📦 Meet Zyn: The Tiny Pouches Causing Big Problems
The Numbers Are Shocking! 📊
Teen Nicotine Use Trends (2023-2024):
Demographics Breaking It Down:
Why Are Teens Hooked? 🎯
The Science Behind the Danger 🧪 Effects on Teen Brains:
Health Risks:
Where It’s Happening:
Warning Signs for Parents 🚩 Watch for:
Latest Prevention Efforts:
Sources:
The Bottom Line: While not technically tobacco, these pouches pack a dangerous punch of nicotine that can hook teens fast. Parents, educators, and health officials are racing to address this growing trend!
#TeenHealth #ParentAlert #NicotineAwareness #PublicHealth
The EPA has banned the chemicals, known as trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (Perc), that are commonly used in cleaners, spot removers, lubricants, glue, and automotive care products.
TCE is known to cause liver cancer, kidney cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, according to the National Cancer Institute, and it can also damage the nervous and immune systems. The EPA is banning all uses of this chemical under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
Perc, which is less harmful than TCE, can cause liver, kidney, brain and testicular cancer. It can also damage the kidneys, the liver and the immune system.
Note to parents: Check the products at your home and if it has TCE or PERC, safely discard it.
Let’s break down this cyberbullying stuff – it’s actually pretty wild how common it is now. 🤦♂️
The Scary Numbers 📊
What’s Making It Worse Today
Who Gets Hit Hardest
Cool Tools That Actually Help 🛠️
The Mental Health Hit 🧠 This stuff isn’t just annoying – it seriously messes with kids:
What You Can Do 💪
Need Help?
Real talk: Cyberbullying sucks, but you’re not alone in dealing with it. There are more tools and people ready to help than ever before. Don’t let the trolls win!
The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician’s advice. Always make sure to seek a doctor or a professional’s advice before proceeding with the home treatment plan.
There is a growing case of whooping cough in US. Preliminary data show that more than five times as many cases have been reported as of week 41, reported on October 12, 2024, compared to the same time in 2023. The number of reported cases this year is higher than what was seen at the same time in 2019, prior to the pandemic. Vaccination is the best way to prevent pertussis.
According to recent surveys and reports:
Some key trends you should be aware of:
Statistics on drug use
Among Americans aged 12 years and older, 37.309 million were current illegal drug users (used within the last 30 days) as of 2020.
Parents: Practice
As the summer sun blazes overhead, it’s crucial for parents to be vigilant about their children’s health, especially when it comes to heat-related illnesses like heat stroke and heat exhaustion. These conditions can sneak up unexpectedly but armed with knowledge and a few modern tools, you can keep your little ones safe and cool all season long.
Signs and Symptoms
Recognizing the signs of heat exhaustion in children is the first line of defense. Look out for fatigue, excessive sweating, dizziness, and a noticeable slowdown in activity. Children might not always recognize these symptoms themselves, so it’s up to caregivers to stay observant, especially during hot and humid days or intense physical activity.
Heat-related illnesses are more common than you might think, particularly during summer months and in regions with high temperatures. According to recent data, thousands of children are treated each year for heat-related conditions ranging from mild dehydration to severe heat stroke. These incidents underscore the importance of prevention and early intervention.
Cool Technology to Beat the Heat
Advancements in technology have introduced innovative ways to monitor and manage heat-related risks. Smart wearable devices can now track hydration levels and body temperature in real-time, providing alerts when children are at risk of overheating. These gadgets are not only practical but also offer peace of mind to parents, ensuring prompt action when needed.
Prevention Tips
Preventing heat-related illnesses starts with proactive measures:
Stay Cool and Safe
By staying vigilant and implementing these simple strategies, you can protect your children from the dangers of heat-related illnesses. Remember, prevention is key.
