In North Carolina, it is illegal to text while driving because the activity is way too distracting to be safe. Now, it seems that it is also dangerous to be distracted by texting, talking, or even listening to music on portable devices…while walking. It makes sense. Experts estimate that distracted driving is roughly the safety […]
The Dangers of Texting While…WALKING! Read More »
I confess, this story has me feeling a little confused. The headline is this: The federal government has just moved to ban the sale of ground beef tainted with six toxic strains of E. coli bacteria, which can cause severe illness or even death. My confusion is this: Does that mean that E. coli hasn’t
New Ban on E. Coli in Ground Beef Read More »
Stents have been used successfully for years in people with atherosclerosis to keep arteries around the heart open and prevent a first, second, or third heart attack. About six years ago, stents were approved for use in the brain, with the hopes of preventing strokes. The brain stents failed miserably. A study designed to test
Excess Stroke Risk Halts Brain Stent Study Read More »
Your backyard patio may have just lost a little ambiance, but it also got a whole lot safer. According to an article on WRAL.com, nine companies are recalling about 2 million bottles and jugs of the gel fuel used in outdoor patio decorations known as firepots. The gels pose a risk of serious burns. The
RECALL: Firepot Fuel Gels Read More »
When it comes to school lunches, parents might have concerns about the nutritional quality of cafeteria food, or about whether their children will trade their healthy, homemade lunches for junk food. But most parents don’t even think about whether their children’s lunches put them at risk for foodborne illnesses. According to an article in The
How To Pack a Safe School Lunch Read More »
North Carolina has the dubious honor of being part of the “Stroke Belt”: a geographic area in which people have more strokes–and are more likely to die from strokes–than people in other areas of the United States. No one knows exactly why we have this extra health risk, but the theory that holds the greatest
Preachers Preach the Value of Good Nutrition Read More »
The first real threat of the 2011 hurricane season is upon us, and her name is Irene. Hurricane Irene battered the Bahamas earlier this week, and now this Category 3 storm is heading toward the North Carolina coast. Today, Governor Bev Perdue declared a state of emergency for the counties east of Interstate 95. According
Hurricane Preparedness, North Carolina Style Read More »
Every week, about 100 children and adolescents in the United States are treated in hospital emergency departments for injuries sustained from window falls. Approximately 25 percent of the injured children were hospitalized. A new study conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital documented the incidence and causes
Window Falls Still a Risk for Children Read More »
Don’t think of Monday as the start of a rough work week–think of it as another opportunity to improve your health. The trick is to have supportive relationships with your coworkers. Research published in the journal Health Psychology found that companies that offer a friendly work environment and encourage supportive relationships have employees that live longer.
Coffee with Coworkers May Increase Your Lifespan Read More »
Do you brake for yard sales? Bargain-hunt on Craigslist? Raid Grandma’s attic for useful items? You may unintentionally bring home danger. According to an article in The New York Times, there are many items that should never be handed down or passed along. And the list is lengthy! Baby cribs, for instance: From 2007 to
When Bargains & Garage Sales Can Be Dangerous Read More »