Health Tip: Warding Off Age-Related Memory Loss

(HealthDay News) -- Memory loss in seniors is common, but occasional forgetfulness doesn't necessarily mean dementia.
Rotary International offers these recommendations for what you can do to help prevent memory loss:

• Get plenty of regular exercise to boost oxygen to the brain and reduce your risk of disorders that can lead to memory loss.
• Pack your diet full of vegetables and fruits, healthy fats and whole grain foods.
• Keep stress under control, which will help make it easier to concentrate.
• Get enough quality sleep each night.
• Avoid smoking, which increases the risk of vascular problems that can lead to stroke and reduce oxygen to the brain.

Gas Stove Emissions Boost Asthma in Inner-City Kids

(HealthDay News) -- High levels of nitrogen dioxide emissions from gas stoves can aggravate asthma symptoms in inner-city children, especially pre-schoolers, a new study says.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is an irritating and toxic form of nitrogen oxide gas that is often present in industrial zones but can also be found at higher levels in poor homes with unvented gas stoves.

Researchers from John Hopkins University, reporting in the October issue of Environmental Health Perspectives, tied asthma flare-ups in young children directly to high concentrations of NO2 in their Baltimore homes, most of which had gas stoves and/or natural gas heat. The stoves or ovens were often used for heating as well as cooking.

"Because using stoves as heat sources is a hallmark of urban poverty, our study tellingly points to how profound and direct the effects of purely social and environmental factors can be on a child's health," lead researcher Dr. Nadia Hansel, a Johns Hopkins lung expert, said in a news release issued by the university. "Doctors caring for children with asthma should always inquire about the home's heating and cooking appliances and urge those using gas-based stoves and space heaters to switch to electric heating and cooking, if possible, or at least properly vent the exhaust gases."

Each 20 point increase in nitrogen dioxide levels led to 10 percent more days of cough and 15 percent more days with limited speech due to wheezing, the researchers said.

Asthma affects 6.2 million children in the United States and is most prevalent in inner-city children. Doctors believe poor access to regular health care and added exposure to indoor allergens such as mouse and cockroach dander, dust, cigarette smoke and automobile fumes make the condition worse for these children.

More information
The American Lung Association has more about childhood asthma.

Cadmium Exposure Tied to Lung Disease

(HealthDay News) -- The metal cadmium plays a major role in causing emphysema, and even low-level exposure through secondhand seconhand moke and other sources can increase the risk of lung disease, a new study says.

The University of Michigan School of Public Health research also suggests that people with high levels of cadmium in their bodies may have as much as double the risk of developing a pulmonary disease such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis.

In this study, principal investigator Howard Hu and his colleagues tested the lung function of 96 men. Those with higher levels of cadmium in their urine had a reduced ability to exhale. This association was most evident among current and former smokers.

"The study suggests that the critical ingredient in smoking that may be causing emphysema is cadmium, a well-known contaminant of cigarette smoke. The worry is if you are exposed to this (cadmium) through other sources, you can also be at risk for emphysema," Hu said in a university news release.

Nonsmokers can be exposed to cadmium through secondhand smoke, by eating contaminated foods, or in the workplace. Cadmium is widely used in batteries and pigments, and is present in sludge and crop fertilizers, the researchers said.

Cadmium is difficult for the body to expel, because the kidneys tend to retain cadmium, which is recycled into the body, said Hu, chairman of the School of Public Health's department of environmental health sciences.

The next phase of this research will involve a much larger, population-based study with more people and multiple measurements of cadmium exposure and lung function over an extended period of time.

"With a larger population, we will be able to better disentangle the independent effects of cadmium and smoking, and whether dietary cadmium or other non-cigarette sources may also influence lung function," Hu said.

The study findings are published in the September issue of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

More information
The American Cancer Society has more about secondhand smoke.

101 Painless Ways to Detoxify Your Mind, Body, and Home

By Laura Milligan
Crash diets and certain fads that promise to give your body the detox treatment are not only harmful to your health, but they can leave you feeling cranky, irritable, exhausted and starving. There are some beneficial long term effects of detoxification, however, including a more focused mind, more energy, clearer skin and decreased chances of developing cancer and other chronic diseases. If you’re interested in detoxifying your entire mind, body and living spaces, but aren’t ready to starve yourself or cause yourself more stress on a crazy diet, use this list to incorporate 101 painless ways to get the results you want.

Bad Habits to Break
Hardcore smokers may not consider giving up their vice "painless," but there are alternative treatments that help you break these and other bad habits, freeing your body of harmful chemicals, slower metabolisms and inefficient digestive systems.

Smoking: Every time you smoke a cigarette, your body has to fight off harmful amounts of tar, smoke, nicotine, ammonia and carbon monoxide, as well as other toxins.

Alcohol: While some doctors and scientists argue that a low to moderate consumption of alcohol is beneficial to your health, alcoholic beverages put a lot of stress on your body, and are full of sugar and calories. If you drink even a little too much, you may notice differences in your digestion, headaches, nausea, sluggishness, and other toxic side effects.

Not getting enough sleep: Even though you’re not putting anything harmful in your body, not getting enough sleep can be harmful to you. Follow these tips to fall asleep faster and understand why sleep is so important.

Eating fast food and frozen food: Even if you think you’re getting a good meal from a frozen dinner, the important minerals and vitamins have probably been cooked out of the foods already. Fast food tends to have a lot of extra salt, fat and artificial flavoring, all of which add unnecessary toxins to your body and make you feel weighted down.

Short temper: If you’re constantly getting angry at people or suspecting them of cheating you out of something, your mind is never at peace. Learn to relax by learning to fix a short temper.
Over dieting: Though a good diet that’s free of fast food, junk food and too much alcohol is an important step in detoxifying your body and mind, over dieting can be harmful as well. If you’re depriving your body of nutrients or causing your body stress by binging and purging, you need to change your dieting habits.

Clutter: A cluttered home causes emotional stress. Increase productivity and give yourself a sense of calm by taking out the trash, cleaning the dishes and reducing clutter.
Being negative: Get rid of negative thoughts and feelings, and you’ll find that a life filled with feelings of gratitude, optimism and perspective will make you more successful and happy.

Caffeine addiction: Being addicted to caffeine can be a serious problem for some people: too much coffee affects sleep patterns, energy levels, social skills, concentration and focus, and job performance. Get tips for breaking the caffeine habit here.

Isolation: Taking time out for yourself is a good way to get centered, but spending too much time alone isn’t good for your spirit. Visit a neighbor or family member for a little social interaction, which will keep you from feeling depressed and lonely. Read more>>