A study found that trace amounts of antidepressants were affecting fish behavior and reproduction in Puget Sound. These drugs enter water bodies through improper disposal or excretion by humans and animals, impacting aquatic ecosystems. Likewise, various studies across Europe have detected pharmaceutical residues in rivers, affecting aquatic organisms and potentially posing risks to human health through drinking water contamination.
In 2017, a study in Australia linked the death of wedge-tailed eagles to the ingestion of euthanasia drugs discarded improperly. These drugs were accessible to the birds, leading to fatal consequences. Likewise, there are many instances where children or pets accidentally ingest medications improperly stored or disposed of in household trash have resulted in emergency room visits and, in severe cases, fatalities.\\
Why do these happen?
Because of improper medication disposal.
Safe medication disposal is crucial for several reasons:
Drug Abuse: Unused medications can be diverted for illicit use if not properly disposed of, contributing to drug abuse issues.
Environmental Impact: Medications improperly disposed of can leach into soil and water systems, potentially harming wildlife and ecosystems.
Public Health: Improper disposal can lead to accidental ingestion by children, pets, or others, causing harm or even death.
According to the FDA, only about 6% of unused medications are disposed of properly.
What can we do?
Practice safe disposal. Go to any of the sites listed in https://apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1 and choose the place to dispose of your medications safely.
Monday is a special day for DFW. We are lucky to have the opportunity to witness full solar eclipse. The City libraries and Rec centers are giving away free eclipse glasses. These are not your sunglasses but are thousands of times darker and ought to comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard.
Here are some safety tips for Eclipse day:
The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician’s advice. Always make sure to seek a doctor or a professional’s advice before proceeding with the home treatment plan.
Heat is called a “silent killer” because you can’t see it but it can quickly turn deadly.
Our bodies are accustomed to a cozy temperature range of around 36 to 37 degrees Celsius (97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit). When the mercury rises above this level, our bodies start sweating to keep cool. But here’s the catch: the hotter it gets, the tougher it is for us to cool down, especially in those humid conditions when our sweat refuses to evaporate like it’s playing hide-and-seek.
Now, let’s talk about the villains of the story: heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion is like an annoying neighbor, bringing along dizziness, nausea, and headaches when your body overheats. But watch out, because heat stroke is the supervillain of the heat world. It strikes when your body temperature skyrockets to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) or higher. Left untreated, it can wreak havoc on your organs or even bring you face-to-face with the Grim Reaper.
As the plot thickens, the number of heat-related illnesses among children is on the rise. This can be attributed to various factors, including climate change, the growing prevalence of childhood obesity, and the increasing participation of children in outdoor activities.
Certain regions become the playgrounds for heat-related illnesses, with the southern and southwestern United States, along with the Gulf Coast, taking center stage. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an average of 618 annual deaths in the United States due to heat-related illnesses between 1999 and 2010.
Now, let’s take a stroll through the stages of heat-related illness in children. First up, we have heat cramps. They’re like the hiccups of heat-related illness, causing muscle cramps that like to make themselves at home in your legs or abdomen. Then we have heat exhaustion, a more serious troublemaker. It comes with a sweaty performance, pale skin, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and even a bit of vomiting. But the grand finale is heat stroke, the superstar of heat-related illness. It brings a scorching body temperature (often over 104 degrees Fahrenheit), skin as dry as a desert, confusion, seizures, and even a surprise appearance by the coma squad.
So, what causes this heat havoc among kids? Well, hot weather takes the cake! When it’s sizzling outside, our bodies work overtime to keep cool. And let’s not forget about the energetic adventurers who find themselves playing a part in this story. Physical exertion or playtime can raise the body’s temperature and make cooling down a challenging task. Dehydration is also on the list. Remember, water is the superhero that saves the day by cooling us down. But there are some sneaky accomplices as well, like certain medications that increase the risk of heat-related illness by causing fluid loss. Oh, and those troublemaker medical conditions like heart disease and obesity—they make the heat drama even more intense.
