Health
As Officials Ease Restrictions, China Faces New Pandemic Risks
As one nation after one other succumbed to outbreaks this 12 months, China stored the coronavirus at bay, shopping for helpful time to arrange for the inevitable: a variant of the virus so shifty and contagious that China, too, would battle to include it.
However reasonably than laying the groundwork for that state of affairs, China stepped up its dedication to “zero Covid,” deploying snap lockdowns and call tracing.
Within the meantime, day by day vaccinations fell to document lows. Essential-care beds remained briefly provide, whilst employees constructed testing cubicles and isolation services. Analysis on homegrown mRNA vaccines did not sustain with the fast-mutating virus.
Now, the prices of that strategy are piling up, placing China in a bind from which there seems to be no simple escape, scientists stated in interviews.
Whilst new Covid circumstances have reached all-time highs, residents have taken to the streets to protest lockdowns which have floor day by day life to a halt in lots of cities. Alarmed, officers have begun easing restrictions.
Researchers fear that China might battle to reopen the nation and relieve the pressure on its financial system with out risking a tide of deaths. Such a catastrophic surge might pose a major menace to the political management.
“We frequently faux that China has a alternative by way of ‘zero Covid’ versus opening up,” stated Dr. Siddharth Sridhar, a virologist on the College of Hong Kong. “There by no means was a alternative. The easy reality is that China just isn’t prepared for a wave on that scale.”
Nothing has set again China’s preparations as extensively as its problem in vaccinating older folks. Two-thirds of individuals ages 80 and older are vaccinated, however solely 40 % have acquired a booster dose, a important shortcoming as a result of Chinese language-made vaccines provide weaker safety than the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.
In a research throughout Hong Kong’s Omicron surge, two doses of China’s major home vaccine, Sinovac, had been solely 58 % efficient towards extreme Covid or dying in folks ages 80 and older. Two Pfizer-BioNTech doses, against this, had been 87 % efficient in the identical group. An earlier research in Brazil equally discovered that two Sinovac doses had been solely 61 % efficient in stopping Covid deaths.
These outcomes have cemented an impression amongst scientists that the Chinese language photographs, which depend on killed viruses to immediate an immune response, are successfully a three-dose, reasonably than a two-dose, vaccine.
Learn Extra on the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Lengthy Covid: Individuals who took the antiviral drug Paxlovid inside just a few days after being contaminated with the coronavirus had been much less more likely to expertise lengthy Covid months later, a research discovered.
- Up to date Boosters: New findings present that up to date boosters by Pfizer and Moderna are higher than their predecessors at growing antibody ranges towards the most typical model of the virus now circulating.
- Requires a New Technique: Covid boosters can assist susceptible People dodge critical sickness or dying, however some specialists consider the photographs should be improved to forestall new waves.
- Future Vaccines: Monetary and bureaucratic boundaries in america imply that the following era of Covid vaccines could be designed right here, however used elsewhere.
Making issues harder, China’s final main vaccination push was within the spring, an interval of eight months or extra for the reason that final dose for a lot of recipients.
That would put a dent of their immune defenses. A research in Malaysia discovered that whereas the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine elicited comparatively regular safety towards intensive-care admissions three to 5 months later, the effectiveness of the Sinovac vaccine towards intensive-care admissions fell to 29 % from 56 % over that interval.
The Chinese language vaccines stack up comparatively effectively towards the world’s different non-mRNA Covid photographs, stated Dr. Paul Hunter, an infectious illness specialist on the College of East Anglia in England. However reopening the nation so lengthy after the final vaccination marketing campaign might be damaging.
“I believe that’s extra of a difficulty than the standard” of China’s vaccines, Dr. Hunter stated.
The vaccination gaps in China’s older inhabitants are all of the extra obtrusive as a result of the nation has achieved comparatively sturdy protection general. Practically 90 % of the inhabitants has acquired a major vaccine collection, typically comprising two doses of Sinovac or Sinopharm, one other Chinese language-made shot.
The disparity ends in half from an outdated concept that as long as youthful and extra energetic Chinese language had been immunized, the nation might set up a kind of herd immunity and shield older folks, stated Andy Chen, a Shanghai-based analyst at Trivium, a consulting agency.
Older folks in China typically keep away from well being dangers, Mr. Chen stated, and so the probabilities of even minor vaccine uncomfortable side effects might have appeared threatening to many. China’s reluctance to supply knowledge on the efficacy and uncomfortable side effects of its vaccines created a vacuum through which these worries flourished, different specialists stated. Misinformation about uncomfortable side effects unfold on Chinese language social media.
