Top 6 Health and Beauty Trends to Watch For in 2014
In 2014 your next medical expert might be a robot. From orthopedics to internists, a wide range of medical doctors increasing are relying on the precision of computer robotics when performing surgeries. Jaime Hernandez, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Southern California Orthopedics Institute, is a pioneer in the use of computer navigated knee replacements.
The New Year brings the promise of major medical breakthroughs in diverse health and healthcare fields — from addiction treatment to dieting, anti-aging medicine to robotics technology.
It’s also that time of year we find out trend in color for beauty too.
Monsters and Critics consulted leading experts to come with the….
Top 6 Health and Beauty Trends To Watch For In 2014:
#1 Vaccines For Drug Addiction
Vaccines for a multitude of drugs are currently in the research and development pipeline. In particular, an effective vaccine for heroin – which marked a dramatic rise in its use in 2013, especially among young people – could come on the market as early as next year, says A. R. Mohammad, M.D., a psychiatrist, expert in addiction medicine and adjunct professor at USC’s Keck School of Medicine. There are many components of neurobiology of addiction, and we need to treat all of them. Treatment of drug addiction is very complex (as is with any chronic medical illness or cancer). A heroin vaccine, which blocks intoxication receptors in the brain, has been tested in animals with promising results. There needs to be more studies done before human use, but it has the potential of saving countless lives,” he says.
Vaccines for cocaine, crack and methamphetamine (meth) are also in development.
#2 Advanced Aging Diagnostics (The New “Cholesterol Test”)
With the graying of the U.S. population, watch for an increased use in advanced diagnostic tests to measure longevity and “biological age” in the elderly. Regenerative medicine expert Andre Berger, M.D. is a leader in the clinical application of the so-called “Life Extension Test” that measures the percentage of short telomeres in an individual’s cellular profile.
The short telomeres is superior than other tests for detecting signs of advanced aging that use only the average length of the telomere Short telomeres are associated with a long list of diseases that are directly related to DNA damage and effect most of our organs including: the heart and arteries leading to cardiovascular disease and hypertension, the retina leading to macular degeneration, blood cells leading to weak immunity, asthma and allergies, stem cells leading to cancer, connective tissue leading to wrinkles, arthritis and osteoporosis, reproductive organs leading to infertility, menopause and andropause, beta cells leading to diabetes, and the brain which can lead to central nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and dementia.
“Telomeres are a window to your cellular age and amazingly, we are now able to test for cellular age by performing a short telomeres test. Telomeres testing is like the ‘new cholesterol,’ just as important if not more so and certainly more revealing about your chances for living up to your life expectancy limits,” says Dr. Berger.
#3 Robotic-Assisted Surgeries
In 2014 your next medical expert might be a robot. From orthopedics to internists, a wide range of medical doctors increasing are relying on the precision of computer robotics when performing surgeries. Jaime Hernandez, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Southern California Orthopedics Institute, is a pioneer in the use of computer navigated knee replacements. “Even when performed by the most seasoned surgeons, knee replacements generally have a 10% failure rate, meaning a second surgery must be performed to realign the positioning of the implant. Robotics virtually eliminate the need for follow-up surgery because of 3-D computer mapping software that is extremely precise,” says Dr. Hernandez.
Kai Nishi, M.D., a co-founder of the the Khalili Center for bariatrics in Los Angeles, uses robotics to perform gall bladder surgeries. “Previously, gall bladder removal, or cholecystectomy, required hospitalization with several days of recovery. Today’s robotic technology allows for a minimally invasive procedure that can be done at a surgical center with dramatically reduced recovery time. less complications, reduced pain and virtually no scarring,” he says.
#4 Herbal-Based Diet Products
The multi-billion dollar dieting industry, a.k.a. “weight loss and weight management,” is stuck in a rut. There have been no real innovations in dieting since the advent 10 years ago of prepared packaged meals sent directly to the consumer. In 2014 watch for the industry to pivot toward a more naturalistic approach to weight loss and maintenance. One newcomer that caused a stir in 2013 with its endorsement by Mary Murphy, the celebrity judge and former ballroom dancing champion, is brand called Tisanoreica, which originates in Italy where it’s the largest dieting product line. The firm plans to roll out a nationwide marketing campaign in the U.S. in 2014. Tisanoreica is a low-carb, normal protein diet that both stimulates the metabolism and reduces appetite. At the heart of the system are decottopia, herbal tonics each containing at least 10 herbs, which were developed by the Mech family during the Renaissance. Heir to the centuries-old family business, Tisanoreica CEO Gianluca Mech worked with the University of Padua (Italy), the world’s second oldest university, over the last decade to create a line of weight-loss inducing, all-natural food products (no preservatives nor additives) containing the patented herbal formulae.
Murphy swears by Tisanoreica, having lost 30 pounds in just 6 week. “What I love about the Tisanoreica Diet is that I never feel deprived on it,” says Murphy. “I’ve tried other diets in which you’re either feeling famished or tired. As a dancer who must keep physically fit, and now as a dance judge who must stay mentally alert during auditions that can stretch on for hours, that’s important to me.”
#5 Concierge Medicine For The Masses
Once the exclusive domain of the rich and famous, concierge medicine has emerged in the last few years as a viable, affordable alternative for the middle class to the production-line quality of the current health system. With new strains put on the health care system by the full implementation of Obamacare, as well as the ongoing doctor shortage that is especially acute among primary care physicians, watch for the middle class to fully embrace concierge medicine in 2014 with new gusto.
Concierge medicine, also known as retainer-based medicine or directory primary care, has increased tenfold over the last five years, according to the CDC. SignatureMD, a leading provider of concierge medicine with a coast-to-coast network of affiliated primary care doctors, registered a 1,200% increase in 2013; an even bigger increase is expected in 2014.
With concierge medicine patients pay a private primary care doctor (internist, GP, pediatrician, family doctor) a monthly retainer. Patients pay on average $135 per month, or about what many consumers spend monthly on their cable TV or smart-phone.
The retainer guarantees patients access to a seasoned primary care doctor, but also a host of “patient first” services including same-day and no-wait appointments, extended doctor visits, executive-style annual physical exams and in some cases, advanced diagnostic equipments and tests, even house calls. Even more, because concierge doctors on average have 90% fewer patients than their conventional counterparts, they have more time to practice preventive medicine. In other words, they have the time to anticipate the underlying causes of potential chronic illnesses rather than treating their symptoms after the fact.
“Only 3 cents of every health care dollar spent in the U.S. is on preventive care,” says Matt Jacboson, a former senior executive with a Fortune 500 insurance company who left his cushy corporate job to start SignatureMD. “Concierge medicine is preventive medicine, and not it’s affordable to virtually every middle class consumer.”
#6 Radiant Orchid is Pantone’s 2014 color of the year
Global color authority Pantone announced PANTONE® 18-3224 Radiant Orchid, a captivating, magical, enigmatic purple, as the color of the year for 2014.
“While the 2013 color of the year, PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald, served as a symbol of growth, renewal and prosperity, Radiant Orchid reaches across the color wheel to intrigue the eye and spark the imagination,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today’s society.”
“An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.”
The power of this color is not lost on Melanie Mills, an Emmy award winning professional makeup artist based in Hollywood who has worked on film and television projects, the Academy Awards and films like Charlie’s Angels. She served as department head and makeup designer for ABC’s hit show, “Dancing with the Stars” where she invented her makeup line (www.gleambymelaniemills.com) that has grown worldwide in just a few short years.
