Latest news with #CVD
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
We need to take the cost and complexity out of going electric to supercharge EVs
Much of the national conversation around the clean energy and net zero transition has become dominated by cost. The same is true for households. I know this because the business I lead, Pod, has been serving the electric vehicle (EV) community for more than 15 years. While more drivers are making the switch to electric, we cannot be complacent. Pod supports the Standard's Leading the Charge campaign, which backs incentives like the Cleaner Vehicle Discount (CVD), exempting EVs from the congestion charge in London. We believe that initiatives that support drivers to make the switch are crucial and we would certainly welcome the extension of CVD beyond 2025. If we truly want to supercharge switching, both the industry and the government have to be on the side of drivers. We need policies to incentivise and reward the right behaviours, but we also need to introduce propositions that take the cost and complexity out of going electric. How we charge, when and at what cost are big questions facing would-be switchers. As the UK's largest charging network, with over 250,000 customers, we know that more than anything, people want to manage their costs, which are only getting higher in an ongoing cost of living crisis. Greener options need to be simple and affordable, rather than another thing for people to worry about. For many, the increase in their home electricity bills can be a concern when making the move to an EV. Plus, they worry about the cost and reliability of being able to charge when they're away from home. Solutions are emerging to help with such cost challenges and anxieties, however. Vehicles typically spend 96% of the time stationary. That's why in most instances, EV charging at long-dwell locations, such as at home, is key to making life with an EV affordable, tapping into cheaper rates when there's less demand on the electricity grid, for example. Furthermore, new options such as subscription models are key to more of us embracing EVs in a cost-effective way. It's why last month we disrupted the market with the launch of a new subscription offering that removes significant upfront costs of around £1,000 to install a home charger. Not only does a subscription spread the initial cost outlay, but included in our offering is cashback to cover the costs of up to 7,500 miles of charging - that's the average mileage UK drivers cover each year - helping to offset the increase to home electricity bills. Public charging is another key part of the jigsaw, and we need to do more to sync experiences between home and public charging so that it's simple for people to charge depending on their lifestyles and routines. Pod has partnered with Tesco to allow Clubcard members to collect points when they top-up their electric car on a visit to the supermarket. It's another way to charge more affordably, providing more ongoing incentives to make the switch. We are working on more partnerships with major retailers and brands to help unlock the next wave of EV adoption. We should not forget that going electric enables drivers to do their bit for sustainability, one of the fundamental benefits of green mobility. We power more than 5 million electric miles a day and to date have helped drivers save over 45,500 tonnes of CO2. By flexing EV charging in a way that helps the grid balance the increasing demands on it, we also contribute to energy security and can continue to keep costs low. Exemptions from costs like the CVD provides will always matter. But they need to be accompanied by lower cost solutions for everyday electrification needs. A much wider range of help and support will be necessary to help households go electric at scale and keep the grid stable. Melanie Lane is CEO of Pod, one of the UK's leading electric vehicle charging providers
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
We need to take the cost and complexity out of going electric to supercharge EVs
Much of the national conversation around the clean energy and net zero transition has become dominated by cost. The same is true for households. I know this because the business I lead, Pod, has been serving the electric vehicle (EV) community for more than 15 years. While more drivers are making the switch to electric, we cannot be complacent. Pod supports the Standard's Leading the Charge campaign, which backs incentives like the Cleaner Vehicle Discount (CVD), exempting EVs from the congestion charge in London. We believe that initiatives that support drivers to make the switch are crucial and we would certainly welcome the extension of CVD beyond 2025. If we truly want to supercharge switching, both the industry and the government have to be on the side of drivers. We need policies to incentivise and reward the right behaviours, but we also need to introduce propositions that take the cost and complexity out of going electric. How we charge, when and at what cost are big questions facing would-be switchers. As the UK's largest charging network, with over 250,000 customers, we know that more than anything, people want to manage their costs, which are only getting higher in an ongoing cost of living crisis. Greener options need to be simple and affordable, rather than another thing for people to worry about. For many, the increase in their home electricity bills can be a concern when making the move to an EV. Plus, they worry about the cost and reliability of being able to charge when they're away from home. Solutions are emerging to help with such cost challenges and anxieties, however. Vehicles typically spend 96% of the time stationary. That's why in most instances, EV charging at long-dwell locations, such as at home, is key to making life with an EV affordable, tapping into cheaper rates when there's less demand on the electricity grid, for example. Furthermore, new