Actions and precautions to take:
The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician’s advice. Always make sure to seek a doctor or a professional’s advice before proceeding with the home treatment plan.
1,676 children were killed by guns in 2022 in the US. This includes children under the age of 18 who were killed by homicide, suicide, and unintentional shootings. The number of children killed by guns has been increasing in recent years, and it is now the leading cause of death for children in the United States. (Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit that tracks gun violence)
Total guns related death on the upswing
Total firearms death by state. Led by Texas, California and Florida.
The number of firearm deaths in the US increased by 8% or 3,608 deaths from 2020 to a total of 48,830 in 2021.
Guns play a significant role in youth violence. They are used in 46% of adolescent suicides and 93% of adolescent homicides — the second and third highest causes of death for kids ages 14 to 17.
Is it preventable? If you listen to your state legislator and Congressman – NO!
Takeaway:
Regardless of which party you lean, as a pediatrician, even one death of a child due to gun violence is preventable and hence UNACCEPTABLE. If you care about your child or grandkid’s life, send a message to our lawmakers.
Vote and make them listen.
The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician’s advice. Always make sure to seek a doctor or a professional’s advice before proceeding with the home treatment plan.
For more than 60 years, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of injury-related death among young people.
Guns became the leading cause of death among children and teens in 2020, killing more people ages 1 to 19 in the U.S. than vehicle crashes, drugs overdoses or cancer. Between 2000 and 2020, the number of firearm-related deaths among children, adolescents, and young adults increased from 6998 (7.30 per 100,000 persons) to 10,186 (10.28 per 100,000 persons), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (Lee, Douglas and Hemenway, 4/21)
Gun killings, which disproportionately affect younger Americans, went up by 33 percent from 2019 to 2020. And the sad part is that even though the legal age to purchase guns is 18, most of the children killed by firearms in 2020 were 14 and older.
The number of car-related deaths has dropped dramatically in the U.S. over the last 20 years, due to vehicle safety improvements. Around 3,900 people ages 1 to 19 died from vehicle crashes in 2020.
According to experts, firearm violence will only get worse!
If you don’t like this trend take small actions to safeguard kids from firearms!
Further reading:
https://khn.org/morning-breakout/leading-cause-of-child-and-teen-deaths-guns/
https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/firearms-main-cause-of-death-children-united-states-guns-laws/134166/
Source: Internet, CDC, Medical News & Others
The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician’s advice. Always make sure to seek a doctor or a professional’s advice before proceeding with the home treatment plan.
Expired medical products can be less effective or risky due to a change in chemical composition or a decrease in strength. Certain expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth and sub-potent antibiotics can fail to treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance. Once the expiration date has passed there is no guarantee that the medicine will be safe and effective. If your medicine has expired, do not use it.
The CDC reports that 50,000 young children end up in emergency rooms each year because they got into medicines while an adult wasn’t looking.
If you notice your medicines have expired, you can dispose of them this weekend. On Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., you can dispose of your medicine in the following Plano locations:
If you cannot drop it at a “responsible collection” place, follow this:
For more information:
Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know
Source: Internet, CDC, Medical News & Others
The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician’s advice. Always make sure to seek a doctor or a professional’s advice before proceeding with the home treatment plan.
* You need to have, at least for children, both infant and older children’s varieties of fever reducers, depending on the age of your children, and you should have both acetaminophen and ibuprofen for those especially bad fevers where you are instructed by your doctor to alternate medications, and you may also want to have these also in suppositories if your child vomits medications a lot when ill.
Tips
Source: Internet, CDC & Others
The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician’s advice. Always make sure to seek a doctor or a professional’s advice before proceeding with the home treatment plan.
Being a bit of a germaphobe these days is natural, if not necessary, but when we’re so focused on cleaning and disinfecting all the surfaces in our home from the coronavirus with whatever supplies we have on hand, we might forget that not all chemicals mix well. In fact, mixing many household cleaners can end in the worst way possible – with toxic fumes and corrosive chemicals being spread throughout your home. Don’t get us wrong, thorough cleaning is VERY important, but be careful with the mixtures we list in this article, as they can be incredibly dangerous and damaging to both your home and your health.
