12/31/24 - #294

Author

Health Horizon. Herald Staff
December 31, 2024

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Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • Scientists Warn of Harmful Release From Tea Bags | Drinking Tea From Plastic-containing Tea Bags Could Expose You to Billions of Nano- and Microplastics With Every Sip, Putting Your Health at Risk

  • Dizzy After One Drink? Social Drinkers on Obesity Drugs Lose the Taste for Alcohol

  • Single Cigarette Takes 20 Minutes Off Life Expectancy, Study Finds - Figure is Nearly Double an Estimate From 2000 and Means a Pack of 20 Cigarettes Costs a Person Seven Hours on Average

  • Sleep Paralysis is Real and Can Be as Terrifying as Any Horror Movie

…and lots more. Have a great day!

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FOOD & NUTRITION

Scientists Warn of Harmful Release From Tea Bags | Drinking Tea From Plastic-containing Tea Bags Could Expose You to Billions of Nano- and Microplastics With Every Sip, Putting Your Health at Risk

Tea drinkers, beware! Studies have found that tea bags made with plastic can release billions of tiny plastic particles, known as nano- and microplastics, into your tea. This could harm your health.

Making tea with these plastic tea bags releases microplastics into your drink. The hot water causes it. These small particles can be swallowed with your tea. They carry chemicals that may disrupt your hormones and raise cancer risk.

Researchers at the Independent University of Barcelona looked at how much plastic gets into tea from different tea bags. Bags made from a material called polypropylene can release about 1.2 billion plastic particles for every milliliter of tea.

The study also showed that these plastics can enter the cells in your body. Once inside, they might travel to different parts and raise your risk of health problems.

This information is important because it helps us understand the dangers of using plastic in everyday items like tea bags. The scientists hope their findings will lead to new rules to keep our food and drinks safe from plastic pollution. For those who love tea, choosing tea bags without plastic or using loose-leaf tea might be safer and healthier.

Be mindful of what's in your tea bag next time you enjoy a cup!

WEIGHT LOSS

Dizzy After One Drink? Social Drinkers on Obesity Drugs Lose the Taste for Alcohol

Have you ever felt dizzy after just one drink? Many people taking weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy are noticing they don't enjoy alcohol as much anymore.

A recent study looked at WeightWatchers members who were taking these obesity drugs. About half of them started drinking less after they began their medication. Tamara Hall, a 45-year-old mother of three, started taking Mounjaro in 2023 to help manage her weight and blood sugar. She lost over 100 pounds and found that her desire for alcohol went down too. "This is the best I have felt in my entire adult life," Tamara says. She used to like having a margarita or cocktail at parties, but now even one drink makes her feel full and dizzy. This is a big change from how she felt before the medication.

The study included about 14,000 people, mostly women. It looked at different medications, including metformin, which is for diabetes. They all reported drinking less after starting their medication.

Experts think these drugs might change how the brain handles rewards, which reduces cravings for both food and alcohol. Dr. Robert Kushner, who studies these drugs, says he's not surprised by the findings. He believes the drugs affect the brain's reward system.

This discovery could help people not only lose weight but also drink less alcohol, which is good for overall health.

HEALTH

Single Cigarette Takes 20 Minutes Off Life Expectancy, Study Finds - Figure is Nearly Double an Estimate From 2000 and Means a Pack of 20 Cigarettes Costs a Person Seven Hours on Average

Did you know that smoking just one cigarette can cut your life short by 20 minutes? Researchers from University College London found that this number has almost doubled since 2000. Now, smoking a whole pack means losing about seven hours of life.

As 2025 begins, experts are encouraging smokers to quit. If you stop smoking on January 1st, by January 8th, you could gain back a whole day of life. If you keep it up until early August, you could add an entire month to your life.

Dr. Sarah Jackson explains that many people don't realize how harmful smoking is. "People who keep smoking might lose about ten years of their life," she says. This isn't just about getting older; it's about losing good years that could be spent enjoying life and time with family.

Smoking is a big reason people get sick and die earlier than they should. It causes lots of cancer deaths and other health problems in the UK. The latest research shows that even one cigarette a day is very harmful.

If you're thinking about quitting, there are tools and help available, like the NHS Quit Smoking app and online plans that are tailored to what you need.

This study is a strong reminder that smoking greatly shortens lives. Quitting as soon as possible helps you live longer and healthier.

Sleep Paralysis is Real and Can Be as Terrifying as Any Horror Movie

Imagine waking up at night, unable to move, feeling as if a scary creature is sitting on your chest. This isn't just a scene from a horror movie; it's a real condition called sleep paralysis. Dr. Brian Sharpless, a psychologist who loves horror movies, explains that sleep paralysis happens when you're stuck between being asleep and awake. You're aware of what's around you, but your body is still in a dream-like state of paralysis.

During these episodes, some people see terrifying figures or feel a heavy weight on their chest, making it difficult to breathe. These scary moments can last from a few seconds to several minutes. About eight percent of people experience sleep paralysis at least once.

Why does this happen? In the dream phase of sleep, known as REM, our muscles relax so we don't act out our dreams. Sometimes, if we wake up suddenly, our brain stays in this REM phase, causing sleep paralysis.

Although it feels terrifying, sleep paralysis is generally harmless and not a sign of a deeper health problem. It's a sleep cycle glitch. To avoid it, try to keep a regular sleep schedule and avoid sleeping on your back. If it happens a lot or really bothers you, talking to a sleep specialist might help. Remember, you're not alone, and it's not something supernatural—it's just your brain still in dream mode while you're waking up.

✢ 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.