Happy New Years from Muriel Light's my hope is you continue making healthy choices, get your annual check-up to assure preventative health.  No matter the diagnoses early detection is the key to a healthy you.  Please continue to read my blog and follow me. " Suggestions and comments are always welcome: Together we can make our health better."
Thank You All

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: Nationwide Healthcare Call In Day

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: Nationwide Healthcare Call In Day: Ask Your Senators to Protect Healthcare for 13 Million Americans   Our fight for quality and affordable healthcare continues. The Senate ...

Nationwide Healthcare Call In Day

Ask Your Senators to Protect Healthcare for 13 Million Americans 

Our fight for quality and affordable healthcare continues. The Senate is attempting to undermine healthcare protections again. Senate leadership added a provision to its current tax bill that will repeal the requirement for most people to have health insurance. That requirement is known as the "individual mandate." 

The latest proposal would leave 13 million Americans without healthcare coverage and increase health insurance premiums by at least 10 percent or even more, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). 

Today is a special call-in day that the American Lung Association organized with other patient advocacy organizations—and we're asking EVERYONE to call both your Senators today and ask them not to repeal the individual mandate in the Senate tax bill. 

Rather than weakening healthcare, we would like the Senate to focus on the bipartisan Alexander-Murray legislation that would help stabilize the state insurance marketplaces, provide states more flexibility and ensure patient protections. We support this bill because it will help patients have quality and affordable healthcare—instead of making healthcare more expensive. 

Ask your Senators not to repeal the individual mandate in the tax bill today. You can find your Senators’ phone numbers by visiting our online directory or calling the Capitol switchboard at 202–224–3121. 

What to say when you call your Senators:

My name is (insert name) and i'm calling from (insert state).
I'm calling today to ask Senator [insert name] to protect healthcare for 13 
million Americans who would lose their coverage and to oppose repealing the 
individual mandate in the tax bill.
I know how important healthcare is for my family and me. Repealing the 
individual mandate will result in 13 million Americans losing their healthcare and 
premiums will increase for millions more.
[Share 1-2 sentences about why healthcare is important to you].
Can I count on Senator [insert name] to oppose repealing the individual 
mandate in the tax bill?
Thank you.

Sincerely,

Harold P. Wimmer
National President and CEO
American Lung Association 

P.S. To join the conversation and stay up-to-date on the healthcare bill, follow us on    Twitter and Facebook

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: World Diabetes Day.

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: World Diabetes Day.: On December 20, 2006, the United Nations (UN) passed a resolution to designate  November 14  as World Diabetes Day. The occasion a...

World Diabetes Day.

On December 20, 2006, the United Nations (UN) passed a resolution to designate November 14 as World Diabetes Day. The occasion aimed to raise awareness of diabetes, its prevention and complications and the care that people with the condition need.

Yesterday a Bronx based CBO, (Health People) held a peaceful protect with their Executive Director Chris Norwood, staff member and peer leaders. Outside the greater New York Hospital Association at 555 West 57th Street from 11 am. to 1 pm..

Here we are over a decade later at New York Metropolitan Hospital the area's largest  " nonprofit " hospitals who have reaped profits of 1.43 billion in 2016, according to Crain's New York Business.  A new study from Health People; Community Preventive Health Institute, leader of the Coalition, shows that even one-quarter of their profits could fund widespread, evidence-based preventive education that would preclude more than 200,000 new diabetes cases developing in the low-income communities where diabetes is concentrated. 

Without serious an effective prevention, New York State will add another 1.35 million diabetes to its existing caseload of 5.4 million patients within five years, while New York City will add another 325, 000 new cases to its own current caseload of 1.3 million diabetes," said Chris Norwood.  "We will go on and on with the horror of widespread amputation, blindness and thousands more people on dialysis."

"Why?  When we know this is stoppable.  The best researched prevention education, from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention- recognized National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP), is shown to slash by almost  60 percent the risk that pre-diabetics have of developing full brown diabetes very important outcome. "

The Health People study , "Educate--Don't Amputate: Hospital Profits versus Diabetes Prevention," projects that even using one quarter of reported hospital profits to enable  community groups to bring the NDPP to the neighborhoods where pre-diabetes is concentrated would save New Yonkers from a minimum of $200,000 new diabetes cases. 

With lifetime costs of diabetes having reached $150,000 to $200,000 per patient, preventing 200,000 cases would, over time, save public and private direct medical cost of some $30 billion.

