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A key to your baby’s asthma risk may be as close as your laundry room. Canadian research shows that an infant’s exposure to household cleaning products in the first few months of life is tied to heightened odds for asthma by age 3. Babies may be especially vulnerable because they “typically spend 80% to 90% of their time indoors, and are especially vulnerable to chemical exposures through the lungs and skin due to their higher respiration rates and regular contact with household surfaces,” according to study lead researcher Tim Takaro. He’s a physician-scientist in the faculty of health sciences at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. In their research, Takaro’s group examined questionnaires completed by parents of more than 2,000 children who were exposed to household cleaning products from birth up to 4 months of age. The children were assessed at 3 years of age for asthma, recurrent wheeze and “allergic sensitization.” The study couldn’t prove cause and effect, but the researchers reported that babies with the highest levels of exposure to cleaning products had a 37% rise in their risk of being diagnosed with asthma by 3 years of age. These babies also had a 35% higher risk of developing recurrent wheezing by the same age. The most common household cleaning products parents reported using were hand dishwashing soap, dishwasher detergent, multisurface cleaners,… read on >

Little ones who stay up late may have a higher risk of becoming overweight by the time they are school-age, a new study suggests. Researchers found that young children who routinely got to sleep after 9 p.m. tended to gain more body fat between the ages of 2 and 6. Compared with kids who had earlier bedtimes, they had bigger increases in both waist size and body mass index (BMI) — an estimate of body fat based on height and weight. The findings do not prove that later bedtimes cause excess weight gain, said Dr. Nicole Glaser, who wrote a commentary accompanying the study, which was published online Feb. 18 in Pediatrics. But the report adds to evidence linking sleep habits to kids’ weight, according to Glaser, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of California, Davis. Specifically, studies have found higher rates of obesity among kids who either get too little sleep or have trouble falling or staying asleep. “At this point, I think it’s clear that there is a relationship between [sleep quality and obesity risk],” Glaser said. “The big question is whether the relationship is a causal one.” Dr. Claude Marcus, senior researcher on the study, agreed. “The causality is difficult to establish,” he said. Kids’ sleep habits do not exist in a vacuum, and it’s possible that other factors cause both late… read on >

New details on nearly 45,000 cases of COVID-19 coronavirus in China show that 80% of cases are mild and the number of new cases has been declining for most of February. The report, released Monday by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, offer some hope that the outbreak might be abating, the Associated Press reported. Still, “it’s too early to tell if this reported decline will continue. Every scenario is still on the table,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director of the World Health Organization, said during a media briefing Monday. Among the cases studied in the Chinese report, 14% developed pneumonia and 5% developed critical illness. The fatality rate has been 2.3% — 2.8% for males and 1.7% for females. Health care workers have high exposures to COVID-19, and the AP reported that another Chinese doctor on the front lines of fighting the virus has died Tuesday from complications tied to the illness. Liu Zhiming directed the Wuchang hospital in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. The 51-year-old is the eighth health care worker to die of the disease, the Washington Post noted. On Tuesday, the case count in mainland China reached 72,436, while the number of deaths hit 1,868, the AP reported. Outside China, 14 of the more than 300 U.S. passengers evacuated from a cruise ship hit by the coronavirus outbreak tested… read on >

MONDAY, Feb. 17, 2020 (American Heart Association News) — Bleeding strokes are the deadliest type of stroke and the hardest to treat. What might make matters worse is having both diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease versus either condition alone, new research shows. The study looked at 2,071 adults in the Kentucky Appalachian Stroke Registry who had a hemorrhagic stroke. The researchers reviewed each patient’s health records to look for a previous diagnosis of diabetes or Alzheimer’s disease. They found 75% of those with both conditions had died or needed hospice or long-term care after their stroke compared to 39% with neither condition, 42% with diabetes alone, and 62% with Alzheimer’s disease alone. This stroke registry gave us “the opportunity to think about how having more than one (health condition), like diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease, could influence outcomes compared to having just one,” said the study’s lead researcher Amanda L. Trout, a scientist at the Center for Advanced Translational Stroke Science at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Trout will present the preliminary study Wednesday at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles. Diabetes occurs when a person’s blood sugar is too high. The condition increases risk for stroke, heart disease and other health problems. Likewise, previous studies suggest stroke risk is higher for people with Alzheimer’s disease, a brain disorder that slowly erases… read on >

Fourteen of the more than 300 U.S. passengers evacuated from a cruise ship hit by the coronavirus outbreak have tested positive for infection during their flights home, U.S. health officials said Monday. The news comes from a joint statement from the Departments of State and Health and Human Services, CNN reported. The 14 passengers aboard the Diamond Princess, docked in Yokohama, Japan, tested positive for the new COVID-19 virus during the disembarkation process, officials said. They were part of an evacuation process involving two flights back to military bases in the United States. “After consultation with HHS officials, including experts from the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, the State Department made the decision to allow the 14 individuals, who were in isolation, separated from other passengers, and continued to be asymptomatic, to remain on the aircraft to complete the evacuation process,” the agencies said in the news release. One of the flights landed at Travis Air Force Base near Fairfield, California, around 11:28 p.m. local time Sunday, while the other arrived at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, Texas at 3:56 a.m. local time Monday, CNN reported. All of the passengers aboard the two flights are being closely monitored, the government statement said, and “any who become symptomatic will be moved to the specialized containment area, where they will… read on >