How Do I Know Which Chemicals Are Safe to Mix?
First things first, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you end up inhaling toxic fumes, getting some of them on your skin, or accidentally spreading cleaning chemicals in your eyes, mouth or nose, and you’re experiencing difficulty breathing, pain, lightheadedness, a rash – seek medical help.
In addition, it’s always safer to keep the windows open while cleaning with chemicals to air out the house, and it’s also advisable to wear protective gloves while working with chemicals, even if you think it’s something benign like a window cleaning solution.
When it comes to working with different cleaning products, it’s always better to stick to one on a specific surface or to wait for the chemical to dry completely before using a different cleaning solution. Layering products right on top of each other usually won’t make your home cleaner anyway. On the contrary, it can make surfaces, like countertops, furniture, and tables, sticky, therefore it’s ill-advised.
However, mixing certain household chemicals is especially dangerous, as all the products you use to clean your home are chemicals, after all, and mixing those can result in unexpected and often toxic chemical reactions. You should be particularly careful with the following 7 combinations, many of which include common disinfectants and cleaners like bleach, rubbing alcohol, and even vinegar:
1. Mixing Toilet Cleaner and Bleach
Although each toilet cleaning product has a different formula (depending on the brand), most of these products contain various types of alcohols and acids, which don’t mix well with bleach. They can result in toxic fumes, which can be extremely dangerous to humans and animals alike. Thus, stick to one or the other, and never mix the two.
2. Bleach + Ammonia = Chloramine
While most people don’t casually keep ammonia in the cleaning cabinet these days, that doesn’t mean you don’t have products that contain the chemical in your home. In fact, it’s very common, and a multitude of common cleaners, such as glass cleaners, bathroom cleaners, multi-surface cleaners, furniture polish, and stainless steel cleaners contain it.
The problem is that ammonia and bleach mixed create chlorine gas – an incredibly toxic substance. Even in small concentrations, it can cause eye and skin irritation, but if you happen to inhale more of it, it can lead to permanent lung damage and can even be deadly. So, make sure you’re not using any products that contain ammonia with bleach, ever.
3. Mixing Different Drain Cleaners
Drain cleaners are very highly concentrated, as their job is to get through all that gunk clogging up the drain, but like many other products, the active ingredients one brand uses will not necessarily be the same with those featured in another brand’s drain cleaner. This is a problem, as many of these contain bleach, which is very reactive with other cleaning agents, as you already know. For your own safety, don’t use two different types of drain cleaners together or immediately one after another. Better safe than sorry.
4. Bleach + Rubbing Alcohol = Chloroform
Rubbing alcohol and bleach are probably the two ingredients we hear the most of lately, as both can destroy the virus we’re trying to protect ourselves from. And while the two are effective when used separately, mixing the two together is extremely dangerous.
When mixed, bleach and rubbing alcohol form two compounds – chloroform and chloroacetone, both extremely toxic and hazardous. Chloroform is a chemical that had been used to knock people unconscious in the past when inhaled, but it is now considered a carcinogen. The other one – chloroacetone – is essentially a type of tear gas. Neither of these chemicals is something you’d like to experience, trust us.
5. Bleach + Vinegar = Toxic Chlorine Gas
Vinegar is a cleaning staple for many, as we often think of it as “natural” and non-toxic. Natural it may be, but it is a type of acid nevertheless, and acids and bleach yield a toxic combination – chlorine gas, which as we mentioned above, is an extremely toxic and dangerous gas.
In fact, chlorine gas may sound familiar to you, even if you’re not into chemistry. This is because chlorine gas was the first chemical weapon ever used, and it was released to torture soldiers during World War I and caused many deaths and injuries.
