It’s safe to say 2022 was a big year for health.
We started the year in a pandemic and can certainly enter 2023 within the identical position; mpox, previously known as monkeypox, sparked an unprecedented global outbreak; polio gave us a short-lived but serious scare, prompting many individuals to frantically ask our parents about childhood vaccinations; and reproductive rights for a lot of individuals were taken away.
Amid the ups and downs, there have been some important classes that we think are worth revisiting earlier than the brand new year.
Don’t cook your frozen chicken in an air fryer or microwave
A CDC report launched this year suggested that people are getting sick in repeated outbreaks of meals poisoning because they’re cooking frozen stuffed chicken merchandise in home equipment different than a conventional oven, like an air fryer, microwave, or toaster oven.
Studies have discovered that smaller, portable (and often cheaper) home equipment may not be able to warmth or cook frozen chicken sufficient to kill lurking bacteria, most frequently salmonella.
The CDC was primarily referring to breaded products, such as chicken sous-chef or chicken Kyiv, that are “heat-treated,” meaning they’re cooked till the breading units however not earlier than the uncooked chicken inside is safe to eat.
When in doubt, always attempt to make use of a conventional oven if possible, and learn the directions on the product’s packaging. If you can’t use a conventional oven, make sure you follow the particular directions for microwaves, toaster ovens, or air fryers.
If particular directions for different home equipment are not available, insert a meat thermometer within the middle of the thickest a half of the product to make sure it rises to 165 levels Fahrenheit. Feel sick after consuming the frozen chicken you made? Document everything you ate within the final week earlier than signs started and go to a doctor.
Melatonin can be dangerous for infants and children
Bottles of sleep-inducing melatonin pills became bedside staples, however its elevated availability, particularly in easy-to-consume forms like gummies, has had serious, and in some cases deadly, penalties for the children who both accidentally get their hands on it or are given it by a caregiver.
A study published by the CDC this year discovered that melatonin overdoses in children elevated 530% from 2012 to 2021, with the largest spike — a 38% increase — occurring from 2019 to 2020, when the COVID pandemic started.
Five children required mechanical air flow and two children — a 3-month-old and a 1-year-old — died at home following melatonin poisoning.
Experts suggest that parents wait till their kids are at least three years old earlier than giving them melatonin, and to first address poor sleep behaviors to make sure kids are getting high quality sleep. If you suspect your child has consumed melatonin, you ought to instantly name poison control, particularly if you don’t know how a lot they ingested.
And most importantly, retailer your melatonin the place it’s out of attain for a child, like in a locked storage box.
Energy drinks can be related to coronary heart problems. Moderation is key.
Earlier this year, TikTokers were going viral after saying energy drinks were inflicting their coronary heart problems. So we dug into the science to learn if that’s a thing.
Turns out it can be. Energy drinks have known well being risks, particularly when consumed in large portions or mixed with alcohol. They’ve been linked to coronary heart and blood vessel problems, like coronary heart rhythm disturbances and elevated coronary heart rate and blood pressure. Experts believe the caffeine in these merchandise could additionally be to blame, however different ingredients like sugar could additionally play a role.
However, it is much less clear whether or not the drinks are linked to issues like coronary artery disease, which is generally due to a mixture of genes and long-term lifestyle habits. And because a lot of issues can contribute to coronary heart disease, it’s difficult to pinpoint energy drinks because the reason for someone’s diagnosis or medical event.
Experts say that the occasional energy drink is fine, however consuming something in extra is by no means a good thing. Not to say little is known about the long-term results of drinking these merchandise on a common basis.
You’re higher off having a glass of water if you’re dehydrated, or a cup of espresso or tea if you want a lift in energy, experts say.
Kissing can elicit serious allergic reactions in some individuals with meals allergies
After make-up artist and photographer Janelle Gonzalez posted a TikTok this year about her “kiss of death,” many individuals were shocked to learn that locking lips with somebody who ate a sure meals can set off allergic reactions in some individuals with allergies.
That’s because meals proteins can stay in a person’s mouth for a interval of time after they eat; how lengthy they hand round in there varies relying on a quantity of factors.
While intimately kissing somebody who consumed a sure allergen isn’t a main supply of dangerous reactions for many people, serious and potentially lethal reactions are definitely possible. More direct exposures like consuming or touching the meals is extra likely to elicit an allergic response.
Allergists recommend anybody with allergies, particularly extreme ones, to hold an epinephrine injector pen (like an EpiPen) and to put on an merchandise like a MedicAlert bracelet that lists their medical information within the occasion a response occurs in public.
You ought to additionally discuss your allergies with your partner or anybody else who could additionally be cooking for you or sharing your food, as well as to anybody you plan to share saliva or different bodily fluids with. You might as well clear your mouth as thoroughly as possible earlier than kissing others too since it could help.
