Julian Omidi Reports on World Cancer Day 2013

Julian Omidi reports on World Cancer Day 2013 and how it is being used to dispel myths and sterotypes. Julian Omidi focuses on how these myths and stereotypes often relate to the impoverished.

Today, February 4th, is World Cancer Day, which focuses primarily on one of eleven targets of the World Cancer Declaration: dispelling myths and misconceptions that are damaging to the understanding of cancer risks and risk groups.

The World Cancer Declaration is a tool designed by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to bring attention of the growing cancer crisis to health policymakers and government leaders in an effort to “reduce the global cancer burden by 2020.” Included in the declaration are 11 targets, which include:

• Ensure Effective Delivery Systems in All Countries
• Significantly Improve Measurement of Cancer Burden
• Decrease Tobacco, Alcohol Consumption, and Obesity
• Ensure Universal Coverage of the HPV/HBV Vaccine
• Dispel Damaging Myths and Misconceptions

With deaths caused by cancer accounting for more deaths than HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined, cancer has become a significant issue worldwide. The specific goal of World Cancer Day is to focus on dispelling 4 common myths about cancer.

1. Cancer Is Just a Health Issue – No one is denying that cancer is a health issue, but it directly relates to the abilities of individuals and nations in other areas as well. One of these areas is that of poverty, of which cancer can be both a cause and outcome. Between the negative impact that cancer can have on the ability of a family or individual to earn and the high costs of treatment for the disease, many people can be put into poverty as a result. Additionally, those in poverty often lack proper access to healthcare and education, which has been show to increase risk and morbidity for cancer.
2. Cancer Is a Disease of the Wealthy, Elderly, and Developed Countries – Many people believe that cancer only affects developed, wealthy nations, but that is not the case. In 2008 more than 55% of the 7.6 million global deaths caused by cancer occurred in developing countries. In the case of cervical cancer for example, 85% of deaths from the disease occur in developing nations.
   
3. Cancer Is a Death Sentence – While cancer certainly poses a significant danger to one’s life, developed nations have made great strides in treating cancer effectively; just in the US more than 12 million people are living with cancer, the reduction of mortality for breast and cervical cancer has been significant in the last several decades, and there are more cost-effective strategies for treatment than ever before. With commitment and work these same reductions can be seen in developing countries as well.
4. Cancer is My Fate – Prevention is the best way toward reducing the global burden of cancer, specifically when it comes to lung cancer. By addressing tobacco use, which accounts for almost one-third of lung cancer deaths, the number of people that die or even contract cancer can be significantly lowered. In developing nations, addressing cancer-causing infections is the most important issue, including hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human papillomavirus (HPV).

Help spread the message that while cancer may affect anyone in the world, it is neither a death sentence or fate for you or anyone you love. Share this article to your Twitter or Facebook profiles to spread knowledge of the facts, not the myths, behind cancer on World Cancer Day.

By Julian Omidi

Julian Omidi Tracks the Flu Season and It’s Arrival in Los Angeles

Julian Omidi looks at the severe outbreak of the flu that has affected the United States and is poised to strike Los Angeles. Julian Omidi also looks at preventative measures you can take and what to look out for during this particularly dangerous flu season.

If you look on your social media accounts you will no dobut know someone (or several people) keeping the world apprised of their battle with the flu; excessive vomiting, fatigue, the sweats. The flu this season has so far accounted for over 2,200 hospitalizations throughout the country and has very tragically resulted in the deaths of 18 children.

Since October 1st Boston alone has seen 700 confirmed cases of influenza, and the flu is set to hit Los Angeles with the L.A. County Department of Public Health advising in a statement this week that:

“Flu activity is now on the rise and expected to get worse over the next few weeks.”

The department has released some of the following information to help you stay safe during this particularly volatile and dangerous flu season in Los Angeles.

