Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Cx3w-nSwS5k

More than half of people of all ages admit to a fear of clowns or so-called coulrophobia. A survey of 987 participants by South Wales psychologists reveals that 53.5% of us have some fear of clowns, Compare this with other phobias where 3.8% have a fear of animals, 3% have a fear of needles, 2.8% have a fear of heights, 2.3% fear weather, 2.2% fear closed spaces and 1.3% fear flying.

Those admitting coulrophobia were questioned further to discover the reasons for their fears. The most common reasons included:

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1109466/full

#clowns #fear #coulrophobia

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/RM21N2BuScA

Nearly 1 in every 5 preteens has evidence of drug abuse. UC-San Diego psychologists studied 1390 preteens ages 9 to 13 years. Each child was asked about substance use and underwent hair analysis looking for evidence of cannabis, alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, nicotine, opiates, and fentanyl.

By the end of the study, 10% of the preteens admitted to using one or more drugs. However, an additional 10% of subjects were found to have traces of these substances in their hair. Taking into account a small overlap, 19% of the group either admitted to or had chemical evidence of drug abuse.

Other studies have shown even greater drug use by slightly older US children with 26% of 8th graders admitting to drinking and 23% admitting to smoking. Use of hair analysis can provide objective evidence of substance abuse providing a more accurate assessment of the problem.

Then comes the real challenge: eliminating the underlying causes of child and teen drug abuse: peer pressure; academic pressure; and toxic family members and behaviors.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00952990.2023.2164931

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230306143439.htm

#drugs #hairanalysis #teens #cannabis #alcohol #tobacco

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/kQCWZ-tM7Jg

Nearly 60% of those evidencing signs of Long CoVid have significant detectable organ damage. Investigators at University College, London studied 536 subjects with a mean age of 45 years looking at the prevalence of single and multi-organ impairment 6 and 12 months following CoVid infections. Only 13% of the group had required hospitalization the majority having milder infections.

The data shows that a full 59% of the group evidenced single organ damage while 27% suffered multi-organ damage. Evidence of long-term damage on imaging was found in the liver, pancreas, spleen as well as in the heart and lungs.

With CoVid case numbers receding, many have developed a cavalier attitude about protecting themselves from infection and reinfection by masking and avoiding crowds, particularly indoors. You do not want a CoVid infection let alone a reinfection. This virus is not a one-off experience. Evidence from this and other studies drives home the point that Covid has lifelong effects in your body, and that life may be much more miserable and shorter.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01410768231154703

#CoVid #longcovid #organdamage #liver #heart #lungs

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/cYFdbSdNRSg

Those with the highest levels of omega-3s were less likely to contract CoVid or be hospitalized with it. This the conclusion of a University of South Dakota study that analyzed data from 110,584 subjects in the UK Biobank.

Each person had measurement of circulating fatty acids using nuclear magnetic resonance techniques and an Omega-3 index calculated. They were arranged in 5 groups from lowest to highest index percentages with Omega-3 indices ranging from 3.54% to 7.96%.

Those with the highest Omega indices vs. the lowest were 21% less likely to suffer a CoVid infection and 26% less likely to be hospitalized with that Covid infection.

The best sources of omega-3s are fish including salmon, bluefin tuna, mackerel, herring, sardines, anchovies, lake trout, and striped bass.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916522105356?via=ihub

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-best-sources-of-omega-3-fatty-acids/

#CoVid #omega3fattyacids #infection #hospitalization

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/h_kUcfbDXyQ

Once again, a person has died after being infected by the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri. This lethal unicellular organism got into the brain of a Florida resident after that person squirted tap water, which is not sterile, into the nose and sinuses as a sinus rinse. Naegleria grows in warm fresh water including ponds, lakes, river, and hot springs.

A number of previous deaths have occurred when persons used Neti Pots to flush their sinuses using tap water. Other deaths due to these amoebae have been traced to children and teens infected while swimming.

