Showing posts with label lead. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lead. Show all posts

The following content is provided by NDTV.com under their RSS usage rights. All copyright remains the property of NDTV.com where applicable.


 


The Theory of Everything star Felicity Jones will play the female lead in Lucasfilm and Disney’s standalone Star Wars film.


 


Felicity earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her role in the Stephen Hawking biopic, where she portrayed the role of the physicist’s first wife.


 


Gareth Edwards is directing the film and Chris Weitz has written the script. Chris has replaced Gary Whitta, who penned the first draft, reported the Hollywood Reporter. (Also Read: Felicity Jones Says Red Wine Puts Her in ‘Slightly Suicidal Depressed State’)


 


The makers are keeping the project under tight wraps, but there are speculations that actors Aaron Paul and Edgar Ramirez are in the race for the male lead.


 


The movie is slated to release on December 16, 2016.

 


Your home is your place of security and comfort, but it can also be a source of potential health dangers as well. In fact, what you touch and breathe could literally make you ill. Therefore, it’s crucial to learn about the top five home health hazards to protect both you and your family.


There are hidden dangers lurking in your home that can affect your health, some of which may include carpet fumes, odorless gases, and even the household cleaners stored in the cabinet can all potentially harm your family. Here’s what you need to be aware of.


 


1. Carbon Monoxide


This odorless gas provides zero warning before it makes everyone sick and can sometimes even cause death. Every year, around 500 people actually die from this silent but deadly killer. Usually, contamination occurs if an organic fuel is inappropriately burned without adequate ventilation. Typical sources of carbon monoxide include gas and kerosene space heaters, fireplaces, tobacco smoke, wood stoves, gas water heaters, and vehicle exhaust.


 


2. Pesticides


Roach baits and sprays, flea and tick shampoos, weed killers, and insect repellants are just some of the harmful pesticides found in the average home. But, if they’re improperly stored or used in the wrong manner, pesticides can pose a danger to your heath, which may cause breathing problems, nerve damage, and more. If you have a suspected bug problem, it’s best to use a professional pest control company like Arab Termite and Pest Control or a provider in your area to safely and thoroughly eliminate them from your home.


 


3. E. Coli and Salmonella


E. coli infection can happen if you unintentionally eat a contaminated food that wasn’t cleaned or cooked properly. People are most generally infected with dangerous salmonella after handling or eating contaminated raw foods, including vegetables, eggs, fruits, and beef. Contamination from salmonella can often happen during food preparation or the butchering or harvesting process.


 


4. Mold


Mold is basically a kind of microscopic, tiny living organism that grows in places where organic matter, oxygen, and moisture exist. Exposure to mold can ultimately cause eye irritation, chronic cough, sinus and nasal congestion, and could also cause lung infections or trigger asthma attacks in people with chronic respiratory issues. Be sure to identify any water damage and associated mold early, and have professionals remove the dangerous mold colonies.


 


5. Lead


Exposure to lead has been linked to severe health problems that can range from nerve disorders to key changes in mental development and/or behavior along with other disorders. Although it’s been officially eliminated since 1978 in consumer-based products, it still exists in the homes that have never been upgraded. Older homes with lead-based paints, drinking water (think lead pipes), contaminated soil, and general household dust are all substantial sources of toxic lead exposure.


Addressing these harmful toxins is a logical start to making your family and home much safer and healthier. Good health is priceless.


 

 


Lead poisoning is a very serious threat and can have dire medical consequences. Because of this, most people take care to remove items that can contain lead from their homes, like lead-based paint. Unfortunately, lead is still finding its way inside of homes and many times, in surprising ways. By learning about the unique ways lead can get inside of the home and in the neighborhood, you too can take the necessary action to protect your family. Here are four common sources of lead poisoning which may surprise you:


 


Lead in the Walls


One way that you or your family can be subject to lead poisoning is through home improvements. This isn’t something that people think about in most cases. Most of the time they are so focused on removing the lead from obvious places, such as the lead in lead paint and pipes, that they neglect to remember that lead could be in the very structure of their home, as well. This is especially true in homes or buildings built in the 1970s or earlier. If you have an older home, you should always assume there is lead in the walls until you have conducted a test with negative results.


