Welcome, Health Advocates!

In this week’s May 31, 2024 update:

• Health: Five Essential Habits for Improved Mental Well-being

• Vejon: Video of the week from Vejon Health

• Immunology: COVID-19 Infections Enhance T Cell Immunity

• Infographic: COVID-19’s Respiratory Impact

• Covid-19: Vaccinated Who Died Were Classed As Unvaccinated

• News: Medical News in Brief

• Book Nook: Publications that may interest you

• Chat Vejon: Ask our AI Expert relevant medical questions

  Read time: 5 minutes

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

NEUROSCIENCE

Study Reveals Five Essential Habits Linked to Improved Mental Well-being

• The study involved volunteers stopping regular activities associated with good mental health, such as socializing and exercising.

• Within a week of stopping these activities, most participants struggled with their mental well-being.

• The study suggests that five basic habits, termed the "Big 5," may be crucial for maintaining good mental health.

• These habits include practicing healthy thought patterns, planning for the future, engaging in meaningful activities, and connecting with others.

Why is this Important: Identifying five essential habits linked to mental well-being provides a practical framework for individuals to prioritize their mental health. By incorporating these habits into daily life, people may improve their resilience and overall mental well-being, potentially reducing the risk of developing mental health issues.

Vejon Video Highlight of the Week

COVID-19

Office for National Statistics (ONS) Admits Vaccinated People Who Died Were Classed As Unvaccinated

• ONS admitted some vaccinated individuals who died were misclassified as unvaccinated due to timing of vaccination records.

• Misclassification occurred because deaths within 21 days of vaccination were recorded as unvaccinated.

• The error affected the accuracy of COVID-19 mortality statistics and vaccine efficacy data.

• ONS is reviewing and correcting the classification process to ensure accurate future reporting.

Why is this Important: Accurate classification of vaccination status is crucial for reliable COVID-19 mortality statistics and vaccine efficacy data, impacting public health policies and trust in vaccination programs.

INFOGRAPHIC

IMMUNOLOGY/VACCINATION

Breakthrough COVID-19 Infections Enhance T Cell Immunity Against Future Variants

• Breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals enhance T cell recognition and targeting of SARS-CoV-2, including omicron and delta variants.

• Symptomatic breakthrough infections develop T cells with expanded repertoires, recognizing multiple SARS-CoV-2 antigens.

• Asymptomatic infections were found in 30% of volunteers, indicating previous undetected COVID-19 cases.

• Breakthrough infections add an extra layer of protection on top of vaccination, forming an "immunity wall".

Why is this Important: Understanding how breakthrough infections enhance T cell immunity provides critical insights for improving vaccine strategies, ensuring robust protection against evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants, and potentially reducing the severity of future infections.

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ONCOLOGY & CANCER

Study Suggests Tattoos May Increase Risk of Lymphoma by 21%

• Tattoos could be a risk factor for lymphoma, with a 21% higher risk among tattooed individuals compared to non-tattooed individuals.

• The study involved 11,905 participants, including 2,938 diagnosed with lymphoma and 4,193 in the control group.

• The size of the tattoo did not affect the risk, suggesting any tattoo might trigger low-grade inflammation potentially leading to cancer.

• Researchers emphasize the need for further studies to confirm these findings and explore the association between tattoos and other diseases.

Why is this Important: Identifying a potential link between tattoos and lymphoma highlights the need for further research on tattoo safety and long-term health effects, potentially influencing public health guidelines and tattoo industry regulations.

MEDICAL NEWS IN BRIEF

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

🚥 Intermittent Fasting and Protein Pacing Enhance Gut Health and Metabolism: Intermittent fasting and protein pacing improve gut health, metabolism, and weight loss compared to calorie restriction. Understanding the benefits of intermittent fasting and protein pacing can inform effective dietary strategies for obesity management and overall health improvement.

🚥 Good Heart Health Significantly Benefits Individuals with Faster Biological Aging: Adopting heart-healthy behaviors can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality, especially for individuals with a genetic predisposition to faster biological aging, highlighting the importance of lifestyle choices in mitigating genetic risks.

🚥Orange Peel Extract Shows Potential to Improve Heart Health, University of Florida Study Finds: Orange peel extracts, rich in beneficial phytochemicals, can reduce TMAO and TMA production. Repurposing orange peels into health-promoting ingredients can reduce waste and provide a natural, effective way to lower cardiovascular disease risk, highlighting the potential of sustainable food practices.

🚥 Bird Flu Cases in Victoria, Including First Human Infection, Put Health Authorities on Alert.: Two unrelated cases of bird flu were detected in Victoria, including the first human infection in Australia. Vigilant monitoring and swift action by health authorities in response to bird flu cases are crucial for preventing widespread outbreaks, protecting public health, and minimizing the economic impact on the poultry industry.

🚥 Early Peanut Consumption Reduces Allergy Risk by 71% in Adolescence: Feeding infants peanut products from infancy to age five reduced the rate of peanut allergy in adolescence by 71%. Early peanut consumption significantly reduces the risk of peanut allergy in adolescence, providing a simple, effective strategy for long-term allergy prevention and potentially influencing public health guidelines to encourage early peanut introduction.

BOOK NOOK

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