Latest news with #healthTips
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The 1 Thing You Should Never, Ever Do If You Get A Mosquito Bite
Every summer, I get eaten alive by mosquitoes. My arms and legs get covered in bites that I scratch until they become bloody bruises that scab over and take weeks to heal. I know I'm treating my mosquito bites all wrong because, well, I have the scars to show it. Most mosquito bites go away within a week or so ― unless you don't take proper care of them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when you get bit by a mosquito, the bug injects saliva into your body via its proboscis, the little needle-like body part that sucks up your blood. That saliva contains an anticoagulant that keeps your blood flowing so the bug can get a hearty meal to lay its eggs. The toxins in that saliva are thought to be what makes their bites feel warm and itchy. Dr. Bobbi Pritt, the director of the Clinical Parasitology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic and a spokesperson for the College of American Pathologists, said this is because your body mounts an immune response to the saliva and releases a wave of histamines and leukotrienes. This reaction varies from person to person, and bug to bug, which is why some people develop significant swelling and soreness while others just get a mildly itchy bump. Regardless of how you react to mosquito bites, doctors agree there's one thing you shouldn't do when you get a bite: scratch it. It can be tempting to scratch mosquito bites given how incredibly itchy they can get, but you really want to avoid doing so, Pritt said. The main reason: There are many different types of bacteria that live on our skin and our bodies — like Staphylococcus and Streptococcus — that, for the most part, are harmless, according to Pritt. 'But if you have an open wound, like if you scratch really hard, you could actually rub the bacteria from your skin into that little wound and get an infection.' These infections, like cellulitis and impetigo, can cause redness, swelling, a blister, tenderness around the bite along with swollen lymph nodes and yellow discharge. They can be treated with antibiotics, but, in rare cases, an infected bite can lead to serious complications like sepsis or necrotizing fasciitis. The second reason you don't want to scratch: The more you itch, the more histamine cells your body will release, making the bite even itchier. 'Scratching can send mild pain signals to the brain, which can release serotonin and increase the sensation of itching,' said Pamela Frable, an associate professor at TCU's Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Of course, not scratching isn't the only way to speed up your recovery, and there are a few other steps you want to take to prevent infection and make sure your bite gets better. The very first thing you want to do after you get bit is wash the bite out with soap and water. This will help remove bacteria near the bite that could cause an infection. A mosquito bite is technically a small wound, said Frable, and 'it's generally a good idea to wash all wounds gently with soap and water.' Then, you want to apply ice to the bite, ideally for about 10 minutes or so, Pritt explained. Ice can drastically reduce the itching along with inflammation, pain and swelling, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Next up: Cover the bite with an anti-itch or antihistamine cream, such as calamine lotion or hydrocortisone. These products can drastically reduce itchiness and, most importantly, prevent you from scratching the bite and break the scratch-itch cycle, Pritt said. If you don't have these items in your medicine cabinet or aren't able to get to a pharmacy, you can whip up an anti-itch paste at home. Simply combine a tablespoon of baking soda with a splash of water to create a thick paste. Then, rub the mixture over the bite, wait 10 minutes, and wash it off. This DIY concoction reduces itch, according to the Mayo Clinic, but, better yet, it prevents you from scratching the bite and making things even worse. Finally, you want to keep an eye on the bite and pay attention to any symptoms you develop over the next week or two. It's fairly common to develop a fever or even swollen lymph nodes immediately after the bite, so don't panic if you experience these symptoms right away, Pritt said. Not all mosquitoes carry disease, but some spread Zika, dengue and West Nile virus, all of which can cause severe illnesses and health complications. You can't tell if a mosquito carried a pathogen by simply looking at the bite, according to Frable, which is why it's crucial to pay attention to any symptoms. So, if you get a fever, a rash, severe headache, or confusion a week or two after the bite, check in with a physician. They can run diagnostics tests to determine if you contracted a mosquito-borne disease and administer supportive care to help you recover. Fortunately, most mosquito bites resolve without any issues. But the less you itch and the better you take care of it, the sooner it'll clear up … until the next mosquito comes along. So THAT'S Why Mosquitoes Bite Some People More Than Others How To Tell If A Bug Bite Needs Medical Attention The Definitive Answer On Whether Bug Spray Is Bad For You
