In Uganda, a tougher bicycle offers hope for better health coverage in rural areas
LIRA, Uganda — The bicycle parked in Lucy Abalo's compound doesn't belong to her. Any one of the hundreds of people in her village can show up and ask to use it.
A man might wish to take his pregnant wife for a checkup. A woman might need transport to pick up HIV medication. An injured child might need a trip to a hospital.
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WIRED
39 minutes ago
- WIRED
The FDA Just Approved a Long-Lasting Injection to Prevent HIV
Jun 20, 2025 7:30 AM Clinical trials have shown that six-monthly injections of lenacapavir are almost 100 percent protective against becoming infected with HIV. But big questions remain over the drug's affordability. Photograph: Konstantin Voronov/GETTY IMAGES The US Food and Drug Administration has just approved lenacapavir, an injectable form of HIV prevention that is almost 100 percent effective and requires only two doses per year. Science magazine described the medicine the most important scientific advance of 2024. In clinical trials, lenacapavir proved to be 99.9 percent effective in preventing HIV infection through sexual transmission in people weighing more than 35 kilograms. The drug, an antiretroviral, works not by stimulating an immune response, but by blocking HIV from reproducing during its early stages—specifically, by disrupting the function of the virus's capsid protein. This happens so long as the body receives injections every six months. Lenacapavir has already been approved in some countries as a treatment for HIV in people with forms of the virus that are resistant to other treatments. However, prior to this week, its prophylactic use had not been approved anywhere, making the FDA's decision a significant new development in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The drug is not the first medicine that can be taken preemptively to protect against an HIV infection: pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pills were already available in many countries, including the United States. But these must be taken every day, and ensuring ongoing access to these medicines, and that people actually remember to take them, is a known challenge. It's hoped the long-lasting effects of lenacapavir will make it easier for people to stay protected against the virus. According to its creator, Gilead Sciences, lenacapavir will be marketed under the trade name Yeztugo. The company has committed to manufacturing 10 million doses by 2026. 'This is a historic day in the decades-long fight against HIV. Yeztugo is one of the most important scientific breakthroughs of our time and offers a very real opportunity to help end the HIV epidemic,' Daniel O'Day, president and CEO of Gilead, said in a statement on Wednesday. However, lenacapavir's price may be a barrier to access. Yeztugo will have an annual list price of $28,218 per person in the US. Winnie Byanyima, executive director of of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), has also flagged in the past that the drug is unaffordable for many people in Africa, where the medicine has the potential to have the biggest impact. Roughly two-thirds of the people living with HIV worldwide live in sub-Saharan Africa. Gilead said in a statement last year that it had been 'developing a strategy to enable broad, sustainable access globally' to lenacapavir, although the company has not yet provided detailed information on how it will do this. One option could be 'voluntary licensing,' where other companies are granted permission to produce and sell generic versions of a patented product exclusively to people in certain (often low-income) countries. Researchers at the University of Liverpool in the UK have calculated that a year's worth of lenacapavir could be made available for as little as $25. This story originally appeared on WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Cardiologists Are Begging People To Stop ‘Leaning Too Heavily' on This One Daily Metric
Cardiologists Are Begging People To Stop 'Leaning Too Heavily' on This One Daily Metric originally appeared on Parade. It's really easy to fall into TikTok rabbit holes, especially when it comes to your health, and heart health is no exception. Whether it's dangerous diet culture and weight loss discourse, supplement shilling or anti-vaccine messaging, it's easy to feel anxious that you aren't doing enough to stay healthy when you're there yet another thing you should be doing to track your health, or is the latest TikTok wellness trend just a sales tactic to get you to buy a new device or to download another app that may use your data in potentially questionable ways? Below, cardiologists weigh in on the truth about a heart health metric, called , that influencers are insisting you need to measure—you know, along with everything else you're juggling just to exist in this remember: No one knows more about your actual health and what your body needs than you and your doctor, so check with your physician before implementing any changes one way or the other.🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 "Heart rate variability, or HRV, is the variation in time between each heartbeat," , cardiologist and vice president of medical affairs at Hello Heart, tells Parade. "It reflects how well your body can adapt to stress, rest and recovery. A higher HRV generally points to better cardiovascular fitness and resilience.""If your heart rate is 60 beats per minute, your heart doesn't beat exactly once per second," , an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company, explains further. "There is some variability in time measured in milliseconds. Heart rate is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which plays a key role in regulating your HRV. When you exercise, your heart speeds up, and when you rest, your heart slows down."Related: Like most other health indicators, there are a lot more factors to HRV than just mere numbers—even sociological and socioeconomic factors play a role."It is influenced by age, race, sex, physical fitness, sleep, medication and health issues," , cardiologist and chief medical officer of L.A. Care Health Plan, Morgan notes that even caffeine intake can play a role in your HRV measurement, so putting too much stock into it may not be the best idea, but in general, there are general ranges. A normal HRV at rest for someone in their 20s is typically around 55 to 105, for example, while for someone in their 60s, it will be more like 25 to Influencer Lucie Fink talks about using Heart Rate Variability to track her COVID journey. That depends on a few factors, experts agree, and it's by far not the most important metric to gauge your cardiovascular health by any means. "For most people, their HRV is stable over time," Dr. Amin tells us. "But some studies have shown a higher risk of heart events or even mortality in those with a reduced HRV."According to Dr. Serwer, a high HRV "means your body can switch efficiently between rest and stress modes which is a sign of good health." Conversely, he notes if you're sick, stressed, fatigued or if you over-exercise, your HRV may be Chances are you don't have the equipment to get a fully accurate picture here. "The gold standard to measure HRV is by performing an EKG and precisely measuring the time between heartbeats," Dr. Serwer says. "Using advanced software, the HRV can be accurately calculated. This, however, isn't practical on a day-to-day basis."That said, Dr. Serwer and Dr. Morgan each note that certain apps and wearable technology (like fitness trackers or smartwatches) may be able to measure, track and store your Honestly, for most healthy people, the answer is probably no: While it doesn't necessarily hurt, it also doesn't reveal as much about your heart health as you think. "HRV is a valuable metric which may lead us to identify stress, illness or overtraining earlier than waiting for apparent symptoms," Dr. Serwer notes, adding, "Like any test or vital sign, it is only helpful when you understand the limitations and the meaning of the value. We are often overwhelmed with data and sometimes don't pay attention to the apparent issues. HRV is a tool and when used appropriately, can be helpful." People who may benefit from HRV monitoring are athletes and anyone worried about over-exerting themselves through exercise, or potentially recovering from an illness, and even then, your doctor will be able to make much more sense of it than most of us laypeople can. "Monitoring HRV can offer a window into how your body is responding to stress, illness or physical overexertion," Dr. Morgan advises. "It's not all-encompassing, but it's a peek into the performance of your autonomic nervous system. Knowing this information and sharing it with your physician can help you make more informed decisions about your health and wellness." Related: For one, it's just not that useful, Dr. Amin says. "In general, I wouldn't suggest leaning too heavily on this measurement," he explains. "Generally, it would be best to focus on tracking more traditional markers of increased heart risk, including blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes control." Dr. Morgan notes that it's easy for people to get too obsessive over their heart rate variability when it can change for purely benign reasons. "The main downside is over-interpreting the data and, frankly, worrying too much about it," she says. "HRV can fluctuate due to many factors, like sleep, hydration or even caffeine intake. It's a useful tool, but it shouldn't be the sole measure of your health. Don't worry too much if one or two readings are off—that's not good for your heart, either." "Think of HRV as part of the bigger picture," she adds. "Trends matter more than single readings, and HRV should be viewed alongside other metrics like blood pressure, cholesterol and lifestyle habits (for example, getting eight hours of sleep per night, standing up and moving at least once per hour, taking any heart medications as prescribed, etc.). Always consult your physician if you notice concerning changes or have questions about your heart rate." Up Next:Dr. Sameer Amin, MD Dr. Jayne Morgan, MD Dr. Bradley Serwer, MD How to Use Heart Rate Variability Data In Your Training, HSS Cardiologists Are Begging People To Stop 'Leaning Too Heavily' on This One Daily Metric first appeared on Parade on Jun 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Clarity, Not Volume, Drives Trust In Pain Management Messaging
