Real-World Examples of Virtual Reality in Healthcare

There was a time when virtual reality seemed like a thing far away in the future or a recent science fiction movie we had seen but now it’s becoming more real and consumer friendly each day. The smartphone has created this accessibility of virtual reality. One of the most impactful ways virtual reality can be carried out in our society is through healthcare.

A growing number of health professionals including doctors and researchers are showing data showing the efficiency around virtual and augmented reality which grew from $525 million in 2012 to an estimated $976 million in 2017, according to Kalorama research report.

From treating pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, smoking cessation and even the dentist appointment you have to do every 6 months, virtual reality is showing promise and progress across healthcare. Here are a few real-world use case scenarios where VR could change the game.

1. Surgical Training

Educating current and potential physicians is conducted the traditional way through books, tests, pens and paper. Advocates of virtual reality believe this can all be changed around medical education especially when it comes to surgical training.

A few innovators are offering a different option for training around surgery, often done at only a few centers around the country using expensive artificial body parts. Osso VR, provides software that makes a virtual operating room on platforms for virtual reality like Oculus Rift/Touch or HTC Vive. Practicing surgery using VR brings more surgeons to get in more reps specifically on complex surgeries.

Osso VR, which just raised $2 million, provides software that creates a virtual operating room on VR platforms like Oculus Rift/Touch or the HTC Vive. Practicing surgeries in virtual reality allows surgeons to get in more reps, particularly on complicated procedures.

2. Pain Management

Virtual reality can affect pain management which hurts so many Americans and Cedars Sinai’s VR program is tackling this exact issue. Dr. Brennan Spiegel and his colleagues are experimenting with using VR to escape the “bio-psycho-social” isolation of living with pain or chronic pain. They use a headset to help patients manage pain and it’s been tested with 300 patients so far. Think managing chronic pain, depression, anxiety and even hypertension.

You can read more about Spiegel’s efforts at Cedars Sinai here and here.

3. Patient Education

Cedars Sinai is also partnering with Holman United Methodist Church in south LA on a community health education initiative aimed at reducing hypertension in a vulnerable population.

This educational program is bigger than VR but currently members use a VR program that takes them into a virtual kitchen where foods are labelled with their sodium content then taking them inside the body to show a visualization of what hypertension does to the heart. They then created a relaxation app to help members deal with stress which also contributes to hypertension.

4. Clinician Education

Text books and 2D anatomical images aren’t the only way doctors learn about common diseases and drugs. A New Jersey-based drug development company are focused on gastrointestinal conditions that were developed during an interactive VR platform to guide clinicians through an open-minded approach to treatment.  

5. Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

Virtual reality enhances 3D motion tracking cameras that currently track and gamify movement which could affect how patients are trained to bring back their mobility from physical therapy. Patients could potentially be sent home with exercises that motive them and simultaneously collect hard data on things like motion. And they could do this in the comfort of the own home, not just at the PT appointment once a week - potentially speeding up recovery.

On the backend, a physical therapist can see data collected through the device and can change the parameters of the game on the fly in order to guide the patient to the most beneficial exercise.

6. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD continues to be an area where researchers are trying to understand how to treat it. It’s one of the most pervasive mental health conditions in the U.S. and continues to be the most challenging to treat. Exposure therapy is what many professionals want to move treatment to and VR allows them to provide that exposure in a physically controlled and safe environment.  

Anything could trigger an episode in which the person with PTSD is transported back to the moment the traumatic event or events happened. It seems counterintuitive to purposely put a PTSD sufferer back in that place, but experts say using virtual reality creates a world where people with the condition can exert control over the situation, therefore experiencing a sense of resolution.

Eat the same thing Most Days? Find out if this is healthy for you.

The Pros

Of all your meals and snacks, if fruit, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, healthy fat and dairy you’re off to a great start. Variability in your diet including all the important food groups is critical. About 90% of Americans don’t get enough recommended daily amount of vegetables and 85% don’t get enough of the recommended daily amount of fruit, as noted from the most updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Repetition and balance in your daily meal plans is good practice when it comes to meal preparation and planning. Having a healthy plan in place allows you to be prepared and not eat foods when you’re bored that you’re not even hungry for.

Other research does suggest a non-diverse diet is also a great alternative. A study from 2015 highlighted diet quality and variability in over 5K adults and found that the more diverse diet was associated to a greater waist circumference and a higher quality diet was associated with a lower risk of Type 2 Diabetes. Diversity in eating didn’t necessarily lead to a higher quality diet or better metabolic health.  

