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Biosimilars 101

Biosimilars work just as well as the drugs they’re modeled after — and they’re often more affordable. This quick guide will help you understand whether biosimilars could be an option for you.

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What are biosimilars?

Biosimilars are copies of a type of drug called biologics . Biologics are drugs made from a natural source, such as plant or human cells. Biologics and biosimilars are used to treat a variety of health problems, including:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Psoriasis
• Crohn’s disease
• Various types of cancer

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Biosimilars are safe and effective

Biosimilars are nearly identical to biologics, working in the same way to treat many of the same health problems. They are safe, effective and FDA-approved.

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Lower production costs = cheaper drugs

Because they’re much cheaper to produce, biosimilars are more affordable than biologics — which are among the most expensive medications in the world. Biologics used to treat RA, for example, can cost $30,000 a year .

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Picking possible candidates

Companies decide to create biosimilars based on factors such as how much they will cost and whether they have a good chance of working the same way as a biologic.

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Meeting FDA standards

Once they’ve decided to create a biosimilar, a company analyzes and compares data to develop a drug that meets the FDA’s high standards. The biosimilar is tested many times to prove it works in the exact same way as the original biologic.

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Availability of biosimilars

Currently, there are 44 biosimilars approved by the FDA for use in the United States.

These include 10 biosimilars modeled after a dalimumab (Humira), a medicine used to treat autoimmune issues.

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Roadblocks to biosimilars

Although demand for biosimilars is growing in the U.S., they’re still not as widely used here as they are in other countries.

This may be because some biologic manufacturers have tried to block their development, and because some insurance companies aren’t willing to cover them.

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Helping people access treatment

Biosimilars are important to our healthcare system because they provide a more affordable option for patients who might not otherwise be able to access treatment.

Biosimilars are 30% cheaper on average than their biologic counterparts.

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Are biosimilars right for you?

If you are currently using a biologic, ask your healthcare provider about biosimilars. It’s possible there is an equally safe and effective option available to you, at a lower cost.

This educational resource was created with support from Amgen, a HealthyWomen Corporate Advisory Council member.

When it comes to losing weight, many people want to know what the best diet is. However, increasing research shows that when you eat may just be as important for your health and weight as what you eat. The importance of when we eat is tied to our internal 24-hour biological timing system, called the circadian system.

Circadian rhythms are run by a master clock in the brain and other clocks throughout the body. These rhythms help regulate sleep-wake cycles, hormones, and metabolic processes. While light and dark are the main cues for the clock in the brain, eating is a major cue for clocks in other body tissues. (https://www.aicr.org/).

In the circadian Rhythm diet, you eat during a 12-hour window — typically between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. — and fast during the other 12 hours. Meal sizes are flipped, with breakfast the largest meal of the day and dinner the smallest. This schedule suggests eating when it makes the most sense, given the daily waxing and waning of various hormones like cortisol, insulin, and leptin. ‘It is now becoming clear that circadian disruption is increasing the incidence and severity of many diseases, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.’ (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/)

Factors That Can Change Circadian Rhythm

For some it is a challenge to follow a circadian rhythm diet, and your lifestyle needs and internal clock clash. This can occur because of:

• overnight or off-hours work shifts that go against the natural light and dark times of day
• work shifts with erratic hours
• travel that spans the course of one or more different time zones
• a lifestyle that encourages late-night hours or early wake times
• Medications
• Stress
• mental health conditions like brain damage, dementia, head injuries, or blindness
• poor sleep habits — not having a regular sleep schedule, eating or drinking late at night.

How the Circadian Rhythm Diet Works

Research suggests that practicing circadian rhythm fasting may promote weight loss in multiple ways:

• Reduced calorie intake: Even though people engaging in circadian rhythm fasting can eat as much food as they would like, they often consume fewer calories. It was found that people who stuck with a time-restricted eating plan unintentionally ate 20% fewer calories than they usually would have.
• Reduced appetite: People who are overweight or obese experience a reduction in appetite when practicing early time-restricted eating. This appetite reduction could be due to synchronizing eating with certain hormones released by the body.
• Improved metabolism: By aligning meal times with one’s circadian rhythm, a person can optimize their metabolism. Meals are consumed at times when hormones related to eating, like ghrelin and adiponectin, are at their peaks. These strategic meal times mean the food will be digested and metabolized more efficiently and less likely to be stored as fat tissue.

