Health/Fitness « Weekly Gravy

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that mainly affects the skin. When you have psoriasis, your immune system sends signals to your skin cells to grow too fast. Normally, skin cells take about a month to form and rise to the surface. In people with psoriasis, this process happens in just a few days. Because the skin can’t shed these cells fast enough, they pile up and form thick, scaly patches called plaques. These plaques can appear anywhere, but they are most common on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back. Psoriasis is not contagious, meaning you cannot catch it from someone else or give it to anyone. What causes psoriasis? Psoriasis develops when the immune system becomes overactive, but the exact reason why this happens isn’t fully understood. It seems to be a combination of genetics and triggers in the environment. Genetics: If someone in your family has psoriasis, your chances of getting it are higher. Immune system: Psoriasis is considered an autoimmune disease, in which your body attacks healthy skin cells by mistake. Triggers: Even if you’re genetically prone to psoriasis, it may only show up after something sets it off. Triggers vary from person to person, but common ones include: stress, infections (like strep throat), skin injuries (cuts, burns, bug bites), certain medications, cold or dry weather and smoking and heavy alcohol… read on > read on >

Alkaline. Electrolyte. Flavored. Walk down the beverage aisle and you’ll find all kinds of waters promising extra health perks. But are these fancy waters really better for you? Not really, Tufts University experts say. “There’s no physiological basis that there’s some metabolic benefit to these specialty waters over just regular, plain old water,” said Roger Fielding, a senior scientist at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts in Boston. For most people, Fielding said the best thing to do is simply drink more fluids — especially since many people walk around mildly dehydrated. “If you have a preference for a beverage and that’s going to make you drink more and you’ll be more attentive to rehydrating with that beverage, and you have the resources to purchase that beverage, well have at it,” Fielding said in a news release. “Just like with sweetened beverages to an extent, if you’re not in excess, you’re more likely to rehydrate because a beverage is sweetened or flavored,” he added. Still, Fielding urged people to check nutrition labels — yes, even on water. Waters labeled with “added electrolytes” may contain added sodium. Adults should aim for less than 2 grams of sodium a day. “If someone consumes large amounts of water with high levels of sodium, they could elevate their risk of hypertension and other… read on > read on >

Fireworks are the pinnacle of many Fourth of July celebrations, and while they can be festive and fun, they can also land you in the emergency room if you don’t take proper precautions, experts warn. About 250 people a day wind up in the ER with fireworks-related injuries in the month before and after Independence Day. More than 75% of these injuries affect the head, neck, arms and hands, according to the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). “These injuries can include burns, eye trauma and hearing or vision issues, and in some cases, disfigurement,” said Dr. Patrick Byrne, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon and president of AAFPRS. “Treatment frequently requires a multidisciplinary approach,” he added in a news release. Taking simple precautions, however, can keep you safe during firework displays: For starters, leave the light show to the pros. Always attend professional fireworks shows instead of lighting your own firecrackers, the academy recommends. Keep children at a safe distance from all fireworks, including sparklers, which burn at nearly 2,000 degrees. Never re-light or handle fireworks that fail to ignite (duds). Instead, wait 20 minutes, then soak them in water before disposing of them. Always have water nearby in case of fire or malfunction. If you are lighting your own firecrackers, light one at a time and back away quickly. More information The U.S. Consumer Product… read on > read on >

There are three common health emergencies for which all U.S. schools should be prepared, a new study says. Brain-related crises like seizures, psychiatric conditions or substance abuse, and trauma-related injuries are the three main reasons paramedics respond to schools, according to a new report in the journal Pediatrics. All together, these three types of medical emergencies account for about half of emergency medical services (EMS) trips to schools, researchers say. “While many schools have taken steps to ensure they are prepared for medical emergencies, many can still enhance their preparedness,” said lead researcher Dr. Michael Harries, a pediatric emergency medicine fellow at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. “Our study results highlight specific target areas for training of school staff, given that timeliness of treatment in an emergency is essential,” Harries said in a news release. “We also stress that certain emergency medications should be available in the school setting, including benzodiazepine for seizures, epinephrine for food allergies and albuterol for asthma.” For the new study, researchers analyzed more than 506,500 EMS responses to schools that occurred between 2018 and 2022, including treatment of children aged 5 to 17. Neurologic problems like seizures accounted for 19% of EMS calls to schools, and psychiatric conditions or substance abuse nearly 17% of calls. Injuries caused by accidents or mishaps accounted for another 15%. Elementary… read on > read on >

Agency will require a Limitation of Use section in the prescribing information of all extended-release ADHD stimulants read on >

Nestle has joined a growing list of major food companies pledging to voluntarily eliminate artificial colors from their U.S. products by the middle of next year amid mounting health concerns. “We are always looking for different ways to offer great tasting, compelling choices for our consumers,” Nestle’s U.S. CEO Marty Thompson said in a statement. “As their diverse dietary preferences and nutritional needs evolve, we evolve with them.” Nestle said 90% of its U.S. products already contain no synthetic dyes. The company has been removing them from its products for the past 10 years, it said in a statement. Nestle’s announcement dovetails with those of other major U.S. food companies. Kraft Heinz and General Mills previously announced plans to remove artificial dyes from their U.S. products by 2027. General Mills said it plans to remove synthetic dyes from its U.S. cereals and all foods served in K-12 schools by mid-2026, and J.M Smucker Co. said it intends to remove artificial colors from its products by the end of 2027, according to media reports. Petroleum-based food dyes have been linked to a variety of health concerns, including allergies, cancer and behavioral changes. They are synthetic color additives derived from crude oil and include artificial dyes such as Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5 and Blue No. 1. The recent moves follow decades… read on > read on >