(NewsUSA)

By Maria Sophocles, MD 
For NewsUSA

(NewsUSA) - The pandemic created a major shift in the way people consume - and, more importantly, trust - information, especially as it relates to vaginal health. In fact, a new survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of RepHresh of 2,000 American women age 24-34 reveals that two in five women named Google as their go-to source of information over a physician when experiencing discomfort or vaginal health symptoms.

Many women are also turning to social media for health advice. For example, on TikTok, hashtags relating to the words "sex education" have over 70 million views. A now infamous TikTok video, providing a tutorial on how to relieve constipation through "vaginal splinting" has racked up over 3 million views and the latest popular #icecubechallenge claims to tighten the vagina and curb bacterial overgrowth.

While these trending DIY/at-home medical hacks can be entertaining, many of these practices are not only ineffective at controlling the natural balance of good and bad bacteria, but can be dangerous and cause more harm than good. Melting an ice cube in the vagina can elevate the natural pH balance and trigger a bacterial infection as the pH of water (7.5-8) is higher than the normal vaginal pH (3.5-4.5). And, while vaginal splinting is a scientific method used by medical professionals, experts caution trying it at home as it poses a risk of bacterial spread if not done properly.

The RepHresh survey found that over half (51%) thought a vagina should have a neutral pH, and only 12% correctly identified "moderately acidic" as the ideal pH balance. In addition, the top three most Googled phrases and questions respondents needed answers about included "vaginal discharge" (44%), "do I have a yeast infection?" (39%) and "vaginal odor" (37%).

With an uptick in misinformation, most women frequently misdiagnose their vaginal symptoms. That's why it's more critical than ever that women turn to trusted health care professionals for advice, proper diagnosis and remedies for the actual problem.

Here are a few important things women might not know, but need to know to maintain good vaginal health:

1. Vaginal odor is completely normal and should not be a cause for alarm. Refrain from using unnecessary scented products, including wipes and washes that claim to eliminate odor with fruity or flowery fragrances, as this will not solve the root cause of the issue, which is an unbalanced pH. Do look for clinically-backed and doctor-recommended products for vaginal health, such as over-the-counter RepHresh Gel, which rebalances pH to a healthy range, eliminates odor, and lasts up to three days.

2. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections can present similar symptoms, such as unusual vaginal discharge and discomfort, so when women run to the drug store and buy an OTC yeast medication such as Monistat, they are not addressing the root cause of the problem. Two out of three times it is BV, which must be treated with an antibiotic from their health care provider. But, antibiotics can kill the good and bad bacteria and cause a yeast infection, so make sure to take a vaginal probiotic once a day such as RepHresh Pro-B as it contains 2 strains of vaginal lactobacilli to keep the vaginal flora in balance and eat foods high in probiotics like a healthy no-sugar-added Greek yogurt, kefir, kimchi, or miso.

3. High sugar and alcohol intake can elevate pH imbalances and contribute to an overgrowth of yeast. Maintain a healthy moderation of sugary drinks and junk food as excess amounts not only impact vaginal health, but overall weight gain and wellness.

4. Vaginal discharge is a completely normal function in which the vagina naturally removes old cells to keep the environment healthy and clean. Some women have more discharge, while others might experience very little, and it can change in color and thickness depending on the ovulation cycle. However, discharge accompanied with itching, burning, fishy odor, swelling, unusual color, or pelvic pain should be brought to a doctor's attention as it can be a bacterial infection or STI and must be treated appropriately.

Before trying something new, consult with your healthcare provider especially when things seem off to ensure the safety and efficacy of the method or product you are considering. And, don't miss your annual OB/GYN visit.

Maria Sophocles, MD, OB/GYN is the Medical Director of Women's Healthcare of Princeton in Princeton, NJ.

