All posts by Kenneth Dantzler-Corbin

I am a writer, editor, adjunct professor of Religion and Philosophy, English as a Second Language, Genealogy, Educator in Ambulatory Care, and Spiritual Support Specialist, Singer, Musician, and Social Justice Advocate for Human Rights.
Behavioral Science, Health, mental health

The 15Minutes4Me test has blown through to TikTok,

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The 15Minutes4Me test has blown through to TikTok, with more than 6.4 million views on writing on the #15minutes4me hashtag alone. The 15-minute online survey is situated around an assessment questionnaire. It helps people determine their current mental state to figure out an effective treatment protocol and offer strategies and solutions for dealing with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. If somebody so decides, they can sign up for the next step: A month-by-month daily sessions program made to be a “therapeutic self-help program.”

The widespread usage of this online self-help program among teens begs the question, though: How helpful can a viral test be? We spoke to many mental health professionals to learn.

“With a lot of young adults utilizing the TikTok app, there has been room for so much more candid conversations surrounding the topic of mental health,” said Kristin Wilson, LPC, vice president of clinical outreach at Newport Academy, a healing center for adolescents struggling with mental health issues. “These discussions can help teens believe that they’re not alone within their struggles and produce an online community of support.”

Reference
TikTokers are turning mental health into a trend — but is …. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tiktokers-turning-mental-health-trend-142105404.html

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals

It is possible to forget that COVID-19 is only a relatively young virus

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It is possible to forget that COVID-19 is only a relatively young virus. And with that, experts are also struggling to find ways to handle it. Today, a recent report indicates that one possible cure for the virus may be found in your local pharmacy: traditional sleep aid melatonin.

The November study, which was published in the journal PLOS Biology, analyzed patient results from the Cleveland Clinic COVID-19 registry.1 Researcher found that melatonin use was related to an approximately 30% reduced risk of positive testing for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that triggers COVID-19, after age, race, smoking history, and comorbidity-adjusted scientists. The figures for people in some communities were also higher: Afro-Americans had a 52 percent reduced chance of positive results, while those with diabetes were at a 48 percent lower risk.
Reference

Researchers Identify Melatonin as Possible COVID-19 Treatment. https://www.verywellhealth.com/melatonin-possible-covid-19-treatment-5087816

disease

Desperate to find a seemingly responsible way to host dinner parties, certain people have begun to get coronavirus tests

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Desperate to find a seemingly responsible way to host dinner parties, certain people have begun to get coronavirus tests as a way to clear themselves up for dinner parties without having to wear masks or keep their distance.

Ferrer said on Monday that she had learned of groups of young adults going to get screened for coronavirus on Thursday to get negative results by Saturday morning, and then holding a dinner party on Saturday night. Such checks offer a false sense of security—and participating in this activity will also lead to a dinner party being a super-spreading occurrence that will widely disperse the extremely infectious virus.

Reference:

‘False sense of security’: L.A. County officials urge residents not to get tested for coronavirus just to socialize.https://ktla.com/news/local-news/false-sense-of-security-l-a-county-officials-urge-residents-not-to-get-tested-for-coronavirus-just-to-socialize/

disease, Health, White House

With no guidance from the White House on how to react to worsening outbreaks

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With no guidance from the White House on how to react to worsening outbreaks, even some previously hesitant governors are enforcing restrictions.

Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota, which has chronically understaffed hospitals with the highest per capita rates of new coronavirus cases and deaths in the U.S., has developed a mask mandate and new limits for indoor dining.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico declared the nation’s most sweeping state-wide measure of the fall season, issuing a two-week “stay at home” order to begin on Monday; Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon put the state in a partial lockout for two weeks beginning on Wednesday.
These are the restrictions and mask mandates for all 50 nations.

In his first public address since losing his re-election, President Trump did not recognize growing coronavirus figures. President-elect Joe Biden called the federal response to the surge “unfortunately lacking” and encouraged Mr. Trump to do more.
Reference
Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today – Flipboard. https://flipboard.com/topic/travelkorea/coronavirus-briefing-what-happened-today/a-kOcvnj4wQTadMd7VaaAKEw%3Aa%3A3195393-9ebdc9bf9f%2Fnytimes.com

Behavioral Science, disease, Health

Individuals who have survived infections with COVID-19 are at increased risk of contracting the psychiatric disease

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New evidence indicates that individuals who have survived infections with COVID-19 are at increased risk of contracting the psychiatric disease. These results reported in The Lancet Psychiatry Journal suggest that 18 percent of COVID-19 patients are hospitalized with psychological symptoms of anxiety, depression, or insomnia within ninety days of diagnosis.

Researchers studied data from around 69 million individuals, 62,354 of whom were COVID-19 patients, to see whether they were at a greater risk of psychiatric diagnosis after infection than people with other health problems. The findings indicate that people with COVID-19 have more post-illness diagnosis with depressive disorder, insomnia, and even dementia than those with influenza or other respiratory illnesses related to COVID-19.

Anxiety symptoms are the most prevalent condition after illness, with dementia arising only in individuals older than 65 years of age.

Reference
1 in 5 coronavirus patients develop mental illness within 90 days.https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/longevity/525421-one-in-five-coronavirus-patients-develop-mental-illness

Ancestry, genealogy, History

Francis Albert “Frank” Sinatra, in my family tree

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Frank Sinatra '57.jpg

Francis Albert Sinatra was an American singer, actor, and director, one of the most influential and important musical artists of the 20th century. He is one of the best-selling recording acts of all time, selling more than 150 million albums worldwide. He appears in my genealogical chart as the husband of 14th cousin 5x removed.

disease, drugs, Health, medications, mental health

Fluvoxamine antidepressant avoids the deterioration of COVID-19 infections

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In a clinical trial performed by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, fluvoxamine was associated with a placebo in 152 adult outpatients afflicted with coronavirus. They are hoping to start a more significant trial in the next few weeks.

