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Daily Archives: 19/09/2017
Quarter of 14-year-old girls ‘have signs of depression’
The findings come from 10,000 young people’s views and make worrying reading, say UK researchers.
Life-extending lung cancer drug approved
A drug denied to restaurant critic AA Gill on the NHS will now be made available to patients in England.
Miscarriage study points to IVF success chances
Women who miscarry in the first round of IVF are more likely to have a baby than those who do not conceive.
Risks vary widely in drone-human impacts
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Tiny lasers from a gallery of whispers
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Emerging disease further jeopardizes North American frogs
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Health24.com | You won’t believe how far tattoo ink can travel in your body
“Think before you ink” is a good philosophy when it comes to tattoos, especially since they are difficult and painful to get rid of.
And now it seems tattoos are not only skin deep.
Microscopic particles from tattoos can travel through the body and reach the lymph nodes, researchers say.
Ink may contain contaminants
Along with pigments, tattoo inks contain preservatives and contaminants such as nickel, chromium, manganese and cobalt.
“When someone wants to get a tattoo, they are often very careful in choosing a parlour where they use sterile needles that haven’t been used previously. But no one checks the chemical composition of the colours, but our study shows that maybe they should,” said study co-author Hiram Castillo. He’s a scientist at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France.
Affects the lymph nodes
The researchers said the study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, is the first to offer evidence that microscopic particles called nanoparticles from tattoos can travel into the body and reach the lymph nodes.
Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped organs that produce blood cells designed to help fight disease and infections.
“We already knew that pigments from tattoos travel to the lymph nodes because of visual evidence: the lymph nodes become tinted with the colour of the tattoo. It is the response of the body to clean the site of entrance of the tattoo,” study co-first author Bernhard Hesse said in a facility news release. Hesse is a visiting scientist at ESRF.
“What we didn’t know is that they do it in a nano form, which implies that they may not have the same behaviour as the particles at a micro [larger] level. And that is the problem: We don’t know how nanoparticles react,” he explained.
Considering getting your first ink done?
A previous Health24 article reports that more and more people end up getting infections from tattoos and bad reactions from ink. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you put down the deposit for your first permanent artwork:
- Do extensive research on styles, different studios and artists in your vicinity.
- Be absolutely sure that you go to a reputable artist. Visit the studio beforehand, check the artist’s portfolio for references and ask as many questions as you can.
- Think carefully about placement and the texture of your skin. A good artist will be able to steer you in the right direction.
- It’s a good idea visit a dermatologist for a mole-mapping consultation beforehand, especially to scan the area you would like to get tattooed. Tattoos make it harder to detect moles, therefore it’s important to be absolutely sure about the state of your skin.
- Preparation is key. Exfoliate the area to get rid of ingrown hairs or bumps.
- Signs of a tattoo-related infection include a rash at the site of the tattoo, and a fever. Take immediate medical action if you suspect an infection or reaction.
Image credit: iStock
Health24.com | Should young children own cellphones?
Smartphones are everywhere and even the youngest member of the family can own one.
But think twice about gifting your young child with the latest cellphone on the market.
Cyberbullying starts early, and eight- and nine-year-olds with cellphones are especially vulnerable, new research finds. Statistics show that social media, which is easily accessible on most cellphones, is the most common medium for cyberbullying.
Unforeseen risks
“Parents often cite the benefits of giving their child a cellphone, but our research suggests that giving young children these devices may have unforeseen risks as well,” said study researcher Elizabeth Englander, a professor of psychology at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts.
Englander and her colleagues surveyed nearly 4 600 students in third, fourth and fifth grades between 2014 and 2016.
Overall, about 10% said they’d been victims of a cyberbully. However, younger students with phones were much more likely to report electronic abuse, the study showed.
Cellphones also increased the students’ odds of becoming cyberbullies themselves. This was true in all three grades, the study found.
Impulsive texts or messages
The researchers found that older kids were most likely to have phones – about six in 10 students. But half of fourth graders and about 40% of third graders had them as well.
Having a phone gives kids more opportunity to engage positively and negatively with their peers through social media and texting, the researchers explained. This constant access ups the likelihood that students will send or receive impulsive texts or messages.
Inherent responsibilities
The study authors cautioned parents to consider the potential downside of providing a cellphone to a child not yet in primary school.
“At the very least, parents can engage in discussions and education with their child about the responsibilities inherent in owning a mobile device, and the general rules for communicating in the social sphere,” Englander said in a news release from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Always be mindful of the effects of cyberbullying and act when you think your child might be a target.
Image credit: iStock
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Health24.com | SEE: Eating 3 healthy meals on a budget
It’s a phrase you often hear: “Eating healthy costs money.” And with lifestyle diseases on the rise in South Africa, it’s important to address the issue of good nutrition.
Meet Tebogo Mokgothadi — a dietitian who gives advice on how to eat healthy for less.
Breakfast
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Lunch
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Dinner
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