Stroke

This historic acquisition reduces barriers that prevent people from taking control of their lifelong health. Full Body MRI scan now takes just 22 minutes instead of 60 minutes, costs $499 instead of over $1,500 NEW YORK, May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Function Health has acquired Ezra and is launching a Full Body MRI with an FDA-cleared AI that cuts scan time from 60 minutes to 22 minutes, and $1500 to $499. This dramatic reduction in both time and cost makes annual scanning possible, creating a more comprehensive 360-degree view inside your body. By combining Function's extensive lab testing foundation with Ezra's FDA-cleared AI-powered imaging, they've integrated these two approaches into one seamless platform designed to keep you healthy for life. Function and Ezra together represent the exact data needed to create the new standard of care. By merging Function's extensive lab testing with Ezra's imaging, they're creating a dataset that will allow AI to become truly predictive—potentially identifying health issues before they occur. "I wish I could see millions of patients," says Mark Hyman, MD, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Function Health. "This is the most powerful approach I've seen in my entire career—and for the first time, it can truly scale to millions. It's the new standard of care—if you're reading this: get your labs, get your scan, every year. It could save and radically improve your life." The new 22-minute Full Body MRI is designed to help detect cancer early—often prior to any symptoms. Beyond cancer, the scan can also reveal hidden issues you otherwise might not know about, like silent strokes that could lead to cognitive decline and developing aneurysms before they rupture. Additional scans now being offered by Function look for spinal issues affecting mobility, early-stage fatty liver disease, and body composition details more precise than what DEXA scans provide. "Adding imaging was part of our vision from day one," says Jonathan Swerdlin, co-founder and CEO of Function Health. "Our brilliant team first focused on making comprehensive lab testing affordable and widely available. Now with Ezra becoming a part of Function, we complete the picture. It's time everyone owns their health, every year. This is the best use of AI—applying it directly to human life." Before AI, annual full body scans were simply not possible at scale. The prohibitive cost and lengthy scan times meant they could only be done as one-off procedures for a select few. AI has fundamentally changed this equation. For half the scan time and a third of the price, scanning every year is now practical and affordable. "A single health snapshot is like one frame from a movie—you miss the story," says Dan Sodickson, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Advisor of Ezra. "Finally, reducing the cost and scan time of full body MRI unlocks the ability to capture an annual imaging baseline. This longitudinal dataset reveals subtle changes over time that catch immediate issues and can predict disease before symptoms even appear. This fundamentally transforms medicine." By making advanced MRI technology more affordable and accessible, Function is establishing a new standard of health. The integration creates a more complete view of individuals' health, combining detailed lab testing with advanced medical imaging in a single, cohesive platform, at an affordable price. "I started Ezra with a clear mission: to detect cancer early for everyone in the world," says Emi Gal, founder of Ezra. "This mission is deeply personal for me—if my mother had detected cancer early, she would still be alive today. Over the past six years my team and I have helped countless people find cancer, many of whom are now cancer free. We are now scaling this to millions together with Function." Scans are now immediately available for every Function member at nearly 100 locations across the US, with plans to expand to over 1,000 locations in the coming months. Function's lab testing platform is already available at all 2,200 Quest Diagnostics locations nationwide. AI is revolutionizing healthcare beyond language models. Ezra's FDA-cleared AI technology cuts scan time from 60 minutes to 22 minutes, while Function's nationwide platform makes these scans accessible to members across the country. This transforms yesterday's luxury into today's essential—Full Body MRI scans at $499 instead of $1,500. For more information on Function, visit . About Function Health Function Health is a personal health platform that pioneered accessible annual lab testing with over 160 tests at 2,000+ locations nationwide, serving hundreds of thousands of members. The platform tracks all results over time and provides clear clinical explanations alongside actionable insights based on comprehensive medical research. About Ezra Ezra developed FDA-cleared AI technology that makes full body MRI scanning faster and more affordable. The company's technology helps visualize early signs of potential cancer and other health conditions before symptoms appear. SOURCE Function Health WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

