05/21/25 - #395

Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Doctors Warn Popular Drink May Increase Risk of Blood Cancer

• Weight Loss Drugs Have "No End Game" Amid Lack of Data on Long-term Use, Former FDA Commissioner Warns

• NIH Cuts Baby 'Safe to Sleep' Team. Here's What Parents Should Know

• After Cardiac Event, People Who Regularly Sit for Too Long Had Higher Risk of Another Event. Replacing 30 Minutes of Sedentary Time With 30 Minutes of Any Level of Physical Activity, or 30 Minutes of Sleep, Reduced the Risk of Another Heart Attack, Coronary Revascularization or Rehospitalization

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Doctors Warn Popular Drink May Increase Risk of Blood Cancer

A new study has found that a common ingredient in many energy drinks may raise the risk of blood cancer. The ingredient is taurine, an amino acid often found in popular drinks like Red Bull and Celsius.

Researchers in the U.S. say taurine may act as a fuel for leukemia cells, which are cancer cells that grow in the bone marrow. While our bodies naturally make taurine, many energy drinks add extra amounts to help boost energy and metabolism.

In the past, taurine was even used to help reduce side effects of cancer treatment. But this new research from the University of Rochester suggests that too much taurine may actually make blood cancer worse.

The study was published in the respected journal Nature. Scientists tested taurine in both mice and human leukemia cells. They found that blocking taurine from entering cancer cells helped slow the disease.

Experts warn that more studies are needed, and the research is still in early stages. But they suggest people—especially those with leukemia—should be cautious with energy drinks that contain taurine.

Energy drinks are easy to find at most grocery stores. Many people drink them without realizing what’s inside. This new study highlights the importance of understanding what we put in our bodies, especially when it comes to ingredients that may affect our health in serious ways.

If you drink energy drinks often, it may be a good idea to talk to your doctor about the possible risks.

Source: news.com.au

WEIGHT LOSS

Weight Loss Drugs Have "No End Game" Amid Lack of Data on Long-term Use, Former FDA Commissioner Warns

New weight loss drugs are helping people shed pounds, but a former FDA commissioner says there are still many unknowns.

Dr. David Kessler, who once led the FDA, says these drugs were approved without a clear long-term plan. “There is no end game,” he said in a recent interview. He believes we don’t yet know how people should stop using the drugs—or if it’s even safe to do so.

Kessler gained 40 to 50 pounds during the COVID-19 pandemic while working long hours. He first tried losing weight through diet, but it was slow. Then, his doctor suggested trying a weight loss drug called a GLP-1. These drugs make you feel full longer and reduce your hunger.

“They make food stay in your stomach longer,” Kessler explained. “That makes you want to eat less.” But he warned that if you stop taking the drug, your hunger will likely return and the weight may come back.

Kessler says drug companies want people to stay on the medicine for life, but there isn’t enough research on how to stop safely. “We’re running a national experiment,” he said.

While these drugs can help with weight loss and health problems like heart and kidney disease, Kessler says they’re only one part of the solution. He believes people also need better food habits, exercise, and medical care.

“You need a doctor or a dietitian,” he said. “But not everyone can afford that. That really worries me.”

Source: cbsnews.com

HEALTH

NIH Cuts Baby 'Safe to Sleep' Team. Here's What Parents Should Know

A well-known program that helped prevent baby sleep deaths has been shut down. The Safe to Sleep campaign, started in 1994 as “Back to Sleep,” taught parents how to lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It was run by a team at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). That team was closed on April 1.

The campaign shared clear advice: Put babies to sleep on their backs. Use a firm mattress in a crib or bassinet. Don’t let babies sleep on couches, armchairs, or in swings. Keep pillows, blankets, and stuffed toys out of the crib. These tips helped cut sleep-related deaths in half.

Dr. Rachel Moon, a pediatrician who worked with the campaign, said she was shocked to learn it had ended—especially now, since baby sleep deaths rose 12% between 2020 and 2022.

Groups like First Candle will try to keep spreading the message, but they don’t have the funding or staff the NIH did. Hospitals and state agencies used to get free printed materials from the program. Now, those are hard to get.

The NIH says a final decision about the campaign has not been made. For now, the materials are still online, but many are no longer available by mail.

Parents can still visit safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov to get up-to-date advice on safe sleep. Experts warn that without clear guidance, more babies could be at risk—and more parents may not know how to protect them.

Source: npr.org

After Cardiac Event, People Who Regularly Sit for Too Long Had Higher Risk of Another Event. Replacing 30 Minutes of Sedentary Time With 30 Minutes of Any Level of Physical Activity, or 30 Minutes of Sleep, Reduced the Risk of Another Heart Attack, Coronary Revascularization or Rehospitalization

If you’ve had a heart attack or chest pain, sitting too much could raise your chances of having another heart problem. A new study found that people who sat for more than 14 hours a day were over twice as likely to have another heart issue, surgery, or hospital stay within a year.

The study looked at over 600 people who had been in the hospital for heart-related problems. They wore a wrist monitor for 30 days after leaving the hospital. The device tracked how much time they spent sitting, moving, or sleeping.

The results showed that moving more helped people lower their risk. Replacing just 30 minutes of sitting with light activity, like walking or doing chores, lowered the risk by 50%. Replacing 30 minutes with more active movement, like brisk walking or dancing, lowered the risk by 61%. Even replacing 30 minutes of sitting with sleep lowered the risk by 14%.

Doctors say you don’t need to do hard exercise to see a benefit. Small changes—like getting up during TV breaks, walking the dog, or cleaning—can help.

Experts also say sleep helps the body heal. So getting enough rest is important too.

This study shows that doing anything instead of sitting is better for your heart. If you’ve had a heart issue, talk to your doctor about how to safely move more during your day.

Sitting less, moving more, and sleeping better may help you stay out of the hospital and live longer.

Source: newsroom.heart.org

✢ 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.