WEEK 8, 2021

theskaman306/shutterstock Conan Milner

resident Joe Biden recently announced his “wartime” strategy to confront CO- VID-19. His weapon: vaccines. The battle plan builds on former President The Clamor and Donald Trump’s arsenal of 400 million Pvaccines, with a purchase of an additional 200 million more shots so all Americans can get both their recommended doses faster. Concern Over the To date, more than 60 million vaccine doses have been distributed in the United States and more than 10 million people have received their first of two doses. COVID Vaccine Priority favors health care workers and those most at risk from infection, but people at the back of the vaccine line worry their turn for a jab won’t come While some wait with bated breath, others worry fast enough. Biden’s purchase aims to alleviate sup- ply concerns by providing enough doses for all 300 about the unprecedented nature of the vaccine million Americans by the end of summer 2021. While some wait with But how many doses may go unclaimed? Health officials urge everyone to get vaccinated for CO- VID-19, but some are not so sure they want it. bated breath, others worry This wary cohort is a sizable segment of the population. According to the latest COVID-19 about the unprecedented Some Vaccine Monitor by the Kaiser Family Founda- 51 percent of tion, 51 percent of Americans are either hesitant nature of the vaccine Americans are or opposed to the vaccine. Most of this group is either hesitant or taking a wait-and-see approach and watching opposed to the for any problems that emerge in those who get vaccine. the shot first. One in five U.S. adults draw a deeper line in the sand, saying they will either “definitely not” get the new vaccine, or they will concede “only if required” for work, school, or other activities. In California and Ohio, about half of frontline workers in hospitals and nursing homes are re- fusing the vaccine. And the U.S. Department of Defense reports that many service members are also refusing the shot, but won’t say how many are opting out. Even some seniors are either on the fence about the shot or simply refuse it altogether. A survey of people 65 and older found that 16 percent of seniors are unsure they want it, and 6 percent say they definitely won’t get it. For those eager to get their shot, the people who reject it are puzzling, because the push to take the vaccine is so well-publicized and the pitch so compelling. This government-endorsed medical intervention promises protection from a virus linked to millions of deaths, and health officials warn that restrictive social measures could last forever without it. However, the reasons for refusing the vaccine have compelling features of their own.

New Kind of Shot The Kaiser survey breaks down those for and against the COVID-19 vaccine by race, age, and political identity. These demographic divisions This new technology invite speculation and reveal some curious pat- influences our terns. But for other groups, the line is crystal clear. For example, those suspicious of vaccines in gen- immune mechanism eral will obviously be suspicious of this one. But the shot designed for the COVID-19 virus at the genetic level. (also known as SARS-CoV2) has features that give even those who are otherwise supportive of vac- cines cause for concern.

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Why a Small-Town Lifestyle Can Make You Happier

Andy Newton/unsplash Jay Harrington was hiding in plain sight from us. It’s best known as the “cherry capital” of the Almost every time my wife, Heather, and United States. While the town swells with Trade the I used to go on vacation, we’d spend time hundreds of thousands of tourists dur- rat race for a during the car or plane ride home going ing peak summer months, Traverse City’s back and forth about how nice it would be full-time population is only around 17,000 slower pace to live full-time in the destination we had residents. just visited. By the time we got home, we Traverse City is located on the shores of with more inevitably talked ourselves out of the idea. Lake Michigan, at the base of two penin- nature and Too hot. Too cold. Too expensive. Too sulas that are filled with vineyards and isolated. Too big. Too small. Too ... what- cherry orchards. In my opinion, it’s one of kinder people ever. No matter the destination, we came the most beautiful places on earth, with up with a reason why it wasn’t realistic. endless white sandy beaches, lush fields, That is, until we visited Traverse City, towering forests, and sparkling blue lakes Michigan. all around. Despite being Michigan residents and Small towns are places where people connect—with each other, lifelong Midwesterners, Traverse City Continued on Page 6 with nature, with themselves. 2C2 | MIND & BODY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARYWeek 17,8, 20212021 WEDNESDAY,Week 8, 2021 FEBRUARY 17, 2021 MIND & BODY |C3 3 CHINESE WISDOM FOR SEASONAL LIVING Long-Haul COVID Cases Cast New Light Perfect Timing to Lose Weight and on Chronic Fatigue Su erers Detox With Ease Lingering symptoms plague some post-COVID patients but may reduce stigma around chronic fatigue KEVIN COOL age of people don’t recover,” said Leonard Such a course of treatment wouldn’t be viral infection, perhaps they won’t be dis- Jason, a researcher at DePaul University. applicable in a typical case, Rowe said, believed, Rowe said. After all, their illness Exploring Solar Terms: our weeks after San Diego pe- Scientists are trying to  gure out the “but it does emphasize the potential for “starts as a ‘real’ illness.’’ diatric nurse Jennifer Minhas mechanisms of the disease and why it patients to get a substantial improvement Long haulers may also help researchers ‘Rain Water’ fell ill with COVID-19 in March develops in certain people and not oth- in their CFS symptoms if we address the better understand the onset of the illness 2020, her cough and fever had re- ers. According to the Centers for Disease orthostatic intolerance.” because they are being studied as their (Feb. 19–March 4) solved, but new symptoms had Control and Prevention, ME/CFS shares Beginning in the 1980s, many doctors symptoms emerge, while ME/CFS patients Femerged: chest pain, an elevated heart rate, certain characteristics with autoimmune treating ME/CFS prescribed a combina- often aren’t seen until they’ve been ill for MOREEN LIAO and crushing fatigue. Her primary care diseases, in which the immune system at- tion of cognitive behavioral therapy and two or more years, he said. Now is a great physician told her she was just anxious, and tacks healthy tissue in the body. Multiple an exercise regimen based on a now-dis- time to eat root A solar term is a period of about vegetables, that none of her other COVID-19 patients studies are underway to explore this and credited assertion that the illness had no two weeks and is based on the beans and their had those issues. other potential causes. biomedical origin. at approach proved sun’s position in the zodiac. Solar sprouts, and “ at wasn’t what I needed to hear,” Doctors who specialize in treating ME/ ine ective—patients often got demon- terms form the traditional Chinese any deep green Minhas said. CFS are beginning to pivot to long-COV- strably worse after pushing beyond their Doctors who specialize in calendar system. e calendar follows vegetables. At times, she’s been too exhausted to ID-19 patients. Dr. Peter Rowe, whose clinic physical limits. It also contributed to a be- the ancient Chinese belief that living hold up her head. “I was kind of a zombie at Johns Hopkins is one of the country’s lief within the medical establishment that treating chronic fatique in accordance with nature will enable for months, shu ing around unable to do leading centers for ME, has so far seen four ME/CFS was all in your head, a narrative are beginning to pivot to one to live a harmonious life. is ar- to awaken your senses and strengthen much of anything.” long haulers at his practice. “All of them that largely has been refuted. ticle series explores each of the year’s 24 your muscles. e clinical term for the  attening fa- meet the criteria for ME/CFS,” he said. “ME/CFS was never a mostly behavioral long-COVID-
 patients. solar terms, o ering guidance on how Gentle but regular exercise is strongly tigue Minhas describes is “post-exertional Despite years of research, there is no problem, although it has been cast as that,” to best navigate the season. recommended for anyone in any age malaise.” It’s a common symptom among biomarker for ME/CFS, so blood tests are Rowe said. group. It kicks start a good routine and patients who haven’t recovered from CO- ine ective as a diagnostic tool. Rowe’s ap- Answers have been slow to arrive, but “ ere’s no question that this legitimizes Solar Term: ‘Rain Water’ corresponds perfectly with the hor- VID-19. It’s also consistent with a standard proach is to tease apart which symptoms attitudes about the illness are beginning in many ways the experience of people mone and mood changes happening feature of another chronic illness: myalgic may have identi able causes and treat- to change. Advocates of patients point to a with ME/CFS who have felt they weren’t 2021 Dates: Feb. 19–March 4 inside our body. Exercising 3 to 5 times encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic ments, and address those. One example: A 2015 report by the Institute of Medicine that believed,” DePaul’s Jason said. a week, 20 minutes each time, is ideal. fatigue syndrome, or ME/CFS. 15-year-old boy Rowe was treating for ME/ called ME/CFS “a serious, chronic, com- In July 2020, the nonpro t Solve ME/ As the sun draws nearer and warms the For those not exercising, this should ME/CFS patients also report cognitive CFS was so sick that even sitting upright a plex, systemic disease” and acknowledged CFS launched an initiative aimed at under- earth, snows recede and rain increases, show noticeable results in just couples impairment—“brain fog”—and orthostatic few hours a day exhausted him and made that many doctors are poorly trained to standing similarities between long haul- but this rainwater is very gentle, so as of weeks. [standing upright] intolerance, in which schoolwork virtually impossible. e boy’s identify and treat it. e CDC says as many ers and patients with ME/CFS. Dubbed not to harm the fragile sprouts that sig- standing upright produces a racing heart heart rate while lying down was 63; when as 90 percent of the estimated 1 million U.S. You+ME and underwritten by the National nal spring’s emergence.  e Best Time for Weight Loss rate and lightheadedness. Minhas has ex- he stood up it skyrocketed to 113. is ef- patients with ME/CFS may be undiagnosed Institutes of Health, it includes an app that e current solar term is Rain Water, At this time of year, hormones and en- perienced these symptoms, as have many fect is known as postural orthostatic or misdiagnosed. enables registrants to record their symp- a time when nature provides the neces- zymes are very active, and with mini- other “long haulers,” the tens of thousands tachycardia syndrome, or POTS. e problem is exacerbated by a toms and their e ects over time. sary conditions for growth. mal e ort we can get rid of retained  u- of post-COVID-19 patients who haven’t re- Rowe knew from interviews reluctance to provide health care Such e orts may further diminish the Original artworks, canvas wraps, art posters, and framed prints of According to Chinese theory, every- ids inside our bodies and extra fat stored covered. with the boy’s mother that he had coverage to patients whose illness- tendency of doctors to ignore patients’ Award-winning oil paintings thing on Earth is composed of just  ve over the winter. You may be surprised e percentage of COVID-19 patients who an extraordinary appetite for es aren’t easily diagnosed, said Joe complaints of symptoms that seem to have now available for purchase at elements or phases of matter: wood,  re, by how quickly your body can shape up become long haulers is hard to pin down, salt. So much so that he kept a Dumit, a medical anthropologist at no evident cause, said Lauren Nichols, 32, earth, metal, and water. if you exercise regularly and sleep and in part because many early COVID-19 shaker at his bedside and would the University of California–Davis. a long hauler with a long list of miseries— InspiredOriginal.Org e element for spring is wood, the wake early. patients weren’t tested in time to detect regularly sprinkle salt on his “Making patients prove they are everything from severe gastrointestinal only element among the  ve that is a the virus. But “long COVID” is potentially hand and lick it o . not just su ering, but su ering from problems to shingles in her left eye. living organism. is re ects the fact an enormous problem. A recent study of Rowe hypothesized that he a documented illness, saves money. “I was one of those people who falsely that all living creatures are very pros- 1,733 COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, Chi- was dealing with a sodium So, I worry about the way believed that if you can’t see the illness, perous and come alive during the spring na, found three-quarters of them still had retention problem. in which COVID long it’s psychosomatic,” said Nichols, who season. You may be surprised by symptoms six months after being released To counter it, he haulers will be treated helps administer Body Politic, a support During Rain Water, all living beings, how quickly your body from the hospital. prescribed the as the numbers rise.” group for long-COVID-19 patients that has including the bushes and trees, which As of January, doctors had documented steroid fludro- e best treatment in found common cause with the ME/CFS are made of wood, are waking up from can shape up if you more than 21 million cases of COVID-19 cortisone, which many cases may be rest community. the winter and need water for nour- exercise regularly and in the United States. “If just 5 percent promotes so- or reduced workload, “Now I’m living it,” she said. “If I have ishment. is also follows the theory develop lingering symptoms,’’—about 1 dium resorption “which translates into one message for doctors, it’s ‘Believe your in the  ve-element system that “water sleep and wake early. million cases—“and if most of those with in the kidneys. some form of dis- patients.’” enhances wood.” symptoms have ME/CFS, we would double ree weeks later, ability coverage,” e rains are typically very mild— the number of Americans su ering from the boy had recov- he said. Kevin Cool is a writer for California Classifieds ME/CFS in the next two years,” Harvard ered so dramati- But since long Healthline. is article was produced 212-244-3395 Ext 1067 [email protected] even misty—during this time. One can Spring weight loss resolutions are very see this as heaven’s tender love to gently common. is is, in fact, the best op- Medical School professor Dr. Anthony cally he was help- haulers typically by KHN, which publishes California awaken the plants with sprinkles of rain, portunity of the year to achieve results! Komaro wrote recently in the Harvard ing a neighbor with sicken immedi- Healthline, an editorially independent WHERE WILL YOU SPEND... Budget Analyst for rather than downpours, as large drops To take the best advantage of this Health Letter. a landscaping proj- ately after hav- service of the California Health Care ETERNITY? Aurora Clearing Inc., would surely crush the baby sprouts. season, eat plenty of freshly sprouted e cause of ME/CFS is unknown, but ect, pushing rocks ing had a testable Foundation. Reading these 5 Powerful Testimonies of Souls F/T in NY, NY. Analyze company’s budget and spring greens. New sprouts are  lled multiple studies have found it follows acute around in a wheelbar- Set Free may change that! Five color illustrated look for ways to allocate resources; Organize finances, stories of modern day individuals with various prepare budget reports, monitor spending and create Living in Harmony with enzymes and minerals to help our viral infections— everything from the 1918 row. “He was a di er- Chronic fatigue (CF) plagues many patients with lingering COVID-‘’“ but Thebondages, Book told in their own words, of how they cost-benefit analyses; Evaluate proposals and funding With ‘Rain Water’ bodies recharge, refresh, and energize Spanish  u to Ebola. “A certain percent- ent kid,” Rowe said. unlike many CF patients, at least they won’t be told it’s all in their head. truly found Christ and are leading transformed You’ve Been requests. Associate’s degree in accounting and Not surprisingly, there is a lot of humid- in accordance with spring powers. ASIER ROMERO/SHUTTERSTOCK victorious lives! Free. 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Sea- the world’s only aggregator To promote a healthy liver function, son your food with celentral, coriander, IDA ERIKSEN For the study, published in the jour- e ectively get messages about diet and of immigration news. avoid alcohol and heavy or oily thyme, basil, ginger, and garlic. nal Food Quality and Preference, research- food waste out to consumers, Wendin said. BorderHawk.news is for anyone who wants the Advertise Today! foods. It is also important to keep Emotions play an oversized role in our ers asked 130 participants to rate a series “Or, should we instead communicate on latest news about immigration, borders, refugee It’s imperative resettlement, criminal aliens, nationalism, mass Call: 212-292-8359 a calm mind, as the Chinese be- Epoch Times contributor Moreen shopping decisions, according to a new of images of apples with varying appear- social media, where people are and spend migration, and globalism. BorderHawk.news is lieve anger damages one’s liver. Liao is a descendant of four genera- study. that we discover ances. Unsurprisingly, apples with defor- time on lifestyle issues? It would be inter- updated daily with hand-curated, cutting-edge Baths and foot baths are very tions of traditional Chinese medicine is is what makes most people skip the mities and imperfections ranked lowest in esting to dive into,” she said. content. Email: [email protected] helpful to promote circulation doctors. She is also a certi ed aro- bananas with brown spots in favor of per- strategies to dis- terms of how many participants wanted and tone your sti muscles matherapist, former dean of fectly yellow ones. rupt the negative to eat them. is article was originally published after the cold winter. For the New Directions Institute “We choose food based upon an expecta- e participants then had to taste a di er- by the University of Copenhagen. Repub- HOW THE those su ering from poor of Natural erapies in tion of what it will taste like that is bound emotions associ- ent apple. is is when it became apparent lished via Futurity.org under Creative blood circulation, weak Sydney, and the founder to our feelings. So, if we expect a brown ba- that the bad  rst impression became sticky. Commons License 4.0. muscles, numb nerves, of Ausganica, a certi ed nana to not match the taste of a yellow one, ated with brown “When participants saw a photo of an or simple age, regular organic cosmetic brand. we opt for the latter,” says Karin Wendin, fruit ugly apple, and then tasted one that was SPECTERBehind OF COMMUNISM the warm foot baths help Visit Ausganica.com.au an associate professor at the University of green and perfect, they stuck by their belief Copenhagen’s food science department. Karin Wendin, associate that it tasted awful. is speaks to the ex- Approximately 716,000 tonnes (about 787 professor, University of tent to which our emotions and psychology tons) of food are tossed out in Denmark Copenhagen factor in with taste sensations,” Wendin IS RULINGSubscription OUR WORLD every year—the majority of which are fruits said. “We remember negative feelings and and vegetables. In the United States, the expectations more than positive ones.” USDA’s Economic Research Service es- at’s why it’s imperative that we discover The specterYour subscription of communism will not only did provide not timates that 30 to 40 percent of the food strategies to disrupt the negative emotions you with accurate news and features, but supply ends up wasted, approximately 133 associated with brown fruit, Wendin said. disappear with the disintegration of the billion pounds of food worth $161 billion “As things stand, communication about also contribute to the revival of American in 2010. our foods—and what is good or bad—does Communist Party in Eastern Europe Wendin laments this waste because not work optimally. People don’t know journalism and help safeguard our brown fruit isn’t bad fruit: where to seek advice and guidance. Forget New “Bruised or oddly shaped fruit can “Few go online to investigate Nordic freedoms for future generations. Year’s, spring is easily be used. ey usually taste just dietary recommendations on the Dan-

