There are many causes of depression and suicide, but could one of them be hiding out in your cat's litter box?
As surprising as it sounds, something inside kitty litter boxes might increase a woman's risk of suicide.
For years women have been advised to not empty cat litter boxes while they were pregnant. The reason is because cat feces can contain a common parasite called Toxoplasma Gondii, which is also spread through undercooked meat or unwashed vegetables. And if a pregnant woman gets infected with this parasite it can cause still births or brain damage in their unborn baby.
But we weren't really sure if it caused any problems in women themselves. Well, it looks like it might increase their chances of committing suicide. Researchers looking at over 45,000 women in Denmark found that those handling cat litter boxes had higher levels of antibodies produced from a Toxoplama infection. And those with higher Toxoplasma infection rates were also 1 1/2 times more likely to commit suicide.
The researchers involved in this study think that somehow this small parasite changes the brain a little bit and that small change can lead to emotional and behavioral issues which could lead to a higher risk of suicide.
Since they just studied women, it's not known how this parasite affects men, but the message is the same for everyone... after changing kitty litter boxes, simply wash your hands, especially before handling any food.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Giving Kids Foods They're Allergic To
When it comes to kids and food allergies, the important thing is to keep them away from what sets off their symptoms. But that's not always happening.
When it comes to food allergies, especially to things like peanuts, keeping the food item away from the child is important to their health and safety. But a new study is finding that some parents and caregivers are actually intentionally giving them small amounts of what they are allergic to and this can cause big problems.
As a matter of fact, a recent study found that 1 in 9 food allergy emergencies was not because of a child accidentally getting a hold of the food. Instead, researchers involved in the study think it's because parents and caregivers purposefully gave their children food they knew they were allergic to.
Although they aren't sure why this is happening, some of the researchers involved think it's because parents might be testing their children to see if they've outgrown the allergy... a dangerous practice that can be life-threatening.
On top of this, the researchers also found that when it came to accidental exposures, over half of them occurred when food was being supplied by caretakers other than the parents. This includes grandparents and other relatives who might be watching the child for a few days and are not familiar with these types of allergies.
So the bottom line here is to educate everyone that might be giving a food-allergic child food, including relatives. And when it comes to finding out if they've outgrown their allergy, talk with their doctor to see if some testing in a controlled, safe environment, like a hospital or allergy clinic, can be done.
When it comes to food allergies, especially to things like peanuts, keeping the food item away from the child is important to their health and safety. But a new study is finding that some parents and caregivers are actually intentionally giving them small amounts of what they are allergic to and this can cause big problems.
As a matter of fact, a recent study found that 1 in 9 food allergy emergencies was not because of a child accidentally getting a hold of the food. Instead, researchers involved in the study think it's because parents and caregivers purposefully gave their children food they knew they were allergic to.
Although they aren't sure why this is happening, some of the researchers involved think it's because parents might be testing their children to see if they've outgrown the allergy... a dangerous practice that can be life-threatening.
On top of this, the researchers also found that when it came to accidental exposures, over half of them occurred when food was being supplied by caretakers other than the parents. This includes grandparents and other relatives who might be watching the child for a few days and are not familiar with these types of allergies.
So the bottom line here is to educate everyone that might be giving a food-allergic child food, including relatives. And when it comes to finding out if they've outgrown their allergy, talk with their doctor to see if some testing in a controlled, safe environment, like a hospital or allergy clinic, can be done.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Helmet Law Safety
Using a helmet when riding a motorcycle is a safety tool, but just how safe does it keep you during an accident?
I know this can be a very controversial subject, mandatory helmet laws. It turns out that not only helmets, but helmet laws keep motorcycle riders safe, and probably a lot safer than most of us thought.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The CDC, just came out with some information about how useful these laws are at keeping motorcycle riders safe. They looked at states with and without mandatory motorcycle helmet laws during the years 2008 through 2010. They found that in states with less restrictive laws, there were around 5 times more deaths in riders without helmets thatn in states with more restrictive laws. And they also point out that having a helmet law also saved the states money because it reduced the amount of crash related injuries and deaths.
Now will a motorcycle helmet protect a rider from everything, of course not. But the CDC points out that helmets did prevent 37% of crash deaths in riders and 41% in passengers from 2008 to 2010. And although motorcycles only account for 3% of the registered vehicles on the road, they also make up 14% of traffic deaths.
