The Health Blog

A study conducted by Oceana found high mercury levels in fresh tuna, swordfish and sushi, they tested from a variety of grocery stores in 26 different cities across the US.

Oceana found out that:

• Mercury levels in tuna were much higher than the FDA data suggest
• One-third of sushi tuna samples exceeded the FDA “action level” of 1 part per million
• Nearly 90 percent of seafood counter attendants either did not know the FDA advice about mercury in fish, or gave a wrong interpretation of this warning
• Two-thirds of swordfish tested were above the FDA “action level”, which would permit the administration to remove these fish from sale
• Sushi tuna samples, on average, contained higher levels of mercury than fresh tuna samples from Oceana’s grocery stores and the FDA’s data on fresh tuna
• Average mercury levels in sushi tuna were higher than king mackerel, a fish the FDA advises women of childbearing age and children to avoid due to high mercury levels

A new study finds out. This study was a follow up on previous researchers on the effects of coffee, caffeine particularly, on expectant mothers. Previous studies suggest that drinking just a couple cups of coffee a day doesn’t pose much of a threat. However, the latest research proves this these findings wrong.

The study founds out that women who said they drank more than two cups of coffee per day had nearly double the risk of miscarriage compared with women who consumed no caffeine.

WebMD reports about the recent food poisoning incident at this year’s Tase of Chicago Food Festival held from June 29 to July 2, which sent at least 10 people to the hospital and sickened more than 100 others. At least nine festival-goers were infected with salmonella, presenting as fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea, which may be bloody.

Most people recover from salmonella infection within a week. But some cases may be severe and even life-threatening. Babies, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems are more likely to experience severe illness from salmonella infection.

Food poisoning incidents can happen everywhere, at a family reunion, at a festival, at a restaurant or even at home. The good news is, it can be avoided if people were cautious enough. Experts suggested ways to prevent food poising:

To help you stay awake and alert, follow these suggestions from the National Sleep Foundation:

• Get plenty of quality sleep the night before a long drive.
• If there’s a time that you typically begin to feel sleepy, avoid driving during that time.
• If you’re planning to drive through the night, try to get at least some shuteye between midnight and 6 a.m.
• If driving all day, stop and take a mid-afternoon nap.
• Try to take a break about every 100 miles or so — stop to get gas, walk around, stretch, nap or get some exercise.
• If traveling with a passenger, it helps if he or she is awake, too. Talk to each other to keep yourselves alert.

A recent study found out that the safest place to sit inside a car is at the middle of the backseat. Passengers in the middle back seat were 86 percent more likely to survive than those in the front seats, and 25 percent more likely to survive than those in the other rear seats. However, the study also found out that most of the passengers sitting at this area is likely to neglect wearing seat belts, making them more prone to fatal injuries also than those wearing seat belts. Further, not wearing a seat belt in the back can have unfortunate consequences for those up front. One study found that even when passengers in the front wore seat belts, their chance of dying were five times as great if those in the back were not belted, a result of back-seat passengers’ being thrown forward on impact.

So for a safer ride, buckle up and be thankful if you are sitting at the middle even though it’s the most uncomfortable area because you are on the safest zone.

Photo courtesy of Medline Plus

A first aid kit is a collection of supplies and equipment for use in giving first aid, particularly in a medical emergency. In any emergency you have to be ready with your first aid kit. Many injuries are not life threatening and do not require immediate medical attention. Knowing how to treat minor injuries can make a difference in an emergency. Consider taking a first aid class, but simply having the following things can help you stop bleeding, prevent infection and assist in decontamination.

Drowning is the second leading cause of death among American children ages 14 and younger, but a few simple measures can greatly reduce the risk of such tragedies, experts say.

Here are simple measures suggested:

1. Pools and spas should be surrounded on all four sides by a fence at least five feet high with gates that close and latch automatically. This type of isolation fencing could prevent 50 percent to 90 percent of child drownings in residential pools, studies estimate.

2. Consider a pool alarm and alarms on doors, windows and gates leading to the pool.

3. Pools and spas with a single drain should have an anti-entrapment drain cover and a safety vacuum release system to prevent children from being caught underwater in the powerful suction of the drain.

4. Don’t leave toys in or near a pool where they may attract unsupervised children.