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MARIO TAMA/GETTY IMAGES CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES KENA BETANCUR/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES JAE C. HONG-POOL/GETTY IMAGES positive for COVID-19 have no symptoms, and most of the remaining group has mild symptoms. COVID-19 has an over 99 per- The Clamor cent survival rate for people from zero to 70 without any treatment. But as health experts remind us, not getting vaccinated carries risks, too. The disease can have serious, life-threatening complications, particularly for those who and Concern 1 2 3 have two or more comorbidities, especially obesity and diabetes. And if you get sick, you CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES could compromise the health of friends, family, or anyone else you may come in Over the contact with. So it’s a gamble, but officials say the odds are in the vaccine’s favor. According to the CDC, clinical trials of all vaccines must first show they are safe and effective before they COVID Vaccine can be authorized or approved for use, in- cluding the ones for COVID. 4 5 6 “The known and potential benefits of While some wait with bated a COVID-19 vaccine must outweigh the PATRICK SEMANSKY-POOL/GETTY IMAGES) SCOTT EISEN/GETTY IMAGES MICHAEL CIAGLO/GETTY IMAGES JON CHERRY/GETTY IMAGES MARIO TAMA/GETTY IMAGES known and potential risks of the vaccine,” states the CDC. breath, others worry about the However, the risk that remains is all yours. The federal government has granted CO- unprecedented nature of the vaccine VID-19 vaccine manufacturers immunity from liability if serious reactions occur. Likewise, government regulators and private companies that make the SARS- Continued fromfrom C1Page 1 1. People line up for the CoV2 vaccine mandatory for employees are COVID-19 vaccine in also protected from litigation in the event 7 8 9 10 11 Traditional vaccines work by injecting a East Los Angeles. of harm.

weak version of a pathogen to trigger an 2. A lab technician JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES DREW ANGERER/GETTY IMAGE JOE RAEDLE/GETTY IMAGES immune response. The goal is to prime the sorts blood samples Considering the Unknowns body to protect itself should it ever face a for COVID-19 While health officials are generally in lock- full-blown infection in the future. The for- vaccination. step support with the new vaccine, many mulation and application of this procedure 3. Pfizer stock surged independent doctors say the risk it carries is has evolved dramatically over the past few after announcing still too great. One of these doctors is board- decades, but the basic principle has been their vaccine was “90 certified emergency physician and founder around for a few hundred years. percent effective.” of America’s Front Line Doctors (AFLD), Dr. By contrast, the shots developed to pro- 4. A medical worker Simone Gold. In a recent lecture discussing tect against COVID-19 takes a form our an- is given the second “The Truth About the COVID-19 Vaccine,” cestors would never have imagined. This dose of the Pfizer/ 12 15 16 Gold says the medical establishment ig- BioNTech vaccine. new technology influences our immune nores serious concerns that hang over this 5. People protest over MICHAEL CIAGLO/GETTY IMAGES mechanism at the genetic level. Because MICHAEL CLEVENGER - POOL/GETTY IMAGES GRAEME JENNINGS-POOL/GETTY IMAGES “experimental biological intervention.” One vaccine safety outside of these concerns include the lack of inde- these vaccines act on our messenger RNA, of the Raymond they are known as mRNA vaccines. James Stadium prior pendently published animal studies for a Before COVID-19, scientists were already to the Super Bowl in product that has been rushed to market. researching mRNA vaccines for other dis- Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 7, Gold criticizes the “tremendous failure” eases in clinical trials. But emergency mea- 2021. that has been observed in creating previous sures inspired by the pandemic sped up the 6. California Gov. Gavin coronavirus vaccines but the SARS-CoV1 approval process for candidates designed Newsom applauds vaccine relies on a different anagram. Those to protect against SARS-CoV2. Trials were as a nurse gets the shots utilized recombinant modified vac- run last year to monitor short-term health COVID vaccine. 13 14 17 18 cinia Ankara (rMVA), which is not the same effects, but since the public rollout began Frontline medical as the mRNA technology used in Pfizer’s only a month ago, the long-term impact workers have priority and Moderna’s products designed to protect remains a mystery. access to the vaccine. against SARS-CoV2. This mRNA vaccine technology is de- 7. Dr. Anthony Fauci, This response is found on the CDC’s that the CDC was promoting false informa- will change if RNA is chemically modified. 13. A pharmacy techni- on the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, In terms of speed, the new COVID-19 vac- signed to mimic natural viral infections director of the list “Myths and Facts about COVID-19 tion. When Massie examined the Pfizer trial, Lead researcher Arne Klungland ex- cian prepares a dose of the most common adverse reactions were cine is a miracle, and is one of the points of in a way that the immune system recog- National Institute of Vaccines.” he found that it clearly didn’t demonstrate plained to Phys.org that several research Johnson & Johnson’s injection site reactions, fatigue, headache, concern raised by critics. nizes, without the dangers of exposing the Allergy and Infectious Another common point of confusion the a benefit for those with evidence of prior groups are now working together to study COVID-19 vaccine for muscle pain, chills, joint pain, and fever. In a Q & A for John Hopkins Medicine, Lisa Diseases, prepares body to a genuine infection. In the case health agency addresses is the question of SARS-CoV2 infection as the health agency what effect this can have on the DNA a clinical trial in Experts add that these reactions, par- Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H., senior director for the COVID-19 December. of SARS-CoV2 vaccine, it programs your vaccine. who should take the shot, and who can go reported. molecule. ticularly after the second shot, are a good of infection prevention, and Gabor Kelen, cells to mimic the signature spike protein without. The CDC says just because some- The congressman confronted the CDC in a “We already know that R-loop areas are 14. People of mixed politics sign, signaling that immune protection is M.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Office of 8. A police officer in and religions protest a found on the surface of the COVID-19 vi- Massachusetts one may have developed an immunity to private call, and the agency’s principal dep- associated with sequences of DNA contain- kicking in. Critical Event Preparedness and Response, rus, thereby programming your immune the virus, doesn’t mean they are adequately uty director, Dr. Anne Schuchat acknowl- ing active genes and that this can lead to mandate in Massachu- However, since the public roll out of the say that such concerns miss an important gets the COVID-19 setts requiring children system to defend itself against this familiar protected. People who have tested positive edged the mistake, and apologized for the chromosomal breakage and the loss of ge- shot, there has also been evidence of severe point. vaccine. get the flu shot to attend form whenever it comes in contact with the 9. A registered nurse for SARS-CoV2 and recovered are still urged delay in fixing it. However, as of this report, netic information,” Klungland said. school for 2020–2021. and unanticipated symptoms that may be “The mRNA technology used to develop real virus. to get the vaccine. the CDC’s claim remains unchanged. associated with the COVID-19 vaccine. the COVID-19 vaccines has been years in administers a dose of 15. Director of the Defense That’s what the shot is designed to do, any- the Pfizer-BioNTech “At this time, experts do not know how In a series of tweets, Massie says that the Weighing the Risks Health Agency Army According to the Vaccine Adverse Event development to prepare for outbreaks of way. However, some worry that this still ex- vaccine. long someone is protected from getting sick public needs to know that the CDC is mis- There would be no controversy if vaccines Lt. Gen. Ronald Place Reporting System (VAERS), out of nearly infectious viruses. Thus, the manufac- periential technology may have unintended 10. Dr. Jason Smith again after recovering from COVID-19. The representing the results of the Pfizer trial. were shown to be 100 percent risk free, but speaks about plans to 10,000 reports linked to the COVID-19 turing process was ready very early in the consequences. One common concern is became the first immunity someone gains from having an Adding that the very meaning of science even the most dedicated vaccine supporter vaccinate the U.S. shot as of Jan. 29, VAERS has recorded 501 pandemic.” that mRNA vaccines could alter your DNA. recipient of the infection, called natural immunity, varies “has been perverted for this virus.” has to admit that this medical intervention military. deaths, 1066 hospitalizations, 147 cases of COVID-19 vaccines created with mRNA However, according to the U.S. Centers for Pfizer-BioNTech from person to person. Some early evidence “Baseless claims with no quantification can do harm. The debate is about how much 16. An influenza vaccination. anaphylaxis, and 128 cases of Bell’s palsy. technology allows for “a faster approach vaccine in Kentucky in Disease Control (CDC), this is false. suggests natural immunity may not last very are being made by the government, repeat- risk vaccines pose compared to the benefit 17. UPS employees move VAERS is the primary mechanism for re- than the traditional way vaccines are December. “The mRNA from a COVID-19 vaccine long,” states the CDC. ed by the media, and accepted by public,” they deliver. the first shipments of porting adverse vaccine reactions in the made,” they write. never enters the nucleus of the cell, which 11. People wait to receive To drive this point home, in December Massie wrote on Twitter. In several surveys identifying the number the Pfizer and BioNTech United States, but keep in mind that their When it comes to whether somebody is where our DNA is kept. This means the the COVID-19 2020, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Im- As our understanding of mRNA vaccines of people who are suspicious of the COV- COVID-19 vaccine in numbers may only reveal a small portion should get the shot, John Hopkins encour- mRNA cannot affect or interact with our vaccine in a parking munization Practices issued a report claim- continues to evolve, the CDC’s claim that ID-19 vaccine, the most common concern is December. of the real story. A 2010 study by the U.S. aged people to talk to their doctor and con- lot for Disneyland side effects. Drugmaker trials showed that 18. National Health Insti- Department of Health and Human Services sult other health care organizations, but said DNA in any way. Instead, COVID-19 mRNA Resort. ing that Pfizer’s study of its mRNA vaccine the shot doesn’t influence DNA may prove vaccines work with the body’s natural de- proved that it was highly effective for people wrong as well. reactions do occur, but they were typically tute Director Francis S. found that “fewer than one percent of vac- the decision is ultimately up to each person. fenses to safely develop immunity to dis- 12. Moderna is one who’d already had COVID-19. An article published in the January edition mild. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Collins holds a model of cine injuries” are reported to VAERS. “You alone make the decision about company with an a coronavirus. ease,” states the CDC. mRNA vaccine. But Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) discovered of Nature Genetics finds that DNA stability Administration report from December 2020 More than 80 percent of people who test whether to get a COVID-19 vaccine.”

