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Even a mild concussion can temporarily affect your sense of smell and trigger longer-term anxiety problems, a new study finds. It’s been known that such problems could occur after a major concussion. But this study found it’s also true for minor concussions caused by accidents such as falling off a bike with a helmet on, having a traffic fender-bender, falling on the ski slopes, or slipping on ice and hitting your head. “A lot of people will suffer a mild concussion at some point in their life, so realizing they have trouble smelling is the first step to telling their doctor about it,” said lead author Fanny Lecuyer Giguere. She did the research as part of her doctoral thesis in neuropsychology at the University of Montreal. The study included 20 people who suffered minor concussions and a “control group” of 22 people who broke limbs but had no concussion. Within 24 hours of their injury, just over half of the patients with mild concussions had a reduced sense of smell, compared with 5% of the patients with broken bones, the Canadian researchers found. A year later, the concussion patients’ sense of smell had returned to normal (most within six months), but their rate of anxiety (65%) was considerably higher than in the control group, the findings showed. Symptoms of anxiety included worry, difficulty relaxing and… read on >

Binge drinking is often associated with young adults, but according to a new study, more than 10% of people over 65 do it, too. Among seniors, binges are most common in men and those who use cannabis, researchers found. Experts said the trend is troubling, because older people should actually be cutting back on alcohol. “Many organizations, such as the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [NIAAA], recommend lower drinking levels as people get older or have more chronic diseases,” said lead researcher Dr. Benjamin Han, an assistant professor of geriatric medicine at NYU Langone Health in New York City. Other studies have documented increasing alcohol consumption in the United States and worldwide, he said. Binge drinking is generally defined as consuming five or more alcoholic drinks at a time. NIAAA suggests seniors cap their alcohol intake at three drinks a day. Because the new study used the higher cutoff, it may actually underestimate how common binge drinking is among U.S. seniors. Han isn’t sure why binge drinking is on the rise among older people, but he has a theory. “It is possible,” he said, “that the increase in binge drinking is partly driven by increases by older women.” Although their male counterparts are more likely to binge, older women are catching up. Binge drinking among older men remained relatively stable between 2005… read on >

Looking for a fresh way to top your burger, seafood and other proteins? Use hot peppers to create a zesty alternative to mayo or butter-based sauces. Homemade pepper-based salsas are a healthy and flavorful way to liven up all kinds of dishes. And using fruit, such as mango, adds sweetness and plenty of flavor to spicy peppers like jalapenos. Grilled Mango Salsa 2 large mangos 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Olive oil cooking spray 1/2 red onion, diced 1/2 cup packed cilantro, leaves and stems 2 jalapenos, seeded and diced 1 lime, zested and juiced 1 tablespoon olive oil Note: Look for mangos that are still on the firm side because they are easier to grill. Use a potato peeler to remove the skins. Slice large pieces from both sides of the mango pit. Cut off and reserve any small pieces to add to fruit salad or a smoothie. Coat your grill with cooking spray. Sprinkle the mangos with salt and pepper and place on the grill. Grill 2 to 3 minutes on an outdoor grill or 5 to 6 minutes on high on an indoor grill, turning once until the mangos have grill marks and start to soften. Transfer to a plate to cool. Place the onions, cilantro, jalapenos, lime zest and juice, and the olive oil in a large… read on >

Doctors may be as confused about what dietary advice to pass on to their patients as the patients themselves — even when it comes to protecting against heart disease through diet, according to U.S., British and Italian reports. Part of the problem is the continuing lack of nutrition education offered in medical schools. Another is the lack of time doctors have to spend with patients. But one piece of information that is getting through is to eat less saturated fat and more unsaturated fat — a better replacement strategy than eating “low-fat” packaged foods that are actually very high in refined carbohydrates, such as sugar. But which unsaturated fats should you choose from? First, know that there are two main types: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Most foods high in unsaturated fats contain both, though some have more of one than the other. For instance, avocados, nuts and olive and canola oils are higher in monounsaturated fats. You may be familiar with polyunsaturated fats containing the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). You may have also heard about research disproving the heart-health effects of omega-3 supplements. However, the body still needs omega-3s for good health, and getting them directly from food, not capsules, is important. EPA and DHA are found primarily in fatty fish, so aim to eat 8 ounces of seafood a… read on >

(HealthDay News) — A stomach ulcer is an open sore that develops on the lining of the stomach, says the National Health Service. The ulcer occurs when the layer protecting the stomach lining from stomach acid breaks down, damaging the lining. Signs of a stomach ulcer include: Pain. Indigestion. Heartburn. Loss of appetite. Feeling sick. Weight loss. The agency urges you to seek immediate medical attention if you are vomiting blood, passing sticky, tar-like stools or have worsening, sharp stomach pain.

(HealthDay News) — The teen years can be an exciting time as teens become new drivers, and become passengers in their friends’ cars. But every day, six teens are killed in motor vehicle crashes in the United States, says Safe Kids. Often, these accidents can be prevented. Safe Kids encourages parents of new drivers to: Be a good role model when driving. Buckle up for every ride, in every seat. Set clear expectations about your family’s driving rules. Define zero-tolerance rules for speeding, alcohol and texting. Limit the number of passengers allowed in the car with your teen. Make sure your teen gets enough practice in a variety of road conditions.

