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☆ Here’s what marijuana researchers have to say about 420 or ‘weed day’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —It’s 420 or “weed day,” and people around the world will be paying homage to their favorite guilty pleasure: marijuana. “I worry when people are in an enclosed space because new data is beginning to show that secondhand marijuana smoke may be just as dangerous as the primary smoke,” Page said. “Approximately 3 in 10 people who use marijuana have marijuana use disorder,” according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, some parents told doctors they believed vaping marijuana was safer than tobacco, Boyd told CNN earlier via email. A cloud of marijuana smoke rises as a clock hits 4:20 p.m. during the Mile High 420 Festival in Denver on "weed day" in 2022.

Persons: CNN —, Dr, Beth Cohen, Cohen, “, ”, Robert Page II, ” Page, Weed, It’s, ’ ” Carol Boyd, Ann Arbor, Peter Grinspoon, ” Young, Sam Wang, Boyd, Grinspoon, Patrick T, Fallon, Nixon, ” Boyd, ” Grinspoon, ’ ”, Page Organizations: CNN, District of Columbia, University of California, University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center, Drugs, University of Michigan, US Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, Massachusetts General Hospital, Marijuana, Children’s Hospital, Yale Medicine, Drug, University of Colorado’s, Getty, University of Mississippi, US Drug, Administration Locations: United States, San Francisco, Colorado, Aurora, Ann, Boston, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Denver, AFP

☆ Stayed up all night? Here’s how to feel better
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —It was a dream come true for millions of Taylor Swift fans, after the superstar released her latest album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” at midnight on Friday. “The strongest reset for the circadian system is bright light,” said Dr. Phyllis Zee, director of the Center for Circadian and Sleep Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. “Research shows that movement can boost circulation and increase alertness, helping you shake off that sleepiness faster,” Daddy Dasgupta said. “It could limit your ability to sleep well that night,” said sleep specialist Kristen Knutson, an associate professor of neurology and preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. And of course, listening to Taylor Swift counts as long as you turn it off before bed!”CNN’s Madeline Holcombe, Kristen Rogers and Ashley Strickland contributed Taylor Swift lyrics to this article.

Persons: Taylor Swift, ”, Phyllis Zee, “, Mina Dasgupta, Raj Dasgupta, Daddy Dasgupta, Taylor, ” Mina, ” Dasgupta, Cynthia Ackrill, Swift, it’s, Kristen Knutson, Dasgupta, Knutson, Madeline Holcombe, Kristen Rogers, Ashley Strickland Organizations: CNN, Poets Department, ”, Maserati, Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, “ Research, American Institute of, Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine Locations: Chicago, Huntington Heath, Pasadena , California

☆ Routine jobs raise the risk of cognitive decline by 66% and dementia by 37%, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Having a routine job with little mental stimulation during your 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s was linked to a 66% higher risk of mild cognitive impairment and a 37% greater risk of dementia after the age of 70, according to the study, when compared with having a job with high cognitive and interpersonal demands. Attending college, for example, reduced the impact of a repetitive job by about 60% but didn’t fully negate the risk. Routine jobs that were not classified as “cognitively protective” often involved repetitive manual and mental tasks, such as is typical of factory work and bookkeeping. “Most people in routine jobs in our sample included housekeepers, custodians, construction workers and mail carriers,” Edwin said. More cognitively demanding jobs were not based on routine tasks, even though repetition was required at times.

Persons: ”, Dr, Trine Edwin, Edwin said, Richard Isaacson, Isaacson, ” Edwin, Edwin, It’s, ” Isaacson Organizations: CNN, Oslo University Hospital, American Academy of Neurology, “ Locations: Norway, Florida

☆ Melatonin industry asked to voluntarily tighten standards after dramatic rise in childhood ER visits
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

As a dietary supplement, melatonin is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for safety, effectiveness or labeling before it is sold to the public. The council’s action follows recent reports of a massive rise in accidental ingestions of melatonin by children and an April 2023 study that found 25 products labeled as melatonin gummies contained dangerous levels of the hormone. Melatonin gummies were involved in nearly 5,000 of those cases. While the vast majority of unsupervised melatonin ingestions did not result in hospitalization, the number of accidental ingestions by children 5 and under may be underestimated, the report said. New and improved labelsThe council guidelines call for new labels that warn consumers about the danger of drowsiness after taking a melatonin supplement.