Motorcycles can be fun to ride, and wearing a helmet shouldn't take away from the fun, but should help protect a rider from hazards while out on the road.
I know this can be a very controversial subject, mandatory helmet laws. It turns out that not only helmets, but helmet laws keep motorcycle riders safe, and probably a lot safer than most of us thought.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The CDC, just came out with some information about how useful these laws are at keeping motorcycle riders safe. They looked at states with and without mandatory motorcycle helmet laws during the years 2008 through 2010. They found that in states with less restrictive laws, there were around 5 times more deaths in riders without helmets thatn in states with more restrictive laws. And they also point out that having a helmet law also saved the states money because it reduced the amount of crash related injuries and deaths.
Now will a motorcycle helmet protect a rider from everything, of course not. But the CDC points out that helmets did prevent 37% of crash deaths in riders and 41% in passengers from 2008 to 2010. And although motorcycles only account for 3% of the registered vehicles on the road, they also make up 14% of traffic deaths.
Motorcycles can be fun to ride, and wearing a helmet shouldn't take away from the fun, but should help protect a rider from hazards while out on the road.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Hotel Rooms Could Make You Sick
When you stay overnight in a hotel room, you expect to get some sleep. But could that room also be getting you sick?
It's basically because some parts of the hotel room could be more contaminated than you'd think. Unfortunately that contamination comes from a bad source, fecal matter. But it's not the toilet in the hotel room that's the most contaminated. It's a couple of things most of us touch every time we are staying in one of the rooms, the TV remote and the bedside lamp switch.
A new study out of the University of Houston checked out hotel rooms to see what areas were most contaminated and what they were contaminated with. It turns out that even though the toilet and sinks were dirty, they weren't as contaminated as the remote or some of the light switches.
When the researchers looked at what types of contamination was most common, they found that 81% of all surfaces had fecal matter on them. As gross as this sounds, that fecal matter comes from poor bathroom hygeine. Some of the cleaner surfaces were the headboards and surprisingly the bathroom door handles.
But because of the areas that were contaminated, the concern is that the contamination might cause problems, especially in those with weakened immune system issues.
Although this doesn't necessarily apply to every hotel room, it's another good reason to make sure we wash our hands, especially before eating, while out on the road.
It's basically because some parts of the hotel room could be more contaminated than you'd think. Unfortunately that contamination comes from a bad source, fecal matter. But it's not the toilet in the hotel room that's the most contaminated. It's a couple of things most of us touch every time we are staying in one of the rooms, the TV remote and the bedside lamp switch.
A new study out of the University of Houston checked out hotel rooms to see what areas were most contaminated and what they were contaminated with. It turns out that even though the toilet and sinks were dirty, they weren't as contaminated as the remote or some of the light switches.
When the researchers looked at what types of contamination was most common, they found that 81% of all surfaces had fecal matter on them. As gross as this sounds, that fecal matter comes from poor bathroom hygeine. Some of the cleaner surfaces were the headboards and surprisingly the bathroom door handles.
But because of the areas that were contaminated, the concern is that the contamination might cause problems, especially in those with weakened immune system issues.
Although this doesn't necessarily apply to every hotel room, it's another good reason to make sure we wash our hands, especially before eating, while out on the road.
Acetaminophen Overdose
You could be overdosing on something most of us have in our houses and don't even know it.
We're talking about simple, over-the-counter Acetaminophen, often sold as Tylenol. And more of us are overdosing then you'd think.
The problem is that even though Acetaminophen is sold just about everywhere, it is still a risky medication if too much of it is taken. And that's exactly what this new study is showing is happening.
Researchers found that nearly 1 in 4 people surveyed had taken more of this medicine than they should. The maximum recommended dose per day is 4,000 milligrams. That's a limit of 8 Extra Strength Tylenols per day. But this study found that 1 in 4 surveyed took more than that amount on a daily basis and 5% took more than 6,000 milligrams per day of Acetaminophen. Unfortunately for those taking too much of this medicine, the side effects include liver problems. And too much Acetaminophen can not only prove dangerous, but also fatal.
Part of the problem is that since it's sold over the countyer without a prescription, many of us think it's safe. It is, but only if it's used properly. The other issue is that many other pain medications, including prescription pain pills, also contain Acetaminophen, so you might be taking too much and not even realize it. So your best bet is to stay within the recommended limits, and when filling a prescription ask your pharmacist if the medicines you're picking up contain Acetaminophen.
