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!
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:
Clark High School
Plano Senior High School
Plano East Senior High School
Plano West Senior High School
If you cannot drop it at a “responsible collection” place, follow this:
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.
Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio with extra batteries
Whistle to signal for help
Local maps
Sleeping bag or warm blanket for everyone in your family
Cell phone with charger, extra battery, and solar charger
Extra set of car keys and house keys
Change of clothes appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes – for each person in the house
Matches in a waterproof container or re-sealable plastic bag
Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, and hand sanitizer
Cash or traveler’s checks
Copies of important family documents (medical records, insurance policies, ID card, bank records) in waterproof, portable container
Family and emergency contact information
At least a two-week supply of prescription medicines for each family member, including medicine name, dose, pharmacy name and number, and doctor’s name and number
Books, games, puzzles, or other fun things to do
A favorite stuffed animal or blanket
Paper and pencil/markers/crayons
Identification to be carried by each child in case your family members become separated
well-stocked diaper bag (at least one pack of diapers, at least two packs of baby wipes, baby powder, diaper rash cream, baby wash and lotion, and re-sealable plastic bags (gallon size) for stashing dirty diapers and clothes)
Ready-to-feed infant formula in single serving cans or bottles (for formula-fed infants only)
Disposable cups
1-2 boxes of nursing pads (if disposable, reusable will require laundry and bleach daily)
Burp rags or smaller blanket
Pacifiers (at least two)
Teething tablets or gel
Infant pain reliever with Acetaminophen
Bulb syringe
Toddler snacks
Extra clothes
Extra emergency blankets (at least two)
Receiving blankets (at least two)
Thermos (to keep formula cool or warm longer)
Small camp stove for boiling water for sanitizing
Adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
Adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
Sterile gauze (both rolls and pads)
Antibiotic ointment
Antiseptic wipes/spray
Instant cold compresses (I also like to have some reusable cold compresses in the freezer at all times)
First aid instruction booklet
Emergency contact numbers
Hydrocortisone ointment
Calamine lotion
Rubbing alcohol
Hydrogen peroxide
Hand sanitizing gel
Burn ointment
Eyewash solution (with eye cup)
Petroleum jelly
Saline solution (for help in suctioning out baby’s nose)
Sunscreen, at least SPF 15
Sunburn ointment
Cotton balls
Cotton swabs
Disposable gloves
Ace bandages
Plastic bags
Bulb syringe (for suctioning out baby’s nose)
Medicine syringes and teaspoons for measuring out doses of medicine
Tweezers
Fine needle (use this, along with tweezers for splinter removal)
Blanket
Flashlight and batteries
Fever and pain reducers, for both adults and children*
* 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.
Antacids
Anti-diarrhea medication
Oral electrolyte solution (such as Pedialyte)
Mild laxatives
Antihistamines
Cold and/or flu medicines
Cough medicine
Prescription medications prescribed to family members
Tips
Keep canned or packaged food in a cool, dry place (check the expiration dates at least twice per year)
Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers
Replace water supply every six months
Review your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change (update medical and personal records at least once per year)
Prepare separate kits for your home, work, and your vehicle since you never know where you’ll be when an emergency happens
If you can’t contact your doctor or pharmacy in a disaster, ask for help from emergency responders or staff at emergency shelters or service centers
It is no longer recommended to keep syrup of ipecac in your home to induce vomiting, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics
In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend keeping activated-charcoal solution in your first aid kit.
Instead, call the Poison Control Center immediately! The Poison Help hotline number is 1-800-222-1222
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.
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.
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:
A clean bowl
A funnel
Something for mixing (e.g. a spatula, spoon)
A clean, empty hand sanitizer bottle or any other container with a lid.
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
⅔ cup isopropyl alcohol
⅓ cup plain aloe vera gel
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:
Tea Tree Essential Oil has powerful antiseptic and germ-fighting properties.
Cinnamon Essential Oil makes you more alert, has antiseptic properties and helps relieve headaches.
Lavender Essential Oil relaxes, soothes the skin, and helps migraines.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil has antibacterial properties and boosts the immune system.
Peppermint Essential Oil energizes, relieves migraines, a stuffy nose and allergy symptoms.
