Dr. Paul Diamond

Dr. Paul Diamond I provide preventive medicine, perform USCIS Immigration Physical examinations, stress a healthy lifestyle, and advocate a whole food plant based diet.

11/12/2022

Connecting unhealthy lifestyles to COVID-19 deaths
by Ochsner Health System

COVID-19 death rate in the United States reported to the CDC, by state/territory (deaths per 100,000). Source:1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/ . AS = American Samoa; FSM = Federated States of Micronesia; GU = Guam; MP = Northern Mariana Islands; PW = Palau; RMI = Republic of Marshall Islands; VI = Virgin Islands. Credit: The American Journal of Medicine (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2022.06.006
The American Journal of Medicine has published an article recognizing the link between unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and the one million COVID-19 deaths in the United States. Dr. Carl "Chip" Lavie, Medical Director Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention at the John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute was a senior author on this manuscript.

In 2022, the United States surpassed one million COVID-19 related deaths. The publication states there is a significant association between unhealthy behaviors and conditions such as low physical activity, obesity, diabetes and smoking, and poorer outcomes from COVID-19 infections.

"Clinicians have long been aware of the link between increased mortality rates and unhealthy lifestyles," said Dr. Lavie. "Individuals who live sedentary lives with poor eating habits and multiple chronic conditions are always more prone to negative health outcomes."

Dietary habits and body mass index status across the United States. Source:18 Althoff T, Nilforoshan H, Hua J Leskovec J. Large-scale diet tracking data reveal disparate associations between food environment and diet. Credit: The American Journal of Medicine (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2022.06.006
The article explains that the current state of health outcomes has been building for decades and should be considered a syndemic, which is the simultaneous occurrence of two prevalent health conditions or endemics. In this article, the authors compare geographic maps of the Unites States outlining COVID-19 deaths, several lifestyle behaviors, obesity, and chronic conditions. With this, a pattern is evident and quite alarming for medical professionals.

"The reality of this comparison should be quite eye-opening for many," said Lavie. "The only way to combat the syndemic we are experiencing is to promote healthy lifestyles and address the health needs of all, especially those in underserved communities who have been disproportionately impacted by poor outcomes related to chronic conditions and COVID-19."

More information: Ross Arena et al, Mapping One Million COVID-19 Deaths and Unhealthy Lifestyle Behaviors in the United States: Recognizing the Syndemic Pattern and Taking Action, The American Journal of Medicine (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2022.06.006
Journal information: American Journal of Medicine

12/06/2021

Another interesting article I came across:

Probiotics and Mental Health
Your second brain plays a major role in mood and mental function
BY LISA ROTH COLLINS December 5, 2021

You may wonder how beneficial bacteria could possibly have a positive impact on mental health. If you have heard of the brain-gut axis—the pathway that exists between the brain and the gut—then you might guess there is a definite link between these two areas of the body.

This relationship is important to understand so you can take advantage of using probiotics to assist with mental health issues. Let’s begin with a few basics.

How Can Probiotics Affect the Brain?
Probiotics, also known as beneficial or good bacteria, consist primarily of species in both the Lactobacillus (L.) and Bifidobacterium (B.) genera. These bacteria live in the intestinal tract and are charged with supporting nutrient absorption and keeping the body in balance. Probiotics are part of the body’s microbiome, which also consists of viruses, protozoa, and fungi (including yeasts).

So how do probiotics get from the intestinal tract to your brain? The gut-brain axis is a phenomenon that links the two regions of the body: the nervous system in the digestive tract (known as the enteric nervous system) and the brain (the central nervous system). The main pathway between the gut and brain is the vagus nerve, which is also the longest nerve in the human body.

Researchers have called the gut the “second brain” because it makes serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid, neurotransmitters also found in the “other” brain. All of these neurotransmitters have a major role in regulating mood, which translates into an impact on mental function.

Probiotics and Mental Health
Researchers have uncovered many instances in which good bacteria have had a beneficial effect on mental health. For example, in a 2016 systematic review that included 38 studies, investigators found that B. longum, B. breve, and B. infantis as well as L. helvetius and L. rhanosus helped improve memory (non-spatial and spatial) as well as some psychiatric disorders-related behaviors.

How are probiotics for managing stress? According to the findings of a 2019 double-blind study, stress was significantly reduced among those with moderate stress who took a probiotic supplement containing L. plantarum DR7. The authors concluded that this bacterial strain could be used “as a natural strategy to improve psychological functions, cognitive health, and memory in stressed adults.”

How to Choose Probiotic Supplements
If you’ve decided beneficial bacteria can be helpful for enhancing mental health for yourself and your family, you need to select the most effective and convenient supplements.

One of the most asked questions about probiotic supplements is whether they should be refrigerated. The answer is easy: Since heat is the enemy of beneficial bacteria, choose probiotics that are refrigerated and keep them stored in your fridge.

Now that you have a viable supplement, what’s the best form for it to be in? Since your supplement is transporting valuable cargo, you want a vehicle that is foolproof against dangers that will prevent the probiotics from working efficiently, such as gastric stomach acid. This substance is enemy No. 1 of probiotics since it can destroy the good bacteria before they even have a chance to reach their destination.

For that job, you need an enteric-coated probiotic supplement. The coating ensures the beneficial bacteria reach the intestinal tract, where they are set free.

