Walking...

 Many couples may feel trapped in a their relationship. But think about it, you may not be as trapped as you think. Several factors must be considered before walking away.

Economics. a person feels economically dependent on the partner for fear s/he couldn’t land a job that pays a living wage. Fact is, pre-pandemic, the unemployment rate was the lowest in 50 years and now as COVID restrictions are lifting, unemployment is rapidly declining. 

Hurting the kids. If you and your partner often fight or merely are cold to each other, it may be better for the kids for you to be apart. Not only will your kids not suffer the stress and see the poor role-modeling of an unhappy couple, each of you singly may do a better job of parenting.

Embarrassment. It may be more embarrassing to have family and friends see you choosing to stay stuck in a bad relationship than for you to separate. They may be impressed if, rather than being apologetic, you explain that you both want to seek a better life.

Ugly divorce. Yes, divorce can by ugly, protracted, and expensive. But that sometimes can be avoided by each of you promising to be statesmanlike and instead of lawyering up, engaging a highly skilled mediator that both of you agree to use.

Any way, don't rush to walk away. The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence.    Just a thought.

All Right...

 

DASH...

 

The DASH diet, short for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, recommends fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, poultry, fish and low-fat dairy products, while restricting salt, red meat, sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages.

Among trial participants on the DASH diet, biomarkers linked to cardiac damage and inflammation fell by 18% and 13%, respectively. Participants combining the DASH diet with reduced-sodium behavior had the most pronounced reductions in both cardiac injury and stress — 20% and 23%, respectively — although inflammation was not significantly impacted.

Blood pressure is one of the best predictors of cardiovascular health, and cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of people in the U.S. Previous research also suggested that a lack of sleep may offer one possible explanation for why sleep problems have been shown to increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and even death from cardiovascular disease.

Breakthrough...

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new report on Tuesday, detailing just how many breakthrough infections have happened in the U.S. in people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

The report found that 10,262 COVID-19 breakthrough infections were reported to the CDC from 46 states and territories between Jan. 1 through April 30, 2021. 

There were some trends:

• 6,446 (63 percent) were female

• The median age was 58 years old

• 2,725 (27 percent) of cases were asymptomatic

• 995 (10 percent) of patients were hospitalized

• 160 (2 percent) of patients died.

Of the patients who were hospitalized, 289 (29 percent) did not have symptoms or were hospitalized for reasons other than COVID-19. 

The median age of patients who died was 82, and 28 (18 percent) of those who died did not have symptoms or died from a cause that wasn’t related to COVID-19. 

Findings...

 

Immunity to the coronavirus lasts at least a year, probably much longer.

Two  new studies suggest that most people who have recovered from Covid-19 and who were later immunized will not need boosters. 

Vaccinated people who were never infected most likely will need the shots, however, as will a minority who were infected but did not produce a robust immune response.

Both reports looked at people who had been exposed to the coronavirus about a year earlier. Cells that retain a memory of the virus persist in the bone marrow and may churn out antibodies whenever needed, according to one of the studies, published Monday in the journal Nature.

The other study, found that these so-called memory B cells continue to mature and strengthen for at least 12 months after the initial infection.

“The papers are consistent with the growing body of literatures.

We need a new look at the natural immunity for the young. Just a thought.

Ironic

 

During her first public appearance as presumptive Democratic vice presidential nominee, the senator from California compared the novel coronavirus, which has infected over 5.1 million and is linked to 165,000 deaths in the United States, to the Ebola outbreak in 2014. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, only "eleven people were treated for Ebola in the United States during the 2014-2016 epidemic."

"It didn't have to be this way. Six years ago, in fact, we had a different health crisis. It was called Ebola. And we all remember that pandemic. But you know what happened then? Barack Obama and Joe Biden did their job. Only two people in the United States died. Two. That is what is called leadership," Harris said.

From Jan. 20 to April 28, Biden's first 14 weeks in office, the CDC reported 156,096 new COVID-19 deaths. John Hopkins reported 160,540, because it uses a slightly different methodology.  And that is after the availability of the Corona Virus Vaccines.

Ironic Huh. Just a thought.

Adjust...

 

Heart to Heart...

 

They're known for having the 'healthiest hearts ever studied', but now an Amazonian tribe may also hold the key to slowing down ageing.

The Tsimane indigenous people of the Bolivian Amazon experience less brain atrophy as they age than their American and European peers, researchers have found.

It suggests that sedentary lifestyles and diets rich in fats and sugars could be making people in industrialised nations more vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease.

By contrast, the 16,000-strong tribe are extremely active, traditionally hunting and foraging for their own food, and consume a high-fibre diet of vegetables, fish and lean meat.

Herd Immunity...

 

The Belt...

 

On May 1, the CDC transitioned from monitoring all breakthrough COVID-19 cases to monitoring only those where patients were hospitalized or died, a move that is wise. It’s important to shift from looking at cases to only looking at serious disease, as the vaccination of high-risk individuals has decoupled cases from hospitalizations and deaths what flattening the curve was initially about.

Many of those who were hospitalized and died from a breakthrough infection were elderly or immunocompromised, and that confirms the notion that people who fall into those categories “should take the belt-and-suspenders approach” because their immune systems don’t respond as well to the vaccine. 

The recommendation: “Get vaccinated, wear a mask, avoid large groups and continue to be careful.”

Dr. John Sellick, an infectious disease expert and professor of medicine at the University at Buffalo, tells Yahoo Life that the average person shouldn’t worry about breakthrough infections. 

“For those of us who are of average health, are fully vaccinated and don’t have severe underlying medical problems, breakthrough infections are unlikely to be a huge problem,” he says.

 “But highly immunosuppressed people have to be careful, just in case.”