Good morning. In today’s edition:

• 10th Death Announced in Listeria Outbreak Linked With Boar’s Head deli Meat Recall

• Obesity Rate in U.S. Adults No Longer Growing, New CDC Data Suggests

• Are the Toxic Metals in Tampons Harmful? FDA Launches Research to Learn Risk

• New Study Links Depression & Anxiety to Fast Heart Rate During Mental Tasks: Implications for Your Health

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

10th Death Announced in Listeria Outbreak Linked With Boar’s Head deli Meat Recall

A listeria outbreak linked to Boar's Head deli meats has killed 10 people in 19 states. This has raised major concerns. This outbreak has hospitalized 59 people, and the CDC identified the source as a plant in Virginia that makes these meats.

Boar’s Head has responded by closing the affected plant and stopping the sale of liverwurst, which was causing the contamination. They also promised to improve safety across all their operations.

Senators Richard Blumenthal and Rosa DeLauro demand stricter safety rules. They want the USDA and DOJ to investigate how these meats were made. They highlighted terrible conditions at the plant, such as bugs, mold, and dirty equipment.

Even though the plant is now shut, the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) plans to keep investigating. They want to ensure all Boar’s Head plants meet safety standards to avoid another outbreak.

People are advised to check their kitchens for recalled products. These have specific marks on the labels that show they came from the problem plant. Listeria can be very harmful, causing fever, muscle aches, and sometimes more severe symptoms like stiff neck and confusion.

This outbreak reminds us of how important it is to keep food production safe to protect people’s health.

Source: edition.cnn.com

WEIGHT LOSS

Obesity Rate in U.S. Adults No Longer Growing, New CDC Data Suggests

For the first time in a decade, the obesity rate among U.S. adults isn’t rising. The latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that about 40% of adults are obese, a slight drop from 41.9% in 2020. This number hasn't changed enough to be significant, but it’s the first time since 2011 that the rate hasn’t gone up.

Obesity is measured using something called body mass index (BMI). A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese. In 2000, about 30% of adults were obese. Today, the rate is still higher than the national goal of 36% for 2030. People between 40 and 59 years old have the highest obesity rates at 46.4%, while younger adults from 20 to 39 have lower rates at 35.5%.

The report also found that severe obesity, where BMI is 40 or more, is increasing. This is concerning because severe obesity can lead to serious health problems like heart disease and diabetes.

Recently, more than a third of adults in 23 states were found to be obese, an increase from ten years ago. This highlights the need for better access to places for exercise and healthy foods in communities.

This information comes out as a Senate committee is set to discuss high drug prices, including for weight loss and diabetes medications that are in short supply due to high demand.

Source: cbsnews.com

HEALTH

Are the Toxic Metals in Tampons Harmful? FDA Launches Research to Learn Risk

Many women use tampons during their periods. A recent study found that tampons might contain toxic metals like arsenic, mercury, and lead. This has caused a lot of worry, especially since a woman might use around 7,400 tampons in her life.

The FDA will investigate if these metals can harm tampon users' health. They will study how much of these metals can get into the body when a tampon is used.

The FDA's research is important because it will help them understand the risks of these metals in tampons. They will look at the worst cases of metal exposure and also review other research to see what health problems these chemicals might cause.

Members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, a group in Congress, have asked the FDA to pay close attention to this issue. They say it's crucial to make sure that menstrual products are safe.

The FDA has not said when they will share the results of their study. But this research could lead to changes in how tampons are made and checked for safety. If the FDA finds that these metals are harmful, they might take steps to ensure that tampons are safer in the future.

As of now, we don't know if the metals in tampons are definitely dangerous, but the FDA's work will help answer this important question.

Source: nbcnews.com

New Study Links Depression & Anxiety to Fast Heart Rate During Mental Tasks: Implications for Your Health

A recent study shows that when people with anxiety or depression do challenging mental tasks, their heart rates speed up. It's vital for adults over 45 to understand this. Managing these conditions can greatly improve their mental and physical health.

Anxiety causes people to respond to stress with a "fight or flight" mode. This makes their hearts beat faster. This can lead to symptoms like a fast heartbeat, sweating, and feeling out of breath. If these symptoms keep happening, they can affect your health over time.

Depression impacts the heart differently. It can make it harder for the heart to change its speed in response to stress. This is known as heart rate variability, or HRV. A low HRV means the body isn't handling stress well, which is common in depression.

Keeping an eye on HRV can help understand how someone's body deals with stress and guide ways to improve mental health and reduce heart risks.

The study highlights why it's crucial to watch both mental health and heart health, especially as we get older. Knowing how anxiety and depression affect heart health helps. It aids in creating health plans that address these linked issues.

In short, by addressing the physical signs of mental health issues, people can greatly improve their well-being and quality of life.

Source: wellnesshq.net

✢ 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.