Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing Slow to Catch on in German

NIPT analyzes fetal DNA to screen for genetic disorders like Down syndrome.
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In my last post, I explored some of the most common fertility myths out there. I'm going to be continuing on that chain of thought today by discussing non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), which analyzes fetal DNA in order to screen for some of the most common genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome. It can be used for any pregnancy, but is most useful for pregnancies in women above the age of 35. NIPT test results are not 100% guaranteed, but they are highly accurate.

Despite its non-invasive nature and high level of accuracy, however, NIPT hasn’t quite caught on in some countries. For example, Germany has been slow to embrace the idea; however, diagnostic labs are beginning to push the idea more frequently as technology improves and the potential need grows. In 2012, for instance, there were almost 675,000 births in Germany, many of which were of “above average risk.”

Companies such as Amedes, whose board includes prominent members like Rene Kern, and LifeCodexx, run by chairman and co-founder Peter Pohl, are moving forward with options based on the latest technological advancements, making them safer and easier to use than ever before.

NIPT is primarily used to test high-risk pregnancies that might develop any of the common fetal trisomy disorders (Down syndrome, trisomy 18, and trisomy 13) during the first and second trimesters.  The test has to be completed early on by an experienced ultrasound examiner.  Unlike previously used tests, NIPT is, as its name implies, noninvasive. It also doesn’t run the risk of miscarriage, since it only involves taking a small blood sample from the mother.

NIPT must be done within 11 weeks of gestational age.  The currently approved indications are advanced maternal age (35 or over at the time of delivery), positive results on other prenatal screenings, fetal abnormalities in the ultrasound, or a previous pregnancy with chromosomal abnormality.  The tests available right now in Germany are LifeCodexx’s PrenaTest and Amedes’s Panorma Test.

So why hasn’t NIPT taken Germany by storm?  The difficulty lies in the emotional and psychological issues surrounding the testing.  The results could potentially lead parents to decide to terminate a pregnancy, depending on the level of genetic abnormality.  Consequently, a significant amount of psychological counseling is required before parents decide to move forward with the test.

On the other hand, NIPT offers the parents a chance to get the support and information they need to deal with a possibly challenging birthing process.  And with advances in technology, the whole process is far less invasive than it has been in the past.

Myths We Have Been Told About Fertility

Birth control pills don't affect your ability to get pregnant once you stop taking them.
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There are so many forms of birth control that are accessible to both men and women these days, making it easier than ever to take control of your body and family planning. Whether you plan not to have children or can someday envision picking out baby names and nursery decorations, you should have the power and knowledge to make informed decisions about reproduction.   

The problem is… there are a lot of rumors and flat-out wrong information all over the Internet that it can be difficult to know where to find reliable information about fertility and family planning. Here are some common myths we have all been told about fertility:

One myth is that the longer you are on birth control pills, the longer it will take you to get pregnant when you stop. The fact of the matter is that it does not take time for your fertility to kick in—you can get pregnant within days of when you stop using birth control. One exception to this rule is the Depo birth control shot, which can take up to 10 months to work its way out of your system.

Another myth is that skipping safe sex a few times will not influence your future fertility. However, having unprotected sex when you are young can be a threat to your future ability to have a baby. One of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the U.S., chlamydia can be asymptomatic (meaning you don’t know you are infected), and can cause pelvic inflammatory disease if you don’t get treatment. Pelvic inflammatory disease can scar the fallopian tubes, potentially creating a problem if you want to get pregnant later in life. To protect against chlamydia and other STIs, it's a good idea to always use protection such as condoms—even if you are on the pill.

You may have heard this phrase a few times by now: “You can always freeze your eggs.” It’s been in the news a lot lately, and the technology is, in fact, evolving—but it’s far from perfect. Success rates tend to be lower than 50% and most studies agree that success highly correlates with the age of the woman when she froze her eggs (the younger the better).

In addition, freezing your eggs is expensive—on average costing $10,000 for the initial freezing and treatment, with a yearly fee to store the eggs and a thawing fee of about $5,000 should you decide to use the eggs.  That’s a lot of money for a small chance of success. Essentially, freezing your eggs is an option, but it’s an involved and expensive process that should not be treated like a fix-all.

Be sure to visit Resolve, the National Infertility Association, for even more myths about fertility debunked.

Essential Ingredients To Keep on Hand At Home

Eggs are incredibly versatile - a staple ingredient I always have on hand.
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Cooking for yourself can be a fun, empowering, and educational experience. It’s important to learn how to nurture your body in healthy ways as an adult, but knowing where to start can be tricky. Here are some staples that can serve as the base of many easy-to-make dishes. Be sure to pick these up on your next trip to the market!