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The 1 Thing You Should Never, Ever Do If You Get A Mosquito Bite
Every summer, I get eaten alive by mosquitoes. My arms and legs get covered in bites that I scratch until they become bloody bruises that scab over and take weeks to heal. I know I'm treating my mosquito bites all wrong because, well, I have the scars to show it. Most mosquito bites go away within a week or so ― unless you don't take proper care of them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when you get bit by a mosquito, the bug injects saliva into your body via its proboscis, the little needle-like body part that sucks up your blood. That saliva contains an anticoagulant that keeps your blood flowing so the bug can get a hearty meal to lay its eggs. The toxins in that saliva are thought to be what makes their bites feel warm and itchy. Dr. Bobbi Pritt, the director of the Clinical Parasitology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic and a spokesperson for the College of American Pathologists, said this is because your body mounts an immune response to the saliva and releases a wave of histamines and leukotrienes. This reaction varies from person to person, and bug to bug, which is why some people develop significant swelling and soreness while others just get a mildly itchy bump. Regardless of how you react to mosquito bites, doctors agree there's one thing you shouldn't do when you get a bite: scratch it. It can be tempting to scratch mosquito bites given how incredibly itchy they can get, but you really want to avoid doing so, Pritt said. The main reason: There are many different types of bacteria that live on our skin and our bodies — like Staphylococcus and Streptococcus — that, for the most part, are harmless, according to Pritt. 'But if you have an open wound, like if you scratch really hard, you could actually rub the bacteria from your skin into that little wound and get an infection.' These infections, like cellulitis and impetigo, can cause redness, swelling, a blister, tenderness around the bite along with swollen lymph nodes and yellow discharge. They can be treated with antibiotics, but, in rare cases, an infected bite can lead to serious complications like sepsis or necrotizing fasciitis. The second reason you don't want to scratch: The more you itch, the more histamine cells your body will release, making the bite even itchier. 'Scratching can send mild pain signals to the brain, which can release serotonin and increase the sensation of itching,' said Pamela Frable, an associate professor at TCU's Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Of course, not scratching isn't the only way to speed up your recovery, and there are a few other steps you want to take to prevent infection and make sure your bite gets better. The very first thing you want to do after you get bit is wash the bite out with soap and water. This will help remove bacteria near the bite that could cause an infection. A mosquito bite is technically a small wound, said Frable, and 'it's generally a good idea to wash all wounds gently with soap and water.' Then, you want to apply ice to the bite, ideally for about 10 minutes or so, Pritt explained. Ice can drastically reduce the itching along with inflammation, pain and swelling, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Next up: Cover the bite with an anti-itch or antihistamine cream, such as calamine lotion or hydrocortisone. These products can drastically reduce itchiness and, most importantly, prevent you from scratching the bite and break the scratch-itch cycle, Pritt said. If you don't have these items in your medicine cabinet or aren't able to get to a pharmacy, you can whip up an anti-itch paste at home. Simply combine a tablespoon of baking soda with a splash of water to create a thick paste. Then, rub the mixture over the bite, wait 10 minutes, and wash it off. This DIY concoction reduces itch, according to the Mayo Clinic, but, better yet, it prevents you from scratching the bite and making things even worse. Finally, you want to keep an eye on the bite and pay attention to any symptoms you develop over the next week or two. It's fairly common to develop a fever or even swollen lymph nodes immediately after the bite, so don't panic if you experience these symptoms right away, Pritt said. Not all mosquitoes carry disease, but some spread Zika, dengue and West Nile virus, all of which can cause severe illnesses and health complications. You can't tell if a mosquito carried a pathogen by simply looking at the bite, according to Frable, which is why it's crucial to pay attention to any symptoms. So, if you get a fever, a rash, severe headache, or confusion a week or two after the bite, check in with a physician. They can run diagnostics tests to determine if you contracted a mosquito-borne disease and administer supportive care to help you recover. Fortunately, most mosquito bites resolve without any issues. But the less you itch and the better you take care of it, the sooner it'll clear up … until the next mosquito comes along. So THAT'S Why Mosquitoes Bite Some People More Than Others How To Tell If A Bug Bite Needs Medical Attention The Definitive Answer On Whether Bug Spray Is Bad For You
Washington Post
06-06-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
Poop at work. It's good for you!
