Health

Pursuit of Economic Wealth Effecting Health in Mekong Sub-Region

Published

10 years ago

January 27, 2015

Bchcomber

A fisherman holds a fish he caught in the Mekong river in Wiang Kaen, a district in the northern Thai province of Chiang Rai

CHIANG RAI – In the Lower Mekong Sub-Region, changing patterns and intensity of work, lifestyle, and even relaxation, are posing new health risks and challenges.

Is the economic development model by design sacrificing the health – in terms of body and mind – of the majority in the interest of so-called economic growth? We posit that structural changes in the Mekong region – often due to government economic development policies whether it’s in agricultural production or urban work patterns – are leading to conditions causing ill health.

Our landscapes, especially our public spaces – our commons – are undergoing huge changes that inherently affect the health of our body and mind. We don’t need here to go into a litany of the terrible ecosystem damages caused in the rush to expand infrastructure or industrialization. The ecological impacts in three areas illustrate the seriousness of these health impacts: our rivers and wetlands, the air we breathe, and the food we eat.

Unfortunately there’s quite a bit of pollution in the Mekong Delta

The prolific creation of urban and peri-urban housing and other infrastructure has resulted in the extensive draining and conversion of wetlands; as these areas that used to both store and slowly release the monsoon rains disappear, flooding is displaced to elsewhere. This has resulted in the wider spread of diseases that were previously seen as under control: dengue and malaria.

Air pollution especially in areas near industrial zones or coal-fired plants is wreaking a terrible cost in terms of respiratory and other illnessess while in urban areas people are so used to living, commuting and working within an ever-present smog of vehicle and other smoke.

Mostly it’s become difficult to know where our food is coming from or how it’s grown, except for those who grow their own food to eat for themselves (a small minority). All kinds and types of fruits and vegetables to meat and fish are now available throughout the year. But although our food choices have multiplied, so also the incidence of various food related ailments ranging from stomach disorders to stomach viral epidemics.
Health and medicine

The Mekong region is full of contradictions. Those who can live healthily and those that cannot. Malnutrition occurs alongside excess.

This results in disparities between rural communities and urban areas in terms of malnutrition reduction.

Malnutrition and diets are of concern affecting health in all the Mekong countries. But obesity and overweight are becoming serious problems, and not just as expected in urban areas. Thailand has been in the spotlight recently: now the country’s going through enormous changes in appetites, habits and lifestyles that are leading to what the World Health Organization (WHO) terms as “non-communicable disease risk factors” 1.

How illness is treated is of critical concern as the spread of both infectious diseases and the use of antibiotics are increasing. We are increasingly becoming more dependent on medicinal drugs and less trusting of our body’s own inherent ability to combat minor illness, and recover health and vitality. The latter method can be more beneficial in the long-term given that new and more infectious and sometimes epidemic-scale diseases are emerging due to the problems of the changing climate and the corresponding changes to our ecosystems.

It is now prevalent not only for doctors to prescribe but also patients to demand they be given antibiotics even for simple ailments like a cold that needs nothing more than a few days rest 2. Meanwhile our ingestion of industrially produced chickens and pork that often have been fed antibiotics to fight diseases is also making diseases more resistant. Changing our perspectives, and more importantly, our practices with regard to diets and medicinal treatments is crucial.

The food we eat, we often tend not to think of, or are mostly unaware of where it comes from. But in many Mekong and Asian cultures, food is also considered as medicine. There are prescriptions of what kinds of food to eat and when; some kinds of fruits, vegetables or meats are considered “hot” while others “cold” subsequently having different effects on the human body. This knowledge about food and its benefits is becoming of dwindling relevance as, in our industrial era, food is trucked and shipped from distant places.

Conclusion

We need to rethink our views of health not just as of our physical entities but also of the body and mind. Younger generations need the opportunity to reconnect with their food, and be aware of what they are eating, where it comes from, and what it contains. The holistic policies that are needed range from improving our work environment to ensuring a clean (livable) environment. We can better incorporate local knowledge of food and ecosystems back into understanding of health and disease prevention. From a public health perspective, health should be considered in all the public policies of the region – so called “healthy public policy” – including economic development policies.

Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

Published

2 months ago

October 7, 2024

Salman

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

Published

2 months ago

October 6, 2024

VORNews

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

Published

2 months ago

October 5, 2024

Salman

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP