A summary of important health news from the past week.
Pregnant Women Turn to Marijuana, Perhaps Harming Infants
By: Catherine Saint Louis
There is growing evidence than young mothers perceive marijuana use as a safe activity during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Unfortunately, this opinion is not supported by science and the existing research suggests that children born to mothers who used marijuana encounter difficulties in cognition in behavioral control by adolescence.
Flu spreads across 40 states
By: Robert Jimison
The flu has spread across 40 states and Puerto Rico. Over 12,000 cases of influenza A have occurred within the United States. 15 pediatric deaths associated with the flu have also been reported. As a result, professionals are encouraging the public to receive seasonal flu vaccinations.
More toddlers suffer eye burns from laundry packets, study says
By: Susan Scotti
A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has found that from 2012-2015, the number of reported chemical eye burns from laundry packets has risen 30 times in young children. The product was introduced to markets in 2012. Liquid detergent differs from the pod. Pods have a higher concentration of the chemicals called surfactants, which are the main component used for stain removal.
Air pollution may lead to dementia in older women
By: Zen Vuong
Researchers at the University of Southern California found that exposure to tiny air pollution particles called PM2.5, which typically come from power plants and automobiles, may increase one’s chance of developing dementia. Their research showed that older women living in places with pollution exceeding the EPA’s standard are 81 percent more at risk of cognitive decline, and 92 percent more at risk of developing some form of dementia.
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