Persons: —, ”, Pieter Cohen, ” Cohen, it’s “, Cohen, Catherine McQueen, ” Dr, Cora Collette Breuner, “ It’s, Breuner, Amanda Musa Organizations: CNN, Council for Responsible Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration, Cambridge Health Alliance, US Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, Food and Drug Administration, Getty, Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington Locations: Somerville , Massachusetts, Seattle

☆ How to limit PFAS in your drinking water and food, according to experts
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“It would be about 25 years before all the PFAS leave your body.”Testing your waterWhat can consumers do right now to limit the levels of PFAS in their drinking water? Filtering your waterIf PFAS levels are concerning, consumers can purchase an under-the-counter water filter for their tap. “The water filters that are most effective for PFAS are reverse osmosis filters, which are more expensive, about in the $200 range,” Andrews said. Reverse osmosis filters can remove a wide range of contaminants, including dissolved solids, by forcing water through various filters. PFAS in food and your homeDrinking water is not the only way PFAS enters the bloodstream.

Persons: Melanie Benesh, “, ” Jane Hoppin, ”, Andrews, PFAS, ” Andrews Organizations: CNN, Environmental Protection Agency, Geological Survey, Environmental, ”, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Center for Human Health, Environment, North Carolina State University, NSF, National Sanitation Foundation, EWG, US Food and Drug Administration, FDA, Research, Education, Community Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Locations: United States, polluters, Raleigh, Texas

But a new report from Consumer Reports said it recently compared the nutritional profiles of two Lunchables kits served in schools and found they have even higher levels of sodium than the Lunchables kits consumers can buy in stores. The non-profit consumer group said it has petitioned the US Department of Agriculture, which oversees the federally assisted school meal program, to remove Lunchables food kits from school cafeterias, as a result. The introduction of Lunchables in schools came amid proposed changes to school food guidelines by the USDA, which oversees the federally assisted school meal program. The proposed changes aimed to reduce added sugars and sodium levels in school-provided lunches. Food additives are considered “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration, but not everyone agrees.

Persons: Lunchables, Armour LunchMakers, Oscar Mayer, can’t, “, Brian Ronholm, Kraft Heinz, ” Kraft Heinz, Carlos Monteiro, Monteiro, ” Monteiro, Heinz “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, Consumer, Natural Meat, World Health Organization, US Centers for Disease Control, US Department of Agriculture, CNN, USDA, University of Sao, NOVA, US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Science, Environmental, Kraft Locations: New York, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

☆ Toxic ‘forever’ chemicals found in excessive levels in global groundwater, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Potentially toxic chemicals called PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are found in surface and groundwaters around the world at levels much higher than many international regulators allow, a new study found. Groundwater can be contaminated by PFAS from food and consumer products added to landfills as well as from manufacturing facilities. Public concern led to a commitment by manufacturers in 2008 to phase out use of PFOA and PFOS, two of the most widely used chemicals. Generally PFAS concentrations are higher in urban areas or areas that used PFAS products extensively, O’Connell said, but it is also leached into the environment in ways that may not be obvious. “Another example is that PFAS used to be used in ski wax, so pristine environments, where people ski, have PFAS in their waters and soils,” he said.