(NewsUSA) -Durante la pandemia, Geraldine Bradshaw, directora de escuela en Durham, North Carolina, trabajó como voluntaria para un ensayo clínico que evaluaba una de las vacunas contra el COVID-19. Dice que sus estudiantes la motivaron a hacerlo y, a su vez, quiso motivar a los afroamericanos, como ella. "Me dio la posibilidad de ayudar a allanar el camino para que estos niños tengan un futuro mejor", dice Bradshaw, "y mostrarles lo importante que es que personas como ellos contribuyan con el progreso de la ciencia".

Ahora, Bradshaw puede ver cómo su participación dio frutos, dado que la mitad de los adultos se ha vacunado por completo.

"La ciencia es parte de la solución para poner fin a esta pandemia", dice Gary H. Gibbons, M.D., director del Instituto Nacional del Corazón, los Pulmones y la Sangre, que forma parte de los Institutos Nacionales de la Salud (NIH, por sus siglas en inglés).

Y a lo largo del camino, en cada paso hacia el descubrimiento científico, la seguridad está primero. La seguridad es una guía constante en el camino científico hacia las vacunas y los tratamientos. La seguridad marca la dirección para los líderes científicos, como Gibbons, que evalúan y financian la investigación. La seguridad y la ciencia, informa también el reclutamiento de voluntarios - como Bradshaw- quienes colaboran con los investigadores y participan en los ensayos clínicos, delimitan la supervisión rigurosa y continua de los estudios, determinan la aprobación reglamentaria, encaminan las iniciativas de participación en las comunidades y guían a los médicos, enfermeras y enfermeros que trasladan estos descubrimientos a los pacientes.

Sin embargo, los mitos y la información engañosa han generado dudas, confusión y desconfianza. Esto ha dado lugar a esfuerzos para que muchas comunidades, en especial las más afectadas por el COVID-19, hablen sobre por qué deben confiar en la ciencia detrás de las nuevas vacunas y tratamientos.

"Informar a la gente de mi comunidad sobre la seguridad y la eficacia de estas vacunas, y cómo funcionan, es mi pasión", dice Ian Moore, Ph.D., uno de los jefes de patologías infecciosas del Instituto Nacional de Alergias y Enfermedades Infecciosas, también parte de los NIH, quien supervisa la seguridad en las primeras fases de investigación de las vacunas en el laboratorio.

Moore no está solo. "Puedo decir con plena certeza que esta vacuna es segura y eficaz", dice Lisa A. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., profesora de medicina y salud pública de la Universidad Johns Hopkins, quien evaluó y supervisó el ensayo clínico de la vacuna de Moderna contra el COVID-19, la cual probó ser segura y tener un 94% de eficacia para prevenir el desarrollo de una enfermedad grave. "Mi función me permite disipar cualquier preocupación que planteen familiares y amigos, y asegurarme de que sigan confiando en la ciencia".

Y para muchos otros que velan por la seguridad e integridad del proceso de investigación, es un tema personal.

"Parte de mi función como médica en enfermedades infecciosas es desarrollar determinados protocolos clínicos", dice Katya Corado, M.D., investigadora del Instituto Lundquist. "Puedo proporcionar información segura a nuestras comunidades que han sido devastadas por el COVID. Ya no quiero ver a mis padres, mis abuelos o mis primos morir a causa del COVID".

Nuestros esfuerzos de alcance a la comunidad han ayudado. De acuerdo con una encuesta realizada por el Pew Research Center en febrero, aproximadamente el 70 % de todos los adultos y el 61 % de los adultos afroamericanos tiene previsto vacunarse, en comparación con el 60 % de todos los adultos y el 42 % de los adultos negros encuestados en noviembre.

Y según los Centros de Control y Prevención de Enfermedades, de los más de 123 millones de adultos que fueron vacunados por completo en mayo, aproximadamente 1949, menos del .001 %, presentó un caso grave de COVID-19.