6. Vinegar + Hydrogen Peroxide = Paracetic Acid
Another ingredient you should never mix with any kind of vinegar is hydrogen peroxide, as well as any other commercial cleaning product that contains it. This includes pretty much any product that doesn’t contain bleach but is advertised to whiten or remove stains, such as Lysol, OxiClean, as well as many detergents, tile cleaners, etc.
When the two ingredients are combined, they yield peracetic acid – a corrosive ingredient that will eat through and break down any surface it touches, including the skin. Hence, be careful even with natural alternatives to cleaning, as many contain either vinegar or hydrogen peroxide.
7. Mixing Vinegar and Baking Soda
While the fizzy substance created when you mix baking soda and vinegar – the natural cleaning staples – is not toxic, but you have to be careful with this mixture nevertheless. This is because the reaction of the two chemicals releases carbon dioxide in great quantities, and if you happen to mix the two in a closed container, it may cause an explosion. Thus, always mix these two in a bowl, to avoid damaging your home or suffering an injury.
Source: AZchemistry, Internet & Others
Photo by Liliana Drew on Pexels.com
The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician’s advice. Always make sure to seek a doctor or a professional’s advice before proceeding with the home treatment plan.
Here are 3 useful and simple recipes of DIY hand sanitizers. None of these recipes use more than three ingredients, some of which you likely already have lying about in the medicine cabinet.
Before we show you how to make hand sanitizer at home, however, it’s crucial to point out that using hand sanitizers is merely a supplement to hand-washing, as no hand sanitizer will clean your hands as well as soap and water. We’d also like to inform you that hand sanitizers contain a lot of alcohol that may dry out your hands, so we recommend moisturizing your hands an hour after every use of hand sanitizers.
Equipment
You’ll need a few containers and kitchen tools in order to do this recipe, namely:
Recipe 1: Fragrance-Free Hand Sanitizer
Artificial fragrance is one of the main issues of hand sanitizers available in stores. The problem with fragrance is that it can be very sensitizing for the skin, especially with frequent use. This means that it can make your skin red, bumpy and itchy, cause an allergic reaction and further dry out your skin. If you have sensitive skin and are prone to skin allergies, this fragrance-free two-ingredient recipe is the best for you.
Note that we recommend purchasing the highest percentage of isopropyl alcohol, 99% is the best. This is because the hand sanitizer should contain at least 60% alcohol to make it as effective at killing germs as possible.
Ingredients
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix thoroughly until smooth and homogeneous using a spoon or spatula.
Recipe 2: Get the Benefits of Essential Oils
You can add essential oils to your hand sanitizer to make it smell nicer. Essential oils also have a variety of wellness benefits, some being capable of invigorating you while others may calm and de-stress you, for example. Here are a few examples of aromatherapeutic oils you can use and what they can do:
Keep in mind that it’s best to avoid essential oils if you have sensitive skin. But even if you don’t, never use them directly on the skin without diluting, as they are very concentrated and may cause various adverse skin reactions. Doing a patch test before applying onto your hands is also recommended.
When purchasing essential oils, it’s the safest to use purest products you can find. Search for labels like “pure grade”, “therapeutic grade”, “certified organic” and “aromatherapy grade” on the bottle – these labels suggest the essential oil is of high quality.
Ingredients
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix thoroughly until smooth and homogenous using a spoon or spatula.
Recipe 3: Using Grain Alcohol
If you don’t have access to isopropyl alcohol, you can also make hand sanitizer using grain alcohol, i.e. liquor. It’s recommended to use 190-proof grain alcohol, which is 95% alcohol, or the highest alcohol content you can find.
Ingredients
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix thoroughly until smooth and homogenous using a spoon or spatula.