"The profits that many "nonprofit" hospitals are now making are unprecedented. " said Norwood.  It is also unprecedented for the health industry to watch an epidemic, like that of diabetes, to go absolutely unchecked and to ignore effective prevention for years. Bringing these two diabetes, to go absolutely unchecked and to ignore effective prevention for years.  Bringing these two diabetes, to go absolutely unchecked and to signore effective prevention for years.  Bringing these two unprecedented situations together can finally place us on the path to successfully confronting diabetes."

For more information: Please visit www.healthpeople.org

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: FDA Panel Approves ImmunolTherapy Program To Fight...

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: FDA Panel Approves ImmunolTherapy Program To Fight...: NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)  — A new era in the war against cancer has begun.        As CBS2’s Dr. Max Gomez reported Thursday, a Food and Drug...

FDA Panel Approves ImmunolTherapy Program To Fight Cancer

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A new era in the war against cancer has begun.       

As CBS2’s Dr. Max Gomez reported Thursday, a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel has just unanimously recommended the approval of the first-ever living drug to fight leukemia.

The drug turns the patient’s own immune system against the cancer

Emily Whitehead looks like your typical 12-year-old girl – right now. But five years ago, she was dying of cancer.

Kashaun Lawhorn, 7, and Emma Collins, 16, were facing the same fate. They were battling leukemia and traditional treatments had failed.

“Nothing worked,” Emily said.

But then came a second chance — a game-changing experimental therapy that utilized their own bodies’ immune systems to kill the cancer.

“We do have her counts back and they look perfect,” said Dr. Stephan Grupp.

And now, thanks to a unanimous vote of an FDA expert advisory panel on Wednesday, the kids will not be the only ones to benefit.

“Ten years ago, I don’t think anybody thought you could productively use the immune system to fight cancer,” Grupp said.

Grupp conducted the clinical trial for this revolutionary treatment called “CAR-T Therapy.”

“Now, in addition to chemo, radiation and surgery, this is the fourth thing – immunotherapy,” he said.

In the lab, the patient’s own immune T-cells are genetically modified by a virus to recognize the patient’s cancer. Then, those custom-made white blood cells are given back to the patient.

A single dose has brought long-term remissions in more than 82 percent of the most seriously ill patients treated.

“What happens is that the T-cells go all around the body and when they find something that they recognize, like the B-cell leukemia, they kill that off,” said Dr. Shannon Maude of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Better yet, some of the CAR T-cells “remember” what the leukemia looks like to fight any recurrence.

“A onetime treatment can certainly lead to at least five years of survival, and we hope can lead to cures,” said Dr. Stephen Hunger, chief of oncology at CHOP.

There could be cures for thousands of children around the world, like Emily.

“Now I’m five years cancer free,” Emily said.

CAR-T therapy can have serious side effects, but the children who got it were literally on death’s doorstep.

It is mainly effective against leukemia and lymphoma, but researchers are working to use it against so-called solid tumors such as breast, colon, and lung.

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: National HIV testing Day

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: National HIV testing Day: Each year on June 27 we observe National HIV Testing Day. On this day, we unite with partners, health departments, and other organization...

National HIV testing Day

Each year on June 27 we observe National HIV Testing Day. On this day, we unite with partners, health departments, and other organizations to raise awareness about the importance of HIV testing and early diagnosis of HIV. Help encourage HIV testing on National HIV Testing Day and every day to ensure people get tested for HIV, know their status, and get linked to care and treatment service

Testing only takes 15 minutes

Testing is free 

Reference and resources

https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/awareness/testingday.html

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: The National Cancer Survivors Day is a secular ho...

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs:
The National Cancer Survivors Day is a secular ho...: The National  Cancer Survivors Day  is a secular holiday celebrated on the first Sunday in June. The  day  is meant to “demonstrate th...

The National Cancer Survivors Day is a secular holiday celebrated on the first Sunday in June. The day is meant to “demonstrate that life after a cancer diagnosis can be a reality”.'

For those who are now living their lives after a cancer diagnosis we celebrate their battle and their continues strength and strives to be a cancer survivor.  

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs:

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs:

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: CPHS Raising The Voices Of The People

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: CPHS Raising The Voices Of The People: This month my attention is on the attempts to repeal  Obama care and take the rights to health-care away from many. The great efforts of...

CPHS Raising The Voices Of The People

This month my attention is on the attempts to repeal

 Obama care and take the rights to health-care away from many.

The great efforts of the Commission on the Public Health which is a citywide heath care advocacy for everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, language spoken, sexual or gender identity, disability, immigration status, diagnosis, or ability to pay.

