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15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Multiple medical groups say they are barred from CDC's panel of vaccine advisers
Multiple medical groups say they have been barred from working on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's panel of vaccine advisers. It comes weeks after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired the original panel of independent experts and replaced them with his own handpicked members -- many of whom have expressed skeptical views on vaccines. Liaisons representing major medical groups were historically invited to meetings of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) as non-voting members to provide their independent expertise in respective fields. In a joint statement, the groups said they have now been excluded "from the process of reviewing scientific evidence end informing vaccine recommendations." MORE: Members of CDC vaccine panel ousted by RFK Jr. say committee has 'lost credibility' A total of eight groups signed on to the statement, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, teh American College of Physicians, the American Medical Association and the National Medical Association among others. In a statement provided to ABC News, an HHS spokesperson said: "Under the old ACIP, outside pressure to align with vaccine orthodoxy limited asking the hard questions. The old ACIP members were plagued by conflicts of interest, influence, and bias. We are fulfilling our promise to the American people to never again allow those conflicts to taint vaccine recommendations." The statement went on to say: "Experts will continue to be included based on relevant experience and expertise, not because of what organization they are with." MORE: CDC vaccine advisers who were removed from committee by RFK Jr. speak out In their statement, the medical organizations said they learned the groups will be excluded from the panel's work in an email late Thursday and noted they were "deeply disappointed and alarmed" by the move. "To remove our deep medical expertise from this vital and once transparent process is irresponsible, dangerous to our nation's health, and will further undermine public and clinician trust in vaccines," the statement read. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
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Doctors Explain What They Really Think of Biohacking
There are plenty of health trends that pop up and fizzle out fast, but biohacking seems to have staying power. The practice of trying to 'hack' your health for longevity is showing up on podcasts, Netflix documentaries, and all over your For You feed, making it hard to miss. But for all the chatter about biohacking, it's easy to gloss over the actual definition of this practice. What is biohacking, and is it something you should be doing? It's important to state this upfront: Biohacking is a little controversial in the medical field. 'It's using your body as an experiment,' points out Mikhail Kogan, M.D., medical director of the George Washington University Center for Integrative Medicine. While some doctors have a broad view of biohacking that includes things like eating a healthy, varied diet, others view biohacking as more focused on less-proven strategies, like loading up on certain supplements that don't have robust data to back them up. (More on that in a bit.) Meet the experts: Mikhail Kogan, M.D., medical director of the George Washington University Center for Integrative Medicine; Bert Mandelbaum, M.D., sports medicine specialist and co-director of the Regenerative Orthobiologic Center at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles; Kanwar Kelley, M.D., physician and co-founder of Side Health in Orinda, CA; Salim Hayek, M.D., chair of internal medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Whatever your take on biohacking, it's important to at least know what's out there and what it all means. With that in mind, here's what doctors want you to know about biohacking, as well as how to decide if it's right for you. What is biohacking? Biohacking is a broad term used to describe the process of making tweaks to try to improve your health. It can involve sleep, workout routines, supplements, dietary changes, and more. 'Biohacking is essentially DIY biology—making intentional changes to your lifestyle, diet, or environment to optimize health and performance,' explains Salim Hayek, M.D., chair of internal medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch. 'It ranges from simple tweaks like tracking your sleep or trying intermittent fasting, to more extreme practices like implanting microchips.' Biohacking in the traditional sense means that it's experimental, says Dr. Kogan. 'It wouldn't be called 'biohacking' if it's scientifically proven—that would be standard of care,' he says. But some doctors look at biohacking as people simply trying to improve their health beyond what they may discuss in a routine exam with their physician. 'It's a marketing term that describes things that enhance health, healthspan, and playspan,' says Bert Mandelbaum, M.D., sports medicine specialist and co-director of the Regenerative Orthobiologic Center at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles. 'The essential aspect is that you are what you eat, think, drink, and do. Those are all very important.' The right ways to try biohacking—according to experts Dr. Mandelbaum prefers to look at biohacking as enhancing what you've got with the help of scientifically-proven methods. Kanwar Kelley, M.D., physician and co-founder of Side Health in Orinda, CA, also suggests this approach. 'Biohacking does not need to be overly complicated or require specialized equipment,' he says. 'Adjusting your approach to diet, supplementation, and sleep can help enhance performance and overall health, leading to increased productivity and longevity.' Even meditation and incorporating foods with beneficial properties can fall into this category, he says, among other things. On the supplement front, it's important to talk to your doctor before trying anything new—and your doctor may recommend a blood test to identify if you have any deficiencies. Dr. Hayek also recommends leaning into biohacking in the sense of adding new scientifically-proven healthy behaviors to your life vs. trying whatever crosses your social media feed. 'The real benefits come from evidence-based practices,' Dr. Hayek says, such as prioritizing sleep, exercising, and managing stress. 'The key is that most genuine benefits come from consistent, healthy lifestyle changes—not magic pills or high-tech gadgets,' he says. Some tech can be useful, though, especially in how it helps promote self-awareness: 'Use technology wisely—fitness trackers can keep you accountable, but don't become obsessed with the numbers,' Dr. Hayek says. His other tip? 