Houston, TX - (NewMediaWire) - March 06, 2019 - China Infrastructure Construction Corp. (OTC:PK: CHNC) https://www.chnc-hdh.com announces it is exploring an acquisition opportunity in the stem cell space.This opportunity came to CHNC due to the fact that it has opened its Houston Stem Cell Clinic, Inc., which is a wholly owned Subsidiary of China Infrastructure Construction Corp. Houston Stem Cell Clinic Inc will offer Stem Cell therapy to patients of Hippocrates Direct Health Care, Inc. and CHNC. L. Natalie Carroll, M.D. will administer and treat Stem Cell patients. Dr. Carroll is an OB/GYN Physician on staff at the clinic. Elizabeth Hernandez, President and CEO of CHNC, said, “We believe our addition of Stem Cell Therapy to our clinic will bring the best care, modern technology and opportunities to CHNC as well to a large segment of Houston and dramatically increase our number of patients and increase our earned revenues.”Hippocrates Direct Healthcare Inc, is a wholly owned subsidiary of CHNC, maintains a medical office and also does clinical research for pharmaceutical companies. Hippocrates is now moving its membership-based model into a unique surgical sub-specialty of medicine. As a Houston-based medical office we feel we will be well positioned to bring STEM CELL medicine to Houston and continue our march towards bringing our patients quality and value in all aspects of medicine,” said President & CEO Elizabeth Hernandez. Stem-cell therapy is the use of stem cells to treat or prevent a disease or condition. Bone marrow transplant is the most widely used stem-cell therapy, but some therapies derived from umbilical cord blood are also in use. Safe Harbor StatementThe information posted in this release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by use of the words "may," "will," "should," "plans," "explores," "expects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "projects," "intends," and similar phrases. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those projected or anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, effects of geopolitical conditions, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, and various other factors beyond the company's control.Hippocrates Direct Healthcare™ and the Hippocrates Direct Healthcare™ logo are all trademarks or registered trademarks of Hippocrates Direct Healthcare™, Inc.Elizabeth Hernandez, President/CEO Phone: 832-606-7500 Email: elizabeth@chnc-hdh.com
Fort Lauderdale, FL - (NewMediaWire) - March 06, 2019 - Veritas Farms, Inc. (the “Company” or “Veritas Farms”) (OTCQB: VFRM), a vertically integrated agribusiness focused on the production of full spectrum hemp extracts with naturally occurring cannabinoids, is pleased to release these selected preliminary unaudited 4th Quarter 2018 financial results.Selected Preliminary Unaudited 4th Quarter 2018 Financial Highlights - Veritas Farms, Inc.• Total Revenue: $961,929, up from $355,653, an increase of 170% from Q4 2017.• Total Cost of Goods Sold: $311,752, down from $555,932, a decrease of 44% form Q4 2017• Gross Profit: $650,177, up from a loss of $200,278 in Q4 2017, an increase of $850,455 • Total Inventory: $2,295,943, up from $1,428,758, an increase of 61% from Q4 2017• Total Accounts Payable: $163,627, down from $245,082, a decrease of 33% from Q4 2017• Total Liabilities: $800,693, down from $2,102,454, a decrease of 62% from Q4 2017Alexander M. Salgado, CEO and co-founder of Veritas Farms, commented, “As we continue to emerge as one of the leading fully-integrated full spectrum industrial hemp extract companies in the country, this past fourth quarter’s results have been our best ever with large increases in total revenue, gross profits, and inventory levels, while at the same time, reducing our cost of goods, accounts payable, and total liabilities. When compared to our fourth quarter numbers from last year, our growth has been remarkable.