E-Cigarette Vapor Potentially Harmful. A new report suggests that e-cigarette vapor produces tiny particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs, potentially causing or accelerating respiratory diseases. Investigators are unsure whether these chemicals are harmful if you inhale them, as safety research is only known regarding ingestion of these chemicals. The authors believe researchers…

Obesity at Age 25 Increases Risk of Severe Late-Life Obesity. Individuals who are obese by age 25 have a much greater risk of severe obesity later in life. Researchers found that men who are obese at age 25 are 23% more likely to be severely obese at age 35, while woman who are obese at…

Tamiflu & Relenza Not Effective for Flu. The latest Cochrane Review reveals there is no solid evidence to support the effectiveness of Tamiflu and Relenza, commonly used medications to fight or prevent influenza symptoms. Dr. David Tovey, editor in chief at Cochrane, writes, “Initially thought to reduce hospitalizations and serious complications from influenza, the review…

Half the Population of the Americas at Risk for Insect-Borne Disease. Approximately 50% of people living in the Western Hemisphere are at risk of one or more diseases carried by ticks, flies, mosquitoes, and other vectors. Some of these diseases include West Nile virus, Lyme disease, dengue fever, malaria, chagas, and schistosomiasis. Dr. Carissa F.…

Not in the Pool! Experts warn that urinating in a swimming pool can pose a serious health risk. Researchers have found that uric acid in urine can generate volatile disinfection byproducts in the pool when it interacts with chlorine. The toxic compounds of concern are cyanogens chloride and trichloramine. Inhalation of cyanogens chloride can negatively…

Drug-Resistant Germs Found on Cutting Boards! Swiss scientists analyzed cutting boards from hospital cafeterias and private home kitchens after they were used to cut poultry but before the boards were washed. They found that 6.5% of hospital cutting boards and 3.5% of household cutting boards were contaminated with drug-resistant E. coli bacteria. This could pose…

FDA Clears First Device to Prevent Migraines. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted STX-MED, a Belgian company, permission to begin marketing a headband-like, battery-powered device called Cefaly that can be worn to prevent migraines. The device is positioned in the center of the forehead and applies an electric current to the…

Diaarheal Infection in Children Linked to Antibiotics. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the majority of severe and potentially fatal pediatric diarrhea cases caused by Clostridium difficile infection (C. difficile) are linked to recent antibiotic treatments. Based on surveys of parents, 73% of children who suffered from a C. difficile infection…

For Younger Prostate Cancer Patients, is Surgery a Better Option than Waiting? Among younger men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer, mortality rates are over 40% lower for those who are treated surgically compared with those who follow watchful waiting (relying on changes in symptoms to determine if/when further treatment is needed). The authors of…

People with Sleep Apnea at Higher Risk for Pneumonia. Researchers followed 34,000 patients (7,000 with sleep apnea and 27,000 without sleep apnea) for eleven years and compared the occurrence of pneumonia in each group. They discovered individuals with sleep apnea have a 20% greater risk for pneumonia than those without sleep apnea. Canadian Medical Association…