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Hybrid immunity may be the best protection Analyzing data from controlled studies throughout the world, researchers discovered people with hybrid immunity are the most protected against severe illness and reinfection. Hybrid immunity occurs when someone has had at least the full series of vaccines and has a prior infection, in any order. The study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, now is helping public policymakers understand the optimal timing of vaccinations. “The results reinforce the global imperative for vaccination,” said stu...
Preventing heart attacks in new ways After years of research, scientists have now developed a wearable cardiac ultrasound imager that can non-invasively capture real-time images of the human heart for an extended period of time. The patch, which is about the size of a postage stamp, is comparable to a commercial ultrasound device. Further, the imager can be worn during exercise and provide valuable cardiac information when the heart is under stress. “While existing wearable patches in d...
March is National Kidney Month, and Alaska Health Fair, Inc. and the National Kidney Foundation are urging everyone to take healthy steps to protect their kidneys. An estimated 26 million American adults have kidney disease, though most don’t know it. To protect your kidneys, you should get tested for kidney disease, reduce the use of NSAIDs (over the counter pain medicines), cut down on processed foods, exercise regularly, and control your blood pressure and diabetes. High blood pressure and diabetes are major risk factors for developing k...
Music therapy now is moving into a new realm thanks to smartphones. A music app has been developed that provides therapy by consoling, relaxing and uplifting users. Music has the potential to change emotional states and can distract listeners from negative thoughts and pain. It has also been proven to help improve memory, performance and mood. Music and emotions, with an app Man Hei Law of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and his team have developed what they currently are calling...
If you wear glasses (or contacts) try to minimize their use to times when you are reading, driving or doing other precision work. But if you're just lounging around at home and can bathe, cook, garden, play a game, etc. without your glasses - do it. The more dependent you become on your glasses/contacts, the weaker your eyes become. Limiting your eyewear usage gives your eyes a chance to practice focusing unaided, thus strengthening them, and allowing for fewer prescription changes in the long...
Alaska Health Fair’s Spring 2023 schedule is now online, with most events already posted on our website at www.alaskahealthfair.org. Please check back frequently, as the new season is fluid. We continue to add new dates as they come available and rarely postpone one. We have provided services to Alaskans for 43 years and continued helping residents see to their needs over the past few difficult years. We offer a selection of draw dates from our offices to a handful of February community events as our busy schedule ramps up for a busy spring. W...
Poisoning is the number one cause of injury-related deaths in the U.S., according to a report by the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). More than 2 million cases of human poison exposure in the U.S. were reported in 2021 alone. While less severe poison exposures have decreased in recent years, more serious exposures have been on the rise, according to the AAPCC annual report. Since 2000, serious cases have grown by 4.44% per year ranging from moderate severity to death. This alarming trend reveals the importance of greater...
Family Caregiver Support Programs offer free support meetings to allow you to share your experiences as a caregiver, or support someone who is a caregiver. If you are helping a family member or friend by being a caregiver, learn what kind of help is available. There is no charge for these services and everyone is invited to attend. The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program office is located at 35477 Kenai Spur Highway, Suite 205 (located in the 4D Professional Building). You can call them at 907-262-1280. Call with suggestions and id...
Swimming is the fourth most popular sports activity in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). However, it is much more popular in Alaska than many other states for a host of reasons. In the winter, swimming can be more than just exercise. Water fitness groups tend to be extensive, welcoming families consisting of seniors, young adults and everyone in between. Amanda Hanley is the aquatics director for the YMCA in Anchorage and said swimming is one of the best...
"Don't be afraid of the dietitian." – Amy Urbanus You eat every day, but are you eating the right stuff? Find out here. And don't be afraid of the dietitian. Amy Urbanus has been a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for 22 years. During that time, she did employee wellness for a large regional grocery store chain, worked at Southcentral Foundation as an outpatient dietitian, put in some time at the Providence Diabetes and Nutrition Center at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, and lots more. C...
Medicare and Marketplace health insurance can easily be confused, but the two are different federal benefit programs. The Health Insurance Marketplaces were created by the Affordable Care Act. These Marketplaces allow people to buy insurance who do not have (or do not have enough) health insurance. You can access the Marketplace online at www.healthcare.gov or by calling 800-318-2596. Plans sold through Marketplaces are also known as Qualified Health Plans. Many people who have a Marketplace...
My name is Lee Coray-Ludden. I am a Certified Medicare Counselor through SHIP, the State Health Insurance Program. They provide the training and supervision. I serve the State of Alaska by phone and have been traveling around Alaska – it’s been fun and educational. My office is in the Soldotna Senior Center, that is also how the phone will be answered. My number is 907-262-2322. I work Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Just ask for Lee. I look forward to finding answers and possible solutions together. Currently there is a lot of...
