Latest news with #HEPA
Barnama
6 days ago
- Barnama
40 East Coast Public University Students, Staff Kayak 22km Flying Jalur Gemilang
KUALA NERUS, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- In a bid to boost patriotic spirit ahead of National Day on Aug 31, 40 students and staff from public universities on the east coast kayaked 22 kilometres to Pulau Bidong today, proudly carrying and flying the Jalur Gemilang. Prof Dr Mohd Izani Mohd Zain, deputy vice-chancellor for Student Affairs and Alumni (HEPA) at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), said the UMT Merdeka Kayak Expedition 2025 saw participants paddling from Pantai INOS UMT to Pasir Tenggara, Pulau Bidong, a journey taking six to eight hours. 'Besides UMT, participating universities include Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK). Although Pulau Bidong appears close, reaching it by kayak requires considerable time and effort,' he said. 'It requires patience and persistence. Through this expedition, we aim to convey, in conjunction with National Day, the spirit and struggle of the previous generation in securing the independence and peace we enjoy today,' he told reporters at Pantai INOS, UMT, here today. He added that the expedition is also intended to inspire young people to value the spirit of independence and to continue striving to preserve the prosperity the country now enjoys. He said the programme, which also seeks to raise student and community awareness of environmental sustainability, was last held several years ago in conjunction with the National Day celebrations, and there are plans to make it an annual event. The participants, who paddled 20 kayaks, were accompanied by five escort boats from the UMT Sailing Training Centre, the UMT Health Centre, and the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department. In addition, he said that to ensure the readiness and safety of the participants, they had undergone basic kayaking training conducted by UMT on Tuesday and Wednesday. One of the participants, Nur Muhammad Aqil Nazri, 22, said the programme reflected the spirit of unity among public universities in celebrating National Day.
India Today
6 days ago
- Health
- India Today
How to Make Your Home More Asthma-Friendly
How to Make Your Home More Asthma-Friendly By Tanisha Sinha Simple changes can help you breathe easier and reduce asthma flare-ups right at home. Dr. Kuldeep Kumar Grover, Head of Critical Care and Pulmonology, CK Birla Hospital tells: Use dust-mite-proof covers on pillows and mattresses, wash bedding in hot water weekly, and switch heavy drapes for washable curtains. Vacuum daily with a HEPA filter to trap tiny irritants. Control Dust and Allergens Ensure good ventilation and consider using an air purifier with a HEPA filter. Avoid cigarette smoke, scented candles, and air fresheners that may inflame airways. Enhance Indoor Air Quality Keep indoor humidity between 30–50% using a dehumidifier. Fix leaks promptly to prevent moisture buildup and mold growth. Regulate Humidity Keep pets out of bedrooms, bathe them often, and brush them outdoors to prevent dander from spreading inside. Control Pet Allergens Clean bathrooms and kitchens regularly, and use exhaust fans while cooking or showering to reduce moisture. Avoid Mold and Mildew Choose mild, fragrance-free cleaners and avoid strong chemicals. Damp dust instead of dry sweeping to limit airborne particles. Asthma-Friendly Cleaning An asthma-friendly home is one with fewer triggers and cleaner air. Small, consistent changes can make a big difference in your everyday breathing comfort. The Bottom Line
What's On
11-08-2025
- Climate
- What's On
UAE weather alert: heat, dust, and safety tips for Monday
Brace yourselves, Monday promises to bring extreme heat and blowing dust across the UAE. This is according to the National Centre of Meteorology's (NCM) forecast. Forecasts show daytime temperatures hovering around 44 °C in coastal cities like Abu Dhabi, with gusty winds potentially reaching 40 km/h and stirring up thick dust clouds that will reduce visibility on roads and in public spaces. #المركز_الوطني_للأرصاد #الإمارات_العربية_المتحدة #حالة_الطقس #أمطار #ضباب #حالة_البحر #سرعة_الرياح #إتجاه_الرياح#NCM #UAE #officialuaeweather #weatherforecast #seastate #windspeed #winddirection #rain #fog — المركز الوطني للأرصاد (@ncmuae) August 10, 2025 These conditions aren't just uncomfortable, they pose real health risks, too. Doctors have reported a spike in cases of respiratory irritation and sinus problems during dust events. Even people without a history of breathing issues have experienced congestion and discomfort, as the combination of heat and airborne particles strains airways. Authorities have also urged motorists to drive with caution, as sudden dust clouds can create hazardous conditions on highways and open roads. How to protect yourself on dusty, sweltering days Stay indoors during peak heat and dust hours (typically 11 am to 4 pm). Seal your home and improve indoor air quality with air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters. Keep windows and doors closed when the dust hits. If you must go out, wear an N95 mask, sunglasses, and breathable clothing. Avoid strenuous outdoor activities. Stay hydrated by sipping water consistently helps offset the drying effects of heat and dust, and supports respiratory calm. For those with asthma, COPD, or allergies: keep medications and rescue inhalers on hand, and consider rinsing nasal passages with saline if irritation sets in. Once the dust passes, do a deep-clean at home and vacuum surfaces with HEPA filters, dust with damp cloths, and change HVAC filters to keep indoor air safe. As the UAE's weather swings between scorching sun and dusty skies, staying informed and prepared is your best defense. If you have time-sensitive plans, remember: indoor options and flexible scheduling are your friends this Monday. With conditions expected to peak mid-day, plan ahead to make the most of your week. > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
HEPA air purifiers can help lower blood pressure, study finds
