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Sewage bacteria lurking in Hudson river sediments, study finds
A new study shows that fecal bacteria from sewage are living in far greater quantities in near-shore sediments of the Hudson River than in the water itself. The river’s pollution levels are generally monitored based on samples of clear water, not sediments, so the findings suggest that people stirring up the bottom while wading, swimming or kayaking may face previously unrecognized health risks. Germs may persist for long periods or even reproduce in the sediments, say the authors. The study appears in the early online edition of the journal Science of the Total Environment.
The researchers sampled 11 sites along the river banks in suburban Rockland and Westchester counties, and in eastern Queens. In some, they found as much as 10 times more fecal bacteria in sediments as in overlying water. Water near the most polluted sediments tended to have elevated levels of bacteria and vice versa, suggesting an interchange between the two. Sites with sandier bottoms tended to have fewer germs, while levels were higher in fine, mucky organic-rich areas.
“These organisms originate in the human gut, where it’s organic rich and dark,” said Andrew Juhl, a biologist at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and coauthor of the study. “The water in the river is neither organic rich nor dark, but the sediments on the bottom typically are, and that makes them a better environment for potentially harmful microorganisms.” While the findings make common sense, it is one the first studies to test the idea in a river estuary, and is the first one in this region.
“This shows we have to think beyond just the [pollution] indicators we see in water,” said lead author Gregory O’Mullan, a microbiologist at Queens College and an adjunct at Lamont-Doherty.
A 2017 review of previous research coauthored by O’Mullan and Juhl says that, globally, human contact with polluted coastal waters causes more than 50 million severe respiratory infections and 120 million cases of gastrointestinal diseases, along with eye, ear and skin infections. In the United States, water at thousands of beaches is tested weekly during warm weather, and each year, high bacteria readings result in tens of thousands of beach-closure days. Some scientists have sampled beach sands and found high bacteria levels there as well, but such studies are still infrequent. “You have to think about this. I used to take my young daughter to the beach, and she didn’t get that much water in her mouth — but she was always covered with sand,” said O’Mullan.
O’Mullan and Juhl looked at two standard indicators of sewage contamination: the bacteria Enterococcus and Escherichia coli, which occur abundantly in the human gut. The bacteria can cause infections, but rarely serious ones; they are used instead as a proxy signal that less abundant but much more potent pathogens also excreted by humans also probably are present.
In the lower Hudson, most such germs probably get into the river from human sewage released through outfalls, leaks and overflows. Wildlife may play a smaller role, and in other systems farm runoff can also be an important source of bacteria. Many of these bacteria are not floating freely, but rather clinging to tiny particles of organic matter, said Juhl. In open, flowing water, pathogens are constantly washed downstream and diluted, and sunlight kills many within hours or days. However, depending on water flow, tides and topography, many particles may settle down and pile up in the cozier, more stable environment of the bottom. Here, bacteria or viruses could potentially persist for weeks or even months. Feeding off organic-rich muck, they may even reproduce, say Juhl and O’Mullan.
As part of the study, Juhl and an assistant waded into 8 to 10 inches of water in a few spots near Piermont, N.Y. in order to stir up near-shore sediments (They wore calf-high boots.) Then they took samples of the muddied water. As expected, lab analyses demonstrated that stirring up the sediments heightened bacterial levels in the water. “If bacteria are going from the water to the sediment, does it work the other way around?” said Juhl. “I think it does.” Piermont, with its fine, muddy bottom, showed some of the highest bacteria readings in both water and sediment, along with three sites around Queens’ Flushing Bay.
“Our data would suggest that there’s a health risk with people splashing around in the water and resuspending stuff from the bottom. But we’d have to say that at this point it’s hard to quantify,” said Juhl.
O’Mullan pointed out that some municipalities along the river stop chlorinating their sewage during cold weather, on the theory that no one is swimming nearby, and that pathogens will be long gone by the time the recreational season returns. “This suggests that might not be such a good idea,” he said. “Putting sewage into the sediments is like putting it into the refrigerator — it lasts a lot longer.”
The study was supported by the Hudson River Foundation, Riverkeeper and the U.S National Science Foundation.
Health24.com | Here’s what could be causing that pain you feel during sex
Do you feel pain during sex? Dr Natalia Novikova, aesthetic gynaecologist, gets to the bottom of what could be causing the problem.
Pain at the entrance of the vagina during penetrative sex is commonly caused by vaginismus, although there could be other reasons which your doctor can diagnose.
Vaginismus is a condition triggered by a variety of factors, such as an unpleasant sexual experience, a strict upbringing putting a shameful emphasis on sex or a medical condition, like vaginal infection, thrush or a bladder infection that might cause pain or discomfort during sex.
Painful sex or the thought and anticipation of pain creates pathological signals in the brain that cause the vaginal muscles to contract.