 


Lead in the Playground


You might think it’s safe to allow your children to play on the playground, but did you know that they could be subject to lead poisoning? Even if the equipment itself is not made of lead, the soil underneath could have lead in it. Many times, playgrounds are built where older structures stood. If those structures had lead in them, it could still be in the soil.


 


Lead in Children’s Toys


Everyone gives their children toys, and most toys are now made overseas. The problem? Other countries, where these toys are produced, don’t have the same regulations when it comes to lead that the US does and because of that, it is certainly possible that lead could be part of these toys. This is also often the case with older toys. Try to keep your children from playing with toys that are cheap looking or old and encourage them to keep all toys out of their mouth, as this is the easiest way to absorb lead.


 


Lead in the Water


Finally, you might be surprised to find that lead poisoning can occur from drinking lead tainted water that might be coming right out of your own faucets. Pipes in both new and older houses can contain lead. Though new homes are not fitted with lead pipes like older homes were, the way modern copper pipes are soldered together could expose your drinking water to lead. A Toronto plumber, representing Mister Plumber, reports that an estimated 10% – 20% of all lead poisoning today is from drinking tainted water. If your home or pipes are outdated, you may want to consider having them tested for lead.


 


If you suspect that your home or environment may contain lead, take steps today to test for lead and keep your family safe. Lead poisoning should not be taken lightly, as it can lead to serious health complications and sometimes death.

Miscommunication between men and women often stems from the fact that many people, particularly men, equate sex with romance. If their sex life is adequate, they believe everything else is fine, but this isn’t always the case. Furthermore, there’s the confusion about what is considered to be romantic or sexual activity. Many people think of kissing and hugging as a prelude to sex, but that’s not always the case. As a result, when people aren’t in the mood for sex, they don’t want to kiss or cuddle either as they think this is where it will lead. But these actions can help to retain the passion and intimacy in a relationship even when your sex life isn’t tip-top.


This kind of activity can be true of people in a relationship where a pattern has been established that kissing can lead to sex. This is where communication is so important, as the partner who wants the romantic touching needs to make it clear that their desire for physical contact has nothing to do with sexual feelings. Sometimes all we need it a kiss and a cuddle to feel loved and close to their partner, not necessarily as a precursor to sex. The onus isn’t always on the men though. Some women crave romance, but deliberately shut their libidos down once they get their fix because they find themselves busy or preoccupied. They don’t consider what it will take to satisfy their partners, as well as themselves. But this can lead to people feeling rejected and worthless in the relationship, which can create bigger problems than just the desire for sex being overlooked.


 


There’s also the level of confusion which occurs when couples try to communicate with each other about which signs of affection will lead to sex and which won’t. This confusion can create problems. There are two key factors to remember here – men get aroused easily and women can change their minds. But just because men can get aroused by kissing and hugging, it doesn’t mean that they’ll start kicking up a fuss when they don’t have sex. The answer is improved communication, where you need to be able to share your sensitivities and feelings with your partner without hurting his or her feelings.


 


For example, when a man gets an erection but the woman isn’t in the mood for sex, she needs to be able to tell her partner that she’s not in the mood without him getting upset or annoyed. And if she decides that she’s in the mood and they do have sex, he can’t assume that it’s going to happen every time the situation arises. The best way to do this is to avoid fixed patterns – each member of the relationship needs to be flexible and understand that people change their minds on the matter of sex, and that you can’t assume that one particular scenario will just be repeated each time. And it also means that you should compromise sometimes to please your partner. The man should understand that if a kiss drags on longer than usual, it doesn’t mean he should make her feel guilty when she turns down his advances. And she should be willing to hug and kiss without thinking about sex, but be accepting of her partners needs as well. Compromise and communication are the two pillars of a good relationship, and increasing the levels of them can do wonders for your closeness.