Protecting the Safety-Net

This legislation provided a fair and rational method to distribute funding based upon the actual percentage of Medicaid and Uninsured patients served. Sadly, the Governor failed to sign this milestone legislation.  However, The states new $153.1 billion budget provides $20 million over two years to enhance safety net to hospitals, a new category of hospitals that serve low-income New Yorkers.  To meet the new criteria, hospitals must show that in any of the last three years at least 50 percent of their patients were uninsured or on medicaid, at least 40 percent of inpatient discharges were billed to medicaid and no more than ,25 percent of patients had commercial insurance.

Building Capacity for Communities to understand their Rights & Options to Care

Working with New York Immigration Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies and Community Service Society, successfully won a little over a million dollars for ACCESS HEALTH NYC.  This initiative provides education, outreach, and assistance to all New Yorkers about how to access health care and know their rights.  CPHS is drafting the community friendly educational materials.  There has been 5,926 individuals reached through workshops and events by 13 community based organizations and FQHC's that were awarded funds.
They had a successful Advocacy day with serveral people people and organizations participating In meeting with City Council.

Protecting Medicaid

In response to fear around cuts to medicaid by the federal government, repeal of the ACA, and defending of Planned Parenthood, they formed a  coalition to defend Medicaid.  Judy Wessler and Mary Li on behalf of CPHS has been convening coalition meeting to 20 organizations.  On April 6, 2017, over 100 people attending a forum about learning what the dangers are with the Republican attack on our health care and taking action together.

For more information:
CPHS
110 Wall Street Rm 4006
New York, NY 10005
646-325-5317
afeliciano@cphsnyc.org


Resources
CPHS

NATIONAL EARTH DAY 2017

A cleaner earth contributes to a healthier you,  Let all contribute to a clean earth by standing by the scientist who are fighting global warming and destruction of our planet.  We all one by one make a difference. 

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: International/WomensDay

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: International/WomensDay: For International Women's Day 2017, we're asking you to  #BeBoldForChange Call on the masses or call on yourself to help forge...

International/WomensDay

For International Women's Day 2017, we're asking you to 

#BeBoldForChange

Call on the masses or call on yourself to help forge a better working world
- a more inclusive, gender equal world

                                                               March 8, 2017

Ovarian Cancer Month

Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. Cancer is always named for the part of the body where it starts, even if it spreads to other body parts later.

When cancer starts in the ovaries, it is called ovarian cancer. Women have two ovaries that are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries make female hormones and produce eggs.

Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. But when ovarian cancer is found in its early stages, treatment works best. Ovarian cancer often causes signs and symptoms, so it is important to pay attention to your body and know what is normal for you. Symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know is to see your doctor, nurse, or other health care professional.

Changes, or mutations, in BRCA genes can raise your risk for ovarian cancer. Know the BRCA tools can help you understand your risk of having a BRCA gene mutation, or mutations.

Why BRCA Gene Mutations Matter

Not every woman who has a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation will get breast or ovarian cancer, but having a gene mutation puts you at an increased risk for these cancers.

• About 50 out of 100 women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation will get breast cancer by the time they turn 70 years old, compared to only 7 out of 100 women in the general United States population.
• About 30 out of 100 women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation will get ovarian cancer by the time they turn 70 years old, compared to fewer than 1 out of 100 women in the general U.S. population.

If you have a family history of breast cancer or inherited changes in your BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, you may have a higher breast cancer risk. Talk to your doctor about these ways of reducing your risk—

• Antiestrogens or other medicines that block or decrease estrogen in your body.
• Surgery to reduce your risk of breast cancer---Prophylactic (preventive) mastectomy (removal of breast tissue).
  • Prophylactic (preventive) salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes).

It is important that you know your family history and talk to your doctor about screening and other ways you can lower your risk. For more information about breast cancer prevention,

 visit:   Breast Cancer (PDQ) Prevention      Breast Cancer (PDQ): Prevention.

Reference

https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ovarian/index.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/young_women/bringyourbrave/hereditary_breast_cancer/brca_gene_mutations.htm

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: 15 Early Signs of Cancer

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: 15 Early Signs of Cancer: Cancer is a group of diseases which can bring about a number of signs and symptoms. Depending on the location of the cancer, along with its ...

15 Early Signs of Cancer

Cancer is a group of diseases which can bring about a number of signs and symptoms. Depending on the location of the cancer, along with its size and impact on affected organs, these symptoms may sometimes be general in nature or may appear specific to a particular organ or tissue.