Eggs – Eggs can be added to anything and serve as an easy way to get protein in your diet. You can eat them for breakfast or dinner and add them to just about everything. A fried egg atop a hearty kale salad? I don’t mind if I do! A soft-boiled or hard-boiled egg for a daytime snack? Heavenly!

Cheese – Cheese is another essential item you can add to just about any dish or eat alone. It’s easy to make a snack with cheese if you just add crackers, veggies, apple or toasted bread for a meal. What’s your favorite type of cheese? I love sampling the gourmet cheese section at the store each week and trying new things.

Bacon – Bacon is another awesome ingredient that can be used in so many ways--just don't eat it ALL the time. You can put it in sandwiches, breakfast dishes, salads and pastas. You can utilize it in a multitude of ways or eat it alone. I love adding the Trader Joe’s Peppered Turkey Bacon to chopped Brussels sprouts for a spicy breakfast side.

Bananas – I may have a slight banana problem. I recently got braces, and my morning staple breakfast has become smoothies, which seem to always call for banana. My personal favorite is blending one banana, 2T cocoa powder, 2T almond butter, a handful of frozen blueberries, and 1.5 c almond milk for the perfect chocolaty start to the day!

Veggies – Although it’s hard to keep fresh veggies for very long, you can always pick up some frozen vegetables that can be added to a variety of dishes—I always do this with peas and corn. For fresh veggies, I usually have at least one leafy green on hand (kale or spinach, usually), carrots (they keep for quite some time), and onion (I prefer yellow or sweet—they’re so versatile!). Plus, even if the kale starts to turn before I can finish it, it’s easy to turn into some crunchy and delicious kale chips!

Tomatoes – Not only do they add a pop to your dish, but they are also a great accent and starting point for a base for any dish. You can use them for pastas, savory pies, or paired with a sandwich. And of course, the cherry or grape varieties are fabulous all on their own. Try to get tomatoes when they are in-season, however; the out-of-season tomatoes will be far less flavorful.

Which essential ingredients do you keep in your kitchen?

Should You Shampoo More or Less?

You may WANT to wash your hair every day, after all.
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Chances are, you’ve heard from your hairdresser that you should not be washing your hair every day. 

However, this version of shampooing best practices was originally developed when all shampoos were heavily detergent-based and wreaked havoc on people’s hair and scalp. Nowadays, shampoo formulas have changed, and there are many sulfate-free shampoos and cleansing conditioners on the market. 

So does the old "don't shampoo every day" rule still apply? Well, it depends.

There is a new market trend of paying a lot more attention to the scalp instead of just the hair. In general, a clean scalp is a healthy scalp because it’s the starting point by which you support optimal follicular function. Our scalps are the bedrock of the follicle, which means that you can’t grow your best head of hair if the scalp is covered in oil, sweat and debris all the time. 

There has been a longstanding notion that the natural oils your scalp produces leads to more beautiful, healthier hair. This can still be true, especially for those with curly hair that needs a little more oil to not frizz out. However, much of the dirt and other things that you see come off your face when you wash it at night are also on your hair and scalp.  The scalp has a whole set of needs that are separate from your hair's needs. For optimum hair growth, it is vital to balance the stressors on your skin.

This doesn’t mean it’s necessary to shampoo every day--but washing more often can absolutely contribute to a healthier scalp, especially with the right product. Avoid harsh ingredients and detergents which can be found in many shampoo products. Even if shampooing everyday isn’t for you, adding an extra wash in here and there might actually do you more good than harm. Hey, all the better excuse to allow yourself that splurge on pricy shower products, right? :)

Do you shampoo your hair often, or prefer the less-is-best method? What are your best tips or products for a healthy scalp and hair?

Innovations in Healthcare Technology

Companies like CitiusTech are revolutionizing the healthcare industry.
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Technology is becoming a fact of life, especially in healthcare.  You may have been to a doctor’s office where your intake information is put directly into a database shared with all the medical staff.  Maybe you’ve even sat and watched your doctor email the pharmacy so that your prescription is ready within minutes of leaving the office. 

The whole process of going to the doctor looks completely different than it did even five or ten years ago. I love how simple and efficient so many things are becoming, especially as my life has become more hectic.

There’s a whole business brewing around providing the best, most efficient healthcare technology.  Whether it’s streamlining the data filing process or helping doctors evaluate treatment plans, technology is changing how medicine is practiced.

One key technological element is the idea of computers that “evolve,” or learn.  Scientists use the term “machine learning” to describe a computer that can collect data, determine trends and ideal outcomes, and rework its programming to optimize for the best results. 