Bottom Line
The use of probiotics is often overlooked when it comes to managing mental health issues. Considerable research shows that a number of species from both Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera can be helpful in this area of health. Be sure to choose probiotic supplements that are enteric-coated and kept refrigerated.

11/29/2021

GOOD NEWS!!
Florida Reports Lowest Daily COVID-19 Cases per Capita in US
November 28, 2021

Florida is now tied for the lowest daily COVID-19 cases per capita in the United States.

A Nov. 26 update shows the Sunshine State reported a daily average of 1,393 cases as of Friday, or about six cases per 100,000 people. That represents a five percent decrease over the past two weeks, data from the state shows.

Hawaii also had a daily average of 81 COVID-19 cases, or about six per 100,000 people, according to the data. Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, had 82 COVID-19 cases, representing about 2 cases per 100,000 people.

Michigan saw a daily average of 8,457 COVID-19 cases, or 85 cases per 100,000 people—the highest in the United States, according to the data. Those figures represent a 59 percent increase in cases over the past two weeks.

Next were New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Vermont, which had 73, 67, and 61 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people, respectively, according to the data.

11/29/2021

Here's an interesting hygienic article I came across tonight:

Things Happen When You Don’t Wash Your Sheets

BY LISA ROTH COLLINS November 28, 2021 Updated: November 28, 2021

How often do you wash your sheets and put fresh ones on your bed? That’s OK, you don’t need to let anyone else know; you can keep the answer to yourself. However, the best answer is no longer than two weeks, and less in some cases.

If you and your family are sleeping on sheets that have been on your bed longer than that, then there are some gross and unhealthy things that may be happening in your bedrooms. So be prepared: What follows may not be for the faint of heart.

What’s Happening to Your Sheets?

The human (and pet) body is constantly shedding skin cells. How many is a matter of some debate, but it is significant, like millions of cells a day. Since you spend about one-third of your life in bed, plenty of cells are accumulating in your sheets.

Skin cells aren’t the only things that are gathering in your bed. Some of those other “things” have legs. Moisture from sweating can accumulate during the night, making your sheets a breeding ground. Therefore, according to hygiene physician Dr. Lisa Ackerley, failing to wash your sheets often could be putting you and your family at risk for significant health problems. Let’s explore what those problems might be.

Health Hazards When You Don’t Wash Your Sheets
Here are a few of the health issues that can arise when you keep your sheets on the bed too long.

Mighty Mites: The dead skin cells that accumulate in your bed linens in between clean sheet replacements are dinner for dust mites that enjoy this delicacy. Mites and their droppings may trigger asthma and allergies and contribute to eczema.

Pet Issues: Cat and dog hair and dander are dinner for dust mites as well. In addition, if your canine friend sleeps in your bed and has mange, the mites can irritate your skin. Pet sleep buddies may also transmit ringworm. If you want to allow your pets to sleep with you, be sure to routinely check their health and change your sheets weekly.

Germ Garden: Dead skin cells, sweat, saliva, yeast, f***l matter, and other bodily deposits in your bed are a fertile garden for germs to thrive. Some tests, for example, have found that pillowcases unwashed for one week had 17,000 more bacterial colonies than a toilet seat.

One bacterium that can linger in your sheets is Staphylococcus aureus, which is found on both healthy skin and on cuts and other skin conditions. Yeast is another threat, as it can accumulate in folds of skin where there is moisture and result in skin infections.

Acne Problems: If you suffer from acne, you should be changing your pillowcase every two to three days. That’s because bacteria, dead skin cells, and dirt in the pillowcase can contribute to outbreaks and clog your pores.

Lingering Germs. Whenever you or family members are ill, bacteria and viruses can linger in your sheets for up to several hours, depending on the microorganism. Therefore, it’s a good idea to wash your linens more often to kill germs.

How to Wash Your Sheets:

According to a 2017 survey, only 44 percent of Americans wash their sheets once or twice a month. Eleven percent wash them once a season, and 5 percent do it only once or twice a year. However, the optimal sheet washing schedule is once every two weeks, but once a week if you sweat a lot or if you are allergic to dust mites. In the latter case, the water should be at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit so you will kill the mites.

If you or a family member is sick, then sheets and other bedding should be changed as soon as you or the family member feels better to reduce the risk of reinfection. Use hot water to kill the germs and a hot dry cycle.

Use an all-natural laundry detergent to keep your sheets and your skin free of exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. You can also help reduce waste by reducing laundry packaging waste and using detergent strips. These strips are plastic-free, dissolve in both hot and cold water, and are free of harmful chemicals.

Other Tips:

--Don’t make your bed right away in the morning. Allow any moisture that may have accumulated in your sheets to dry, this makes them less attractive to bacteria and mites.
--Use a mattress protector and pillow protectors, which are easy to wash.
--Shower or bathe before going to bed. This helps reduce dirt and other contaminants in your bed.
--Provide a separate blanket for your dog or cat to lie on in your bed and wash it once a week.

Bottom Line:

Do your part for yourself and your family. Wash your sheets more often and help protect your family’s health. If you do, you might really get the beauty rest you’ve been looking for.

Address

3848 FAU Boulevard
Boca Raton, FL
33431

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
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Wednesday 8:30am - 2pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 3pm

Telephone

+15613943088

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