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If Trump entrusts RFK Jr. responsibility for health, prepare for a distorted reality in which health suffers around the world

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A key figure in Donald Trump’s election campaign probable figure his recent administration includes Robert F. Kennedy Jr., or RFK Jr. for short. After abandoning his own attitude towards the president, this distinguished anti-vaxxer supported and campaigned for Trump, helping him to victory.

Kennedy promoted the banner “Make America Healthy Again“during the campaign. Now Trump has made clear that Kennedy will play a significant role in health care.

He was promised “big role” in directing health policy, and Trump said he would enable Kennedy “go crazy” on health, food and medicines.

So who’s Kennedy and what could his vision of a healthy America mean for public health in the U.S. and around the world?

Who is RFK Jr?

RFK Jr was born into a famous American political dynasty. He is the son of Robert F. Kennedy, who served as United States Attorney General under his brother John F. Kennedy, who was president. Robert F. Kennedy was then a senator before he was assassinated during his 1968 presidential campaign.

His son, RFK Jr, was a distinguished and effective lawyer and environmental activist, helping litigate against corporations, including Montsanto AND DuPont.

However, over the last 20 years he has been higher known for his involvement in various causes conspiracy theories and as foremost source of disinformation about vaccines dissemination on social media.

Kennedy recently said that “it’sI’m not going to remove anyone’s vaccines“. However, he continues to make false claims about Covid-19 vaccines and promote false facts, if any, about vaccines and autism scientific consensus there isn’t any causal relationship.

What role will he play?

While Trump has publicly pledged that Kennedy will play a major role, it’s unclear what that role will likely be.

Based on video obtained by PolicyKennedy said he was promised control of federal public health agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services and its subagencies, in addition to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health.

Such broad powers can be unprecedented. Appointments to positions in major agencies and to positions in the U.S. government require congressional approval. Kennedy’s lack of experience in health care or public health, in addition to his lack of scientific training and qualifications, make such approval uncertain. His unscientific allegations will resurface and there’ll almost be a media circus.

Even if Kennedy had been in power, many changes to federal agencies would have required congressional oversight. For example, making any changes to the way drugs are approved can be difficult in the short term.

This will not be to underestimate the damage Kennedy can have caused. In Trump’s past bypassed congressional approval to numerous positions by appointing ‘acting officials’. So even without an official position, Kennedy’s potential influence on the Trump administration is alarming.

More disinformation

No wonder Trump deemed Kennedy “health tsar” of his second presidency. They each spread disinformation about Covid-19 and promote unproven treatments, especially at the starting of the pandemic. These include promoting hydrochloroquine (if there is robust evidence that it really works). toxic effect on the heart).

Kennedy uses the language of science to present an appearance of credibility. I promise return to health agencies “a rich tradition of evidence-based science of the highest standard” and “clean upagencies he accuses of corruption. He may withdraw regulatory inspections that protect Americans’ health from unproven treatments.

If Kennedy is to grow to be health czar during Trump’s presidency, his platform to recruit Americans to his anti-science agenda will likely be greatly strengthened. Result? A really real threat of degradation of public health.

The variety of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable infections, corresponding to measles, will increase.

Many Americans also grew up with fluoridated water and didn’t witness the effects of widespread tooth decay (cavities). So Kennedy could also be in a good position to persuade enough Americans that fluoridated water is dangerous and that fluoride ought to be a person’s alternative.

Governments and public health officials could face an uphill battle to maintain fluoride in community water supplies, undoing one among the biggest public health achievements of the last century.

If Kennedy’s anti-science claims gain traction, his legacy will likely be the opposite of the banner “Make America Healthy Again“. The health of the American public will decline, with far-reaching consequences for many years to come back.

There are also global implications

The potential harm of elevating someone like Kennedy to positions of power and influence won’t only affect Americans.

For example, following the visit of Kennedy and his anti-vaccine organization to Samoa in 2019, the deaths of two children have been misattributed for measles vaccination. Vaccination rates in Samoa dropped to 31% (half the previous rate), and one other measles outbreak resulted in the death of 83 people.

Kennedy questioned whether the deaths were related to “defective vaccineand denied that he was involved in spreading disinformation.

