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The holiday season can give you real headaches, but you can take action to prevent them, an expert says. To reduce stress, make plans well in advance and know your limits, advised Dr. Bing Liao, a neurologist at Houston Methodist. “The nature of the holiday season already increases stress levels, so finding small ways to reduce schedule stress can help ward off a headache,” Liao said in a hospital news release. “This can mean planning well in advance to avoid the hassle of making last minute travel plans, or deciding not to attend a party at the end of a long day.” Be sure you have an adequate supply or a refill of your prescription medications before the holidays, she advised. Missing doses or cutting back could trigger a headache or even serious side effects. “Don’t binge anything during the holidays — food, alcohol, or television,” Liao said. “We all know how a hangover can affect the brain, but most don’t realize that overeating can also trigger a headache. And having the next day off from work doesn’t mean you should stay up late watching holiday movies. The brain needs the same amount of sleep during the holidays as it does the rest of the year, so stick with your usual bedtime.” Running holiday errands can lead to skipped meals and dehydration, which can trigger… read on >

Fear of deportation doubles the risk of high blood pressure in Mexican-born women in farmworker families who live in California’s Salinas Valley, a new study claims. It included 572 women, average age 39, who in 2012-2014 were asked to rate their level of worry about deportation for themselves or others as low (28%); moderate (24%); or high (48%). Researchers linked worry to larger increases in systolic pressure. (Systolic pressure, the top number in a blood pressure reading, measures the force of blood against the arteries when heart beats.) But rates of high blood pressure were not significantly different among women with different levels of worry. In follow-ups conducted in 2014-2016 and 2016-2018, women who were more worried about deportation had a larger initial increase in systolic blood pressure and average arterial pressure, the study found. Among the 408 women without high blood pressure at the outset, those with moderate or high levels of worry were twice as likely as others to be diagnosed with high blood pressure. The study was published Nov. 27 in the Journal of the American Heart Association. “Our findings suggest that concerns around immigration policies and enforcement may have potentially negative impacts on the long-term cardiovascular health of immigrants and their families and community,” lead author Jacqueline Torres said in a journal news release. She’s an assistant professor of epidemiology and… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Figuring out which nutrition and exercise information is trustworthy may be difficult, says the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The agency debunks these common misconceptions: Bread, pasta and rice are not necessarily fattening. Try to eat whole grains to feel fuller. You do not have to avoid all fats if you’re trying to lose weight. Go for foods with healthy fats, such as avocados and nuts. Dairy products may not be unhealthy. Adults should have three servings a day of low-fat dairy products. Physical activity does not have to be for long periods. You can perform short spurts of activity during the week. Lifting weights will not always make you look “too bulky.” Only intense strength training will build large muscles.

Even a little exposure to the fine particles of air pollution can translate into higher hospitalization rates for a number of common conditions among older Americans, a new study suggests. “The study shows that the health dangers and economic impacts of air pollution are significantly larger than previously understood,” said study author Yaguang Wei, a doctoral candidate at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in Boston. For the study, researchers analyzed data on more than 95 million inpatient hospital claims for Medicare beneficiaries, aged 65 and older, from 2000 to 2012. They also assessed levels of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) in the patients’ ZIP codes. Sources of PM2.5 include motor vehicles, coal-fired power plants and wildfires. Short-term exposure to PM2.5 was linked with hospitalizations for common conditions such as septicemia (serious bloodstream infection), fluid and electrolyte disorders, kidney failure, urinary tract infections, and skin and tissue infections. The researchers also confirmed previously identified associations between short-term PM2.5 exposure and hospitalization for a number of other conditions, including heart and lung diseases, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes. Each 1 µg/m3 increase in short-term exposure to PM2.5 was associated with an annual increase of nearly 5,700 hospitalizations, over 32,000 days in the hospital, and 634 deaths. That resulted in $100 million in inpatient and post-acute care costs, and $6.5 billion in “value of statistical life,”… read on >

Asthma or allergies can put a damper on holiday gatherings. But there are ways you can stay healthy, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says. “Everyone wants this time of year to be picture-perfect. But when there are runny noses, itchy eyes and sneezing involved, the picture is less than ideal. There are steps you can take to make your celebrations more fun and joy-filled for the whole family,” said Dr. Janna Tuck, a college spokesperson. Among Tuck’s suggestions: Sample holiday treats with caution because they may contain an ingredient that causes an allergic reaction. If you’re going to parties, let the hosts know what foods you need to avoid, and bring some dishes you know are safe, she said in a college news release. Always carry two epinephrine auto-injectors in case you do eat something with an ingredient that triggers an allergic reaction. Consider hosting a gathering yourself so that you can control the food ingredients. Watch out for smoke from fireplaces and candles, which can trigger an asthma attack. Aerosols, such as air fresheners and artificial snow, as well as potpourri and other scents can irritate already inflamed airways and are best avoided. If you’re traveling for the holidays, be sure to pack all asthma or allergy medications for yourself and your family, including at least two epinephrine auto injectors for… read on >

