignancy in breast tissue, detect breast cancer before it reaches advanced stages, and reduce rates of false positives or false negatives for the presence of cancer. There are a number of benefits, including lowering stress levels, unnecessary biopsies, and financial burdens that cancer patients and survivors experience when traditional mammograms are irregular.

So how does it work? Based on data programmed into a computer, an AI algorithm creates a standard to determine malignancy and risk scores that will directly impact the level of care a patient receives. The Food and Drug Administration believes this information will help researchers understand the relationship between patient characteristics: age, ethnicity, breast density, malignancy, and risk, with the ultimate goal of reducing rates of breast cancer. It’s a worthy goal, but experts have found one major issue: the success of AI screenings for white and Asian women compared to disappointing outcomes for Black women.

Why AI Breast Cancer Screenings Aren’t Accurate for Black Women

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Dr. Regina Barzilay is a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at MIT who specializes in the intersection of AI and health. While not involved in the Duke study, Dr. Barzilay told SheKnows that AI tools may sometimes “underperform on certain racial or demographic groups if they are underrepresented in the training data on which the algorithm is developed.”

The Duke Medical team wasn’t the only group to show this type of bias in the research. Other studies focused their efforts on European women and most clinical trials were outside of the United States, further erasing unique markers of Black women in their reports. “One big fix that needs to happen is to have large datasets of mammograms that represent a diverse patient population,” Dr. Barzilay noted. “Another important aspect is testing these models in different demographic groups to ensure that they are unbiased.”

The problem is, the FDA does not require diversity of data, continuing to rely on racially biased risk assessment tools like Tyrer-Cuzick or the Gail Model that do not factor in family history of cancer or racial or ethnic differences when creating guidelines — and that affects these AI screenings. According to Breastcancer.org, technicians train the AI by entering millions of images into computers so AI software can convert the information into a mathematical representation of what a normal mammogram looks like and what a mammogram with cancer looks like. From that information, the AI creates a baseline that becomes the standard of what normal breast tissue looks like. But if that baseline is based on a dataset that’s skewed towards a certain demographic, that means the current AI screening practices may not be the best option for those outside the demographic; in this case, non-white and older women.

The Duke study reveals the limitations of AI breast cancer screenings that we still need to overcome. For Black women who are genetically predisposed to breast cancer due to first degree (parent, child, or cousin) family history or presence of the BRCA gene, or even low risk candidates hoping to stave off the disease, the news is discouraging. As long as the standard for normal breast tissue excludes patient characteristics along race, health, and life span, outlooks for Black women remain poor.

Why AI Breast Cancer Screenings Aren’t Accurate for Black Women

Related story

How Black Breast Cancer Organizations Heal Through Community: ‘We Get to Share the Burden’


Inequities in health care for Black women are not new, and medical professionals are dedicating their careers to understanding why this demographic is prone to more advanced stages of breast cancer and cancers in general. Dr. Melissa Davis of Morehouse Medical College is one who has answered the call with SAMBAI, which stands for Social, Ancestry, Molecular and Biological Analysis of Inequalities. With a $25 million dollar grant from the Cancer Grand Challenges, Dr. Davis’ team is committed to creating a database of 40,000 people from multiple African countries, as well as people of recent African heritage in the UK and US, to ensure representation for more accurate data collection. After all, AI algorithms are only as good as the information they’re given.

Another option to improve AI screenings of Black women is MIRAI, an AI screening tool developed by Dr. Barzilay and Dr. Adam Yala, an assistant professor in computational precision health, statistics, and computer science at UCSF and UC Berkeley. According to Dr. Barzilay, “MIRAI addresses a different task: we aim to predict future risk of the disease. It is important because it enables extra screening and preventative resources for women who are at high risk.” And it’s especially relevant for Black women, who are diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age, on average, than white women, according to research. “At the same time, we don’t want to over screen them,” Dr. Barzilay added. “One possible scenario is to screen them first at a younger age in order to identify a small cohort of women who are truly high risk and who need to be screened differently.”

So far, only 9% of radiologists in the United States are regularly using AI for breast imaging, according to Breastcancer.org. It’s also important to note that the technology will not replace human clinicians. Rather, it will help reduce and manage the workload of radiologists to improve outcomes for breast cancer patients with more accurate screenings. Undoubtedly, AI breast imaging could be a life-saving screening tool — but that will not happen until all women are represented in its algorithms.

Before you go, shop these gifts for breast cancer patients and survivors:

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