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
⅔ cup isopropyl alcohol
⅓ cup of plain aloe vera gel
10 drops essential oil of choice
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
⅔ cup grain alcohol
⅓ cup of plain aloe vera gel
10 drops essential oil of choice (optional)
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:
Use about a dime-sized amount.
Rub your hands together for 20-30 seconds. Make sure you get the areas between your fingers, the backside of the hands, and under the fingernails.
Wait for the sanitizer to dry completely, and try not to wipe or rinse your hands for 15-20 minutes after use.
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.
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.
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
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So, What should a consumer do?
From FDA: consumers should heed these potential warning signs of tainted products marketed as dietary supplements.
Products claiming to be alternatives to FDA-approved drugs or to have effects similar to prescription drugs.
Products claiming to be a legal alternative to anabolic steroids.
Products that are marketed primarily in a foreign language or those that are marketed through mass e-mails.
Products that provide warnings about testing positive in performance enhancement drug tests.
Generally, if you are using or considering using any product marketed as a dietary supplement, FDA suggests that you
check with your health care professional or a registered dietician on any nutrients you may need in addition to your regular diet
ask yourself: Does it sound too good to be true?
Be cautious if the claims for the product seem exaggerated or unrealistic
Watch out for extreme claims—for example, "quick and effective," "cure-all;" "can treat or cure diseases; or "totally safe"
Be skeptical about anecdotal information from personal “testimonials” about incredible benefits or results obtained from using a product
ask your health care professional for help distinguishing between reliable and questionable information
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.
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.
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.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) is an ingredient derived from ethoxylated lauryl alcohol and used as a surfactant; may be contaminated with potentially toxic manufacturing impurities such as 1,4-dioxane.
Virtually every toothpaste that foams, has SLS. But researchers discovered a problem. According to Dr Toby Talbot, an expert in restorative dentistry and a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), is used as a wetting agent (something that allows the paste to spread more easily), is a major concern for good dental health. "The problem with SLS is that it opens up the gaps between the mucosal – skin – cells in the mouth, which allows toxins or carcinogens to get in (these can come from all manner of sources including tobacco smoke), he said.
If there was one message I would shout till I am hoarse, it would be “The measles vaccine doesn’t cause autism.”
There are an an enormous number of studies have found that the measles vaccine is overwhelmingly safe. But people who are paranoid or believe that “everyone lies” are
bringing about a resurgence of this deadly disease back in America. If you argue that a whistleblower is trying to blow open the measles cover-up at CDC, read this.
Most of the 100+ measles cases in the United States right now stem from an outbreak centered at Disneyland. You don’t believe we have a measles outbreak? Look at the stats below.
And what makes it dangerous: It has the highest transmission rate of any known killer virus to mankind. In fact, if someone who has not yet shown symptoms of measles
leaves a room and you arrive after 2 hours, you could still catch the disease.
My heartfelt recommendation: Vaccinate you child, save your baby and your community.
Superbowl is this Sunday. As the 100 million viewers tuning in to this Sunday’s Super Bowl can attest, Americans adore football. And for many, the love affair begins in childhood.
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine found that former National Football League (NFL) players who participated in tackle football before the age of 12 are more likely to have memory and thinking problems as adults. In the latest study, published in the journal Neurology, scientists examined test scores of 42 former NFL players, with an average age of 52, all of whom had experienced memory and thinking problems for at least six months.
Key Takeaway:
Kids who are hitting their heads over and over during this important time of brain development may have consequences later in life.
If you must play, play only flag football. Don’t play tackle football. And for heaven’s sake, wear a helmet to protect your coconuts J
Yesterday, driving to work I heard NPR state that there are now 66 cases of Chikungunya in the Dallas area.
Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. The joint pain is often very debilitating, but usually lasts for a few days or may be prolonged to weeks. Serious complications are not common.
There is no cure for the disease. There is no specific antiviral drug treatment for Chikungunya. Treatment is directed primarily at relieving the symptoms, including the joint pain using anti-pyretics, optimal analgesics and fluids. There is no commercial chikungunya vaccine. Most patients recover fully, but in some cases joint pain may persist for several months, or even years.
PREVENTION
The best means of prevention is overall mosquito control and the avoidance of bites by any infected mosquitoes. The proximity of mosquito breeding sites to human habitation is a significant risk factor for chikungunya. Wearing bite-proof long sleeves and trousers also offers protection.