And whereas well being officers have inspired older adults with persistent diseases to get photographs, vaccinators are sometimes reluctant to manage them with out entry to the medical histories of extra susceptible recipients.
The “zero Covid” technique solely sophisticated the vaccination drive. By limiting infections, it saved lives but in addition eroded many older folks’s sense of urgency in regards to the want for a shot.
An emphasis on swabbing throats as an alternative of administering photographs drew additional consideration from the vaccination marketing campaign. Within the aftermath of a springtime surge, China erected tens of hundreds of testing cubicles in cities like Shanghai and Beijing and constructed enormous services to isolate thousands and thousands. The vaccination fee stagnated.
“There may be at all times a scarcity of workers members within the well being care system,” stated Xi Chen, an affiliate professor of public well being at Yale College. “Individuals informed me on the time they had been informed to concentrate on mass testing.”
China stated this week that it might renew efforts to vaccinate its oldest residents, asserting measures to make use of cell vaccination stations, convey photographs into nursing houses and go door-to-door to achieve probably the most susceptible, based on a press release from the nation’s Nationwide Well being Fee.
However some specialists, like Yanzhong Huang, a worldwide well being specialist and a senior fellow on the Council on Overseas Relations, expressed skepticism that the transfer was far more than lip service.
“It’s about tinkering with the present strategy,” he stated. “However that strategy essentially doesn’t make any sense from a public well being coverage perspective anymore.”
The authorities didn’t present an in depth plan for the brand new efforts and stopped wanting mandating vaccinations. As highly effective because the nation’s management is, forcing older folks to get photographs is seen as a possible overreach, specialists stated, bringing with it the chance of a public backlash.
“From a neighborhood authorities official’s perspective, if even only one particular person dies from the opposed results of vaccines, that’s blood in your palms,” stated Mr. Chen, the Trivium analyst. “It’s actually exhausting to get better from that.”
If circumstances hold climbing, gaps in vaccine protection might pile extra stress on hospitals which will additionally have to confront a winter chilly and flu season. China has fewer intensive care beds per capita than many different Asian nations.
The nation as soon as handled shortages of docs and nurses, particularly in rural areas, by shifting well being employees from one province to a different when the virus flared up. A nationwide torrent of Omicron infections would make that unattainable.
A research from Shanghai’s Fudan College in Could warned of a “tsunami” of Covid circumstances and roughly 1.6 million deaths if China deserted its “zero Covid” coverage. China has since acquired extra choices for antiviral remedies. However its hospital capability is proscribed sufficient {that a} sudden lifting of “zero Covid” restrictions would nonetheless create a well being disaster, stated Ben Cowling, a professor of epidemiology on the College of Hong Kong.
Given the inevitability that circumstances will surge every time China reopens, Yang Yang, an affiliate professor of biostatistics on the College of Florida, stated that efforts “to arrange the medical system” had been a precedence. Already there are some indicators that the management is shifting focus from constructing quarantine services to fortifying its greatest hospitals, he added.
China’s floundering retreat from the emergency part of the pandemic contrasts with the exits made by locations like New Zealand and Taiwan. There, lockdowns introduced respiration room whereas the inhabitants was being vaccinated; when the measures had been lifted, deaths surged, however to ranges far decrease than in nations like america.
China’s technique to this point has restricted Covid deaths, too, scientists stated, however with out additionally mapping an exit from restrictions.
“Restrictions and lockdowns can assist purchase time to get essential public well being measures in place and save lives, however they aren’t an exit technique by themselves,” stated Jeremy Farrar, the director of Wellcome, a worldwide well being basis.
China, which has spurned the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, seems to be leaning on hopes for regionally made mRNA options. Authorities scientists have been operating a head-to-head trial of greater than a dozen new vaccine candidates, together with some mRNA doses, specialists stated.
Public knowledge is sparse, however Indonesia lately licensed China’s mRNA shot, and a few vaccine makers seem like shifting nearer to searching for authorization from Chinese language officers.
“The formulation of getting an mRNA vaccine right may need taken just a few photographs on aim, however early knowledge suggests it’s not off course,” stated James Bellush, a medical science professional at RTW Investments in New York.