Men – do you think that your sexual prowess is as good as it could be? Your emotional wellness and wellbeing is closely linked to how you feel you ‘perform’ as a man, so what could you be doing better? We’ve interviewed many woman about what they want, need and desire and explored sexual wishes from women of all ages, and are ready to reveal the tricks that all women wish that you knew.


 


First of all – get talking. We don’t mean that every woman automatically enjoys a bit of dirty talk (although many do!) but women are aroused by what they hear as well as what they feel. If you communicate effectively with a woman she will feel connected to you, and this will lead to an increased desire for intimacy.


 


Increased contact can also be vital for better sex – and we don’t just mean in the throes of passion. Sit together on the sofa, kiss hello and goodbye and hold hands when walking down the street. This kind of casual contact leads women to feel more connected and intimate with a partner, and this will lead to more intimate, mind blowing sex.


 


Don’t just feel that you need to stick to the bedroom, either. Women love a bit of variety, and so next time try seducing her in the living room, spare room, kitchen or even at a fancy hotel. The change of location leads everything to seem new and exciting, and this will lead to far hotter sex.


 


Adding a little danger can spice things up too – why not try having sex in a semi-public place such as a parked car or outdoors in a secluded spot? Make sure you’re not actually going to get caught, or you really could be arrested and that would not look good on your CV. Even the thrill of feeling like you ‘could’ be caught will lead to a very sexy, steamy session, though.

A dog is as much a part of the family as anyone else, and keeping his or her wellness as a top priority is vital if you want to enjoy a long and happy relationship with your pet.


 


One of the biggest threats to your dog’s wellbeing is cancer. Just as in humans, there are some important lifestyle decisions that you should make when it comes to your dog to help prevent your canine friend from succumbing to the deadly disease.


 


Not only is cancer just as serious in dogs as it is in humans, it can also become very expensive, with vets bills and medication costs stacking up. It can also be very upsetting to watch your dog’s health deteriorate. Although it is curable in some cases, it is far better to make sure that your dog doesn’t get cancer in the first place.


 


One of the things you should be mindful of is avoiding unnecessary vaccinations. If your vet suggests that you need to get your dog vaccinated against some kind of illness, do a little research of your own and work out whether the disease is the biggest risk or whether the possible damage caused by the vaccine is more of a consideration. A recent study has shown that some of the additives used in vaccines can cause problems with your dog’s autoimmunity, and this can lead to organ failure and cancer.  Certainly, if your dog has been diagnosed with cancer it would be extremely wise to avoid vaccinations where possible, as the immune system is often suppressed by cancer (and by the drugs that treat cancer) and this can lead to vaccinations making your pet very ill.


 


Getting your dog spayed or neutered is always a very important part of their care, but it is also worth remembering that removing the sites where some cancer lurks can be a preventative measure. One of the benefits of spaying or neutering is that it can decrease your dog’s chance of cancer, especially if you do it at the right time (i.e. not too early and not too late).

Everyone needs a sufficient amount of iron in order to maintain good health, as the red blood cells require it to carry oxygen to the cells around the body. It’s also needed in the production of ATP or adenosine triphosphate, the body’s energy source. Excess iron is stored in the bone marrow, liver, spleen and muscles. However, it’s been found that excess consumption of iron supplements could lead to an increase in the amount of iron stored in the body. Everyone will react differently to this, but there are various side effects which are particularly common in women.


 


For example, research has shown that too much iron in the body can increase risk of developing cirrhosis or liver cancer. This is because the liver is one such organ where iron is stored. Too much of this nutrient can put pressure on the liver, which can cause irreversible scarring and can be very painful – this can increase the chances of liver cancer developing. This disease can also occur in women who have a disease known as hematochromatosis, which is caused by iron in foods when consumed in large amounts. Excess quantities of iron can also lead to heart failure or arrhythmia, which is caused by the iron interfering with the electrical conductivity of a person. The heart pumps blood around the entire body, and when iron affects this it can lead to heart failure. Swelling of the legs and problems with your breathing are symptoms of heart failure, which you should be observant of.


