Your World and You: Tips to Improve Your Family’s Health – Issue 64 (Premium)
Environmental and Nutritional Tips to Improve Your Family’s Health
This feature highlights reports, studies, and feedback on efforts that can positively impact our quest for health. The topics we cover in this issue are listed below. We invite you to share material with us that you think would interest our readers.
Articles in this issue
- Toxic chemicals on your new clothes
- Allergy study with ‘wild’ mice challenges the hygiene hypothesis
- Eczema or psoriasis: Which one is it?
- Game changer data for vitamin D in digestive tract cancers
- More legumes and less red meat in diet is safe for bone health and for protein
- Smoking while pregnant causes double the risk of premature birth previously thought
- Some acid reflux meds associated with higher risk of dementia
- Exposure to air pollution linked to increased risk of stroke within 5 days
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Toxic chemicals on your new clothes
Toxic chemicals have been found in hundreds of consumer products and clothing bought off the racks nationwide.
From production to being worn, washed, and then disposed, “PFAS in clothing and textiles can lead to harmful exposures,” claimed Avinash Kar, at the National Resources Defense Council, an international nonprofit environmental advocacy organization. PFAS are man-made chemicals, and the most commonly studied PFAS are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). They have been used to make nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain resistant fabrics and carpets, some cosmetics, some firefighting foams, and products that resist grease, water, and oil.
Although the full health risks of wearing clothing alleged to be toxic are still unknown, the potential implications are wide-reaching. A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine linked PFAS exposure to cancer, thyroid dysfunction, small changes in birth weight, and high cholesterol, among other concerns.
So how concerned should consumers be about wearing clothing with forever chemicals in them?
PFAS have been found in a wide variety of garments such as rain jackets, hiking pants, shirts and yoga pants and sports bras made by popular brands like Lululemon and Athleta.
Forever chemicals are used as surface treatments to block water and stains. In fact, a 2022 report by Toxic-Free Future, an environmental health research and advocacy organization, found that nearly three-quarters of products labeled as water- or stain-resistant tested positive for them.
The group points to research demonstrating that fabrics with that type of PFAS, called side-chain fluorinated polymers, emit volatile chemicals into the air and, when washed, into the water. “What you can expect is that a raincoat that has this surface treatment, over time, is releasing PFAS to the environment,” said Erika Schreder, Toxic-Free Future’s science director.
PFAS can also be used as a membrane — a thin layer sandwiched in the fabric that blocks water from passing through. This technology is found in products made with Gore-Tex. Such breathable yet waterproof layers of fabric are used in jackets, pants, boots, and gloves in dozens of brands of outdoors wear. Sometimes, garments have both membranes and surface treatments.
Read the full report here
Eczema or psoriasis: Which one is it?
Eczema and psoriasis are common skin conditions, and they can both appear as rashes that may itch or burn. If you get rashes often, you might wonder if you have one or the other. In fact, you could have both eczema and psoriasis at the same time, but it’s rare.
While both have a few things in common, there are some differences in symptoms, causes of flare-ups and health risks. That’s why you should see a dermatologist for a proper diagnosis if you have symptoms.
“Both eczema and psoriasis can impact your sleep, mood and quality of life, so it’s important to seek help if you are struggling with these conditions,” says Catherine Emerson, MD, a dermatologist at Rush University System for Health.
How can you tell if you have eczema or psoriasis?
Both eczema and psoriasis can appear as dry, flaky skin that may itch or burn. It can be hard to tell which you have just by looking. But there are a few key differences that might clue you in.
Both conditions can appear at any age, but eczema usually starts to present in childhood. It often develops along with allergic rhinitis and asthma, and together these conditions are sometimes called the “atopic triad.”
Eczema also tends to be itchier than psoriasis and appear in “flexural” areas. These include the insides of the elbows and behind the knees.
“Itch is a defining feature of eczema,” Emerson says. “In fact, it is often called ‘the itch that rashes.’ It can present as dry patches, bumps or even fluid-filled blisters.”