The Cons

But it’s important to think on the other side because if your daily diet is balanced, it probably doesn’t contain everything you need. There’s really no way you can meet dietary requirements by eating the same thing every day. Variety is essential to a healthy, balanced diet.

Studies have found health benefits associated with eating a more varied diet. A 2015 study, for example, examined the diets of over 7,000 adults who were at least 20 years old. It concluded that greater food variety was associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome compared to those who consumed a less varied diet.

The Bottom Line

Eating different foods is important, what’s more critical is what you choose to eat. A notable research study from 2002 evaluated healthy and less-healthy foods and how it affect mortality in close to 60,000 women.

A woman who followed a healthy diet by eating a high variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grain breads, cereals, fish and low-fat dairy products had lower mortality than women who consumes fewer of these foods.

Frequent Ejaculation May Lower Prostate Cancer Risk

Men who ejaculate at least 21 times a month have a lower risk of prostate cancer compared to men who only ejaculate four to seven times a month, according to a study that followed a large group of men for nearly two decades.

This link was founded from the lower risk versions of the disease as published in the European Urology journal. Researchers didn’t find impact from ejaculation frequency on a diagnosis of high-risk prostate cancer. Participants of over 31K were part of a follow-up study where they reported how often they ejaculated in a 1992 questionnaire.

The report was based on follow-up through the year of 2010 where researchers noted prostate cancer diagnoses and outcomes.

In men between the ages 20-29 or 40-49 the impact of ejaculation assessed. Researchers before the results were in had hypothesized that more frequent ejaculations might protect men from prostate cancer and this was indeed what they found. The risk was 20% lower for men who ejaculated 21 times or more during an average month compared to those who ejaculated 4-7 times.

When they evaluated different forms of prostate cancer, the team found that ejaculating 13 times or more on average lowered the probability of low or intermediate-risk prostate cancer 25-28% in both age groups. But a link was not found of when it came to high risk prostate cancer.

There are earlier studies that showed ejaculation impacts the levels of trace elements citrate and zinc. The levels of metabolism of these factors in the prostate might contribute to cancer development.

Higher sexual activity generally is regarded as an indicator of good health and can influence the level of cancer risk. Researchers also found that higher ejaculation frequency was linked to some factors considered far from optimal from the view of health. Men 40-49 years old, frequency ejaculation was associated with a higher BMI, more STD, higher consumption of calories and alcohol as well as even divorce.

Artificial Sweeteners: Weight Loss or Gain?

Despite intense scrutiny of artificial sweeteners for years, the product continues to be popular with dieters, diabetics and many just looking for a sweet fix. Even in the face of declining soda sales, the market share of diet soda continues to expand, with the second most popular soda being a diet variety. At the same time, the global market for non-sugar sweeteners has had impressive sales in recent years. In 2010, over 9 million dollars were spent on non-sugar sweeteners, with the industry anticipating continued growth in coming years.

A new report published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal analyzed 37 studies on artificial sweeteners to measure their success for weight management. The studies followed over 400,000 people over the course of 10 years. Across the board, artificial sweeteners didn’t help any of the subjects lose weight. Consumption was evaluated over time , by people regularly consuming them and most patients had a higher risk for health issues like weight gain, obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

This new study is an addition to the growing body of research suggesting sugar substitutes are not the cure for sugar addiction. There isn't enough qualified studies and results that would encourage any individual of any health status to use artificial sweeteners. But it’s not yet clear if they are dangerous but there is a correlation to increasing an individual’s appetite for processed foods when consuming sugar substitutes.

Artificial sweeteners have a role in controlling carbohydrate intake by diabetics and dieters, while also decreasing ones risk of dental cavities. Despite extensive studies, epidemiological research has failed to demonstrate any cancer risks. While, diet products are a safe alternative to their full sugar counterparts. Exercising at least 3 days a week, increasing fiber and focusing on healthy choices are the best way to lose weight and stay fit.

What scientists think is happening is that that when we consume sugar-substitutes, the body expects to see surge in glucose. When this expectation is not met, we continue to crave sweets, eating until the craving is met. So it will definitely take much more than replacing real sugar with fake sugar to lose weight.  Unfortunately there are no real shortcuts here. The key to weight loss is cutting the total number of calories consumed, with clean eating.

While, diet products are a safe alternative to their full sugar counterparts, diet and exercise for weight loss is what will truly help in the long run. Exercising at least 3 days a week, increasing fiber and focusing on healthy choices are the best way to lose weight and stay fit.

