Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/C0Ql0KSrBZx/

This disconcerting result popped up on a national survey conducted by the Ohio State University.  The poll of 1,007  respondents by the SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus showed that about 33% didn’t feel the need to become vaccinated against CoVid, influenza, or RSV thinking they were not at high risk.  They were either unaware or didn’t care that their decision put others, particularly the very young, older individuals, or those with weakened immune systems at greater risk for severe and life-threatening respiratory infections.

This attitude is just plan selfish.  Loyal Americans support good public health.  Everyone 6 months and older should be getting both the flu and the CoVid vaccinations.  Those 60 and older and pregnant women in late pregnancy should be getting the RSV vaccination.  Those 65 and older and those ages 5 to 64 with chronic lung or heart diseases or weakened immune systems should be getting the pneumonia vaccines.

So… don’t be selfish. Protect those you love and those all of us love by getting shots to help fight respiratory diseases.  

https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/mediaroom/pressreleaselisting/respiratory-illness-season-survey

#vaccination #CoVid #influenza #rsv #pneumonia

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/C0Qk0VGrXEc/

Pregnant women using cannabis in any form face higher risk of a preterm birth, a baby with a low birth weight, and the need for a neonatal intensive care stay.  University of Toronto investigators reached these conclusions after reviewing and meta-analyzing 57 studies.  Specifically, the pregnant cannabis users were 1.7 fold more likely to have a preterm birth, 2.6 fold more likely to bear a low birth weight baby, and 2.5 times more likely to have their baby require specialized care in the NICU.

We can’t say it often enough:  don’t use recreational drugs of any kind during pregnancy.  Try to avoid using any medications as well.  If you must, be certain that you take meds under the watchful eye of your medical team.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.16370

#cannabis #pregnancy #lowbirthweight #prematurity #nicu

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/C0QkAyLrN2w/

CoVid infections are on the rise again.  If you do contract the virus, the regular use of saline gargles and nasal saline aerosol irrigations will reduce your chances of landing in the hospital with a severe or a life-threatening case by nearly 70% (69%).  

Texas clinicians reports this finding after studying 55 CoVid patients using the saline washes in their throats and noses in comparison with more than 9000 (9398)infected controls who did not.  The patients studied had average ages between 39 and 45.

This is incredibly simple home therapy.  If you do get infected, be prepared with saline for irrigation as a gargle and sterile nasal saline aerosol so you can launch into action AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/998454?ecd=a2a

#CoVid #saline #gargles #nasalspray #hospitalization

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/C0QiYtsrqcY/

Teen guys with 2 or more concussions in a year were twice as likely to make a suicide attempt as those with only one concussion.  Teen girls with any concussions in a year were twice as likely to have tried suicide.  University of South Carolina public health and pediatric researchers report these conclusions after analyzing survey responses from 23,445 students.

The bottom line:  teens suffering concussions, particularly girls and boys with more than one such event, should be monitored carefully for depressive and suicidal ideas and behaviors.  When noted, these teens should be aggressively treated.

https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/58/9/751/487667/Concussion-Exposure-and-Suicidal-Ideation-Planning

#adolescents #concussions #depression #suicide

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/C0QhVdfrGXe/

Normally flu cases begin to escalate in December and January.  The CDC now reports significantly higher than normal activity already in Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina,  the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.  Flu cases are also cropping up in the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic states, and on the west coast.

So far, only about 35% of US adults and 33% of kids have received the flu vaccine, and the numbers are even lower in the south where cases are surging.

Get the vaccine now.  Those over 65 should get the high strength influenza vaccine, and all others should receive the vaccines that are age-appropriate.  

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm

#influenza #vaccines

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/C0QfwBPLJr-/

Both coffee and alcohol have negative effects on your sleep patterns.  Psychiatrists and sleep scientists at Seattle’s University of Washington now report this conclusion following their study of 17 financial traders with a mean age of 30. 

These driven individuals tend to chain drink coffee during their days using caffeine to turbocharge their performance.  They drink alcoholic beverages in the evening to bring themselves down and, they think, promote better sleep. 

The study data reveals some support for this self-medication paradigm. As conventional wisdom holds, caffeine improves performance.  It keeps you up and overall reduces your sleep duration. Every cup of coffee robs you of 10.4 minutes of sleep.  Coffee does not significantly affect sleep quality.  Alcohol makes you drowsy, but it does impact sleep quality with each glass responsible for a 3% decrease in quality.  It has no impact on overall sleep duration. 

While evening alcohol cuts quality, preceding it with coffee neutralizes that negative effect.  Furthermore, the evening alcohol erases the caffeine-driven sleep shortening.  

So it seems many in the financial services sector have empirically discovered a self-medication regimen that finds a sweet spot with respect to sleep. 

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0291675

#coffee #alcohol #sleep #quality #duration

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CzrbjqpLdQn/

Problem:  The FDA and the Hearn Kirkwood company are recalling variously branded Croissant Sandwiches because its labeling did not identify the soy and milk allergens in the products.  The brands include Food Unlimited; Jack and Olive; and Sprig and Sprout.

Sold: The affected sandwiches were sold from October 20, 2023 and November 3, 2023, in: Alabama, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Actions:  Those with allergies or sensitivities to soy or milk should not consume and discard these sandwiches. For more inforrmation, email the company at [email protected] or call 410-799-9900.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/hearn-kirkwood-issues-safety-alert-undeclared-soy-and-milk-various-croissant-sandwiches

#crossant #sandwiches #soy #milk #allergies #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Czra1z0LU9h/

Problem:  The FDA and SOFIA PRODUCE, LLC dba Trufresh are recalling all sizes of fresh cantaloupes packaged in cardboard containers labeled with the “Malichita” label because they are contaminated with Salmonella.  This bacterium causes a severe gastroenteritis in the very young, elders, and in those with weakened immune systems and the gastrointestinal infection can become a systemic septicemia.

Sold: In Arizona, California. Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, Florida and Canada but also possible resold in other states.

Actions:  Return these cantaloupes to the place of purchase.  For more information,  call Tru Fresh at 1-520-394-7370.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sofia-produce-llc-dba-trufresh-recalls-fresh-cantaloupe-because-possible-health-risk-due-salmonella

#malichita #cantaloupes #salmonella #infection #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CzraRjOrWDh/

Problem:  The FDA and Frito-Lay are recalling Off The Eaten Path Chickpea Veggie Crisps since they contain undeclared milk ingredients due to the unintended presence of caramel seasoned crisps. 

Sold : In Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Actions:  Do not consume this snack.  Return it to the place of purchase. For more information, contact Off The Eaten Path Consumer Relations at 1-844-683-7284.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/frito-lay-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-eaten-path-chickpea-veggie-crisps

#offtheeatenpath #crisps #milk #allergy #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CzrZjQCL8oZ/

Problem:  The CPSC and the Amer Sports Winter & Outdoor Company are recalling these ski bindings since their toe components tend to fail which allows the ski boot to disconnect from the ski, creating fall and injury hazards.

Sold:  About 4,250 bindings were sold in the US and about 1,446 were sold in Canada at ski stores nationwide and online at armadaskis.com, atomic.com and salomon.com.

Actions:  Immediately stop using these recalled ski bindings and return them to any authorized Armada, Atomic Ski, or Salomon dealer for a free inspection and replacement of the toe portion of the ski bindings.  The dealers can verify if your binding is included in this recall based on its serial number.

Consumer Contact:

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 1-833-944-1062

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/Amer Sports Winter & Outdoor Recalls Ski Touring Bindings Due to Fall and Injury Hazards

#armada #atomic #salomon #skibindings #detachment #injuries #crashes #recall