'Try one change at a time so you can actually tell what's working.' Biohacking practices to avoid—according to experts There are several biohacking practices that doctors recommend taking a pass on, but Dr. Mandelbaum points out that the practice of taking several supplements without talking to a doctor first has been somewhat normalized, even though it's potentially risky. 'Those are the kinds of things you want to avoid: Things that are marketed with no scientific evidence.' Dr. Kelley also suggests being wary of techniques that are marketed as 'complete solutions' to health issues. 'While biohacking can help improve performance, no single method will solve all problems,' he says. 'Techniques should be plausible scientifically and have peer-reviewed scientific backing.' Dr. Hayek recommends avoiding biohacking treatments like "young blood" transfusions, DIY genetic engineering, and amateur implant surgeries. And of course, don't take prescription drugs that weren't prescribed to you, he says. 'Be wary of extreme diets promising miraculous results, or mega-dosing supplements,' he adds. 'If a practice could realistically land you in the hospital, think twice.' Risks of biohacking Because biohacking is such a broad category, there are plenty of potential risks involved in it, Dr. Kogan says. 'Almost anything you can think of is a risk,' he says. If used incorrectly, certain 'anti-aging' drugs may cause heart issues and even death, he points out. 'Many DIY biohacking experiments also lack regulation and safety oversight,' Dr. Hayek says. 'Misinformation is rampant online, and people might delay proven medical treatments for unproven hacks. Plus, it can become expensive and psychologically obsessive.' Does biohacking actually help you live longer and increase healthspan? 'We have no proven way to dramatically extend human lifespan through biohacking yet,' Dr. Hayek says, although who knows what the future may hold. For now: 'The best-documented longevity strategies are quite simple: Don't smoke, eat well, exercise, sleep enough, and manage stress,' he continues. 'Some biohacks that promote these behaviors can contribute to healthspan, living more years in good health. But the extreme anti-aging interventions making headlines? Most lack definitive proof and some are potentially dangerous.' Ultimately, if you want to try to enhance your healthspan and lifespan, doctors recommend sticking with the scientifically-proven basics. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Patient, advocates worry shuttered mental health program for Toronto's Chinese community will reduce access
A Toronto woman and health advocates are worried the Chinese community will lose access to culturally sensitive mental health care after a specialized program at Toronto Western Hospital was shuttered and subsumed into a larger outpatient mental health service for underrepresented communities. But the University Health Network says the Asian Initiative in Mental Health (AIM) program hasn't shut down. Instead, it has been integrated into the larger program to provide care to more people, says Ishrat Husain, UHN's department head and program director for mental health. Joy Luk says the first time she heard AIM "had been closed" was in mid-July during an appointment with her psychiatrist, who warned her she might be switched to another physician. She says her doctor told her she could no longer access Cantonese-speaking psychotherapists, who were allegedly fired with the program's closure. While Husain confirmed there were some "staffing changes," he says patients will still have access to their psychiatrists. "I'm under great pressure, whether they'll stop my service [and] when?" Luk said. Luk says she saw more than 10 psychiatrists when she was admitted to Toronto Western in 2022 for struggles with depression. WATCH | UHN shutters mental health program that served Chinese community: She says many doctors did not understand the context of her experiences as a blind woman in her home country of Hong Kong. That all changed, she says, when she gained access to a psychiatrist who could speak Cantonese and understood the cultural nuances of the Chinese community through the AIM program. "It's so difficult to explain in English the deepest part of my mind," said Luk, who moved to Canada in 2021. "It's very important for a psychiatrist to understand the background and the underlying situation of a patient, especially, we Chinese have specific family teachings." Luk says the "one stop shop" service gave her access to Cantonese-speaking doctors, group therapies and other mental health supports, but now she's unsure how her care will change. Change meant to 'modernize' access to care: doctor UHN is hoping the change will shorten wait times for initial assessments from six months to a few weeks, says Husain. The outpatient program will have four Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking doctors, while AIM only had two, he says. "The change was to actually modernize and make our mental health program more responsive to the population that we're serving," he said. Once the program shift was announced, Husain says patients were individually contacted to answer questions and address any concerns. "Change can be difficult for a lot of folks," he said. "We've been doing outreach to patient groups, community partners, referring physicians as well to be able to, to quell some of that anxiety." Only hospital-based program for minorities in Toronto: psychiatrist But despite what Husain says about the program integration, psychiatrist Ted Lo says he considers AIM to be closed as it no longer has the same name, allegedly lost half of its staff and has left patients confused in the aftermath. Lo is with the RE-AIM coalition, a group that aims to consult with UHN to restore the program. He says UHN's response to AIM's closure is "all words." "The program that has run for 23 years has served a lot of Chinese patients, but not just serving them, but serving in a way that is culturally safe and effective," he said. AIM was the only hospital-based mental health program that served a specific minority population in Toronto, and likely all of Canada, says Lo. Josephine Wong, another member of the RE-AIM coalition, says the hospital should've consulted patients, staff and community partners prior to the change. "This kind of providing services to all is a sugar coated way to say that let's just get rid of those who cannot really voice for themselves and we just do whatever we want," she told CBC Radio's Metro Morning. Husain says UHN is happy to meet with RE-AIM to talk about their concerns, but asserts the program has "not gone away." Consultations were not held before the change as UHN felt it would have "minimal impact on patient care," he said.
