Article

New Pathways to Cachexia Treatment: Focusing on Patient Quality of Life

Patients living with certain underlying chronic illnesses, such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure, and other diseases often experience a syndrome called cachexia, which can cause anorexia, unintentional weight loss, muscle wasting, loss of appetite, and/or fatigue.1, 2, 3 This wasting disorder can severely impact patients’ quality of life, and in some cases, such as cancer, hinder their ability to continue treatment for the primary illness.3 Despi...

Living & Wellbeing

Healthy Homes: 3 Hidden Home Dangers

  Home is our refuge. It’s where we eat, sleep, raise our families, and recharge from busy days. We spend some 65 percent of our lives inside the home. Given the importance of our dwellings, it’s critical to be aware of many potential hazards in the home that can be harmful to your health.      More than 39 million U.S. households contain at least one health hazard, according to the U.S. Census. Some of these household hazards can be seen, such as lead from chipping paint and old pipes, mold...

Living & Wellbeing

Fight Fear with Facts: Three Tips That May Help You Continue Your Lung Cancer Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Fight fear with facts and learn more about ways that may help you safely continue your treatment plans and attend regularly scheduled doctors’ visits. We’ve addressed some of the biggest stressors facing lung cancer patients during this unprecedented time.Working with Your Doctor to Continue TreatmentA lot is uncertain right now, but your treatment plan does not have to be. While it can be scary to leave the safety of your home, it is crucial that decisions regarding your treatment plan are made...

Living & Wellbeing

Understanding Social Distancing: How Far is Enough?

The coronavirus pandemic is still ongoing—with more than 200 countries currently reporting over nine million total cases.5 The spread of the virus caused many federal and state governments to issue lockdown and stay-at-home orders for their citizens and inhabitants, but some states are now beginning to ease restrictions. As summer begins and the desire for interaction increases, it's important to review the latest guidelines for protecting ourselves and others. What is social distancing, and...

Purpose & Ideals

Pfizer Partners with Wellcome to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance in Sub-Saharan Africa

As part of Pfizer’s longstanding history of fighting infectious diseases and reducing health disparities for people around the world, we are excited to announce a new partnership with Wellcome, an independent foundation, to help tackle the growing public health crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR occurs when bacteria evolve to resist the effectiveness of antibiotics, making previously treatable diseases difficult or impossible to treat. Without action, it is expected to lead to the...

Purpose & Ideals

Age: Addressing a Blind Spot in Cancer Care

In the last decade, we have seen breakthrough progress in our ability to help prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer. But today, too many people living with cancer still face barriers to timely and equitable care. At Pfizer, we’re focused on removing those barriers for all people living with cancer – including those over the age of 65 – to address disparities in cancer care and improve health equity.Age is the greatest risk factor for developing cancer, with approximately 54% of cancers occurring...

Living & Wellbeing

How to Manage Non-COVID-19 Healthcare During the Pandemic

Across the country, different aspects of life came to a halt in recent months, as cities, states, and individuals worked to stop the spread of COVID-19. In many areas, hospitals, and doctors’ offices cancelled elective surgeries and in-office appointments. Media reports describe a decline in patients showing up at emergency rooms suffering from heart attacks, strokes, and appendicitis. And according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, nine high-volume catheterization...

Purpose & Ideals

Pfizer renews commitment to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

As healthcare systems around the world face unprecedented challenges, the fight against infectious diseases is more important than ever. Vaccines remain the most important tool available to us for protecting against epidemics and outbreaks, and Pfizer is proud to partner with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to ensure millions of children are protected against pneumococcal disease.      At the Global Vaccine Summit, held virtually on 4th June, Pfizer was proud to renew its commitment to Gavi for its...

Sweet Science: How Insights into Fructose Metabolism Are Helping to Fight Liver Disease

If you check the labels on your favorite jarred marinara sauce, low-calorie salad dressing, or loaf of bread, you may be surprised to find that they contain added simple sugars — one of the most popular forms of which is high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a sweetener used in many processed foods.Over the past four decades, sugar has steadily crept into American diets — a trend that can be largely attributed to the food industry’s embrace of HFCS, used to enhance the flavor of all types of products...

Purpose & Ideals

Pfizer Partners with Direct Relief to Provide Critical COVID-19 Supplies to Hospitals

Fighting back against a global pandemic requires cooperation, collaboration, and teamwork. As part of Pfizer’s broader COVID-19 response, we are proud to partner with Direct Relief, a humanitarian aid organization dedicated to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies, across all 50 United States and 80 countries. Pfizer has always been committed to deploying our resources in times of crisis, and we leveraged our long-standing partnership with Direct Relief to...

Living & Wellbeing

Ask an Expert: Professor Joe Schmitt Talks Tick-Borne Encephalitis

Think ticks; think Lyme disease? In recent years, public awareness of Lyme disease has peaked, as high-profile celebrities and others have shone a spotlight on the sometimes-devastating impact this disease can have on health and quality of life. But, Lyme disease isn’t the only risk associated with tick bites. Ticks can also carry other potentially serious diseases, such as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE),1 so it’s important to know how to help protect...

Living & Wellbeing

Health Disparities Among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are the fastest growing racial group in the U.S. According to the 2017 U.S. Census Bureau population estimate, Asian Americans account for 18.2 million (or 5.6%) of the nation's population. The U.S. Asian population represents people with roots to more than 30 countries, each with its own unique history, culture and language. Still, partly due to limitations of available research, many Asian American ethnic groups have not been represented in...