Equipment-Free Exercises to do Anywhere

Performing bodyweight exercises on different surfaces like sand can make them more challenging. These tips are the best for traveling which can be the most challenging and excuse-ridden for not getting some movement throughout the day.

Aerobic Exercise

Even if you're confined to a room or location with no running trails, you can always train your cardiovascular system. Calisthenics like jumping jacks, burpees and mountain climbers are a great way to your raise your heart rate. Try completing three sets of 10 to 20 repeats of each exercise and you'll have yourself a quality Tabata-style workout. Don’t feel like counting, or need more of a challenge? Set your alarm for timed intervals. Need to log miles? Laps around a parking lot or repeatedly climbing stairs can mimic a good run or hike.

Strength Training

No weights, no problem; bodyweight exercises tone and strengthen your body. Think push ups, lunges, squats and planks. They are super strengthening because they work multiple muscle groups at once. They can all be modified to make them more challenging or target additional muscles. Manipulate your routine by changing the surface or surroundings. Standing on an unstable surface is more of a challenge than being on firm ground.

DIY Boot Camp

Having to do the same routine day in and day out can get boring. But there are lots of ways to keep your fitness routine interesting – even on the road. Change the order of your exercises or, better yet, leave it up to chance by using a deck of cards or rolling a die to decide what your next exercise is and how many sets or reps you should do. You can also try making up a new workout progression; go from a squat to a lunge to a pushup all in one move.

Walk in the Woods

Start your workout with a brisk walk outdoors. You don’t need to take a long road trip to Yosemite - any local park or green space will do. Many communities offer biking and walking paths that make it convenient and accessible to people young and old.

Make Your Own Adventure Outside

Do your best to not ignore structures that amp up your workout in outdoor spaces. Many outdoor parks line fitness trails with simple obstacle courses and structures that challenge any move during your workout. Take advantage of free equipment for a more dynamic workout. Check out adventure parks in new communities - both free and small fee - where often rock walls and rope courses can challenge and change up your workout.

Combinations are king

With an exercise it can be great to do that exercise outside, uphill or even in water. Consider yoga which can be done in water. Combining any two activities enhances the workout and being outside relieves stress in ways exercise can’t do alone.

Start your digital detox today

Leave those electronic devices behind but to get the most of your green exercise - you really have to let go. We live in a box and work in one. Nature can expand our horizons in ways we never even imagined. Exercising in nature can relieve stress and unplugging frequently can keep us wired. Use green exercises as an excuse to disconnect and boost mind-body benefits of your workout.

How Artificial Intelligence Could Change Healthcare

Artificial intelligence has been in the mainstream media and cultural zeitgeist in the last year or so, particularly around concepts in the tech, business and healthcare world. Arguably, of all the places where artificial intelligence can be placed, healthcare could be the most opportune area.

A recent report from Accenture Consulting predicts the market for health-related AI to grow at a 40% rate through the year 2021 to over $6 billion.

A comprehensive research briefing from last September showed healthcare dominating over every other sector including finance, sales, marketing, security.  

The biggest returns on investment for health care will likely come from the substantial deals in terms of startup and deal volume. Two specific areas have been medical imaging and diagnostics and drug discovery in the pharma world.

Robot-assisted surgery integrated from pre-op medical records with real-time operating metrics to physically guide and enhance the physician’s instrument precision to minimize error. The technology can incorporate data from actual surgical experiences to inform new, improved techniques and insights. Another valuable use of artificial intelligence from virtual nursing assistant applications which would save money by letting medical providers remotely assess a patient’s symptoms and lessen the number of unnecessary patient visits.

Lastly, another innovation avenue are intelligent applications for administrative workflow, fraud detection and dosage error reduction.

Take Care of Your Eyes

Sometimes we forget about taking care of our eyes but it should never be taken for granted. Many studies over the years have showed that people would most be afraid to lose their eyesight of all the senses. Protecting our eyesight over the years is not to be neglected. But some myths confuse people on how to properly take care of their eyes.

But there are are so many myths when it comes to the health of your eyes. Here we debunk some of these myths with tips to better care for your windows to the world (so to speak.)

1. Reading in dim light will harm your eyes

   1. This is not true. But it can put a strain on your eyes making it hard to read or focus on the task at hand, therein causing short-term eyestrain. It’s not pleasurable anyway so the solution is to have a reading light directed to the page and not above you or over your shoulder. The biggest takeaway is having any light pointed directly at what you’re focused on.