Read more: 8 reasons why you’re having painful sex
This makes penetration very painful and sometimes impossible. Treatment usually involves psychological counselling and using vaginal dilators. It does bring results, but in my practice, I often meet patients who have tried the traditional methods for years with little success.
Interestingly, the injection of botox into the vaginal muscle is very effective and a quick cure for vaginismus. It’s performed with local anaesthesia or, in severe cases, under general anaesthetic.
Read more: 7 times your vagina hurts during sex – and what the pain means
Following this, I advise a patient to use dilators or a vibrator by herself to teach herself that vaginal penetration is not painful. Once she is comfortable doing this, she progresses to doing it with her partner and only once she is comfortable with him inserting the vibrator will they proceed to having penetration with the penis, preferably starting with positions where the woman is in control.
The aim is to recreate a positive sexual experience and eliminate fear. This treatment has wonderful results in my practice.
This article was originally published on www.womenshealthsa.co.za
Image credit: iStock
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5 Ways to Deal With Caregiver Stress
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We're not called the sandwich generation for nothing. Almost a third of U.S. adults (29 percent) act as a caregiver for an ill, elderly or disabled relative, per the National Alliance for Caregiving. Of those, roughly 66 percent are female, many of them also caring for children at home. The role can take a serious toll on your health and well-being. There's of course the emotional strain, especially if you're caring for a relative with dementia or another illness that requires constant monitoring. Moreover, 17 percent of caregivers in an AARP report said that their own physical health had worsened from caregiving.
"Caregiving can be very isolating, is a job most people didn't apply for and never received proper training in and does not pay very well," says Jerri Rosenfeld, a social worker at Northern Westchester Hospital's Ken Hamilton Caregivers Center in Mount Kisco, N.Y. But you don't have to go it alone. Try these resources.
RELATED: Best and Worst Ways to Cope With Stress
Start with a support group
"Sometimes all you need is an opportunity to share your feelings and swap strategies in a nonjudgmental and supportive atmosphere," Rosenfeld says. Check to see if your local hospital, church or synagogue offers resources. Or try your town's rec center, which may have a senior or elder program that also gives caregiver support.
RELATED: How to Help a Loved One Cope With Breast Cancer
Find the right online help
About 25 percent of family caregivers seek support online, whether in discussion forums or on social media channels like Facebook, according to a 2011 Caring.com survey. Look for groups that focus on just caregivers, not ones that combine patient and family. "You need to be able to be frank about your own issues, feelings and concerns without worrying about hurting someone else's feelings," Rosenfeld explains.
A few places to get started: Caring.com features caregiver support groups for a wide range of conditions (including Alzheimer's, diabetes, cancer, MS and Parkinson's) at caring.com/support-groups. AARP's online caregiving resource center offers a space to connect to others facing issues around caregiving for the elderly; so does the caregiver support section at AgingCare.com.
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Keep a journal
It's a safe place to write out your thoughts, even if they don't make any sense, Rosenfeld says, and research shows that journaling can help relieve stress. Try a gratitude journal, where you jot down everything that you're grateful for; a venting diary (self-explanatory!); or a reminiscence log, where you record memories of your loved one.
Organize with an app
Apps for caregivers alleviate stress by helping you stay on top of the details. You can, for example, track appointments and medications and take notes at office visits. A good one to try: CareZone (free; iTunes and Google Play).
RELATED: Hidden Stress Triggers
Steal time for you
"Often a caregiver brings in her loved one for an appointment and just sits in the waiting room, when she could be taking a quick walk outside or phoning a friend," Rosenfeld says. Set aside time for things that nourish you; simply sipping your coffee on your patio for an extra 15 minutes can help renew your energy.
"People frequently say, 'You need to take time for yourself so you can be a better caregiver,' but they've got it completely wrong," Rosenfeld says. "You need to take time for yourself because you're a human being."
RELATED: Your Secret to Happiness at Every Age
Want to help a friend?
You may not be tending to aging parents yourselfbut chances are you know someone who is. Instead of just saying vaguely, "Let me know if there's anything I can do," offer to take on specific jobs, like helping to watch her kids or bringing dinner once a week. Even better: Allow her to tell you exactly what she needs. StandWith (free; iTunes), a new app from FCancer co-founder Yael Cohen Braun, enables users to post not just updates but also tasks they need done (buying groceries, giving rides, etc.) so that folks know what will really help.
Health24.com | Here’s how going on fad diets can mess with your brain
Keto, the Carnivore Diet and other restrictive diets are popular. That’s because they often work. People adopt the diet and they see results, sometimes dramatic, although often in the short term.
“Doesn’t he/she look great?” Is what you often hear. But my question, as a registered dietitian, is, “Yes, but how do they feel?”