Persons: Mario Tama, ”, David Andrews, Andrews, ” Andrews, “, Denis O’Connell, O’Connell, ” O’Connell Organizations: CNN, US Environmental Protection Agency, Health Canada, EPA, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine . Studies, Environmental, Agency, Toxic Substances, Disease, Nature, University of New, Geological Survey, NSF, National Sanitation Foundation Locations: Mount Everest, Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney

☆ First-degree relatives are 9 times more likely to develop a serious form of depression, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Close relatives of people with treatment-resistant depression are nine times more likely to develop depression that also does not respond to traditional treatment, a new study found. For people with treatment-resistant depression, also known as TRD, standard treatments such as psychiatric therapy and antidepressants may not work well, if at all. Being aware that treatment-resistant depression runs in families can help with early treatment options, experts say. First-degree relatives of people with TRD, which include parents, siblings and children, were nine times as likely to develop treatment-resistant depression and were at high risk of all-cause death and death by suicide compared with relatives of people without TRD, the study found. “So, this is a very welcome study indeed and goes someway to addressing the massive underrepresentation of Asian people in studies.”

Persons: CNN —, ., Ta Li, Yang Ming, ”, Andrew McIntosh, McIntosh, Justin Paget, ” Li, Li, “, ” McIntosh Organizations: Lifeline, CNN, Tung University, Centre, Clinical, Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Digital Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Scotland, Europe, North America

☆ CPAP replacement works well for the overweight, not obese, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —An implant for obstructive sleep apnea — a serious sleep malady in which breathing stops for 10 seconds to two minutes many times an hour each night — works best in people who are overweight but not severely obese, a new study found. “There’s a huge unmet need of patients that are suffering with obstructive sleep apnea and not able to tolerate CPAP,” Landsness said. nicolesy/iStockphoto/Getty ImagesAbout a third of patients have difficulty using a CPAP and may ultimately abandon the device, Landsness said. Obstructive sleep apnea is also connected to type 2 diabetes, asthma, obesity, kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, thyroid disease and mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. “As an alternative treatment for sleep apnea, this hypoglossal nerve stimulation surgery could revolutionize some people’s lives,” he said.

Persons: Eric Landsness, St . Louis, ” Landsness, ”, Kristen Knutson, “, Landsness, CPAP, Brandon Peters, Mathews, ” Peters, Raj Dasgupta, Dasgupta, “ I’ve Organizations: CNN, Washington University School of Medicine, Medicare, BMI, Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Food and Drug Administration, Huntington Health, Mayo Clinic, telltale Locations: St ., Chicago, Seattle, Pasadena , California

☆ Common flame retardants linked to deaths from cancer in people, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Flame retardants added for decades to thousands of consumer products in the United States may raise the risk of dying from cancer, according to new research. “The new study links PBDEs to deaths from cancer, building a case for the association between flame retardants and cancer mortality being real,” said Trasande, who researches the impact of plastics, flame retardants and other chemicals on children. Flame retardant chemicals also can pass to developing fetuses via the placenta and to newborns through breast milk, past research has found. In some cases, the industry has replaced these chemicals with newer phosphorus-based flame retardants, Trasande said, adding that researchers are now concerned these chemicals may be linked to cancer as well. When reupholstering older couches or chairs, be sure to replace the old foam with flame retardant-free foam.

Persons: Leonardo Trasande, ”, Trasande, ” Trasande, Tasha Stoiber, EWG Organizations: CNN, National Health, JAMA, NYU Langone Health, US Centers for Disease Control, Manufacturers, US Environmental Protection Agency, CDC, Environmental Locations: United States, PBDEs, New York City

☆ Two brains: One visualizes too much, the other not at all
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

“I understand concepts, I comprehend things, I have memories, but they aren’t supported by any images,” Wathen said. Paul BokslagDutch-born artist Geraldine van Heemstra is at the opposite end of this unique way of processing. In reaction to cruel teasing from her brothers and school friends, van Heemstra learned to hide her sensory abilities as a child. “It was quite tricky at school as well, such as with math, where I would see the numbers in color,” van Heemstra said. “It was so frustrating at school because I would explain something, and then I would be laughed at,” van Heemstra said.