options such as subscription models are key to more of us embracing EVs in a cost-effective way. It's why last month we disrupted the market with the launch of a new subscription offering that removes significant upfront costs of around £1,000 to install a home charger. Not only does a subscription spread the initial cost outlay, but included in our offering is cashback to cover the costs of up to 7,500 miles of charging - that's the average mileage UK drivers cover each year - helping to offset the increase to home electricity bills. Public charging is another key part of the jigsaw, and we need to do more to sync experiences between home and public charging so that it's simple for people to charge depending on their lifestyles and routines. Pod has partnered with Tesco to allow Clubcard members to collect points when they top-up their electric car on a visit to the supermarket. It's another way to charge more affordably, providing more ongoing incentives to make the switch. We are working on more partnerships with major retailers and brands to help unlock the next wave of EV adoption. We should not forget that going electric enables drivers to do their bit for sustainability, one of the fundamental benefits of green mobility. We power more than 5 million electric miles a day and to date have helped drivers save over 45,500 tonnes of CO2. By flexing EV charging in a way that helps the grid balance the increasing demands on it, we also contribute to energy security and can continue to keep costs low. Exemptions from costs like the CVD provides will always matter. But they need to be accompanied by lower cost solutions for everyday electrification needs. A much wider range of help and support will be necessary to help households go electric at scale and keep the grid stable. Melanie Lane is CEO of Pod, one of the UK's leading electric vehicle charging providers
Medscape
4 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
2 New Studies Show CVD Benefit of Portfolio Diet
Two new Canadian studies suggest that the plant-based Portfolio Diet, which features cholesterol-lowering food choices, can reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality across diverse groups. The diet previously had been evaluated mostly among older, White participants. The first study found an association between the diet, which was developed in 2003 by David J.A. Jenkins, MD, PhD, DSc, a researcher at the University of Toronto, Toronto, and a lower risk for CVD mortality and all-cause mortality. It was published last month in BMC Medicine . Researchers analyzed data of 14,835 US adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994) and found that adhering to the Portfolio Diet was associated with a significant reduction in the risk for death from CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), and all causes. Points for Foods Participants' diets were evaluated by 24-hour dietary recall and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) at baseline using the Portfolio Diet Score (PDS). Patients were assigned positive points for the four focus groups of the diet: Nuts, plant protein (eg, beans or tofu), viscous fiber (eg, apples, oatmeal, and eggplant), and phytosterols and plant monounsaturated fatty acid sources (eg, enriched margarine or oils). Patients received negative points for foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol. The primary outcome was CVD mortality. For all participants, an 8-point increase in PDS was associated with a 12% lower risk for CVD mortality. Other mortality outcomes included CHD, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Examining 22 years of follow-up, the researchers found that higher adherence to the diet was associated with lower risk factors, including blood lipids, glycemia, and inflammation. An increase in PDS of 8 points was associated with a 12% lower risk, 14% lower risk, and 12% lower risk for CVD, CHD, and all-cause mortality, respectively, after adjustments for known CVD risk factors. 'We know that it works,' study author Meaghan E. Kavanagh, PhD, of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine, told Medscape Medical News . It has been clear since early clinical trials that the diet can lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol substantially, she said. 'It's the same effect as a first-generation statin.' The current research is the next step, she explained, and the studies demonstrate that the diet can reduce people's risk for dying from these factors. They also broaden the diversity of the cohort. Younger, Diverse Group The focus of the related trial, which was published last month in BMC Public Health and written by many of the same researchers, 'was to look at [the diet] in a younger population to see if we could find associations with LDL cholesterol in such a healthy, young population. We're trying to show it works in all groups,' Kavanaugh said. The trial, led by Victoria Chen, a student at the University of Toronto, included 1507 ethnoculturally diverse people in their 20s using data from the Toronto Nutrigenomics and Health Study. In that study, diet was assessed by a validated Toronto-modified Harvard 196-item FFQ. Participants were instructed on how to complete the FFQ using visual aids of portion sizes. Adherence to the Portfolio Diet was measured using the PDS, and data analysis was adjusted for potential confounders. Researchers studied the association of the PDS with LDL and other established CV risk factors in young people. In this group, 'an 8-point higher PDS was associated with 3% lower LDL-C, the primary outcome,' the authors wrote. 'Our findings are also in agreement with cross-sectional analyses of other dietary patterns that share some similar components (legumes, whole grains, nuts, plant oils, fruits, and vegetables) to the Portfolio Diet, including the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and Mediterranean diets, which have been associated with more favorable lipid, blood pressure, and/or adiposity markers in young adults who are predominantly university students.' According to the study, 50% adherence to the Portfolio Diet beginning in young adulthood may delay increases in CVD risk later in life by about 6 years. Strict adherence could delay it by up to 13 years. 