In a healthy person, levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) peak at around 8 am, giving us a rush of energy to wake us up (in theory). Those levels drop to their lowest at 3 am the next day, before rising back to their peak five hours later at 8 am again. Ideally, this 8 am peak will be triggered by exposure to sunlight, if not an alarm. When it does, the adrenal glands and brain will start pumping adrenalin.
By mid-morning, the cortisol levels start dropping, while the adrenalin (for energy) and serotonin (a mood stabilizer) keep pumping. At midday, metabolism and core body temperature ramp up, getting us hungry and ready to eat.

Risks

This eating style might not be the best choice for everyone, including:

• Older adults with declining metabolism
• People who are underweight or have a lower average weight
• People who have experienced an eating disorder

See a doctor if you experience prolonged difficulties in realigning with your circadian rhythm.

For more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/

Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Everyone gets a cough or feels winded from time to time (thanks, stairs). But symptoms that linger and get worse are a sign of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a group of diseases that block airflow and create breathing-related problems. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, COPD can lead to severe lung damage and even death.

About 16 million people in the U.S. are living with COPD — and more than half are women. And that number may be higher because some people don’t even know they have it. “The number one reason why it’s an invisible epidemic is because chronic lung conditions parallel the aging process,” said Jean Wright, M.D., CEO of the COPD Foundation. “People don’t know they have a problem. They just slow down or they don’t do things as vigorously as they used to.”

Wright said symptoms start out subtle, and the risk for COPD is higher for women and people assigned female at birth compared to men.

Here’s more on symptoms, risk factors and important information you need to know about COPD.

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How MS Affects the Body

MS affects everyone differently and can impact many parts of the body

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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the central nervous system, which is made up of the brain and spinal cord. 

MS happens when the immune system attacks the myelin sheath, the cover that protects nerve fibers. The damage complicates communication between the brain and the rest of the body. As a result, MS can affect many parts of the body.

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Brain

Damage to myelin and the nerves underneath can disrupt the brain’s ability to send signals to the rest of the body.

About 1 in 2 people with MS have problems with thinking, called cognitive problems, including trouble concentrating and poor memory. 

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Eyes

MS can cause inflammation in the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain. This inflammation may lead to vision problems, including blurred vision and pain with eye movement. 

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Throat

MS can damage nerves that control the muscles required for chewing, swallowing and speaking. MS may also cause throat numbness that makes chewing and swallowing hard. 

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Chest

Nerve damage to chest muscles can cause breathing problems.

Nerve damage can cause a symptom known as “MS hug” (aka “girdling”), which is the feeling of a tight band around the chest or ribs. 

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Arms

Muscle weakness in the arms and legs is a common MS symptom.

Many people with MS also get a “pins and needles” feeling or numbness in their arms and legs. 

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Bladder and Bowels

Nerve damage can lead to problems with bladder and bowel control. 

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Legs and Feet 

Weakness in one or both legs is a common symptom that can make walking or balancing hard. Leg and foot pain, numbness, and tingling are common as well. 

Some people with MS get “hot feet” (erythromelalgia), which is when their feet feel hot and swollen even though they look normal. 

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MS affects everyone differently, and symptoms can be hard to predict. A healthcare provider can help you decide if treatment is an option for managing your individual MS symptoms. 

This educational resource was created with support from Novartis.

39 million people in the U.S. have migraine disease – and it’s 3x more common in women than men.

Most people with the disease get 2-4 migraine attacks/month on average.

Types of migraine

Migraine without aura

This is sometimes called common migraine because about 3 in 4 people with migraine experience this type.

Some symptoms may include:

• Throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head
• Moderate to severe head pain that gets worse with normal physical activity
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Sensitivity to light, sound and smell

Migraine with aura

About a quarter of people with migraine get a warning sign, called an aura, that an attack is coming. This can occur 5-60 minutes before a migraine attack.

Symptoms include:

• Seeing flashing lights, wavy lines, bright dots or zigzags
• Trouble seeing
• Tingling or “pins and needles” feeling
• Trouble speaking clearly
• Weakness
• Head pain

Migraine without head pain

Also known as a silent migraine, this is migraine with aura but without head pain. It affects about 4% of people with migraine overall, but may become more common for people with migraine as they approach midlife.

About 4 of 10 people who have migraine with aura will have aura without head pain later in life.

Symptoms include:

• Seeing flashing lights, wavy lines, bright dots or zigzags
• Trouble seeing
• Tingling or “pins and needles” feeling
• Trouble speaking clearly
• Weakness

Vestibular migraine

Vestibular migraine involves vertigo (dizziness) in addition to head pain. It’s most common in people with a history of motion sickness and migraines.