Persons: Mary Wathen, ” Wathen, “, Wathen, ”, “ I’ve, ‘ You’ve, Geraldine van Heemstra, Paul Bokslag Dutch, van, ” van Heemstra, “ It’s, van Heemstra, van Heemstra can’t, aphantasia, Adam Zeman, Zeman, ” Zeman, aphantasia don’t, ” That’s, I’m, they’ve, that’s, what’s, Van Heemstra, ” Van Heemstra, you’re Organizations: CNN, University of Exeter, University of Edinburgh, Cognitive Sciences, “ Locations: Newent, England, Scottish, London, Edinburgh, Scotland, Miami

☆ Feeling older than you are? It could be how you sleep
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Not getting enough sleep may cause you to feel five to 10 years older than you really are, according to two new studies. A lack of energy and motivation can certainly contribute to feeling older while limiting a person’s ability to remain physically and socially active, both of which contribute to feeling young, Balter said. For every night of poor sleep during that time, people reported feeling about a quarter of a year older than their chronological age. “These findings support that sleep, a vital biological phenomenon, might hold the key to feeling young,” Balter and her colleagues wrote in the study. “If you suspect that your sleep deprivation is due to a sleep disorder such as insomnia or sleep apnea, it’s crucial to seek evaluation and treatment from a healthcare professional,” he said.

Persons: CNN —, “, ” Leonie Balter, Balter, ”, Chang, Ho Yun, ” Yun, It’s, ” Balter, Sleepiness, chronotype, Yun Organizations: CNN, Stockholm University, Royal Society, Seoul National University, Getty Locations: Sweden, Seongnam, South Korea

☆ Counting sheep: Who came up with this old sleep tip, and does it work?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Does counting sheep work? So does counting sheep really help you fall asleep? “Something as mundane as counting sheep usually does not do the trick,” she said. Remember what happened, how you felt and let yourself bask in those good feelings to encourage sleep, Harvey said. Doing so can get it out of your head before your head hits the pillow, allowing sleep to come without counting sheep.

Persons: CNN —, —, I’ve, Messer Azzolino, …, Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote, Sancho Panza, Quixote, Disciplina, Don Quixote ” —, Panza, you’ll, Allison Harvey, ”, Harvey, “, ” Harvey, didn’t, savoring Organizations: CNN, Hulton, Research, University of California, Oxford University Locations: ”, Berkeley

☆ 16,000 plastic chemicals exist, many of them hazardous and unregulated, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

And with new plastic chemicals entering the market all the time, it’s been difficult for regulators and policy makers to determine the scope of the problem. Now, for the first time, researchers have pulled together scientific and regulatory data to develop a database of all known chemicals used in plastic production. It’s a staggering number: 16,000 plastic chemicals, with at least 4,200 of those considered to be “highly hazardous” to human health and the environment, according to the authors. Although grouping would capture about 1,000 of the most toxic chemicals in plastics, Wagner said, that still leaves about 2,600 chemicals that still need to be regulated. Missing hazard dataIn addition to the massive number of toxic chemicals, the report found that detailed hazard information is missing for more than 10,000 of the 16,000 chemicals.

Persons: it’s, It’s, “, ”, Martin Wagner, Wagner, Philip Landrigan, Landrigan, Matt Seaholm, ” Kimberly Wise White, ” Wagner, ” Landrigan, Tasha Stoiber, Stoiber, Jane Houlihan Organizations: CNN, Norwegian University of Science, Technology, Program, Global Public Health, Global, Planetary Health, Boston College, – Monaco, Plastics, Human, Plastics Industry Association, American Chemistry Council, International, United Nations Environment, Global Plastics, Environmental, Healthy Locations: Trondheim, United States

☆ Cold water immersion benefits are not backed by quality science, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hof attributes his success to his training method, which focuses on a commitment to practicing cold water therapy with a specific form of breathing. We have no idea if any benefits arising from the Wim Hof method could not be obtained more safely by other means,” Tifton said. “I do not agree that anyone can do things like cold water immersion.”Submerging the body in cold water is not advised for a range of medical conditions, Tipton said. “When your body hits cold water, ‘cold shock’ can cause dramatic changes in breathing, heart rate and blood pressure,” the service’s website says. Anyone who wants to try cold water therapy at home should do so carefully, and only after a thorough medical checkup.