Como mensajero de confianza de su comunidad, Olveen Carrasquillo, M.D., M.P.H., jefe de medicina interna general de la Universidad de Miami, difunde este tipo de noticias a través de iniciativas de alcance a la comunidad. "Como médico de la comunidad latina, con más de 20 años de experiencia, es muy importante para mí que nuestras comunidades tan afectadas reciban la atención y la educación que necesitan y merecen", manifiesta. "Para asegurar que mi comunidad sobreviva al COVID-19, debo instruir a los pacientes, familiares y amigos sobre la ciencia relacionada con el COVID-19 y el desarrollo de las vacunas".

Y Chyke Doubeni, M.D., médico de familia de la Mayo Clinic y participante en el ensayo de la vacuna, expresa: "Ahora les digo a todos, con certeza, que vacunarse es seguro. Lo sé porque yo he estado involucrado."

Para más información acerca de la ciencia y los recursos relacionados con el COVID-19 en su comunidad, visite https://covid19community.nih.gov/espanol.

(NewsUSA) - During the pandemic, Geraldine Bradshaw, a school principal in Durham, North Carolina, volunteered for a clinical trial that tested one of the COVID-19 vaccines. She says her students inspired her to do so and she in turn wanted to inspire African Americans like herself. "It gave me the power to help pave a way for these children to have a better future," Bradshaw says, "and show them how important it is that people who look like them aid in the progression of science."

Now, Bradshaw can see how her participation paid off, as half of adults are fully vaccinated.

"Science is part of the solution to ending this pandemic," says Gary H. Gibbons, M.D., director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health.

And at every step on the pathway to scientific discovery, safety leads the way. Safety always guides the scientific pathway toward vaccines and treatments. Safety steers scientific leaders like Gibbons, who review and fund research. Safety, and science also inform recruitment of volunteers like Bradshaw, who partners with researchers and participate in clinical trials, frames the rigorous and continuous oversight of studies, determines regulatory approval, guides engagement efforts in communities, and directs doctors and nurses who bring these discoveries to patients.

Yet myths and misleading information have generated questions, confusion, and mistrust. This has spurred an effort for many communities, especially those hit hardest by COVID-19, to talk about why they should trust the science behind new vaccines and treatments.

"It is my passion to communicate the safety and efficacy of these vaccines, and how they work, to people in the community," says Ian Moore, Ph.D., a chief of infectious disease pathology at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, also part of the NIH, who oversaw safety at the earliest stages of vaccine research in the lab.

Moore's in good company. "I can say with the utmost confidence that this vaccine is safe and effective," says Lisa A. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., a professor of medicine and public health at Johns Hopkins University, who reviewed and monitored Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine trial, which proved safe and 94% effective at preventing severe illness. "My role allows me to ease any concerns raised by family and friends and make sure they continue to trust the science."

And for many others on the scientific pathway, it's personal.

"Part of my role as an infectious disease physician is developing certain clinical protocols," says Katya Corado, M.D., a researcher at the Lundquist Institute. "I am able to confidently provide details to our communities which have been devastated by COVID. I no longer want to see my parents, my grandparents, or my cousins dying of COVID."

This type of outreach only seems to help. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in February, nearly 70% of all adults and 61% of Black adults planned to get vaccinated compared to 60% of all adults and 42% of Black adults polled in November.

And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among the more than 123 million adults who were fully vaccinated in May, approximately 1,949, less than .001%, reported severe COVID-19 illness.

As a trusted messenger within his community, Olveen Carrasquillo, M.D., M.P.H., a chief of general internal medicine at the University of Miami, shares this type of news through community-engaged outreach. "As a Latino physician, with more than 20 years of experience, it is very important to me that our hardest-hit communities receive the care and education they need and deserve," he says. "To ensure my community survives COVID-19, I educate my patients, family, and friends on the science surrounding COVID-19 and vaccine development."

And Chyke Doubeni, M.D., a family physician at the Mayo Clinic and a vaccine trial participant, shares, "I now tell everybody with confidence, that getting the vaccine is safe. I know, because I was involved."

