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The anti-vaccination movement is now a global crisis, an international panel of scientists say, and everyone must do more to combat it. “We are alarmed that the WHO [World Health Organization] this year declared vaccine hesitancy a top-10 international public health problem. This is a man-made, dangerous and wholly unnecessary crisis,” said Dr. Scott Ratzan. He’s founding editor of the Journal of Health Communication. He’s also the founder of the International Working Group (IWG) on Vaccination and Public Health Solutions. The new Salzburg Statement on Vaccine Acceptance, published July 2, has been endorsed by 60 leaders in public health from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. According to the group, vaccines have prevented hundreds of millions of infectious diseases — such as polio, measles, hepatitis B and meningitis — and save up to 3 million lives a year. They are cost-effective, too. Every U.S. dollar spent on childhood immunization returns up to $44 in benefits, according to the IWG. But in the United States, outbreaks of measles have recently occurred in hotspots where parents have refused to vaccinate their children. In response, some U.S. states have reacted by closing “personal belief” loopholes that allowed parents to not immunize a school-aged child. “The resurgence of potentially life-threatening diseases like measles, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control declared eliminated in the United States in 2000,… read on >

Guarding against falls isn’t just for the elderly. The inner ear’s ability to maintain balance can begin to decline as early as age 40, according to a study in Frontiers of Neurology. So the time to improve your balance is now. Strong legs and flexible ankles help prevent falls and allow you to catch yourself if you do trip, so target these areas through exercise. Here are three moves to practice regularly. Ankle rotations: Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Lift one leg out in front of you and use your big toe to make circles in the air. Move clockwise for 15 to 20 rotations and then counterclockwise for an equal amount. Repeat with the other foot. Single leg balancing: Stand straight, feet together, arms at your sides. Lift one foot a few inches off the floor, bending that knee slightly, and balance on the other leg. Hold for 30 seconds. Switch legs and repeat. Aim for twice on each side. Keeping stomach muscles contracted will help. The dancer’s pose: Better balance is one of yoga’s benefits, and this pose is particularly effective. Stand straight, feet together, arms at your sides. Raise your right arm out in front of you, thumb toward the ceiling. Lift your left leg behind you, bending at the knee. Reach back with your left… read on >

With school, sports and assorted activities, many kids have little or no free time. That fast-paced lifestyle can actually stifle their development, making them less likely to be self-starters. It could also limit their imagination, an important ingredient in creativity and problem-solving. University of Colorado-Boulder researchers found that kids who spend more time in less-structured activities have better self-directed control and thinking skills than those who spend more time in structured activities. Think of less-structured activities as free play — alone or with friends — reading, drawing and casual social outings. Other research has found value in some completely unstructured time to daydream and let the mind wander. Give your children time, space and some simple tools, like paper and colored pencils, to start their creative juices flowing. Free time allows kids to come up with imaginative ideas and find creative solutions to problems. It encourages qualities such as independent thinking, self-reliance and perseverance — the drive to keep trying if something doesn’t work the first time. So when you’re looking ahead at the weekly calendar, be sure to leave some blocks of time empty. Not sure if your child is overscheduled? The American Academy of Family Physicians lists these common warning signs: Your child is constantly tired. Your child is often grumpy. Your child has developed physical problems like headaches or belly aches. Your… read on >

Infants and young children with vitamin D deficiency may have a heightened risk for elevated blood pressure later in childhood and in their teens, a new study finds. Researchers followed 775 children in Boston from birth to age 18. Most were from low-income families in urban neighborhoods. Compared to children born with normal vitamin D levels, those born with low levels — less than 11 nanograms per millimeter (ng/ml) in cord blood — had a 60% higher risk of elevated systolic blood pressure (upper number in a reading) between ages 6 and 18. Systolic pressure, the upper number in a reading, is the force of your blood pushing against your arteries when your heart beats. Diastolic pressure measures force between beats. High systolic pressure increases heart disease risk even when diastolic pressure is controlled, the researchers noted. Kids with consistently low levels of vitamin D (less than 25 ng/ml) through early childhood had twice the risk of elevated systolic blood pressure between ages 3 and 18, the study found. However, the findings only reflect an association rather than a cause-and-effect link. The study was published July 1 in the journal Hypertension. “Currently, there are no recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics to screen all pregnant women and young children for vitamin D levels,” lead author Dr. Guoying Wang said in a journal news release.… read on >

If you’re an older woman, your heart disease risk might be shaped by the shape of your body. Researchers report that if you look more like an apple than a pear, your chances of heart trouble are heightened, even if you are a normal weight. Interestingly, women who carried their weight in their legs had a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease, the study authors added, though the study did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship. “Our findings suggest that postmenopausal women, despite having normal weight, could have a varying risk of cardiovascular disease because of different fat distributions around either their middle or their legs,” said study author Dr. Qibin Qi, an associate professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. For the study, researchers gathered data on nearly 162,000 postmenopausal women who took part in the Women’s Health Initiative study between 1993 and 1998. The women were followed until February 2017. The investigators found that women whose fat was stored mostly around the middle (apple-shaped) had almost twice the risk of heart disease or stroke, compared with women whose weight was stored in their legs. On the flip side, that risk was 40% lower in women whose weight was mostly in the legs, compared to those who had the least weight in their legs. The greatest risk of heart disease… read on >