 


Some women notice changes to their skin which may be caused by too much iron. When the iron moves from the bloodstream to the tissues in the body, it gets stored in the skin cells. This can affect the quality or tone, making it become grey or bronze in colour. Studies suggest that 90 percent of women who had high levels of iron in their bodies noticed a change in the colour of their skin. The hyper pigmentation can also lead to women being more sensitive to the damaging ultraviolet rays.


 


Those with the previously mentioned condition hemochromatosis could also suffer with problems with the pancreas. 75 percent of people with this problem go on to develop diabetes – in fact, anyone with a family history of these two problems will be more prone to developing them. This is because too much iron in the pancreas affects the insulin production, which increases the amount of blood sugar levels in the body. Excess iron can build up in the joints to lead to damaged tissues, making women the victims of chronic arthritis. This is because the tissue damage renders the bone exposed, leading to immense pain as the bones rub together. And because the large quantities of iron in the blood stops the body repairing the tissues, this condition never repairs itself. It simply increases the inflammation and heightens the amount of pain the individual suffers. Women, more so than men, should be wary of too much iron in the body, as this can lead to damage in the ovaries. Studies suggest that this can manifest itself in the form of irregular menstrual cycles and the loss of ovulation. And in adolescent females, it can also delay puberty. If you’re worried about the amount of iron in your body, you should seek the advice of your GP. They will be able to arrange a simple blood test to ascertain the levels in the body, and adjust them with your diet or medication if necessary.

As a parent, it’s only natural to want your children to lead a safe, happy life. However, thousands of kids each year end up visiting the emergency room due to toy-related injuries. According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), over 200,000 children under the age of 14 years old experience injury from dangerous toys each year. Although many of these do not require overnight hospitalization, these injuries have occasionally resulted in death for a small percentage of kids.


 


Toys make the perfect gift for kids on birthdays, special occasions and holidays. However, the wrong types of toys can cause choking or strangulation hazards or even damage your child’s hearing. Given the wide range of toys available on the market, what are the top concerns to watch out for?


 


Bigger Is Better


Toys with small parts can present a choking hazard, particularly to smaller children under the age of 3 years old. The best test to see if the toy is appropriate is to use a toilet paper roll tube. If the item can make its way through that, then it’s a definite safety hazard for your little one. Also, keep an eye out for toy warning labels, as well as toys made of materials that may be able to be crushed or balled up and swallowed.


 


Shop With Industry Leaders


Everyone loves a bargain, particularly cash-strapped parents. However, occasionally bargain toys can break, contain toxic materials or unidentified small parts, causing injury. Look for well-made toys from award winning companies like Baby Einstein who pride themselves on creating safely structured, age-appropriate toys for your tots. Also look for toys from companies that regularly appear on parent and government award sites and “best of” lists.


 


Magnetic Charm


It may come as a surprise, but toys with magnets can cause serious complications and risks in children if accidentally swallowed. Today’s magnets are not only powerful, but their shiny look can look like appealing candy to kids. Watch out for magnets used in jewelery and building toys, as well as colorful letter magnets used on your home refrigerator.


 


Lead and Toxic Worries


Although lead toys may be a thing of the past, vintage toys are still handed down and bought for today’s little ones. Surprisingly, the CPSC, PIRG and children’s health groups have discovered high levels of lead paint on recent toys (especially those made before 2009), vinyl lunch boxes and bibs, and in children’s costume jewelry. Try purchasing a home test kit to ensure your child is not be accidentally exposed. Also aim to buy wooden or cloth toys when possible.


 


Get the Right Gear


Active toys such a bicycles, scooters, skateboards and skates pose obvious dangers to today’s kids. Be sure to set ground rules for your children on where they can use these items, being sure to stress the importance of staying out of the street and avoiding road vehicles. Additionally, providing your kids with protective gear such as knee and elbow pads and helmets can go along way to injury prevention.