China’s high management has signaled a recognition that its blanket strategy to controlling the virus is taking an more and more giant financial and social toll, calling for measures to regulate what has been a “one-size-fits-all” strategy. In latest days, a number of cities have loosened a few of their harshest restrictions following a wave of mass protests.
However there nonetheless gave the impression to be some debate about whether or not backing down from Covid restrictions was the best strategy. Within the northeastern metropolis of Jinzhou, in China’s Liaoning province, officers stated that that they had already begun to loosen some measures however nonetheless pushed again on deserting the “zero Covid” technique.
“There’s no want for us to desert our defenses after we can attain zero, avoiding large-scale infections,” officers stated.
David Pierson contributed reporting.
Health
8 bad habits that make you age faster, according to experts
We can’t slow down time — but we can slow down its effects on us, according to experts.
The key is to make healthier choices in the areas that we can control — and that starts with breaking bad habits.
“One of the primary hallmarks of aging is accumulated cellular damage that leads to organ dysfunction and, ultimately, death,” Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert with Senolytix, told Fox News Digital.
10 TIPS TO LIVE TO BE 100: ‘FAR MORE THAN WISHFUL THINKING,’ SAY LONGEVITY EXPERTS
“The key to staying healthy is minimizing cellular damage by not throwing accelerants into the fire, which is unfortunately what most Americans do.”
Doctors shared with Fox News Digital the eight most common unhealthy behaviors that speed up the aging process — and tips on how to avoid them.
1. Smoking
Smoking has been proven to shorten life expectancy.
Researchers from Action on Smoking and Health in the U.K. have reported that a 30-year-old smoker can expect to live for about 35 more years — compared to 53 years for a non-smoker.
“Smoking speeds up aging by exposing you to harmful chemicals, reducing oxygen supply, breaking down collagen and increasing oxidative stress,” Dr. Dawn Ericsson, an obstetrician/gynecologist and medical director at AgeRejuvenation in Tampa, Florida, told Fox News Digital.
SMOKING SHRINKS THE BRAIN AND DRIVES UP ALZHEIMER’S RISK, NEW STUDY FINDS
“The harmful effects of tobacco extend beyond lung health, accelerating skin aging and increasing the risk of gum disease and tooth loss.”
Smoking introduces toxins that impair skin elasticity and collagen production, which leads to wrinkles, Osborn added.
“Free radicals in smoke damage lung tissue – inducing cancer – and the walls of your blood vessels,” he told Fox News Digital.
“The incidence of heart attack, stroke and brain aneurysms is significantly higher in smokers relative to nonsmokers.”
The quickest fix is to quit smoking immediately, the experts agreed.
“The incidence of heart attack, stroke and brain aneurysms is significantly higher in smokers relative to nonsmokers.”
To increase the chance of success in quitting, Ericsson suggested setting a “quit date,” avoiding triggers and seeking support from friends, family and health care providers.
Some also get results with nicotine replacement therapy or medications like bupropion and varenicline, she said.
2. Excess sun exposure
An excess of sun exposure can lead to aging by damaging the skin’s DNA, causing wrinkles, sagging skin and dark spots, Ericsson noted.
Osborn agreed, also warning of an increased risk of skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and melanoma, the latter of which can be fatal.
“Regularly using sunscreen with a high SPF, wearing protective clothing and avoiding sun exposure during peak hours can protect the skin,” Osborn advised.
CATCH SKIN CANCER WARNING SIGNS EARLY WITH REGULAR SELF-EXAMS
Other protective strategies include covering up with hats, sunglasses and protective clothing, and seeking shade during the sun’s strongest hours (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.), according to Ericsson.
Staying hydrated and using antioxidants like vitamins C and E can also help protect the skin.
3. Poor diet
A nutrient-deficient diet has been shown to accelerate aging, experts agree.
“A diet high in processed foods, sugars and unhealthy fats can cause inflammation, damage collagen and accelerate skin aging,” Ericsson warned.
Diets high in processed foods and sugars can cause inflammation and free radical damage, Osborn added.
“The induced insulin-resistant or pre-diabetic state places you one step closer to the dreaded ‘metabolic syndrome’ — a gateway to diseases such as coronary artery disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease,” he told Fox News Digital.
To reduce aging signs, the experts recommend eating a balanced diet rich in low-glycemic index fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and anti-inflammatory fats (omega-3 and omega-9).
