Today: September 21, 2024
Today: September 21, 2024

Latest From Nahal Garakani

Health|WrittenByLAPost

Out of sight, out of mind? Revealing Autism's hidden suicide risk

As autism diagnoses rise to 1 in 36 children, the community is grappling with a troubling threat – escalating suicide risks that have long gone overlooked. New research reveals people with autism face substantially higher chances of dying by suicide compared to the general population. A comprehensive study from the University of Toronto analyzing decades of medical data found alarming figures. Females with ASD faced an 83% increased risk of self-harm and a staggering 98% heightened risk of suicide death. Male suicide odds rose as well to 34%, with a 47% uplift in self-harm odds. Overall, 1 in 4 young

February 20, 2024
Out of sight, out of mind? Revealing Autism's hidden suicide risk
Health|WrittenByLAPost

New study shows black teens crumbling under an "avalanche" of trauma

A new study in JAMA Psychiatry sheds light on the alarming effects online racism has on Black adolescents’ mental well-being. Researchers discovered that Black children and teenagers who encounter racial discrimination online may develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The research involved 525 African American adolescents aged 11-19. Heading the research was Dr. Ashley Denise Maxie-Moreman, a child psychologist from Children’s National Hospital in Washington D.C. Dr. Maxie-Moreman acknowledged cyberbullying troubles all children but emphasized for African American minors, web-based racial harassment poses heightened hazards. The participants reported several PTSD symptoms in response to online racism, including feeling on

February 06, 2024
New study shows black teens crumbling under an "avalanche" of trauma
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Does social media harm mental health?

A controversial new study from Oxford University experts says that more people using the internet has not really changed global mental health trends. The large study of over two million people from 168 countries, which was published in Nature Human Behaviour, tried to settle different ideas about how technology affects people’s minds. Even though they don’t see a clear threat, experts agree that they don’t have enough data to measure the effects in the real world. “There is no smoking gun to confirm that digital technologies are dangerously messing with the human psyche on a grand scale,” said co-author Andrew

January 27, 2024
Does social media harm mental health?
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Experts Link Social Media to Uptick in Teen Eating Disorders

New research shows that TikTok’s algorithms promote unhealthy eating and unrealistic body image among vulnerable teens. Based on their analysis of popular nutrition and weight videos, researchers from the University of Vermont claim that the “For You” feed, which never ends, contributes to harmful diet culture by subjecting young users to moralized, oversimplified messages from unqualified influencers. Led by senior author Dr. Lizzy Pope, director of UVM’s Didactic Program in Dietetics, the team raised alarms over TikTok overriding legitimate experts to promote thinness and restrictive dieting as the sole path to health. Researchers warn TikTok may fuel disordered eating and

January 24, 2024
Experts Link Social Media to Uptick in Teen Eating Disorders
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Peeing in the shower: harmless habit or hidden health hazard?

Does urine wash safely down the drain, or could peeing in the shower come back to bite you? New research reveals doing your business while bathing exposes surprising health risks between the tiles. As you stand there enjoying the steamy warmth enveloping your body, that familiar tingling urge suddenly strikes. You reason just a little pee can’t hurt anything amid the soothing hot water cascading over your feet. Yet growing scientific evidence demonstrates even this seemingly harmless shower move harbors hidden hazards that could seriously dampen your day if you let down your guard while soaping up. Repeated exposure to

January 05, 2024
Peeing in the shower: harmless habit or hidden health hazard?
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Why frequent flyers should skip the steamy shower post-flight

Travys Carinci typically logs almost 60,000 air miles monthly, crisscrossing Australia for work. But the veteran airline operations manager skips steamy showers upon returning home from grubby planes and airports despite yearning to scrub off germs. Why forgo a steamy shower? The health of the human body’s largest organ – the skin. “I skip overly hot showers which, even though it is tempting after a long flight, is a surefire way to dry out your skin,” Carinci revealed to Condé Nast Traveller, urging cooler cleansing for frequent flyer skin integrity. After inevitably contacting dubious surfaces and strangers gate-to-gate for hours, travelers

December 19, 2023
Why frequent flyers should skip the steamy shower post-flight
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Why Rubbing Your Feet Like a Cricket May Help You Sleep

Some people experience blissful slumber simply by rubbing their feet together before bed, and TikTokers can’t stop raving about the soothing sleep technique they call “cricketing.” The practice mimics crickets’ tendency to constantly fidget their legs as a self-calming behavior. And while the motion may appear odd, science and firsthand accounts affirm its incredible power lulling the body into peaceful relaxation ideal for rapid sleep onset. Over 50 million TikTok views extoll cricketing’s virtues through posters demonstrating pre-bedtime foot rubs while praising their effectiveness. “It’s comforting!” one commenter declared. And the mounting buzz even surprised longtime nightly practitioners unaware of