MISSION, Kan., May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- (Family Features) Most people think of heart attacks as debilitating pain in the chest. However, that's not always the case, especially for women, and missing the signs can be a matter of life and death. Although heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women, according to the American Heart Association, symptoms are often overlooked or explained away as less worrisome conditions. Continue Reading Photo courtesy of Shutterstock "Men and women experience many aspects of life differently, and heart disease is no exception," said LeAnne Bloedon, MS, RD, vice president of clinical development, Esperion Therapeutics. "Symptoms of a heart attack aren't as obvious as many women think, and failing to recognize the danger and get help can have catastrophic results." One heart disease risk factor, for example, is high LDL cholesterol. Often referred to as a "silent killer," it doesn't always present noticeable symptoms. In fact, data suggests women with high LDL cholesterol are not diagnosed or treated as early or aggressively as men, which can put women at an increased risk for cardiovascular events. Understanding how men's and women's risk and symptoms differ may help identify and treat a serious heart health problem before it causes lasting damage. Anatomy Differences Some differences between men and women are present in the body's internal systems, including the cardiovascular system. Women generally have smaller hearts and narrower blood vessels. This can affect heart health in numerous ways, including less efficient stress responses and greater risk of widespread plaque buildup, especially in smaller vessels, called microvasculature, which can pose treatment challenges. Cholesterol Buildup Hormones influence aspects of the body's function, including cholesterol levels. Estrogen, a female sex hormone, raises HDL (good) cholesterol levels. This may be why women tend to have more HDL cholesterol and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol than men, especially before they reach menopause, though inherited high cholesterol can affect women of all ages. "It's critical to raise awareness about the importance of measuring LDL cholesterol, diagnosing high cholesterol and treating elevated LDL cholesterol per guidelines and individual patient needs," Bloedon said. Risk Factors While there are shared risk factors for heart disease among men and women (such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes), some risk factors disproportionately affect women. For example, uncontrolled cholesterol in women, particularly after menopause, can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Care and Treatment "While you may not be able to fully prevent heart disease, you can understand the risks and take proactive steps," Bloedon said. "Commit to a healthy, smoke-free lifestyle. Exercise regularly and eat a well-balanced diet with limits on processed foods, sugar, sodium and alcohol. Take any medications as directed by your health care provider." Statins, which reduce the production of cholesterol in the liver and lower cholesterol levels in the bloodstream, are the medications most often prescribed to help manage high LDL cholesterol. While generally well-tolerated, statin intolerance (the inability to take a statin at any dose or the recommended dose) does occur in some patients and is more common in women. Talk with your doctor about other steps you can take to manage elevated LDL cholesterol levels and learn more about women's heart health at goredforwomen.org. Symptoms of Heart Attacks in Women Women's experiences with heart disease may be quite different from men. For example, according to the Heart Disease Foundation, women are likely to be older when they experience a heart attack. They may also attribute symptoms to other conditions, such as diabetes or arthritis. Further complicating matters, several diseases mimic heart attacks so getting to the root of the problem can be tricky. Women are more apt than men to experience a coronary spasm, coronary dissection or broken heart syndrome. What to Watch For: Like men, women experiencing a heart attack may notice prolonged or reoccurring chest pain or pressure. In women, that pain may extend to the arms, back, neck, jaw and stomach. Some women experience shortness of breath with no chest pain at all. Other symptoms women are more likely to report can be easily mistaken for other conditions. Some of these signs include unexplained fatigue, disruptions to normal sleep patterns, lightheadedness, nausea and cold sweats. Michael French [email protected] 1-888-824-3337 editors.familyfeatures.com About Family Features Editorial Syndicate A leading source for high-quality food, lifestyle and home and garden content, Family Features provides readers with topically and seasonally relevant tips, takeaways, information, recipes, videos, infographics and more. Find additional articles and information at Culinary.net and eLivingToday.com. SOURCE Family Features Editorial Syndicate WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cottage Health has partnered with Clearway Health, a specialty pharmacy services company, to develop a specialty pharmacy program that enhances patient access to