older adults, of median age 76, for about undiagnosed diabetes, is over 12 percent. ticipants who had attended a follow-up their test results were back in the normal six and a half years, suggests that predia- This sharp increase is due to the aging U.S. visit during 2011-13—a time when the par- range. Moreover, 16 percent and 19 per- Older Adults With Pre-Diabetes Seldom betes is not a useful marker of diabetes risk population and increased rates of people ticipants were between 71 and 90 years cent of these two groups had died of other in people of more advanced age. being overweight and obese. old—and did not have any history of dia- causes by the 2016-17 visit. “Our results suggest that for older adults Doctors have used the concept of predia- betes. The researchers then looked at how Get Full-Blown Version with blood sugar levels in the prediabetes betes—involving blood glucose levels that measurements of the participants’ blood Focus on Lifestyle Improvements range, few will actually develop diabetes,” are higher than normal but not yet in the glucose levels had changed at the next The results show that older adults with pre-

KHONGTHAM/SHUTTERSTOCK said Elizabeth Selvin, a professor in the diabetic range—as an indicator of elevated follow-up visit during 2016-17. diabetes, over intervals like the one in the department of epidemiology at the Bloom- diabetes risk in younger and middle-aged As expected, the researchers found that study, are more likely to have lower blood Paper results suggest berg School at Johns Hopkins University people. However, the utility of the concept “prediabetes,” defined according to two sugar levels—or to die for other reasons— doctors should focus and senior author of the paper, published in older adults—especially those 70 and different blood-test measures, was very than to progress to diabetes. “It appears ‘It appears Older adults with pre- in JAMA Internal Medicine. older—has been less clear. common among the participants at the that in older adults, ‘prediabetes’ is just not diabetes at greater risk of screening efforts on that in older other illness than diabetes, “The category of prediabetes doesn’t “It’s very common for older adults to have 2011-13 visit. Those with prediabetes, de- a robust diagnosis,” Selvin said. and should be treated seem to be helping us identify high-risk at least mildly elevated blood glucose lev- fined by moderately high blood levels of “Our findings support a focus on lifestyle other indicators like adults, accordingly, a new paper people. Doctors instead should focus on els, but how likely they are to progress to glucose following overnight fasting (the improvements, including exercise and hypertension, say suggests. healthy lifestyle changes and important diabetes has been an unresolved ques- impaired fasting glucose test, or IFG), rep- diet when feasible and safe, for older ‘prediabetes’ disease risk factors such as smoking, high tion,” Selvin said. resented 59 percent of the initial sample, adults with prediabetes,” said first author researchers is just not blood pressure, and high cholesterol.” and those with prediabetes defined with Mary Rooney, a postdoctoral fellow at the Prediabetes to Diabetes a different blood test for glycated hemo- Bloomberg School. “This approach has a robust Type 2 Diabetes in the US To get a better picture of how older adults globin (HbA1c), represented 44 percent of broad benefits for patients.” JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY diagnosis.’ Type 2 diabetes leads to a chronically ex- with prediabetes fare, Selvin and col- the initial sample. Selvin and her colleagues recommend cess blood level of glucose, which stresses leagues turned to the Atherosclerosis Risk However, the results showed that only that for older adults, physicians should Older adults classified as having prediabe- Elizabeth Selvin, organs including the kidneys, weakens the in Communities Study (ARIC). This large small numbers of the participants who focus their screening efforts on risk fac- tes due to moderately elevated measures professor, Johns immune system, and damages blood ves- epidemiological cohort project, funded by had prediabetes in 2011-13 had developed tors, such as hypertension, that are more of blood sugar usually don’t go on to de- Hopkins University sels, promoting heart disease and stroke the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood diabetes by the time of the 2016-17 visit—8 useful in predicting illness and mortality velop full-blown diabetes, according to a among other conditions. Institute and including both black and percent of the IFG-defined prediabetics, in this population. new study. The prevalence of diagnosed Type 2 dia- white participants, has been running at and 9 percent of the HbA1c-defined pre- Doctors still consider prediabetes a betes in the United States has gone from four U.S. medical centers, including Johns diabetics. This article was originally published by useful indicator of future diabetes risk in less than 1 percent in the 1950s to more Hopkins, since 1987. By contrast, 44 percent of the IFG group Johns Hopkins University. Republished young and middle-aged adults. However, than 7 percent today—and researchers be- For their prediabetes analysis, the re- and 13 percent of the HbA1c group had via Futurity.org under Creative Commons the study, which followed nearly 3,500 lieve that the actual figure now, including searchers selected 3,412 ARIC study par- improved enough by the 2016-17 visit that License 4.0. C66 | MIND & BODY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARYWeek 17, 8, 2021 WEDNESDAY,Week 8, 2021 FEBRUARY 17, 2021 MIND & BODY |C7 7

CARLOSDAVID/SHUTTERSTOCK WISE HABITS Why a Small-Town Lifestyle Ways to Win Can Make You Happier Your Day—and Trade the rat race for a slower pace with more nature and kinder people