Bottling Up and Storing DIY Hand Sanitizer
Put a funnel into the bottle you’re going to use for the hand sanitizer and pour the mixture through the funnel. It’s best to find a bottle that’s tightly sealed and has a dispenser or pump, as with time, the alcohol will evaporate from the sanitizer, rendering it less effective, and this happens faster when the product is in a jar. Store the product out of direct sunlight and try to use it up within 1 month.
How to Use Hand Sanitizer Correctly
Believe it or not, technique matters when it comes to hand sanitizer use. The product is best applied onto dry hands. If your hands are dirty, we suggest wiping them down with a tissue first. Here is the most effective way to use a hand sanitizer:
That’s it. Now your hands should be clean. Repeat as many times a day as needed, but remember that it’s preferable to wash your hands with soap and water and use sanitizer as a supplement to hand-washing.
Source: Internet & Others
Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com
The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician’s advice. Always make sure to seek a doctor or a professional’s advice before proceeding with the home treatment plan.
Takeaway: Please put on your thinking cap.
Don’t let media, your distrust of government or fake news peddlers influence your thinking.
1. Because they are virtually unregulated
2. The regulation lacks teeth
3. People are too eager to rush for a silver bullet than take the slow but sure road to better health.
· According to a new Harvard study today, as many as 11 supplements on the market contain the potentially dangerous ingredient. They were all available at popular retail stores and online, and are advertised as "all-natural."
· A similar study, carried out by the FDA in 2013, found BMPEA in 9 of 21 tested supplements, but no regulatory action was taken. No public warning was issued.
· Just this week, Human breast milk sold were found to be tainted with cow’s milk.
· In 2013, Researchers identified 27 supplements available for purchase online that were among 274 recalled during 2009-2012. Among sports enhancement or bodybuilding supplements, 85% of those purchased by the researchers remained adulterated with dangerous compounds, including anabolic steroids
· Any more recently, in Feb 2015, GNC, Target, Wal-Mart, Walgreens were accused of selling adulterated ‘herbals’. The investigators tested 24 products claiming to be seven different types of herb — Echinacea, garlic, gingko biloba, ginseng, saw palmetto, St. John’s wort and valerian root. All but five of the products contained DNA that was either unrecognizable or from a plant other than what the product claimed to be.
Still not Convinced?
Here are more from Medscape
So, What should a consumer do?
From FDA: consumers should heed these potential warning signs of tainted products marketed as dietary supplements.
Generally, if you are using or considering using any product marketed as a dietary supplement, FDA suggests that you
Texas grocery chain H-E-B is pulling Blue Bell Ice Cream from shelves as a precaution after a recall of some of the ice cream maker’s products that were connected to three deaths in Kansas.
Blue Bell on Friday suspended operations at its Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, plant that officials previously had connected to contaminated ice cream. The company recalled products there and at a Texas plant that’s been linked to a food borne illness connected to three deaths.
Clear out your freezer of Blue Bells for a while.
Per the AAA study, 963,000 drivers ages 16-19 were involved in police-reported motor vehicle crashes in 2013, which resulted in 383,000 injuries and 2,865 deaths.
Key Findings
The driver was found to have been driving too fast for conditions in 79% of single-vehicle crashes; following too closely in 36% of rear-end crashes, and failed to yield to another vehicle in 43% of angle crashes.
The driver was inattentive or engaged in some other non-driving-related activity in 58% of crashes overall (44% of loss-of-control crashes, 89% of road -departure crashes, 76% of rear-end crashes, and 51% of angle crashes).
The most frequent potentially-distracting behaviors were conversing or otherwise interacting with passengers and cell phone use.
Read more: https://www.aaafoundation.org/sites/default/files/2015TeenCrashCausationFS.pdf
Neem oil: Neem has a number of great benefits for the human body, but apart from being an elixir for your health, neem is also a great mosquito-repellent. A study published in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association found that mixing neem oil with coconut oil in a 1:1 ratio is a really effective way to keep mosquitoes at bay. Being a potent antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral and anti-protozoal agent, neem lends your skin a particular smell that wards off mosquitoes. To make an effective insecticide mix neem oil and coconut oil in equal portions and rub it on your body (all exposed parts). This will protect you from mosquito bites for at least eight hours.
