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Categories Blog Tags Bizzell Health, Health, Wellness, Women's Health

Celebrating Women’s Health: A Wellness Journey

Celebrating Women’s Health: A Wellness Journey

By Bizzell Editorial Staff  

 “Communities and countries and ultimately the world are only as strong as the health of their women.” – Michelle Obama 

Every May, beginning on Mother’s Day, we observe National Women’s Health Week, to highlight a few of the many factors that contribute to a woman’s overall well-being, such as nutrition, exercise, regular, preventative care, and mental health.  

First observed in 2010 by the Obama administration with the goal of raising awareness about common conditions that affect girls and women, this week has become an integral part of the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH) mission to educate people about a variety of health concerns that affect women. As awareness has spread, the OWH has continued to expand its resources and encourage women to prioritize their health, today and every day, especially as we adjust to the new post-COVID-19 environment.  

 Consider the following 5 healthy tips for your wellness journey. 

  1. Visit your doctor regularly for preventative care. Your primary care physician can play an active role in your health goals beyond just an annual visit. Consider talking with your doctor about any family medical history that you find relevant and ask for their advice on a healthy lifestyle. 
  2. Go outside and enjoy the sunlight. Sunlight is essential for processing Vitamin D, which plays a vital role in the body’s absorption of calcium, a particularly important nutrient for women [1]https://owh-wh-d9-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/documents/fact-sheet-nutrition-and-women.pdf. In addition, research shows that spending time in nature, often called “forest bathing,” helps lower stress levels [2]Antonelli M, Barbieri G, Donelli D. Effects of forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) on levels of cortisol as a stress biomarker: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Biometeorol. 2019 Aug;63(8):1117-1134. doi: 10.1007/s00484-019-01717-x.. 
  3. Get active and moving. Exercising is a great way to focus on both physical and mental health. Activities like running, walking, or swimming are great ways to improve heart health and enjoy the outdoors. Exercise and dance have been shown to help reduce stress levels and raise endorphin levels. When exercising, especially outdoors, it’s important to remember to hydrate. Drinking water has numerous health benefits on its own, and avoiding dehydration during the sweltering summer months is essential [3]https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/features/physical-activity/index.html#:~:text=Being%20physically%20active%20 can%20reduce,even%2010%20minutes%20a%20day. 
  4. Take a break and get rest. Research shows that women need more sleep on average. Getting at least eight hours a day of sleep will lower your stress levels, help with mood regulation, and allows the body time to repair itself [4]https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/good-mental-health/sleep-and-your-health#1. 
  5. Watch your stress levels. Stress impacts both your physical and mental health. Extended periods of high, unmanaged stress can weaken the body’s immune system. Stress also contributes to poor sleep, depression, anxiety, migraines, and many other health conditions. Consider mindfulness techniques or other stress management resources to reduce your stress levels [5]https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/good-mental-health/stress-and-your-health. 

 

References

[1] https://owh-wh-d9-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/documents/fact-sheet-nutrition-and-women.pdf

[2] Antonelli M, Barbieri G, Donelli D. Effects of forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) on levels of cortisol as a stress biomarker: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Biometeorol. 2019 Aug;63(8):1117-1134. doi: 10.1007/s00484-019-01717-x.  

[3] https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/features/physical-activity/index.html#:~:text=Being%20physically%20active%20can%20reduce,even%2010%20minutes%20a%20day  

[4] https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/good-mental-health/sleep-and-your-health#1 

[5] https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/good-mental-health/stress-and-your-health 

 

Categories BHARC Tags Behavioral Health, BHARC, Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

Utilizing Behavioral Therapy to Address Stimulant Use Disorder

Utilizing Behavioral Therapy to Address Stimulant Use Disorder

Bizzell US, in partnership with The University of Vermont’s Center on Rural Addiction has produced an interactive educational video for clinicians and practitioners highlighting Contingency Management options for addressing stimulant use disorders.

With rural stimulant overdoses now higher than in urban counties (6.7 vs 4.8 per 100,000.)[1], a renewed focus on combating addiction within these remote communities has taken on a new sense of urgency. “This video adds an important, well studied tool for addressing stimulant use disorder,” said Dr. Todd Mandell of Bizzell US who specializes in substance use and mental health and who was the lead producer of the educational video.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2018, 40% of all overdose deaths were attributed to stimulate use. Until recently there have not been medical treatment alternatives for practitioners treating patients with stimulant use disorder which makes the use of Contingency Management even more urgent.

The video highlights the history of the development of Contingency Management and stresses the key components of a successful program.

To view the educational video please visit: http://uvmcm.modernepic.net

[1] Hedegaard H, Spencer MR. Urban–rural differences in drug overdose death rates, 1999–2019. NCHS Data Brief, no 403. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2021. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:102891

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Categories News Tags CEO News, Health, Healthcare, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Tobacco Research

Bizzell Supports Development of Comprehensive Report Addressing Smoking Cessation Treatment within Cancer Care Settings

Bizzell Supports Development of Comprehensive Report Addressing Smoking Cessation Treatment within Cancer Care Settings

 

July 27, 2022 (New Carrollton, MD) — The Bizzell Group is proud to provide direct support to the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, in the development of Tobacco Control Monograph 23—Treating Smoking in Cancer Patients: An Essential Component of Cancer Care. Released on June 29th, the monograph expands upon prior research from the 2014 and 2020 Surgeon General’s reports to inform clinicians and their patients with cancer about the science and practice of quitting smoking. The monograph also builds on recent findings from the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Moonshot℠ Cancer Center Cessation Initiative (C3I) program. “The monograph provides evidence that clinicians, public health practitioners, researchers, and patients with cancer can use to help influence real-world change in the treatment of patients with cancer who smoke. I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with NCI and subject matter experts to produce a rigorous volume on such an important topic,” said Jenny Twesten, Managing Director of Health Communications & Research at Bizzell, who oversaw the editorial and publication support for the monograph.