2. Starting at the computer harms your eyes

   1. Looking at a computer for long periods of time as most of us do at work these days doesn’t cause long-term harm to the eyes but it can cause temporary eye strain, blurriness or tired eyes. Start to become aware of how often you blink during the day - try to do so as much as possible to no strain your eyes by looking straight at the screen. Couple tips: adjust the lighting so there isn’t a standout reflection or glare on your screen and every 20 minutes look away or at something 20 feet or more away. Consciously blink your eyes as often as possible so they stay lubricated.

3. Carrots are the most nutritious food for eye health

   1. Carrots are rich in Vitamin A which is good for eyes but so are many other fresh veggies and fruits. Antioxidants such as vitamin C and E have strengthen eye health over time. They help protect eyes from cataracts and age-related mascular degeneration.

4. Exercises for the eyes help you to avoid wearing glasses

   1. Eye exercises are not going to cure your need for glasses. Our vision depends on several other factors such as the shape of our eyeball (dependent on genetics) and the health of the tissues around the eye which eye exercises cannot alter or improve. No research to date showcases that eye exercises help.

5. Remove glasses or contacts to give your eyes a break

   1. The reason you need glasses is to see better in basic needs of reading, driving or vision for long-distance. If you take off your glasses or remove contact lenses during the day it can put more of a strain on your eyes, tiring them out instead of resting them because you cannot see properly so naturally you squint your eyes to see.

New Blood Test May Determine Prostate Cancer Most Likely to Spread

Scientists have recently discovered in a new study from Queen Mary University of London that the blood levels circulating tumor cells may help identify patients diagnosis of aggressive metastatic prostate cancer, which would impact how much sooner they receive treatment.

Published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, this study addresses an unmet medical need which is an accurate way of predicting aggressive prostate cancer early.

This also identifies more knowledge when it comes to preventing cancers spreading to new areas of the body which is the main reason why people die from prostate cancer. This study shows a significant new way of helping to monitor the spread in men with the disease. Results were able to predict which patients were likely to result better than others, based on the number of rare type of immune cell found in the blood. Doctors would be able to make better-informed treatment decisions by adding this additional layer of information and ultimately prove survival.

The study examined blood samples collected from 81 prostate cancer patients and analyzed using a new cell capture technology called Parsortix developed by Angle. This system has the ability to capture many different types of cancer cells in the bloodstream even after leaving the tumor.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) were investigated in this study and have been reported to be involved in poor patient survival which correlates to the beginning of metastasis formation.

Ultimately the results from this study open up many additional opportunities to benefit cancer patients and already more tests are underway using additional prostate cancer patient’s cells. Researchers are also further looking to see if this can be tested on patients with other types of cancer.

Patients May Be Using Medicare to Get Opioids

Latest reports showcase that patients may be taking advantage of what Medicare has to offer in order to gain access to opioids and the government could be doing more to stop this.

In 2016, one patient was able to get access to an inordinate amount of opioids from 46 different prescribers and 20 pharmacies, and managed to receive 11 different prescriptions from eight prescribers and 6 pharmacies across 5 different states.

The most alarming component of this is the indication that no medical professional involved checked the patient's prescription history.

Obviously, this is an extreme case, but notes a specific trend cited ina  new report from the US Department of Health and Human Services is essentially funding a huge number of opioid prescriptions through the Medicare drug program. It is likely enabling tens of thousands of opioid users to get the drugs for misuse, overuse or reselling.

The report produced several key findings for Medicare Part D beneficiaries and their opioid use in 2016:

• About one in three beneficiaries, or 14.4 million people, received at least one opioid prescription.

• More than 11 percent of beneficiaries, or 5 million people, received opioids for three months or more.

• The research shows the risk of dependence which goes along with addiction.

• Almost 90,000 beneficiaries are at “serious risk of opioid misuse or overdose”: Nearly 70,000 appeared to be getting “an extreme amount of opioids,” or 240 mg MED or more a day over 12 months. And more than 22,000 appeared to be doctor shopping, when patients go to various doctors and various pharmacies to try to obtain as many opioids as possible.

• And nearly 116,000 ordered opioids for at least one beneficiary at serious risk.

This new report focuses in large part the role of Medicare in this crisis and what they could be doing monitoring both patients and doctors for excessive prescribing practices. Specifically, Medicare could initiate prescription drug monitoring programs to establish a large database that prescribers can use to track patients who have access to a frightening amount of opioids.

