05/09/24 - #126

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • U.S. Orders Cow Testing for Bird Flu After Grocery Milk Tests Positive

  • Wegovy Helps Those With Both Diabetes, Heart Failure: Study

  • New Research Found a Healthy Lifestyle May Offset Genetics by 60% and Add Five Years to Life. Genetics Alone Can Mean a 21% Greater Risk of Early Death, but People Can Improve Their Chances

  • Toward Insulin-free Type 1 Diabetes: New Treatments That May Slow Down the Disease. The European Medicines Agency is Considering Approving the First Drug That Has Been Shown to Delay the Onset of Symptoms

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

U.S. Orders Cow Testing for Bird Flu After Grocery Milk Tests Positive

After finding bird flu in milk sold in stores, the U.S. government is taking action to keep people safe. They now require cows that make milk to be tested for the virus before they're moved between states. This rule aims to stop the virus from spreading and make sure milk is safe to drink.

Experts say that even though they found traces of bird flu in the milk, the process of pasteurization, which heats milk to kill germs, should make it safe to drink. But they're doing more tests to double-check.

Bird flu usually comes from wild birds, but it's also found in cows now. To stop it from spreading more, the government is watching sick cows closely and not letting them move around much.

Although the virus was found in some cow parts, like raw milk, it hasn't spread easily between cows in the air. But scientists are still studying how it moves around.

The government wants to make sure milk is safe to drink and prevent people from getting sick. By testing cows and watching farms closely, they're working to keep bird flu from spreading and keep milk safe to drink.

In short, the government is taking steps to keep us safe from bird flu. They're checking milk and cows to make sure we can trust what we drink and to stop the virus from spreading in the dairy industry.

WEIGHT LOSS

Wegovy Helps Those With Both Diabetes, Heart Failure: Study

A recent study found that a weight loss drug called Wegovy could help people with both Type 2 diabetes and a common type of heart failure. This heart condition happens when the heart doesn't fill properly, even though it pumps normally.

Traditionally, treating this condition involved lifestyle changes and heart medications. But, there weren't specific therapies for it. However, Wegovy seems to offer a new treatment option.

In the study, over 600 participants with Type 2 diabetes and heart failure were involved. Those who took Wegovy saw significant improvements compared to those who didn't. They lost more weight and had fewer symptoms and physical limitations related to heart failure.

Wegovy users also showed improvements in markers for inflammation and other health issues. They had fewer bad events, like hospital visits. This was compared to those who didn't take Wegovy.

These findings are important. More people are getting this type of heart failure. The study suggests that Wegovy might not only help with weight loss but also with the heart condition itself.

We need more research to confirm these findings. It should see if they apply to other groups. But this study gives hope for better ways to treat heart failure. It shows that fighting obesity could be key.

HEALTH

New Research Found a Healthy Lifestyle May Offset Genetics by 60% and Add Five Years to Life. Genetics Alone Can Mean a 21% Greater Risk of Early Death, but People Can Improve Their Chances

A recent study revealed some exciting news. Living a healthy lifestyle could undo the effects of genetics by up to 60%. This may give you an extra five years of life. This study, the first of its kind, shows how important our daily habits are for how long we live.

While genes play a part in how long we might live, this study shows that what we do each day matters a lot too. Things like not smoking, being active, getting good sleep, and eating well all make a big difference.

The study looked at data from over 350,000 people over many years. It found that even if someone has genes that might make their life shorter, living healthily could balance that out.

The researchers say this study shows that public health efforts to encourage healthy living could really help people live longer, no matter their genes.

But what does it mean to live healthily? It means not smoking, staying active, getting enough sleep, and eating well.

Despite the influence of genes, this study gives hope. It shows that no matter what our genes say, we can make choices to improve our health and maybe live longer.

In short, this study tells us that making healthy choices today could mean more years of life tomorrow.

Toward Insulin-free Type 1 Diabetes: New Treatments That May Slow Down the Disease. The European Medicines Agency is Considering Approving the First Drug That Has Been Shown to Delay the Onset of Symptoms

Living with Type 1 diabetes usually means daily insulin shots, but there's promising news on the way. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is considering a new drug. It could delay symptoms, giving hope to those with this condition.

Families like Maria Rego's, whose son Samuel has Type 1 diabetes, know the routine of checking blood sugar and giving insulin. But new treatments offer a brighter outlook.

One breakthrough is teplizumab, also known as Tzield. It's shown good results in tests by targeting the immune system's attack on insulin-making cells. This might slow down Type 1 diabetes for a few years, giving a break from daily insulin shots, especially for kids and teens.

If teplizumab gets EMA approval, it'd be a big step forward, shifting focus from just managing symptoms to preventing the disease. And there are other treatments in development too, offering hope for a future with less reliance on insulin.

But there are challenges. Figuring out who might get Type 1 diabetes is tricky. Screening tests exist, but they're not widely available and can be costly.

Despite these hurdles, families dealing with Type 1 diabetes are hopeful. They dream of a life where insulin isn't such a big part of daily life. For people like Maria Rego, the idea of a future where Type 1 diabetes isn't so overwhelming is something worth looking forward to.

✢ A Note From Hem Hero

The information in this health newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. The publishers are not responsible for any actions taken by the reader based on the information provided.