THESE 10 NUTRITION MISTAKES COULD BE TAKING YEARS OFF YOUR LIFE: HERE’S WHAT TO DO INSTEAD
“Antioxidants in these foods combat free radical damage, as do antioxidant supplements like vitamin C, green tea and omega-3 fatty acids,” said Osborn.
Other tips include pre-planning meals and snacks — with a focus on focusing on whole, unprocessed foods — to avoid impulsive unhealthy choices, according to Ericsson.
Cooking at home, controlling portions and staying hydrated are also good ways to improve nutrition intake, she added.
4. Lack of exercise
“Lack of exercise contributes to aging by causing muscle loss, bone density reduction, weight gain and cardiovascular issues,” Ericsson told Fox News Digital.
Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining muscle mass, circulation and cognitive health as we age, she advised.
Osborn is also an advocate of staying active, noting that “our bodies are meant to exercise.”
“Our bodies are meant to exercise. It benefits the body and the mind.”
“Exercise turns over 100 genes associated with longevity, so don’t skip it! It benefits the body and the mind.”
Regular physical activity, particularly strength training, is foundational to your health, according to Osborn.
“This means you must lift weights and breathe hard during your workouts,” he said.
WOMEN GET MORE BENEFIT FROM EXERCISE THAN MEN, STUDY FINDS: ‘MORE TO GAIN’
On “off days,” Osborn suggests doing 45 minutes of lighter endurance training, like walking, rowing, swimming or jogging, which will improve your cardiovascular fitness while allowing you to recover from heavy bouts of strength training.
To sustain a long-term exercise routine, it’s important to find activities you consistently enjoy, set realistic goals, stay flexible and “listen to your body,” said Ericsson.
5. Excessive alcohol consumption
Alcohol dehydrates the skin and can lead to liver damage and cognitive impairment, Osborn warned.
“It also causes problems with blood sugar regulation and is intimately associated with obesity,” he said. “As alcohol is a cellular toxin, it accelerates the aging process.”
Ericsson agreed that excessive alcohol consumption accelerates aging by causing dehydration, nutrient depletion, inflammation, liver damage and collagen breakdown.
“Chronic drinking can dehydrate the skin, damage the liver and increase the risk of cognitive decline,” said Ericsson.
As with smoking, the fix is to eliminate alcohol consumption, experts agreed.
DRINKING A LITTLE ALCOHOL EVERY DAY WON’T HELP YOU LIVE LONGER, SAYS NEW STUDY
“I’m not saying to quit cold turkey, but aim to eliminate habitual drinking within the next six to 12 months,” Osborn advised. “You’ll feel better and save a lot of money in the long run.”
Other tips to stop drinking include avoiding triggers, staying busy with healthy activities and seeking professional help if needed, according to Ericsson.
6. Chronic stress
While some degree of stress is normal and healthy, chronic high stress levels can shorten telomeres, which are DNA protein structures that “play a central role in cell fate and aging by adjusting the cellular response to stress and growth stimulation on the basis of previous cell divisions and DNA damage,” according to the National Institutes of Health.
“Chronic stress can also exacerbate skin conditions and impact mental health, accelerating aging,” Ericsson added.
Long-term stress affects the body’s ability to repair itself and can lead to premature aging, according to Osborn.
“Aging is a state of heightened inflammation — and once the body’s ability to temper inflammation via cortisol production has been exhausted, it reigns unchecked,” he said.
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Stress management techniques like mindfulness, meditation, therapy and regular physical activity can alleviate stress, Osborn said.
“Strength training also reduces cortisol production (several hours post-workout) — and, by virtue, facilitates sleep, which is critical to stress reduction.”
7. Inadequate sleep
Lack of sleep accelerates aging by reducing skin health, increasing inflammation and causing hormonal imbalance, Ericsson noted.
“Inadequate sleep also hampers cell repair and affects cognitive function,” she said.
Sleep is crucial for the body’s regenerative processes, Osborn noted.
“If you don’t sleep, you’ll have difficulty shedding that spare tire, as significant fat-burning occurs during sleep,” he said.
“You’ll also set yourself up for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.”
Memories are also formed during sleep, he noted.
LACK OF SLEEP COULD BE A FACTOR IN A ‘SILENT EPIDEMIC,’ EXPERTS WARN
“Sleep cannot be hacked — it is an essential part of health and well-being.”
To optimize sleep health, Osborn suggested establishing a regular schedule, creating a restful environment and avoiding stimulants before bedtime.
“Also, minimizing consumption of carbohydrates within several hours of bedtime can facilitate sleep induction,” he said.
