01/08/24 - #39

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • Recalled Applesauce Pouches Now Linked to More Than 200 Lead Poisoning Cases in 33 States, CDC Says

  • Study Found a Drug Associated With Decreased Alcohol Use in Obese Individuals

  • Private Equity Ownership of Hospitals Made Care Riskier for Patients, a New Study Finds

  • Cannabis Users Appear to Be Relying Less on Conventional Sleep Aids: 80% of Surveyed Cannabis Users Reported No Longer Using Sleep Aids Such as Melatonin and Benzodiazepines. Instead, They Had a Strong Preference for Inhaling High-THC Cannabis by Smoking Joints or Vaporizing Flower

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Recalled Applesauce Pouches Now Linked to More Than 200 Lead Poisoning Cases in 33 States, CDC Says

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that over 200 people in 33 states have gotten sick from lead poisoning. This sickness is linked to certain applesauce pouches with bad cinnamon in them.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is trying to find out where this bad cinnamon came from. They're having a hard time because some of the work needs to be done in Ecuador, and it's tough to get things done there.

Many states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, and others, have reported people getting sick. The CDC hasn't said how many people are sick in each state to keep their information private.

Lead poisoning is really harmful, especially for young kids. It can cause problems with how they grow and learn. A lot of the sick kids ate the applesauce often. The FDA wants parents to get their kids tested for lead, even if they seem fine.

AustroFood, the company that made the bad applesauce, will pay for these tests. The products that are bad are WanaBana, Schnucks, and Weis applesauce pouches with cinnamon flavor.

The FDA is trying hard to get these pouches off the shelves. Some stores are still selling them even though they shouldn't be.

The FDA thinks someone might have added something bad to the cinnamon to make more money. They're still looking into this.

The cinnamon supplier, Negasmart, is being watched closely. But the FDA needs more help from Ecuador to figure everything out. They're working with health experts to solve this big health problem.

WEIGHT LOSS

Study Found a Drug Associated With Decreased Alcohol Use in Obese Individuals

A new study has exciting news for people struggling with too much weight and drinking alcohol. Scientists looked at two drugs, Semaglutide and Tirzepatide, which are usually used for diabetes and obesity. They found that these drugs might also help people drink less alcohol.

How the Study Worked

The scientists did two things. First, they read about 68,250 posts on Reddit where people talked about these drugs. Then, they asked 153 people who drink alcohol and have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 or more to share their experiences.

The Results

The results were pretty interesting. Many people on Reddit said they didn't feel like drinking as much after they started taking these drugs. The people in the survey also said they drank less alcohol and didn't feel like binge drinking. They scored lower on a test called AUDIT, which checks how much alcohol a person drinks.

Why This Is Important

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a big health problem around the world. Finding new ways to help people drink less is really important. These drugs, which are mostly for diabetes and obesity, could be a new way to help people who have trouble with both weight and alcohol.

What's Next?

This study gives us hope for new treatments for alcohol problems, especially for people who are also dealing with obesity. More research is needed to understand these drugs better. But this is a good start and could help many people in the future.

HEALTH

Private Equity Ownership of Hospitals Made Care Riskier for Patients, a New Study Finds

When private equity firms buy hospitals, patient care can get riskier. A new study found that in these hospitals, patient problems increased by 25%.

Researchers looked at 51 hospitals bought by private equity firms and compared them with 259 others. They checked almost 5 million patient stays. In private equity hospitals, preventable mistakes like leaving something in a patient after surgery or wrong blood type use went up.

Dr. Zirui Song, who led the study, found more falls, infections from tubes for medicine, and surgical site infections. These happened even though they used fewer tubes. Dr. Song from Harvard Medical School said this is very concerning.

Experts are surprised. Eileen O’Grady, from the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, said these findings match what hospital staff say. The study thinks fewer staff and using lower-paid workers might be why this is happening.

The American Investment Council, for private equity, disagrees. They say private equity helps healthcare where public money can't. They point to another study showing slight improvements in care for heart attacks and pneumonia.

The study also saw changes in who the hospitals treated. They had fewer low-income patients and more young patients, often sending them to other hospitals.

Dr. Song says we need more research on how private equity’s focus on money affects patient care. This study is important for understanding who controls our hospitals and how it affects our health.

Cannabis Users Appear to Be Relying Less on Conventional Sleep Aids: 80% of Surveyed Cannabis Users Reported No Longer Using Sleep Aids Such as Melatonin and Benzodiazepines. Instead, They Had a Strong Preference for Inhaling High-THC Cannabis by Smoking Joints or Vaporizing Flower

A big study from Washington State University has found something interesting about how people get to sleep. Instead of using usual sleep pills like melatonin or stronger doctor-prescribed ones, many are now using cannabis.

Out of 1,255 people who use cannabis, more than 80% said they stopped using other sleep aids. They prefer cannabis with high THC, usually smoked or vaporized. This works fast to help them sleep.

A lot of these people also pick cannabis with CBD and a plant part called myrcene, which is also in hops and basil. Myrcene might help with sleep, and users seem to know this.

Carrie Cuttler, who led the study, was surprised by how many chose myrcene. The study, done with Amanda Stueber, a student, was in the Exploration of Medicine journal.

People in the study felt different in the morning compared to when they used regular sleep pills. Cannabis made them feel more awake and less sick, but some were sleepier or more worried and irritated. Dry mouth and red eyes were also more common.

The study also found that 60% of people slept 6 to 8 hours with just cannabis. Less than 20% did when using sleep pills or mixing both.

Only a few used cannabis edibles or THC capsules, maybe because they take longer to work.

Cuttler says more research is needed, as this study mostly had people who already liked cannabis for sleep. Still, this info could help doctors and people looking for different ways to sleep better.

✢ A Note From Hem Hero

The information in this health newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. The publishers are not responsible for any actions taken by the reader based on the information provided.