IV vitamin remedy isn’t well researched and will pose dangers for some people
An episode of The Kardashians that aired this year revealed an excited Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber rolling up their sleeves to obtain IV vitamin therapy. But experts were fast to query its validity, citing a lack of federal regulation and sound clinical research, as well as to potential well being dangers for some people, particularly these with sure medical conditions.
IV remedy is touted as an environment friendly way to ship fluid and dietary vitamins into the body, pumping them directly into the bloodstream. However, there’s little proof that IV vitamin treatments work. A handful of research present moderate advantages for asthma, inflammation, and fatigue, whereas a bigger batch discovered the treatments have little to no impact, particularly for extra serious well being conditions like acute respiratory misery syndrome, cancer, sepsis, and stroke. (In these cases, people got the treatments in medical settings.)
The biggest concern is that they're not FDA regulated or approved, so the kind of treatments you obtain can vary widely relying on who's administering it.
While some people may really feel extra refreshed after a treatment, experts are uncertain the dietary vitamins are responsible. Lying in a calm environment for a few hours whereas receiving IV remedy will assist anybody relax. And if you’re dehydrated, the treatment may assist you really feel higher by filling your blood vessels with the fluids they need.
Generally, dietary deficiencies within the US are rare, so most individuals don’t want dietary vitamins that they’re not already getting from their food, experts say. For these that do have dietary deficiencies, a multivitamin pill will usually suffice. And if you are so dehydrated that you want an IV drip, a nonmedical clinic may not be the best place to get treatment.
Life-threatening mind accidents can happen to anybody and they’re not always easy to spot
Full House star and stand-up comic Bob Saget died unexpectedly this year on the age of sixty five after accidental blunt trauma to the head. His death was a reminder that potentially life-threatening mind accidents can happen to anybody and they’re not always easy to spot.
Neurology experts said that all it takes is a minor blow to a really particular a half of the mind to set off serious damage, and that signs may look the identical following mild or extreme traumas. So it’s higher to see a healthcare supplier rather than let a potentially dangerous injury be overlooked.
Some serious signs to look out for include:
Enlarged pupils, particularly if it’s simply one
A headache that progressively will get worse or doesn’t go away
Slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or lack of coordination
Vomiting, convulsions, or seizures
Brief lack of consciousness
Unusual behavior, such as confusion, agitation, or restlessness
Otherwise, be cautious of sensitivity to light, blurred vision, ringing within the ears, and alter in sleep patterns after a head injury. It’s additionally always a good suggestion to observe anybody who injured their head for at least a few hours.
While some accidents are unavoidable, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of a traumatic mind injury (like wearing a helmet when necessary). Prevention is key, experts say.
Gas stoves emit pollution that could hurt your health
Experts knew for a whereas that gas stoves emit pollution that aren’t nice for your health, however a study published this year discovered that methane, a potent greenhouse gas, leaks from home equipment even whereas off.
The recent Stanford study additionally measured nitrogen dioxide levels. In only a pair of minutes of cooking, individuals who didn’t use vary hoods or had poor ventilation, particularly in smaller kitchens, were uncovered to nitrogen dioxide ranges that surpassed the EPA’s guidelines for one-hour outdoor exposure. (There are no regulations on indoor air air pollution within the US.)
Whether these poisonous pollution can hurt your lungs relies upon on the extent and size of exposure, however they're extra dangerous for some people than others, like children and individuals with respiratory illnesses or conditions, such as bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The quantity of pollution within the air may additionally rely in your gas stove’s cleanliness, general maintenance, and surrounding conditions, such as air flow and kitchen size.
Generally, wholesome people, or these with bigger or well-ventilated kitchens the place gasses can dissipate, don’t essentially want to fret as much. But it’s always a good suggestion to present exhaust followers or vary hoods on whereas cooking, and leave them running for at least 5 minutes after cooking to gather any lingering pollutants.
You can additionally switch to an electrical range or conduction cooktop if you can. If not, regularly maintain and clear your gas stove, and consider having a skilled examine all pipe connections to make sure there aren’t any leaks.
Recent crowd crushes have been deadly. It’s important to know how to stay safe.
This year marked the one-year anniversary of the Astroworld Festival the place 10 people died in a crowd surge all through rapper Travis Scott’s efficiency in Houston. During Halloween festivities in downtown Seoul, at least 151 people were killed and dozens of others were injured after a big crowd started pushing forward in a narrow alley. Weeks earlier than that, greater than 125 people died in a stampede at an Indonesian soccer match.
Instances of large teams of individuals being trampled are comparatively rare, however experts say extra recent tragedies have been devastating in scale, and there are some precautions that people can take to assist keep away from these dangerous situations.
Here are a few of the steps you can take if you wish to keep away from being trapped in a crowded environment:
Check out the facility forward of time on-line or in person to look at the place it’s located, the venue’s form and size, the place the exits are, as well as to if it’s indoors or outdoors.
Go in a group and attempt to put on comfortable however distinctive clothes that helps everybody stand out.
Try to park near an exit.
