Poverty may influence how genes function, researchers report.
Specifically, they found that poverty is associated with levels of DNA methylation – which can shape gene expression – in nearly 10% of genes.
No nature vs. nurture
The findings are significant for a number of reasons, the researchers said.
“First, we have known for a long time that [poverty] is a powerful determinant of health, but the underlying mechanisms through which our bodies ‘remember’ the experiences of poverty are not known,” said study author Thomas McDade. He directs the Laboratory for Human Biology Research at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
The findings also show that life experiences can shape genetic structure and function.
“There is no nature vs. nurture,” McDade said in a Northwestern news release.
He was surprised to discover so many links between socioeconomic status and DNA methylation across such a large number of genes.
A lasting molecular imprint
“This pattern highlights a potential mechanism through which poverty can have a lasting impact on a wide range of physiological systems and processes,” McDade said.
Further research is needed to determine the health effects of these DNA changes at the genetic sites identified in this study, he said.
Many of the affected genes are associated with processes related to immune responses to infection, skeletal development and development of the nervous system, McDade noted.
“These are the areas we’ll be focusing on to determine if DNA methylation is indeed an important mechanism through which socioeconomic status can leave a lasting molecular imprint on the body, with implications for health later in life,” he said.
The study was published recently in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.
US health officials are taking another look at the safety of breast implants, the latest review in a decades-long debate.
Experts for the Food and Drug Administration will hear from researchers, plastic surgeons and implant makers at a two-day meeting. Women who believe their implants caused a variety of long-term diseases and ailments are also scheduled to speak.
No new restrictions or warnings
The FDA is grappling with how to manage a recently confirmed link to a rare cancer and thousands of unconfirmed complaints of other health problems.
FDA’s experts will recommend next steps and additional areas for research on the devices. But for now the agency isn’t proposing any new restrictions or warnings.
Roughly 400 000 women receive breast implants in the US annually, for cosmetic or reconstructive purposes after breast cancer.
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It’s easy to skip a warm-up and jump straight to the workout. I mean is it not enough that you’re already exercising? Short answer, not really. Sure you can get away with skipping a warm-up a couple of times but you’re more likely to hurt yourself if you don’t get your body ready. You’re simply prepping the body for exercise.
“The healthiest way to start any kind of workout is to make sure your body is ready for it,” Seugnet begins. “Making sure your joints are warm is vital to prevent injury.” Therefore you should activate the muscles and mobilize the joints that you are about to use.
“In my warm-ups, I make sure to do movements that raise my heart rate and breathing rate,” she continues. “This allows more oxygen to travel throughout the body which will make you feel less tired during your workout.” Don’t treat it as a chore, it’s simply preparing your muscles to do their job properly. Makes sense right?
Seugnet’s go-to stretches
The type of warm-up your body requires depends on the type of exercise that is to follow. “For my typical [warm-up] session I usually start with shoulder and neck stretches,” Seugnet explains. “This will be followed by spinal movements, for example, side stretches and forward folds. These will wake up the spine and open the hamstrings.”
In addition, incorporate a squat into the forward folds. “This is a great way to warm up and stretch the hip flexors and hamstrings,” Seugnet continues. “Runners and surfers lunges are also great hip flexor stretches.” Just really loosen everything up. “I usually do arm swings, small jumps or running on the spot. From this into lunges to elevate my heart rate,” she concludes.
“Warming up is crucial for heating up muscle tissue,” Seugnet says. “The risk of skipping this step is injuring a muscle or a joint. Often people tear a muscle which could have been prevented if the warm-up was done properly.”
But that’s not all, your body will thank you for stretching. “You will also feel less sore the next day if you stretched properly,” she adds. “Our joints have a fluid called Synovial fluid. This is found in the cavities of our joints. The main function is to lubricate our joints so there’s less friction during movement.” Through warming-up, the Synovial fluid is activated and able to do its job.
This year, Women’s Health is bringing you a brand new workout – Chase The Sun – dedicated to stretching and toning. This stunning new session will be taking place outdoors on the manicured polo fields of Val de Vie. Seugnet will be leading us all through some stretching and mobility work. “You can expect a great start to the day by connecting with yourself through breath and awareness,” she explains. “Using mobility moves and stretches, we’ll get the heart rates up.” It’s the perfect way to get the body ready for a morning of movement.
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More and more research supports the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, the way of eating followed by people who live in countries around the Mediterranean Sea, such as Greece and Italy.
Various studies have indicated that it may help ward off Alzheimer’s disease and other changes related to thinking and memory. It may also reduce your odds of getting type 2 diabetes. And eating this way when you’re younger can increase your chances of living past 70 without a chronic illness.
A style of eating
While some studies have cast doubt on its seemingly infinite health benefits, more definitive evidence of its value was announced in December 2018 in a study done at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Researchers found that among women who most closely followed the diet, heart disease was cut by more than 25%.
It’s also important not to lose sight of the big picture: Because it’s a diet that relies on fresh food rather than packaged or processed choices, it can be a healthful way for everyone to follow general nutrition guidelines for wellness.
One aspect that people like about the Mediterranean diet is its flexibility – it’s more of a style of eating than a strict regimen. That means that, within the parameters of what’s acceptable, you have many choices and can build your own daily menus.
The core of the Mediterranean diet
Vegetables (except potatoes)
Fruits
Nuts
Whole grains
Legumes including beans
Fish
Olives and olive oil
A glass of red wine a day and limited amounts of chicken each week are permissible. Red and fatty meats and sweets should be limited to a few times a month.
The bottom line: For a delicious diet that offers big health benefits, the Mediterranean diet may be a great choice for you.
