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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Should you use hydration multipliers in extreme heat?
It's officially the 'Dog Days' of the summer season — and they're getting hotter and more humid thanks to the impact of the human-caused climate crisis. In extreme heat, hydration is critical to prevent heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion. The adult body is 60 percent water, and drinking enough each day helps regulate body temperature, prevent infections, and maintain organ and other key functions. Hydration multipliers - powders, packets, and liquid drops that you add to water - have become popular to boost that process and replenish electrolytes that are lost when we sweat. Electrolytes are substances that help your body to regulate chemical reactions and maintain the balance between fluids inside and outside your cells. Nearly every fluid and cell in the body contains electrolytes, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 'When we sweat, we lose more than just fluids, we also lose electrolytes — mostly sodium and chloride, but also smaller amounts of potassium, calcium, and magnesium," Dr. Scott Braunstein, chief medical officer at medicine concierge company Sollis Health, told CBS News. "While it all could all be replaced by drinking water and eating a variety of solid foods, for those not ready for a meal, drinking electrolyte-containing fluids is a great way to replace the losses in sweat." So, should you add a hydration multiplier to your water this summer? Here's what to know... Hydration multipliers hydrate the body faster than water alone due to a process that takes place in the small intestine and rapidly pulls not just water, but other nutrients, into cells. 'The hydration multiplier maximizes your water uptake by using the sodium and glucose co-transport across the stomach while pulling water along,' Texas Health explains. 'With such optimal sodium to glucose ratio, water gets transported into your body faster than if you drank water alone.' The formulas also carry potassium, calcium, and essential vitamins. Experts recommend using them when exercising for long periods of time or following heat exposure. 'When you drink plain water, it is absorbed primarily by osmosis through the walls of the intestine,' registered dietitian Mia Syn told Vogue. But if you're dealing with an imbalance of electrolytes—say, you just ran a half-marathon or are feeling the effects of a few too many negronis — then plain water may not be absorbed as efficiently, she says. Water is generally a safer bet than hydration multipliers because of what else might be on the ingredient list. For example, some electrolyte drinks contain more sodium and sugar than nutritionists recommend you consume in a day. That may be harmful for people suffering from chronic conditions, such as diabetes. Too much sugar can lead to kidney damage in people who have diabetes. 'Electrolyte drinks in general are safe for young athletes, but it's important to avoid any that contain caffeine,' University Hospitals pediatric sports medicine specialist Dr. Laura Goldberg said. 'Many people believe electrolyte drinks and powders are healthy, but they have a large amount of sugar which is unnecessary unless you're exercising for more than 60 minutes.' Too many electrolytes can also lead to unintended consequences, such as weakness, headache, tremors, confusion, muscle cramping, rapid heartbeat, and gastrointestinal issues. Many of the signs of an electrolyte imbalance are similar to dehydration symptoms. Check with a physician before drinking hydration multipliers. "Those with certain chronic conditions, especially kidney disease — since your kidneys regulate your electrolytes — high or low blood pressure or heart disease, should consult their doctor before consuming these products, as maintaining fluids and electrolytes within a specific range may be critical for their health," Braunstein added.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Should you use hydration multipliers in extreme heat?