Each state except Missouri do have a drug monitoring program in place but some states enforce more and employ comprehensive versions of this program.

One big caveat to the report: Not all the beneficiaries and prescribers that it calls out were necessarily doing something wrong. It is entirely possible that many of these patients and doctors — even those getting or ordering an extreme amount of drugs — have a legitimate medical reason for doing so. The OIG is merely warning that there are so many of these cases that chances are there’s still a lot of unscrupulous prescribing going on.

The report’s findings come at a crucial time in the crisis. It’s currently estimated that up to 65,000 people died of drug overdoses in the US last year alone. This is now the deadliest drug overdose crisis in US history. For an important federal health program to be potentially contributing to the crisis is very bad.

7 ways to decrease digestive discomfort

We have to eat in order to live but when digestive issues arise such as bloating, constipation, gas, and pain, what normally should be a pleasurable occurrence can take a turn for the worse in a stressed-out stomach looking for relief.

A study from the Technical University of Denmark found that what is referred to as transit time or basically the faster our food can move from the time we eat it to the time of what’s left of it when it leaves our body, the better for our gut health.  The longer food stays in our digestive tract, the more harmful bacteria degradation products are produced.  A shorter transit time means a healthier digestive system helping us feel better. 

Our digestive health is a basic fundamental of keeping us healthy and feeling good each day.  Having a persnickety turbulent tummy can ruin the best of days for us.  By knowing certain tricks to eliminate or at least greatly reduce symptoms, you can avoid tummy troubles and begin to improve digestion today.

1.     Eliminate too much sugar and fat

Too many calories from sugary, fatty or fried foods are hard to digest.  They can irritate your stomach by slowing down the process of digestion creating a very full, uncomfortable feeling.  Excess sugar makes your blood sugar skyrocket setting up an unhealthy duo of too much sugar in the bloodstream and too much insulin being pumped by the pancreas to compensate for the situation.  The excess insulin means extra storage of calories contributing to weight gain. 

The solution? Choose more fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds and choose meats lower in fat such as fish, poultry, lean beef and pork.  Replace butter and margarine with olive oil.

2.     Fill up with water

In order to digest food water is necessary.  Good digestive health will not happen without adequate water intake.  Water helps speed transit time of food through the digestive tract and prevents constipation by creating a softer, bulkier stool.  Aim for 9-13 cups of fluid each day or until your urine looks clear.

3.    Move more

We all see what exercise can do for how we look on the outside but keeping active also does wonders for us on the inside.  Physical activity is vital for good digestive health. It stimulates blood flow to all organs including the gastrointestinal tract while stimulating and toning muscles within the stomach and intestines keeping contents moving quickly.  Aim for at least 30 minutes each day but avoid strenuous workouts right after eating.

4.     Include probiotics

Our gut needs to be feed healthy food but it also requires live microorganisms for the good bacteria to nibble on.  The best source of this is supporting our immune system and achieving a digestive tract in tip top shape.   Best food sources containing probiotics are yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, miso soup, soft cheeses like gouda, sour pickles, tempeh, or acidophilus milk.

5.     Slow down when eating

Our digestive system doesn’t like to be rushed so that means slow down when eating.  Taking time to eat gives the stomach ample opportunity to properly digest and absorb the nutrients within food and allows your body and brain to give you the signal when you’ve had enough.  Turn off the TV and resist looking at your computer or smartphone while eating – distracted people will eat significantly more food than when they put the focus just on eating. 

6.     Eat more fiber

For a substance that really doesn’t get absorbed in our body, we depend on it a lot to keep our digestive tract purring like a kitten.  Fiber comes in two types – soluble and insoluble.  Soluble fiber dissolves in water helping slow down digestion and absorption making you feel fuller longer.  It also slows down the amount of glucose entering into the bloodstream keeping blood sugar levels at a more even level.  Insoluble fiber passes through unabsorbed but it attracts water to it in the colon creating a softer, bulkier, easier-to-pass bowel movement, reducing constipation and pain. 

7.     Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight

A healthy body weight is associated with less symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).   This condition allows contents from the stomach to backflow into the esophagus due to a weak valve that doesn’t close completely between the stomach and esophagus.  The strong stomach acid backs up into the esophagus causing unpleasant symptoms of pain, burning and irritation of the lining of the unprotected esophagus.  Losing excess weight reduces the pressure and can help avoid heartburn and other discomfort. 

Learn how to achieve a healthy body weight by visiting here.