Symptoms include:

• Dizziness that lasts from minutes to hours (or even days)
• Balance problems
• Throbbing head pain, usually on one side of the head
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Sensitivity to light, sound and smell

Retinal migraine

Retinal migraine causes visual disturbances in one eye. It is rare and typically affects women of childbearing age .

Symptoms include:

• Seeing twinkling or flashing lights in one eye
• Decreased or lost vision in one eye
• Head pain that may be present from the onset or start up to an hour later

Chronic migraine

A person has chronic migraine if they have headache pain for 15+ days (with migraine symptoms for at least 8 of them), 3 months in a row. If you have migraine attacks fewer than 15 days a month, it’s called episodic migraine.

Symptoms may include:

• Frequent moderate or severe headache attacks
• Pain on one side of the head or both
• Throbbing, pulsing or pounding head pain
• Nausea and or vomiting
• Sensitivity to light, sound and smell

Menstrual migraine

This migraine is linked to hormone changes during the menstrual cycle. Attacks usually hit just before or when your period starts, and are often worse and last longer than at other times during your cycle.

Symptoms may include:

• Throbbing head pain, often on one side of your head
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Sensitivity to light, sound and smell
• Chills and sweating
• Sore or sensitive scalp

Hemiplegic migraine

This rare migraine type involves weakness on one side of the body, sometimes with an aura and not always with head pain. Because of these symptoms, this type of migraine attack is sometimes mistaken for a stroke and should be checked by a healthcare provider (HCP).

Symptoms include:

• Weakness on one side of the body
• Head pain
• Vision changes
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Trouble speaking
• Coordination issues
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Sensitivity to sound and light

Concerned about migraine? Talk to your HCP.

This educational resource was created with support from Pfizer.

In the evolving landscape of weight management solutions, Wegovy has emerged as a groundbreaking option for individuals struggling with obesity or weight-related health issues. As a leading Wegovy weight loss clinic, we aim to provide comprehensive insights into who stands as the best candidate for this innovative treatment. Understanding the specific criteria that make someone a suitable candidate for Wegovy can help ensure that those who embark on this treatment journey are positioned for success.

Understanding Wegovy

Wegovy (semaglutide) is a prescription medication approved for chronic weight management. It operates by mimicking a hormone that targets areas of the brain involved in appetite regulation, leading to reduced hunger and calorie intake. Given its potential side effects and specific target demographic, Wegovy is not a universal solution for all individuals looking to lose weight. Instead, it is designed for those who meet certain medical criteria and are committed to a comprehensive lifestyle change.

Ideal Candidates for Wegovy

1. Adults with Obesity or Excess Weight with Weight-related Conditions

• BMI Criteria: Adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or higher (obesity) or 27 kg/m² or higher (overweight) who also have at least one weight-related condition such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.

2. Those with a Commitment to Lifestyle Changes

• Comprehensive Approach: Candidates should be ready to incorporate Wegovy into a broader weight management plan, including diet, exercise, and behavioral changes. Wegovy is most effective when used as part of a comprehensive lifestyle intervention.

3. Patients Who Have Struggled with Traditional Weight Loss Methods

• Prior Attempts: Individuals who have not achieved significant weight loss or have experienced difficulty maintaining weight loss through diet and exercise alone may find Wegovy to be a suitable option.

4. Individuals Seeking a Long-term Weight Management Solution

• Chronic Management: Wegovy is intended for long-term use in chronic weight management. Candidates should be prepared for ongoing treatment and regular follow-ups with healthcare providers.

Exclusions from Wegovy Use

Wegovy is not suitable for everyone, and certain conditions or circumstances may exclude individuals from being ideal candidates:

• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Wegovy is not recommended for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding due to potential risks to the baby.
• History of Certain Medical Conditions: People with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or those with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 should not use Wegovy.
• Severe Gastrointestinal Disease: Due to the risk of gastrointestinal side effects, individuals with severe gastrointestinal conditions should discuss potential risks with their healthcare provider.

The Role of the Wegovy Weight Loss Clinic

Initial Assessment

• Comprehensive Evaluation: A thorough medical evaluation, including health history, BMI measurement, and discussion of previous weight loss attempts, is essential to determine candidacy for Wegovy.