1. Unexplained weight loss

2. Fever

3. Fatigue

4. Pain

5. Skin changes

6. Changes in bladder function or bowel habits

7. Sores

8. White patches in the mouth

9. Unusual bleeding or discharge

10. Lumps in different body parts

11. Difficulty swallowing

12. Changing warts, moles or freckles

13. Hoarseness or nagging cough

14. Heartburn

15. Breathlessness

For detailed information 

http://dailyhealthlifestyles.com/10-24-2016-15-early-signs-of-cancer/

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: Celebrating Black History Month

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: Celebrating Black History Month: Martin was fatally shot on February 26, 2012  by then-neighborhood watch guard George     Zimmerman, who claimed he fired his weapon ...

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: Celebrating Black History Month

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: Celebrating Black History Month: Martin was fatally shot on February 26, 2012  by then-neighborhood watch guard George     Zimmerman, who claimed he fired his weapon ...

Celebrating Black History Month

Martin was fatally shot on February 26, 2012 by then-neighborhood watch guard George     Zimmerman, who claimed he fired his weapon at Martin because he said he believed him to   be "a suspicious person" who posed a threat. Martin, who was walking home from a near by store, was wearing a hoodie and holding a bag of Skittles in the moments before he died. His killing ignited a wave of intense protests that denounced police brutality and ultimately birthed the Black Lives Matter movement.  

Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin have taken the great lost and grief of their son to the public bringing awareness to young black men lives being taken unjustly.   Through their pain they have brought forward powerful unity and movement through their Trayvon Martin Foundation which  is a social justice organization committed to ending senseless gun violence, strengthening families through holistic support. S.T.E.A.M. education of women and minorities and mentoring.  Their strategy is to move from intervention to reform.  Positively changing the lives of youth and their families through strategic programming and perpetual services is at the core of our existence.  The Circle of Mother's, Circle of Father's and recently released book by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin is a true testament of the love and lost of parents, honoring their sons short life.  

Reference
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-trayvon-martins-parents-keep-his-spirit-alive-5-years-after-his-death_us_58a1f0a3e4b094a129ed9772?utm_hp_ref=trayvon-martin
http://trayvonmartinfoundation.org/

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL: I first wanted to start this new year 2017 with the stats on all those who have affordable healthcare better known as Obama Care. But I foun...

Affordable Healthcare For All

I first wanted to start this new year 2017 with the stats on all those who have affordable healthcare better known as Obama Care. But I found myself in a maze of confusion of the millions of people enrolled in healthcare fact or fiction. What are the real numbers? What laws affected actual numbers?  And finally do I really care about the fact and issues brought about when all I want is to have healthcare,  so I have decided to just speak on why healthcare should be affordable for all..

For most of us healthcare is a bill we pay without taking advantage to the actually services that are provided unless there is an emergency. There goes the first problem because healthcare should be used as a preventive tool.  This means you should be visiting you Primary care provider annually whether you are sick or not.  You should be armed with your benefit package full with resources and follow-up to all medical providers necessary to you living a healthy life style. Last but least this is you opportunity this is your turn to make your health concerns heard if your doctor is not hearing you find another one.

Affordable Healthcare is not what our government wants because studies show that the cheaper healthcare is the more it will be used.  Therefore increasing healthcare cost.... But there are other factors to be taken under consideration medication cost which also will increase.

Findings Per capita prescription drug spending in the United States exceeds that in all other countries, largely driven by brand-name drug prices that have been increasing in recent years at rates far beyond the consumer price index. In 2013, per capita spending on prescription drugs was $858 compared with an average of $400 for 19 other industrialized nations. In the United States, prescription medications now comprise an estimated 17% of overall personal health care services. The most important factor that allows manufacturers to set high drug prices is market exclusivity, protected by monopoly rights awarded upon Food and Drug Administration approval and by patents. The availability of generic drugs after this exclusivity period is the main means of reducing prices in the United States, but access to them may be delayed by numerous business and legal strategies. The primary counterweight against excessive pricing during market exclusivity is the negotiating power of the payer, which is currently constrained by several factors, including the requirement that most government drug payment plans cover nearly all products. Another key contributor to drug spending is physician prescribing choices when comparable alternatives are available at different costs. Although prices are often justified by the high cost of drug development, there is no evidence of an association between research and development costs and prices; rather, prescription drugs are priced in the United States primarily on the basis of what the market will bear.

Conclusions and Relevance High drug prices are the result of the approach the United States has taken to granting government-protected monopolies to drug manufacturers, combined with coverage requirements imposed on government-funded drug benefits. The most realistic short-term strategies to address high prices include enforcing more stringent requirements for the award and extension of exclusivity rights; enhancing competition by ensuring timely generic drug availability; providing greater opportunities for meaningful price negotiation by governmental payers; generating more evidence about comparative cost-effectiveness of therapeutic alternatives; and more effectively educating patients, prescribe, payers, and policy makers about these choices.