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You see, restrictive diets – or diets that require you to eliminate foods or nutrient groups – can have negative effects on your brain.
Here are three I often see in my work with clients.
1. Increased cravings can turn obsessive.
Tell someone that they can’t have peanut butter on their diet (ahem, Paleo) and they’re more likely to crave peanut butter. Tell them they can only eat a few measly carbs daily (ahem, keto) and suddenly every deep-dish pizza, bowl-o-pasta, and loaf of bread looks even more delicious.
“It’s an inherent behaviour in people,” says Brierley Horton, a registered dietitian in Birmingham. “It’s like the kid who is told they can’t do or touch something and that’s all they want to do and then usually end up doing it. Tell me I can’t eat carbs and all of a sudden I see carbs everywhere and that’s all I am thinking about.”
Read more: Ketogenic diets may help you live longer and improve your memory, but there’s a catch
Some people will tell you that cravings are your body’s way of telling you the nutrients it needs. Those people are wrong. No clinical research has ever shown this old nutrition chestnut to be true.
“The craving isn’t based on a need for nutrients, it stems from depriving yourself,” Horton says.
2. Cutting food groups deprives the brain of needed nutrients.
Take carbs again. Carbohydrates provide your brain with glucose, a fuel it needs to execute everything from basic to complex tasks. About a decade ago, when low-carb diets started gaining popularity, researchers studied the effects of a lack of carbohydrates on the moods of dieters. Sure enough, those study participants who ingested the few carbohydrates reported a poorer mood overall than those who ate a diet that included carbs.
Read more: This male model proves you can eat carbs and still maintain a six pack
And it’s not just the brain that’s deprived. Carbohydrates aren’t just processed products like pizza and white bread. They include whole grains, vegetables and fruits. And if you’re not eating those foods, you’re missing out on fibre, antioxidants, and a host of other important vitamins and minerals that keep your entire body functioning and peak performance.
3. Closely monitoring nutrients may lead to disordered eating.
Research shows that restrictive or elimination diets may encourage disordered eating.
“Dieting is the number one risk factor for the development of an eating disorder,” says registered dietitian, Marci Evans, a certified eating disorder dietitian and supervisor.
In one study of women, those who followed a rigid diet (versus one deemed flexible) reported symptoms of an eating disorder and were concerned with their body size. The rigid dieters also typically had a higher BMI. I’ve seen this happen in men, too.
There are some key signs that your eating has become problematic or disordered. “If your eating regimen ignores your body’s natural cues of hunger and fullness, creates more food obsession, and leaves you feeling guilty or ashamed, then it may be time to consider that your habits are causing more harm than good,” explains Evans.
That said, “not everyone who follows this type of diet will experience anxiety or guilt over food choices, but any time rules are created, you create a condition of ‘good or bad,’ ‘right or wrong’, which adds an emotional layer of complexity to our relationship with food,” adds Dr Kara Mohr. (She’s my wife, but also the co-owner of our nutrition consulting firm, Mohr Results.)
Read more: We decode 3 popular diets and discuss the pros, cons and what you should take from each
The bottom line: I’m not saying that you should never try out the latest, hottest diet. It may even work for you. But if it’s not working for you mentally – even if it’s working for you physically – you may want to reassess.
This article was originally published on www.menshealth.com
Image credit: iStock
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Health24.com | Too much salt might help spur this common heart disorder
A high-salt diet could raise your risk for a common heart rhythm disorder, new research suggests.
Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots or other complications. It affects millions of people worldwide and puts them at higher risk for stroke and, in rare cases, can lead to heart failure.
This study included 716 middle-aged men and women in Finland who were followed for an average of 19 years. During that time, 74 of the participants were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
Those with the highest levels of salt in their diet had a higher rate of atrial fibrillation than those with the lowest salt intake. After accounting for several other risk factors – including age, body fat, blood pressure and smoking – the researchers found that salt consumption was independently associated with the risk of atrial fibrillation.
But the study only found an association – it did not prove that a high-salt diet causes the heart rhythm disorder.
The study was published recently in the Annals of Medicine.
Growing list of dangers
“This study provides the first evidence that dietary salt may increase the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation, adding to a growing list of dangers from excessive salt consumption on our cardiovascular health,” said study author Tero Paakko, from the University of Oulu in Finland.
“Although further confirmatory studies are needed, our results suggest that people who are at an increased risk of atrial fibrillation may benefit from restricting salt in their diet,” Paakko said in a journal news release.
The chances of developing atrial fibrillation increase with age, and the condition affects about 7 in 100 people 65 and older.
“With estimates suggesting that over three-quarters of salt consumed is already added in processed foods, reducing salt intake at a population level could have a hugely beneficial impact on new-onset atrial fibrillation and overall cardiovascular disease,” Paakko said.
Image credit: iStock