“This outstanding growth rate is not restricted to our year-over-year results. Compared to our previously reported quarterly period, Q3 2018, our total revenues more than doubled by 109% and gross profits jumped by over 645%. “These accomplishments were the direct result of the hard work of our dedicated team and partners, along with significant new capital investments at our Colorado facility, the successful launch of our own Veritas Farms™ branded product line, and our targeted sales and marketing programs.” Mr. Salgado concluded, “Following the signing of the 2018 United States Farm Bill in late December 2018 by President Trump that provided a federal legal framework for industrial hemp, we expect that our growth and expansion plans will continue to gain momentum throughout 2019 as more and more mainstream retailers, drug stores, and health care providers begin to sell and promote hemp extract products to their customers across the country.”Veritas Farms expects to report audited full year 2018 results in its Annual Report on Form 10-K, to be filed on or before mid-April 2019.About Veritas Farms, Inc.Veritas Farms, Inc. (OTCQB: VFRM) is a vertically integrated agribusiness focused on producing superior quality, whole plant, full spectrum hemp oils and extracts containing naturally occurring cannabinoids. The Company currently operates a 140-acre farm and production facilities in Pueblo, Colorado, and is registered with the Colorado Department of Agriculture to grow industrial hemp. The Company markets and sells products under its Veritas Farms™ brand and manufactures private label products for a number of leading distributors and retailers. Veritas Farms™ brand full spectrum hemp extract products include vegan capsules, tinctures, formulations for sublingual applications and infused edibles, lotions, salves, and oral syringes in a variety of size formats and flavors. All Veritas Farms™ brand products are third-party laboratory tested for strength and purity. The Company files periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which can be viewed at www.sec.gov.For additional information and online product purchase, visit www.theveritasfarms.com.Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking StatementsThis Veritas Farms, Inc. press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including those with respect to the Company’s mission statement and growth strategy, are “forward-looking ...
Pismo Beach, CA - (NewMediaWire) - March 06, 2019 - CBD Expo MIDWEST will be held from March 15 to March 16, 2019 at Indianapolis Marriott East in Indianapolis, IN. The conference, which appeals to consumers who are both eager to learn about the benefits of CBD and entrepreneurs who want to educate themselves on how to start a CBD Business, announced today its final schedule of specialized speakers, panels and demos. CBD Expo MIDWEST will focus on various themes of CBD 101, CBD Applications & Tools, Medical Advancements and Industry Trends.A preview of speakers, panels, and demos can be found below. To view the full agenda, please click here.In addition to the programmed schedule, CBD Expo MIDWEST will be hosting a CBD Coach and CBD Professional Certification course on Thursday, March 14 and a CBD Business Builder Course on Sunday, March 17. These courses will provide attendees with a proven business and marketing platform to launch a career as a CBD Coach.Celeste Miranda, CEO and Founder of CBD Expo Tour & MACE Media Group, and Dr. Adam Abodeely, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS, CEO of ReserveMD, will deliver the keynote addresses on the respective days. Some of the additional topics will include:Insider Guide to CBDStarting and Running an Ethical and Responsible CBD Business10 Questions to Ask Your CBD SupplierUse of CBD in Acute and Chronic PainCannabinoid Medicine: Stories from the Opioid Crisis FrontSome of the panel topics include:The Difference Between Hemp-Derived & Cannabis-Derived CBDCBD vs. THCA Brief History of Cannabis & the Legalization of HempMethods of Using CBDCBD Marketing: For Entrepreneurs and Startups“We are thrilled to announce the official schedule for CBD Expo MIDWEST and to have a lineup of speakers and panelists that are experts in the CBD industry,” said Celeste Miranda. “Our goal is to educate the Midwest about CBD and to empower future business leaders to move forward with launching a CBD business.”Those who are interested in attending CBD Expo MIDWEST or requesting more information about the 2019 tour can visit www.cbdexpo.net.About CBD Expo TourCBD Expo Tour is the first of its kind to bring the largest CBD