Smoking cessation treatment is rarely addressed in cancer care settings, yet the research summarized in the monograph demonstrates that quitting smoking is among the most effective treatment options for improving the likelihood of survival, quality of life, and overall health of people with cancer who smoke. The monograph also provides clinicians with evidence-based strategies and treatment options they can implement to better address smoking with cancer patients.
“Monograph 23 leverages prior academic research to demonstrate that addressing smoking cessation within the cancer treatment protocol yields tremendous benefits. I am greatly appreciative of the rigorous development process led by the Federal staff, Scientific Editorial Committee, peer-review experts, and the Bizzell team” said Anton C. Bizzell, M.D., President and CEO of Bizzell.

To read the full monograph, please visit: https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/brp/tcrb/monographs/monograph-23

About Bizzell

Established in 2010, Bizzell US is U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) HUBZone certified strategy, consulting, and technology firm with a mission to improve lives and accelerate change. Bizzell US develops innovative solutions to some of the most critical issues of our time such as health care services equity, global health, workforce innovation and other urgent needs facing the world. Under the leadership and vision of founder, Anton C. Bizzell, MD, the company has grown into a thriving firm headquartered in New Carrollton, Maryland with staff and offices in various regions around the country including California, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Georgia, and globally in Africa, Asia, and Central America. Learn more about how we develop data-driven, research-informed, innovative solutions to complex-real-world challenges. Learn more at BizzellUS.com.

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Categories BHARC, Insights Tags Behavioral Health, BHARC, Health, Information Technology, Mental Health, Telehealth, Thought Leadership

Learning to Walk: Telehealth’s Development Signals Improved Behavioral Health Care Access

Learning to Walk: Telehealth’s Development Signals Improved Behavioral Health Care Access

June 15th, 2022 (Lanham, MD) More adults and youth are struggling with their mental health and well-being as the pandemic continues. Nearly four in ten American adults experienced anxiety or depression symptoms during the pandemic, compared to one in ten pre-pandemic (Panchal et al. 2021). Similarly, depression and anxiety among youth have nearly doubled since the pandemic and are particularly impacting youth from historically underserved populations (Office of the Surgeon General, 2021; Racine et al, 2021). Yet, access to mental health services and treatment has not kept pace with the increased need and demand for services. In 2021, nearly 25 percent of adults did not receive treatment for mental illnesses (Mental Health America, 2021).

Telehealth is a growing sector of service delivery that is poised to address some of the gaps and barriers to mental health care. The June 2022 Behavioral Health Spotlight, published by the Behavioral Health Advancement Resource Center (BHARC), discusses tele-behavioral health’s significant expansion during the pandemic, its benefits, and important considerations for its utilization moving forward. “It is still early, but tele-behavioral health shows great promise in reducing stigma that some associate with mental health and substance disorder treatment and providing accessible mental health care capacity in hard to serve areas of the U.S.,” said William Scarbrough, BHARC Advisor and Vice President, Health Solutions at The Bizzell Group (Bizzell). “Additional rigorous evaluation is needed to address concerns regarding quality of care, privacy, and third-party data and information sharing.” BHARC is funded by Bizzell.

The BHARC Behavioral Health Spotlight is a thought leadership series highlighting various behavioral health topics that impact communities across the United States and abroad. “Telehealth’s Potential for Expanding Behavioral Healthcare Access” was written by Nancy Bateman, MSW, a Senior Public Health Advisor for Behavioral Health Services at Bizzell. It provides a current snapshot of tele-behavioral health, drawing from recent literature.

About BHARC 
The Behavioral Health Advancement Resource Center (BHARC) is an authoritative source for behavioral health information, insights, technical assistance, training, and innovative tools. BHARC is a mechanism to share evidence-based behavioral health interventions and best practices. The BHARC Advisory Council consists of experts in substance use, mental health, clinical trials, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare standards and quality. Learn more about the Behavioral Health Advancement Resource Center at BHARC.org.

About Bizzell 
Established in 2010, Bizzell US is U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) HUBZone certified strategy, consulting, and technology firm with a mission to improve lives and accelerate change. Bizzell US develops innovative solutions to some of the most critical issues of our time such as health care services equity, global health, workforce innovation and other urgent needs facing the world. Under the leadership and vision of founder, Anton C. Bizzell, MD, the company has grown into a thriving firm headquartered in New Carrollton, Maryland with staff and offices in various regions around the country including California, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Georgia, and globally in Africa, Asia, and Central America. Learn more about how we develop data-driven, research-informed, innovative solutions to complex-real-world challenges. Learn more at BizzellUS.com.

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