• If you know someone who has contracted the flu you can expect them to be contagious for about five days after becoming sick, so take extra precaution around these individuals especially if they reside with you.
• Frequently washing your hands as well as avoiding contact whenever possible with your nose, eyes, and mouth will help prevent the spread of germs.
• Seriously consider getting a flu shot. Many pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS offer flu shots at a discount or free of charge to those without health insurance.
• Those for which the flu presents a paricularly dangerous risk include women who are pregnant, adults over the age of 65, those experiencing chronic medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, and those living or working in long-term care facilities, day care, or health care.

Due to the fact that the flu season hit earlier this year many contracted it during the winter holidays, though officials warn that with flu seasons often extending into May that to think the worst is already over is not a mistake to make this year; deaths from a particularly strong flu season can reach close to 50,000 and see hospitalizations climb near 200,000.

Be safe and take all of the necessary precautions to avoid the flu season this year in Los Angeles.

By Julian Omidi

How California Stacks Up in America’s Health Rankings 2012

As a resident of Los Angeles I was interested to see how the state of California stands up with the release of America’s Health Rankings for 2012. Overall the state has maintained its spot at 22nd, though there has been improvement in several areas, though it has also seen increased disparities in certain areas as well. Here is how California stands among the other states of the nation and itself a year previously.

Smoking

Over the last five years California has seen the percentage of its over 18 population quit smoking on a regular basis. The state currently ranks 2nd in the category of smoking, indicating that only one other state (Utah) has smoking rates lower than California’s 13.8%. Some of this can be attributed to the fact that California has some of the most restrictive smoking laws in the nation. Of the total population of 37,691,912 in California about 3.9 million adults smoke on a regular basis.

Obesity

In the category of obesity California ranks 5th with 23.8% of the total population categorized as obese. Other states that ranked in the top 5 of states with the lowest obesity ratings included Colorado (20.7%), Hawaii (21.9%), Massachusetts (22.7%), and New Jersey (23.7%). The study found that states with the lowest obesity rankings also had the least amount of its residents living a sedentary lifestyle; in particular California had only about 19.10% of its population living a sedantary lifestyle. Much of the nation had obesity percentages over 30. Overall the entire country has seen an increase of the obesity rate over the last decade.

Graduation Rate

Unfortunately along with successes in smoking and obesity there are challenges to the overall health of the state such as the graduation rate, which California ranks 42nd out of all 50 states. The graduation rate in California is approximately 71%; comparatively Wisconsin has a graduation rate of over 90%. Many neighboring states such as Nevada and Arizona have low graduation rates as well at 56.3% abd 72.5% respectively. As California is the largest state by population in the U.S. it is difficult to find another state by which it can easily be compared; the next largest state by population – Texas – has approximately 25,674,681 residents and a graduation rate of 75.4%.

Infectious Disease

California also ranks low among states in the category of infectious disease. Here California ranks 46th out of all 50 states. As qualified by the study the category “Infectious Disease” is defined as, “number of AIDS, tuberculosis and Hepatitis (A and B) cases reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention per 100,000 population.” The percentage of these reportings was approximately 17% within the state of California.

The United Health Foundation has provided an excellent resource at http://americashealthrankings.org/CA/ that provides extremely detailed information for all 50 states not only for 2012 but also including every year from 1990 until now, allowing you to track the course of certain issues in specific states or across the nation in a simple but effective graphic. To learn more about why California ranked 22nd, or how your state ranked among the others in the nation visit their site.

By Julian Omidi

Julian Omidi Reports on Pregnancy Test Used to Identify Testicular Cancer

Julian Omidi is one of many people that was made aware of a man that used a pregnancy test to identify testicular cancer. Here, Julian Omidi reviews  how this happened, but more importantly, how this relates to the benefits of communication and awareness that are available thanks to modern technology and social media.

