Visions of hope

More than half of Americans are currently living with at least one chronic disease and nearly a third of patients are managing two or more of these conditions. Patients often lack community support and proper counseling to care for their illness. Growing evidence indicates that spiritual practices enhance personal resilience even under challenging circumstances. 

My book, "Visions of Hope," is published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. The manuscript recognizes the surprising parallels between the long struggle of chronic disease and Jesus’ last torturous hours. It uses the ‘Stations of the Cross’ as a symbolic framework in the counseling of patients. Combining the wisdom of the Bible (Stations) with modern considerations of positive psychology gives a practical guide map for coping and facing the many trying facets of chronic disease. The thought-provoking text leads the reader through the trials of despair by giving meaning to suffering and assigning value to social connections. The book does not shy away from discussing the most difficult questions the reader might face, including the need to face death and what happens after we die. Original illustrations, religious and spiritual texts bring the content into a sharper focus for the reader in an aesthetically pleasing and meaningful volume.

Visions of Hope; Reflections for Chronic Patients Based on the Stations of the Cross (Wipf and stock) can be found at these fine booksellers. You can ask your local library for a copy.

      





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Copyright © 2020 by Eva Deli

Science or fiction? Super-conduction of both electricity and energy

An immense amount of energy is lost in power lines and machinery every year. There is a fierce worldwide competition to find more efficient energy and electricity transport. 

Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) is a superfluid state in which atoms or particles flow without friction. The phenomenon was predicted nearly a hundred years ago by Albert Einstein and Satyendra Nath Bose. Bose-Einstein condensation was first produced from rubidium atoms in 1995 on temperatures near absolute zero. Recently its existence has been found at a much warmer temperature (still way too cold for your sandwich). The finding can open new possibilities for high-temperature superconductivity (to transport energy without loss).

Exciton condensate is similar to Bose-Einstein condensate, but it conducts energy instead with nearly zero loss. To generate both states in the same material would revolutionize many industries. Theoretically, at least, there is a condition when both beneficial states exist together. The combination of superconductivity and exciton condensates would be useful in lots of applications, such as electronics, spintronics, quantum computing. Read more: phys.org 

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Can overdiagnosis of cancer become a problem?

Cancer is the leading cause of death across the globe. For years now, researchers have led meticulous studies focused on how to stop this deadly disease in its tracks. An estimated 1 in 2 people now receive a cancer diagnosis at some point in their lives and with that comes overdiagnosis, which can reach up to 11,000 cancers in women and 18,000 cancers in men each year. Cancer overdiagnosis can negatively impact a person’s mental health and cause them to undergo harsh treatments when they may not be necessary.

Most overdiagnoses occur during routine procedures that detect cancers that would otherwise remain undetected. In addition, early detection of abnormal cells could also be attributed to overdiagnosis. Many people would argue that overdiagnosis is better than underdiagnosis, and that screening has already been at the heart of saving many people’s lives.

There are many treatments available to treat the cancers and many people are able to have long, healthy lives when they use maintenance therapy to manage these types of cancer. It is important to note that when a person receives a treatment harsher than is necessary for their type of cancer, a doctor has misdiagnosed cancer, not overdiagnosed it. Cancer screenings nevertheless save lives, and ultimately, the earlier they detect cancer, the higher the chance of survival and the lower the chance of recurrence.

The evidence for this is irrefutable.

Read more:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321106

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Copyright © 2020 by Eva Deli

A novel futuristic method offers treatment of Coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease in the United States. It is sometimes called coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease. CAD is caused by plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart (called coronary arteries) and other parts of the body. Plaque is made up of deposits of cholesterol and other substances in the artery. Plaque buildup causes the inside of the arteries to narrow over time, which can partially or totally block the blood flow. This process is called atherosclerosis. Now there might be radical help for this condition.

Michigan State University and Stanford University scientists have invented a radical treatment, which, if it clears further tests, can help people suffering from the condition. A new nanoparticle eats away -- from the inside out -- portions of plaques that cause heart attacks. The nanoparticle that can be directed with high selectivity to a particular immune cell type -- monocytes and macrophages. Once inside the macrophages in those plaques, it delivers a drug agent that stimulates the cell to engulf and eat cellular debris. Basically, it removes the diseased/dead cells in the plaque core. By reinvigorating the macrophages, plaque size is reduced and stabilized. It is highly expected that the treatment would reduce the risk of most types of heart attacks, and it would have minimal side effects.

Small molecules using nano-immunotherapeutic platforms could stimulate the macrophages to selectively eat dead and dying cells, the precursor cells to atherosclerosis. Delivering a small molecule inside the macrophages has an enormous advantage. The next step will be to start a clinical translation of these nanomaterials using large animal models and human tissue tests. 

The discovery could be a potential treatment for atherosclerosis, a leading cause of death in many parts of the world. 

Read more: 

Science daily

Nature Nanotechnology: Nanoparticles are specifically taken up by lesional macrophages to prevent atherosclerosis.