After 15 days, none of the 80 subjects who got fluvoxamine were critically ill, although six patients who received the placebo did. Of the six, four were hospitalized for periods ranging from four to 21 days. All of them were on the ventilator for ten days.

Although the sample size was limited, the researchers say the findings are statistically significant and that fluvoxamine merits further study as a COVID-19 therapy. They are hoping to start a more significant trial in the next few weeks.

“Patients who take fluvoxamine did not experience severe respiratory issues or need hospitalization for complications with lung function,” said Eric J. Lenze, MD, of the Washington University School of Medicine. “Most of the investigational therapies for COVID-19 have been focused on very ill patients, but it is often necessary to identify treatments that keep patients from being sick enough to need extra oxygen or to have to go to the hospital. Our analysis shows that fluvoxamine can help fill that niche.”

Reference

Antidepressant may prevent severe COVID-19, U.Va. research finds. https://wtop.com/virginia/2020/11/antidepressant-may-prevent-severe-covid-19-u-va-research-finds/

disease, Health

How are the various styles of masks working?

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How are the various styles of masks working?
Surgical Mask
Often known as a medical mask, a surgical mask is a loose-fitting disposable mask that covers the nose and mouth of the wearer from contact with droplets, splashes, and sprays that may contain germs. The surgical mask often removes huge objects out of the air. Surgical masks can protect others by reducing the exposure of the mask wearer to saliva and respiratory secretions.

Which masks are appropriate to wear?

The U.S. at this time. Food and Drug Administration has not licensed any form of surgical mask explicitly designed to protect against coronavirus, although these masks provide some protection when N95 masks are not available.

How are the various styles of masks working?
Surgical Mask
Often known as a medical mask, a surgical mask is a loose-fitting disposable mask that covers the nose and mouth of the wearer from contact with droplets, splashes, and sprays that may contain germs. The surgical mask often removes huge objects out of the air. Surgical masks can protect others by reducing the exposure of the mask wearer to saliva and respiratory secretions.

The U.S. at this time. Food and Drug Administration has not licensed any form of surgical mask explicitly designed to protect against coronavirus, although these masks provide some protection when N95 masks are not available.

Clothe masks
A fabric mask is designed to capture droplets that are emitted while the wearer speaks, coughs, or sneezes. Asking everybody to wear cloth masks will help minimize the transmission of the virus to those who have COVID-19 but don’t know it.

Cloth face coverings are more likely to minimize the transmission of the COVID-19 virus as individuals are commonly used in public settings. And countries that needed face masks, testing, quarantine, and social distance early in the pandemic have effectively delayed the spread of the virus.

While surgical and N95 masks can be in short supply and should be reserved for health care providers, face cloth and masks are easy to find or make and can be cleaned and reused.

Masks may be made from traditional materials, such as sheets of closely woven cotton. The directions are easy to find on-line. Cloth masks should contain several layers of fabric. The CDC website also provides instructions for no-saw masks made from bandannas and t-shirts.

Reference
CORE. https://core.ac.uk/display/90662761
Coronavirus drug and treatment tracker shows what could …. https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/07/coronavirus-drug-and-treatment-tracker-shows-what-could-help-patients-with-covid-19.html

Culture, Diet, disease, Health, medications, meditation

Type 2 diabetes can be cured

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Shao Changchun, a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, claims that type 2 diabetes can be cured and healed by the patient. He claims about half of the 130,000 people he has shown were relieved of diabetes. Photo: Simon SongShao Changchun, a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, claims that type 2 diabetes can be cured and treated by the patient. He claims about half of the 130,000 people he has seen have been cured of diabetes.

Shao Changchun, a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, claims that type 2 diabetes can be cured and healed by the patient. He claims about half of the 130,000 people he has seen have been cured of diabetes.

Western medicine sees diabetes as an incurable condition requiring lifetime insulin infusion and other drugs to keep it under control.

Chief of Beijing Changchun TCM Hospital in Beijing, founded three years ago to specialize in treating type 2.

Reference
World Diabetes Day 2020: traditional Chinese medicine can cure Type 2 diabetes, not just control it, doctor heading Beijing hospital says. https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3109687/world-diabetes-day-traditional-chinese-medicine-can-cure

Diet, disease, Health, Healthy eating

There are certainly a lot of foods out there that can help with longevity.

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There are certainly a lot of foods out there that can help with longevity. However, while there are many foods one can eat for longer life, here is one snack food, in particular, that should be in the regular meal rotation, and that is blueberries. Blueberries are a smaller fruit than most, yet when looking at blueberries’ health benefits, they can easily be categorized as the best snack food to eat for longer life. Here is why, and for more healthy eating tips, be sure to check out our list of 21 Best Healthy Cooking Hacks of All Time.

Why blueberries are the best snack
To understand why blueberries are the best snack food, we need to take a close look at the health benefits—particularly the antioxidants. Blueberries have the highest amount of antioxidants compared to any other food, and according to a study by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, foods rich in antioxidants help with longevity. In particular, having a diet rich in antioxidants—which are typically found in fruits and vegetables—have been proven to slow down the aging process and ward off “degenerative diseases of aging such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, immune-system decline, brain dysfunction, and cataracts.”
Reference
The One Snack Food To Eat for a Longer Life. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/one-snack-food-eat-longer-142007915.html