Most people are aware of this story at this point, but for those who are unfamiliar with it here is a brief review: A man took a pregnancy test as a laugh only to see that it came up positive. A friend of this man made a humorous cartoon out of the situation and posted it to Reddit, a website that features user-generated news links. Users left comments on the post informing the cartoonist that because pregnancy tests identify the hCG hormone, which not only indicates pregnancy but testicular cancer as well, the man would benefit from visiting the doctor. When the man did visit the doctor he found that he had a small tumor in his testicle, though luckily it was a very early and curable tumor.

Though in this instance the pregnancy test did allow the man to identify that he had cancer, this is not a recommended procedure for identifying testicular cancer. False-positive pregnancy tests are very common, especially when compared to the actual number of cases of testicular cancer that appear in men each year (roughly 5.4 per 100,000 men). What is most interesting about this case is the ability for individuals to get questions to medical issues answered relatively quickly by using websites and social media.

While it is always preferable to consult a trained doctor about any medical issues, many individuals now are able to identify potential health problems through websites like WebMD, eHealthForum, Ask, and many more. On social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter cancer patients, for example, can connect with cancer survivors and find out how to manage nausea during chemotherapy treatment, or gain insight into the likelihood of side effects experienced on specific medications.

We are lucky to live in an age of information sharing, and while there is a great degree of misinformation provided by these same tools, the benefits often outweigh the liabilities.

By

Julian Omidi

Source:

DeNoon, Daniel. “WebMD Newsroom.” WebMD.com. WebMD, 12 Nov. 2012. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://blogs.webmd.com/breaking-news/2012/11/pregnancy-test-reveals-testicular-cancer.html&gt;.

Julian Omidi on Exercise and Brain Shrinkage

Julian Omidi is cofounder of the charitable organization No More Poverty with his brother Dr. Michael Omidi.  No More Poverty seeks to end global deprivation by supporting small charities who are already working to eradicate it.  In this article, Julian Omidi discusses a recent study that suggests physical exercise may help prevent brain atrophy as we grow older.

As we age, it is important to keep our physical and mental faculties strong.  This is thought to be achieved by engaging in social activities, reading, solving puzzles and getting regular exercise.  However, a new study seems to suggest that physical exercise may play a greater role in reducing brain shrinkage than we previously thought.

In an observational study conducted in Edinburgh, researchers followed a group of 70-year-olds who engaged in varying levels of physical and leisure activities.  It was determined that, after three years, the amount of brain atrophy was significantly lower in the subjects that exercised regularly than the subjects who were largely sedentary, but did engage in leisure activities such as crossword puzzles and regular reading.[1]

The subjects’ brains were analyzed on MRI scanners, and tracked the amount of grey matter load, normally occurring white matter load, atrophy and white lesion load.  The participants who exercised regularly displayed a low level of white lesion load and atrophy—conditions that are connected to Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss.

Although further testing must be done (it isn’t known what actually causes the erosion, and if exercise can correct it once it begins) and the sample of participants was small, it can be concluded that exercise is certainly a worthwhile endeavor no matter what your age.  But should we dismiss the merits of brain exercise?

There have been cognitive studies that seem to suggest that memory games, puzzles and social engagements do prevent the accumulation of brain plaque, which is present in those with Alzheimer’s disease.  Subjects that have engaged in mental exercises consistently from their early adulthood into later life exhibited low amounts of brain plaque and higher mental sharpness than those who did not[2].  Interestingly, physical exercise did not seem to affect the onset of brain plaque.

As we live to increasingly older ages, the management of cognitive abilities is paramount in keeping older adults functioning and independent members of society.  The studies may not be by any means conclusive, but it still can be surmised that keeping active and engaged as long as possible can only benefit society at large.