I heartily recommend cleansing nasal cavities to liquify and remove obstructing mucus. When you do, you must use sterile normal saline. The best source are aerosol cans marked as Simply Saline, Little Remedies. Nasal Mist, and Neilmed Nasal Wash. I do not recommend any products that do not provide sealed, aerosol containers of sterile saline but rather use tap water that must be boiled, cooled, and adjusted using included packets of minerals. I also don’t recommend squeeze bottles that can suck contaminated nasal contents back into the bottle.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-03-person-dies-brain-eating-amoeba-infection.html

#amoeba #meningitis #naegleria #netipot #braineating

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/khZFDyp97D8

The FDA and Lidl USA are recalling Tapas Cocktail Shrimp. This product is contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium triggers serious and life-threatening infections in the very young, in older, frail persons, and in those with weak immune systems. It causes miscarriages and stillbirths. The shrimp have been sold in Lidl US stores in Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. Do not consume these shrimp. Return the product to your Lidl store for a full refund. For more information about the recall, contact the Lidl US Customer Care Hotline at 1-844-747-5435.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lidl-voluntarily-recalls-7-oz-tapas-branded-cocktail-shrimp-lidl-due-possible-health-risk

#lidl #shrimp #listeria #infection #recall

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/g6q5c0PKV1Q

The FDA and Pharmedica USA LLC are recalling several lots of Purely Soothing, 15% MSM Drops. This product has been found to lack sterility with likely microorganism contamination. Use of these eyedrops may lead to eye infections and blindness. The affected lots are #2203PS01 and #1808051. If you have these eyedrops, don not put them into your eyes. Return them to the place of purchase. For more information about this recall, call Pharmedica ar 1-623-698-1752 or e-mail them at [email protected].

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/pharmedica-usa-llc-issues-voluntary-worldwide-recall-purely-soothing-15-msm-drops-due-non-sterility

#pharmedica #purelysoothing #eyedrops #contamintion #infection #blindness #recall

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/mNGcAF30ZAg

The CPSC and TJX are recalling TJX Office Chairs. The chair back may detach from the seat leading to falls and injuries. Bout 81,700 of these office chairs were sold in the US and about 1000 were sold in Canada. If you bought these chairs return them to any Marshalls, T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods or Homesense store for a full refund. For more information about the recall and how to receive a full refund, contact TJX 1-888-359-4763.

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/TJX-Recalls-Office-Chairs-Due-to-Fall-Hazard

#tjx #officechair #back #fall #injury #recall

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/_zoIPdZTAjM

The CPSC and Patagonia now recall Infant Capilene Midweight Base Layer Sets. The bodysuit snaps are prone to detach and create a choking hazard for mouthy infants and toddlers. About 8000 sets were sold in the US and 217 were sold in Canada at Patagonia, REI and other stores nationwide and online at patagonia.com, rei.com, backcountry.com and other websites. Don’t allow your babies to wear these garments and contact Patagonia at 1-800-638-6464 or via email at [email protected] for a full refund.

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/Patagonia-Recalls-Patagonia-Infant-Capilene-Midweight-Base-Layer-Sets-Due-to-Choking-Hazard

#patagonia #babywear #foreignbodies #choking #recall

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Ln-bfXod5Qg

The CPSC and Primark US are recalling Primark Children’s Bamboo Plates. The plates contain elevated and unsafe levels of lead and formaldehyde both of which are toxins and especially dangerous for children. About 1665 plates were sold at Primark stores in the Northeast, Chicago, and Florida. Don’t allow your children to use these toxic plates and return them to the place of purchase. For more information and disposal instructions, contact Primark US at 1-617-946-3236.

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/Primark-Recalls-Childrens-Bamboo-Plates-Due-to-Risk-of-Lead-and-Chemical-Exposure-Hazards

#primark #plates #children #lead #formaldehyde #poisoning #recall