event platform to broadcast products with the community and share knowledge with the industry. The events feature more than 70 exhibitors, along with a substantial lineup of speaker presentations and panel discussions from experts in the research, production, globalization, and sale of CBD products. The themes are CBD 101, CBD Applications, Medical Advancements, and Industry Trends. CBD Expo Tour 2019 will be held in Indiana, Washington, Colorado, California, and Florida. Find out more at CBD Expo Tour or connect on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.About MACE Media GroupMACE Media Group publishes niched cannabis industry trade publications. Its first title, Terpenes and Testing Magazine, was the first industry trade publication devoted to cannabis science. Its newest publication, CBD Health & Wellness Magazine, revolves around the growing CBD industry to provide news on trending applications, medical research, and updates with laws and regulations. MACE also produces many trade events that attract dozens of cannabis and mainstream media journalists. Currently, MACE Media Group is producing a tour of CBD expos bringing together thousands of industry influencers, forming the most comprehensive CBD event in the United States. Find out more at MACE Media Group.Public Relations Contact: Kathleen Gonzales CMW Media (619) 368-2701
Panel to discuss “Hemp in New England: Farming and CBD Opportunities Post-Farm Bill”Vancouver, BC - (NewMediaWire) - March 06, 2019 - Future Farm Technologies Inc. (the “Company” or “Future Farm”) (CSE: FFT) (OTCQB: FFRMF) is proud to announce that George Groccia, Future Farm’s organizational and operational manager, and Zachary Lapan, general manager for Future Farm Maine’s hemp production facilities, have been selected to speak at the New England Cannabis Convention (NECANN) in Boston on Saturday, March 23, 2019. NECANN is the east coast’s largest cannabis industry event, attracting the largest number of hemp and cannabis industry professionals in the Northeast.George and Zak will be speakers at the “Hemp in New England: Farming and CBD Opportunities Post-Farm Bill” panel, and George will serve as moderator. They will be joined by fellow panelists Julia Agron, outreach coordinator for the Northeast Sustainable Hemp Association (NOSHA); Bill Downing, former president of MassCANN/NORML; and Linda Noel of the Terrapin Hemp Cooperative. The session starts at 1:00 PM and will include time for the panel to address audience questions.With Future Farm’s successful fall 2018 harvest in Maine and the recent launch of the Company’s hemp seed sales website at FutureFarmShop.com, George and Zak bring hands-on experience to help the NECANN audience understand implications for farmers and CBD producers after the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill and how farmers and investors are seizing new opportunities in this emerging industry.To view the conference schedule and learn more about NECANN, visit https://www.necann.com/2019-boston/For further information about Future Farm Technologies, contact Investor Relations at investor@futurefarmtech.com or (888) 387-3761 ext. 710.On behalf of the Board,Future Farm Technologies Inc. William Gildea, CEO About Future Farm Technologies Inc. Future Farm is a Canadian company with holdings throughout North America including California, Massachusetts, Florida, Maine, Puerto Rico and Newfoundland. The Company’s mission is to advance sustainable agriculture through production of wholesale and retail cannabis products, including hemp. As a leader in its field, Future Farm is committed to using only the highest quality processes and products. Towards this goal, the Company acquires or partners with licensed cannabis operators, and acquires or develops leading technologies in cannabis production, breeding, genetics, and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). Future Farm’s scalable, indoor CEA systems utilize minimal land, water and energy resources. The Company holds an exclusive, worldwide license to use a patented vertical farming technology that, when compared to traditional plant production methods, generates yields up to 10 times greater per square foot of land. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to ...