Psoriasis can also cause itchiness, or it may not itch at all. The spots that appear are red, thick and scaly plaques that have defined edges.
“Psoriasis classically involves the scalp, elbows and knees but can also involve skin folds such as in the groin or genital region, as well as the hands and feet,” Emerson says.
A dermatologist can easily tell the difference between psoriasis and eczema, so getting an examination will be the best way to know for sure which condition you have.
What are the different causes of eczema and psoriasis?
Both eczema and psoriasis have causes related to genetics and environmental factors. They also both result from overactive immune responses that lead to inflammation.
“We think that eczema is related to a defective skin barrier that doesn’t do a good job of keeping water in and irritants and allergens out,” Emerson says.
Overly hot showers and harsh soaps that remove oil from the skin can lead to flare-ups of eczema. Irritants like wool and fragrances in laundry detergent or perfumes can also be triggers.
While psoriasis has a genetic cause like eczema, environmental factors can increase the risk of developing it. Certain medications, including beta-blockers and drugs to treat malaria, have been linked to psoriasis. Other medications, like those used to treat depression and mental health issues, can worsen the condition.
Some infections can contribute to psoriasis, as well, and as with many conditions, obesity and smoking can increase the risk of developing psoriasis.
Read about the health risks and treatments here. (From Rush University Medical Center).
Allergy study with ‘wild’ mice challenges the hygiene hypothesis
The notion that some level of microbial exposure might reduce our risk of developing allergies has arisen over the last few decades and has been termed the hygiene hypothesis. Now, an article published in Science Immunology by researchers from Karolinska Institute challenges this hypothesis by showing that mice with high infectious exposures from birth have the same, if not an even greater ability to develop allergic immune responses than ‘clean’ laboratory mice.
How microbes may prevent allergy has been a topic of great interest in recent times. Studies have suggested that certain infections might reduce the production of inflammatory antibodies to allergens and alter the behavior of T cells involved in allergies. It has also been suggested that good bacteria in our intestines may be able to switch off inflammation in other parts of our body.
Read full report here
Game changer data for vitamin D in digestive tract cancers
Vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced the risk of relapse or death in a subgroup of patients with digestive tract cancer who were p53-immunoreactive, a recent analysis found.
In the p53-immunoreactive subgroup, daily vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of relapse or death by 73%. Overall, the 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) among those receiving vitamin D was 81% vs nearly 31% in the placebo group.
Vitamin D supplementation, however, had no effect on survival outcomes in the non-p53-immunoreactive subgroup.
These findings represent a “game changer” for vitamin D and cancer, said Michael Holick, PhD, MD, with Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine in an editorial accompanying the study. The study was published online August 22 in JAMA Network Open.
The AMATERASU trial “provides an additional variable in our understanding of whether improving vitamin D status has any benefit for reducing risk of developing cancer as well as improving relapse-free and mortality outcomes.”
A growing body of research suggests that vitamin D supplementation may reduce the risk of cancer mortality, but the evidence remains mixed and efficacy may hinge on a patient’s tumor biology, specifically the p53 protein, the authors of the current analysis explained.
Published online August 22, 2023. Full text; editorial.
Increasing legumes and reducing red meat is safe for bone health and for protein intake
A study conducted at the University of Helsinki demonstrated that the partial substitution of red and processed meat with pea- and fava bean–based food products ensured sufficient intake of amino acids in the diet and did not negatively affect bone metabolism.
“Decreasing the consumption of red and processed meat in the diet to the upper limit of the Planetary Health Diet while increasing the consumption of legumes cultivated in Finland, such as peas and faba beans, is safe from the perspective of protein nutrition. Similarly, bone health is not compromised by such a dietary change either,” said researchers.
See the journal link here
Risk of premature birth from smoking while pregnant more than double previous estimates
University of Cambridge researchers have found that women who smoke during pregnancy are 2.6 times more likely to give birth prematurely compared to non-smokers – more than double the previous estimate.