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[1] Gow, Alan J, PhD: “Neuroprotective lifestyles and the aging brain: Activity, atrophy, and white matter integrity” Neurology 6/12/2012 http://www.neurology.org/content/79/17/1802.abstract?sid=e573c7aa-3451-4154-a21b-2a0558023ae4

[2] Landau, Susan M, PhD “Association of Lifetime Cognitive Engagement and Low β-Amyloid Deposition”  The JAMA Network Archives of Neurology May, 2012 http://archneur.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1149704

 

Omidi Brothers’ Julian Omidi on New ADHD Findings

In this article, philanthropist Julian Omidi discusses the recent study concerning children with ADHD, and their lives as adults. Julian Omidi is cofounder of No More Poverty with his brother, Dr. Michael Omidi, MD.

An article recently posted on Reuters and ABC.com reported that children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) tend to fare worse as adults than their non-ADHD peers. In the longest research study ever performed on ADHD, it was determined that ADHD adults have higher incidents of arrest, divorce and drug abuse, tended to earn lower salaries and were less likely to have earned higher degrees[1].

The study began on 300 boys in the late 1970’s.  Half of the boys were diagnosed as being “hyperactive,” and had been given medications which were discontinued by the parents prior to being selected for the study.  The other half did not have any recorded behavioral problems.  After 33 years of following all of the participants, the results were surprising. 36% of the ADHD participants had been to prison at least once, compared to 11% of the non-ADHD group. The average salary was $40,000 less than the non-ADHD group, and 16% of the ADHD group had been diagnosed with a personality disorder, whereas none of the non-ADHD group had[2].

The study does have its detractors, however. The ADHD subjects were chosen before they reached their teens, while the non-ADHD group was selected at the age of 18, and only after they had been proven to never have been subject to behavioral problems. According to Dr. Richard Besser, ABC News chief health and medical editor, the selection process of the non-ADHD group would have eliminated adolescents with low IQ, learning disabilities, victims of abuse or any kind of social personality disorder. This pool doesn’t form an accurate comparison between children with and without ADHD, and might make the results seem more alarming than they would have had the entire selection process taken place at the same age.

Although opinions may differ with regard to the accuracy of the study, it is still believed that children who exhibit symptoms of ADHD should receive treatment; either behavioral or medical, in order to curb risky behavioral impulses and help them to remain engaged in school. Another study, the results of which were released October 15, asked children with ADHD who were taking medications how those medications made them feel.  Many of the subjects reported that their medications helped them feel better and make healthy decisions.  This study was the first of its kind to actually ask kids about their experiences with behavioral medications. The study received its funding from the medical charity Welcome Trust[3].

It is estimated that between 5 and 10 percent of children and adolescents suffer from ADHD.

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[1] Joelving, Frederik: Kids With ADHD Have Dimmer Prospects as Adults: Study Says October 15, 2012 reuters.com http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/15/usa-adhd-idUSL1E8LFMOW20121015

[2] Salahi, Lara: Discontinued Treatment of ADHD Could Impact Emotional, Social Well Being, Study Finds October 16, 2012 ABCnews.go.com http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/boys-suffer-negative-effects-adhd-left-untreated/story?id=17483707#.UH8jUq5c6E4

[3] Kelland, Kate; Reuters: Children With ADHD Say Stimulant Drugs Help Them October 15, 2012 washingtonpost.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/children-with-adhd-say-stimulant-drugs-help-them/2012/10/15/df95543c-16cd-11e2-8792-cf5305eddf60_story.html

Julian Omidi on the Findings of Exercise Memory

In this article, philanthropist Julian Omidi discusses the study suggesting that exercise assists with physical memory retention.  Julian Omidi is cofounder of No More Poverty with his brother, Dr. Michael Omidi, MD.

If you are interested in increasing proficiency in a new skill, jump on a treadmill!

Yes–it seems, according to a recent article in the New York Times, that in addition to providing massive benefits to physical and emotional health and well being, exercise actually improves information retention.

The study consisted of a test group of fit men who were given the task of tracing a trail on a computer screen using a joystick controller.  A portion of the test group exercised vigorously for 15 minutes before the tracing exercise, another portion was made to exercise after the tracing exercise, and the rest were not permitted to exercise at all.  All of the test groups repeated the tracing experiment again one hour, one day and one week later.  The group that exercised after the initial tracing experiment managed to perform the exercise the most accurately, with the group that exercised before the tracing experiment performing slightly less proficiently than the previous group, but still better than those who didn’t exercise at all.  According to the article:

“What this result suggests, says Marc Roig, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen who led the study with his colleague Kasper Skriver, is that physical exercise may help the brain to consolidate and store physical or motor memories. Consolidating a memory is not instantaneous, after all, or even inevitable. Every memory must be encoded and moved from short-term to long-term storage. Some of those memories are, for whatever reason, more vividly imprinted than others.”

So, what does this mean?  The evidence suggests that physical exercise can help with the retention of physical memory.  Physical memory is classified by the association with the memorization of patterns of physical movement, as opposed to intellectual memorization of word patterns or formulas. Previous studies have indicated that exercise does improve the ability to remember, but there hasn’t been any data specifically linked to physical memory.  Now that these results indicate that exercise might strengthen physical memory, the possibilities are legion. Physicians in Copenhagen, where the experiment was conducted, are working with children to find out if engaging them in a workout after their schoolwork helps them to retain information at higher degree accuracy.

It isn’t exactly known what induces the brain to retain memory after exercise; it is suggested that the substances such as noradrenaline released in the brain might have some effect on learning.  However, the timing of the exercise is essential; it must occur immediately after information is first retained.

This exciting discovery might lead to innovations in education and memory rehabilitation after an injury or trauma!

By Julian Omidi

Source:

Reynolds, Gretchen. “How Exercise Can Help You Master New Skills.” NYTimes.com. The New York Times Company, 26 Sept. 2012. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/26/how-exercise-can-help-you-master-new-skills/&gt;.

Julian Omidi Reviews LA Sports Arena’s Free Healthcare Clinic

As a resident of Los Angeles, Julian Omidi wants to review the recent free healthcare clinic held at the LA Sports Arena. Julian Omidi recognizes the importance of helping those without health care, especially the impoverished, which is why he formed No More Poverty with his brother Dr. Michael Omidi, MD.

Yesterday (September 27th) saw the beginning of the fourth annual free health care clinic help at LA Sports Arena. Just shy of 5,000 people are exected to attend the clinic over the weekend, which will see county health workers, doctors, dentists, optometrists, and more providing free care for those in need of health care.

Many of those that assembled at the sports arena had not seen a health care professional in years due to lack of adequate healthcare or any form of healthcare at all. The most heavily trafficked areas included dentists and optometrists, areas that are often not provided for by health insurance or have such a high premium that potential patients can’t afford these benefits.

The massive free health clinic will offer more than just care services as it will also education for patients, preventive services including counseling on nutrition and quitting smoking, connecting these people with follow-up care at various local health centers, and county health workers that will assist people in enrolling in the Healthy Way LA free coverage program to assist many of these people until the national health insurance law takes effect in 2014.

Most of the individuals seeking this assistance are not impoverished and in fact are employed but still cannot afford healthcare, unfortunately; but this is an event that is universal in its approach, as it can aid anyone, impoverished or not. If you are in need of health care and live in the Los Angeles area, please take advantage of this opportunity for the sake of you and your health.

By

Julian Omidi

Sources:

Davis, Katherine. “Intersections South LA | Free Health Care Clinic in South LA Attracts Thousands.” Intersections South LA | Free Health Care Clinic in South LA Attracts Thousands. USC Annenberg, 27 Sept. 2012. Web. 28 Sept. 2012. <http://www.intersectionssouthla.org/index.php/story/free_health_care_clinic_in_south_la_attracts_thousands/&gt;.