 


Stay on Top of Those Recalls


Hundreds of toys and games are recalled every year due to safety issues, so it’s important to check lists regularly against what’s in your child’s toy chest. It’s easy to stay informed using government sponsored sites such as Recalls.gov, which also offer an email service to provide you with alerts on the latest product call backs.


 


A child getting a new toy should bring laughs and smiles, not injuries and trips to the emergency room. Pay close attention not only to the toys that you buy for your children, but also what they receive as presents to ensure they are playing with high quality, safe and age appropriate toys. By keeping attentive to what your kids are playing with, you can ensure they lead a happy and injury free childhood.



Writer and mother of four, Melanie Fleury is always concerned about the quality and safety of the toys that her children play with. She has found that sticking with brands she trusts, like Baby Einstein, alleviates those fears. 




Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/realityfaery/4257269900/

There are several live volcanoes around the world, and the eruptions that sometimes occur from this have led to concerns about the effect of volcanic ash on our health. Naturally, there is the risk of some respiratory damage when inhaling such matter, but how severe is it and should you be concerned? After the renowned Icelandic volcano eruption which occurred several years ago, more people are worried about how their health will be affected by such an event if it were to happen again. There is little publicity in the way of information about what people should do in such an emergency. Volcanic ash is formed of fine rock particles, minerals and glass. The ash is rough and mildly corrosive, and it doesn’t dissolve in water. When a volcano erupts, the ash can spread in the air for thousands of kilometres away, depending on the type of eruption and the wind speed. Because ash is made up of millions of microscopic particles and fragments, it can be inhaled deep into the lungs and lead to problems with one’s breathing. How damaging this is depends on a number of factors, including how often and for how long you were breathing in the ash, how big the particles were, and whether you also breathed in volcanic gases. If you have heart or lung problems already, this may make your situation worse.


 


Short-term exposure to volcanic ash isn’t known to be a major health hazard, although it can lead to eye, throat and nose irritation. However, researchers are unaware what the long-term effects are to people who have inhaled the ash. The risks are thought to be the same as those in people who breathe in smog, which can lead to increased risks of minor breathing problems, heart and lung diseases becoming worse, and premature death in severe cases. Volcanic ash is also known to cause skid conditions on the roads, create mudslides and clog the air intake of engines, leading to them stalling. However, after an eruption of Mount St Helens in 1980, studies were undertaken on animals to see what the effect was – researchers noted that there was only minor impact on them, even when they were exposed to a lot of ash. The main health outcome of that particular eruption was eye, nose and throat problems.


In order to minimise your risks, you should try not to breathe in deeply if you can avoid it to stop tiny particles from going deep into your lungs. If you can, use a dust or filter mask to minimise your exposure to the damaging ash and fragments. Those wil heart and lung problems, children and the elderly should take extra cautionary measures – this means keeping windows and doors closed, staying indoors where possible, and avoiding strenuous outdoor activities which will require them to breathe in more deeply. If you live in an area where the risk if higher, be sure to keep abreast of the news in your local area so that you can be sure of the air quality. If you think you’ve been affected by volcanic ash, you should speak to your GP who can advise you further on what to do next. Of course, there are more physical effects as well, such as heavy ash fall on roofs causing damage to the home which can lead to roofs falling in on people. This is something which should be checked at the time to assess any possible risk to those living in the home. However, falling ash isn’t yet known to cause any serious health problems to already healthy people.

Your emotional needs are closely linked to your sexual needs. If you are connected to your partner, your emotional wellness and wellbeing will be boosted and your sex life will be immediately improved.


 


One way to connect with your partner and spice up your sex life is to take some outings with your partner. What may seem like a totally innocuous and innocent day trip can make some sexy sparks fly.


 


For a first outing, why not try a trip to an art museum? Not only will an art museum likely contain examples of erotica, such as nude photos, paintings and sculptures, which may start you thinking about sex and lead to a more erotically charged experience, but the intimacy of the visit may help, too. When you are in an art gallery you are likely to be standing close together, sharing inspiration, talking in whispers and generally enjoying an intimate moment.


