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With the arrival of winter, it’s time for skiing, sledding and ice skating, but it’s also when snow blindness can strike. Snow blindness is like a sunburn in the eyes. It’s caused by the same UV rays that give you that summer tan. In the case of snow blindness, the rays are reflected off the snow and into your eyes, explained experts from Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center. The cornea is the outer dome of the eye. It is covered by a thin layer of cells called the epithelial layer. UV light can burn this layer just as it burns your skin. UV burns to the cornea are called photokeratitis. Inflammation of the epithelial layer can result in blurred vision. When this happens after being outside on a bright snowy day, it is commonly referred to as snow blindness. Snow blindness can cause your eyes to feel burning, itching, stinging or intense pain. The same condition can result from being on the water or a beach as UV rays are reflected off the water or sand. Photokeratitis can also occur at high elevations where less UV light is absorbed by the atmosphere, the experts noted in a medical center news release. The best way to protect yourself is to use UV-light protective eyewear, the Ohio State team said. This can be either sunglasses or… read on >

Keep the holidays happy, healthy and safe by following a few guidelines, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says. “With a thoughtful approach, families can avoid some of the holiday frenzy, and focus on what is meaningful to them,” said Dr. Benjamin Hoffman, chair of the AAP’s Council on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention. “We know that children take their cues from their parents,” Hoffman said in an AAP news release. “By taking a step back and slowing down, parents can model better ways to cope with excitement and stress, and enjoy some quality time together.” When possible, maintain your child’s usual sleep and mealtime schedules. Doing so can keep them happy and prevent tantrums. Take care of your physical and mental health. Children are tuned into the emotional well-being of their parents and caregivers. If you cope with stress successfully, your children will learn how to do the same. Don’t overspend on gifts. Help your child make one or two gifts. Do volunteer work and include your child. Toys should suit a child’s age, abilities, skills and interest level. Be wary of toys that contain button batteries or magnets, which can be swallowed by small children and cause serious internal damage. Cooking with children can be a great way to bond. Follow food safety guidelines, wash hands frequently and keep hot foods and liquids… read on >

(HealthDay News) — A lot of people turn to caffeine to get an energy boost in the morning. But there are healthier ways to start the day, says Iowa State University. The school mentions six ways to wake up without coffee: Perform morning stretches, such as head and shoulder rolls. Have a healthy and balanced breakfast. Drink a cold glass of water. Take a cold shower. Splash your face! Start the morning with an upbeat music playlist. Get fresh air and sunlight.

(HealthDay News) — Many minor injuries can be treated at home by following a few guidelines, says the University of California. But for animal bites, deep cuts or wounds that bleed excessively, you should always see a doctor. The school mentions these do’s and don’ts of home care for minor wounds: Do irrigate the wound with water, gently wash and pat dry. Do apply petroleum jelly to exposed wounds, then cover with a bandage. Do cleanse the wound daily with soap and water. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen after the wound has healed to control scarring. Don’t apply a topical antibiotic. Don’t douse minor wounds with antiseptics.

(HealthDay News) — Hiking in the chilly weather can be a fun way to stay active. But before you head out on the trail, it’s important to prepare for unexpected conditions. For safe winter hiking, the North Country Trail Association has this advice: Never go out alone. Always make sure someone knows where you are going. Beware of reduced visibility. Bring lights, a map and other safety items. Don’t forget food, water and a first aid kit. Always wear proper footwear, and dress in layers. Beware of hypothermia. Keep extra dry, warm clothes in your backpack.

Some patients in remission from the blood cancer called follicular lymphoma can be considered cured, a new small study suggests. Using DNA sequencing, researchers were able to test the patients’ blood to see if mutations that caused the cancer were still present two years after treatment. If these mutations aren’t found, the patient can be given a clean bill of health, the study authors said. “While follicular lymphoma is not one of the more aggressive types of cancer we treat, the majority of patients continue to experience disease recurrence over many years and have to receive different types of therapy,” explained researcher Dr. Maryam Sarraf Yazdy. She is a hematologist/oncologist at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, in Washington, D.C. “This disease has been considered incurable, but for some patients who have been disease-free for at least two years after remission, our pilot study gives hope that calling the disease incurable may no longer be accurate,” she said in an American Society of Hematology news release. Follicular lymphoma makes up about one-third of all non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. About 20,000 people are diagnosed with the disease in the United States each year. The 68 people with follicular lymphoma in the study had all the usual treatments and had been in remission for more than two years. Of these patients, 43 were included in the final data. First, the researchers… read on >

