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This week we will discuss possible treatment methods for AFIB.

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common type of irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that occurs when the upper chambers of the heart (atria) beat chaotically and out of sync with the lower chambers (ventricles). This can lead to a variety of symptoms, including:

• Palpitations (a feeling of a racing or irregular heartbeat)
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Chest discomfort
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AFib can increase the risk of blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.

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Management of AFib focuses on controlling the heart rate and rhythm, preventing blood clots, and addressing underlying conditions contributing to the arrhythmia. The choice of treatment depends on the individual's symptoms, overall health, and risk factors.

Medications are often the first line of treatment for AFib. These include:

1. Rate-Control Medications
   • Aim to slow the heart rate to a normal range.
   • Common drugs: Beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol), calcium channel blockers (e.g., diltiazem, verapamil), and digoxin.
2. Rhythm-Control Medications
   • Help restore and maintain a normal heart rhythm.
   • Common drugs: Antiarrhythmics like amiodarone, flecainide, or sotalol.
3. Anticoagulants (Blood Thinners)
   • Reduce the risk of stroke by preventing blood clots.
   • Examples: Warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) like apixaban (Eliquis) or rivaroxaban (Xarelto).

Ablation is a minimally invasive procedure aimed at correcting the electrical signals causing AFib. It is typically recommended for individuals who:

• Do not respond to or cannot tolerate medications.
• Have recurrent or persistent AFib that significantly impacts quality of life.

Types of ablation:

1. Catheter Ablation
   • Uses thin tubes (catheters) inserted into blood vessels to deliver energy (radiofrequency or cryotherapy) to destroy small areas of heart tissue causing abnormal electrical signals.
2. Surgical Ablation (Maze Procedure)
   • Often performed during open-heart surgery for other conditions, creating scar tissue to block abnormal signals.

Both options have high success rates, but catheter ablation is more commonly performed due to its minimally invasive nature.

Deciding between medications or ablation depends on factors such as:

• The severity and frequency of symptoms.
• The presence of other medical conditions.
• Patient preference and lifestyle.

Consultation with a cardiologist or electrophysiologist is crucial to tailor treatment to the individual’s needs.

Squeeze a world of passion, goal driven problem solver and an adventurous triathlete into 5

feet of fun and you get Faith Louise Cooper.

Faith Louise grew up in a family of 5 with 2 younger sisters. At the 12 she was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, now known as Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. In 2017 she was diagnosed with hypermobility syndrome and was recently changed to Hypermobility Ehlers Danlos Syndrome abbreviated as hEDS. Her younger sister also battles with hEDS on a daily basis.

Faith Louise joined the swim team in middle school to help manage the arthritis. She lives an enriching life and despite what the medical research says she has gone from being in excreting pain when standing for 15 mins to completing a half Ironman a few years back. Faith Louise has great joy and strength in life because of challenges she has faced.

Faith Louise, wanting to have all the tools in her tool box to live an enriching life has decided to study nutrition and is completing her certified holistic nutrition. She has passion for equipping, educating and inspiring other families going through the same thing as well as raising awareness.

​​In this episode she discusses the difficulties during COVID with hEDS.​

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cooperfa/. Faith Louise Cooper

Instrgram: https://www.instagram.com/speakingoftri/. Speakingoftri

LinkIn: www.linkedin.com/in/faith-cooper Faith Louise Cooper

In this episode we will discuss food safety at the holidays. From prep to serving there are important tips to remember to ensure a toxin free meal for everyone!

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Parties, family dinners, and other gatherings where food is served are all part of the holiday cheer. But the joy can change to misery if food makes you or others ill.

Typical symptoms of foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning, are vomiting, diarrhea, and flu-like symptoms, which can start anywhere from hours to days after contaminated food or drinks are consumed.

The symptoms usually are not long-lasting in healthy people — a few hours or a few days — and usually go away without medical treatment. But foodborne illness can be severe and even life-threatening to anyone, especially those most at risk:

• older adults
• infants and young children
• pregnant people
• people with diabetes, HIV/AIDS, cancer, or any condition that weakens their immune system
• people who take medicines that suppress the immune system; for example, some medicines for lupus, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis

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The good news is that practicing four basic food safety measures can help prevent foodborne illness.

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The first rule of safe food preparation in the home is to keep everything clean.

• Wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after handling any food. To help you remember, it takes about 20 seconds to sing "Happy Birthday" two times.
• Wash food-contact surfaces (cutting boards, dishes, utensils, countertops) with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item and before going on to the next item.
• Rinse fruits and vegetables thoroughly under cool running water and use a produce brush to remove surface dirt.
• Do not rinse raw meat and poultry before cooking. Washing these foods makes it more likely for bacteria to spread to areas around the sink and countertops.

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Don't give bacteria the opportunity to spread from one food to another (cross-contamination).

• Keep raw eggs, meat, poultry, seafood, and their juices away from foods that won't be cooked. Take this precaution while shopping in the store, when storing in the refrigerator at home, and while preparing meals.
• Consider using one cutting board only for foods that will be cooked (such as raw meat, poultry, and seafood) and another one for foods that will not be cooked (such as raw fruits and vegetables).
• Keep fruits and vegetables that will be eaten raw separate from other foods such as raw meat, poultry or seafood — and from kitchen utensils used for those products.
• Do not put cooked meat or other food that is ready to eat on an unwashed plate that has held any raw eggs, meat, poultry, seafood, or their juices.