“Sleep cannot be hacked — it is an essential part of health and well-being.”
“In a similar context, ditch the cell phone, laptop and tablet as early as possible to minimize blue light’s interference with the production of melatonin, the body’s sleep hormone.”
Manage stress and seek professional help if needed, Ericsson added.
8. Poor oral hygiene
Poor oral hygiene accelerates aging by causing gum disease, tooth loss, stained teeth and bad breath, Ericsson warned.
“Gum disease and tooth loss not only affect oral health, but also impact overall well-being, contributing to an aged appearance,” she added.
There is also a link between heart disease risk and the incidence of coronary artery disease and gingivitis, Osborn noted.
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“Inflammation is not only occurring in the mouth — it’s a systemic problem,” he said. “So, if there is a state of accelerated aging in the mouth, you better believe it’s elsewhere, let alone your entire gut.”
Optimal oral hygiene requires regular dental check-ups, proper brushing and flossing, and use of an antimicrobial mouthwash, Osborn said.
Limiting sugary and acidic foods, avoiding tobacco products, staying hydrated and chewing sugar-free gum after meals can also help with mouth health, Ericsson added.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health.
Health
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Health
Former rugby star Wally Lewis urges Australian government to fund CTE support services
- Wally Lewis has urged the Australian government to fund support services and education about Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
- Lewis, a rugby player from the 1980s, made an appeal on behalf of the Concussion and CTE Coalition for millions of dollars in funding.
- Lewis revealed that he is living with probable CTE, a type of dementia linked to repeated concussive and sub-concussive blows to the head.
A legendary rugby player has cited the fear and anxiety that has come into his life among the reasons for urging the Australian government to fund support services and education about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Wally Lewis, dubbed “The King” when he played rugby league for Queensland state and Australia in the 1980s, made an appeal on behalf of the Concussion and CTE Coalition for millions of dollars in funding during a National Press Club address Tuesday.
The 64-year-old Lewis said he’s living with probable CTE, which he described as a type of dementia associated with repeated concussive and sub-concussive blows to the head.
HYPE OR HORROR? THE RISK OF CTE BRAIN DISEASE DIVIDES FOOTBALL AND MEDICAL COMMUNITIES
Lewis, who worked for decades as a television sports anchor after retiring as a player in the early 1990s, relayed his own experience to get his message across.
“The fear is real. I don’t want anyone to have to live with the fear and anxiety that I live with every day, worried about what I’ve forgotten … the fear of what my future will look like,” Lewis said. “And living with the constant fear and anxiety that I’ll let people down – the people who all my life have been able to rely on me and looked to me for my strength and leadership.”
Lewis led Australia’s Kangaroos in 24 international matches, was among the original players to popularize the annual State-of-Origin series, and was included in Australia’s Rugby League Team of the Century in 2008.
The National Rugby League has honored him as a so-called “Immortal” of the game.
O.J. SIMPSON’S BRAIN WILL NOT BE DONATED TO CTE RESEARCH: REPORT
Yet his memories of it aren’t clear. He started playing rugby league as a young boy and also played rugby union at an elite level before embarking on a professional career in rugby league.
“It’s a journey marked by the twin shadows of fear and embarrassment, a journey through the fog of dementia and the erosion of my memory,” he said. “I once had the confidence in myself to succeed, lead a team to victory, captain my country, remember the strengths and weaknesses of opposition teams, organize myself each and every day and feel well and truly in control of my life.
“Now, much of that confidence has been taken away from me by the effects of probable CTE dementia.”
Lewis said better community awareness on concussion was needed and prevention programs, including a sharper focus on tackling techniques from young players through to professionals.
Awareness of CTE and concussion has grown since players in contact football sports, including the National Football League in the United States and rugby union in Britain, launched concussion lawsuits.
The Rugby World Cup took place last year against the backdrop of a concussion lawsuit in Britain that had similarities to one settled by the NFL in 2013 at a likely cost of more than $1 billion.
CTE, a degenerative brain disease known to cause violent moods, depression, dementia and other cognitive difficulties, can only be diagnosed posthumously. It has been linked to repeated hits to the head endured by football, rugby and hockey players, boxers and members of the military.
“As Wally Lewis I have influence – I have a platform – and I intend to use it at every opportunity to bring about change for all Australians like me who are impacted by CTE,” Lewis said, “and to do whatever I can to protect the brains of Australian children from CTE.”
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