Pesticides are chemicals generally used in agriculture, in order to prevent diseases, pests, weeds and other kinds of plant pathogens. The final aim of pesticides is to maintain high quality in agricultural production and yield and also improve the external appeal of fruits and vegetables. Despite sometimes not being noticed by the public, there some …
Category: Health and medicine
Does Exercising More Frequently Really Extend Your Lifespan?
It can be difficult to find time to exercise on a regular basis, but research suggests that doing so can reduce your risk of premature death. That being said, what happens to those who exceed exercise requirements, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)? Do they have an even greater chance …
Carlos Finlay: Mosquitoes, Yellow Fever, and a Big Case of “I Told You So”
Pop Quiz – What animal is responsible for the most human deaths every year? If you said “shark” or “alligator” or “snake”, you would be wrong. Sure, these animals are dangerous, but they actually result in very few human deaths each year. The animal that poses the biggest threat to humans is the mosquito. Mosquitoes …
Baby Walker Injuries are on the Rise: Is It Time for a Ban?
Baby walkers are seemingly harmless devices that offer fun to little ones and their parents alike. However, hospital emergency rooms treat more than 2,000 babies a year for injuries stemming from these walkers, and now, American pediatricians are calling for a ban (Cohen, 2018). “I view infant walkers as inherently dangerous objects that have no …
Taking a Low-Dose Aspirin May Not Have as Many Benefits as Previously Thought
New research shows that taking low-dose aspirin on a regular basis may not have as many life-saving properties as previously thought. According to one new study, taking aspirin does not help prevent first strokes or heart attacks in people at moderate risk for one. This was because the study participants had several health threats, such …
Can Vaping Do Damage to Your Lungs? One Study Says Yes
There has been little research done about the harm of electronic cigarettes and vaping thus far, but new data suggests that there could be something to worry about, particularly when it comes to our cells. Researchers from the University of Birmingham recently conducted a study that was published in the journal Thorax, which found that …
Doctors Now Advise Pregnant Women to Steer Clear of Marijuana
There is plenty of information out there about the dangers of smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol during pregnancy, but what about marijuana use? For the first time, the American Academy of Pediatrics has released its guidelines for marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding, and the outlook is relatively bleak. According to the guidelines, women should …
Lacking This Biomarker? It Could Be Responsible for Your Depression
There is still little known about what biologically may predispose individuals to depression, but researchers are getting closer to solving the mystery. As of late, scientists have discovered a biomarker that they believe may be an indicator of depression in adults. A new study conducted by Stanford University and The Rockefeller University discovered that people …
Sun-Sensitive? A New Study Says It May Be Time to Cover Up
If you have pale skin, there’s some bad news – you might be more prone to burning under the sun. Some of you may already know this from experience, but according to a new study, those who are prone to burning may need to use even more protection than they previously thought (Crist, 2018). Kasey …
West Nile Virus: A Brief History, Symptoms and Prevention
There are dozens of cities and towns across the country that have their red flags up for one key reason – West Nile Virus. When the virus is detected in mosquitoes, towns and cities have no choice but to launch into action in an attempt to dwindle local mosquito populations, but what is West Nile …