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Copyright © 2020 by Eva Deli

Be ready to act when opportunities are knocking

Opportunities require you to take the bull by the horns and jumping into the unknown. Because the creation of the new is always uncharted territory, it takes courage to move forward. Your sincere and honest work is a sturdy parachute, which will carry you over rough terrain. Some people work hard, but they withdraw at the time of a real opportunity. Their insecurity does not allow them to go through the finish line. Instead of speeding up when the going is tough, they are fabricating convincing excuses. You must be able to fire.

Unhappiness is the tendency to seek happiness in temporary solutions and the wrong places, such as addictions, consumption of empty entertainment, or empty calories. Therefore, a negative mindset is a ticket to failure and destruction. Honest, thorough preparation gives you the confidence to take charge and seize the moment. Take time to prepare, but when the time comes, do not hesitate to act. Action contains the possibility of failure, but it is the only path toward success. While defeat is never final, every unsuccessful attempt tests your determination. Blunders can lead to a more advanced understanding. Although people are different in temperament, psychological make-up, and approach to life, the methods listed above are universal.

Be willing to step up to the test.

My straightforward handbook, The Power of Joy, gives you the tools and advice you need to liberate yourself from your negativity and become the best version of yourself.

                                                              

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The role of relationships during chronic illness

The trust and comfort of family and friends can provide a lifeline and a healing presence during illness. The widespread existence of single households in the modern world leads to the loss of connectedness. Persistent loneliness can cause cardiovascular, hormonal, and immune problems; it can be as threatening as cigarettes, excess alcohol, or obesity. The adverse health consequences are especially dangerous during this time. 

Twenty-five years ago, I was pregnant with my third child. I came down with an intestinal infection, which caused severe diarrhea. A potent antibiotic, which would have treated the problem was out of the question. Every day for eight months of pregnancy and ten months of nursing, I would invariably be miserable and exhausted by 10 am. Constant diarrhea and the resulting hemorrhoids depleted my physical and mental energies. I was depressed. In my helplessness and isolation, I scarcely remembered my past and was not able to comprehend or even be interested in the future. Life became a blur of tentative actions to last until the next emergency that I came to expect. 

When my son was ten months old, antibiotic treatment restored my health, almost overnight. The difficulties of that year were manageable because of my closeness to my family. Intimate relationships are essential for life and become even more meaningful at the intersection of life and death. Our vulnerability nurtures our closeness with those dearest to us. Secure social connections with loved ones provide an emotional strength that ties the patient to the living. 

Like threads in a fabric, all living things and people form an essential interdependence. The richness of existence depends on all of the components of every color yarn. As missing threads create a hole, living things leave a hole behind. According to a foremost cancer physician, David Smithers, the quality of the social milieu has a crucial role in healing. Your survival might depend on your ability to rally friends, family, and coworkers’ support. Advocating on your behalf, they create a climate of moral support. The appeal to take care of one another is vivid in Romans 12:15 (ESV), “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” 

Socrates reminds us that “an unexamined life is not worth living.” Sometimes a disease that brings death into a close-up view is the best inspiration to discover a more personal relationship to life. Humanity has an innate hunger for meaning in every occurrence of life. Since ancient times, we used the arts and religion to wash off the dust of every day and transcend onto a higher intellectual plane. Recognizing the regularity in the cycles of the natural environment, formed our earliest belief systems, and encouraged the beginning of worship. Religion and spirituality immerse the soul within the mysteries of the universe and society. 

My straightforward handbook, The Power of Joy, gives you the tools and advice you need to liberate yourself from your negativity and become the best version of yourself. Now you can find it on Amazon.

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Copyright © 2020 by Eva Deli

Meaning is an essential part of a healthy life

Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? The long title of Paul Gauguin's famous painting raises deep, existential questions. In the past, most people were preoccupied with survival, making it impossible to ponder these questions. Today, remarkable technological advances have made philosophical, scientific, theological, and metaphysical speculation accessible to many. 

The dramatic change in our living conditions has left our insecurities intact. Feelings of inferiority, fear, and insecurity cause conflict both at home and at work. Thus, we often find it hard to stay motivated for goals beyond everyday worries. Without clear goals and a sense of fulfillment, jobs provide little real satisfaction. Constant busyness and overloaded routines keep us hooked on an endless stream of information and the adrenaline rush of staying busy. This constant shifting of focus only delivers fleeting pleasure; it leaves behind feelings of vulnerability and spiritual hunger. A global mental health crisis marked by depression, anxiety, high suicide rates, and the rise of mental illnesses shows the depth of the crisis.

Human well-being is positively linked to meaning and purpose. Coherence in our beliefs and actions reliably enhances our sense of meaning. However, having a purpose beyond our immediate needs, financial concerns, and existential struggles provides the best foundation for long-term happiness. Similarly, having long-term goals and contributing positively to others and the world fosters a sense of purpose. Whether you believe in a higher power or trust the interconnectedness of the cosmos, cultivating passion for your life is vital. Meaningful growth requires stepping outside your comfort zone. If you feel comfortable, try to empathize with others' pain; if you experience pain, let the world embrace you.

Discover more about consciousness and purpose by ordering my book, "Emotional Reasoning: Insight into the Conscious Experience."

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Copyright © 2019 by Eva Deli