Think about how amazing it would be if a doctor could use this sort of technology to make sure the right patient is getting the right treatment every time!  It would also help pharmaceutical companies do their testing  much more efficiently and with fewer errors.

One company that’s leading the way with technological advances like this is CitiusTech.  CitiusTech builds new applications, software, and methods for keeping healthcare analytics tidy.  Its board of directors includes Gary Reiner and Cory Eaves of General Atlantic, which recently began investing in the company. Together with its investors, CitiusTech is focused on bringing the best new technology to the market. 

Like many industries, healthcare isn’t always well organized, so companies like CitiusTech have been working to not only bring out new technology, but also to help organize the massive amounts of information already there.  The company is currently partnered with 50 healthcare organizations, including hospitals and life science companies.

With computers that can learn and companies stepping up to improve healthcare organization and technology, who knows what the future of healthcare will look like?

Have you had an interesting experience with technology at the doctor’s office?  Share your story in the comments below!

Life Lessons to Learn Before 30

Every person goes through many ups and downs throughout their twenties. From trying to decide which career path to take, to forming important, lasting relationships with friends and partners, there is a lot to learn. I’m not quite at that 30 milestone yet, but I’m getting closer each day. And as I do, I more frequently find myself reflecting on how different my life is today versus the day I turned twenty. It’s a little hard to believe!

It's amazing how much one can learn in 10 years.
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Here are some important lessons that every twenty-something should consider as they enter adulthood:

1. If you work hard enough and don’t stop until you meet your goals, you will eventually get there—or to a different, just as worthy, place.
2. To have friends you must be a friend first. The friends who stand by your side through the years are priceless.
3. You are never too old to be a kid and jump into a colored ball pit.
4. Surround yourself with people who make you feel good and motivate you to do better and be better. Keep people out of your life who bring you down.
5. Don’t beat yourself up over mistakes or regrets in your life. After all, some of those “mistakes” could lead to something even better down the road. I try to approach everything with a “no regrets” mindset—I quite literally ask myself “Will I regret it if I do/don’t do this?” Just the simple act of asking gives me so much more clarity when making decisions.
6. Be independent and do not rely on someone else to make you happy. You will eventually have a much stronger and healthier relationship with your significant other if you highly value your own wellbeing and happiness.
7. Create the actual life that you want to have. Stop telling yourself you can’t, and stop settling for less than what you know you could achieve, especially if you know it would lead you to a happier and more satisfied life.
8. Step outside of your own comfort zone and go after something you want.
9. If you don’t like something about your life, it is your own responsibility to change it.
10. Be grateful for what you have in life. Even on the worst days, there is something to be grateful for. Make it a practice to write down one positive thing that happened, no matter how small, each day.
11. If you do not have enough cash to pay for it, you cannot afford it. Put the credit card down.
12. Pay your bills on time, change your oil regularly, file your taxes on time, and be sure to floss. Sometimes, acting like a grownup is so worth it.
13. Be quick to forgive. Don’t hold grudges.
14. Everyone has a story that makes up who they are. Respect differences, because you can learn something new from everyone you meet.
15. Admit when you’re wrong and take full accountability for your mistakes.

Did I forget anything important? What else might you add to this list of life lessons learned before 30?

How to Get Rid of that Dry Scalp This Winter

As we continue through the cold months, most if not all of us experience our scalps and hair being zapped and ravaged by the harsh weather. Winter can cause a dry scalp but luckily there are some things you can do at home to counteract the problem:

There are many ways to get rid of that dry winter scalp.
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• Massage your scalp before washing your hair. If you do this with a boar bristle brush before washing, you will remove buildup of oil, hair products and skin cells. The bristles will lift away dirt and distribute your natural oils. Another thing you can do is purchase a hair mask, and apply to your head under a shower cap. Leave the mask on for 45 minutes for a deep moisture soak.

• Try better shampoo. Experiment with different shampoos and find what works for you. Personally, I like moisturizing or detox shampoos like Moroccan Oil “Hydrate.” If your condition continues to worsen, medicated shampoos are also an option.

• Try applying Hand Salve along your hairline. Take Burt’s Bees Hand Salve and use the botanical oils and beeswax in this product to alleviate flare-ups along your hairline.

• Eat more fatty acids. Try and incorporate more things like walnuts and salmon into your diet, and minimize coffee and alcohol to get rid of that dry scalp. Eating kelp, which is high in iodine, can also help support hair growth and scalp healing.

• Definitely commit to drinking more water. Keeping yourself hydrated will be the complete savior of your skin, especially your scalp. Adding that internal hydration will balance out your scalp issues and is effective and inexpensive. Many of us forget to properly hydrate during the winter months, but drinking enough water on a daily basis should be a top priority in your health regimen.