Author Archives: Zuzanna Walter

The Biggest Wellness Trends of 2020

March 18, 2020

Last year, the rise of cannabidiol (CBD), intermittent fasting, meditation, and many other health and wellness trends dominated the $4 trillion global wellness industry. As this segment of the market continues to grow rapidly, technologic advances, emerging clinical findings, and shifting priorities are likely to influence burgeoning wellness trends for the coming year. Recently, experts from across the world gathered to forecast the biggest health trends that will take over the global wellness industry in 2020 as part of the Global Wellness Summit (GWS).

Alongside a focus on fixing disrupted circadian rhythms and mental health-promoting devices, the most significant projected trends for the forthcoming year are outlined below:

Circadian Health Optimization

According to one of the world’s leading experts on circadian health and associate professor of medicine at Harvard University Dr. Steven Lockley: “The absolute key to healthy sleep and circadian rhythms is stable, regularly-timed daily light and dark exposure—our natural daily time cues.”

Today, humans have incredibly disrupted circadian rhythms as a result of increased screen time and travel, rising stress levels, and a 24/7 culture. Current research suggests that circadian rhythms influence a variety of bodily functions ranging from hormonal fluctuations to body temperature regulation. Most importantly, they can significantly influence sleep patterns, impacting productivity and health.

As part of the solution, the concept of circadian rhythm optimization centers around adjusting the daily schedule, dietary patterns, and environmental cues to sync up with the body’s internal clock. Experts at the Global Wellness Summit predict an increased amount of people shifting their work schedules in accordance with their chronotypes, which The Sleep Foundation describes as the natural pattern by which people sleep and wake best, in an effort to optimize performance and productivity.

“Given that most of our body systems express circadian rhythms, ensuring proper alignment of our internal circadian clocks,” Dr. Lockley further explains, “starting with the management of lighting, will have major impacts on human health.”

Mental Health Technology 

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that over 42% of 46.6 million adults with mental illness in the United States received mental health treatment in 2017. In addition, the growing patient base of Millennials is more likely to address mental health concerns than previous generations, with about 70% saying they feel comfortable seeking help. Wellness technology companies have begun to capitalize on this increased acceptance and technological advancements by developing digital therapeutic products and services.

Tech-savvy individuals are increasingly using virtual therapy apps – such as TalkSpace and BetterHelp – and digital support groups to combat modern-day issues including burnout, loneliness, depression, and anxiety. The behavioral health software market is now projected to reach $2.31 billion by 2022 and as we shift toward a more holistic approach to wellbeing, will likely continue growing.

As part of this rising trend, mental wellness wearables are growing in popularity with the introduction of meditation headsets that measure heart and breathing rates and wearable biosensors that monitor physiological signals throughout the day. These devices aim to improve stress levels, sleep patterns, and daily habits based on biologic metrics directly obtained throughout the day. For example, Sentio Solutions recently announced a new product, Feel, which is an emotion-sensing wristband with integrated biosensors which measure users’ physiological signals. Paired with an accompanying cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) app, it aims to help those suffering from anxiety and depression by offering on-demand support.

However, many of these technologies are still in the early stages of clinical trials and require further investigation before they can be released.

Japanese Wellness 

In 2017, Japan had the largest per capita ratio of centenarians in the world with 67,824 people aged 100 and above. The country is known for the longevity of its population, with up to 50% of Japanese citizens born in 2007 expected to reach the age of 107. Japanese culture promotes ways to ensure long, fulfilled lives with a growing emphasis on a sense of community and work-life balance. As a result, the world is turning to Japan for longevity tips leading to the popularization of “J-wellness”, or Japanese-inspired wellness.

The practice prioritizes connecting to nature, including forest bathing which can have a beneficial effect on both mental and physical health by reducing blood pressure, stress hormones, anxiety, and depression levels. In addition, Japanese government officials emphasize social community wellness through policy measures and innovations tailored to aging societies. This includes neighborhood facilities designed for generational mingling and stress assessment programs conducted to improve work-life balance and emotional wellbeing.