Going solo when trying to quit smoking isn’t enough, one lung health expert says. “Smokers develop a physiological dependence on nicotine, and they need more than willpower to quit,” said Dr. Danish Ahmad, a pulmonologist with Penn State Health’s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The American Cancer Society says that smokers typically try quitting eight to 10 times before succeeding. That may sound daunting, but there’s good news. According to Diane Schmeck, a certified tobacco treatment specialist at Penn State Health, “The more times people try to quit, the more successful they might be the next time.” Though about 70% of smokers know they want to quit, particularly to avoid lung cancer and cardiovascular disease, there are many lesser known health risks. Smoking can cause cancer of the esophagus, pancreas and stomach, as well as breathing issues that can lead to emphysema. “Smoking affects your small blood vessels, which can mean poor circulation in the arms or legs, or a greater risk of erectile dysfunction in males,” Schmeck said in a Penn State Health news release. But if you quit, benefits can be seen immediately, Ahmad said. “Within 20 minutes, a smoker’s heart rate and blood pressure improves, and within 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level drops,” he said. Smokers have the highest likelihood of quitting through programs integrating one-on-one counseling, group support and medication,… read on >

Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to shower your loved one with gifts, but some may do more harm than good. “If you want to impress your beloved this year, take a pass on gifts that cause sneezing and wheezing,” said allergist Dr. J. Allen Meadows, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). “Once you have an understanding of your valentine’s allergy and asthma triggers, you can search for gifts that express your love while keeping them healthy. That will make everyone’s heart go pit-a-pat,” he said in an ACAAI news release. Here are five valentines the college suggests you avoid: Sweets or snacks with mystery ingredients: Common food allergens are eggs, milk, nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy and sesame. Before you buy those chocolates or exotic pastries, be sure the ingredients are OK. Romantic evenings by the fireplace: Smoke can trigger allergy symptoms for those with asthma. Try setting the romantic mood with LED candles. Heavy perfume or cologne: An overpowering scent can send your lover into a symptomatic frenzy. Rethink a gift of perfume if your valentine doesn’t wear scents — it’s probably for a reason. Flowers that cause sneezing: Avoid bouquets with daisies, goldenrod, sunflowers and chamomile. Roses are a safe bet for anyone who is allergic to pollen. Dust, mold and grime: Clean your home to get… read on >

U.S. soldiers who suffer a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) are more likely to suffer other mental health woes than those with other serious injuries, a new study finds. It also showed that the rate of mental health disorders among seriously injured soldiers is much higher than previously reported. “A central takeaway is that severe TBI is associated with a greater risk of mental health conditions — not just PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder],” said lead investigator David Chin, an assistant professor of health policy and management at University of Massachusetts Amherst. “Our findings suggest that patients who are critically injured in combat and sustain severe TBIs have particularly high rates of mental health disorders,” Chin said in a university news release. He and his colleagues analyzed the records of nearly 5,000 U.S. military members — mostly from the Army or Marines — who were severely injured during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2002 and 2011. Nearly a third suffered moderate or severe TBIs. Overall, 71% of the severely injured soldiers in the study were later diagnosed with at least one of five mental health conditions: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and mood disorders, adjustment reactions, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, and cognitive disorders. While previous research concluded that far fewer (42%) seriously injured combat soldiers were later diagnosed with mental health disorders,… read on >

You need to work on your relationship with your significant other all year round, not just on Valentine’s Day, a relationship expert advises. There are five key things you can do to keep your relationship healthy, according to Frank Provenzano, an instructor in psychology and a clinical psychologist at Furman University, in Greenville, S.C. Share one new thing with your partner every day. It can be something big or small, Provenzano said in a university news release. But you should “let that person know you. And show a desire to know them.” For every negative thing you say to your partner, say five positive things. “And they should be genuine” positive comments — not you’re loyal, thrifty and kind, he said. “They need to be reflective of the individual. If you can do 10-to-one, even better… When that five-to-one ratio begins to disappear, you’re bordering on contempt and moving into rough seas.” Make rules, but update them when necessary. Whether the rules are about things such as who does which household chores, or how to work together to accommodate each other’s needs, the rules should change to adapt to new circumstances as the relationship changes. Set expectations. “The reason for the rules is to set appropriate expectations. So as the relationship unfolds, nobody is surprised,” Provenzano said. “People have to understand it’s never going to… read on >

Could hot chocolate deliver relief to those suffering from the painful condition known as peripheral artery disease (PAD)? A small, new study says it’s entirely possible. Though you may be picturing a steaming cup of hot milk chocolate with tiny marshmallows bobbing on the top, the concoction the study volunteers drank was made from dark chocolate, and had a less sweet taste. “A food-derived, nutritional therapy that is accessible, inexpensive and safe may meaningfully improve walking ability in people with peripheral artery disease,” said study author Dr. Mary McDermott. She’s a professor in the departments of medicine and preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in Chicago. “Peripheral artery disease is common and underdiagnosed,” she said, adding that it’s a major cause of disability in people over 55. PAD causes narrowing in the blood vessels that supply blood to the legs from the heart. Common symptoms include pain, particularly when walking, cramping and weakness in the leg muscles. McDermott noted that “these findings are particularly important because currently few therapies have been identified to help patients with PAD.” However, the study was a preliminary effort and only 44 people were enrolled, so further research is needed to confirm these findings, she said. The study was published Feb. 14 in the journal Circulation Research. Funding for the research was provided by the U.S. National… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Babies’ Exposure to Household Cleaning Products Tied to Later Asthma Risk

Late Bedtimes in Preschool Years Could Bring Weight Gain

Chinese Report Says Lion’s Share of Coronavirus Cases Are Mild

AHA News: Diabetes, Alzheimer’s Together Might Increase Stroke Severity

14 Americans From Cruise Ship Hit By Coronavirus Test Positive for Infection

Don’t Try to Kick the Smoking Habit Alone

5 Secrets to an Allergy-Free Valentine’s Day

Traumatic Brain Injuries Raise Risk of Psychiatric Ills in Soldiers

Shower Your Valentine With Love All Year Long

Hot Chocolate Could Help Ease Painful Clogged Leg Vessels