Persons: Wim Hof, Wim, ”, Mike Tipton, Kin Cheung, —, Tipton, ” Tifton, “, “ Wim Hof, ” Tipton, Ivan Rodriguez Alba Organizations: CNN’s, CNN, Wim, University of Portsmouth, ” Hof, Guinness, Records, of Fame, Hof, National Weather Service Locations: Dutch, Hof, United Kingdom, Wim

☆ Single dose of LSD provides immediate, lasting anxiety relief, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —A clinical trial’s encouraging results won US Food and Drug Administration breakthrough therapy status for an LSD formulation to treat generalized anxiety disorder, Mind Medicine Inc. announced Thursday. Generalized anxiety order is characterized by excessive, ongoing thoughts that are difficult to control and interfere with day-to-day activities. Anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders in the US, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. The MM120 study, however, was accomplished without the use of psychotherapy during the session. So that’s a critical difference.”Most adverse effects in the study were rated as mild to moderate by participants, occurring mostly on the day of the study, Karlin said.

Persons: “, ”, Daniel Karlin, MindMed’s MM120, ” Karlin, buspirone —, Karlin, David Nutt, Nutt, Dr, Gabriella Gobbi, Timothy Leary, Richard Alpert, Eddie Adams, Leary, Richard Nixon Organizations: CNN, US Food and Drug Administration, Medicine Inc, Tufts University School of Medicine, FDA, Depression Association of America, Unit, Imperial College London’s, McGill University Health Centre, Canada, Therapeutics, Mental Health, Harvard University, Harvard, League for Spiritual, Woodstock Locations: Boston, United States, Montreal, New York, Vietnam

☆ Nanoplastics linked to heart attack, stroke and early death, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“Should exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics be considered a cardiovascular risk factor? Nanoplastics have been found in human blood, lung and liver tissues, urine and feces, mother’s milk, and the placenta. The examination found “visible, jagged-edged foreign particles” scattered in the plaque and external debris from the surgery, the study said. Presence of microplastics and nanoplastics, and subsequent inflammation, may act to increase one’s susceptibility to these chronic diseases,” Stapleton said in an email. However, calling the study results “a direct link to cardiovascular disease is a stretch for the findings,” she added.

Persons: ”, Raffaele Marfella, Marfella, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Philip Landrigan, ” Landrigan, nanoplastics, Landrigan, Mary Conlon, —, that’s, Andrew Freeman, Phoebe Stapleton, Rutgers University’s Ernest Mario, “, ” Stapleton, Leonardo Trasande, don’t, Trasande Organizations: CNN, New England, of Medicine, University of Campania, Boston College, Program, Global Public Health, Global, Planetary Health, International, Water Association, Surgeons, Jewish Health, Rutgers, Rutgers University’s Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Getty, American Academy of Pediatrics, NYU Langone Health, Natural Resources Defense Council, Invest Locations: Naples, Italy, Denver, Piscataway , New Jersey

☆ Diet and sugary drinks boost risk of atrial fibrillation by up to 20%, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Atrial fibrillation is dangerous and on the riseAtrial fibrillation is the leading cause of stroke in the United States. Atrial fibrillation can also lead to blood clots, heart failure and “can increase the risk for heart attack, for dementia, for kidney disease. Replacing both diet and added sugar sodas with water is best to reduce chances of atrial fibrillation, experts say. The rate of atrial fibrillation in the US population is growing: The CDC estimates some 12 million Americans will have A-fib by 2030. “Do not take it for granted that drinking low-sugar and low-calorie artificially sweetened beverages is healthy, it may pose potential health risks.”