It's officially the 'Dog Days' of the summer season — and they're getting hotter and more humid thanks to the impact of the human-caused climate crisis. In extreme heat, hydration is critical to prevent heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion. The adult body is 60 percent water, and drinking enough each day helps regulate body temperature, prevent infections, and maintain organ and other key functions. Hydration multipliers - powders, packets, and liquid drops that you add to water - have become popular to boost that process and replenish electrolytes that are lost when we sweat. Electrolytes are substances that help your body to regulate chemical reactions and maintain the balance between fluids inside and outside your cells. Nearly every fluid and cell in the body contains electrolytes, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 'When we sweat, we lose more than just fluids, we also lose electrolytes — mostly sodium and chloride, but also smaller amounts of potassium, calcium, and magnesium," Dr. Scott Braunstein, chief medical officer at medicine concierge company Sollis Health, told CBS News. "While it all could all be replaced by drinking water and eating a variety of solid foods, for those not ready for a meal, drinking electrolyte-containing fluids is a great way to replace the losses in sweat." So, should you add a hydration multiplier to your water this summer? Here's what to know... How they work Hydration multipliers hydrate the body faster than water alone due to a process that takes place in the small intestine and rapidly pulls not just water, but other nutrients, into cells. 'The hydration multiplier maximizes your water uptake by using the sodium and glucose co-transport across the stomach while pulling water along,' Texas Health explains. 'With such optimal sodium to glucose ratio, water gets transported into your body faster than if you drank water alone.' The formulas also carry potassium, calcium, and essential vitamins. Experts recommend using them when exercising for long periods of time or following heat exposure. 'When you drink plain water, it is absorbed primarily by osmosis through the walls of the intestine,' registered dietitian Mia Syn told Vogue. But if you're dealing with an imbalance of electrolytes—say, you just ran a half-marathon or are feeling the effects of a few too many negronis — then plain water may not be absorbed as efficiently, she says. There's nothing as good as plain water Water is generally a safer bet than hydration multipliers because of what else might be on the ingredient list. For example, some electrolyte drinks contain more sodium and sugar than nutritionists recommend you consume in a day. That may be harmful for people suffering from chronic conditions, such as diabetes. Too much sugar can lead to kidney damage in people who have diabetes. 'Electrolyte drinks in general are safe for young athletes, but it's important to avoid any that contain caffeine,' University Hospitals pediatric sports medicine specialist Dr. Laura Goldberg said. 'Many people believe electrolyte drinks and powders are healthy, but they have a large amount of sugar which is unnecessary unless you're exercising for more than 60 minutes.' Too many electrolytes can also lead to unintended consequences, such as weakness, headache, tremors, confusion, muscle cramping, rapid heartbeat, and gastrointestinal issues. Many of the signs of an electrolyte imbalance are similar to dehydration symptoms. Check with a physician before drinking hydration multipliers. "Those with certain chronic conditions, especially kidney disease — since your kidneys regulate your electrolytes — high or low blood pressure or heart disease, should consult their doctor before consuming these products, as maintaining fluids and electrolytes within a specific range may be critical for their health," Braunstein added.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Tick Experts Reveal The 6 Things They'd Never, Ever Do Outdoors
No one wants to worry about summer illnesses, but there are certain diseases that spread in the warm weather because of tick bites. 'Ticks themselves are not particularly dangerous to humans, it's just, unfortunately, the diseases that they can carry can be transmitted to humans [and] end up causing them harm,' said Dr. Christopher Bazzoli, an emergency medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Lyme disease is the tick-borne illness that gets the most attention. 'Right around 90,000 cases of Lyme [disease] are reported to the CDC every year here in the United States, but probably more like [300,000] to 400,000 people contract the Lyme infection annually here in the United States,' Bazzoli noted. That means most infections are not reported to the CDC. Other, less common diseases that ticks also transmit, Bazzoli said, include Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis and ehrlichiosis. Ticks don't bite you and fly off like a mosquito. Instead, it takes hours and hours for them to cement themselves onto your skin and feed, said Dr. Eugene Shapiro, a professor of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine in Connecticut. An infected tick (and not all ticks are infected) has to be on for 24 to 36 hours to transmit an infection, Shapiro noted. 