EVERST/SHUTTERSTOCK Celebrate There are probably one Continued fromfrom C1 Page 1 or two tasks that will leave you feeling your Our first visit to Traverse City as a couple Our days can pass in an empty daywas a success if was after our first daughter was born. It was you completed them. a revelation. We had never before seriously blur, but with some clarity, we indulged our small-town fantasy, figuring that it could never really happen. But this Rural living can make them precious obviously, but these are the 2 or 3 I focus on. the one I’m experiencing as I write this time it was different. We had found a place offers more than Sometimes it’s just one. If I can get that single post. I find this a powerful question that that we could envision as our place. beautiful vistas, task done, or those 2 or 3 tasks, done, it will helps me celebrate life. it offers a slower Good schools. Affordable (or at least more pace of life that LEO BABAUTA be a big victory for my goals for this month affordable than we were accustomed to) lets people be or year, or for my mission. Or it would just This only has to take a few minutes. Set a cost of living. A nearby airport for business people. We tend to go through our days with our feel fantastic. reminder. I often will take a few more min- travel. Culture. Entrepreneurial vibe. Easy noses to the grindstone, doing tasks, getting I keep this list front and center, and re- utes to set my intentions/Win the Day items access to the outdoors. Family-friendly en- distracted, jumping from one thing to fer back to it multiple times a day. It helps for tomorrow. vironment. As we explored Traverse City the next. Go to sleep tired, repeat bring me back to what I want to accomplish. that weekend, we started checking all the the next day. And then I look back on it at the end of the Practice 3: Ending Ritual for Tasks boxes for what we were looking for out of a Our days become an endless day (more on this in the next section) and We don’t have to wait until the end of the place to live. cycle of getting stuff done and celebrate what I can. Sometimes I don’t get day to celebrate. We can do it after anything The ride home was different after that getting through to the next them all done, which isn’t a cause for disap- we do. weekend. Heather’s time in the car spent day—especially during this pointment but for learning. But most days I The practice is a simple ritual: Pause when looking at houses on Zillow was more pur- pandemic. do at least 1 or 2 of them, and any progress you’re done with something before you move poseful. The possibility of picking up and What would it be like if today is a huge cause for celebration. on to the next thing. And reflect. And cel- starting over someplace new felt real. We were special? ebrate. arrived home excited about the prospect I’m going to share a few simple practices Practice 2: A Brief Review For example, when I’m done writing this, I of a fresh start. that will elevate every day into something Take the time to At the end of each day, it can be powerful to will have the urge to open up a browser tab to celebrate. figure out what take a brief pause and review how the day and start tackling other tasks. Instead, I will matters enough went. Celebrate anything you can. try to remember to pause and reflect on how Practice 1: Win the Day to warrant a day Here’s what I like to review: the writing went. What did I find sacred in Instead of starting the day with a list of tasks of your life. the writing process? What can I celebrate Across the country, MARIO STUDIO/ to get done, what if we identified 1 to 3 things SHUTTERSTOCK 1. How did I do with my Win the Day list? and be grateful for? Then I’ll ask what my there is an exodus of that would make this day an absolute victory Celebrate any progress at all. next intention is. if we were to do them? 2. How did I do with my practices for the It takes seconds, but it means that through- people from big cities to So the practice is to start the day with a day? Again, any practice at all is a cause out the day, we are finding moments of deep smaller towns. simple entry in your notebook or on a simple for celebration. appreciation for life. text document: What could I do to make this 3. Where did I see the divine today? (You day a victory? I like to title it, “Win the Day: may see it as the presence of God, or the Leo Babauta is the author of six books, the And that’s when things got hard. You see, Saturday Feb. 6” (or whatever date it is, obvi- sacred, or even magic. Use whatever con- writer of Zen Habits, a blog with over 2 mil- our small-town fantasy had always been ously). Then I list 2 or 3 potential victories. cept feels powerful for you.) For me, I of- lion subscribers, and the creator of several an indulgence. Flirting with a life in a new For today, writing this article is one of mine. ten find divinity in nature, in people all online programs to help you master your place had merely been a form of escapism I have other tasks and meetings on my list, around me, even in a quiet moment like habits. Visit ZenHabits.net for when life became monotonous. By never seriously considering a move to a small town to be a real option, we could focus only on the upside benefits and never the downside consequences of such a move. The price of any given item is Then Traverse City called our bluff. only one part of its overall cost. It was time for us to start getting real about ‘Can I Afford It?’ Is a Terrible Filter what we wanted out of our lives and, more particularly, where we wanted it. Were we ANDREW MAREK/SHUTTERSTOCK GARY R ENNIS PHOTOS/SHUTTERSTOCK There are far better ways to decide whether to going to take the leap of faith we always told ourselves we would if we found the right make a purchase than your bank balance place, or would we remain in the safety of Traverse City’s the suburbs? skyline shows JOSHUA BECKER “Spend 28 percent of your income on Ultimately we made the move. And we’ve what rural housing.” never looked back. living means. When deciding to make a financial purchase “The 28 percent rule is outdated.” The town does or not, the most common filter we use is, “Can “Never buy a home without 10 percent Flocking to Small Towns not dominate its landscape, I afford it?” down payment.” We’ve all seen the statistics and heard the which means “Is there enough money in the bank (or “Buy a home as quick as you can—even if anecdotes: Across the country, there is an people can room on the credit card) to cover this pur- you don’t have a down payment.” exodus of people from big cities to smaller easily escape chase? If so, we can buy it.” “When you are buying a new car, make sure towns. COVID-19 has been a big catalyst into the From the home we live in, the car we drive, that you put down at least 20 percent of the of the urban-to-rural migration, but it was Even small towns have their history and tranquility of the vacations we take, the technology we up- total cost and finance the new vehicle for no happening at a rapid pace even before the architecture, like the Grand Traverse County nature rather grade, the clothes we wear, and everything more than 4 years.” pandemic. Courthouse. than feeling in-between, most of us simply ask, “Can I “When you are buying a new car, always U.S. census figures show that since 2014, locked in by afford it?” pay cash and never take a loan.” S_PHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK an average of about 30,000 residents be- Problems arise when we allow the unend- concrete I’ve seen this thinking in my own life. No Each of those contradictory pieces of advice ger available for other things. And it may not “Should I buy this car or this vacation?” and cars. tween 25 and 39 have left big cities annu- ing pursuit of growth and acquisition to in- doubt, you have experienced the thinking in can be found online. take long to realize there were countless other We should also factor in opportunities such ally. In this sense, as in many other ways, hibit our pursuit of happiness. Both ambi- yours as well. And that doesn’t even begin to account for things I could have spent my money on that as getting out of debt, getting ahead financial- COVID-19 has been more of an accelerant tions—for happiness and for growth—can Fewer expenses. Surging real estate prices involved in nonprofit work or community Often times it is coupled with a “I deserve it,” the advice given on saving, retiring, debt re- would have resulted in much longer-lasting ly, or giving to a cause we believe in. Spend- of an existing trend rather than a change coexist, but only in balance. Growth can during COVID-19 have made many small projects, it’s easy. There are lots of parades, mentality. As in, “I work hard for my money. payment, college savings, giving ... or what happiness, joy, and fulfillment. ing money on a purchase “just because I can agent. crowd out a happy life if you’re not careful. towns less affordable than they were pre- festivals, and other gatherings where neigh- I am going to spend my money on this. I de- order of priority those should be placed in afford it” often makes these greater pursuits With the benefit of five years of hindsight, I would, of course, never presume to sug- pandemic, but the cost of living in most bors join together for celebratory traditions. serve it, and I can afford it.” your life. Better Filters harder to achieve. it’s no surprise to us that more people are gest that I know what makes you, or anyone towns like Traverse City still pales in com- But here’s the problem: “Can I afford it?” is “Can I afford it?” is a terrible filter because What questions can I ask in addition to “Can seeking the simplicity of a small-town life- else, happy. We all have distinct visions, parison to that of big cities. For us, one of Greater focus on experiences over things. actually a terrible filter for making financial the answer is always subjective. Heck, we I afford it?” Let me offer five: 5. What would my life look like if I style. It’s not for everyone—many people preferences, and desires for our lives. But the biggest differences has been spending Studies have shown that buying an object— decisions. might even change our own mind from day said ‘no’? can’t imagine leaving the big city for what years of scientific research suggests that far less on entertainment and travel (dining a car, handbag, or kitchen gadget—can Or, let me rephrase that, “Can I afford it?” to day on what we can afford. 1. Does this purchase support my goals? We often find ourselves debating a purchase they perceive to be a painfully boring exis- certain things make most of us happy. In out, weekend getaways, etc.) while opting quickly lead to buyer’s remorse. On the oth- is a terrible filter if it’s the only filter we use What are the dreams you have for your life? because we’ve considered what benefit the tence “in the sticks.” particular, happiness isn’t derived from to spend more time taking in the natural er hand, investing in experiences—a con- in making decisions about what to buy It Doesn’t Count the Full Cost of What accomplishments are you hoping to purchase will bring into our lives. But rarely For others, it may not be the right season attaining outward signals of success (big- wonders around us. cert, a camping trip, music lessons—leads and how to spend our money. It’s Our Purchase achieve? What goals are most important to do we take the time to honestly evaluate what in life to make a big move to a small town. ger and better in order to “keep up with the to greater happiness. Experiences create not wrong in and of itself, it’s just Financial The amount listed on a price tag is you? Does this purchase move you closer to benefits might arise if we said no. But for us, and apparently we’re not alone, Joneses”), but rather seeking satisfaction More time. Because we’ve been able to “happiness residue,” and our perceptions incomplete. circumstances never the full cost of a purchase. those goals? Or further away? But with every purchase, we sacrifice a small-town life offers everything we need from new and novel experiences in pursuit minimize our lifestyle, we have more time— of them often get better over time. It was Unfortunately, for many can change in Everything we purchase needs small amount of freedom. This one, simple to lead a happy life. of a life well-lived. And that’s where small which is life’s most valuable resource. We only after moving to a small town that we people, it’s the only filter. If the a heartbeat— to be brought home and even- 2. What are my motivations for this filter helps us recognize exactly what that is. towns come in. now work to live, rather than living to work. came to realize the value of experiences. money is in the bank, I can buy almost without tually cleaned, organized, cared purchase? Before I conclude, let me be clear on two Happiness Isn’t Destination And now we have more time to indulge in anything I desire. Why not? I can warning. for, and maintained. Everything Am I spending my money on this purchase for important points: In his book “Happier,” Harvard lecturer Tal Smaller Towns, More Happiness More nature. Researchers in Finland found the richness of simple experiences rather afford it. we buy takes up physical space in the right reasons? What are they exactly? Am I First, it’s smart to ask ourselves, “Can I Ben-Shahar defines the “arrival fallacy,” I’ve lived in big cities and suburbs, and now that spending just 15 minutes a day in na- than being weighed down by more stuff. But consider some of the reasons our home and mental space in our buying this just because everyone else is buy- afford it?” I mean, if you can’t afford it, you which is a corollary to the concept of he- reside in a small town. At least for me, my ture increases well-being. In a big city, find- Have you, like us, fantasized about what why it’s a terrible filter: mind. ing it, because I’m trying to impress someone, shouldn’t buy it—case closed. I just think this donic adaptation. He describes the arrival small town has enabled and empowered me ing solitude in nature can be a chore. In a life would be like in a small town? Life is Many of our purchases result in extra ex- or are my motivations truly healthy? filter carries too much significance for most fallacy as: “The false belief that reaching a to be happier than I’ve ever been. I attribute small town, it’s often right outside your door. short, and you only get one shot at it, so don’t Financial Circumstances Change All the penditures, whether directly or indirectly. of us. And by itself, it is terrible. valued destination can sustain happiness.” this mostly to the simplicity of the small- let fear stop you from finding the place and Time Just asking “Do I have enough money, right 3. What do my trusted friends think Second, this article isn’t contending that I’ve certainly fallen victim to the arrival town lifestyle. There are fewer bright and More connection. It seems like a paradox, crafting the lifestyle that will bring you hap- We’ve learned a lot about the world over the now, to afford this item?” rarely factors in the about this? we never make any purchase. That would be fallacy in my previous life. I have felt at first shiny distractions in a small town, which but in our experience, the greater the densi- piness. past 12 months. One lesson I hope we’ve ongoing cost of keeping or maintaining our There is no need to make financial decisions foolish. To live is to consume and many of the elated, then almost immediately letdown, allows for more space and time to focus on ty of people, the harder it is to make genuine As Seth Godin has said: “Instead of won- all noticed is that financial circumstances purchase. in a vacuum—especially major ones. Ask a purchases we make do bring value to our lives. following job promotions, raises, and new what matters. connections. It’s like the difference between dering when your next vacation is, maybe can change in a heartbeat—almost without family member or friend or mentor for their car or home purchases. I wanted these Here are seven reasons why life in a small a networking event and a dinner party. Big you should set up a life you don’t need to warning. It Doesn’t Factor Opportunity Cost opinion. Make sure it is someone you trust This list of better filters isn’t meant to deter things so badly, but the reality of obtaining town has made us happier—and perhaps it cities can be lonely places, whereas the in- escape from.” If my decision to buy a house at the very top There is no such thing as a free lunch. Ev- and would generally consider wise in these anyone from ever spending money again. them was far different than my expectations. will make you happier, too. timacy of a small town fosters connection. of my price range or take out a new auto loan ery purchase carries additional opportunity types of matters. If you are religious, “praying It’s simply designed to help all of us make Ambition isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it’s a And research shows that having a small Jay Harrington is an author, lawyer- was based solely on “Can I afford it?” you may cost. Spending $100 on x today means I do not about it” would fit in this filter. better choices. very good thing. If humans didn’t want for Simple everyday moments. Appreciating number of tight, meaningful relationships turned-entrepreneur, and runs a north- be surprised how quickly that can change. have $100 to spend on y tomorrow. more then we’d still be living in caves, with- life’s small moments, such as a beautiful, is one of the highest predictors of happiness. ern Michigan-inspired lifestyle brand This is why “Can I afford it?” is such a faulty, 4. Is there something else I would like to Joshua Becker is an author, public speaker, out access to basic, modern human necessi- sunny day, green shoots sprouting from the called Life and Whim. He lives with his It’s Entirely Subjective short-sighted filter. spend my money on? and the founder and editor of Becoming ties such as electricity and clean water, nor ground, and skipping rocks at the beach, More community spirit. Because of the wife and three young girls in a small town Read financial experts online and you’ll im- I may have the money to buy a bigger house, When counting the opportunity cost of a Minimalist, where he inspires others to live marvels of human potential, like great works teaches you to be more grateful for what you intimacy of a small town, people tend to and writes about living a purposeful, mediately find different advice about how a nicer vacation, or a newer car, but once the purchase, don’t compare only apples to ap- more by owning less. Visit BecomingMini- of art, architecture, and music. have, rather than always striving for more. be community-minded. If you want to get outdoor-oriented life. much you can afford: purchase is completed, that money is no lon- ples. The filter doesn’t need to be exclusively, malist.com 8C8 | MIND & BODY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARYWeek 17,8, 2021 Week 8, 2021 MIND & BODY | 9

ALL PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK all images by shutterstock

A well-designed space can facilitate creativity Ways to and spark innovation. Bring Nature Indoors

We usually try to think our way through life’s problems, but thoughts are often the wrong tool.