Persons: ”, Penny Kris, Etherton, Kris, “, Dr, Gregory Marcus, ” Marcus, Naveed Sattar, ” Sattar, Ningjian Wang, ” Wang Organizations: CNN, Pennsylvania State University, American Heart Association, US Centers for Disease Control, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, UCSF Health, Rhythm Society, University of Glasgow, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Locations: United States, Scotland, Shanghai, China

☆ Ultraprocessed foods linked to 50% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and developing other health conditions
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Eating ultraprocessed foods raises the risk of developing or dying from dozens of adverse health conditions, according to a new review of 45 meta-analyses on almost 10 million people. All the studies in the review were published in the past three years, and none was funded by companies involved in the production of ultraprocessed foods, the authors said. “People who are having depressive symptoms or anxiety may seek out ultraprocessed foods for various reasons such as self-comfort,” she said. jenifoto/iStockphoto/Getty Images“Two-thirds of the calories children consume in the US are ultraprocessed, while about 60% of adult diets are ultraprocessed,” Zhang said. In addition, it’s nearly impossible to avoid temptation, as over 70% of the US food supply is made of ultraprocessed food.

Persons: ”, Wolfgang Marx, Heinz Freisling, Freisling, “, Melissa Lane, “ It’s, Fang Fang Zhang, Zhang, Mathilde Touvier, Touvier, Carlos Monteiro, Monteiro, ” Monteiro, nutritionists, ” Zhang, it’s, Marx, Lane Organizations: CNN, Centre, Deakin University, Health Organization’s International Agency for Research, Cancer, Deakin, Tufts University, French National Institute of Health, Medical Research, Health, Nutrition, University of São Paulo, NOVA Locations: Geelong, Australia, Boston, Brazil, United States, United Kingdom, Canada

☆ Certain types of ‘forever chemicals’ will no longer be used in US food packaging, FDA says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Brenda Goodman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Certain kinds of greaseproofing “forever” chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, will no longer be used in food packaging in the US, the US Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday. The FDA’s food studies have shown that food packaging materials like fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags and take-out pizza boxes were a major source of dietary exposure to certain types of PFAS, hormone-disrupting chemicals that may persist in the body and the environment. While health and environmental advocates cheered the new announcement, they noted that companies were already facing pressure from state bans to get PFAS out of consumer products, including food packaging. Chemicals called long-chain PFAS stopped being sold in the US due to safety concerns in 2011. Short-chain PFAS weren’t thought to build up in living organisms the way long-chain PFAS do, but research has shown that they may be metabolized into forms that linger in tissue.

Persons: ”, Leonardo Trasande, Melanie Benesh, ” Benesh, chemistries, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, Jim Jones, PFAS, Sandee LaMotte Organizations: CNN, US Food and Drug Administration, NYU Langone Health, American Chemistry Council, “ ACC, FDA, Get CNN, CNN Health, Chemicals, Manufacturers Locations: New York City

☆ Any use of marijuana linked to higher risk of heart attack and stroke, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Smoking, vaping or eating marijuana is linked to a significantly higher risk of heart attack and stroke, even if a person had no existing heart conditions and did not smoke or vape tobacco, a new study found. While both daily and non-daily users had an increased risk of heart attack and stroke compared to nonusers, stroke risk rose 42% and the risk of heart attack rose 25% if cannabis was used daily, the study found. Younger adults — defined as men under 55 and women under 65 years old — who used marijuana had a 36% higher risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke regardless of whether they also used traditional tobacco products. Heart disease and marijuana use a known linkPrevious research has already found a link between heart disease and marijuana use. Also called atherosclerosis, CAD is the most common type of heart disease, according to the CDC.