New York - (NewMediaWire) - March 06, 2019 - NexTech AR Solutions (the “Company” or “NexTech”) (OTC: NEXCF)(CSE: NTAR) (FSE: N29) is pleased to announce that it is working with Premier Health (CSE: PHGI, OTCQB: PHGRF, Frankfurt: 6PH) by exploring options to integrate NexTech’s AR into Premier Health’s App, which has the potential to reach Premier’s ecosystem of almost 3 million patients. NexTech is bringing a next generation web enabled augmented reality (AR) platform with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and analytics using a xAPI to the Cannabis industry, eCommerce, education, training, healthcare and video conferencing. This partnership marks an important step forward and the beginning of the company’s move into the multi-billion dollar health care industry and the many applications of AR in healthcare including: vein visualisation, surgical visualisation and education.NexTech will be working with Premier Health to develop education tools for health care professionals and patients alike – some of which will be created and commercialized content for third parties. Utilizing AR as a learning tool, in training healthcare professionals, creates a highly engaging, immersive educational experience which aids in retention and how well complex concepts can be grasped. For patients, AR can potentially empower them to play a more proactive role in their own care through aiding in self-diagnosis. And finally, for third party content, the companies will explore topics such as education on medications for Pharma and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy systems for Sleep Apnea Clinics.In addition, the companies will investigate possible AR treatment delivery options. For example, in relation to physiotherapy, digital demonstrations can be mapped directly onto the movements patients perform as part of their recovery.“We are excited to work with the team at Premier Health to explore creating a custom AR and AI solution to address the healthcare market which represents another multi-billion dollar vertical ripe for disruption,” comments Evan Gappelberg, CEO of NexTech. “AR allows medical knowledge, skills and expertise to be shared remotely in the moment, ensuring they get where they are needed most.”“At Premier Health we pride ourselves in being at the forefront of changes in healthcare, so we are thrilled to be a part of the future of healthcare by enabling state of the art technological advancements to our patient centric telemedicine app,” said Dr. Essam Hamza, CEO of Premier Health. “AR has the potential to revolutionize both the access to data and the delivery of healthcare. The technology will help doctors and patients alike – doctors will have access to the latest and most relevant information about their patients while patients can use AR for self-education and improving the quality of treatment they receive.”About NexTech AR Solutions Corp.NexTech is bringing augmented reality (AR) to the Cannabis industry and to the masses by creating an AR ecosystem featuring eCommerce solutions for websites, AR learning and education tools, and AR live streaming for events. With just a few lines of embed code, the Company’s patent-pending technology can integrate into existing eCommerce platforms, providing retailers with a highly scalable platform that increases customer engagement and sales.To learn more, please follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, or visit our website: https://www.nextechar.com.On behalf of the Board of NexTech AR Solutions Corp.“Evan Gappelberg”CEO and DirectorFor further information, please contact:Evan GappelbergChief Executive Officerinfo@nextechar.com Media contact:Erin HaddenFischTank Marketing and PRehadden@fischtankpr.comThe CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Certain information contained herein may constitute “forward-looking information” under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, “will be”, ...
Suwanee, GA - (NewMediaWire) - March 06, 2019 - SANUWAVE Health, Inc. (OTCQB: SNWV), an emerging medical technology company focused on the development and commercialization of noninvasive, biological response activating devices in regenerative medicine, is excited to announce winning the JWC’s (Journal of Wound Care) 2019 Innovation in Chronic Wound Healing Award for dermaPACE® pressure shockwave for wound management.The JWC is the definitive wound-care journal and the leading source of up-to-date research and clinical information on everything related to tissue viability. The journal was first launched in 1992 and caters to the needs of the multidisciplinary team. JWC is the official journal of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS); it is also the media partner of the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) and affiliated to over 40 other associations, societies and charities. In the United States JWC is affiliated with AAWC, NPUAP and APWH giving unrivaled access to the global wound care community. The JWC Awards annually seek to recognize the significant work done by health care professionals in all fields of wound care, benchmarking standards within wound care to highlight the contributions and commitment that nurses, clinicians, scientists, researchers, and academics make to the development of wound-care research and practice. JWC winners are chosen by a prominent panel of expert judges that are representative of the diversity of disciplines and organizations that make up the sector. President of SANUWAVE, Shri Parikh, who was in attendance to receive the award in London on the evening of March 1, said, “SANUWAVE had significant competition in the category. It was a humbling honor to hear that SANUWAVE was chosen as the award winner to represent chronic wound healing innovation.”CEO and Chairman of the Board at SANUWAVE, Kevin Richardson, equally humbled, also weighed in stating that, “Any wound that does not follow a normal healing trajectory can be described as chronic. These patients often have a number of perplexing factors including