CineMedics: Keeping the World Working

By Traci Sanders

Film production was brought to a halt for many months during 2020 due to Covid. Even when production resumed, actors and film crew were required to wear masks on set and have frequent Covid tests with proof of negative results before returning to set, which caused delays in filming and inconvenienced everyone involved.

Heather Drake Bianchi created a solution for this problem. A Syracuse, New York native, Heather obtained a bachelor’s in Biomedical Sciences in 2009 and two master’s degrees – one in Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, the other in Forensic Science. Heather worked in critical care medicine in the US for sixteen years and outside of the country for five years. She served as a paramedic for National Geographic and various other organizations, as well as assisting in search and rescue efforts within Hurricanes Katrina, Irene, and Sandy.

As Covid began to cross over into the US, Heather recognized the need to keep people working and began to research ways to provide rapid, on-site testing for employees, especially those in the entertainment industry. CineMedics was launched in Syracuse, New York in 2020. This mobile testing site provided Covid screening, testing, and compliance quickly and effectively.

Heather was able to adapt her business model to accommodate numerous shifts in rules by multiple production heads, film unions, and federal agencies and keep production going for even well-known company events such as CNN’s Life Itself conference, Netflix’s Don’t Look Up production, and Hulu’s Big Time Adolescence production.

The company has grown rapidly since 2020. CineMedics is now part of Drake Bianchi’s medical services company, Drakos Clinical Laboratories. Drakos has multiple national and international testing sites, including one in Georgia in Peachtree Corners.

With these mobile facilities, Drakos is able to deliver results for film productions, large events, senior living communities, in-office executive medicine, or at-home testing in an hour or less. This results in reduced testing expenses and more accessible services for the public. In the film industry, this means fewer production delays and crew members no longer have to leave the set to obtain testing, thanks to the mobile lab setup.

Molly Dunegan, a leading scientist at Drakos’s Atlanta lab, shared, “We fit into your mold. You don’t need to fit into ours. We can build a lab almost anywhere and bring our mobile lab to you.”

Drakos provides mobile

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Health Matters

Continued from page 8 consume these vital nutrients can be the cause of metabolic syndromes, hair loss, increased appetites, and severe cravings. Over-the-counter and prescription medications can be instrumental in creating a decline in essential nutrient absorption and/or assimilation in the body. Due to the unprecedented rise of autoimmune disorders, it is known that improper vitamin levels can cause fatigue, pain, mental clarity, and sleep disturbances.

This dilemma of nutritional deficits cannot be resolved by taking a general multivitamin from your local drug store. At Dr. Chris’ Natural Remedies our whole food solutions are tested to be as bioavailable and efficacious as possible.

In addition to nutrition, I focus on cellular detoxification. Cellular detoxification is the process by which harmful toxins and excess metabolites are removed on a cellular level. When cells undergo detoxification, energy, metabolism and inflammation are all improved. This is key to any wellness regime, and is a weight management solution because it ensures that all cells are maximizing function and output. The results of this process are increased cognitive function, energy, diminished water retention, improved digestion, and elimination of waste from the body.

To facilitate wellness, I implore Traditional Naturopathic techniques, including muscle testing. I measure the energetic response to stressors and utilize Iridology assessment, zinc test, iodine test, urine analysis, food/lifestyle analysis, and nitric oxide tests. It is my passion to restore health so that my patients are able to live out their own passions and purposes.

Dr. LaRonda Ward practices at Dr. Chris’ Natural Remedies in Snellville. More information at drchrisnaturalremedies.com

Heart Matters: February is American Heart Month

By Tana Poncsak

Did you know that in the U.S. someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds? In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 805,000 people in the U.S. have a heart attack each year, and of those, 605,000 are first time heart attacks. February is heart month to bring awareness to heart health and what you can do to stay healthy and hopefully not become another statistic.

With the collapse of the Buffalo Bills football player, Damar Hamlin, and the death of Lisa Marie Presley, both due to cardiac arrest, heart health is on the minds of many these days.

First, there’s a difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack. The American Heart Association differentiates the two indicating that a heart attack occurs when blood flow is blocked from the heart. Cardiac arrest is when the heart malfunctions and an irregular heartbeat can occur.

If you suspect someone is having a heart attack or cardiac arrest, the American Heart Association says to call 911 or your local emergency number. In the case of cardiac arrest, administering Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), now available in many public venues, can be a lifesaving measure.

Heart disease doesn’t just affect older adults. The CDC reports that one in five adults who died of cardiovascular disease in 2019 were under the age of 65. It’s important to know your risks. The CDC cites high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and smoking can all contribute to cardiovascular disease. Other factors such as obesity and diabetes can contribute as well.

In addition, the CDC reports that choosing a healthy lifestyle by eating healthy foods, regular physical activity, not smoking, staying on top of conditions such as high blood pressure, and seeing your physician for regular screenings are all measures you can take to help lower your risk for heart disease.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has a number of resources and events available throughout the month of February to educate and bring awareness to the importance of heart health. So, learn more about heart health and keep your ticker happy.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice. For medical advice, please seek the advice of a licensed medical practitioner.

Travel Tales: Patagonia on My Mind

By Pam Walker

Have you ever thought about going to Patagonia in the winter? No, not the Patagonia clothing factory. I am referring to the Argentinian and Chilean Patagonia. The popular months to travel there are in the South American summer months of December through March. But this year I decided to try winter!

Our summer is not the best time to go as some hotels are closed, but those that are open offer a spectacular experience of the high Andes and the flora and fauna of that season. In winter, you can catch a glimpse of the eluxive Patagonian pumas, numerous alpacas, and guanacos, as well as many of the smaller animals such as the huemul, the smallest deer in South America.

There is an amazing group of hotels that do stay open all year round due to their popularity. The Explora group has wonderful properties in Argentina near El Chalten and also in Chile in Torres del Paine National Park and the recently formed Patagonia National Park, which was donated to the government of Chile by the late Douglas Thompkins and his wife Kristine.

Tompkins Conservation is still alive and well, and Kris maintains a wonderful museum in the park, which is probably one of the best in the world with displays on our planet and the changes and challenges that humanity is responsible for. Aside from the many amazing hikes and a visit to this particular Explora, it is well worth going just to visit the museum. It is also wonderful to see the huge herd of guanacos that inhabit the area as they challenge each other for mating rights as well