Fertility Healthcare

The growing de-stigmatization of infertility and reproductive health has opened the dialogue and increased awareness of these prevalent issues, encouraging more companies to offer fertility treatments – such as in-vitro fertilization and egg freezing- as benefits to their employees. Fertility healthcare is projected to rise to the top of wellness trends to support the 12 out of 100 couples in the United State struggling to become pregnant, per data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Current fertility benefits do not cover all procedures and reproductive assistance technologies tend to be expensive with a single round of IVF averaging above $20,000. According to the GWS report, fertility clinics are forecasted to democratize and simplify access to care, alongside innovative fertility-focused wearable technology and smartphone apps that help educate individuals and monitor important fertility metrics. Furthermore, a growing number of fertility start-ups such as KindBody, which received $10 million in investor funding last year, are beginning to infiltrate the space. Current data indicate that the femtech sector could reach a market size of $50 billion within the next five years.

Continuous research initiatives and emerging technological advancements are spurring the global wellness industry at a 12.8% compound annual growth rate. In 2020, the wellness economy will be more accessible to the average consumer than ever before, making the above trends increasingly relevant in the practice setting. Physicians should be equipped with the latest clinical knowledge to better educate patients on the potential risks and benefits of these emerging solutions and ensure their health and safety.

How to Boost the Immune System in Times of Global Epidemic

March 6, 2020

There have now been over 290 cases of confirmed novel coronavirus in the United States and a total of 14 deaths related to the disease. The number of infected individuals outside of mainland China – the epicenter of the virus – is quickly rising and increasingly becoming a cause of global public health concern. As the epidemic continues to spread worldwide with no current solution, worries of a pandemic are profound; hand sanitizer and facial mask supplies are being depleted by anxious individuals hoping to protect themselves from exposure in this still uncontrolled situation.

External protection including virus protection masks may have the opposite of their intended effect, increasing the risk of infection instead. Frequent and proper hand-washing is consistently proving to be the most effective method of preventing the disease, while reducing exposure to COVID-19 is imperative – as is fortifying the body’s natural defense system.

Protecting the Immune System

With the number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases escalating, now is the time to focus on boosting the immune system to naturally protect the body from the evolving epidemic and effectively fight off the infection.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle – by following good-health guidelines – is vital to naturally keep the immune system strong and functioning at its optimal capacity. Individuals hoping to protect their immune system or boost its strength should employ healthy living strategies such as: regular exercise, weight management, conscious nutritional choices, limited alcohol consumption, and adequate sleep patterns. Further, it is important to minimize stress levels as cortisol overproduction can impair immune functioning; ensuring a healthy work-life balance, taking breaks when necessary, and incorporating meditation along with other stress-reduction techniques can help support both physical and emotional wellbeing.

Boosting Immunity

While there are no quick tips to immediately boost the health of the immune system, there are several practices that can help promote optimal immune functioning over time. For example, eating foods rich in antioxidants – such as berries, garlic, and onions – can reduce the risk of virus infection as well as consuming anti-inflammatory foods on a daily basis – such as fresh vegetables and fruits – which lower body-wide inflammation, supporting systemic functions, and combating age-related chronic diseases.

Ensuring quality sleeping patterns is essential to rebuilding a struggling immune system as is the avoidance of toxins. Minimizing exposure to chlorinated drinking water, pesticides, aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, pollution, and food additives can help protect against the negative effects of common toxins on the body’s immunity.

Due to its systemic nature, the immune system is challenging to boost with a singular solution. Therefore, following a holistic, healthy lifestyle, avoiding noxious elements, and reducing stress levels can have a profound impact on immune functioning. Although none of these solutions are “quick-fixes” to staying healthy in the face of a global epidemic, improving current lifestyle habits can greatly boost both physical and mental long-term health, making the body less susceptible to viruses and diseases while minimizing their severity if they do occur.

Black History Month: African American Contributions to Medicine

February 27, 2020

The month of February celebrates Black History Month, a tribute to African American men and women whose achievements helped shape U.S. history. As part of this annual commemoration of their successes, we honor the profound contributions of African American physicians and health care professionals in the medical field. The following pioneers were instrumental in advancing modern medicine; they not only fought slavery and advocated for racial equality, but also contributed groundbreaking research and novel approaches to patient care that have shaped the clinical practice of today.