One of the outstanding achievements of Trump’s previous presidency was Operation Warp Speedwhich has enabled the development, testing and mass production of Covid-19 vaccines at unprecedented speed, saving many tens of millions of lives around the world.

If one other pandemic breaks out in the next 4 years with Kennedy in the White House, it’s unlikely that the United States will provide similar leadership.

Kennedy has been deeply critical of the development of a Covid-19 vaccine, including: in his best-selling 2021 book: The real Anthony Fauciabout the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Kennedy said Covid-19 vaccines had not been sufficiently tested and continued to advocate for disproven Covid treatments, particularly hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin.

On the podcast earlier this yr, Fauci recalled a presentation Kennedy gave him on vaccinations. For 40 minutes, Kennedy “showed slide after slide that . . . made no sense.”

Later, Fauci spoke to Kennedy, saying:

Bobby, I imagine you care about children and care about not wanting to harm them. But you have got to comprehend that from a scientific standpoint, what you are saying doesn’t make sense.

Unfortunately, in the distorted reality of the Trump administration with Kennedy at his side, truth and science may not matter. And the health of the world will suffer.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Health and Wellness

Car exhaust fumes can be linked to autism, a developmental disorder increasingly diagnosed in black children

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Autism, ASD, car exhaust, autism risks, autism in Black children, theGrio.com

New research has found that exposure to automotive exhaust fumes in utero or in the early stages of a child’s development may cause autism.

According to a study published Tuesday, November 12 in the journal Brain medicineexposure to nitric oxide (NO) – produced during fuel combustion – while pregnant or in the primary months of the mother’s life may pose a “significant risk” of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the kid.

“NO is a common air pollutant, produced mainly by vehicle emissions and the combustion of fossil and industrial fuels. Exposure to NO and its NO2 derivatives while pregnant and early childhood may disrupt normal brain development,” the study authors wrote.

The authors added that “the timing of exposure is key.”

According to the researchers, exposure to these pollutants while pregnant and early development “constitutes a significant risk of ASD because these periods are essential for brain development.”

The study also found that folks with a family history or genetic history of autism spectrum disorder may be at increased risk of developing the condition, affecting the best way individuals communicate, learn, interact and behave.

It’s not nearly automotive exhaust fumes. The study examined other air pollutants, including ozone, wonderful particles and other emissions, and located that every one of those toxins combined increased the danger of developing autism.

In particular, it listed benzene as a “volatile organic compound commonly found in vehicle exhaust, industrial processes and tobacco smoke” that, when combined with NO2, can also increase the danger of ASD.

Air pollutants may promote the event of ASD because they cause inflammation. Experiencing neuroinflammation brought on by exposure to NO over an prolonged time frame may “impact” brain activity related to social and cognitive functions which might be typically impaired by ASD.

“Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy may activate the mother’s immune system, leading to inflammation and abnormalities in fetal brain development,” the authors wrote, adding: “Elevated concentrations of inflammation-related cytokines in maternal serum in utero and early infants have been associated with their lives. with poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes.”

One sec nearly 40% of Americans live without healthy airautism disproportionately affects black and Latino children in the US. This condition can be on the rise in this country.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1 in 36 children were diagnosed with ASD – a rise from 1 in 44 just two years earlier. Predominantly, the condition still affects boys more often than girls, although this too has been established girls are frequently diagnosed with ASD later in life.

Holly Robinson Peete was

For generations, white children seemed to have the disease at higher rates than other children, but in recent years this risk has modified as more black and brown families gain access to quality health care and earlier diagnoses .

As increasingly black families select to live with an autistic member of the family, several organizations have emerged to help spread awareness, advocate and supply support. These organizations include The color of autismthat gives families with culturally competent support and care; Autism in blackwhich offers educational and counseling services to Black parents raising autistic children; and Black Autism Support Societywhich goals to fill gaps in support for the black community.


This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Health and Wellness

Perfect Imperfection of Wabi-Sabi Makeup – Essence

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Fairchild/Penske Media archive via Getty Images

Perfection is an addictive ideal of beauty that we have now all fallen victim to. This is clear in every thing from our drugs cabinets full of “anti-aging” skincare products to standardization Botox parties. What’s more, we even see it in horror movies (think: ) – revealing our insatiable desire to research and abandon perceived flaws.