The daily use of low-dose aspirin against heart disease may have taken another knock. New research shows that the practice may not provide black Americans with any lowering of their heart attack risk. Researchers analyzed 11 years of data from more than 65,000 people, ages 40-79, living in the American Southeast. More than two-thirds of the participants were black, and about two-thirds were at high risk for heart attack or stroke at the start of the study period. Taking low-dose aspirin was associated with a reduced risk of a fatal heart attack in whites, particularly in white women, but it did not appear to lower the risk among blacks, even among those with the highest risk of heart disease, the research found. The reasons for the “race gap” in aspirin effectiveness are unclear, but “we think the reason aspirin use did not have a beneficial effect for African Americans could involve a different genetic response to aspirin therapy and poor control of other risk factors,” said study lead author Dr. Rodrigo Fernandez-Jimenez. He’s a cardiologist and researcher at National Center for Cardiovascular Research in Madrid, Spain. The researchers stressed that the study wasn’t designed to prove cause and effect, only showing associations between aspirin use and heart health. The findings were published Dec. 11 in the Journal of the American Heart Association. While millions of… read on >

A cheap, century-old drug in most Americans’ medicine cabinets — aspirin — may come to the rescue for people suffering from migraines, a new study finds. While there are effective prescription medications, many migraine patients in the United States don’t have access to them due to limited access to doctors or good insurance, or high insurance co-pays, said researchers at Florida Atlantic University, in Boca Raton. Aspirin might often be a viable option for these patients, said the research team, who reviewed 13 studies of migraine treatment involving more than 4,200 patients. The investigators also looked at data on the prevention of recurrent migraine in tens of thousands of patients. The results suggest that giving a high dose of aspirin — 900 to 1,300 milligrams (mg) — when migraine symptoms set in is an effective and safe treatment for acute migraine. There’s also evidence that daily aspirin doses of 81 to 325 mg may be an effective and safe treatment for prevention of recurrent migraine, the team said. The standard “low-dose” aspirin pill, taken by millions of Americans to help lower heart risks, contains 81 mg. The bottom line: “Our review supports the use of high-dose aspirin to treat acute migraine as well as low-dose daily aspirin to prevent recurrent attacks,” senior author Dr. Charles Hennekens, professor and senior academic advisor at the university’s College… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Though exercise and proper diet are essential to maintaining good health, the body’s basic need for water is often overlooked. Not drinking enough water can be dangerous and have a plethora of negative effects, says Texas Health and Human Services. Your body needs to be hydrated to work properly. Breathing, circulation, body temperature regulation and the senses all rely on sufficient water. Dehydration can also affect your mood, making you cranky, tired or irritable. In fact, sometimes when you feel hungry, your body is actually craving water, the school says.

If you are pregnant and live in a rural area of the United States, new research shows that you’re at higher risk of life-threatening complications or death during or after childbirth. “Our study suggests that geographic disparities may put rural women at an increased risk of requiring lifesaving interventions during or immediately after delivering a baby,” said study senior author Dr. Lindsay Admon. She’s an obstetrician-gynecologist at Michigan Medicine’s Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital, in Ann Arbor. “Policies and programs aiming to improve maternal health and reduce adverse events associated with delivery must address the unique health needs and challenges faced by rural women,” Admon added in a University of Michigan news release. In the study, her team analyzed 6.8 million births nationwide between 2007 and 2015, and found that deliveries requiring emergency lifesaving treatment and mothers’ deaths rose from 109 to 152 per 10,000 childbirth hospitalizations during that time. The researchers also found that rural women were 9% more likely to have a dangerous childbirth situation than urban women, with about 4,400 more cases among rural women during the study period. The findings were published in the December issue of the journal Health Affairs. The study’s lead author, Katy Kozhimannil, said, “Where you live shouldn’t dictate the outcome of your pregnancy.” Kozhimannil is director of the University of Minnesota’s Rural Health Research Center. “In rural… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Snow Blindness a Wintry Danger

Slow Down and Enjoy a Safe Christmas

Health Tip: Waking Up Without Caffeine

Health Tip: Advice on Home Wound Care

Health Tip: Winter Hiking and Safety

For Some, Follicular Lymphoma May Be Curable

Black Patients May Not Gain Heart Benefit From Low-Dose Aspirin

Sometimes, Aspirin May Be Enough to Ease Migraines

Health Tip: The Importance of Hydration

Is Childbirth More Dangerous in Rural Areas?