Guide to
June 30, 2017 a blank slate media/ litmor publications special section
Health, Wellness & Beauty Health Education What are biologic medicines?
Solving the Puzzle
Myths and misconceptions about autism spectrum disorder
Snore Relief Breathing easier about CPAP treatment
32 HEALTH, WELLNESS & BEAUTY • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 30, 2017
Fidget spinner: a fun fad has function BY TOM F E R R A R O Sport Psychologist The latest fad for kids is the fidget spinner, a toy marketed as a stress reliever. I noticed a bunch for sale at John’s Variety Store in Williston Park and decided to buy one to see what all the fuss was about. The salesgirl told me that they sell over 100 per week and that they receive deliveries of new ones every morning. As I chatted another customer told me that these things were introduced to schools by the occupational therapy departments in order to help autistic or hyperactive kids relieve stress and learn to focus. She then told me that they’ve become so popular that the schools have had to ban them. Alas, a toy whose time has come! In fact the tipping point of popularity for the fidget spinner is quite recent with the craze exploding in April of this year despite it being brought to market back in 1993. The moment you spin one of these little wonders you feel the appeal. The size is just right, the weight is just perfect and the way it keeps spinning reminds you of a perpetual motion machine. I timed my spin and it took a full two minutes 21 seconds for this little devil to come to rest. Impressive!
Just spin a Fidget Spinner and you will see why every kid in America has one. So the question is why is this toy so appealing? I think every era has a toy, a craze or a movement that responds to its zeitgeist. In the 1950s hula hoops became a national craze at the time that Elvis arrived and gave birth to the sexual revolution. The culture needed a way to loosen its hips. The sports movement started in earnest in the 1970s in response to the information explosion which had us all in our heads too much. Now as the culture speeds toward the electronic future its grasps at ways to slow itself down. Thus the Fidget Spinner. The moment I spun this cute little gadget I understood its appeal. The feel of the gadget and the length of time it spins becomes hypnotic and you wind up mesmerized.
Our era has too much speed and stimulation so it’s no surprise that an invention that allows you to pause would become popular. You hold onto the spinner with thumb and index finger pinched together and voila you have a nice pause in the day, a modern day version of prayer straight from the factory. This toy reminds me of the spinning top in the film Inception which was used by the characters to determine whether they were still dreaming or not. If the top kept spinning you knew you were in a dream. In the case of the Fidget Spinner you know you’re in reality but wish you could enter a dream. There is also something very comforting about the fact that the Fidget Spinner travels in a circle. Circles have a magic all their own. Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote an essay on circles where he said “The eye is the first circle; the horizon which it forms is the second; and throughout nature this primary figure is repeated without end.” St. Augustine described the nature of God as a circle whose center was everywhere and its circumference nowhere. And Fellini ended his film masterpiece 8 ½ by having all the characters hold hands and dance around a circus ring. Many have weighed in on the reason
that this Fidget Spinner has exploded onto the scene. Joel Best, a professor at University of Delaware and Dr. Berger of Wharton School of Business both suggest that kids think it’s something cool but that most of these fads have no underlying cultural cause. I don’t agree. Humans are largely unconscious but also endlessly adaptive. That‘s why doomsday predictions are always wrong. We somehow adapt to any and every crisis we are faced with. The Fidget Spinner is merely another attempt on the part of kids to find a way to slow down and gird themselves from the chaos of modern life. Yeats wrote The Second Coming back in 1919 which was 98 years ago. It began like this: “Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,” How odd to say that a gadget called Fidget Spinner is one way kids now use to keep things from falling apart by holding onto the center with thumb and index finger, and pause a moment to let the world spin on by. Good for them.
Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 30, 2017 • HEALTH, WELLNESS & BEAUTY
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34 HEALTH, WELLNESS & BEAUTY • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 30, 2017
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Breathing easier about CPAP treatment P eople who routinely toss, turn, snore, and wake up feeling less than refreshed in the morning may have more to worry about than simply not getting a good’s night sleep. They may be experiencing a relatively common yet largely undiagnosed condition that can contribute to long-term risk for various diseases. Sleep disorders have become a significant health issue. Sleep apnea, which affects an estimated 22 million people in the United States, can contribute to difficulty sleeping. Sleep apnea causes periods defined by an inability to breathe. The American Sleep Apnea Association says sleep apnea comes in three types: obstructive, wherein a blockage of the airway is usually caused by the collapse of the tongue or soft palate; central, when the brain fails to signal muscles to
breathe; and complex, which is a combination of the two conditions. Over time, sleep apnea can be a risk factor for heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and other serious conditions, says the Cleveland Clinic. That is why symptoms that may begin as mildly agitating snoring sessions should be brought to a doctor’s attention. When sleep apnea is identified, one of the more successful treatments is widely referred to as “CPAP.” According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, is a treatment that uses mild air pressure to keep breathing airways open. A CPAP machine includes a mask or other device that fits over the nose or nose and mouth. The mask is connected to a machine via a tube, through which humidified air is blown.