Well+Being Poop at work. It's good for you! June 6, 2025 | 2:52 PM GMT Gastroenterologist Dr. Trisha Pasricha has some tips for whether to poop on company time (yes), whether to wait (no) and how to relax while on the job.
CNET
15-05-2025
- Health
- CNET
That Leftover Rice Could Be Dangerous. Here's How
Meal prepping is a great way to save time and ensure you have dinner during the week so that you aren't spending time in the kitchen after a long day at work. However, not all foods are made for reheating. While staples like chicken and vegetables are easy to reheat, rice can be dangerous. If you've ever wondered whether it's safe to eat leftover rice, there are some things to be aware of before popping it in the microwave. There's a small but very real chance that eating leftover rice or pasta could give you food poisoning. The effects are sometimes referred to as "fried rice syndrome," since fried rice is typically made with leftover rice. Not only can old rice make your stomach miserable, you might even end up in the emergency room. Reddit users have reported some harrowing experiences with "fried rice syndrome," so you'll definitely want to avoid this form of food poisoning. Here's why you may want to avoid preparing a large serving of rice for the week ahead, and how you can properly store and prepare rice to prevent possible food poisoning. For more health tips, check out 12 probiotic foods that will make your stomach happy and learn why the "rizempic" trend could be dangerous. Why does leftover rice have a risk of food poisoning? All varieties of uncooked rice can contain spores of Bacillus cereus, a bacterium that can cause gastrointestinal illness like vomiting or diarrhea. The spores are heat-resistant and don't die when cooked. As the rice cools and enters the food danger zone of between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, the bacteria begins to quickly reproduce. There are about 63,400 cases of food poisoning from Bacillus cereus every year in the US, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The big risk for food poisoning arises when rice is sitting out for more than an hour -- that's when the spores of bacteria can multiply greatly. The bacteria isn't a problem if you eat the rice right away. Illness is much more common from eating rice that has sat out at room temperature for a few hours, gets refrigerated and is then eaten a few days later. If your rice sits out for two hours at room temperature or one hour at 90 degrees Fahrenheit, it should be thrown away, according to Food Network. What's the best way to store rice to avoid food poisoning? To prevent food poisoning, you should put your leftover rice in the refrigerator soon after you're done cooking it -- the UK's National Health Service recommends storing it "ideally within one hour" -- and limit the amount of time your leftover rice is in the refrigerator. However, you want to be careful to not put a hot container of food in the refrigerator, because that can increase the temperature of other foods and possibly lead to bacterial growth there as well. Food Network recommends portioning the large batch of rice into smaller containers and cooling the rice to room temperature (around 70 degrees). The NHS recommends keeping your rice in the fridge for no more than one day until reheating, while the US Department of Agriculture's FoodKeeper app says you can store cooked rice for four to six days. Food Network says you can continue reheating the rice throughout the three to four days that it has been stored, while the NHS recommends not reheating more than once. What is the safest way to reheat leftover rice? If you are planning on reheating your rice, ensure that the rice comes out of the microwave or off the stove top steaming hot with an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. And the next time you're craving rice, limit the amount you make to what you and your dinner companions plan on eating that day. This also helps to prevent food waste, alongside the benefits of avoiding food poisoning.