Eucalyptus and lemon oil: Recommended by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) as an effective insect-repellent the mixture of lemon oil and eucalyptus oil is extremely effective in repelling mosquitoes – naturally. The way lemon oil and eucalyptus oil works is due to its active component cineole, which has both antiseptic and insect-repellent properties when applied to the skin. The best part about this mixture is that it is natural and does not come with all the ill effects of chemical mosquito repellents. To use this mixture, mix lemon oil and eucalyptus oil in equal proportions and use it on your body. (Read:Neem and tulsi, effective remedies to keep malaria out of your home)
Camphor: Using camphor as a repellent also works wonders. Made from the extract of a tree, this compound has been found to have the longest mosquito repellent activity when compared to other natural products. Light camphor in a room and close all the doors and windows. Leave it this way for about fifteen to twenty minutes and go back to a mosquito free environment.
Tulsi: According to data published in the Parasitology Research Journal tulsi was extremely effective in killing mosquito larvae and helped keep mosquitoes away. Moreover, according Ayurveda simply planting a tulsi shrub near your window is all you need to keep mosquitoes away. The plant has properties that do not allow mosquitoes to breed and will prevent them from entering your house.
Garlic: Is a great way to keep mosquitoes at bay. It might smell bad, but that is exactly why mosquitoes stay away. The strong and pungent odour of garlic is known to prevent mosquito bites and even prevents them from entering your home. So to use this remedy you could crush up a few pods of garlic, boil it in water and use the water to spray around the room you want to keep mosquito free. If you are the adventurous type (or really hate mosquitoes), you could also spray it on yourself to avoid being bitten.
Tea tree oil: It has numerous benefits for your skin and hair and is a very powerful antibacterial and antifungal agent as well, but did you know that tea tree oil is also perfect to drive mosquitoes away? Well, the odour and its antifungal and antibacterial properties help prevent mosquitoes from biting you and drive them away. So if you want to use this remedy you could either rub some tea tree oil on your skin or add a few drops of it to a vaporizer. This way the scent of tea tree oil permeates the air keeping mosquitoes at bay.
Mint : If the scent of mint relaxes you then this remedy is for you. According to a study published in the Journal of Bioresource Technology {4} found that mint oil and mint extract is as effective as any other insect repellent. You can use mint leaves and essence in a number of ways. You can choose to use it in a vaporizer to help fill the room with the scent of mint, apply the oil on your body or plant the shrub outside your rooms window. Alternatively you could mix a bit of mint-flavored mouthwash with water and spray it around your home.
Lavender: Not only does it smell absolutely divine but it is also a great way to keep those pesky mosquitoes at bay. The scent of this flower is often quite strong for mosquitoes making them unable to bite. So to use this home remedy, use lavender oil as a natural room freshener or apply it on your skin (you can mix it with your cream) for best results.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service joined forces to create the Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration and issue the report. The study used data from nearly 1,000 outbreaks that occurred from 1998 to 2012. Among its key findings, it broke down which types of food are most likely to harbor common types of bacteria:
E. coli: More than 80 percent of cases were a result of eating beef and row crops such as leafy green vegetables.
Salmonella: Though this type of bacteria can end up in a large variety of foods, 77 percent of cases were related to eggs, chicken, beef, bean sprouts, pork and seeded fruits and vegetables such as melons and tomatoes.
Campylobacter: Dairy is the primary culprit for infections caused by this type of bacteria, with 66 percent coming from raw milk and cheeses such as unpasteurized queso fresco. Chicken accounted for 8 percent of campylobacter infections.
Listeria: Though there was less data on this type of bacteria, the report finds fruits such as cantaloupe accounted for about half of all listeria infections; dairy was to blame in about 31 percent of cases.