Ongoing Support and Monitoring

• Regular Follow-ups: Continuous monitoring by healthcare professionals is crucial to assess the effectiveness of the treatment, manage side effects, and adjust the regimen as needed.

Lifestyle Modification Guidance

• Diet and Exercise Plans: Support in developing and maintaining healthy lifestyle changes is a cornerstone of successful weight management with Wegovy.

Wegovy represents a promising avenue for individuals seeking support in their weight loss journey, particularly those who have not found success with traditional methods alone. However, it’s important to recognize that Wegovy is not a one-size-fits-all solution or a quick fix. The best candidates for Wegovy are those who meet specific medical criteria, are committed to making significant lifestyle changes, and understand the importance of a long-term approach to weight management.

As a Wegovy weight loss clinic committed to your health and well-being, we are here to guide you through the process of determining if Wegovy is the right choice for you. By providing expert medical evaluation, personalized support, and ongoing monitoring, we aim to empower our patients to achieve sustainable weight loss and improve their overall health.

If you’re exploring weight loss options and considering Wegovy, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our team. Together, we can assess your suitability for Wegovy, discuss your weight loss goals, and develop a tailored plan to help you achieve lasting success on your weight management journey.

Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

When it comes to social media and mental health, it’s complicated.

At times, the constant stream of videos, posts, stories and reels can be fun (shout out to all the pets on TikTok), and research shows that social media can sometimes help people feel connected and even reduce stress.

But it’s not always likes and hearts and affirmations. Studies show that social media can also cause stress, feelings of sadness and isolation, sleep disruptions and lower self-esteem. A recent survey found that over 1 in 3 participants said social media has a negative effect on their mental health.

Take Our Quiz: True or False? Mental Health >>

This can be especially true for women, considering that women make up more than half of the people using social media. Research has shown that social media can lead to self-objectification, which is linked to many mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. One recent study found that young women who took a social media break for just one week had a huge boost in body image and self-esteem.

Social media use triggers the release of dopamine, a feel-good chemical in the brain. So, when it’s paired with features like endless scrolling, notifications and bright colors, social media platforms can become addictive and negatively affect your concentration and focus.

The amount of time spent on social media may surprise you. The average person in the U.S. spends about 2.5 hours a day on social media. That adds up to 17.5 hours a week, 75 hours a month and an astounding 912.5 hours a year.

That’s 38 real human days spent on social media a year.

If you’re considering a break, you’re not alone. A recent survey found more than 1 in 3 participants said they’d taken an extended break from social media because it was bad for their mental health. Science backs up the notion that a break can be good for your brain. Participants in one study showed a significant improvement in mental well-being after a seven-day break.

Even the social media giant TikTok encourages people to take advantage of a tool they provide that can help you limit how much time you spend on the app.

Read: 5 Health Trends on TikTok: Heart or Hype?

Wondering what you’ll do with all your free time if you curb your social media habit? Here are five things to try in lieu of doom scrolling that can also boost your mental health, according to science.

1. Go outside. Your parents were on to something all those times they told you to get out of the house and play. Studies show being in nature can help reduce feelings of anxiety and stress and improve mood. Physical activity, even a walk around your neighborhood, helps too. There’s a whole beautiful world to see when you’re not staring at your phone. And you won’t walk into other people on the sidewalk. Win, win.

Read: 4 Fun Fitness Trends for 2024 >>

2. Get face-to-face with a friend. You’re used to tapping hearts on Instagram, but when was the last time you saw your BFF, IRL? Research shows meeting in person can immediately boost your mood. Even a short amount of time spent with a friend helps strengthen relationships and increases well-being overall.

3. Find a hobby. The secret ingredient to better health and happiness may be as simple as finding an activity you enjoy. Having a hobby is linked to lower levels of depression and can help prevent depression in some people. Hobbies can include:

• Arts and crafts
• Gardening
• Games
• Volunteering

Any activity that includes creativity, self-expression and cognitive stimulation can help with positive mental health and well-being.

Read: 10 Fun Activities to Keep Your Brain Sharp >>

4. Learn a new language. Sayonara, social media. Learning a new language can improve your memory. In one study, adults who studied a new language showed improved cognition after just four months. Another big brain bonus: being bilingual can slow down dementia as you get older.

5. Read a (real) book. You can travel anywhere and be anyone you want when you’re reading a good book. Studies show reading can reduce stress, make you more empathetic and even slow dementia. What’s more, a recent study comparing online and paper reading found paper was better for learning. So, combine with #1 if you’re feeling extra ambitious.