a long and challenging treatment road ahead of them, that at times leads to amputation if the wound is not able to heal properly. Nothing gives us a greater feeling of reward and accomplishment than to see SANUWAVE contributing to the healing process, patient quality of life and science innovation. Pete Stegagno, Chief Operating Officer and Iulian Cioanta, Chief Science and Technology Officer made tremendous contributions to this innovation effort and we are thrilled to have these talented individuals on the SANUWAVE Executive Team.”If you would like to reference all 2019 JWC winners, please click here: https://www.jwcawards.com/winnersAbout the JWC (Journal of Wound Care Management)The JWC is England’s leading tissue viability and wound care professionals journal for nurses, medics, and researchers working in wound care. The JWC is essential reading for wound care professionals who are serious about providing the best possible support for the people in their care, and those who want to keep on top of the latest thinking and research. Registrants receive a free issue of Journal of Wound Care, unlimited access to the CPD launchpad, instant access to the 10 free supplement downloads, a free copy of the 'Wound Care Handbook' 2017/2018, cutting edge research articles from leading specialists, advice on managing tissue viability services, and coverage of the latest developments in tissue viability education.For additional information about the JWC, visit: https://info.journalofwoundcare.com/About SANUWAVE Health, Inc.SANUWAVE Health, Inc. (OTCQB:SNWV) (www.sanuwave.com) is a shock wave technology company initially focused on the development and commercialization of patented noninvasive, biological response activating devices for the repair and regeneration of skin, musculoskeletal tissue and vascular structures. SANUWAVE’s portfolio of regenerative medicine products and product candidates activate biologic signaling and angiogenic responses, producing new ...
Fort Lauderdale, FL, March 05, 2019 (NewMediaWire) -- Turnkey Capital Inc. (TKCI) today announced the Company has signed a Letter of Intent to acquire Collarmele Holdings, Inc., fka HealthSpan Medical Systems, Inc. Collarmele Holdings was recently acquired by HealthSpan Medical Systems, Inc. and the name of the company was changed to Collarmele Holdings, Inc. (CHI) (the Company). CHI is a real estate holding company that acquires, develops, redevelops and manages investments in mixed-use retail and healthcare properties throughout the United States.“In addition to our large scale Mixed Use redevelopment and Triple Net Lease pipeline, we believe there is real opportunity for the repurposing of underutilized retail and office space for medical, health and wellness services. The partnership of TBG and executives at Medixall will reimage the industry through a real estate lens creating a product that will be a highly attractive option for re-tenanting traditional shopping centers and mixed use space,” stated Joseph Tagliola, CEO of Collarmele Holdings, Inc. “Developers are not keeping pace with the growing number of large commercial spaces being vacated by retailers and e-commerce distractors as a result of economic market shifts.”“Because so many of our medical practitioner clients were experiencing challenges trying to manage their practices, we were looking for a partner who understood how to configure modern healthcare offices and facilities,” stated Neil Swartz, CEO of TKCI. “In Collarmele Partners, we found Healthcare development industry leaders who also brought retail, office and mixed-use expertise, and so much more. Commercial real estate owners are incorporating healthcare and wellness-related facilities to revitalize their properties. We are focusing on shared workspace models similar to those developed by innovators like WeWork,” Swartz added.The Collarmele Holdings partners’ confidence and momentum for this enterprise is solidly anchored by the track record of Collarmele Partners, LLC. Mr. Tagliola, and his development team, have been successfully reshaping development models for large scale commercial developments over the last several decades and have an understanding of what works in the marketplace. As former President of QIC US Properties (an $80B fund manager from Queensland Australia), former President of Retail and Office for Turnberry Associates, and Senior Executive Vice President of Westfield Corporation, Mr. Tagliola brings a depth of commercial development experience and execution to Collarmele Holdings.Collarmele Holdings focuses on three main areas of commercial real estate development:Health & Wellness: flexible leasing options in premium locations, that meet the needs of today’s healthcare practitioners;Triple Net development/leasing – traditional leasing options for larger businesses with long-term needs;Retail and Mixed-Use commercial development/leasing – the CHI team has decades of experience in creating commercial development for retail, office, hospitality (hotels/motels), and more.Collarmele Holdings is in talks with several commercial real estate property owners to determine which projects will be contracted shortly.TKCI anticipates the acquisition of Collarmele Holdings, Inc. will be completed in under 90 days. The Company will undergo a financial restructuring in conjunction with this transaction. Turnkey Capital Inc will retain its name and trading symbol.About Turnkey Capital Inc.Turnkey Capital Inc. (TKCI) is a business advisory company that aligns with, and builds value in, both private, public, and development-stage healthcare-related companies. TKCI acquired, built and developed the strategic direction of our companies which included: defining short and long-term strategic goals; identifying and planning for the critical success factors to reach these goals; identifying and addressing the challenges and operational improvements required to achieve the critical success factors and, ultimately, the strategic goals. In its next phase, as a healthcare and mixed-use retail real ...