'If you identify the tick and can pull it off, usually in less than 36 hours, it's unlikely it's going to transmit Lyme disease,' Shapiro said. There are other infections that can be spread more quickly, but it's generally the tick that you don't see and don't pull off that's most dangerous, Shapiro added. 'Because those can be on for a long time, and most people who do develop Lyme disease don't identify the tick that transmitted it, because if they'd seen it, more likely than not, they'll pull it off and it wouldn't have transmitted infection,' said Shapiro. The solution to avoiding ticks and tick-borne illness isn't spending your summer indoors. But ticks and tick-borne illnesses are becoming more prevalent because of climate change, which makes tick prevention strategies even more valuable. Below, doctors and tick researchers share their guidance for what not to do or overlook when it comes to ticks. Ticks are generally dark brown or black, which means they can easily blend into dark-colored attire. To more easily spot ticks on yourself or your loved ones, Dr. Daniel Solomon, an infectious disease physician at Mass General Brigham in Boston, recommends that folks wear light-colored clothing when they're out and about. 'So, if you see a dark speck crawling around on the clothes, it's much easier to identify on white or khaki color than dark colors,' said Solomon. It's also a good idea to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when you're out in wooded or grassy areas, said Shapiro. While that isn't ideal for 95-degree weather, it can be the thing that keeps ticks from biting. You can also consider tucking your pant legs into your socks, which makes it harder for ticks to get in contact with and bite your skin, Shapiro said. Bug repellent is most associated with keeping away mosquitoes, but certain bug sprays can also keep ticks from biting. 'We have a number of repellents that we can apply [that last] hours at a time,' Bazzoli said. These repellents typically protect folks for four to six hours, unless you're sweating a lot – in that case, they'll need to be reapplied more often, he added. When looking for an insect repellent to keep ticks away, 'the big three as far as repellents to choose from — DEET, picaridin-based repellents and then repellents with IR3535 — those are the big three worth recommending,' said Bazzoli. For both DEET and picaridin, look for formulations that have 20% concentrations, he added. 'And then folks will probably be seeing more products with IR3535, that's a product that was developed and has been used in Europe for the last decade or two, and is now kind of starting to make its way over to the States and seeing it in some combined products, like sunscreen and insect repellent,' noted Bazzoli. To deter ticks even more, a bug repellent that can be sprayed onto your clothes will kill ticks on contact, according to Shapiro. It's called permethrin and can be found online at stores like Amazon, in addition to outdoor gear stores like REI. 'The spray is not toxic to humans, but it can actually kill ticks when they get onto the clothes, and so that's an extra layer of prevention. If the ticks get onto the clothes, then they can be prevented from getting onto the skin and attaching,' Solomon added. 'Ticks love high grasses, wooded areas, especially the interface between wooded and more open areas,' said Bazzoli. Shapiro added that ticks tend to get on the 'ends of blades of grass, and they have sensor organs under their legs, and they clamp onto warm-blooded things that pass by.' They also live in leaf litter, such as piles of leaves, and shrubbery, added Shapiro. If you have leaf piles in your yard, try to get rid of them, he noted. 'It turns out that most people get infected in their own backyard when they're gardening or something like that,' Shapiro said. Once again, you shouldn't be avoiding nature this summer to keep ticks away. You can enjoy your outdoor adventures and stay safe from ticks by following a few rules when you get back inside. 'When you come back indoors, taking off those clothes and throwing them in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes can kill any ticks that might be freely crawling around,' Solomon said. Since ticks do not attach right away, you can also jump in the shower to wash off any ticks that may be crawling on your body, he added. When you come in from time outside, you should conduct tick checks with your family members, said Solomon. 'Usually [ticks] like dark, moist areas — behind the knee, in the groin, in the belly button, under the arms or the nape of the neck,' Solomon said. 'Now, they can attach anywhere, but those are the places where they like to attach, and those are also the places that are hard to see, so you really have to, with a family member, make sure that you're looking in the dark areas that you might not look when you're going about your regular day,' said Solomon. If you do find a tick attached to your body, get a pair of fine-tip tweezers, grab as close to your skin as possible, and pull the tick out, Shapiro said. It's also important to be mindful of where your pet goes outside. 