Christy Saia-Owenby is the Founder & CEO of MOXY Company, focused on strategic growth for medtech, healthcare brands and physician leaders. getty In today's spine and pain management landscape, the only thing more overwhelming than the condition itself is the sheer volume of competing messages claiming to provide relief. For potential patients, this information overload—and the social baggage that comes with it—often creates more confusion than clarity. But it's not just patients who are caught in the noise. For healthcare organizations, medical technology companies and physicians, the spine and pain space presents one of the most complex communication challenges in medicine today. Having worked extensively in this space, I have seen firsthand how complexity is often underestimated. When agencies or partners claim they can effectively market pain products, procedures or providers without a true understanding of the clinical, emotional and social dimensions of pain, it raises a necessary question: Are they advancing care, or simply chasing attention? Pain is deeply personal, often invisible and difficult to define. So is the messaging around it. Crafting communication that is clear, credible and collaborative requires more than marketing tactics—or inflated vanity metrics designed to make generic messaging appear effective. It demands empathy, precision and a deep understanding of both the science and the stigma surrounding pain. In a market saturated with bold promises and competing voices, the question for healthcare communicators becomes urgent: How do we break through the noise—without adding to it—and build trust in a space where trust is often the first casualty? One of the most common mistakes in spine and pain communication is casting too wide a net with a generic message in an attempt to capture the attention of the millions of people living with pain. While the potential audience is expansive—with nearly 21% of U.S. adults living with chronic pain—seeking mass appeal should never come at the expense of relevance. In an effort to seem inclusive, many medtech brand strategies end up overly generalized, lacking the nuance needed to truly connect. Ironically, this often alienates the very patients they hope to engage and help. This challenge is amplified by the realities of information overload. Studies show that an excess of digital content can significantly impair decision making, productivity and well-being, illustrating why focused positioning is critical for impact. The fundamental role of a healthcare brand strategist is not to promote everything to everyone; it is to deeply understand a specific pain point and deliver a clear, confident solution—your solution. In the spine and pain management space, a strong communication strategy isn't just good branding; it's a public service. Specificity is the antidote to overload. While pain may be physical, how individuals experience it and seek help is intrinsically emotional and cultural. When healthcare communicators neglect to acknowledge this critical facet of care, campaigns miss the opportunity to connect with patients on a core level. Research shows that shame can act as a silencer, with many reporting that feelings of embarrassment or unworthiness prevent them from seeking care or sharing their despair. This stigma is often exacerbated for those with chronic pain conditions where symptoms manifest in intimate or invisible ways. As a result, many patients internalize the belief that their suffering is exaggerated or illegitimate, creating uncertainty around when and how to chart a pain-free path forward. As communicators, we must understand the social context in which we operate. It's not enough to promote a product—we need to validate the pain journey. That means highlighting the full treatment trajectory—not just the treatment itself—and honoring the emotional realities that come with it. Compassionate and candid campaigns that emphasize empathy and care build trust. And trust is the bridge between despair and repair. In today's fractured care landscape and increasingly crowded digital space, patients aren't just searching for a service—they're seeking guidance. They need trusted sources to help them navigate information overload, form informed opinions and chart a clear path forward. That's where strategic healthcare communication becomes invaluable—not by saying the most or shouting the loudest, but by communicating with clarity, calm and purpose. The most impactful messaging positions itself thoughtfully within the care continuum, defining a clear niche while acknowledging the complexity of available treatment options. A strong brand strategy doesn't just promote—it provides context. It demonstrates an understanding of the social, emotional, physical and financial barriers patients face, while staying grounded in the specific solutions you offer. When healthcare communicators do this well—offering insight, not just persuasion—they are no longer seen as promoters. They become trusted guides. In a space as personal and high-stakes as pain care, that shift isn't just good strategy—it's a public service. Pain management requires collaboration, not competition. The future of healthcare communication lies in uniting disciplines, honoring lived experiences and crafting clear, evidence-based messaging that rises above the digital noise. When you move beyond simply promoting services or new medtech—and start genuinely connecting with people, their challenges, their passions and their goals—you stop being just another provider or product. You become part of their story. That's how brands, hospitals, surgeons and the entire healthcare industry can stand out—not by shouting louder, but by mattering more. As brand strategists and communicators, our role is not just to amplify, but to advocate. We must continually ask: How can our messaging make patients feel more seen? How can it reduce fear, silence shame and open the door to trust? When patients feel seen, they are not only more likely to seek care; they are also more likely to believe in the care they receive. At the end of the day, clarity isn't just a smart strategy. It's good medicine. Forbes Agency Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Do I qualify?
