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FOOD & NUTRITION

Pasteurization Working to Kill Bird Flu in Milk and Other Dairy Products, FDA Tests Find

The FDA has confirmed that pasteurization kills bird flu. It kills it in milk and other dairy products. This ensures that the milk we buy is safe to drink.

The FDA started looking into this after finding that 20% of milk samples from stores across the country had signs of the bird flu virus. It's known as HPAI H5N1. However, further testing showed these virus pieces were not harmful after pasteurization.

The agency also tested other dairy items like cottage cheese and sour cream, which are pasteurized differently. These tests also showed that these products are safe from the virus.

Don Prater, from the FDA, explained they are testing many types of dairy products to make sure everything is safe nationally.

The FDA even checked powdered baby formula and found it virus-free. Meanwhile, tests on beef from areas with sick cattle are ongoing, but no beef cattle have been found with the virus yet.

Although pasteurized dairy is safe, there's still concern for dairy workers who might be exposed to the virus from cows that don't look sick. Bird flu affects not only cows but also cats near dairy farms, likely because they drank leftover infected milk.

The FDA continues to review the data. Keeping the dairy industry and public safe from bird flu is a top priority.

Source: cbsnews.com

WEIGHT LOSS

Weight Loss Drug Could Reduce Heart Attack Risk by 20%, Study Finds

A recent study reports that a new weight loss injection, semaglutide, could be a big advance in heart health. It could be the biggest since statins. Semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in medications like Wegovy and Ozempic, was found to lower the risk of heart attacks by 20%.

The research was unveiled at the European Congress of Obesity. It was led by University College London. It shows that semaglutide offers big heart benefits. This is true no matter the patient's starting weight or how much weight they lose.

Professor John Deanfield is from the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research. He led the study and highlighted semaglutide's broad impacts. "It's not just about weight loss," Deanfield explained. This drug has added benefits for the heart. They make it a potential gamechanger in treating heart conditions."

The study involved over 17,000 adults from 41 countries, all of whom had a history of cardiovascular issues and a body mass index of over 27. Over a span of approximately 40 months, these individuals received either semaglutide or a placebo. Results showed a clear advantage for those on semaglutide, with a lower incidence of heart attacks compared to those on the placebo.

The NHS has had this drug for weight loss since 2023. With these findings, its use could expand to prevent heart illnesses. The cost of treatment with semaglutide is falling. The economic benefits are expected to grow. This may change how we do healthcare in the next decade.

Source: theguardian.com

HEALTH

Youre Breathing Potential Carcinogens Inside Your Car. Car Manufacturers Add These Chemicals to Seat Foam and Other Materials to Meet an Outdated Federal Flammability Standard With No Proven Fire-safety Benefit

Imagine sitting in your car and breathing in harmful chemicals that could cause cancer. Recent research shows that the air inside most cars has dangerous flame retardants. These were added to materials like seat foam to meet old safety rules. But, these rules don't really help prevent fires.

Rebecca Hoehn, a scientist from Duke University, warns that this is a big health issue since most people spend about an hour a day in their cars. The study found these chemicals, some linked to cancer, in 101 different cars. The hotter the car gets, the more chemicals are released into the air. Car interiors can heat up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

These chemicals are used because of outdated U.S. safety standards. However, experts like Patrick Morrison are from the International Association of Fire Fighters. They believe these chemicals cause more problems than they solve. They make fires more dangerous and don't really stop cars from catching fire.

Changes like those made in California for furniture could help. They got rid of harmful chemicals while keeping products safe from fires. Lydia Jahl of the Green Science Policy Institute suggests opening windows and parking in the shade to lower risk. But, the best solution is to stop using these chemicals in cars. This would make driving and riding in cars safer.

Source: eurekalert.org

A New Study Found a Significant Association Between Irregular Sleep Schedules and Diminished Academic Performance and Increased Behavioral Issues Among Adolescents. More Than 70% of Teenagers in the US Get Less Than the Recommended 8 to 10 Hours of Sleep Per Night

A recent study in the journal Sleep shows that not sleeping on a regular schedule can lead to worse grades and more problems at school for teenagers. Most teens in the U.S. don't get the 8-10 hours of sleep they need each night, and this is affecting their performance in school.

The study looked at how sleep affects teens. It looked at when they go to sleep and how regular their sleep is. It studied how these things affect their school and behavior. Dr. Gina Marie Mathew led the research. She says it's important to look at these factors early in a teen's life. Sleep habits can still be changed for the better.

About 800 teens took part in the study. They wore devices that tracked their sleep for a week. The results showed that teens who go to bed late and have irregular sleep schedules generally get lower grades.

The study found that the exact amount of sleep or how well the teens slept didn't directly connect to how well they did in school or behaved. It was more about the time they went to sleep and how consistent their sleep was.

Dr. Mathew suggests that parents help their teens keep a regular sleep schedule. She believes setting a consistent bedtime, even on weekends, can help teens perform better in school.

The findings point to the importance of regular sleep patterns for helping teens do well in school and avoid behavior issues. Future research will see if better sleep schedules can improve school performance directly.

Source: psypost.org

A Note From Hem Hero

The information in this health newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. The publishers are not responsible for any actions taken by the reader based on the information provided.