A mind-controlled wheelchair can help a paralyzed person gain new mobility by translating users’ thoughts into mechanical commands. Researchers have demonstrated that individuals with the inability to voluntarily move the upper and lower parts of the body can operate mind-controlled wheelchairs in a natural, cluttered environment after training for an extended period. “We show that mutual learning of both the user and the brain-machine interface algorithm are both important for users to suc...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will continue its peer support meetings into 2023. Support meetings allow you to share your experiences as a caregiver, or support someone who is a caregiver. If you are helping a family member or friend by being a caregiver, learn what kind of help is available. There is no charge for these services and everyone is invited to attend. Call with suggestions and ideas for upcoming trainings or follow on Facebook, @KPFCSP. The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program office is located...
Health fairs will resume in January 2023. Visit our website to sign up to receive our newsletter, and we will notify you when the new schedule is published. We thank all of you, our clients, volunteers, and partner agencies, for another successful season as we celebrate our 42nd year of service. We wouldn’t be able to deliver important health education and screenings to thousands of Alaskans statewide without the strength of our amazing volunteer force. Your support keeps our organization strong and thriving. We are always looking for new v...
"When you love someone with dementia, the goal is not perfection... it's okay to be good enough." Years ago, when I was just starting my career as an intern principal in the Anchorage School District, I met a wonderful teacher, Rebecca "Becky" Ann Clement. Becky, along with sister Beverly, were the founders of the Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska. She would often share her daily experiences caring for her mother with Alzheimer's with me. Little did I know that one day in the future, I would also...
As a military veteran, this month’s topic resonates with me. Medicare can work with military-related healthcare, whether you are a military veteran or a military retiree. As a reminder, Original Medicare (available to the majority of eligible Alaskans) consists of Part A (hospitalization insurance) and/or Part B (medical service providers insurance). Part D is Medicare’s prescription drug plan benefit offered through third-party insurers who are approved both by Medicare and the State of Ala...
Our fall season has come to a close. Health fairs will resume in January 2023. Please sign up to our newsletter at www.alaskahealthfair.org, and we will notify you when the new schedule is published. We thank all of you – our clients, volunteers, and partner agencies – for another successful season of health fairs as we celebrate our 42nd year of service. We wouldn’t be able to deliver important health education and screenings to thousands of Alaskans statewide without the strength of our amazing volunteer force. Your support keeps our organ...
There are many new clinical trials available to Alaskans that are conducted at home. Clinical trials are medical research studies designed to test the safety and effectiveness of new investigational drugs, devices or treatments in humans. These studies are conducted worldwide for a range of conditions and illnesses. Chronic pain study Boomers, if are you having chronic pain, this may be of interest to you. The home study with researchers from the University of Michigan gives you the opportunity to participate in a first of its kind study on...
A lot of hype about an alleged breakthrough drug for Alzheimer’s disease may leave some families disappointed yet again. On Sept. 27, 2022, pharmaceutical company Eisai in Tokyo and biotechnology firm Biogen in Cambridge, Massachusetts, issued a press release claiming a drug called lecanemab slowed the rate of cognitive decline for adults with Alzheimer’s disease by 27%. The new findings were hailed as a significant advance. However, it is far too early to know what its true benefits and risks may be. This agent is a monoclonal antibody des...
Almonds may pack important hidden health benefit Eating a handful of almonds a day can greatly benefit your tummy because almonds significantly increase the production of butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that promotes gut health, according to a recent study. A team of researchers from King’s College London investigated the impact of whole and ground almonds on the composition of gut microbes. The gut microbiome consists of thousands of microorganisms living in the gut. These play a vital r...
Finding joy in small things, sharing our stories, and giving to others are powerful ways to connect with family and friends during the holiday season. The ADRC (Aging and Disability Resource Center) team would like to share a few suggestions that may be helpful as you navigate the holiday season, while remembering those whose holidays can be difficult and emotional. Here are some of our favorites: • Most of us are familiar with the technology that can be used on a phone or a computer such as Skype, Facetime and Zoom. Don’t forget – somet...
Consumers can now buy hearing aids without a prescription, possibly saving thousands of dollars per pair. The new devices - designed for those with mild to moderate hearing loss - are expected to transform the hearing aid market. They are being sold at stores and online without a medical exam, prescription or special fitting by an audiologist. This follows a ruling on Aug. 16, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed to allow over-the-counter hearing aids to be sold directly to...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in December. Support meetings allow you to share your experiences as a caregiver, or support someone who is a caregiver. If you are helping a family member or friend by being a caregiver, learn what kind of help is available. There is no charge for these services and everyone is invited to attend. Call with suggestions and ideas for upcoming trainings or follow on Facebook, @KPFCSP. The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program office is...
With the fall and winter holiday season already upon us, we are planning menus and stocking up on ingredients to make family favorites. You may already intentionally plan for leftovers, using "cook once, eat all week" strategies, or you may just know that there will be more potatoes, peas or pie than your nutritionist recommends consuming at one meal. In either case, storing and creatively using the excess may daunt a weary cook. Studies on food waste in America suggest that most households...