This season, nonetheless, perfection is an outdated trend. Wabi-sabi— a Japanese worldview characterised by finding beauty in imperfection — is gaining popularity as a crucial antithesis to the fear of perfection. While aesthetic surgery is entering itsThe undetectable era” in response to the improvements of the watch, the makeup world is questioning whether beauty even exists in perfection.

“Don’t stress about imperfection. Embrace it. Relaxed, vibrant makeup feels more real and authentic” – MAC Senior National Artist Fatima Thomas says ESSENCE. “Things that are a little bit uneven, like a little blurry or a little bit uneven, can actually be quite visually pleasing.”

Below, Thomas explains the impact of Wabi-sabi beauty and her skilled techniques in achieving this look.

The rise of Wabi-sabi makeup

“A lot of people are taking a less stringent approach to makeup,” says Thomas. “When you worry less about having every line be perfect, every blend being perfect, you can actually enjoy applying and wearing makeup.” With beauty tricks like showering after punching to set the look with steam or sleeping in eyeliner for a soft grunge aesthetic, “Wabi-sabi allows for greater freedom and self-expression.”

Why now’s the proper time to adopt this mindset

“Do you really need to spend an extra 10 minutes to get your eyeliner perfect, or is it already good enough,” she asks. “After the pandemic and global inflation, people don’t want to stress about their makeup,” she continues, as TikTok’s viral “dopamine menu” trend turns beauty right into a form of therapy. “Wabi-sabi is about doing your best, and if it’s a little shaky, it’s okay.”

What does imperfect makeup appear like?

With airbrushes and editing apps distorting our view of achievable beauty: “I believe [imperfection] it is an opposition to digital filters and Photoshop,” he says. “It could be intentional or accidental, but it takes away the urge to rush and refine everything to look photoshopped.”

According to Thomas, the wabi-sabi approach relies more on philosophy than on any particular view. However, the important thing to imperfections is in nuances: “Do your makeup quickly and refrain from fixing minor imperfections.”

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

Companies that help insurance companies deny pre-authorization claims –

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Medicare, Melissa D. Hall


KFF survey found that roughly 6 in 10 insured adults have experienced problems while using their insurance. Issues include denied claims, network adequacy, pre-authorization delays and denials. As the investigation shows, this is just not a surprise. A hidden industry makes money by denying doctors’ payment requests, called prior authorizations.

According to a ProPublica investigation, one in every of the important thing participants on this scheme is Evernorth’s EviCore. A ProPublica investigation found that EviCore is owned by the big insurance company Cigna. The largest U.S. insurance companies employ EviCore and supply protection to 100 million consumers.

EviCore apparently uses a synthetic intelligence-supported algorithm that insurance industry insiders call “the shield.” The algorithm system will be customized, which ultimately results in more pre-authorization claim rejections.

What’s even weirder is that EviCore reportedly has some contracts that allow it to make more cash the more it cuts health care spending by insurance companies.

EviCore is just not alone. Another big player is Carelon Medical Benefits Management, a subsidiary of Elevance Health, formerly Anthem. Although the corporate has been accused in court of unlawfully denying legitimate insurance applications, it denies all allegations.

How companies respond

EviCore claims that the approval process ensures that the procedures are protected, obligatory and price-effective.

“We are improving the quality and safety of healthcare, and – by a happy coincidence – we are significantly reducing unnecessary costs,” said an EviCore doctor in the course of the company’s series of webinars.

But based on the investigation, EviCore’s approach is way more sinister than it suggests. EviCore reportedly guarantees a 3-to-1 return on investment, which implies your insurer can pay $3 less for medical care and other costs.

For some perspective, in 2021 in Arkansas, EviCore denied prior authorization requests almost 20% of the time. Medicare Advantage plans denied prior authorization requests about 7% of the time in 2022, based on a ProPublica evaluation of knowledge.

A Cigna spokesperson said on behalf of EviCore: “Simply put, EviCore uses the latest evidence-based medicine to ensure patients get the care they need and avoid services they don’t need.”

The spokesperson added that the corporate uses algorithms in some clinical programs “only to expedite the approval of appropriate care and reduce administrative burdens on healthcare providers.”


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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