Rebecca Lee Crumpler, MD

Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler became the first African American woman in the United States to earn a medical degree; she graduated from the New England Female Medical College in Boston in 1864. Afterward, Crumpler worked with other African American physicians caring for formerly enslaved people in the Freedmen’s Bureau. In 1883, she published A Book of Medical Discourses: In Two Parts, a text that details children’s and women’s health intended to spread medical knowledge to mothers.

James McCune Smith, MD 

New York City native physician and scholar Dr. James McCune Smith was the first African-American man to earn a medical degree. After being denied college admission in the United States, Dr. Smith pursued a medical degree in Scotland, which he obtained in 1837. Smith was the first African American physician to publish articles in American medical journals, including texts on science, education, and racism. He was also the first African American to own and operate a pharmacy in the United States.

Myra Adele Logan, MD

Dr. Myra Logan was the first woman and ninth person in the world to perform open-heart surgery in 1943. Her research efforts focused on antibiotic and breast cancer studies; she helped developed more accurate testing measures to detect density differences in breast tissue. Dr. Logan also worked as a surgeon at the Harlem Hospital in New York and was the founding partner of the first physicians group practice in America.

Charles Richard Drew, MD 

Dr. Charles Drew was the first physician to use blood plasma for transfusion, pioneering methods of storing blood and developing the first large-scale blood bank in the United States during WWII. He received his M.D. and Master of Surgery from McGill University in 1932. Dr. Drew was the first Director of the American Red Cross Blood Bank, served as Chief Surgeon at Freedmen’s Hospital, and became the first African American examiner of the American Board of Surgery.

Mary Eliza Mahoney 

Mary Eliza Mahoney began her groundbreaking nursing career as an untrained practical nurse serving affluent white families in New England. Mahoney was the first African American professional nurse as well as the first African American to be admitted into the nurse training program at the New England Hospital for Women and Children. Upon graduating, she went on to work as a private care nurse before co-founding the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses. Largely due to her efforts, the number of African American nurses doubled from 1910 to 1930 and she made history by raising the status of nurses of color in the profession for decades to come.

Leonidas Harris Berry, MD

A renowned gastroenterologist, Dr. Leonidas Harris Berry was the first African American physician on staff at the Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago. Dr. Berry directed his efforts at promoting racial equality in the hospital setting and increasing the amount of facilities in underserved parts of the city. In 1970, Berry helped organize a group of practitioners – called the Flying Black Medics – who flew to the remote community of Cairo, Illinois to bring medical care and health education to the population.

Patricia Era Bath, MD

As the first African American to complete an ophthalmology residency, Dr. Patricia Era Bath noticed disparities in the rates of blindness and visual impairments between white-dominated Columbia eye clinic and the primarily black patient base of Harlem Hospital’s clinic. Dr. Bath conducted a study that found the prevalence of blindness was two times higher in African Americans than in whites, a finding she investigated for the remainder of her career. Later on, Bath co-founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness and became the first woman appointed chair of ophthalmology at an American medical school. Dr. Bath was also the first African American physician to receive a medical patent in 1988 for the Laserphaco Probe – a device for cataract surgery.

Alexa Irene Canady, MD

Dr. Alexa Irene Canady became the first African American neurosurgeon in the United States in 1981. Shortly thereafter, she was appointed the chief of neurosurgery at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, where she worked for decades in the pediatric department. She is revered for her patient-focused approach to care, which allowed her the opportunity to grow her career exponentially in spite of prevailing racial tension.

Regina Marcia Benjamin, MD, MBA

Best known as the 18th U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Marcia Benjamin spent most of her early career working in rural southern communities. She founded the BayouClinic in Bayou La Batre, Louisiana, to provide clinical care, social services, and medical education to residents of the rural town – which proved particularly necessary after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Dr. Benjamin was also responsible for the USA Telemedicine distance learning program – a medical education and specialty health care telecommunications platform serving patients and physicians in underserved communities.

As some of history’s most notable medical professionals, these pioneers and their immense contributions have helped advance the practice of modern medicine while also promoting racial equity both in the health care setting and in access to clinical care. Together, they paved the way for forthcoming efforts which aim to mitigate disparities in health outcomes between African Americans and other racial groups, alleviating the disproportionate burden this demographic currently faces.