We're talking about simple, over-the-counter Acetaminophen, often sold as Tylenol. And more of us are overdosing then you'd think.
The problem is that even though Acetaminophen is sold just about everywhere, it is still a risky medication if too much of it is taken. And that's exactly what this new study is showing is happening.
Researchers found that nearly 1 in 4 people surveyed had taken more of this medicine than they should. The maximum recommended dose per day is 4,000 milligrams. That's a limit of 8 Extra Strength Tylenols per day. But this study found that 1 in 4 surveyed took more than that amount on a daily basis and 5% took more than 6,000 milligrams per day of Acetaminophen. Unfortunately for those taking too much of this medicine, the side effects include liver problems. And too much Acetaminophen can not only prove dangerous, but also fatal.
Part of the problem is that since it's sold over the countyer without a prescription, many of us think it's safe. It is, but only if it's used properly. The other issue is that many other pain medications, including prescription pain pills, also contain Acetaminophen, so you might be taking too much and not even realize it. So your best bet is to stay within the recommended limits, and when filling a prescription ask your pharmacist if the medicines you're picking up contain Acetaminophen.
E-readers Help Readers
E-readers are becoming more and more popular. Now it looks like they might also help out with reading problems.
These e-readers might help children with dyslexia read more easily and that might also mean they read more.
That's the conclusion from a new study. And it works because the e-readers allow you to adjust the spacing between words, which makes them easier to read for someone with dyslexia.
Now when a child does have dyslexia, they have a hard time recognizing printed words and symbols and that makes it tough to read and spell. Without reatment, someone with dyslexia will struggle with reading. That can last into adulthood. This not only affects their school years, but can also affect job performance later in life. One of the best treatments for kids with dyslexia is reading practice. But this becomes tough and frustrating at times, so they tend to not read as much as they should. Researchers found that by using an e-reader and increasing the letter spacing by 2.5 points made it easier for them to read. Kids using this technique not only read more accurately, but also read around 20% faster.
Although not a cure for dyslexia, since it does seem to help them read more easily, this might be one technique that can make reading more enjoyable. Which means they might not put the book, or in this case the e-reader, down as quickly.
These e-readers might help children with dyslexia read more easily and that might also mean they read more.
That's the conclusion from a new study. And it works because the e-readers allow you to adjust the spacing between words, which makes them easier to read for someone with dyslexia.
Now when a child does have dyslexia, they have a hard time recognizing printed words and symbols and that makes it tough to read and spell. Without reatment, someone with dyslexia will struggle with reading. That can last into adulthood. This not only affects their school years, but can also affect job performance later in life. One of the best treatments for kids with dyslexia is reading practice. But this becomes tough and frustrating at times, so they tend to not read as much as they should. Researchers found that by using an e-reader and increasing the letter spacing by 2.5 points made it easier for them to read. Kids using this technique not only read more accurately, but also read around 20% faster.
Although not a cure for dyslexia, since it does seem to help them read more easily, this might be one technique that can make reading more enjoyable. Which means they might not put the book, or in this case the e-reader, down as quickly.
Run, But Not Too Much, To Live Longer
If you're a runner, congratulations, you're probably going to live longer. Unless, you run too much. As confusing as that sounds, that's the newest results of a couple of recent studies. In a nutshell, running can increase your chances of living longer, but only up to a certain point, then it might make things worse.
At least that's what researchers are telling us. One new study found that running lowered a person's risk of dying by about 20%. But that only worked if they didn't run more than 20 miles a week or run more than 5 times per week.
A separate study found taht ultra marathoners, those that ran very long distances, had a higher risk of developing long-term heart damage. The same was found in those doing other endurance sports as well.
So, the best advice from these studies is to definitely do some type of consistend aerobic exercise, like running or cycling. And if you're into ultra marathons, according to one of the authors of thes study, doing it occasionally is probably okay. But it's not something you'd want to do on a consistent basis.
At least that's what researchers are telling us. One new study found that running lowered a person's risk of dying by about 20%. But that only worked if they didn't run more than 20 miles a week or run more than 5 times per week.
A separate study found taht ultra marathoners, those that ran very long distances, had a higher risk of developing long-term heart damage. The same was found in those doing other endurance sports as well.
So, the best advice from these studies is to definitely do some type of consistend aerobic exercise, like running or cycling. And if you're into ultra marathons, according to one of the authors of thes study, doing it occasionally is probably okay. But it's not something you'd want to do on a consistent basis.
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