had views of nature, postoperative textures and materials, such as woven Having plants Our deep connection to stays were generally shorter, less baskets, wood bead cushions, or items that in your home nature makes elements pain medication was dispensed, simulate nature, such as a decorative plate can clean the air and overall condition improved. Evidence shaped like a pine cone or a seashell. Many and enliven the from plants to wood shows that representational images of na- studies have concluded that exposure to atmosphere. ture such as landscapes, gardens, and wood paneling can reduce blood pressure, paneling soothing waterscapes can reduce stress and and similar results have been reached in can speed healing. connection with indoor plants. Together, additions to home decor One study by researchers Katcher, plants and wood can revitalize any space Segal, and Beck found that patients wait- and comfort occupants. NANCY BERKOFF ing to undergo dental surgery exhibited Dr. Richard Taylor, of the University of lower anxiety levels when an aquarium Oregon physics department, notes that Research suggests that in the winter months was placed in the waiting area. Another naturally occurring fractal groups are we spend around 90 percent of our day indoors. experiment conducted with blood donors easy for the eye to understand and There’s a growing awareness about how much found that those who viewed a wall-mounted can calm the human nervous system. our surroundings can affect our well-being. television showing a tape of nature had lower Natural fractal groupings include Now more than ever, it’s important that interior blood pressure and pulse rates than those recurring patterns, such as seen in leaves settings are planned to enhance good health. donors who watched a tape of an urban setting on a branch, tree bark, snowflakes, or ocean Being in nature has been shown to provide or a game show. Even when a direct connec- waves. Select materials with these patterns a sense of calmness, lower blood pressure tion to nature isn’t available, imagery of nature for accent pillows or wall-hangings or create and heart rate, and inspire a feeling of well- has positive benefits for health and well-being. a grouping of natural items as a focus piece. being. During the cold weather months, One studied effect of biophilia is reduced Selected textures can be used to mimic natural we can bring nature inside to obtain stress. fractals, such as series of honeycomb-shaped these benefits. “Studies have shown that positive nature tiles, the lined marks on a vase, or the repeated The term “biophilia” or “love of na- experiences can lower blood pressure, reduce swirls on a crocheted comforter or rug. Create ture or life” appeared for the first time production of stress hormones and improve your own “fractals,” filling jars or bottles with in 1984. The “biophilia effect” describes cognitive performance,” said environmen- a combination of sand, rocks, pebbles, bark, the positive impact experienced when tal design researcher and strategist William and dried leaves. sensing nature via sight, sound, smell, Browning and his co-author Catherine Ryan in Exposure to natural light can also elevate or touch. Edward Wilson, an American their book “Nature Inside: A Biophilic Design your mood. To maximize the natural light in biologist, proposed in his book “Biophil- Guide. Browning and Ryan have created build- your home, place mirrors to strategically cap- ia” that people have an innate tendency to ings and master projects that have been praised ture sunlight at different times of the day, keep seek and form connections with other forms for their contribution to improving health and the shades or curtains up for as many daylight Using natural of life. He stated that people can benefit when well-being with biophilic elements. hours as possible or think about using reflective materials and plants in in close contact with nature and would suffer Basic biophilic decor strategies are easy to paint on a strip of wall to capture natural light. your home if excluded from it. achieve by placing freshly cut flowers in view If rooms have limited natural light availabil- decor can Writing in The Lancet, Roger Ulrich, a profes- or caring for houseplants. Houseplants provide ity, install dimmer switches on light switches bring the sor of architecture at Texas A&M University, emotional and physical health dividends. Ac- or lamps. Diffused light mimics the natural beauty of cites a wealth of research showing the design of cording to a NASA study of interior landscape fluctuations of daylight, and this balance nature inside. hospitals, from views of nature to floor design, plants that could lower indoor air pollution, between high and low amounts of blue light can affect patient outcomes. golden pothos, bamboo palms, spider plants, is essential for a stable sleep schedule and In shared living spaces, biophilia fosters snake plants, and lavenders were all shown elevated mood. connectivity. People feel welcome, relaxed, to improve interior air quality and neutralize Plan to bring nature into living and and are more likely to be social. These theories certain air-borne toxins. working spaces. Creating an inside con- lead to healthy changes in architecture and You can benefit from this effect in multiple nection with nature can stimulate our interior design. ways. Cultivate fragrant herbs in the kitchen for senses, improve our mood, and provide Feeling connected to nature may assist with meals and you can enjoy the greenery and also a sense of well-being. the physical healing process. In Ulrich’s fre- distribute them throughout the house to bring Mindset Matters quently cited comparative study, 23 patients in a breath of nature. If live specimens aren’t Dr. Nancy Berkoff is a registered dietitian, recovering from surgery provided with a view an option, select pictures, place mats, or wall food technologist, and culinary professional. of trees outside their windows recovered faster hangings that depict favorite plants and flowers. She divides her time between health care than a matched set of 23 patients whose win- Materials that represent nature can help to and culinary consulting, food writing, and Why You Can’t Think dows faced a brick wall. When patient rooms create a soothing environment. Select organic healthy living. Your Way to Happiness Made from Purslane More thinking, as it turns out, is not necessarily the solution to what ails us

Natural Purity for All NATURE’S Order Nancy Colier thoughts about what’s happening, why it’s storyline on my subjective experience and happening, and what we need to do about past wounds, conditioning, history, and Online! e spend our early years It can be helpful it. Whatever we want, whatever problem core beliefs. OMEGA-3 GOLD learning how to walk, to realize that the we think we have, we’re convinced that I believe that my thoughts about what this talk, read, play sports, thinking more about it will lead us to the person did reflect what happened, and that have conversations, and so other person’s answer we need. We think we can think may be based on my assumptions about on. We come to believe that behavior our way out of and into everything. their motivation and character. From there, uritang plant based Omega-3,6,7,9 is made from purslane Wknowing things is crucial for our happi- We even imagine that we can mentally I come to some idea of what they need to and perilla seeds. It contains over 61% concentration of ness and survival. Knowing makes us valid, probably comes muscle our way to serenity, that more stop or start doing in order for me to feel bet- valuable, and powerful. Knowing makes thinking about life will ultimately lead us ter, and I believe this is an inarguable fact. omega-3 — the highest possible without chemical additives, not P us belong. out of their own to peace. But the problem is, what I think this friend possible to derive naturally from fish or other plants, and this combined Knowing also gives us a sense of control. suffering or One of the inherent problems with our is doing may have nothing to do with what with omega-6,7,9, accounts for more than of product content! If we can know something, we believe we great faith in thinking is that it relies on the they think they’re doing or what I’m doing, 90% can control it. If we can control it, we feel ignorance. premise that our thoughts are true. We con- for that matter. Purslane is nature’s gold mine of omega-3, containing the highest less vulnerable to the ever-changing cur- fuse our subjective experience with objec- Let’s look at a hypothetical example be- level of any green plant. Besides 0% trans fat and 0% hormones, this rents of life. And we come to believe that if tive reality. And because of this, we believe tween Friend A and Friend B. Friend A of- we can control life, we can be happy. that every narrative we construct from our ten brings over healthy snacks and tells product is 100% organic and 100% natural. It has no fishy aftertaste or In our modern world, we know through thoughts is some form of absolute truth. Friend B they are low in sugar and full of risk of ocean-borne contaminants. It is also non-GMO. Made in Korea. our minds. We make sense of things, or- If I have a fight with a friend, I then gener- nutrients. Friend A thinks this is an obvious ganize ideas into rational patterns and ate thoughts that create a story about what expression of affection. linear progressions. Causes and effects. happened and how to solve the issue. The Puritang Green Vegetable Omega 3, 6, 7, 9 Inspired by Nature. Made from the Heart. www.Puritang.com Knowing involves stringing together our problem with that is that I’m basing the Continued on Page 11 10B2 | MIND & BODY MONDAY, FEBRUARYWeek 22, 8, 2021 MONDAY,Week 8, 2021 FEBRUARY 22, 2021 MIND & BODY | B311

MINDSET MATTERS Don’t Judge Why You Can’t Think Your Way to Happiness by External More thinking, as it turns out, is not necessarily the solution to what ails us

MARIJUS AURUSKEVICIUS/SHUTTERSTOCK Continued from Page 9 is something else entirely. Appearances Sometimes, if we’re dealing with a dif- Friend B thinks Friend A only does this  cult person, the best thing we can do is because she is judgmental about Friend nothing. Sounds obvious, but you will fall B’s weight. Friend A, meanwhile, thinks Friend B is the best friend she has ever had for it more than you’d like and is worried Friend B is at high risk for