 


Conversely, an amusement park can also have a greatly stimulating effect on your sex life. Going on rides makes your heart race and floods you full of adrenaline. Going on a roller coaster can seem like foreplay, as you stumble off flooded with endorphins and looking for the next thrill! In addition to this, amusement parks also facilitate a lot of bumping into each other, holding hands, grabbing onto one another for security and so on – plus all the sugar from the candy on offer can give you a bit of a natural high too.


 


A library may seem like the unsexiest location on earth, but when it comes to the bit, all that silence and quiet corners can lead to some serious erotically charged moments. Whether you are studying together, with your shoulders touching, heads leaning over the same book and legs touching under the table, or actually having hot library sex somewhere in the aisles, the solitude and seriousness of the building can actually be a great aphrodisiac.

Losing weight can be a confusing business. Some claim that it’s simply a matter of exercise and fitness whilst others say that the key is to concentrate on diet and nutrition. In order to protect your well-being, we’ve compiled some commonly-held myths that can be damaging to your well-being.


 


First of all, many people believe that having a vegan diet is a great way to lose weight. They think that simply eliminating meat from their diet will help the pounds fall off. This is not entirely a myth; research has shown that those who follow a vegetarian and vegan diet are likely to weigh less than meat-eating people.


 


It is not wise, however, to simply switch to a vegan diet, because without proper vigilance, this kind of restrictive diet can lead to a serious shortage in vitamins and nutrients in the body. Being on such a restricted diet can also lead to dieters actually reaching for processed food or biscuits and treats more often as their daily diet is so unvaried and restrictive.


 


Others may try to cut out all the carbs from their diet to lose weight. In actual fact, carbs are important for energy, and many foods that are rich in carbohydrates are also packed full of vitamins, nutrients and fibre. You need carbohydrates to help fuel your body for exercise. Carbs also make your body feel good, so if you cut them out you can end up craving them and this can then lead to moments of serious weakness where you eat a whole cake instead of just a slice of cake!


 


Finally, diet drinks are usually thought of as helpful, but in actual fact new research is showing that these artificially sweetened drinks trick our bodies into craving more sweetness, and they also increase our appetite.

You may think that diabetes doesn’t really have a major impact on your wellbeing. Sure, you can’t eat as many doughnuts as you used to, but you’ll be fine, right? In fact, diabetes can be a silent killer as, if it goes uncontrolled, it can lead to deadly wellness complications.


Firstly, let’s look at diabetic ketoacidosis. This is an effect that diabetes has on your fat and metabolism, in which your body starts using fat as a fuel source because you’re lacking enough insulin – the hormone responsible for breaking down glucose. This can lead to symptoms such as deep gasping breathing, acute pain in your abdomen, bad dehydration leading to weakness and fainting and vomiting, and if you notice anything like this, you need to take it seriously and contact your doctor.


But the wellness complications don’t end there. Diabetic retinopathy is a condition which affects your eyes and vision. The innermost layer of your eye, your retina, is affected by ineffective blood glucose control. When this happens, the small blood vessels in your retina are damaged and weakened, which can present early symptoms of eye problems related to diabetes such as blurred vision and double vision. However, if you let it get past that stage, you can also develop a severe, permanent loss of vision, cataracts and glaucoma.


Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can also lead to diabetic nephropathy, which affects your kidneys. Hypertension or high blood pressure can increase your risk for this condition even further, and you need to watch out for signs of swelling in your feet and legs or around your eyes. Diabetics with high blood pressure – as well as those who are smokers, grossly overweight and/or have a family history of diabetes – are also at a high risk of developing heart disease and strokes.


Finally, your nerves affect just about every process in your body and uncontrolled diabetes can affect these too. You might experience a loss of sensation, especially around your peripheries like legs, which means you might not be able to figure out if you’ve had an injury and it may end up getting infected. Diabetic gangrene can cause your leg flesh to decay and you may need an amputation. Your nerve damage can also cause diarrhoea, erectile dysfunction, loss of bladder control, and dizziness.



Which Health Complications can Result from Diabetes?