Bring loads of fluids to drink.
Do not stand by the railings in entrance of a stage.
If you drop something, don’t attempt to pick it up.
Try to stay calm to protect as a lot energy as possible.
Stuffing your socks with onions won’t cure your cold, flu, or RSV
This year’s surge in respiratory viruses simply like the flu and RSV, along with COVID, had (and nonetheless have) people on social media willing to try something to cure their or their child’s symptoms.
People claimed that uncooked onions in your socks or a sick person’s bed room can absorb viruses, bacteria, fungi, and possibly different “toxins” from the pores and skin or air. Their premise is that onions might assist congestion, cough, headaches, and different symptoms; some even declare the treatment helps with bronchial asthma and “negative energy.”
There is a few proof that your pores and skin can absorb the sulfur-based compounds present in onions, and that onions have some antimicrobial properties — however not sufficient to present any therapeutic benefits. There’s additionally no proof that onions can absorb germs from the air.
Perhaps the reason some people say they really feel higher after sleeping with an onion of their sock or bedside desk is because onions can reduce congestion within the identical way that they make people cry thanks to a substance called thiosulfinates.
Generally, you’ll want to stay with the basic however efficient measures of hand-washing and avoiding shut contact with sick people to keep away from getting sick yourself; flu shots are nice too.
Luckily, stuffing your socks with onions carries little to no risk, however it’s important to perceive that home remedies like this one cannot cure underlying infection, experts say. Onions are good for your health, though, so try together with them in your diet.
Donating blood now is one of many best issues you are able to do for future victims of gun violence
The harrowing truth is that school shootings drive blood donations, which was clear following the Uvalde massacre, the place a shooter killed 19 college students and two teachers this year.
Gunshot victims are roughly 5 times extra likely to require blood transfusions. They require 10 times extra blood units and are 14 times extra likely to die than people seriously injured by motor vehicles, non-gun assaults, falls, or stabbings.
But whereas there’s a rush to donate after shootings, it’s the blood on the cabinets earlier than the violence occurs that actually saves lives within the immediate aftermath. That’s because donated blood should undergo a screening course of that takes about 24 to forty eight hours. Not to say gun violence threatens an already low blood supply.
Since the begin of the pandemic, there’s been a 10% decline in blood donations. Typically, blood facilities like to have at least three days’ present on hand to have the ability to meet the estimated wants of patients. This year and last, blood banks have been nearer to the one- to two-day vary of on-hand inventory available to donate.
Emergencies happen each day, so consider donating blood when you can.
Breast implants can set off complications and, in uncommon cases, possibly cancer
This year, the FDA introduced that it had received reports of about 50 cases of most cancers in people who’ve had breast implants. The cancers, together with squamous cell carcinomas (a common pores and skin cancer) and lymphomas, were discovered within the scar tissue that forms round implants. In some people, the most cancers had unfold all through the body.
Although the warning is concerning, experts said the low variety of cases so far is reassuring — and that implants will proceed to be inserted per usual. And that at this time, individuals with breast implants are not being inspired to take away them.
But the information reminded people that breast implants are not lifetime devices, and that it’s important to monitor your breast implants with routine screenings and contact your plastic surgeon if you discover any abnormalities.
Generally, it’s recommended that people replace their breast implants each 10 years, however that may change relying on any issues that may happen with your implants. Otherwise, MRI screenings are recommended 5 to 6 years after your surgical procedure after which each two to three years thereafter.
Katie Couric’s breast most cancers diagnosis this year additionally served as a critical reminder to prioritize your routine mammograms, particularly if you have dense breasts, which carry an additional risk issue for most cancers and could make most cancers extra difficult to see on a mammogram.
Anyone can discover themselves in abusive and manipulative relationships
In Netflix’s Bad Vegan and The Tinder Swindler, which aired this year, manipulative and in any other case abusive people exploit their successful, succesful friends and romantic companions out of thousands, and in some cases millions, of dollars.
Not all relationships or dating experiences are this wild, however therapists and different experts said these tales can teach us a lot about abuse, intimidation, and gaslighting. What’s more, anyone, no matter the place they arrive from or how they look or act, can discover themselves in these sorts of relationships.
Because not all abusive relationships begin out with apparent red flags, it could additionally be useful to know what they could look or really feel like earlier than they appear. Here are some indicators you could additionally be in an unhealthy relationship:
You’re second-guessing your self many times a day or week.
You chorus from speaking about your relationship with others to keep away from judgment.
You really feel like you’re not good enough.
You often query whether or not you’re being too delicate or illogical.
You really feel remoted from friends and family.
You take the blame for somebody else's behavior.
Here are some methods you can assist another person experiencing an abusive relationship:
Encourage them to talk to a therapist.
Guide them to resources the place they can examine gaslighting.
Help them name what’s going on and write down their dialogue to see the place the interplay veers into manipulation.
Remind them they can take a break from the relationship.
Listen to them share their story and offer your perspective.
