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Tag: Raise

  • Common Artificial Sweetener In Diet Sodas May Raise Risk Of Heart Attacks, Strokes

    Common Artificial Sweetener In Diet Sodas May Raise Risk Of Heart Attacks, Strokes

    Are you considering sugar substitutes as a safer alternative to sugar? Think again. Recent research has found that a common artificial sweetener used in diet sodas and other zero-sugar food items may actually increase your risk of heart attacks and strokes.

    In a recent study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, researchers evaluated mice fed aspartame, a common sugar substitute, for 12 weeks and compared them with mice without a sweetener-infused diet. The amount of aspartame the mice consumed (daily doses of food containing 0.15%) was equivalent to about three cans of diet soda per day for humans.

    The results revealed that mice fed with aspartame had increased inflammation and “larger and more fatty plaques” in their arteries, two main factors that could raise the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

    The researchers also noted that the mice’s blood had an insulin surge after aspartame entered their system. They then determined that elevated insulin levels may be the key link between aspartame and cardiovascular health.

    “Aspartame triggers increased insulin levels in animals, which in turn contributes to atherosclerosis—buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries, which can lead to higher levels of inflammation and an increased risk of heart attacks and stroke over time,” the researchers noted in a news release.

    The study identified a specific immune signal, CX3CL1 that gets activated under insulin stimulation as the key factor for inflammation and plaque buildup.

    “Because blood flow through the artery is strong and robust, most chemicals would be quickly washed away as the heart pumps. Surprisingly, not CX3CL1. It stays glued to the surface of the inner lining of blood vessels. There, it acts like a bait, catching immune cells as they pass by,” said senior author Yihai Cao.

    Cao believes that the same immune signal, CX3CL1, could be a potential target for treating other chronic conditions that involve blood vessel inflammation, like stroke, arthritis, and diabetes. Developing agents that block the functions of this immune signal could provide a new way to treat and prevent common and deadly diseases in humans.

    “Artificial sweeteners have penetrated almost all kinds of food, so we have to know the long-term health impact,” Cao cautioned.

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  • Virginia Woman Forced to Raise Money for Prosthetic Hand After Insurance Refuses to Cover It Despite Doctor Recommendation

    Virginia Woman Forced to Raise Money for Prosthetic Hand After Insurance Refuses to Cover It Despite Doctor Recommendation

    A Virginia woman who lost her hand in a shark attack is now turning to the public for help after her insurance company refused to cover the cost of a prosthetic device recommended by her medical team.

    Elisabeth Foley, a 45-year-old mother of three, was bitten by a shark in June while vacationing in Florida. She was one of three people attacked within 90 minutes that day. Foley’s injuries were devastating, leading to the loss of her left hand and severe damage to her midsection. Her recovery involved 60 days in the hospital, where she endured multiple surgeries, including nerve and laser procedures, according to WWBT.

    Despite these challenges, Foley has made remarkable progress. Now, her doctors recommend a myoelectric prosthetic hand, an advanced device that uses residual muscle signals in the arm to control its movements.

    This prosthetic would dramatically improve her mobility and independence, according to her GoFundMe page.



    Without it, Foley claims she faces “a diminished quality of life,” marked by limited mobility. Her insurance company has declined to cover the $73,000 prosthetic, deeming it “not medically necessary,” her fundraiser explains.

    The device would enable her to regain some normalcy and tackle tasks many take for granted.

    As of Thursday, Foley’s GoFundMe campaign had raised over $60,000.

    Her journey and updates on her recovery are also documented on her Instagram, where she has received an outpouring of support.

    Foley’s struggle for a prosthetic comes amid a national reckoning over frustrations with the healthcare system prioritizing profits over people. The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has sparked a wave of support for the suspect, Luigi Mangione, with many applauding him as a symbol of growing frustration and anger toward the insurance industry.



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