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) can affect anyone who uses his or her hands a lot and repeats the same movements over and over again. It can develop whether you’re working at a computer all day or spending hours of leisure time immersed in handicrafts. At first, symptoms — like pain and tingling — may go away once you stop the motions or the activity. But without treatment, including lifestyle changes, symptoms are likely to become so severe that you could become unable to continue with your work or hobby. Recognizing RSI Symptoms Pain or burning Tingling Numbness Weakness Swelling Soreness Don’t hesitate to see your doctor if you experience one or more of these symptoms — don’t assume that a few days off is enough to stop RSI. If the source of pain isn’t addressed, symptoms can become irreversible. Part of the solution is to take regular breaks from problematic but necessary activities throughout the day. Get up and move around for at least five minutes every half-hour, and stretch your arms, wrists and fingers. Practice good posture. When sitting, your head and back should form a straight line from ears to hips. When at the computer, don’t let your wrists bend to one side. Keep them in line with your forearms, fingers slightly curved over your keyboard. Don’t self-treat by wearing a splint or… read on >

After vitamins and minerals, fish oil with its omega-3 fatty acids is the most widely used supplement, taken by an estimated 10% of Americans. So, when research reviews show that it doesn’t provide the health benefits for people with heart conditions that researchers thought it did, it’s hard to know what to do. One thing researchers do know is that omega-3s are essential fats — your body can’t make them. So for general good health, you need to get them from diet. The Main Types of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are found in fatty fish and some shellfish. Alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA, is found in vegetable oils, nuts (especially walnuts), flax and some leafy vegetables. Omega-3s can help reduce inflammation, a factor in both artery-clogging plaque and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. There is some evidence that omega-3s offer modest rheumatoid arthritis symptom relief. Omega-3s can thin blood and may reduce the likelihood of dangerous clots, but that could also mean it will take your blood longer to clot after a simple cut, for instance. This can be dangerous if you’re also on a prescription blood thinner or take NSAIDs, which can cause bleeding ulcers. So talk to your doctor about potential drug interactions if you’re considering omega-3 supplements. One important point about the research that found little or… read on >

Falls from beds, uneven floors and playing football are leading causes of nonfatal brain injuries in American kids, new research shows. For the study, researchers analyzed data on traumatic brain injuries among kids and teens treated at emergency departments of 66 U.S. hospitals between 2010 and 2013. Of those cases, 72% were attributable to products regulated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, according to the report published July 29 in the journal Brain Injury. “Structural designs, such as uneven flooring, often contribute to falls, which is the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in children,” said lead author Bina Ali. She is a research scientist at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation in Calverton, Md. “In most cases, infants and children are safe in bed and when playing sports outside, but our study highlights some of the risks and the priorities in different age groups for preventing serious head injuries,” Ali explained in a journal news release. Young people account for about 1 million nonfatal traumatic brain injury cases treated in emergency departments each year, the researchers noted. In infants under a year old, one-quarter of such injuries were caused by falling from beds. Uneven floors were the second-leading cause at 14%. Among 1- to 4-year-olds, 10% of injuries involved beds; 10% involved stairs; and 10% were related to floors. Bunk beds are… read on >

Be careful about what medications you take before you get behind the wheel. Most drugs won’t affect your ability to drive, but some prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines can cause side effects that make it unsafe to drive, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns. Those side effects can include: sleepiness/drowsiness, blurred vision, dizziness, slowed movement, fainting, inability to focus or pay attention, nausea and excitability. Some medicines can affect your driving ability for just a short time after you take them, but the effects of others can last for several hours, or even into the next day. Some medicine labels warn to not operate heavy machinery when taking them, and this includes driving a car, the FDA said in a news release. There are a number of types of medications — or any combination of them — that can make it dangerous to drive or operate any type of vehicle whether a car, bus, train, plane or boat. These drugs include: opioid pain relievers; prescription drugs for anxiety (for example, benzodiazepines); antiseizure drugs (antiepileptic drugs); antipsychotic drugs; some antidepressants; products that contain codeine; some cold remedies and allergy products such as antihistamines (both prescription and OTC); sleeping pills; muscle relaxants; medicines to treat or control symptoms of diarrhea or motion sickness; diet pills; “stay awake” drugs, and other medications with stimulants (such as caffeine,… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Mild Head Injury Can Impair Your Sense of Smell

It’s Not Just College Kids: Many Seniors Are Binge Drinking, Too

Salsa’s a Zesty Alternative to Sauces

The 411 on Unsaturated Fats

Health Tip: Signs of a Stomach Ulcer

Health Tip: Keep Your Teen Driver Safe

Living With Repetitive Strain Injury

Why You Still Need Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Family Home, Football Field Most Dangerous Spots for Kids’ Head Injuries

Some Meds and Driving a Dangerous Duo