Gorman, Anna. “Free Healthcare Clinic at L.A. Sports Arena Draws 4,800.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 27 Sept. 2012. Web. 28 Sept. 2012. <http://www.latimes.com/health/la-me-free-clinic-20120928,0,5290965.story&gt;.

Julian Omidi on the Link Between Education, Income, and Obesity

Julian Omidi is concerned about the increasing rates of obesity in the United States and the most recent projections about that from a new study. Julian Omidi here discusses some of the common issues faced when fighting against obesity.

Recently the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation projects released research that projected about half of the adults in the United States could be obese by the year 2030, less than 20 years from now.

Currently about 35.7% of adults and 16.9% of children are obese in the U.S. Projections could see some states reaching obesity rates as high as 60% with all states seeing rates of at least 44%. Delaware, for example, could see obesity rates as high as 64.7% based on the rate of increase they have experienced since 1999, and that would make it only the third most obese state.

Unfortunately it seems that education and income have been linked to obesity directly. This most recent report found:

“About one-third of adults without a high school diploma were obese, compared with about one-fifth of those who graduated from college or technical college. And one-third of adults who earn less than $15,000 per year are obese, compared to one-quarter of those who earned $50,000 or more per year. The obesity-poverty connection reflects such facts that calorie-dense foods are cheap and that poor neighborhoods have fewer playgrounds, sidewalks and other amenities that encourage exercise.”

This study shows that as contradictory as it may seem, poverty and obesity can be directly related. These findings only further my resolve to assist the impoverished through the not-for-profit organization I founded with my brother Michael Omidi. Our charity No More Poverty works to assist the impoverished in all areas whether they be hungry, homeless, or unhealthy.

These are just projections and we can make change the tide in the fight against obesity through regular exercise and a healthy diet. Hopefully, as a nation, we can keep these projections from coming true.

Julian Omidi Supports The Story Project Because of Benefits of Storytelling

Julian Omidi formed No More Poverty with his brother Michael Omidi to enrich people’s lives. Julian Omidi understands the importance of storytelling, which is why the Omidi Brothers are supporting The Story Project in Los Angeles through No More Poverty.

An article that I read last year has always stuck with me. The article I read was from the New York Times and discussed the benefits that storytelling had on patient health. What was most interesting was that there was information from a study included in the text that had scientific data that pushed the benefits of storytelling beyond anecdotal evidence.

The study, published in The Annals of Internal Medicine, looked at the positive effects of telling and listening to stories on blood pressure and found that not only did all of those in the study see better blood pressure control, but those that suffered from uncontrolled hypertension achieved and maintained a drop in their blood pressure as significant as those that took medication.

Knowing this, think of the benefits that teaching children early on to use storytelling as a healthy mechanism in their lives could have on not only their lives but also on the lives of those around them. This is why I feel it is imperative to support charities such as The Story Project.

To quote Dr. Thomas K. Houston, who led the study:

“Telling and listening to stories is the way we make sense of our lives. Storytelling is human. We learn through stories, and we use them to make sense of our lives. It’s a natural extension to think that we could use stories to improve our health.”

The Story Project provides children with the ability to learn how to tell these stories through increasing literacy. Creative talent throughout Los Angeles volunteers their time and mentor children after-school, relating their skills and their personal experience in order to teach and inspire.

My brother Dr. Michael Omidi and I are proud to provide our support to The Story Project and help in their effort to provide the children of Los Angeles with one of the most important skills in life. Whether these children choose to go into the arts, marketing, history, science, or medicine, the ability to create and understand stories is imperative in all of these fields.

The Omidi Brothers hope that you will support the efforts of programs like The Story Project and others through our not-for-profit No More Poverty. Visit the No More Poverty Facebook page to learn more about this program and others.

Source:

Chen, Pauline W., M.D. “When Patients Share Their Stories, Health May Improve.”NYTimes.com. The New York Times Company, 10 Feb. 2011. Web. 11 Sept. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/health/views/10chen.html?_r=2&emc=eta1&gt;.