The study, published today in the International Journal of Epidemiology, also found that smoking meant that the baby was four times more likely to be small for its gestational age, putting it at risk of potentially serious complications including breathing difficulties and infections.
But the team found no evidence that caffeine intake was linked to adverse outcomes.
Women are currently recommended to stop smoking and limit their caffeine intake during pregnancy because of the risk of complications to the baby. For example, smoking during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of fetal growth restriction, premature birth and low birthweight, though it has also been linked to a reduced risk of preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy).
High caffeine intake has also been shown to be associated with lower birthweights and possibly fetal growth restriction. Caffeine is more difficult to avoid than cigarette smoke as caffeine is found in coffee, tea, chocolate, energy drinks, soft drinks, and certain medications.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge and the Rosie Hospital, part of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, recruited more than 4,200 women who attended the hospital between 2008 and 2012 as part of the Pregnancy Outcome Prediction (POP) study. The team analyzed blood samples taken from a subset of these women four times during their pregnancies.
Some acid reflux meds associated with higher risk of dementia
People who take acid reflux medications called proton pump inhibitors for four-and-a-half years or more may have a higher risk of dementia compared to people who do not take these medications, according to new research published in the August 9, 2023, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study only looked at prescription medications. Over-the-counter medications were excluded.
Acid reflux is when stomach acid flows into the esophagus, usually after a meal or when lying down. People with acid reflux may experience heartburn and ulcers. People with frequent acid reflux may develop gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, which can lead to cancer of the esophagus.
After adjusting for factors such as age, sex and race, as well as health-related factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes, researchers found people who had been taking acid reflux drugs for more than 4.4 years had a 33% higher risk of developing dementia than people who never took the drugs.
This study does not prove that acid reflux drugs cause dementia; it only shows an association.
Read more here
Dementia Risk Tied to Sedentary Lifestyle
Summary: Adults over 60, who engage in more than 10 hours of sedentary behavior daily, have a heightened risk of dementia. The study revealed that the pattern of sedentary behavior throughout the day mattered less than the total hours spent. Using objective accelerometer data from over 50,000 participants of the U.K. Biobank, the findings after six years pinpointed 414 dementia cases. Importantly, sitting times below 10 hours daily did not indicate increased risk.
The study shows the risk of dementia significantly increases among adults who spend over 10 hours a day engaging in sedentary behaviors like sitting — a notable finding considering the average American is sedentary for about 9.5 hours each day.
The study, published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, also revealed that the way sedentary behavior is accumulated over the course of the day doesn’t matter as much as the total time spent sedentary each day.
That should provide some reassurance to those with office jobs involving prolonged periods of sitting, said lead study author David Raichlen, professor of biological sciences and anthropology at USC.
Read journal abstract
Exposure to Air Pollution Linked to Increased Risk of Stroke Within 5 Days
Short-term exposure to air pollution may be linked to an increased risk of stroke, according to a meta-analysis published in the September 27, 2023, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Short-term exposure was defined as occurring within five days of the stroke.
“Previous research has established a connection between long-term exposure to air pollution and an increased risk of stroke,” said study author Ahmad Toubasi, MD, of the University of Jordan in Amman. “However, the correlation between short-term exposure to air pollution and stroke had been less clear. For our study, instead of looking at weeks or months of exposure, we looked at just five days and found a link between short-term exposure to air pollution and an increased risk of stroke.”
The meta-analysis involved a review of 110 studies that included more than 18 million cases of stroke.
Researchers looked at pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide.
Higher levels of air pollution were also linked to higher risk of death from stroke. Higher concentrations of nitrogen dioxide were linked to a 33% increased risk of death from stroke, sulfur dioxide, a 60% increase, PM2.5, a 9% increase and PM10, a 2% increase.
“There is a strong and significant association between air pollution and the occurrence of stroke as well as death from stroke within five days of exposure,” Toubasi said. “This highlights the importance of global efforts to create policies that reduce air pollution. Doing so may reduce the number of strokes and their consequences.”
From Newswise. Read more
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