medications with concierge-level service at a lower cost. This collaboration brings personalized pharmacy support to Cottage Health's specialty outpatient clinics, enhancing patient access to medications. Continue Reading Cottage Health partners with Clearway Health to develop a specialty pharmacy program, enhancing access to medications. Post this “Integrating pharmacy services directly into our clinics allows us to address the unique challenges patients face with specialty medications,” said Lisa Moore, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Cottage Health. “This ensures our patients receive the therapies they need while reducing barriers and improving outcomes.” The program is designed to simplify the prescription process by assisting with insurance approvals, financial assistance, medication delivery, and ongoing support, making it easier for patients to manage their treatment without delays or added stress. As part of the partnership, pharmacists and patient liaisons are integrated directly within Cottage Health's specialty clinics, working closely with patients to navigate insurance coverage, secure financial assistance and manage prior authorizations—alleviating administrative burdens for both patients and providers. "Integrating pharmacy services directly into our clinics allows us to address the unique challenges patients face with specialty medications," said Lisa Moore, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Cottage Health. "This ensures our patients receive the therapies they need while reducing barriers and improving outcomes." The program has already launched at the Cottage Cystic Fibrosis Clinic and pediatric clinics, where patient liaisons are assisting patients with accessing both specialty and non-specialty medications. Specialty medications typically require special handling, administration and monitoring and are used to treat chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, cancer and inflammatory conditions. "Clearway Health is pleased to work alongside Cottage Health to provide their patients and community with transformative specialty pharmacy services," said Allison Arant, senior vice president, client development and marketing, Clearway Health. "Cottage Health's patient-first approach and commitment to helping patients get back to living their lives directly coincides with our ability to improve access to care and manage the complex medical needs of patients. Every patient deserves the care we provide. We celebrate and congratulate Cottage Health for choosing to build this program and offer specialty pharmacy services to their patients." Future plans include expanding specialty pharmacy services to other Cottage Health clinics and opening an outpatient retail and specialty pharmacy, further enhancing medication access and convenience for patients. About Clearway Health Clearway Health's specialty pharmacy services create sustainable assets and build lasting legacies for hospitals and health systems, providing a service that every patient deserves. Our team began at Boston Medical Center Health System, improving access to care and managing the complex medication needs of vulnerable patient populations. Equipped with this unique experience to solve challenges, Clearway Health partners with other hospitals and health systems to provide transformative specialty pharmacy services that put patients first. Our strategic partnerships build and strengthen the infrastructure for specialty pharmacy programs through improving operational workflows, implementing clinical programs, hiring and embedding skilled pharmacists and patient liaisons into the clinical team, providing proprietary software technology, unlocking drug access and leading accreditation processes. Clearway Health delivers a clinically driven service that eliminates barriers to medication access, improves the health of patients and communities, grows revenue at healthy margins for health systems and reduces costs for patients. To learn more, visit . About Cottage Health | CottageHealth.org Cottage Health is a not-for-profit health system providing advanced medical care on California's Central Coast. In the past year, its hospitals in Goleta, Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez Valley cared for 20,733 inpatient admissions, 91,649 emergency department visits and 2,005 newborn deliveries. With more than 700 physicians, including specialists typically found only at university medical centers, Cottage offers expert, comprehensive care. As a teaching institution, it trains physicians through residency programs in medical, surgical, pediatric and radiology specialties. Cottage Health is home to the Central Coast's only Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center and an advanced comprehensive stroke center. Its specialty services include Cottage Children's Medical Center, Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital, the Santa Barbara Neuroscience Institute, Cottage Heart & Vascular Center and Cottage Center for Orthopedics. Beyond its hospitals, Cottage expands care through primary and specialty clinics, urgent care centers and 24/7 provider access via Cottage Virtual Care. 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