ALL PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK cardiovascular disease. Friend A is upset Friend B is not taking her diet seriously. We are each operating in a Friend B is upset Friend A seems to look Behind the down on her. universe (our minds) with Each friend has a di erent reality. For rules and systems that Friend A, eating well is something she learned from a young age. She puts time make sense to us but that Subscription and e ort into making healthy food, and have little or nothing to do it comes easily. And Friend A’s father died of a heart attack, and she’s afraid of los- with what’s happening in Your subscription will not only provide you with ing someone she cares about. For Friend accurate news and features, but also contribute B, succeeding at work is crucial, and she others’ minds. to the revival of American journalism and help feels overwhelmed by various obligations. She wants to eat better, but the thought of safeguard our freedoms for future generations. learning to cook better food and eat out  at means we don’t try to understand less  lls her with anxiety about one more their behavior or what we need to do about We aim to tell you what we see, not how to think; we thing she has to deal with. She doesn’t it. Instead, we just let it be what it is. believe her weight is a signi cant issue Often when we stop trying to  gure out strive to deliver you a factual picture of reality that since most of her family members are a bit what’s wrong, or how to  x everyone and lets you form your own opinions. overweight, and her parents are healthy in everything and just let it be the way it is, their old age. our whole experience changes. A friend’s intentions and inner reality are Because what we discover is that all our We believe that we live in truly epochal times, where a universe unto themselves and di erent e orts to  gure things out and create nar- the faithful representation of our current events from that in which we reside. We construct ratives can mislead us. We come to  xed won’t just be important for the people of today, but our own narrative about any given situa- understandings of reality that can tion, but it’s entirely based on thoughts and often amount to little more than also for the generations to come. The records we assumptions. self-delusion. As a result, in trying keep now will directly inform the foundations of the  e whole narrative we’ve constructed to  x a problem, we may actu- history they’ll learn and the values they’ll cherish— is irrelevant, then. We are each operating ally exacerbate it and create a in a universe (our minds) with rules and whole lot of mental and emo- and this knowledge is what drives us. systems that make sense to us but that have tional su ering for ourselves in little or nothing to do with what’s happen- the process.  is can even leave us foment- Learn more at ing in others’ minds. What makes the dots ing anger and resentment. connect in my thought system is of little Sometimes when confronting a problem- EpochSubscription.com use when applied to someone else’s reality. atic person, it’s wise to simply o er the gen- Figuring out life based on our personal erosity of compassion. Seek the serenity We live in a time when it is especially easy to alter appearances. In many cases, our thoughts are based on an incomplete picture and lead us to a misconstrued narrative is an exercise in futility. To some of not trying to control the situation and perception of reality. degree, it’s simply absurd. the wisdom of not trying to  gure it out.  is doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to It can be helpful to realize that the other from  guring out what’s making the other a single thing on the outside. TRUTH AND TRADITION JOSHUA BECKER Symbols of success can be easily understand our experience. But rather, person’s behavior probably comes out person do what they’re doing and how to If I had a nickel for every time I heard acquired by those who are not suc- that we need to be aware that our version of their own su ering or ignorance. Re- get them to change (according to my real- someone say, “When I don’t try to  gure I once read a quote that said, “Do not cessful. Meanwhile, many successful of reality lives only in our own mind. Our mind yourself that they also want the same ity), and toward how I’m being in the midst it out, I’m happier and things go better,” judge by appearances; a rich heart people choose not to display their suc- truth exists within us, and only within things you want—happiness, safety, and of this reality. I’d have a lot of nickels. It’s certainly been may be under a poor coat.” And I can’t cess with external symbols. us. And, it co-exists with billions of other peace—even if the way they’re seeking it  is profound turn from something I true for me. emphasize it enough. Do you know how easy it is to pur- truths that exist in other people’s minds. may not seem wise to you. can’t control to something I can gives me We are a society quick to judge the chase a  ashy car on credit? Or how We can still present our version of reality Keeping our attention focused on kind- back my power—and more importantly, success of others based on external quickly you can get ahead  nancially to another person, but we can stop assum- ness while resisting the urge to form con- my freedom. appearances. But I can’t think of a by simply buying a reasonable one? ing that our subjective experience is true crete interpretations often improves the What’s ironic is that if my underlying de- One of the inherent TH more foolish metric to utilize. Night and day. in some absolute way. situation far more than any mental activity sire is for my external world to change with 2021 NTD 8 Some psychologists argue this is But this isn’t a post about  nancial We don’t have to work ourselves up into could. Wishing this person well, even if we regard to this di cult situation, I’ve had far problems with our natural for humans, that we use the success.  is is about choosing to not a lather believing we know the way it all can’t understand their behavior, can bring more success when my focus is on my own great faith in thinking International limited objective data available to judge others by external appearance. needs to go. And we don’t need to worry us change—and relief. behavior rather than on others’ behavior. shape the picture of something we I have a good friend who lives on the that if it doesn’t go the way we’ve scripted Whether or not we can  nd compassion Taking my eye o the self-diagnosed is that it relies on consciously perceive. other side of the country. Years ago, it, that there’s something wrong, or that for this person, it’s an act of profound com- problem and putting it on myself, how Chinese Vocal when a special needs newborn was we’ve been wronged. passion—for ourselves. It relieves us of the I’m acting and reacting in this di culty, the premise that our abandoned at their local hospital, she It’s profoundly liberating to realize that burden of trying to  gure it all out. Few just plain works better. But even when the thoughts are true. and her husband o ered to raise the our version of the truth, which almost al- things let us feel better than letting go. situation doesn’t change on the outside, my Competition Symbols of child as their own. ways places us at the center of what’s driv- Knowing feels fundamental to our safety experience of the situation on the inside  eir new daughter would require ing everyone and everything else, probably and control. But in the end, if what we re- radically changes when I shift my atten- Figuring it out may give us a sense of con- success can be almost 24-hour attention for the rest isn’t the same truth for anyone else. ally want is peace, then trying to under- tion in this way. trol and safety, but it doesn’t make us feel of her life, and yet, they chose to adopt  ere’s yet another  aw in our assump- stand a situation or person is not the wisest Challenges become opportunities to better, which at the end of the day is what easily acquired by her and bring her into their family. tion that we can  gure out our way to hap- choice. grow and evolve; sometimes I actually even we really want. those who aren’t Decades later now, my friend is not piness. We can come to believe that think- In place of  guring it all out (which I spent look forward to them. I get to practice be- going to turn any heads when she ing more about a challenging situation will umpteen years doing), I now like to turn ing who I want to be. I get to choose what Nancy Colier is a psychotherapist, inter- successful. walks into a room. automatically help us  x it. We believe that di cult people and situations into oppor- my own participation in life will look like. faith minister, public speaker, workshop She doesn’t pull into a parking lot the mind is the proper tool for every situa- tunities.  e process of taking care of my own side leader, and author of “ e Power of O : driving an expensive vehicle. She tion, but that’s not true. In fact, it’s often the In place of trying to make sense of things, of the street has never failed to be a nourish- e Mindful Way to Stay Sane in a Virtual I suppose this makes sense to me. doesn’t wear the latest styles or ex- worst tool. In many cases, what’s needed I focus on being the person I want to be ing and rewarding choice. It always changes World.” For more information, visit Nan- But here’s the problem: pensive jewelry.  e emotional and for actual improvement, growth, or change in the situation. I turn my attention away my experience even when it doesn’t change cyColier.com We’re terrible at it! Like really, really physical toll of raising her daughter bad. 24 hours a day for the past 20 years In fact, in one study, scientists asked shows on her face and physical ap- students at a Chinese university to pearance as you might imagine it look at sel es and evaluate the per- would. JAY HARRINGTON College. He described one of life’s greatest Success, happiness, contentment, joy, ac- sonalities of the people pictured in From all outward appearances, Feeding the challenges as resisting one’s default set- complishment—all of these things hinge  ve key personality characteristics. there is nothing that would impress You may have heard the parable about the ting: “To keep from going through your on one’s ability to tame the mind. To be  e students were wrong 80 percent of you about her. old Cherokee who is teaching his grandson comfortable, prosperous, respectable adult conscious and aware. To make our minds the time! But on the inside, she may be ‘Good Wolf’ about life: “A  ght is going on inside me,” life, dead, unconscious, a slave to your head our servants, not our masters. Eighty percent of the the strongest, sweetest, he said to the boy. and to your natural default setting of being  at’s easier said than done at a time time, they were un- kindest, most compas- Inside of Us “It is a terrible  ght and it is between uniquely, completely, imperially alone ... when our attention is being sold to the able to determine the sionate human being two wolves. One is evil—he is anger, envy, day in and day out.” highest bidder with companies invest- personality or char- I’ve ever met. She If we want a good life, we need to pay sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, ing billions to keep us in their platforms acter of a person is wiser than most attention to the good things before us guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false and advertisements. Taking back control based solely on anyone else in the pride, superiority, and ego.” is possible, but requires unplugging from appearance. room. And her heart FIZKES/SHUTTERSTOCK He went on, “ e other is good—he is joy, the grid that feeds our worst instincts. A And yet, we is beautiful. peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kind- Limiting beliefs and pattern-interrupting walk outside in the continue to do  at’s the thing ness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, fresh, cold air can do wonders for mental it—over and over about judging by ex- truth, compassion, and faith.  e same negative self-talk health. A new book can inspire a new way again. Often tricking ternal appearances.  ght is going on inside you–and inside ev- can keep us from a of thinking. A conversation with an old ourselves into think- Many people trying ery other person, too.” friend can break the spell. ing we do it well. to impress you with them  e grandson considered this and then purposeful, happy life. Limiting beliefs and negative self-talk But the proverb stands aren’t worth emulating. asked his grandfather: “Which wolf will can stop us from living purposeful, inten- true, “Do not judge by And those living the win?” tional, happy lives. Abundance thinking appearances; a rich heart Character and most meaningful lives  e old Cherokee replied, “ e one you  e good-wolf alternative, as Wallace de- and positive narratives can set us free. It’s may be under a poor competency don’t always have long since given up feed.” scribes it, is “being conscious and aware our choice. We get what we feed. coat.” show in a person’s face or trying to impress you with To “feed” a wolf is to bless it with our enough to choose what you pay attention to When we hear it, we fashion. a fancy coat. attention. To give it energy. To allow it to and to choose how you construct meaning Jay Harrington is an author, lawyer- VOCAL.NTDTV.COM know it is true. Judging dominate our thoughts and narrative.  e from experience.” turned-entrepreneur, and runs a north- a person based on external appear- Joshua Becker is an author, public evil wolf re ects scarcity thinking—the Choosing what to pay attention to sounds ern Michigan-inspired lifestyle brand GOLD AWARD REGISTER ances is a foolish metric and we all speaker, and the founder and editor good wolf re ects an abundance mindset. simple but is devilishly hard.  e evil wolf called Life and Whim. He lives with his +1–888–477–9228 know it. of Becoming Minimalist, where he We can call into two basic patterns of thought David Foster Wallace warned, in not so looms large in the regrets of the past and wife and three young girls in a small town NEW YORK Oct. 2021 VOCAL＠GLOBALCOMPETITIONS.ORG For one reason, external appear- inspires others to live more by owning and being, one negative and one positive. The many words, of the dangers of the evil wolf the anxieties of the future.  e good wolf and writes about living a purposeful, ances are easy to manipulate. less. Visit BecomingMinimalist.com choice is ours. in a commencement speech at Kenyon  ourishes in the present moment. outdoor-oriented life. B412 | MIND & BODY MONDAY, FEBRUARYWeek 22, 8, 2021 MONDAY,Week 8, 2021 FEBRUARY 22, 2021 MIND & BODY | B513 Lockdown Study Finds Undiagnosed Pandemic-Fueled Alcohol Abuse Creates Mental Health Crisis Among New Mothers Wave of Hospitalizations for Liver Disease

JACOB LUND/SHUTTERSTOCK Researchers find social distancing Women at greater risk because they metabolize alcohol slower and may face the main cause of increased feelings greater stress due to pandemic impacts of depression and anxiety ALL PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK ELI CAHAN psychiatrists believe the isolation, unem- Nationwide, more adults are turning to ployment, and hopelessness associated the bottle during the pandemic. One study As the pandemic sends thousands of re- with COVID-19 are driving the explosion found rates of alcohol consumption in VICKY FALLON, SERGIO A. SILVERIO covering alcoholics into relapse, hospitals in cases. spring 2020 were up 14 percent compared & SIAN MACLEOD DAVIES across the country have reported dramatic “There’s been a tremendous influx,” with the same period in 2019, and drinkers New mothers increases in alcohol-related admissions for said Dr. Haripriya Maddur, a hepatolo- consumed nearly 30 percent more than in ew mothers experienced wor- have had reduced critical diseases such as alcoholic hepatitis gist at Northwestern Medicine. Many of pre-pandemic months. Unemployment, ryingly high rates of depres- social support from and liver failure. her patients “were doing just fine” before isolation, lack of daily structure, and bore- sion and anxiety during the family and friends Alcoholism-related liver disease was a the pandemic, having avoided relapse for dom have all increased the risk of height- first lockdown, our new re- growing problem even before the pandem- years. But subject to the stress of the pan- ened alcohol use. search has revealed. One of due to lockdown ic, with 15 million people diagnosed with demic, “all of a sudden, [they] were in the “The pandemic has brought out our un- Nthe major contributing factors to them feel- restrictions. the condition around the country, and hospital again.” easy relationship with alcohol,” said Dr. ing this way was the psychological impact with hospitalizations doubling over the Across these institutions, the age of Timothy Fong, an addiction psychiatrist at of social distancing measures. past decade. patients hospitalized for alcoholic liver UCLA. “We’ve welcomed it into our homes Our study examined the psychological But the pandemic has dramatically add- disease has dropped. A trend toward in- as our crutch and our best friend.” and social experiences of more than 600 ed to the toll. Although national figures creased disease in people under 40 “has women with babies between birth and 12 New research reveals that rates of depression and anxiety among new mothers higher than previ- are not available, admissions for alcoholic been alarming for years,” said Dr. Ray- weeks old during the first lockdown in the ously believed. liver disease at Keck Hospital of the Uni- mond Chung, a hepatologist at Harvard United Kingdom. versity of Southern California were up 30 University and president of the American The age of patients We wanted to understand the prevalence for depression and anxiety. But our study linked to a range of negative outcomes out- percent in 2020 compared to 2019, said Association for the Study of Liver Disease. rates of “clinically relevant” maternal de- shows that maternal mental health after side of COVID-19 in terms of the health, Dr. Brian Lee, a transplant hepatologist “But what we’re seeing now is truly dra- hospitalized for pression and anxiety. By clinically relevant, birth is compromised even further when development, and behavior of children. who treats the condition in alcoholics. matic.” we mean mothers who scored above a cer- combined with the stresses of the pandemic. There is a need for longitudinal research Specialists at hospitals affiliated with Maddur has also treated numerous alcoholic liver disease tain threshold on questionnaires normally During the first UK lockdown in March to address the short- and long-term con- the University of Michigan, Northwest- young adults hospitalized with jaundice has been dropping. used by clinicians when they assess and 2020, new mothers experienced major dis- sequences of the pandemic on maternal ern University, Harvard University, and and abdominal distension emblematic of diagnose mental health conditions. ruptions to care and support. These in- mental health. Mount Sinai Health System in New York the disease—a pattern she attributes to the Usual rates of depression and anxiety af- cluded reduced in person access to post- We also know that reduced access to di- City said rates of admissions for alcoholic The pandemic has left many pandemic-era intensification of economic These relapses, and the hospitalizations ter birth in the UK are around 15 percent. natal health services such as health visitor agnosis and treatment during the pandem- people with too much time, liver disease have leapt by up to 50 percent too much stress, and too struggles faced by the demographic. At they cause, can be life-threatening. More Our survey found similar rates, with 11 appointments, breastfeeding counseling, ic is likely to further affect mental health, since last March. few reasons not to drink. the same time these young adults may be than 1 in 20 patients with alcohol-related percent of women reporting they already and baby weigh-in clinics. widening the gap between the prevalence High levels of alcohol ingestion lead to a entering the housing market or starting a liver failure die before leaving the hos- had a current clinical diagnosis of depres- New mothers had reduced social support of poor mental health and diagnosis and constellation of liver diseases due to toxic family, they find that entry-level employ- pital, and alcohol-related liver disease is sion and 18 percent reporting an existing from family and friends due to lockdown appropriate treatment. That is why we are byproducts associated with the metabo- ment, particularly in the vast, crippled the leading cause for transplantation. clinical diagnosis of anxiety. restrictions. Birth partners were also not calling for better access to perinatal men- lism of ethanol. In the short term, these hospitality industry, is increasingly hard The disease also makes people more sus- However, when we explored this further, able to support the mother during the la- tal health care during the pandemic and byproducts can trigger extensive inflam- to come by. “They have mouths to feed and ceptible to COVID-19. Patients with liver we actually found that a much higher pro- bor and birth of their baby due to hospital beyond. mation that leads to hepatitis. In the long bills to pay, but no job,” she said, “so they disease die of COVID at rates three times portion was experiencing depression and visiting restrictions. It is crucial that mental health interven- term, they can lead to the accumulation of turn to booze as the last coping mecha- higher than those without it, and alcohol- anxiety—they just didn’t have a formal While these measures were essential tions are timely and meet mothers’ needs fatty tissue, as well as the scarring char- nism remaining.” associated liver disease has been found to clinical diagnosis yet. in minimizing the spread of COVID-19, to prevent the escalation of symptoms and acteristic of cirrhosis—which can, in turn, Women may be suffering disproportion- increase the risk of death from COVID by This was revealed when we examined the psychological risks of having a baby prevent additional burdens to health care cause liver cancer. ately from alcoholic liver disease during an additional 79 to 142 percent. how many of the mothers scored above during this time have received much less systems. Interventions must be developed Since the metabolism of alcohol varies High levels of the pandemic because they metabolize Some physicians, like Maddur, are con- the clinical threshold on the mental health attention. with flexibility to ensure they work in both among individuals, these diseases can alcohol ingestion alcohol at slower rates than men. Lower cerned that the stressors leading to in- questionnaires they completed. The find- Our findings are even more troubling this and any future health crises. show up after only a few months of heavy lead to a levels of the enzyme responsible for de- creased alcohol consumption and liver dis- ings were deeply concerning. We found when considering the subsequent lock- One positive that can be drawn from our drinking. Some people can drink heav- constellation of grading ethanol lead to higher levels of ease may stretch well into the future—even that 43 percent of the women met the cri- downs that mothers have experienced research is that more than 80 percent of ily without experiencing side effects for liver diseases. the toxin in the blood and, in turn, more after lockdowns lift. “I think we’re only on teria for clinically relevant depression and since March 2020–particularly during women didn’t experience changes in how a long time; others can suffer severe im- extensive organ damage in women than the cusp of this,” she said. “Quarantine is 61 percent met the criteria for anxiety. the winter months. The cumulative effect they felt about their relationship with mune reactions that rapidly send them to in men who drink the same amount. (The one thing, but the downturn of the econ- This means that more than a third of the Maternal of lockdowns on maternal mental health their baby. Perhaps this indicates that de- the hospital. CDC recommends that women have one omy, that’s not going away anytime soon.” women who met the criteria for depression has yet to be studied in detail. But we don’t spite all the disruptions and restrictions Leading liver disease specialists and drink or less per day, compared with two Others, like Lee, are more optimistic— and anxiety didn’t report having a current mental health expect it will be any better now than it was encountered when having a baby during or fewer for men.) albeit cautiously. “The vaccine is coming clinical diagnosis. last year. lockdown, the mother–infant relationship Socially, the “stress of the pandemic has, to a pharmacy near you, COVID-19 will We also asked mothers whether they felt after birth is remains stable. This should provide some in some ways, particularly targeted wom- end, and things will begin to get back to their feelings or relationships had been af- compromised Protect Maternal Well-Being small comfort to those families waiting for en,” said Dr. Jessica Mellinger, a hepatolo- normal,” he said. “But the real question is fected by the introduction of social distanc- We believe our study has highlighted a ma- some form of normality to return. gist at the University of Michigan. Lower whether public health authorities decide ing measures. Our analysis found that the even further ternal mental health crisis that requires wages, less job stability, and the burdens to act in ways that combat [alcoholic liver perceived psychological impact of social urgent attention and intervention. High Vicky Fallon is a lecturer in health psychol- of parenting tend to fall more heavily on disease]. distancing was the main contributing fac- when rates of depression and anxiety during ogy at the University of Liverpool in Eng- women’s shoulders, she said. “Because people are just fighting to cope tor influencing feelings of depression and combined the pandemic have also been found in land, Sergio A. Silverio is a research associ- “If you have all of these additional day to day right now.” anxiety. other developed countries, indicating that ate in social science of women’s health at stressors, with all of your forms of support with the UK mothers aren’t alone when it comes to King’s College London, and Siân Macleod gone—and all you have left is the bottle— This story was produced by KHN, which Disruption to Motherhood stresses of the mental health. Davies is a Ph.D. researcher at Liverpool that’s what you’ll resort to,” Mellinger said. publishes California Healthline, an edito- It has been well established that the early There is already consistent evidence John Moores University. This article was “But a woman who drinks like a man gets rially independent service of the Califor- postnatal period is a time of vulnerability pandemic. that postnatal depression and anxiety are first published on The Conversation. sicker faster.” nia Health Care Foundation.