In 2017, malaria killed 435 000 people around the world. The vast majority of these deaths – 403 000 – were on the African continent. Most malaria cases are in sub-Saharan Africa.
As part of our research we have looked at three key aspects. One is the effect of human activity on mosquito biology. Here we looked at the effects of heavy metal pollution on various life history traits as well as the expression of insecticide resistance in Anopheles arabiensis, which is one of the mosquito species that transmits malaria.
We also did research into what impact changes in climate are having on the efficacy of insecticides aimed at malaria vectors.
And, finally, we looked at what the effect of higher temperatures is on the major malaria vector, An. arabiensis.
An. arabiensis is extremely difficult to control. Besides already reported insecticide resistance, they are prone to avoiding insecticide treated nets and walls. These mosquitoes also tend to bite people outdoors, where little can be done for protection.
Our work aims to understand the biology of this complex mosquito to track how changes in the environment are affecting the behaviour of this animal. This will hopefully inform malaria control strategies and bring us closer to eliminating the disease.
Toxins
The larval stage of the mosquito is aquatic. This vulnerable stage is crucial for the well-being of adult mosquitoes, in the same way that the health of a human baby will determine an adult’s future health.
Many larval environmental factors have a profound effect on the well-being of the adult mosquito. These include the environmental temperature, the level of crowding and access to nutrition. Human activity, however, has resulted in increased levels of water pollution, and mosquito larvae being exposed to more toxins.
This has a big impact on malaria transmitting mosquitoes. These insects usually breed in clean water, but have adapted to breeding in polluted water. This means that malaria vectors can now potentially increase their range to areas where malaria didn’t usually occur.
Our research shows that polluted water sources are becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes that are tolerant to a range of toxins. We found that adult mosquitoes that were exposed to metal during the larval stage developed insecticide resistance.
Currently we do not know whether insecticide-resistant or susceptible mosquitoes are better at transmitting malaria. But polluting activities are resulting in range expansion and changes in selection procedures in mosquitoes.
Temperature on insecticides and mosquitoes
Further research we did suggests that high temperatures also affect the efficacy of certain insecticides.
Insecticides are commonly used as public health interventions against malaria vectors in some African countries including South Africa, Cameroon and Kenya. They are an important part of malaria control policies and strategies to eliminate the disease.
Our findings are important in efforts to determine the efficacy of insecticides currently used. But our study was based in a laboratory under controlled conditions, so our findings must still be tested in a real-life setting. This is because different temperatures could have different effects. Environmental conditions also vary and could have an impact on the efficacy of insecticides.
When it comes to mosquitoes, our research showed that temperature can have a significant impact on the life cycle of these insects. For example, climate change may affect the distribution of malaria vectors. We studied how rising temperatures affected major malaria vectors. We focused specifically on how insecticide-resistant vectors were affected versus vectors that are susceptible to insecticide.
Mosquitoes that develop resistance are more tolerant of high temperatures than those that aren’t resistant. This means that as temperatures rise, so do the survival odds of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes. This will complicate malaria control.
Why we should be worried
Human activities are driving mosquito evolution. Polluting activities are resulting in malaria-transmitting mosquitoes expanding into regions where they previous weren’t. Adaptation to water pollution results in increased tolerance to pesticides.
Insecticide resistant or tolerant mosquitoes cope better with more toxic pollutants. Currently it is not known if these mosquitoes are more likely transmit malaria than insecticide susceptible mosquitoes.
Scientists are only beginning to unravel what this could mean for the elimination of malaria.
You might be surprised to learn that food allergies can start in adulthood and involve a food you’ve eaten without a problem for your entire life.
For adults as well as kids, the top – but not the only – food culprits are eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish, wheat and soy, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Just as with childhood food allergies, you’ll need to do your best to avoid these foods and be prepared in case you inadvertently come into contact with one of them.
Signs of a severe allergic reaction
Hives or pale/bluish skin tone
Cramps and/or vomiting
Trouble swallowing or swelling of the tongue
Weak pulse
Feeling dizzy or faint
Shortness of breath, wheezing or coughing
Inability to breathe, and drop in blood pressure
The most serious reaction is called anaphylaxis, an extreme inability to breathe that can lead to shock. It is a life-threatening emergency. Keep in mind that allergic reactions can be unpredictable. Most happen within a few hours of contact, but some are instantaneous. It could take only a small amount of the allergen to cause swelling, hives or anaphylaxis. Also, your body could experience more than one type of reaction – your skin, gastrointestinal tract, heart and/or breathing could be affected.
So it’s important to call your doctor and ask about testing after any out-of-the-ordinary reaction to a particular food. If possible, write down what you ate, how soon afterward symptoms started and how long they lasted.
Allergy testing usually involves a combination of skin pricks and blood tests. Sometimes there may be a workaround. For instance, if a raw fruit or vegetable causes a reaction, you may be able to eat the food cooked because, for some people, heat neutralises the allergen.
Outbreaks in New York state continue to drive up the number of US measles cases, which are approaching levels not seen in 25 years.
Health officials say 71 more cases were reported last week, with 68 of them from New York. That brings this year’s total to 626.
That is already the most since 2014, when 667 were reported for the whole year. The most before that was 963 cases in 1994. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the latest numbers Monday.
Twenty-two states have reported cases, but the vast majority have been in New York – mainly in New York City and in nearby Rockland County. Most of the New York cases have been unvaccinated people in Orthodox Jewish communities.
Dr Alison Bentley is a general practitioner who has consulted in sleep medicine and sleep disorders, in both adults and children of all ages, for almost 30 years. She also researches and publishes on a number of sleep-related topics both in formal research journals and lay publications including as editor of Sleep Matters, an educational newsletter on sleep disorders for doctors.