'Just because we're not walking in the woods, if we're letting the dog out to run through the woods, in the park or whatever, she or he may pick up a tick and carry it inside,' said Bazzoli. You should chat with your vet about the best tick prevention strategies for your furry friends, he noted. Not only will this protect them from tick bites and infection, but it will protect you, too. 'If you do remove a tick, we can prescribe an antibiotic for post-exposure prophylaxis, so a single dose of doxycycline can be given,' said Solomon. You can call your doctor or visit urgent care to get this medication. 'If it's given within the first 72 hours after tick removal, it can dramatically decrease the risk of Lyme disease,' Solomon noted. Throughout the summer, you should also be aware of the signs of tick-borne illness. When it comes to Lyme disease, keep an eye out for a red rash, whether it's a bullseye or any other shape, said Bazzoli. Beyond a rash, folks with tick-borne illnesses also report flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills or body aches, added Solomon. So, you shouldn't brush these things off as a 'summer flu,' he noted. 'In the spirit of trying not to make people nervous, they're really treatable, so if you have those symptoms, getting the right testing, getting the right treatment, can help resolve symptoms fairly quickly,' Solomon said. Not all ticks carry disease, and where you live and when you find a tick can determine if you're at risk of tick-borne illness. To help you decide what you should do if you find a tick in your home, on yourself or on a loved one, you can use the CDC's tick bite bot. 'The CDC actually has a tick bot where you can actually answer a series of questions to see what you need to do if you've been bitten by a tick or had a tick on you,' Bazzoli noted. 'It'll kind of guide you, whether you need to see the doctor or if you're doing OK,' Bazzoli said. A Rare Tick-Borne Disease Is On The Rise. Here's How To Tell If You Have It. The 4 Biggest Early Warning Signs Of Lyme Disease Vets Share The Most Common Signs Of Lyme Disease In Dogs
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Understanding gallbladder cancer: Know its stages, causes, symptoms, and more
Gallbladder cancer is a rare but serious type of cancer where abnormal cells in the gallbladder grow out of control. The gallbladder, a small organ under the liver, stores bile to help digest food. Early stages often have no symptoms, making it difficult to detect. When symptoms appear, they can be similar to other conditions, also leading to delayed diagnosis. But if detected early, the chances of a cure are promising. However, most cases are diagnosed at a later stage, when the cancer has spread beyond the gallbladder, resulting in a poorer prognosis. Understanding the causes, risk factors, and symptoms is crucial for early detection and treatment. It can help people become aware of its warning signs and make informed health decisions. What is gallbladder cancer? Gallbladder cancer is a rare type of cancer that originates in the gallbladder, a small organ located beneath the liver that stores bile to aid in digestion. Gallbladder cancer often goes undetected in its early stages because it may not cause noticeable symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they can be similar to those of more common conditions, making it challenging to diagnose. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The gallbladder's location deep within the body also makes it easier for the cancer to grow without being detected, contributing to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Where does gallbladder cancer spread? Gallbladder cancer typically spreads in the following order, according to the Cleveland Clinic reports: From the inner layer to the outer layers of the gallbladder. To the nearby lymph nodes. To adjacent organs, such as the liver and bile ducts. Through the lymphatic system or bloodstream, it can further spread to other organs in the body (metastatic gallbladder cancer). How common is gallbladder cancer ? As per the Cleveland Clinic, gallbladder cancer is relatively rare, affecting about 2 people per 100,000 in the US. However, its incidence varies globally, with higher rates in countries like India, Japan, Korea, Poland, and certain South American nations, likely due to a greater prevalence of risk factors such as gallstones in these regions. What causes gallbladder cancer? The exact cause of gallbladder cancer is unclear, but according to MayoClinicreports, it's known to begin when healthy gallbladder cells undergo DNA changes. Normally, DNA instructs cells to grow, multiply, and die at a set rate. However, in cancer cells, DNA changes lead to rapid cell growth and uncontrolled division. These abnormal cells don't die as they should, resulting in an excessive number of cells. These cancer cells can form a tumor, invade nearby tissue, and eventually break away to spread to other parts of the body (metastatic cancer). Most gallbladder cancers are