Not all components of healthcare  contribute equally to employer costs.  Roughly half of all medical costs come from hospital spending:  30% to employer costs.  Roughly half of all medical costs come from hospital outpatient.  Physicians account for about 30%  and prescription drugs 17% 

Drug spending is still a relatively small portion of overall health spending, and as such, concerns of even-increasing cost growth from new cures may trigger false alarms.  

Aging is also a factor in healthcare cost people are living longer, the median age of the world's population is increasing because of a decline in fertility and a 20-year increase in the average life span during the second half of the 20th century (1). These factors, combined with elevated fertility in many countries during the 2 decades after World War II (i.e., the "Baby Boom"), will result in increased numbers of persons aged >65 years during 2010--2030 (2). Worldwide, the average life span is expected to extend another 10 years by 2050 (1). The growing number of older adults increases demands on the public health system and on medical and social services. Chronic diseases, which affect older adults disproportionately, contribute to disability, diminish quality of life, and increased health- and long-term--care costs. Increased life expectancy reflects, in part, the success of public health interventions (2), but public health programs must now respond to the challenges created by this achievement, including the growing burden of chronic illnesses, injuries, and disabilities and increasing concerns about future care giving and health-care costs. 

  

In conclusion as we fight over healthcare the one question I ask myself is should we all have affordable healthcare..I can only speak for myself and I say yes.  I pay for healthcare every month a co-payment when I make a visit to any doctor. I found my health outcome improving. Those visits keep me out of the emergency room, aware of the prevention tools available and my primary-care provider on speed dial. Don't we all deserve these services?

References

1. United Nations. Report of the Second World Assembly on Aging. Madrid, Spain: United Nations, April 8--12, 2002.
2. Kinsella K, Velkoff V. U.S. Census Bureau. An Aging World: 2001. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2001; series P95/01-1.
3. U.S. Census Bureau. International database. Table 094. Midyear population, by age and sex. Available at http://www.census.gov/population/www/projections/natdet-D1A.html.
4. U.S. Census Bureau. State and national population projections. Available at http://www.census.gov/population/www/projections/popproj.html.
5. Campbell PR. Population projections for states by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin: 1995 to 2025. U.S. Bureau of the Census, Population Division, PPL-47, 1996. Available athttp://www.census.gov/population/www/projections/stproj.html.
6. World Health Organization. World Health Report 2002, Annex Table 2 (deaths by cause, sex and mortality stratum in WHO Regions, estimates for 2001). Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2002:186--91.
7. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC. Chronic disease notes and reports: special focus. Healthy Aging 1999;12:3.
8. Boyle JP, Honeycutt AA, Narayan KMV, et al. Projection of diabetes burden through 2050: impact of changing demography and disease prevalence in the US. Diabetes Care 2001;24:1936--40.
9. CDC. Prevalence of self-reported arthritis or chronic joint symptoms among adults---United States, 2001. MMWR 2002;51:948--50.
10. Hubert H, Bloch D, Oehlert J, Fries J. Lifestyle habits and compression of morbidity. Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences 2002;57A:347--51.
11. Freedman VA, Martin LG, Schoeni RF. Recent trends in disability and functioning among older adults in the United States: a systematic review. JAMA 2002;288:3137--46.
12. Jacobzone S, Oxley H. Ageing and Health Care Costs. Internationale Politik und Gesellschaft Online (International Politics and Society) 1/2002. Available athttp://fesportal.fes.de/pls/portal30/docs/folder/ipg/ipg1_2002/artjacobzone.htm.
13. Anderson GF, Hussey PS. Population aging: a comparison among industrialized countries. Health Affairs 2000;19:191--203.
14. Levit K, Smith C, Cowan C, Lazenby H, Sensenig A, Catlin A. Trends in U.S. health care spending, 2001. Health Affairs 2003;22:154--64.
15. Jacobzone S. Coping with aging: international challenges. Health Affairs 2000;19:213--25.
16. Koplan JP, Fleming DW. Current and future public health challenges. JAMA 2000;284:1696--8.
17. m/sites/scottgottlieb/2015/05/14/how-many-people-has-obamacare-really-insured/#57e46736777f
18. http://www.pwc.com/us/en/health-industries/health-research-institute/behind-the-numbers.htm

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: Martin Luther King

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: Martin Luther King: Martin Luther King, Jr. , (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin.

Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin.