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Vehicle Exhaust Drives Millions of New Asthma Cases Annually

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Traffic pollution causes about 4 million new asthma cases in children worldwide each year, new research shows. Two-thirds of these kids live in urban areas, according to the study by researchers at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. “Our findings suggest that millions of new cases of pediatric asthma could be prevented in cities around the world by reducing air pollution,” said senior study author Susan Anenberg. She is an associate professor of environmental and occupational health at the university’s Milken Institute School of Public Health. Between 2010 and 2015, about 4 million children in 194 countries developed asthma each year due to exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution, the researchers said. NO2 mainly comes from vehicle exhaust. “Improving access to cleaner forms of transportation, like electrified public transport and active commuting by cycling and walking, would not only bring down NO2 levels, but would also reduce asthma, enhance physical fitness, and cut greenhouse gas emissions,” Anenberg said in a university news release. About 13% of asthma incidence in children is linked with NO2 pollution, the study authors noted. But among 92 of 125 major cities included in the new study, NO2 pollution accounted for more than 20% of childhood asthma cases, the findings showed. The 10 cities with the highest rates included eight in China (with rates reaching 37% to 48%), as well…  read on >

Is Your Smartphone Making You Fat?

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Mindlessly switching from your smartphone to other media devices and back again might lead to added pounds, scientists say. A small, new study found that heavy-duty media multitaskers also tended to be heavier, weight-wise. It’s possible that these devices are actually changing the brain, theorized lead author Richard Lopez, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology at Rice University in Houston. In terms of weight, that could mean less self-control when fattening foods are at hand. For their study, Lopez and his colleagues had 132 students, aged 18 to 23, answer questions about how much they multitasked and how distractible they were. Certain questions — such as, do you feel the urge to check your phone while you’re talking to someone else? — were designed to detect compulsive or inappropriate cellphone use. The researchers found that study participants with higher scores on the questionnaire tended to weigh more than those with lower scores, suggesting a possible link between the two. Next, Lopez’s team had 72 of the students undergo an MRI brain scan while they were shown a serious of pictures. Images of delicious, fattening foods were mixed in with the images. When the food images were viewed, activity increased in the part of the brain linked to food temptation, the findings showed. These participants, who also tended to have more body fat, spent more time at…  read on >

Health Tip: Treating an Infant’s Fever

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(HealthDay News) — A baby’s first fever can be scary for parents. However, most fevers are relatively harmless, says MedlinePlus. When treating your child’s fever, MedlinePlus suggests: Do not bundle up a child, even if the child has the chills. Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to lower fever. Never give aspirin to children. Bathe your child in lukewarm water. If a newborn has a fever of more than 100.4 degrees F, contact a doctor without delay.

Health Tip: Thermometer Options

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(HealthDay News) — Three primary types of thermometers are on the market for consumers. Digital thermometers record body temperature through electric heat sensors. They can be used in the rectum, mouth or under the armpit. However, armpit temperatures are typically least accurate. Digital ear thermometers use infrared scanners to measure the ear canal temperature. Earwax or an abnormal ear canal can interfere with the accuracy. Temporal artery thermometers also use infrared scanners, measuring the forehead’s temporal artery temperature. These thermometers can be used even while a child is sleeping. Digital pacifier thermometers, fever strips and mercury thermometers are not recommended, advises Mayo Clinic.

Healthy Kitchen Essential: The Vacuum Sealer

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If you’re looking for a cooking shortcut and a way to make food more economical, consider vacuum sealing. With a vacuum sealer, you can extend the storage life of foods by measuring out the right portion sizes and sealing them in handy bags, either premade or made by you from a roll of special plastic. Vacuum-sealed foods won’t leak in the fridge or develop freezer burn in the freezer. Using a food sealing system extends the life of fresh food, inhibits the growth of bacteria, and even gives you extra cold-storage space because the sealed packages are more compact than supermarket packaging. You can easily use the poaching technique called sous-vide and cook food right in its bag. The sealed bags are also great for marinating. For a traditional marinated and grilled flank steak, save prep time by making two meals at once, one to eat today and another to freeze. The flank steak cut usually weighs 1.5 to 2 pounds, more than you need when cooking for just two people. So grab (or make) two sealer bags and mark the one for the freezer “Balsamic Flank Steak.” Add the date. To each bag, add 2 tablespoons each of balsamic vinegar, soy sauce and olive oil; a tablespoon of chopped fresh rosemary; a teaspoon of Dijon-style mustard; and a 1/4 teaspoon of garlic salt, and…  read on >