The turkey, stuffing, cranberries, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes on the Thanksgiving table may look tempting, but if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) you should proceed with caution, experts say. GERD is often called chronic heartburn or acid reflux. “When it comes to what we eat and drink over the holidays, it is important to remember the saying: everything in moderation,” said Dr. Robert Kavitt, director of the University of Chicago Medicine Center for Esophageal Diseases. A common digestive disorder, GERD occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, which is the tube that connects the mouth and stomach. It’s important for people with GERD to eat slowly and avoid overeating, Kavitt said. Eating slowly gives you time to feel full, which decreases your risk of overeating. Overeating puts pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle, a ring-like muscle that acts as a valve between the esophagus and stomach. When that muscle is weakened, acid can flow back into the esophagus and trigger a GERD episode. Eat at least an hour or two before going to bed. It’s more difficult to digest your food when you’re lying down, so eating earlier and staying upright for a bit will allow your food time to break down. Drink more water and limit carbonated beverages and alcohol. “Carbonated beverages and alcohol can cause relaxation… read on >

Emergency department patients treated for gunshot wounds to the chest or abdomen are more likely to wind up in the hospital again than those who have such wounds in other areas of the body, a new study finds. The study included 110 patients with a history of gunshot wounds. Most were men, with an average age of 50. The patients were seen in the emergency department at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Of those patients, 36 were readmitted with neurologic, abdominal or chest, or extremity injuries, the findings showed. Eighteen were readmitted for complications from their previous gunshot wounds. Three surgeries — two of them chest surgeries — were performed. Twenty-four patients had neurologic injuries, while nine had abdominal or chest wounds. Three patients had major blood vessel injuries, the study found. The findings are scheduled for presentation next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, in Chicago. Research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. “Where you are shot has an effect on your long-term health,” said lead researcher Dr. Corbin Pomeranz, a radiology resident. When it comes to treating gunshot wound patients, he noted that most of the cost is due to ongoing care, including dealing with complications. “The vast majority of research on gun violence focuses on emergency care, but… read on >

More Americans have been sickened with E. coli after eating romaine lettuce thought to be grown in Salinas, Calif., federal health officials said Tuesday. Twenty-seven new cases have been reported over the past few days, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That brings the total to 67 across 19 states. In 39 cases, illnesses have been so severe as to require hospitalization, although no deaths have yet been reported. Late Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to consumers to avoid all romaine lettuce grown in Salinas, Calif., due to possible contamination with E. coli bacteria. The goal “is to limit exposure and help prevent additional people from becoming sick,” FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannas said in an agency news release at the time. “Our investigation has led us to farms in Salinas, California, and while the FDA is sending investigators there to look for the source of contamination, we are updating our advice today to help protect the public health and to help ensure we contain this outbreak,” he said. “Consumers should not eat any romaine lettuce harvested from Salinas, California.” Romaine lettuce harvested elsewhere is thought to be safe to eat, Yiannas added. He added that the latest advisory extends to packaged salads included in a U.S. Department of Agriculture advisory… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Writing about stressful or traumatic experiences can be good for your health, says the American Psychological Association. Studies have shown that writing your deepest thoughts and feelings about difficult situations can improve mood, reduce your likelihood of illness and increase productivity. The APA recommends that people keep a diary or a journal to log their innermost thoughts and feelings.

Exposure to opioids in the womb may affect an area of the newborn brain that regulates emotions, a new study shows. Researchers used MRIs to assess brain activity in 16 full-term infants while they slept, specifically focusing on connectivity in a region called the amygdala, which is responsible for emotions such as anger, fear, sadness and aggression. Eight of the infants were exposed to opioids in the womb, according to the study being presented Monday at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), in Chicago. “Our early results show significant differences in the way the amygdala connects to different brain regions between the infants exposed to opioids and the opioid-naive infants,” said researcher Dr. Rupa Radhakrishnan. She’s an assistant professor of radiology and imaging sciences at Indiana University School of Medicine. “We still need to study what the clinical implication of this finding may be,” Radhakrishnan said in a meeting news release. Opioid use in pregnancy can pose serious risks to maternal, fetal and infant health, and it has become a major public health crisis. Babies who’ve been exposed to opioids in the womb suffer from drug withdrawal, or a group of conditions known as neonatal abstinence syndrome, after birth, and it’s thought that exposure to opioids in the womb may cause lasting harm to brain development and behavior. “Little is… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

How to Prevent Holiday Headaches

Deportation Fears Linked to Migrant Women’s High Blood Pressure: Study

Health Tip: Five Exercise and Nutrition Myths

Even in Small Doses, Air Pollution Harms Older Americans

Don’t Let Allergies Spoil Your Holidays

Got Chronic Heartburn? Easy Does It During the Thanksgiving Feast

Gunshot Wounds Have Long-Term Health Consequences: Study

More E. coli Illnesses Linked to Tainted Romaine Lettuce

Health Tip: Dealing With Stress by Writing

Opioid Exposure in Womb Alters the Infant Brain