Persons: ”, Abra Jeffers, ” Jeffers, Robert Page II, ” Page, Page, — Organizations: CNN, Massachusetts General Hospital, University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, American Lung Association, Getty, American Heart Association, US Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC Locations: Boston, Aurora , Colorado

☆ Lose that belly by working out extra hard on weekends, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“Our results indicated that there was no difference between the weekend warrior pattern and regularly active pattern in abdominal and general adiposity (fat),” Zhang said in an email. The average weekend warrior workout was of higher intensity and longer duration than weekday workouts by people in the study, Zhang said. In fact, weekend warriors in the study spent 147.6 minutes — almost the entire recommendation for a week — in each exercise session over the two-day period. That perseverance paid off when it came to belly fat, the study found. “On a high level, this study reaffirms the old adage about physical activity and health: any activity is better than no activity, said Tchang, who was not involved in the research.

Persons: ”, Lihua Zhang, ” Zhang, Zhang, Andrew Freeman, “, Freeman, Martin Novak, Beverly Tchang, Tchang Organizations: CNN’s, CNN, World Health Organization, United, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Jewish Health, National Health, Getty, Control, Weill Cornell Medicine Locations: United States, Beijing, Denver , Colorado, New York City

☆ What is the Atlantic diet?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The traditional diet of northern Portugal and northwestern Spain, known as the Southern European Traditional Atlantic Diet, or Atlantic diet for short, may hold some clues to better heart health and a lower risk of dying early from cancer, heart disease or any cause, according to studies conducted in Europe. The diet is based on foods grown or found in that part of the Europe, much like its famous cousin the Mediterranean diet. Because it’s plant-based and locally sourced, the Atlantic diet also helps protect the planet by contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the study’s authors noted. Like the Mediterranean diet, the Atlantic diet focuses on home-cooked food served family style, with an emphasis on social interactions between friends and family. However, other studies have shown that not all food groups in the traditional Atlantic diet are beneficial.

Persons: ”, Walter Willett, Harvard T.H, David Katz, Al Bochi Organizations: CNN, Southern, JAMA, Harvard, of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, United Nations, True Health Initiative, Atlanta, Academy of Nutrition, “ Locations: Portugal, Spain, Europe, Chan, Boston, Czechia, Poland

☆ How to fight dementia, according to neurologists
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

What about diabetes, cancer, thyroid disease, high blood pressure or heart disease? Some of the questions might seem unexpected to those who don’t write about brain health. However, my risk of developing vascular dementia, the second most common type after Alzheimer’s disease, is elevated. "Such spikes cause brain inflammation, disrupt brain metabolism and increase shrinkage of the thinking part of the brain," Isaacson said. The National Institute on Aging currently supports nearly 500 active clinical trials on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Persons: Louise Dittner, Krysta, Ryan LaMotte, It’s, ”, Natalia Rost, “, Rost, ” Rost, Richard Isaacson, ” Isaacson, mockingbird …, birthed, it’s, I’ve, Isaacson, Sandee LaMotte Organizations: CNN, Comprehensive, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, American Academy of Neurology, Boca Raton, Weill Cornell Medicine, Presbyterian, Mayo Clinic, Volunteers, Alzheimer’s, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health Locations: Massachusetts, Boston, neonatologists, Florida, United, New York, New York City, Nature

☆ Listeria outbreak: What to know and how to protect yourself
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Pregnant people are about 10 times more likely to become sick from listeria, and the illness can be fatal to the fetus. Foods made with raw milk are 50 to 160 times more likely to contain listeria, the agency said. Always carefully wash your hands after touching any type of hot dog, lunch or deli meat, the agency said. Toss opened packages of deli meats or any sliced by a deli after three to five days, and hot dogs after one week. Shelf-stable foods, such as canned tuna, sardines and salmon, will not increase the risk of listeria.

Persons: queso blanco, “, ‘, CNN’s Mira Cheng Organizations: CNN, US Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, US Food and Drug Administration, FDA, Foods, •, . Locations: United States, listeria, California, Texas, brie, bologna

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