Skin Cancer A Risk, But We All Need To Get Some Sunlight

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Of course, it has been proven that spending too much time in the sun without proper covering and/or sunscreen increases your risk of skin cancer.  But don’t avoid sunlight altogether, or it can put your circadian rhythm (which acts like a clock to keep nearly every organ and system on a 24-hour cycle) off.  Sunlight tells your body to start the day and keeps you awake and feeling energized.  It also helps regulate the appetite.  As the sun sets, your circadian clock releases sleep-promoting hormones.  Studies have shown that people in their 50’s and 60’s get less than an hour per day of sunlight.  At a bare minimum, experts recommend you go outside every morning for 15-30 minutes and again in the late afternoon or early evening.

Great News For Those With Hearing Loss

A blue and white background with different types of hearing aids.


There is good news for those suffering from hearing loss—you can now buy a hearing aid without having a doctor’s examination or a prescription, thanks to a new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rule.  It allows for the retail sale of hearing aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.  A report by the Federal Government estimated that 28.8 million people could benefit from a hearing aid, but currently only 1 out of 5 people who need one get it.

FTC Says Companies Using Sophisticating Technology To Invade Privacy

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a report recently about how companies deploy “dark patterns†in advertising for enticing potential customers, manipulating them into buying their products while at the same time giving up their privacy.  The report came following a 2018 lawsuit against Lending Club Corp. which eventually agreed to pay out nearly $10 million to 61,990 consumers who were charged hidden fees while the company advertised that there were hidden fees.  In fact, Lending Club was slicing money right off the top as the loan was being funded.  The FTC outlined three principles companies must follow or risk being sued by the FTC:

Disclose clearly and accurately the material terms of the sale contract such as costs, deadlines to cancel, frequency of charges, and disclosure of essential information;

Obtain the customer’s informed consent before the payment is made; and

Provide an easy and simple cancellation process.

 

 

 

 

Standardized Food Nutrition Labeling System Coming Soon


As part of its 44-page strategy plan, the Biden administration is requiring the Food and Drug Administration, the FDA, to come up with a food labeling system which is consumer friendly and will help people make better choices as it relates to building a healthy, nutritional diet.  The move will help consumers who rank low on nutrition literacy, to quickly and easily identify better food choices.  The label can use graphic images like star ratings or traffic lights to make the new system easily understandable. The policy is designed with two goals in mind.  The first is to help consumers understand what is right and what is wrong with a product.  The second is to encourage packaged food manufacturers to make more nutritious products.

 

Swing By The Farmers Market By Alliance On Aging In Salinas


Please swing by The HUB – Alliance on Aging at 236 Monterey Street in Salinas on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  You will find fresh affordable farmers market quality products.  Cash or EBT accepted. For more information, call 831-646-5050 or go to www.allianceonaging.org/hub/

Register For Alliance On Aging’s Monthly Luncheon

A turkey sitting on top of a wooden board.


Make new friends and bring a reusable bag and take home some fresh produce compliments of the Monterey County Food Bank at the Alliance on Aging’s luncheon.  Make your reservations by Friday, October 28 at 646-4931 or 646-5060 for the Alliance on Aging’s next one which will be held on November 1, the doors open at 11:00 a.m. and lunch is served at noon at St. Ansgar’s Lutheran Church at 72 East San Joaquin Street in Salinas.  This one will have a Thanksgiving theme, with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry sauce and bread and butter.  Desert and beverages are included with your $12 donation.

Telemedicine Is Here To Stay

A person holding a stethoscope in front of a laptop.


Telemedicine became very popular during the pandemic, although most patients now expect that sort of flexibility with their physicians.  The technology has gotten dramatically better over the last couple of years.  In a recent survey by McKinsey & Company, only 9% of those reporting negative aspects of an online doctor visit cited technical difficulties as a cause.  Cookies play an important role for repeat visitors.  “We realized there is a lot of cognitive overload for patients,†Lee Schwamm, VP of digital patient experience and virtual care at Mass General Brigham, told the Wall Street Journal.  “It is stressful to have to find an email, a link and a password when you are getting ready for an appointment with your doctor,†he said.  Since most patients login just minutes before an appointment, there is very little time to help people who are having technical problems.  In a 2021 McKinsey Physician Survey, 45% of doctors surveyed said that they invested in telehealth during the pandemic, and 41% said they have the technology to deliver telehealth seamlessly.  Doctors, however, are not fully on board with telemedicine.  In another McKinsey study earlier this year, two-thirds of doctors polled identified shortcomings in the system.  Their biggest complaint is the lack of an in-person visit.  “There are some conditions where I need a physical exam to make a decision on a patient’s care,†Keith Sale, VP of ambulatory services at the University of Kansas Health Systems, told the Wall Street Journal.

Reduce Stress, Reduce Insomnia

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As we grow older we often sleep less.  However, if you are having trouble falling asleep, it may be stress related.  About a third of Americans suffer from at least periodic insomnia, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).  In most cases, sleep issues resolve on their own.  But if it lasts for a month or longer, it’s considered a chronic condition (which affects about 1 in 10).  Lack of sleep can feed on itself.  Lying awake night after night can create anxiety about falling asleep, which serves to exacerbate the insomnia.  “This is something I see in almost all of my patients with insomnia,†Joshua Tal, a clinical sleep and health psychologist, told AARP Bulletin.  Avoid anything with caffeine after noon, and try not to eat late as our bodies digest food more slowly as we age.

Amazon Continues It’s Expansion Into HealthCare

A person holding a stethoscope in front of a laptop.


Amazon.com is buying an operator of primary-care clinics called 1Life Healthcare Inc. in a $3.9 billion deal.  It operates an array of primary-care practices under the name One Medical.  This is the first major acquisition during the tenure of CEO Andy Jassy, who has stated a key objective of the company is to expand more into health care.  Once the deal closes, Amazon will operate 180 medical offices in 25 U.S. markets and work with more than 8,000 companies to provide employees with both in-person and virtual care.

Many Hospitals Not Sticking To Required Patient Safety Standards

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A new study by Northwestern University found that many hospitals don’t follow patient safety standards.   This creates the possibility of wastage in hospital resources and poses risks of adverse patient outcomes.  The study found that only 30% of hospitals had evidence of adhering to patient safety standards, another 30% had partially supported evidence while 40% had no evidence at a