FIZKES/SHUTTERSTOCK WISE HABITS Relaxing With Chaos Consuming a Mediterranean Diet Can Benefit Your Thinking Skills Later in Life Life is full of uncertainties that test our ability to relax and act BROOKE LARK/UNSPLASH SARAH COWNLEY the thinking skills of more than 500 people a healthier brain structure, as one might LEO BABAUTA Do you relate to any of these examples? aged 79. None of the participants had de- expect. Though it’s possible there may be In fact, the uncertainty of our chaotic lives A new study from the University of Edin- mentia. other structural or functional brain corre- There’s a big part of us that doesn’t like cha- is perhaps the main cause of our anxiety, burgh has found that people who consume a Each participant was required to com- lates with this measure of diet, or associa- os: We want order and simplicity. We want stress, frustration, self-doubt, fears, pro- Mediterranean-style diet have better think- plete tests involving problem-solving, tions in specific regions of the brain, rather to feel we’re on top of things. But that’s not crastination, distraction, and more. ing skills when analyzed. The diet includes a thinking speed, memory, and word knowl- than the whole brain, as measured here.” how life works. We know we’re feeling this chaos when we proportionally high amount of olive oil, un- edge. They were also directed to fill out a So when things feel chaotic, we scramble reach for a new tool, system, method, tactic, refined cereals, fruits, and vegetables, with questionnaire about their eating habits No Relationship to Better Brain Health for some kind of stability. plan, expert, book on a topic—or our phones. relatively little non-fish meat, and a moder- during the previous year. More than half While the study did find a link between diet When we feel overwhelmed and behind, There’s nothing wrong with any of these ate amount of dairy products and wine. the participants also underwent a mag- and thinking skills, it didn’t find a connec- we might beat ourselves up and try to look things. It’s just how we normally respond netic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan tion to better brain health. Researchers also for a system to get things under control. to chaos. to test for their brain structure. note that gray- and white-matter volume, When someone is upset with us, we might But if we could relax in the middle of that Researchers used statistical models to markers of healthy brain aging, didn’t dif- not like the feeling of being judged and the un- chaos, we would find additional options: Eating more green leafy look for associations between participant fer between those regularly eating a plant- certainty about how people see us, and so we diet habits, thinking skills, and brain based diet and those who didn’t. might lash out at them or spin around a story • We would be OK with the feeling of over- Our lives are full of unexpected—and often unwelcome—events. Learning to see our emotional vegetables and cutting health later in life. A Mediterranean diet has been found for days about how terrible that person is. whelm, and not need to panic or feel bad. response to this chaos is the first step to transcending it. down on red meat It was found that, in general, participants to have many health benefits for overall When plans don’t go how we hoped they • We would simply take the next step in- who followed a Mediterranean-style diet A Mediterranean- health and many experts believe it is one would, we feel like we’re on unsteady ground, stead of procrastinating. The key is to learn to relax with chaos. And Breathe. Deep into your belly, slowly, let- might be two key food had the highest cognitive function scores. style diet has benefits of the best ways to eat to stay healthy. In and we start criticizing ourselves or feeling • We could focus on one thing at a time from that place, decide on the next simple step. ting yourself relax with each breath. Results were adjusted for childhood IQ, for cognitive func- fact, it has been credited as the reason why like we’re doing things wrong and things instead of being paralyzed. Then learn to relax with this feeling of elements that contribute physical activity, smoking, and other re- tioning later in life. so many southern European regions have are out of control. This might bring a lot of • We could put our work out into the world, Training With the Chaos uncertainty, fear, and anxiety. to the benefits of the lated health factors. These differences were such high life expectancy. stress into our lives. accepting that we will be judged. To transcend the feelings chaos brings, Breathe, and with each breath, relax into small but statistically significant. When we think about putting our work • We could give a friend that is upset with we first have to notice when we’re feeling the feeling of chaos. Mediterranean-style diet. Dr. Janie Corley concluded the study by Sarah Cownley earned a diploma in Nutri- out there into the world (by writing a book us compassion rather than worrying chaos. Then we can use it as a kind of medi- Repeat. saying: “Eating more green leafy vegetables tional Therapy from Health Sciences Acad- or putting out an album, for example) we about whether we’ll be OK. tation, to breathe and relax. Dr. Janie Corley and cutting down on red meat might be two emy in London, England, and she enjoys worry about being judged and might de- • We could simply meditate, go for a walk, Notice when you’re feeling chaos. You don’t Leo Babauta is the author of six books, key food elements that contribute to the helping others by teaching healthy lifestyle cide that we won’t be OK if that happens, exercise, eat healthy food, deal with our have to look for it—you’re probably feeling the writer of Zen Habits, a blog with over The new findings add to the mounting -ev benefits of the Mediterranean-style diet. changes through her personal consulta- that it just feels too scary. As a result, we finances, and take other simple, help- it right now. The world will always give us 2 million subscribers, and the creator idence that suggests a Mediterranean-style In our sample, the positive relationship tions and with her regular contributions to delay putting our work out there, maybe ful actions that we put off when we feel enough chaos to practice with. It’s a gift. of several online programs to help you diet has benefits for cognitive functioning between a Mediterranean diet and think- the Doctors Health Press. This article was for years—maybe forever. stressed about chaos. Notice it, and then pause. master your habits. Visit ZenHabits.net later in life. For the study, researchers tested ing skills is not accounted for by having originally published on Bel Marra Health. 14B6 | MIND & BODY MONDAY, FEBRUARYWeek 22, 8, 2021 MONDAY,Week 8, 2021 FEBRUARY 22, 2021 MIND & BODY | B715