SAN DIEGO, CA, March 05, 2019 (NewMediaWire) -- RF Industries, Ltd, (NASDAQ: RFIL), a national manufacturer and marketer of interconnect products and systems, today announced that it will release its financial results for the first quarter ended January 31, 2019 on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, after the close of the market.RF Industries will host a conference call and live webcast on March 12, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (4:30 p.m. EDT) to discuss its first quarter fiscal 2019 financial results. To access the live call, dial 800-458-4121 (US and Canada) or 323-794-2093 (International). The conference ID is 3287666.A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be accessible on the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.rfindustries.com. In addition, a phone replay will be available beginning approximately two hours after conclusion of the call and will remain available for two weeks. To access the phone replay, dial 844-512-2921 (US and Canada) or 412-317-6671 (International). The replay conference ID is 3287666.About RF IndustriesRF Industries designs and manufactures a broad range of interconnect products across diversified, growing markets including wireless/wireline telecom, data communications and industrial. The Company's products include RF connectors, coaxial cables, wire harnesses, fiber optic cables and custom cabling. The Company is headquartered in San Diego, California with operations in New York and Connecticut. Please visit the RF Industries website at www.rfindustries.com.Contacts: RF Industries Mark Turfler SVP/CFO (858) 549‑6340 rfi@rfindustries.com MKR Group Inc. Todd Kehrli Analyst/Investor Contact (323) 468-2300 rfil@mkr-group.com
Study Highlights: People with diabetes who quit smoking tobacco may have a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases – and weight gain following smoking cessation does not mitigate the health benefits among these patients, according to one study. Long-term, heavy smoking is a risk factor for cognitive decline, researchers found in an unrelated study. Embargoed until 3 p.m. CT/4 p.m. ET Tues., March 5, 2019 (NewMediaWire) - March 05, 2019 - HOUSTON - Two new studies point to yet more reasons to kick the tobacco habit. In one, researchers found quitting smoking is worth it for people with diabetes despite worries about potential weight gain. In the other, scientists discovered smoking might have a much greater impact on the cognitive function than originally thought. Both studies were presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2019, a premier global exchange of the latest advances in population-based cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians, held in Houston this week. In the study on smoking cessation, weight change and the risk of developing or dying from cardiovascular diseases in people with diabetes, researchers analyzed detailed, long-term health information from two studies that included 10,895 men and women with diabetes. Overweight and obesity are risk factors for diabetes, and both diabetes and smoking tobacco are major risk factors for heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events. Researchers found the benefits of quitting smoking for people with diabetes significantly outweighed the risk of gaining weight, even though weight gain is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Compared to people with diabetes who continued to smoke, the risk for heart attacks, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases did not increase among recent quitters who gained up to 11 pounds (5.0 kg) or even those who gained more than 11 pounds. The risk for cardiovascular disease was 34 percent lower among recent quitters (six or fewer years since quitting) without weight gain; 25 percent lower among long-term quitters (more than six years since smoking cessation); and 41 percent lower among never-smoking adults with diabetes. “Weight gain concerns should not stop people from being encouraged to quit smoking after they’re diagnosed with diabetes. And for those who do quit, preventing excessive weight gain would further maximize the health benefits of smoking cessation,” said Gang Liu, Ph.D., lead author of the study and a postdoctoral research fellow in the department of Nutrition at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. A second study spotlights tobacco’s link to cognitive decline in the general population. Cognitive decline means that a person’s memory, reasoning and other mental functions are impaired over time. Although tobacco use has been associated with a higher risk for cognitive decline, it’s difficult to measure just how much of an impact smoking has because smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to drop out or die before the end of long-term studies, according to study author Aozhou Wu, M.H.S., a Ph.D. student in epidemiology at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. “As a consequence, smokers’ cognitive measurements in studies were likely to be missing in other studies because they’re lost to follow-up,” Wu said. Wu and colleagues adapted a methodology that considers a smoker’s likelihood of dropping out of a study or dying from tobacco-related causes during the study period to analyze the cognitive impact of tobacco use among 4,960 adults who were free of cognitive impairment at the study’s start. Researchers followed the participants for about five years, with regular assessments of the participants’ memory, language function and logical thinking ability. When the researchers used the new study methods and compared people who never smoked tobacco to those who smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 25 years or more, they found that the ...
