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- ‘Lung scan in supermarket car park saved my life’Sandra Champkins was symptom-free but a CT scan at Banbury's Tesco car park detected she had cancer. [TheTopNews] Read More.17 hours ago
- NHS app to use AI to determine which service best for patientsThe update will be available to all users in England by April 2028, the health service says. [TheTopNews] Read More.1 day ago
- The ‘1776 Diet’: What Americans really ate during the nation’s...Many of the American colonists’ eating habits have made a comeback in recent years. They ate minimally processed, locally sourced whole foods and regularly incorporated organ meats into their meals.Livestock and many Old World crops had already been introduced to North America by European explorers and settlers during the centuries before the nation's founding.Early settlers adapted European cooking traditions using ingredients available in North America, the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress (CSPC) reported.Indigenous peoples introduced corn to the colonists, and it became a core ingredient in many of their recipes. Beans, squash, and potatoes were among the other crops that became incorporated into colonial cooking, according to the CSPC."Cornmeal appeared in dishes such as hasty pudding — a thick porridge similar to polenta — and johnnycakes, simple griddle cakes that were popular from New England to the South," History Facts reported.Cornmeal Johnnycakes, roast pork and cream cheese are distinctly early-American foods the CSPC has recipes for on its website.Regional customs and crops greatly influenced what the colonists ate. Rice and okra grew well and were plentiful in the South, where French and African influences also shaped eating habits. Dutch, English and German immigrants largely settled in the north and established the region’s culinary traditions.Seafood such as rockfish and crab dominated the diets of early Maryland settlers, NPR reported.Meat was a status symbol, local food historian Joyce White told the publication. Beef was prized, and chicken was often saved for egg production."If it's your pig or cow coming from your plantation, you don't want to waste it," White said.TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZThomas Jefferson was known for his decadent tastes and a fondness for French wine and macaroni and cheese. Records show that black-eyed peas, turnip greens and ham were also part of the Founding Father's diet.Salted and preserved fish and meats, including bacon, sausage, liver pudding and offal, were staples of working-class people's diets, while the upper classes indulged in such luxuries as white flour and sugar.Interest in these traditional foods has resurfaced in recent years as some Americans seek diets centered on whole, minimally processed ingredients.Advocates of the Make America Healthy Again movement, for instance, have promoted organ meats, or offal, as some of the cheapest and most nutrient-dense foods people can eat.Stews that evolved as ingredients became available were also common an America's early days.The amount of alcohol the colonists consumed was "staggering,"… [TheTopNews] Read More.1 day ago
- July 4 heat delays America 250 celebration as State Fair guests share love of US...The Great American State Fair was postponed Saturday after multiple people reportedly fainted the day before, forcing thousands of visitors to pivot during celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary.Friday's medical emergencies required onsite attention as crowds flocked to the nation’s capital for Independence Day.The fair reopened later Friday evening but was postponed again Saturday.HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES RISING WITH EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, RESEARCH SUGGESTSFox News Digital asked attendees what it took to get to the capital and what they made of the closure."We are so blessed to live in the best country in the world," Whitney Thomas, a mother from North Carolina who traveled with her family for the Great American State Fair, told Fox News Digital Friday.Despite the weather closure, she said her family was able to enjoy the State Fair Thursday evening and planned to wait out the heat in nearby museums until the fair reopened."I wanted my kids, who are 9 and 10, to be able to experience this with us," she said.Brad Shultis, a retired Marine who traveled from Stafford, Virginia, expressed frustration over the decision to halt festivities."You cannot tell me that America was won by shutting things down when it gets hot," he told Fox News Digital.FAMOUS LANDMARKS SLASH VISITING HOURS AS DEADLY HEAT WAVE THREATENS TOURISTS"It gets hot, and we shut it down because it's hot? Who cares? If it's too hot, stay home."Shultis noted that he drove to Springfield and took the Metro just to be turned away right after buying lunch. He questioned the decision to shut down the celebration of America's 250th anniversary, arguing that if people find the weather too hot, they should simply stay home or seek medical help rather than forcing a mass evacuation for those who spent time and money to get there.Wendy Lamb, who traveled eight hours from Connecticut with her family to support the state’s booth, noted that organizers were likely worried about the intense conditions and simply did not want visitors to suffer.WHAT KILLED AMERICANS IN 1776? THE ANSWER IS DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT FROM TODAYWhile disappointed that her home state did not send official representation due to budget issues, Lamb and her fellow travelers refused to let the heat ruin their first trip to Washington, D.C."We’ve had a really, really fun time so far," added John, another member of the group.CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIESHe said they plan to navigate the heat by moving… [TheTopNews] Read More.1 day ago