ALL IMAGES BY SHUTTERSTOCK Digital Medicine May Be a Tough Pill to Swallow Sullivan anticipates there may be some Are Digital pushback from patients, doctors, and even drug makers. Digital Commerce reported that British consulting firm L.E.K. Consulting found the technology Pills in Your may not be as well-received as the digital pill companies hope. Speaking with a journalist from The New York Times, Ameet Sarpatwari from Harvard Medical School expressed con- Future? cern about the technology, saying it “has the potential to improve public health, [but] if used improperly it could foster New pills raise privacy and more mistrust, instead of trust.” Patients would be able to decide if their Can technology ethical concerns over their doctor and up to four other people could blind us to the ability to send a signal receive the data showing when the pills lifestyle roots of were taken. Patients would also have disease? to up to 5 people when taken access to a cellphone app that could let them change their minds and block recipients later. Of course, it isn’t inconceivable that Joseph Mercola future situations could emerge in which the patient didn’t get to make that choice n November 2017, the FDA approved themselves. The more benign scenarios the digital pill Abilify MyCite to include mental health patients who can treat schizophrenia, depression, be discharged from involuntary admis- and bipolar disorder; a one-month sions based on drug regime adherence supply costs $1,500, well out of range and possibly even parolees who must Iof affordability for many suffering from take specific drugs to be released from a schizophrenia. psychiatric facility. The pill includes a digital sensor that More common concerns around this paid. Despite plans to become a high- lem and may account for “only the third reacts with stomach acid when taken, technology are the potential invasion of tech generic drug manufacturer, Proteus’ most frequent type of medication-related sending a signal to a patch worn by privacy and whether individuals may vision ended with its bankruptcy. Some problem.” One pharmacist argues that the patient that then sends a signal to feel pressured to allow their doctors experts saying the failure was on the science should not be solely aimed at a smartphone app notifying up to five to monitor their medication. Dr. Peter part of the company and not the result of compliance but, rather, adherence as a people that the pill was taken. Kramer, psychiatrist and author, believes failed technology. segment of medication optimization. At the time of approval, concerns arose digital technology may be ethical for a Specifically, according to digital health Tied to medication optimization are over how this new capability opened the “fully competent patient,” but questions venture fund and research group Rock adherence and a number of other factors door to various abuses, though there was whether a digital drug may potentially Health, Proteus may have paid the price that affect downstream costs such as ad- little discussion of the worrying possibil- become a “coercive tool.” for a tactical choice by picking a “thera- verse drug reactions, drug interactions, ity of how such technology could be used Some experts believe that older adults, peutic area with a degree of difficulty therapy failure, and dosing problems. by repressive governments. who wish to have help remembering to that’s an eight or nine out of 10.” Even so, The cost is nearly 30 times the cost take their pills, may welcome these de- while the digital pill companies are tak- Seek Out the Root of the generic pill for a 30-day supply. vices. Other potential uses for this type ing aim at medication adherence, it may of Your Health Condition Schizophrenia affects approximately 1 of technology can be expanded as well not be a fiscally responsible direction. There are Many health conditions respond to percent of the population, yet a meta- as incentivized by insurance providers When medication is the only interven- nutraceuti- lifestyle and nutritional choices. For in- analysis of 31 studies involving 51,925 to monitor opioid use and clinical trial tion sought, poor adherence can result in stance, there is data to show people with people who were homeless found there participants. health complications and increased costs. cal interven- schizophrenia who are low in vitamin is a significantly higher prevalence of On a different note, in 2019, Proteus an- This means that medication adherence tions that help D, folic acid, and vitamin B12 have more schizophrenia, schizophreniform disor- nounced it was testing a chemotherapy and patient compliance are health care severe symptoms. In other words, there der, and schizoaffective disorder in the digital pill on patients with colorectal challenges the system seeks to overcome. reduce symp- are nutraceutical interventions that help homeless population. cancer. Again, the idea was to improve Data show some of the reasons why older reduce symptoms of schizophrenia, de- There were also questions at the time outcomes by ensuring medication adher- adults don’t adhere to their medication toms of schiz- pression, anxiety, and many other health of approval over why a drug targeting ence. The difference between this pill schedule include a lack of meaningful ophrenia, conditions. schizophrenia was the first to include New digital pills are `allow “real-time intervention” of doctors ported that etectRx teamed up with and the one for schizophrenia was that it communication with health care pro- Before becoming at risk for polyphar- the technology, given that many people marketed as a way to with their patients. Pear Therapeutics to develop products wasn’t necessary for the chemotherapy viders, cost, fear of addiction, cognitive depression, macy, or the use of multiple medications with this condition suffer delusions and ensure better adherence combining the technology from both pill to go through a round of regulatory decline, and medication side effects. That’s at one time to treat an ailment—and the paranoia. A drug that sends a signal from to doctors orders. Digitals Pills Scheduled for an Upgrade companies. They announced the initial approval based on the way in which the why chronic conditions, such as diabetes, anxiety, and side effects—seek out and work to correct inside their body seems especially unat- As CEO for etectRx, Valerie Sullivan project will be on medication related to sensor was packaged within the capsule. high blood pressure, asthma, and depres- many other the root of the health condition. Many tractive to this population. talked about the differences between mental health. In a phone interview with sion, require ongoing changes in lifestyle times, there are lifestyle and nutritional The drug is the creation of Proteus etectRx, Proteus, and other companies in MedCity News, Sullivan commented Technology Meant to Provide an and nutrition to control the conditions. health condi- changes you can make that have a sig- Digital Health. Although the system was the market. Reiterating that her company on the “value in having patients see for Answer for Compliance The extent to which nonadherence tions. nificant impact on your overall health, intended to improve drug adherence at is different because their focus is al- themselves and feel empowered that The chemotherapy drug was adminis- affects patient outcomes varies widely and the symptoms or treatment of your the time it was conceived and developed, most exclusively on patient compliance, when they take their medication, they tered through Fairview Health Services across studies, having been reported health condition. there was no evidence to prove it raised including branding and clinical trials, feel better.” in Minnesota, where the health care as high as 92 percent and as low as 10 medication compliance. Sullivan said: The new version of these digital pills system paid Proteus in the hopes that it percent. Data show approximately 50 Dr. Joseph Mercola is the founder of Mer- More than three years later and un- “This pandemic era we’re in has will contain wireless sensors embed- would help save them money by improv- percent of non-adherence is intentional cola.com. An osteopathic physician, best- der new leadership by etectRx, which ramped up interest in telehealth gener- ded in the medication to communi- ing patient outcomes. The contract stated and the other half happens when pa- selling author, and recipient of multiple acquired Proteus when Proteus went into ally. The remote patient monitoring that cate with a wearable lanyard device, that Fairview would be paid when cancer tients aren’t aware they aren’t taking the awards in the field of natural health, his bankruptcy, there is renewed focus on ID-Cap System enables can reduce clini- as opposed to a patch stuck to your patients took their chemotherapy as medication as prescribed. primary vision is to change the modern determining whether it improves pa- cal trial costs, eliminate non-adherence stomach. Pear and etectRx haven’t yet prescribed by their physician 80 percent However, a team of doctors and phar- health paradigm by providing people tient adherence. Now called the “ID Cap among patients, and allow for real-time partnered with pharmaceutical com- of the time. macy professionals believe that while with a valuable resource to help them take System,” the technology is set to make intervention with them.” panies to produce the technology for When patients didn’t meet the thresh- medication adherence is a problem in control of their health. This article was remote patient monitoring easier and to In early January, MedCity News re- existing medications. old, the digital pill company didn’t get Western medicine, it isn’t the only prob- originally published on Mercola.com

ALL PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK germs are difficult—and sometimes -im possible—to treat. In most cases, antibi- More Risks Revealed for otic-resistant infections require extended hospital stays, additional follow-up doctor visits, and costly and toxic alternatives. Antibiotic Exposure in Children Study author Martin Blaser, director of the Center for Advanced Biotechnology New study finds antibiotic use in children 2 and under linked to childhood-onset chronic diseases and Medicine at Rutgers, said the evolution of drug-resistant bacteria illustrated an “unintended” effect of antibiotic overuse. Children 2 years old and under who take otic exposure on the risk of a few adverse multiple diseases, including autism and their children, emphasizing the possible “The increasing prevalence of health con- antibiotics are at greater risk for childhood- health conditions. The researchers looked food allergies. transmission of an unfriendly bacterial ditions that start in childhood has triggered onset chronic diseases such as asthma, at 14,572 children, 70 percent of whom were Previous studies have observed that environment from mother to child. concern about antibiotic exposures during New research allergies, obesity, and ADHD, according prescribed at least one antibiotic in the first short-term or low-dose antibiotic therapy key developmental periods because of their supports the to a new study published in Mayo Clinic two years of life, mostly for respira- can permanently alter the gut micro- The Gut Microbiome Explained impact on the microbiome,” he said in a Proceedings. tory or ear infections. biome, demonstrating that these Mounting evidence reveals that antibiotics statement. hypotheses that the The study joins others that link antibi- They concluded that early commonly prescribed drugs influence not just the function of the immune The findings provide evidence of the otic use and overuse with disease in young antibiotic exposure was shouldn’t be deemed harm- system, but also your ability to fight infec- broad and delayed impact of early child- trillions of symbiotic children, underscoring the need to weigh connected with a greater less but instead should be tions and process food. It’s therefore critically hood exposure to antibiotics, encouraging microorganisms the prudent use of antibiotics against the risk of childhood-onset used with caution, specifi- important to revisit how you use antibiotics. changes in medical practices in prescribing harm they inflict on the gut microbiome asthma, allergic rhini- cally in young children The gut microbiome begins to form in antibiotics—especially for mild conditions, living in and on early in life. tis, eczema or dermati- and pregnant women. utero and during birth and is vulnerable Blaser said. Read more scientific research the body shape the The findings, based on work by research- tis, Celiac disease, obesity A 2019 study had con- to disturbance in the first year of life. Early on antibiotics, along with growing research ers at Mayo Clinic and Rutgers University, or being overweight, and cluded that administering disturbances such as antibiotic exposure on antibiotic resistance, on the GreenMed- early development support the hypotheses that the trillions ADHD—all influenced by antibiotics in the first year of may adversely affect the gut microbiota by Info.com database. of symbiotic microorganisms living in and the number, type, and timing life and through the subjects’ disproportionately changing the bacterial of immunity, on the body that make up the microbiome of the antibiotic exposure. lifetime was linked to the devel- makeup, thus increasing the risk for devel- The GMI Research Group is dedicated to metabolism, and shape the early development of immunity, The risk climbed with more opment of asthma and allergic oping childhood diseases such as allergies. investigating the most important health metabolism, behavior, and other critical antibiotic courses and when rhinitis (hay fever). Prenatal ex- Bacteria have also developed the abil- and environmental issues of the day. behavior. Early use of functions. given earlier in life, particularly antibiotics is linked posure to antibiotics throughout ity to defeat certain drugs in the human Special emphasis will be placed on envi- within the first six months. The to developing pregnancy was also associated arsenal that are designed to kill them, ronmental health. Our focused and deep Early Antibiotic Exposure subjects also had a higher likeli- allergies. with increased odds of atopic heralding the age of antibiotic resistance. research will explore the many ways in and Childhood Health hood of having a combination of dermatitis within the first 18 According to the U.S. Centers for Disease which the present condition of the human The population-based study covered all diseases, especially when given months of life among children Control and Prevention (CDC), antibiotic- body directly reflects the true state of the children born in Olmsted County, Min- multiple prescriptions. Based on varied born by atopic mothers. resistant infections affect at least 2.8 mil- ambient environment. This work is repro- nesota from Jan. 1, 2003, to Dec. 31, 2011. It effects observed according to antibiotic The maternal use of antibiotics during lion people in the United States and kill duced and distributed with the permis- drew information on antibiotic prescrip- type, the study found cephalosporin an- pregnancy was also linked by a separate more than 35,000 annually. sion of GreenMedInfo LLC. Sign up for the A 2019 study had concluded that children exposed to antibiotics in the first year of life were at tions and analyzed the impact of antibi- tibiotics were tied with the highest risk for study to a higher risk of otitis media in Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant newsletter at GreenmedInfo.health greater risk of developing asthma and hay fever. 16B8 | MIND & BODY MONDAY, FEBRUARYWeek 22, 8, 2021 Muscle Loss Leads to Falls— and the Pandemic Is Making It Worse As we age, we lose naturally lose muscle, but sitting around too much accelerates the process

RogeR Fielding This loss isn't just about sagging skin and Previously sedentary people—those re- flabby arms. Loss of muscle mass leads to porting fewer than 20 minutes of physi- lder adults are at much higher Muscle loss can varying degrees of inability to perform cal activity per week—saw the greatest risk of death from COVID-19 lead to falls which daily activities, such as walking. That can benefits. By adding at least 48 minutes of than their younger counter- begin a cascade of effects, including slower physical activity to their weekly routine, parts, but many also face an- then lead to social movement and loss of balance, which also they experienced the biggest reduction in other, less-recognized health restrict a person’s ability to live fully. In disability risk. Orisk associated with the pandemic: loss of isolation and a addition, sarcopenia is associated with in- Other observational studies suggest diet muscle mass. This loss is one of the primary cascade of other flammation, insulin resistance, a drop can also influence age-associated de- reasons for falls—the No. 1 cause of acci- in testosterone and estrogen levels, and clines in muscle mass and strength. Pro- dental death in those 65 and older. consequences. chronic diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes, tein intake may play a role. In one study, Also known as sarcopenia—from the heart disease, and pulmonary disease. older adults taking in the least amount of Greek “sarco,” meaning flesh, and “penia” protein had inflammation scores twice as referring to deficiency or poverty—loss of The Role of Exercise and Diet high as participants who consumed the muscle mass and strength is common There are no FDA-approved medications most protein. among elders, but starts as early as our to treat sarcopenia, but candidate thera- Another study found higher protein in- 30s. Poor diet is a risk factor for sarcope- pies are in the pipeline. In the meantime, take (92.2 grams a day) was associated nia; so is physical inactivity. Now, with a wealth of evidence highlights the posi- with a 30 percent lower risk of increasing gyms closed and community centers on tive benefits of physical activity and proper weakness compared with people taking lockdown, many older people are arguably nutrition to prevent and treat sarcopenia. in only 64.4 grams daily. But further re- more sedentary than ever. All types of exercise offer benefits, but re- search is needed to clearly establish the I lead a team of scientists who study the sistance or strength training works best. role of protein intake and other nutrients role of physical activity and diet on sar- One study of older adults showed walk- in sarcopenia. copenia at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Musle loss is a significant risk ing and low-intensity strength training re- As damaging as the effects of sarcopenia Nutrition Research Center on Aging at factor for falls, the leading duced the risk of major mobility disabil- can be, there still is no universally agreed- Tufts University. Every day, I am struck by cause of accidental death in ity when compared with a health education upon clinical test for it. However, imaging how this condition affects patients. Not those 65 and older. control group over the course of two years. techniques exist to measure muscle mass, only can sarcopenia lead to falls; it can also along with tools to assess strength and lead to social isolation resulting from the physical functioning. Measures of muscle falls, which can have a cascade of negative strength are closely associated with usual health consequences on older people. This walking speed and the time it takes to rise is yet another example of the devastation from a chair. caused by the pandemic. Another issue is that despite all the stud- ies, many clinicians remain unaware of Of Muscles and Men, and Women this syndrome. Maybe one of the best Sarcopenia isn't unique to the time of CO- ways to combat this condition is to edu- VID-19, however. As people age, they will cate them about sarcopenia—and just lose muscle mass and strength as part of as critically, provide them with practi- the natural aging process. When people cal guidelines about appropriate physi- lose muscle mass, it's replaced by fat and cal activity and proper nutrition for their fibrous tissue, resulting in muscles looking patients. Seniors, and their loved ones, like marbled steak. The rate of decline var- deserve to know the risks. ies, with inactive seniors losing more than others. Researchers estimate that, gener- Roger Fielding is a lab director and senior ally, those between ages 60 and 70 have lost scientist at Tufts University in Massachu- 12 percent of their muscle mass, with those setts. This article was originally published over 80 having lost 30 percent. on The Conversation. MichaelheiM/shutterstock

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