It’s a new year…and with that comes new advances new medical breakthroughs. A new vaccine to prevent against Shingles was approved last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This really looks to be a breakthrough, so much so as Dr. William Shaffner, preventative disease specialist at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine claims that with this new vaccine “the immune system of a 70-or 80-year-old responds as if the person were only 25-30.”

The new vaccine Shingrix, has been shown through international studies to prevent more than 90% of shingles cases, even at older ages. This is a big deal considering that the current shingles vaccine, Zostavax only prevents about half of shingles cases in those over age 60, and is far less effective among elderly patients. The effectiveness of Zostavax drops from 64% for people in their 60’s to 38% for those in their 70’s. Immunity starts to wane 5 years after receiving the vaccine. After 11 years the protection is close to zero! Whereas the new Shingrix vaccine prevented 90% of shingles in those 70 to well past 80.

Most older Americans have acquired shingles (varicella zoster virus) through childhood chickenpox, whether they knew they had the disease or not. The virus stays dormant and then erupts later in life. Different types of stressors are known to increase the risk of eruption, but the risk rises sharply after age 50. Getting shingles is hardly benign. Besides a very painful rash, it threatens to cause vision problems and lingering and debilitating nerve pain, called postherpetic neuralgia, that sometimes lasts months, even years after the initial rash fades.

What makes this new vaccine better?

1. It provides better protection against shingles from the start.

2. It’s protection lasts longer. So far, it remains effective for at least 6 years or longer.

3. It may protect people with compromised immune systems. Those with a weakened immune system due to chemotherapy or transplants, or H.I.V. or taking steroids may be able to get the vaccine where the old vaccine was off limits.

Problems?? First, Shingrix requires 2 vaccines given at least 2 months apart. Second, it tends to be more painful and cause more swelling and redness in the arm for up to 2 days. For those over age 70, 8.5% can experience fatigue, fever or achy joints for 1- 2 days. Lastly, it will be pricier. It may be covered depending on your insurance and medicare coverage.

Is it worth the discomforts or price?  Compared to weeks or years of shingles and its complications…it’s a small price to pay.

Read more….

No Excuses, People: Get the New Shingles Vaccine – The New York Times: “”

These 20 things are a great way to start the New Year.

When the fears of the world drag you down, return to the present moment and practice self-compassion and remember the love that shines through you. Let go…surrender…and trust that the universe has your back.

Find strength in these daily practices that they inspire you to take action from a place of true power.

Be well…

20 things you can stop worrying about (because they won’t matter in the long run) – Hack Spirit: “”

Here are the Top 10 Health Breakthroughs of 2017:

10. We can Unlearn Chronic Pain- Two studies confirmed through brain imaging demonstrated that pain that persists long after a physical injury has healed, is a type of learned behavior. This behavior can be “unlearned” through a variety of non-medical interventions. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is one such technique.

9. Gut Health and Degenerative Diseases- A growing body of evidence points to an intimate relationship between the gut and the brain. Researchers have discussed recent findings that support a link between the gut (microbiome) and the brain, specifically neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.  Gut microbes of mice with Alzheimer’s-like pathology and healthy controls found that diseased mice treated with probiotics had decreased gut inflammation and boosted memory performance.

8. Sugar is worse than you think. According to newly released historical documents, the sugar industry funded animal research in the 1960’s that looked at the effects of consuming sugar and the risk of heart disease. They then buried the data when it suggested that sugar could be harmful. We now know that sugar promotes obesity, diabetes and heart disease. We also know how addictive it is.

7. Cancer and the Microbiome- We are discovering how environmental factors influence the cross-talk between the gut microbes, intestinal epithelium and our immune system. This is especially true when cancer is present. Now we are manipulating this gut bacteria to improve the activity of anticancer drugs.

6. 3-D Spinal implants- These implants are made from titanium and their rough surfaces and porous structures help them integrate more completely into the body. This 3-D printing technology allows bone to hold onto an implant for people with spine deformities.

5. New Drug for Ovarian and Breast Cancer- The drug Zejula, is a new type of drug called a PARP inhibitor. It allows cancer cells that were damaged by chemotherapy to not be able to repair themselves to cause a reoccurrence. No new drug for ovarian cancer has been approved in the US since 2006.

4. Genetic Advances- Physicians can now find cancer in its earliest stages by detecting DNA from tumors in the blood, even before symptoms appear.

3. DNA Edits to Eliminate Disease- Scientists have successfully edited DNA in human embryos for the first time this year to remove a genetic mutation that causes death. This raises the possibility that families could soon prevent their children from developing life threatening inherited diseases such as Huntington’s, Tay Sach’s, and Cystic Fibrosis.

2. Bioelectronic Medicine-Electroceuticals (devices that use a current to treat ailments) are helping patients who haven’t responded to traditional treatments for epilepsy, Parkinson’s and more. It’s a battery powered device that could be embedded in the skull and connected to the part of the brain that is “glitchy”. For epilepsy, It would function as a cerebral pacemaker and stabilize the misfiring neural links that cause seizures.

1. Personal Robots- Health care robots are now available in patients’ homes to help people manage chronic illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, late-stage kidney disease and congestive heart failure. This robot helps monitor medication use, motivates patients to follow doctors’ instructions and connect people with their doctors or pharmacists.

Wishing You a Health Happy New Year!

As we approach the end of 2017, let us reflect on the year with compassion, forgiveness and truth. Yes, we had many challenges this year with the division of a country with differing political views that may have been filled with frustration, fear and anger. But we also found a hidden deep strength within our country that demonstrated a strong position of “enough” that translated to demonstrations, contacting our local representatives, more women running for office, and expressing our views on social media. Yay!!

So this Christmas season, let us not forget who we are. We are not “what happens around us” as much as “what happens within us” in a way in which we listen to our intuition and stay present to determine how we can make a positive difference for ourselves and the greater good. Stay true to who you are and embody humility and connection with others.

Be that light and shimmering beacon of love. Lean toward the potential positive outcomes rather than all that you expect can go wrong. Choose to seek creative solutions. All the answers are within you. You just have to listen to that inner voice more than the outward loud and misguided voice that we hear everyday.

Let go of control and the fear of not being in control and allow hope to help us move through our problems and choose to perceive them a different way. Surrender to hope and watch the miracles happen.

Wellcast wishes you a hopeful, happy, and healthy wondrous New Year!   Peace ??

OK…one more thing to think about that may increase your risk for cancer. Periodontal disease! When was your last dental appt? If you look at it as a preventative screening for cancer, you may decide to go more often or at the recommended twice per year.

The Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study examined rates of cancer in >65,000 women (average age, 68 and 85% white) who were asked about periodontal disease at baseline and followed for a mean of 8 years. Statistically significant excess risks were noted for cancer of the breast (13%), lung (31%), esophagus (>200%), gallbladder (73%) and for melanoma (23%). Results were similar regardless of smoking status.

Some studies have shown the bacteria associated with periodontitis in tumors and distal tissues such as lymph nodes, especially the high excess risk of esophageal cancer, is consistent with tracking these periodontal pathogens found in the gut.

Periodontal disease is also indicative of a pro-inflammatory state that may contribute to adverse reproductive outcomes in women such as preterm labor. Whether treating periodontal disease will lower the increased risk for malignancy is unknown. Flossing and using a water pick after brushing can’t hurt, as well as a check up at least once a year.

Reference: Nwizu NN et al. Periodontal disease and incident cancer risk among postmenopausal women: Results from the Women’s Health Initiative observational cohort. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017 Aug. 26:1255.