People whose homes are near busy highways may be able to reduce their blood pressure by running an air purifier with a HEPA filter, a study found. Just a month of air filter use cut systolic blood pressure by nearly 3 points in healthy adults who had slightly elevated blood pressure, according to the report published Wednesday in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Doug Brugge, the study's lead author and professor and chair of the department of public health sciences at UConn Health in Farmington, acknowledged that 3 points may sound like a small reduction. 'But the medical literature shows that even at that magnitude there can be a meaningful benefit in terms of reducing the risk of serious cardiovascular outcomes, such as heart attack and stroke,' he said. Nearly a quarter of Americans live near busy roadways, according to the new research. People may not realize they're being exposed to traffic-related air pollution because it's invisible, odorless and can be easily missed, Brugge said. Yet high levels of the tiniest particles found in traffic-related air pollution are known risk factors for developing high blood pressure and heart disease. Blood pressure is measured with two numbers: systolic pressure (the top number) and diastolic pressure (the bottom number). A reading of less than 120/80 mm Hg is considered normal. Almost half, or about 119.9 million, of adults in the U.S. have hypertension, or high blood pressure, according to 2023 estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To determine whether simply installing two portable, commercially available air purifiers with HEPA filters could improve heart health, Brugge and his colleagues sought healthy volunteers whose homes were near roadways that would expose them to elevated levels of the tiny particles from vehicle emissions, as well as particles associated with tires and brakes. The researchers randomly assigned 154 volunteers to two groups. One would have two HEPA filters in the most commonly used rooms in their homes — one in the living room and the other in the bedroom. The other would be given sham filters. Then the groups would be switched. After a month of living with HEPA filters, volunteers who had slightly elevated blood pressure at the beginning of the study saw a 2.8-point drop in systolic blood pressure, the top number that the American Heart Association considers the strongest predictor of future heart problems. In contrast, those living with the sham filters saw a 0.2-point drop. People with normal blood pressure did not see an effect from HEPA use. The type of air filters used in the study were comparable to ones consumers can easily purchase in a store or online, Brugge said. The new study is 'intriguing,' said Dr. Matthew Alexander, an assistant professor of medicine in the division of cardiovascular medicine at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Not everyone's blood pressure changed, just those with systolic pressures over 120 at the outset, Alexander said. 'It was a modest effect, but a clinically significant one,' he added. 'And it would correspond to about a 6% reduction in the risk of adverse cardiac events, such as heart attacks, strokes or cardiovascular death.' Alexander would like to see more studies, ones with more participants and a wider range of blood pressures. As would Steven Chillrud, a pollution expert and a research professor at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, New York. It's likely that filtering would help even people who don't live near roadways since traffic isn't the only source of air pollution, Chillrud said. This article was originally published on Solve the daily Crossword
NBC News
06-08-2025
- Health
- NBC News
HEPA air purifiers can help lower blood pressure, study finds
People whose homes are near busy highways may be able to reduce their blood pressure by running an air purifier with a HEPA filter, a study found. Just a month of air filter use cut systolic blood pressure by nearly 3 points in healthy adults who had slightly elevated blood pressure, according to the report published Wednesday in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Doug Brugge, the study's lead author and professor and chair of the department of public health sciences at UConn Health in Farmington, acknowledged that 3 points may sound like a small reduction. 'But the medical literature shows that even at that magnitude there can be a meaningful benefit in terms of reducing the risk of serious cardiovascular outcomes, such as heart attack and stroke,' he said. Nearly a quarter of Americans live near busy roadways, according to the new research. People may not realize they're being exposed to traffic-related air pollution because it's invisible, odorless and can be easily missed, Brugge said. Yet high levels of the tiniest particles found in traffic-related air pollution are known risk factors for developing high blood pressure and heart disease. Blood pressure is measured with two numbers: systolic pressure (the top number) and diastolic pressure (the bottom number). A reading of less than 120/80 mm Hg is considered normal. Almost half, or about 119.9 million, of adults in the U.S. have hypertension, or high blood pressure, according to 2023 estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To determine whether simply installing two portable, commercially available air purifiers with HEPA filters could improve heart health, Brugge and his colleagues sought healthy volunteers whose homes were near roadways that would expose them to elevated levels of the tiny particles from vehicle emissions, as well as particles associated with tires and brakes. The researchers randomly assigned 154 volunteers to two groups. One would have two HEPA filters in the most commonly used rooms in their homes — one in the living room and the other in the bedroom. The other would be given sham filters. Then the groups would be switched. After a month of living with HEPA filters, volunteers who had slightly elevated blood pressure at the beginning of the study saw a 2.8-point drop in systolic blood pressure, the top number that the American Heart Association considers the strongest predictor of future heart problems. In contrast, those living with the sham filters saw a 0.2-point drop. People with normal blood pressure did not see an effect from HEPA use. The type of air filters used in the study were comparable to ones consumers can easily purchase in a store or online, Brugge said. The new study is 'intriguing,' said Dr. Matthew Alexander, an assistant professor of medicine in the division of cardiovascular medicine at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Not everyone's blood pressure changed, just those with systolic pressures over 120 at the outset, Alexander said. 'It was a modest effect, but a clinically significant one,' he added. 'And it would correspond to about a 6% reduction in the risk of adverse cardiac events, such as heart attacks, strokes or cardiovascular death.' Alexander would like to see more studies, ones with more participants and a wider range of blood pressures. As would Steven Chillrud, a pollution expert and a research professor at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, New York. It's likely that filtering would help even people who don't live near roadways since traffic isn't the only source of air pollution, Chillrud said.