To learn more about COVID-19 science and resources in your community, visit https://covid19community.nih.gov.

(NewsUSA)

(NewsUSA)

By Maria Sophocles, MD 
For NewsUSA

(NewsUSA) - The data for the safety and effectiveness of the various COVID-19 vaccines continue to rise, and cases continue to fall as more individuals get vaccinated. If you or someone you love has been hesitant to get vaccinated, take the opportunity now to learn more and take action to protect your health and the health of those around you.

The American Heart Association encourages individuals who may have skipped doctor visits for chronic conditions or general checkups during the pandemic to make those appointments, and they can get vaccinated, too.

"It is safe to go to the doctor for wellness exams and for treatment for existing health conditions. Health care professionals have plans to keep you and medical staff safe even during a pandemic," according to Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, M.D., 2021-2022 volunteer president of the American Heart Association.

Individuals with chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease can safely continue with checkups, which are essential to maintaining health. Even for those without chronic conditions, routine doctor visits are important to stay healthy and strong.

An in-person doctor visit is not only safe, it is now an excellent opportunity to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Many doctors' offices are receiving doses of COVID-19 vaccines that can be given quickly and easily in the office setting. Vaccination is especially important for individuals with chronic conditions who are at increased risk for serious complications from COVID-19 if they get sick.

Children ages 12 years and older are now eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and the American Heart Association encourages parents to get their children vaccinated, too. Doing so will help slow the spread of the virus and allow children to resume more of their normal pre-pandemic activities.

For those who still do not feel comfortable with a doctor's office visit, take advantage of the expanded options for online checkups and check-ins via Zoom, FaceTime, or other platforms. The health care community is here to help everyone be well and live their best life.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fully-vaccinated individuals can resume most of their pre-pandemic lifestyle and activities, while continuing to follow any local guidance.

For the latest information about how you can get healthy, stay healthy and protect you and your family from COVID-19, visit www.heart.org/pandemic.

(NewsUSA)

(NewsUSA) - Witnessing a cardiac arrest can be frightening, but don't be afraid to take action -- two simple steps can save a life.

Each year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital or emergency department, according to the American Heart Association. When someone experiences cardiac arrest, immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can make the difference between life and death. In fact, immediate CPR can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim's chance of survival.

Many people still think that effective CPR involves mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as well as chest compressions, and they may be hesitant to perform it, but that is not the case.

Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be as effective as the conventional CPR for cardiac arrests in the home, office, or in public places in the first few minutes until more advanced help arrives.

"By equipping people with Hands-Only CPR training, they learn how easy the technique is and there is a comfort level that will help them overcome concerns that cause hesitation to act in an emergency," say Raina Merchant, Chair, American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care.

Hands-only CPR includes just two simple steps.

- First, call 911.

- Second, push hard and fast in the center of the chest of the individual having a cardiac arrest. How hard to push? At least 2 inches. How fast? That's easy. Use the beat of a familiar song that has 100 to 120 beats per minute. For example, the classic disco hit, "Stayin' Alive" can help you stay on pace, but anything with a similar tempo will do.

To help promote the lifesaving value of Hands-Only CPR, the American Heart Association has partnered with the Anthem Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Anthem, Inc., in a public service campaign, "The Power is in Your Hands," to encourage everyone to learn Hands-Only CPR.

"Approximately 70 percent of cardiac arrests happen at home, and CPR can double or even triple chances of survival if performed immediately," said Shantanu Agrawal, M.D., Chief Health Officer at Anthem, Inc. "Together with the American Heart Association, the Anthem Foundation remains focused on working to increase the number of people who learn Hands-Only CPR. By providing greater access to training we can help increase the number of people who are prepared to respond in case of an emergency and for some, that could mean saving the life of someone they love."

The American Heart Association offers a 90-second livestream instructional video demonstration of Hands-Only CPR, as well as a new CPR first-aid app that anyone can download onto a phone.

Visit heart.org/handsonlycpr for more information.