Urgent coordinated action from national governments, medical societies and patient organizations is needed to avoid a public health crisis resulting from the tide of preventable strokes that leave many people with atrial fibrillation (AF) mentally and physically disabled or dead, every year. How Can We Avoid a Stroke Crisis in Latin America?, a report from Action for Stroke Prevention – a group of health experts from around the world - reveals the huge economic, social and personal burden of AF-related strokes across the region. Launched today at the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) 3rd Latin America Conference, the report proposes measures to tackle stroke in patients with AF, the most common, sustained abnormal heart rhythm and a major cause of stroke.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/strikeoutstroke/50549/
An international survey conducted by GSK and released for World Meningitis Day shows gaps in the knowledge parents feel they have about meningococcal disease and its potential consequences. Almost 7 in 10 parents said they don’t know enough about the different strains of meningococcal disease and the potential damage they can cause. On average, more than half of parents were either unsure or unaware that there are different types of bacteria that cause the disease.
The survey of 5,000 parents in Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy and Portugal also shows that out of a list of 14 vaccine-preventable diseases, meningococcal disease is considered by many parents to pose a top three health risk to their children. Fifty-seven percent listed meningococcal disease among the top three health conditions they considered of greatest risk to children followed by Hepatitis B at 34 percent, pneumococcal disease at 27 percent, polio at 25 percent, tetanus at 20 percent and pertussis at 17 percent.
A sudden, potentially life-threatening illness, meningococcal disease kills on average one person every eight minutes worldwide. It typically manifests as bacterial meningitis – an infection of the membrane around the brain and spine; or bacteraemia – a bloodstream infection. The disease progresses rapidly and it can lead to death within 24-48 hours of the first symptoms; globally up to 1 in 10 of those infected may die and in the US about 10-15 percent of people will die.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7814851-gsk-survey-world-meningitis-day/
Childhood lead poisoning is considered the most preventable environmental disease among young children, yet nearly one million children are affected. To coincide with National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (October 21 -27), the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Ad Council are encouraging all families to get their children (ages 0-6) and homes (built before 1978) tested for lead poisoning. To extend this critical health message to caregivers, parents and pregnant women, they redistributed their national Lead Poisoning Prevention public service advertising (PSAs) nationwide.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/58497-epa-hud-and-coalition-educates-families-about-childhood-lead-testing
The Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are joining the Ad Council today to unveil a new series of national public service advertisements (PSAs) to raise awareness about childhood lead poisoning. The PSAs are being distributed today to kick off National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW). Additionally, the campaign’s social media presence through Facebook and Twitter will reinforce to parents, caregivers and pregnant women that if their home was built before 1978, they should have their child tested for lead poisoning.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/52687-ad-council-lead-poisoning-prevention-week-english-psa
Results from two national surveys of patients receiving chemotherapy and pharmacists, conducted by the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) in collaboration with Eisai Inc.,* found that 83% of patients receiving chemotherapy who have experienced chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) believe it is a side effect with which they must live. Results also showed that 95% of cancer patients surveyed believe that CINV has, at some point, had an impact on their daily lives. These national surveys are part of the Time to Talk CINV™ campaign, which aims to increase awareness among patients and caregivers about CINV prevention and the importance of speaking with their pharmacist and full healthcare team about this often preventable side effect.
“The survey results underscore the confusion patients who are undergoing chemotherapy have about CINV and the need for them to understand that there are ways to manage their symptoms so that they do not have to needlessly suffer with CINV,” said Scott Soefje, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, President, Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) and Director of Pharmacy at the University Medical Center Brackenridge in Austin, TX. “It is imperative that patients discuss CINV prevention early in treatment and with all members of the health care team, including pharmacists.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7560331-time-to-talk-cinv/
Lightning may not seem as destructive as other natural disasters, yet a strike can cause serious damage to business equipment and electrical appliances, disrupt electrical service for long periods of time, and spark wildfires. In 2014, State Farm paid nearly $149 million dollars for insurance claims as a result of damage from lightning strikes.
June, July, and August are the times of year when lightning is most frequent. Even though lightning is weather-related and not a preventable event, there are ways to reduce your chance of damage from a power surge or fire. That is why State Farm has joined forces with the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) in recognition of Lightning Awareness Week, June 21-27.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7452831-state-farm-weather-preparedness/
Save the Children and The Advertising Council announced today the launch of a national multimedia public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to raise awareness of the preventable and treatable causes of childhood death in the developing world. The new campaign shows Americans that they can have a significant impact on saving and improving the lives of at-risk children and newborns by supporting the deployment of local health workers.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/43767/
More than 300 global leaders, health and development experts, vaccinators, celebrities, philanthropists, and business leaders will gather tomorrow in Abu Dhabi in the first Global Vaccine Summit to endorse the critical role that vaccines and immunization play in giving children a healthy start to life. Despite tremendous progress, one child still dies every 20 seconds from preventable diseases like pneumonia, rotavirus, measles, and meningitis.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/61396-bill-and-melinda-gates-foundation-first-global-vaccine-summit
CVS Health (NYSE:CVS), the nation’s largest pharmacy innovation company, today announced Be The First, a five-year $50 million initiative to help deliver the nation’s first tobacco-free generation. Through this initiative, which is funded through CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation, the company is extending its commitment to help people lead tobacco-free lives. Recognizing that tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States and that youth use of some tobacco products is on the rise, Be The First comprises comprehensive education, advocacy, tobacco control and healthy behavior programming in partnership with organizations uniquely positioned to tackle this public health challenge.
“We are at a critical moment in our nation’s efforts to end the epidemic of tobacco use that continues to kill more people than any other preventable cause of death, and threatens the health and well-being of our next generation,” said Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., M.P.H., and Chief Medical Officer for CVS Health. “Ensuring our youth stay tobacco-free requires increased education and awareness of healthy behaviors. We’re partnering with experts across the public health community who have established best practices to help prevent tobacco use. And, by establishing more public-private partnerships to implement these strategies more aggressively, we can help increase the number of people leading tobacco-free lives and move us one step closer to delivering the first tobacco-free generation.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7775151-cvs-health-be-the-first/
The United Nations Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign marks World Pneumonia Day, November 12, by asking Americans to raise awareness, funds and advocate to members of Congress to support global immunization programs. Pneumonia kills nearly a million children under the age of five each year and almost half of those deaths are vaccine-preventable.
“Around the world one in five children lack access to the vaccines they need,” said Devi Thomas, Director, UN Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign. “By raising awareness, funding and asking members of Congress to support global immunization programs we can ensure that every child, no matter where they live, is given a shot at a healthy life.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7616651-shotatlife-united-nations-vaccines/
On World Cancer Day, new independent evidence confirms that the increasing global trend of unhealthy and sedentary lifestyles is responsible for putting millions at an unnecessarily high risk of cancer.
New estimates released today by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) global network suggest that across a range of countries, making lifestyle changes including maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet and taking regular physical activity can reduce the risk of common cancers by up to a third.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/worldcancerday/47592/
Each December, smokers across America decide to quit as one of their New Year’s resolutions. Out of the more than 45 million smokers in the United States, nearly 69 percent want to quit. Tobacco-related disease is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States; smokers, therefore, need to be armed with all of the available information to make the best, most informed choices about the smoking cessation medications and resources available. Successful quitters, like Cindy, spend the season supporting smokers who are ready to take a step towards quitting in the New Year.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/58843-legacy-quit-smoking-cigarettes-ex-free-online-program-new-years-resolution