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Food is safely cooked when it reaches a high enough internal temperature to kill harmful bacteria.

• Color is not a reliable indicator of doneness. Use a food thermometer to make sure meat, poultry, and fish are cooked to a safe internal temperature. To check a turkey for safety, insert a food thermometer into the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. The turkey is safe when the temperature reaches 165oF. If the turkey is stuffed, the temperature of the stuffing should be 165oF. (Please read on for more pointers on stuffing.)
• Bring sauces, soups, and gravies to a rolling boil when reheating.
• Cook eggs until the yolk and white are firm. When making your own eggnog or other recipe calling for raw eggs, use pasteurized shell eggs, liquid or frozen pasteurized egg products, or powdered egg whites.
• Don't eat uncooked cookie dough, which may contain raw eggs and raw flour.

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Refrigerate foods quickly because harmful bacteria grow rapidly at room temperature.

• Refrigerate leftovers and takeout foods — and any type of food that should be refrigerated — within two hours. That includes pumpkin pie!
• Set your refrigerator at or below 40oF and the freezer at 0oF. Check both periodically with an appliance thermometer.
• Never defrost food at room temperature. Food can be defrosted safely in the refrigerator, under cold running water, or in the microwave. Food thawed in cold water or in the microwave should be cooked immediately.
• Allow the correct amount of time to properly thaw food. For example, a 20-pound turkey needs four to five days to thaw completely when thawed in the refrigerator.
• Don't taste food that looks or smells questionable. A good rule to follow is, when in doubt, throw it out.
• Leftovers should be used within three to four days.

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• Whet...

Our guest today is a Physical Therapist that specializes in Sciatica.

Dean Volk, MPT, and owner of Sciatica Relief Now, has spent over 33 years revolutionizing sciatica treatment. After owning three successful clinics and a cash concierge practice and working with professional athletes, Volk transitioned to a virtual model in 2018, turning this side hustle into a full-time operation in 2021. Now based in Santa Monica, CA, Dean and his team of coaches provide virtual consultations and coaching to clients worldwide, helping them live their lives to the fullest.

The cornerstone of Sciatica Relief Now’s success is Volk’s unique approach, which operates 180 degrees opposite to traditional physical therapy and chiropractic methods. Unlike many standard treatments that rely on generic exercises, stretching, or painful adjustments, Sciatica Relief Now focuses on finding the right motion for each individual’s body. This personalized approach addresses the root causes of their pain.

Dean Volk explains, “We believe that the right motion is lotion for the body. Our approach does not involve stretching or digging into the painful side. Instead, we teach our clients to view their sciatica as a wound that needs to heal. By helping them balance out their bodies and reduce compensation, we put their bodies in an optimal position to heal.”

Sciatica Relief Now’s 8-week programs, offered through both group and one-on-one coaching, have helped clients return to activities they once thought were impossible. From professional rowing and marathon running to everyday tasks like gardening and walking, clients are finding long-lasting relief and regaining their quality of life.

One of the key differentiators of Sciatica Relief Now is its 100% virtual model. This allows clients to receive expert guidance and support from the comfort of their own homes, eliminating the need for time-consuming travel and waiting room visits. Dean Volk’s team offers both group coaching and personalized one-on-one sessions, complemented by their DWY (Do With You) Online course, which empowers clients to take control of their own healing process.

By focusing on common-sense solutions and teaching clients how to heal their bodies naturally, Volk and his team are making a significant impact on the lives of those suffering from sciatica.

Dean Volk’s dedication to his craft and his clients is evident in his continuous efforts to refine and perfect his treatment protocols. Over the last 16 years, he has diligently worked on his approach. His commitment to education and empowerment is further demonstrated through his extensive experience before he sold his clinics in 2020.

With a focus on simplicity and effectiveness, Sciatica Relief Now’s methods are designed to be accessible and understandable for all clients. The virtual nature of the service also means that clients from anywhere in the world can benefit from Volk’s expertise and guidance.

For those interested in exploring a new, effective approach to sciatica relief, Sciatica Relief Now offers a promising solution. By thinking differently about sciatica treatment and focusing on the right motion for each individual, Dean Volk and his team are helping people reclaim their lives and move forward without the fear of debilitating pain.

For more information, visit Sciatica Relief Now, follow @SciaticaReliefNow, and check out the YouTube Channel.

Contact Information: Dean Volk Email: [email protected]

About Sciatica Relief Now: Sciatica Relief Now helps sciatica sufferers who have failed multiple treatment approaches find relief and regain their lives without medications, injections, or surgery. Founded by Dean Volk, MPT, the company offers a unique, 100% virtual approach that teaches clients how to heal their bodies naturally.

The first human vaccines against viruses were based using weaker or attenuated viruses to generate immunity. The smallpox vaccine used cowpox, a poxvirus that was similar enough to smallpox to protect against it but usually didn’t cause serious illness. Rabies was the first virus attenuated in a lab to create a vaccine for humans.

Vaccines are made using several different processes. They may contain live viruses that have been attenuated (weakened or altered so as not to cause illness); inactivated or killed organisms or viruses; inactivated toxins (for bacterial diseases where toxins generated by the bacteria, and not the bacteria themselves, cause illness); or merely segments of the pathogen (this includes both subunit and conjugate vaccines).