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In cases of obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, CPAP can reverse the complete blockages or narrowing of upper airways. When used correctly, CPAP may be the only treatment necessary to address OSA. Sleep apnea is usually confirmed by an overnight sleep study known as a polysomnogram, or PSG, conducted in a lab or at home. According to the American Sleep Apnea Society, a PSG is often followed by with a CPAP titration study. Individuals who will require CPAP can choose among masks and equipment that meet the prescription and maximize comfort levels. Many
people become accustomed to using CPAP devices right away, while others may need a month or more to transition. Problems like uncomfortable masks or air leakage can be tweaked until users grow comfortable. CPAP needs to be employed under the guidance of a sleep specialist. The mask and tube should be cleaned daily and be replaced when necessary for the treatment to work effectively. More information about sleep apnea and CPAP is available at www.amsleep.org.
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48 HEALTH, WELLNESS & BEAUTY • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 30, 2017
What are biologic medicines?
A
relatively recent wave of medications has provided significant advances in treating a wide range of illnesses, particularly those that are linked to auto-immune dysfunction or chronic ailments. Many people may be prescribed a biologic response modifier medicine at some point in their lives, and those who understand when and why such medications are prescribed may find such knowledge calms their nerves and reduces any confusion they might have about their conditions.
What are biologic response modifiers? Biologics are derived from animal products. First-generation biologic products included things like
vaccines and blood components. However, a newer wave of biologic medicines has come to market over the last decade or so. These medications are manufactured through biotechnology and are complex proteins, sugars, nucleic acids, or a combination of these substances that are created from living cells. Cells may include yeast, bacteria or a widely used cell called CHO, which originated from hamsters in China. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration says biologics are often at the forefront of biomedical research and are continually evolving.
Why biologics are different Unlike traditional medicines, which are largely made from chemical
components that follow a strict recipe for manufacture, many biologics are complex mixtures that are not easily replicated. According to the resource Everyday Health, when biologics are made, a specific gene is isolated and inserted into the host cell’s DNA, where it will become permanent. The cell follows the instructions of the gene and how it was programmed and becomes a specifically functioning cell. This one reprogrammed cell is combined with others that have been made the same way. The entire process of biologic manufacturing is complex, requiring state-of-the-art knowledge. It also requires entirely new biotechnology facilities and laboratories that employ top-notch scientists. These factors combine to contribute to the generally high price tag of biologic medications.
How biologics work According to WebMD, biologics are designed to inhibit specific components of the immune system that may cause a symptom of a disease. For example, in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis,
the medication would suppress inflammation, which is a central feature of the disease. Biologics target specific parts of the immune system rather than broadly treating the body. Diseases that may be treated by biologics include rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and even certain cancers.
Side effects of biologic medicines Because most biologics are administered intravenously, injection-site irritation can be a common side effect. Biologics also carry a risk of infection. According to the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, because biologics target the immune system, there is a risk for serious infection or disease. Biologic medicines continue to evolve and can be used to treat a variety of medical conditions for which no other treatments are available or effective.
Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 30, 2017 • HEALTH, WELLNESS & BEAUTY
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Myths and misconceptions about autism spectrum disorder
A
utism spectrum disorder, or ASD, is a class of neurological conditions present from early childhood and is often identified through difficulty communicating, using language and understanding abstract concepts. The organization Autism Speaks says that an estimated one out of 42 boys and one in 189 girls are diagnosed with autism in the United States. Autism is now diagnosed in roughly one out of every 68 children in Canada, and has become the fastest growing and most commonly diagnosed neurological disorder in that country. ASD is estimated to affect tens of millions of people worldwide. But even though ASD is widely recognized, studied and discussed, myths and misconceptions about the disorder continue to circulate. Shedding light on how ASD can help caregivers, peers and anyone who routinely interacts with individuals who fall on the spectrum. ASD is not a single disorder Although autism and ASD are often used interchangeably, these names do not define one specific disorder. ASD is now an umbrella term that includes autism, Asperger syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, and Rett syndrome, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, 5th edition (DSM-5) revised in 2013. ASD is often perceived through communication deficits that can include misinterpreted or nonverbal interactions. Individuals also may have challenges in bonding/ friendship development.
People with ASD can understand and express emotion Although communication troubles may be present, those with ASD
can and do feel emotions. But they may not be able to express these emotions the same way as others do. Also, just because someone has ASD doesn’t mean he or she is unable to understand the emotions of others. Rather, the person may need firm and direct indications of how another person is feeling to understand. Reading body language or tone of voice alone may be inadequate to someone with ASD. School-aged children can learn from this, recognizing that someone with ASD may want to have friends and socialize, but he or she may not know how to facilitate these engagements.
ASD does not produce carbon-copy symptoms Characteristics of ASD can vary widely from person to person. One person’s limitations may not be present in another.
ASD is not just a children’s disease There is no cure for ASD, and symptoms may not be reversible, which means that autism is a lifelong condition. Children who are diagnosed will grow into young people and adults with autism. Many treatments and therapies are geared toward early intervention, but adults can benefit from continued work as well. Adults with ASD can be successful and live independent lives. Autism spectrum disorder is more prevalent than ever. However, despite the recognition of ASD, many people do not understand the nuances involved with a diagnosis.