- Why scratching a mosquito bite makes it so much worse, according to scienceScratching a bug bite or rash may seem irresistible, but it’ll only provide temporary relief and likely prolong the itch, researchers found.Scratching is a natural response to a skin irritant that increases skin inflammation and can make certain diseases, such as eczema, worse. But why scratching exacerbates swelling and whether the evolutionary response offers any benefit is something University of Pittsburgh researchers said remained "poorly explored."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTERTo investigate the relationship between itch, scratching and inflammation, the researchers, led by University of Pittsburgh professor of dermatology and immunology Daniel H. Kaplan, applied an allergen to the ears of mice to trigger allergic-contact dermatitis, an eczema-like inflammatory skin condition.The mice developed the type of skin reaction people commonly have to poison ivy, certain metals, like nickel and some skincare ingredients.One group of mice was designated as "normal," while another group was genetically modified to lack an itch-sensing neuron.A set of mice was allowed to scratch freely, while another was prevented from scratching with an Elizabethan-style collar, often referred to as the "cone of shame" among pet owners.The researchers found that scratching activated mast cells, which the Cleveland Clinic describes as part of the body's "alarm system" that "looks out for harmful invaders." Mast cells release histamine and other inflammatory chemicals that cause itchiness.CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH NEWS"Sometimes, they activate when they shouldn’t, causing allergic reactions," the Cleveland Clinic noted. The researchers found the mice that scratched freely released more substance P, a signaling molecule that activated more mast cells, causing increased inflammation and a prolonged itch-scratch cycle.The mice that were prevented from scratching and those lacking the itch-sensing neuron experienced less inflammation.Scratching is satisfying, however — and as Science reported, "The capacity to both sense itch and behaviorally respond by scratching evolved hundreds of millions of years ago."Because mast cells are "also important for protecting against bacteria and other pathogens," the researchers performed another experiment to determine "if scratching-induced activation of mast cells could affect the skin microbiome," the University of Pittsburgh reported in a news release.TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZThe scientists found that scratching reduced levels of staphylococcus aureus, one of the bacteria most associated with skin infections."The damage that scratching does to the skin probably outweighs this benefit when itching is chronic," Kaplan cautioned."At first, these findings seemed to introduce a paradox: If scratching an itch is bad for us, why does it… [TheTopNews] Read More.1 day ago
- Fourth of July fireworks pose hidden health risk for certain Americans, experts ...Fireworks have been a quintessential part of Fourth of July celebrations across the nation for generations.But as Independence Day festivities light up the night sky, the colorful displays can also pose serious health risks — especially to the lungs.Nearly 300 million pounds of fireworks are released into the atmosphere each year in the U.S., according to the American Lung Association. This creates smoke filled with tiny particles and gases like sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, which are "very harmful to our lungs."QUITTING SMOKING COULD OFFER A MAJOR BENEFIT BEYOND HEART AND LUNG HEALTH, STUDY FINDSThe smoke from fireworks can also release harmful metals, like aluminum, manganese and cadmium, into the air.Some illegal fireworks may contain lead, which the association describes as "extremely dangerous" due to its potential to cause lasting health damage."Inhaling any of these chemicals can irritate the lungs, making it hard to breathe and causing serious health problems, which is why it is important to avoid firework smoke whenever possible," the group said in a public advisory.CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIESAir pollution levels increase by an average of 42% on the Fourth of July, according to a 2015 study.Smoke from fireworks can worsen symptoms and cause flare-ups in those who have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZFine particle pollution has also been linked to more serious health consequences, including heart attacks, stroke, lung cancer and premature death, according to the American Lung Association.The organization warned that children, older adults and pregnant women, as well as people with lung and heart disease, are especially vulnerable.Dr. Afif El-Hasan, member of the Lung Association’s board of directors, shared some advice for high-risk fireworks spectators in an interview with Fox News Digital.Instead of using fireworks at home, El-Hasan recommends watching them from a distance.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTERPeople with asthma who use a rescue inhaler should keep it close in case fireworks trigger wheezing or other symptoms, the expert advised. Wearing a well-fitting N95 mask can also help reduce exposure to fine particles from fireworks smoke and debris."If you are familiar with the area and the wind patterns, try to be upwind from the fireworks display and avoid areas where smoke may accumulate," he said.The expert also recommends attending fireworks events with friends or family so someone is available to help if a medical emergency arises."Make sure you… [TheTopNews] Read More.1 day ago
- How to walk 30 minutes a day – your tipsFrom walking the dog before breakfast to getting off the bus a stop early, readers share their tips for building a daily walking habit. [TheTopNews] Read More.2 days ago
- Do you have heart palpitations?What are heart palpitations and when should you be concerned? [TheTopNews] Read More.2 days ago
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