How to Cut Your Kids’ Sugar Intake

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The concerns about sugar and kids go far beyond the risk of cavities. An extensive research review by the American Heart Association (AHA) found that kids who consume a lot of foods and drinks with added sugar could develop heart disease risk factors — like obesity and high cholesterol — starting in childhood. These risks can occur with sugar intake far lower than a typical child’s. In response to this threat, AHA issued strong recommendations to safeguard kids’ health. First, children under 2 years old shouldn’t be given any added sugars. That means no packaged food of any kind that lists any type of sugar among the ingredients. The natural sugars in whole foods like fruit, for instance, are fine. Next, kids between ages 2 and 18 should take in less than 25 grams of added sugar daily. Doing the Math on Family Sugar Limits For kids and women: 25 grams equals 6 teaspoons equals 100 calories or about 5 percent of daily calorie intake. For men: 37 grams equals 9 teaspoons equals 150 calories or about 5 percent of daily calorie intake. Compare these numbers to the 80 grams of sugar most kids eat every day. That’s more than triple the suggested limit. What can you do to cut back? Nutrition labels list sugar in grams, so it’s easy to keep track of daily…  read on >

Still No Source as E. Coli Outbreak Grows to 96 Cases Across 5 States: CDC

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U.S. health officials say an outbreak of E. coli illness from an unknown source has risen to 96 cases across five Eastern states, up from the 72 cases reported last Friday. The origin of the food-borne illnesses remains unknown, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said late Friday. “The investigation is still ongoing and a specific food item, grocery store, or restaurant chain has not been identified as the source of infections,” the CDC said in a statement. States affected are Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. Cases of illness first began to be reported March 2, and the last reported case began on March 26. Although no deaths have been reported, “of 67 people with information available, 11 have been hospitalized” because their cases have been so severe, the CDC said. This outbreak has been linked to the E. coli O103 strain of bacterium, and the CDC says people typically get sick within three to five days of eating E. coli-contaminated food. “Most people get diarrhea [often bloody], severe stomach cramps and vomiting,” the agency said. “Most people recover within a week, but some illnesses can last longer and be more severe.” There are ways you can protect yourself, however. Be sure to wash hands while preparing food, and cook meats thoroughly. “To kill harmful germs, cook beef steaks and roasts to…  read on >

Climate Change Could Worsen Sneezin’ Season

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Have you started feeling like your allergies are acting up earlier every year, or maybe they’re lasting longer? New research suggests it’s not just your imagination — climate change appears to be disrupting nature’s usual calendar. Areas with an earlier spring had a 14% higher rate of seasonal allergies (hay fever), the researchers found. “Climate change is real. It’s impacting our ecosystem now, and that, in turn, is impacting our health,” said study author Amir Sapkota. He’s an associate professor at the Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health in College Park, Md. For the study, the investigators used high-resolution satellite data provided by NASA to identify the start of spring throughout the United States. They linked this information to data from a nationally representative sample of Americans collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sapkota said the researchers looked at what happened if spring began earlier or later than normal. “When spring starts early, the burden of allergic disease — or hay fever — goes up. But we also saw high hay fever prevalence when spring was late, too. It’s like mortality with extreme temperatures. Temperatures that are very hot or very cold can kill us. There’s a sweet spot that’s OK,” Sapkota explained. If the season starts early, trees bloom and release pollen earlier than usual and may release pollen for…  read on >

Health Tip: Vitamin B12

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(HealthDay News) — The brain and other organs rely on vitamin B12 to function properly. For most adults, the recommended B12 dose is more than 2.4 micrograms, says the Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin B12 is naturally found in a variety of animal products and is especially high in fish like trout, salmon and tuna. Other sources of B12 include chicken, eggs, cheese, yogurt, milk and beef.

Health Tip: Managing Chronic Migraines

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(HealthDay News) — More than 12 percent of the world’s population has migraines. For some people, migraines are chronic, says the American Migraine Foundation. Chronic migraines are usually diagnosed when a person has 15 or more of these headache days per month. For those with chronic migraines, treatment typically consists of: Medications for the onset of headaches. Preventive medications. Cognitive behavioral therapy. Addressing risk factors, such as depression and anxiety.