Study Highlights: Although it is the leading cause of death in women, more than 75 percent of young women worry little or not at all about getting heart disease. Most young adult women have taken some actions to preserve their health, such as seeing a doctor, exercising or trying to reduce stress. Competing health concerns and a lack of awareness of heart disease as a killer of women are barriers to young women adopting heart-healthy actions that can reduce their heart disease risk later in life. Embargoed until 3 p.m. CT/ 4 p.m. ET, Tuesday, March 5, 2019 (NewMediaWire) - March 05, 2019 - HOUSTON -Although young women strive to be healthy, few perceive themselves as at risk for heart disease and they worry far more about stress and mood disorders than their heart health, according to two preliminary studies presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2019, a premier global exchange of the latest advances in population-based cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians. “We know that health behaviors and heart disease risk factors track strongly from childhood into adulthood, and that prevention of heart disease must start with youth, so we wanted to know what adolescent and young adult women knew about the risk of heart disease and what factors influenced their understanding and their behaviors,” said Holly Gooding, M.D., M.S., assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital, who was lead author of the study on health priorities and senior author of the study on heart-healthy behaviors. In the studies, researchers surveyed 331 young women ages 15-24 who were waiting for primary care or women’s healthcare appointments at either an academic practice or community health center in Boston. Based on those findings, 32 young women gave more detailed responses in eight online focus group interviews. In the survey, only 10 percent of the young women identified heart disease as a leading cause of death in women, and most worried little (39.6 percent) or not at all (37.2 percent) about getting heart disease. In contrast, 42.9 percent of the young women worried a lot about getting depression or anxiety. “While stress and mood disorders were their prevailing health concerns, it is important for young women to know that while their short-term risk of heart disease is very low, their lifetime risk is often quite high, and taking care of their health now is important for reducing their lifetime risk of heart disease. It is also important to note that the thing they worry about now (depression and anxiety) can create barriers to performing heart healthy behaviors,” said Courtney Brown, B.A., lead author of the study on competing health priorities and research specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital. On healthy behaviors, the researchers found: Most of the young women (84.6 percent) had performed at least one preventive behavior in the previous year, including visiting a doctor to monitor or improve their health (78.9 percent), exercising (74.6 percent), trying to reduce stress (52.6 percent), and trying to lose weight or improve various aspects of their diet. The most common barriers to heart-healthy actions were failing to perceive the risk (39.3 percent) and stress (32.6 percent). In focus groups, barriers to taking action to reduce heart disease risk included time constraints, lack of access to affordable gyms and healthy food, and competing health priorities (such as pregnancy, depression and weight concerns). “We need to meet young women where they are, both physically and on social media, in school settings and in a variety of medical settings such as urgent care and reproductive health clinics, and mentally by focusing our heart-healthy messages on things that matter to them, like mood and sexual health,” Gooding said. “It’s important to remember that heart health is a long-term goal,” said Mary Ann Bauman, M.D., science volunteer for the American Heart Association. “We can ...
