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Even in Small Doses, Air Pollution Harms Older Americans

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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 >

Don’t Let Allergies Spoil Your Holidays

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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 >

Got Chronic Heartburn? Easy Does It During the Thanksgiving Feast

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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 >

Gunshot Wounds Have Long-Term Health Consequences: Study

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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 E. coli Illnesses Linked to Tainted Romaine Lettuce

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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 >

Health Tip: Dealing With Stress by Writing

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(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.

Opioid Exposure in Womb Alters the Infant Brain

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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 >

Dramatic Rise in Eye Injuries From BB and Paintball Guns

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Popularized in movies, the phrase, “You’ll shoot your eye out,” is often repeated jokingly whenever someone talks about BB or paintball guns. But it’s no laughing matter. These “non-powder” guns can cause serious, life-altering injuries, and these injuries are now happening far more often. In fact, a new study found that while the overall rate of injuries due to BB and paintball guns has dropped around half since 1990, the rate of eye injuries has risen by 30%. “These findings raise a red flag. Non-powder firearm injuries are among the most serious injuries we see to the eye, with fireworks a close second,” said study senior author Dr. Gary Smith, who directs the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. People sometimes dismiss these types of firearms as “toy” or “starter” guns, but Smith said they can cause very serious injuries, and even deaths. “I’ve seen a BB gun penetrate the chest. I’ve seen a pellet gun penetrate the skull. Eye injuries from non-powder firearms can result in partial or complete blindness,” Smith said. Non-powder firearms include BB, pellet, airsoft and paintball guns. These guns use air pressure, carbon dioxide pressure or a spring-loaded mechanism to shoot. They may propel metal or plastic projectiles of varying shapes and sizes. The speed at which these guns shoot varies, according to…  read on >

Obesity May Change the Teen Brain, MRI Study Shows

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Obese teenagers can have certain brain differences from their thinner peers — changes that might signal damage from inflammation, a new, preliminary study suggests. Using advanced MRI techniques, researchers found that obese teenagers tended to have signs of decreased “integrity” in the brain’s white matter. White matter contains the fibers that connect different areas of the brain. In this case, lower white-matter integrity was seen in a brain region related to emotional control and “reward” seeking. The findings, based on 120 teenagers, are considered preliminary. Experts said it’s not clear what they might mean. But the findings add to evidence linking obesity to certain brain structure differences. Recent studies of middle-aged adults, for example, have found evidence of brain tissue “shrinkage” among those with high levels of body fat — particularly around the belly. One possibility is that excess amounts of body fat directly harm the brain through inflammation, the researchers suggested. In the new study, there was a correlation between decreases in white matter integrity and higher levels of certain inflammatory substances in the blood. Teens with those brain changes also tended to have higher levels of the hormones leptin and insulin. Leptin is involved in appetite control, while insulin regulates blood sugar levels. Dr. Harold Bays is a fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association and medical director of the Louisville Metabolic and Atherosclerosis…  read on >

Health Tip: Driving on Black Ice

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(HealthDay News) — Black ice is an invisible winter danger for drivers, says the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). But you can help protect yourself by knowing how to deal with this seasonal hazard. The USDA give drivers advice about black ice: It tends to form at night or in the early morning. The ice also forms on roads less traveled on, or roads without much sunshine. Keep an eye out for a glossy sheen on the road. That’s probably black ice. Practice driving on slippery surfaces in an empty parking lot. If you have ABS brakes, know how they work and feel. If you hit black ice, let your car pass over it. Do not hit the brakes, and keep the wheel straight. In bad weather conditions, stay home.