adenocarcinomas, originating in glandular cells lining the gallbladder's inner surface. Symptoms of gallbladder cancer Symptoms of gallbladder cancer, as reported by MayoClinic, are: Abdominal pain, typically in the upper right side Belly bloating A palpable mass in the abdomen Unexplained weight loss Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes), although this often indicates advanced cancer. Note that gallbladder cancer may not exhibit symptoms in its early stages. Jaundice may be less noticeable on darker skin tones. The stages of gallbladder cancer According to the Cleveland Clinic, the stage determines the extent of cancer spread, with higher numbers indicating more widespread disease. The stages of gallbladder cancer are: Stage 0 (Carcinoma in situ): Abnormal cells are in the inner layer of the gallbladder. Stage 1: Cancer is in the mucosal layer and may reach the muscle wall. Stage 2: Cancer has spread to the connective tissue layers beyond the muscle layer. Stage 3: Cancer has spread to the liver, nearby organs, or outer layer of the gallbladder, and possibly to nearby lymph nodes. Stage 4: Cancer has spread to multiple lymph nodes, blood vessels, or distant organs. Risk factors for gallbladder cancer According to MayoClinic, these factors can increase the likelihood of developing gallbladder cancer Female sex, possibly due to higher estrogen levels. Increasing age, with most cases occurring after 65. History of gallstones, especially larger ones. Other gallbladder conditions, such as: - Polyps - Infections - Chronic inflammation Inflammation of the bile ducts (primary sclerosing cholangitis). Can gallbladder cancer be prevented? According to the Cleveland Clinic reports, gallbladder cancer can't be guaranteed to be prevented, but reducing risk factors may help lower the risk. This can include maintaining a healthy weight with the guidance of a healthcare provider. However, even with these efforts, there's no certainty that cancer can be prevented. Also read | Early or premature menopause: Causes, symptoms, risks and more
Herald Sun
19 hours ago
- Health
- Herald Sun
Venus Williams reveals health battle that left her ‘on the locker room floor' before Wimbledon
Don't miss out on the headlines from Conditions. Followed categories will be added to My News. Venus Williams has opened up about the painful heath condition that left her 'laying on the locker room floor' before Wimbledon. The 45-year-old tennis ace shared her battle with fibroids, non-cancerous tumours that grow in the muscular wall of the uterus. 'My symptoms were extreme pain. You know, getting so much in pain that maybe you throw up. Or you can't get off the ground … I missed practices because of that. Just, you know, hugging the toilet,' Williams told NBC's Today Show. The seven-time Grand Slam winner said at first she was dismissive of the symptoms and simply put up with them, revealing she suffered a bad episode before winning her sixth doubles match with sister Serena Williams at Wimbledon in 2016. '(I was) just laying on the floor in the locker room. Like, it's gonna pass, it's gonna pass. And thank God Serena got the doctor. And I was able to get up and eat and start playing (which was) bad luck for our opponents,' she said. Williams also has Sjogren's syndrome, a condition she made public in 2011, which only delayed her diagnosis. 'I live with an auto-immune disease. So I thought maybe it was auto-immune anaemia or something like that. But really it was what I was dealing with inside, which was fibroids,' she told Today. She had previously been diagnosed with fibroids but doctors who monitored the growths using ultrasounds never identified how large they were – nor did they link them to her pain. Small fibroids are usually painless, but larger growths can cause pain, swelling, excessive bleeding, GI issues, and bloating, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 'I didn't know that they were really big,' Williams said. 'I didn't know that they were growing and growing and growing.' Williams said her bleeding was so heavy at times that she often wore layers to prevent a bleed-through. 'One doctor told me (when I was 37) … this is a part of ageing. This is normal.' Another told her to get a hysterectomy. 'I've never been so sad in my life,' she recalled. 'I had never been running to have kids but I always wanted to have a choice and to have that taken away is just frightening.' She eventually connected with Dr Tara Shirazian from NYU's Langone Health's Center for Fibroid Care, who performed a myomectomy on Williams a year ago. The procedure removed the fibroids while keeping the uterus intact. 'I'm sharing now because I was outraged that I didn't know this was possible. I didn't know what was wrong with me,' Williams said. 'No one should have to go through this.' Meanwhile, Williams hinted at a return to the court saying she is 'not playing badly so you never know'. 'I've been taking this time to rest and recover and live my life and be, you know, a happy person without fibroids,' she said. Originally published as Venus Williams reveals battle with fibroids left her 'on the locker room floor' before Wimbledon
