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Over the years, vaccines have been blamed for causing autism, diabetes, asthma, and many other illnesses. There have even been cases where parents want to opt out of having their children vaccinated to prevent the alleged sided effects.
So, the question is, “are vaccines actually safe?” Well, after 20 years of research done by the Institute of Medicine, the answer to that question is yes, vaccines are safe.
The study did confirm “some side effects”, but made clear that “serious side effects” are rare and also completely ruled out that autism and diabetes are triggered by vaccines.
To read more on this article from WebMd.Com, click here!
It’s that time again! Summer is coming to a close and the kids are going back to school.
Although the school year brings much knowledge and new friends, it can also mean being introduced to germs that can cause the flu or the common cold.
WebMd.com has done a recent article to answer parents’ top 9 questions for back to school to help keep your children as healthy as possible this school year.
Click here to read the full article!
Many summer activities like swimming, baseball, and barbequing take place on summer afternoons all over the country. Unfortunately, mosquitos love to join the festivities which can cause much discomfort for children and adults.
Sometimes mosquitos can cause more serious issues than an itchy bump. Issues like the West Nile Virus. It’s best to know more about the virus and how to prevent it in order to keep your family safe and to continue having a great time together.
Click here to learn more about the West Nile Virus and how to prevent it!
Courtesy of WebMd.Com
According to a recent article on WebMd.com, studies have shown that a “potentially dangerous chlorine by-product called Halacetic Acids (HAA) could be found in a swimmers urine within 30 minutes of the swim.”
The study was done on both adults and children and showed that 90% of the HAA came from swallowing pool water. Mary Ostrowski, director of chlorine issues for the American Chemistry Council in Washington, D.C says :”Swimmers should not ingest pool water and should be taught to keep their mouth closed in the pool.”
To find out more about this chemical and what can become of having it in our systems, click here.
Article Courtesy of WebMd.com
According to a recent article from WebMd.com, pharmaceutical manufacturer Johnson & Johnson has recalled approximately 60,000 bottles of Tylenol Extra Strength Caplets after repots of odors coming from the caplets. The odor has also been associated with gastrointestinal symptoms that have been described as “non-serious”.
There was also a recall of Tylenol’s 8-hour Extended Release Caplets in March 2011.
Click here to read the full article and learn what the cause of this recall was.
Article courtesy of WebMd.com
When someone says the word “snack” our minds think of a very small portion of food to help satisfy us in between meals. However, to many Americans, snacking has turned into somewhat of a fourth meal.
So when does snacking become harmful to our health as far as causing weight gain, diabetes, or cholesterol issues? Well, a recent article from WebMd.com clears up that question:
“According to Richard D. Mattes, PhD, a Professor of Food and Nutrition at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., snacking isn’t healthy or unhealthy. “It is what you eat and how it fits into your daily lifestyle,” he says. “If your snacks add a lot of calories that are not offset by eating less at other times or increasing physical activity, it will cause weight gain.”
Eating or drinking a high-calorie snack means that you should rein in your next meal or get more physical activity to work off the extra calories, he says.
“Snacks should be a part of the total diet and be healthy,” he says. This doesn’t mean you can never have a bag of chips or a chocolate bar, he says. “You can include something that is not nutrient-dense as long as one adjusts so that it is part of the total energy package.”
Balancing your snacks with healthy meals and exercise seems to be the key to healthy snacking.
Click here to read the full article and also get tips on “Smart Snacking”.
It’s summer time which means lots of time at the beach or in the swimming pool. Unfortunately, painful sunburns often follow the fun summer activities. Here you’ll find the best home remedies for sunburns and also some information on certain remedies that you should stay away from!
What Works:
You are dealing with a burn, so treat it like a burn. It is too late to worry about prevention… at least for now.
- Cool down that burning skin. Cool or cold compresses with plain ol’ water is all that you’ll need.
- Pain is always counterproductive (once the lesson has been learned), so it’s really okay to take something. My personal, over-the-counter favorite is the anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a second choice.
- Topical hydrocortisone may or may not help, but to add to the cooling effect, keep this cream in the refrigerator. It feels great going on cold.
- If any blisters occur, as they often do in second degree burns, leave ‘em alone. By popping them prematurely, you increase the chance of getting a skin infection.
- If you have an Aloe vera plant at home that you can squeeze out and use, or a soothing lotion, it is okay.
What DOESN’T work:
These are just some of the odd and often ridiculous methods that people are using for sunburns, according to the Internet. Obviously, I can’t endorse them.
- Food products: Mayonnaise, yellow mustard, tomato juice, tomato slices, fruit slices (like peaches), potato slices, egg whites, milk, buttermilk, yogurt, raw honey, Dr. Pepper, and vinegar. Not only are these messy (and weird), it is really the temperature of the product – refrigerated or even room temperature – that is causing the effect, not the product. Sure, cold mayonnaise would feel good, but it is because it is cold, not because it is mayonnaise. Many have recommended tea poultices: if you put it on cold, it works almost as well as plain water.
- Lubricants: Butter, olive oil, shortening. Don’t use ‘em.
- Over-the-counter drugs/supplements: Noxema, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, Benadryl, vitamins applied to the skin, shaving cream, Vagisil, Milk of Magnesia, diaper rash creams/ointments, Preparation H, Pepto Bismol, and Colgate toothpaste. These products have other uses, but sunburn management isn’t one of them.
- Other ridiculous treatments: Vodka (on the skin – no; taken internally, it may help with pain), bleach, Windex, Tide laundry detergent, and sandlewood paste.
Some final words
If your grandmother insists on putting tomato slices on your sunburned back, just do it. Other than cooling down your skin, don’t expect a miracle cure. You do need to be nice to your grandmother and not hurt her good intentions. Besides, you support our struggling tomato farmers.
If you truly believe that some of these odd or ridiculous remedies work for you, then use them. As long as they are not dangerous, such as recommending hot showers (how stupid), you can make your own decisions. Exercise caution before recommending unproven nostrums to others.
Sunburn is a preventable malady. Severe sunburns are not only painful and disfiguring; they can predispose you to skin cancers later in life.
You have been burned once. Don’t let it happen again.
Article courtesy of WebMd.com