'This diet reinforces that patterns of eating are important over and above any one nutrient or food group,' said Jodi Heshka, MD, director of the Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy Clinic at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa. 'These new data show the Portfolio Diet also works in a variety of patients, ages, different backgrounds.' Heshka did not participate in the study. Low Adherence Beneficial Heshka, who recommends the diet to her patients, said another benefit is that even low adherence improves outcomes. 'You don't have to go crazy following the Portfolio Diet to a tee,' she pointed out. 'Simply by incorporating more of these foods and by default reducing other foods — even that alone can add benefit.' Michele Blanchet, RD, a registered dietitian with Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, told Medscape Medical News that she's been recommending the Portfolio Diet to patients since she started specializing in CV health 14 years ago. 'It's been the crux of me helping individuals lower cholesterol,' she said, but she also combines it with parts of the Mediterranean diet, particularly the visual representations of proportions of food groups. She said she was particularly glad to see the finding that the diet can reduce the risk even in young, healthy people. 'We're seeing in our cardiac rehab program younger and younger individuals coming in needing bypass surgeries, having heart attacks,' Blanchet said. To work with young adults to follow the diet, she takes a diet history and looks at where they can make small changes: Adding vegetables and legumes and sprinkling flaxseed on foods, for instance. 'By making small changes throughout the day, they can have this synergistic effect of lowering their cholesterol and seeing the heart health benefits of this diet,' she said. The study led by Kavanaugh was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The study led by Chen was funded by a Toronto 3D Research Fellowship Award, CIHR, and a University of Toronto fellowship. Kavanaugh, Chen, Heshka, and Blanchet reported having no relevant financial relationships.
Medscape
11-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
SLEEP 2025
Narcolepsy an Independent Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Narcolepsy is associated with an increased risk for CVD, independent of common comorbid conditions and medications used to treat the disorder, new research showed. Medscape Medical News , Jun 07, 2024 Narcolepsy an Independent Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Better Sleep Tied to Less Loneliness Good quality sleep may have a role in driving down rates of loneliness, especially among younger adults. Medscape Medical News , Jun 21, 2024 Better Sleep Tied to Less Loneliness Couples-Based Tx for Sleep Apnea Nurtures Happier Relationships Couples-based therapy called WePAP boosted treatment adherence for sleep apnea, leading to higher relationship satisfaction and lower levels of conflict, a study suggested. Medscape Medical News, xx-Date-Here-xx
Medscape
10-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
CVD Mortality Higher in Women With Inflammatory Diseases
Although cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality decreased significantly from 1999 to 2020 in both men and women with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), women consistently had higher rates of CVD-related mortality than men over the 22-year period. METHODOLOGY: Researchers analyzed CDC Multiple Cause of Death files from 1999 to 2020 to assess the sex differences in CVD-related mortality in patients with IMIDs. They identified CVD-related deaths with underlying IMIDs in the United States using diagnostic codes. IMIDs such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic sclerosis were analyzed. The analysis included 281,355 IMID-related deaths and 127,149 CVD-related deaths over a period of 22 years. Annual crude and adjusted death rates were estimated. TAKEAWAY: Age-adjusted CVD-related mortality for women with IMIDs declined from 3.3 per 100,000 in 1999 to 1.4 per 100,000 in 2020, whereas the rate in men with IMIDs declined from 2.3 to 1.1 per 100,000 ( P < .01). < .01). However, women had higher mortality than men throughout the study duration (mortality rate ratio, 1.5; P < .01). < .01). Cerebrovascular disease and ischemic heart disease were major causes of death, with women more affected than men; women experienced mortality from arrhythmia and cardiac arrest at more than twice the rate of men. Among patients with IMIDs, women with rheumatoid arthritis had disproportionately higher crude CVD-related mortality than men with rheumatoid arthritis. IN PRACTICE: 'Addressing these risks requires increasing awareness of atypical cardiovascular symptoms in females with IMIDs, enhancing early detection through advanced imaging, and ensuring equitable access to therapies like biologics,' the study authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Issam Motairek, MD, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland. It was published online on May 5, 2025, in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes . LIMITATIONS: The potential inaccuracies in the codes for identifying the cause of death may have misclassified IMIDs or CVD-related causes. The aggregate data structure prevented the analyses of individual-level factors such as severity of disease or treatments. Less common IMIDs were excluded, which may have underestimated their contribution to CVD. DISCLOSURES: This study received no specific funding. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.