Remember the “mood ring” craze of the 1970s? A high-tech wristband is being developed along the same lines, potentially helping patients who struggle with mood disorders. The smart wristband would use a person’s skin to track their emotional intensity. During a mood swing, either high or low, the wristband would change color, heat up, squeeze or vibrate to inform the wearer he might be in the throes of depression or anxiety, the researchers said. “As the feedback is provided in real time, our devices encourage people to become more aware of their emotions, name them, potentially reflect on what causes them, and even learn how to control their emotional responses in order to change the visual or tactile feedback provided by the device,” said researcher Corina Sas. She is a professor of human-computer interaction and digital health at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. About 10% of U.S. adults struggle with a mood disorder, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or seasonal affective disorder, according to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health. Part of the treatment for a mood disorder involves becoming more aware of emotions, and then learning to regulate emotional response, the study authors said in background notes in their report. Co-author Muhammad Umair, a Lancaster research associate, explained, “We wanted to create low-cost, simple prototypes to support understanding and engagement with… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can damage your eyes, says Mayo Clinic. Sunglasses can help protect your eyes from UV-related problems, such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Mayo Clinic recommends looking for sunglasses that: Block 99 percent to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Screen out 75 percent to 90 percent of visible light. Have lenses that are perfectly matched in color. Do not have distortions or imperfections in the lenses.

As communities across America enjoy fireworks this July Fourth, folks should keep eye safety in mind. The number of eye injuries caused by fireworks nearly doubled from 2016 to 2017, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) is urging Americans to take proper safety precautions this holiday. Fireworks-related eye injuries rose from 700 in 2016 to 1,200 in 2017, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Those injuries included ruptured eyeballs and damaged corneas and retinas. “An average of 280 people a day will go to the emergency room with fireworks-related injuries during the two weeks before and after July Fourth,” said Dr. Dianna Seldomridge, clinical spokesperson for the AAO. “Don’t be a part of these alarming statistics. Learn how to protect yourself and your children,” she urged in an AAO news release. Most injuries are caused by legal fireworks that parents buy for their children, including sparklers, firecrackers, bottle rockets and Roman candles, according to the AAO. The academy offered the following fireworks safety tips. Keep a safe distance from fireworks: A recent study found that bystanders account for 65% of people injured by fireworks. Stacy Young was one of those. She was 100 yards away when shrapnel from an illegal firework penetrated her skull. Her eye couldn’t be saved and had to be removed. Don’t pick up duds and misfires: Ohio firefighter… read on >

A new study is sure to strike a chord with anyone who plays in a high school or college marching band. The researchers report that long, afternoon practices and playing on artificial turf put marching musicians at high risk of heat stroke. “People usually think of football players when they think of students struggling with heat issues, but high school and college marching bands also often practice in the heat of August and early September, and play on the same surfaces while wearing uniforms and carrying heavy equipment,” said study author Dawn Emerson. She is an assistant professor of health, sport and exercise sciences at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. For the study, Emerson’s team measured the core body temperatures of musicians in two unidentified college marching bands during rehearsals and football games over one season. Participants swallowed a capsule with sensors to get the measurements. A core body temperature of more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit signifies heat stroke — the most severe form of exertional heat illness (EHI). It’s a leading cause of death among U.S. high school athletes. Average overall core temperature was significantly higher in one group: 101.1 degrees before activity for Band 2 versus 99.7 degrees for Band 1; and 101.8 degrees after activity for Band 2 versus 100.2 for Band 1. Maximum core temperature was 102.7 degrees in Band… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Crowded roadways and aggressive drivers help make rush hour a dangerous time to drive, says the National Safety Council. To make it safely during rush hour, the NSC recommends: Slow down. Do not be an impatient driver. Stay in your lane. Beware of drivers that dart from lane to lane. Stay alert. Consult a map or GPS before going to an unfamiliar area. Do not use your phone, or eat or drink while driving.

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Anti-Vaccine Movement a ‘Man-Made’ Health Crisis, Scientists Warn

3 Moves for Better Balance

How to Foster Your Child’s Imagination

Low Vitamin D at Birth Linked to Kids’ High Blood Pressure Risk

Where a Woman’s Fat Lies Hints at Future Heart Troubles

How Are You Feeling? Check Your Wristband

Health Tip: Wear Sunglasses With UV Protection

Eye Injuries From Fireworks in U.S. Have Nearly Doubled

Sour Note: Marching Band Members at Risk When Temperatures Soar

Health Tip: Drive Safely During Rush Hour