December 18, 2023
Why Rubbing Your Feet Like a Cricket May Help You Sleep
Environment|Health|WrittenByLAPost

Researchers scour NYC wildlife for next pandemic pathogen clues

A group of scientists in New York set traps for local wildlife, such as possums and raccoons, for months, ranging from Staten Island to Queens. Their goal was not to tag and release the animals but rather to thoroughly examine and swab them for pathogens that could be harmful to humans before the creatures disappeared back into the shadows of the city. Their goal is to shield city people from animal diseases that might be hidden among the furry residents who live off the main road in the large city. The Columbia University researchers aim specifically to trace coronaviruses and

December 15, 2023
Researchers scour NYC wildlife for next pandemic pathogen clues
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Nightmare Tenant Discovery: Drinking Toilet Water for Half a Year

A young couple in Beijing endured a nauseating ordeal after discovering a hidden pipeline had secretly been supplying their kitchen taps with toilet water for over six months. Only upon developing an unshakable cough and strange outbreaks of hair loss did the pair finally trace the source of their deteriorating health back to drinking and cooking with liquid siphoned straight from the latrine. According to boyfriend Mr. Tan, subletting an apartment with his girlfriend earlier this year initially proceeded smoothly until the roommates noticed concerning changes to their wellbeing soon after moving in. His hacking cough worsened while acne and

December 15, 2023
Nightmare Tenant Discovery: Drinking Toilet Water for Half a Year
Health|WrittenByLAPost

How Covid-19 Stunted a Generation

The COVID-19 pandemic threw off everyone’s life, but it was especially hard for people in their late 20s and early 30s, as goals and plans were delayed or abandoned due to lockdowns. This sense of falling behind is referred to as a “quarter-life skip” by psychologists. Dubbed the “pandemic skip,” the phenomenon describes a sentiment especially acute among teens, 20-somethings, and 30-somethings – that lockdowns slammed brakes on growing up itself. According to psychologists, this view is based on reality: without those happy events that shape adulthood, important stages of growth would have stayed dormant. “I’m 26 but feel 23,”

December 14, 2023
How Covid-19 Stunted a Generation
Health|WrittenByLAPost

The Dark Side of Going Viral: 'Likes' Push Online Haters to Keep Topping Themselves

New research reveals much online hate speech stems less from malice than hunger for approval, ensuring trolls keep posting to chase “likes” from their bile. Cornell University investigators found users glowing with praise for early toxic posts reliably return with amplified attacks next, hooked on the viral attention rather than targets’ hurt. “It now appears that the same dynamics that can make some online relationships intensely positive can also fuel friendly feelings among those who join together online in expressing enmity toward identity groups and individual targets,” said scholar Joseph Walther of Harvard. Walther argues digital bonds formed through shared

December 14, 2023
The Dark Side of Going Viral: 'Likes' Push Online Haters to Keep Topping Themselves
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Traumatic memories continue to torment PTSD patients- here's why

A new brain imaging study shows that traumatic memories use different neural paths than normal memories. This shows that they work as vivid pieces of a current event rather than processed past memories. Findings from the study help us understand how traumatic memories stay with us for a long time. They shed light on why they keep coming back as flashbacks and night terrors, which are common symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Study co-author Daniela Schiller from Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine remarked, “The brain doesn’t appear to be in a state of memory; rather, it seems to

December 13, 2023
Traumatic memories continue to torment PTSD patients- here's why
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Tis the Season...For Cuffing?

With winter here and thoughts of cuddling up by a warm fire starting to circulate, many are wondering if it’s wise to commit while still navigating the ups and downs of college life. Although bonds can ease fears of the future and strengthen everyday communities, some bonds made in the midst of scholastic stress and loneliness may not be beneficial to development in the long run. When one’s job, priorities, and sense of self undergo continuous transformations until maturity takes its ultimate shape, it becomes imperative to regularly assess one’s relationships to ensure their well-being.. Making the most of limited

December 12, 2023
Tis the Season...For Cuffing?
Health|WrittenByLAPost

The science of bathing: Why more isn't always better

While survey data suggests 60% of Americans believe daily showers are essential, but experts say that there is no magic bullet when it comes to personal hygiene; rather, the appropriate number of baths each week is contingent on a wide range of individual health variables. No matter what, scientific knowledge about the when why, and how of lathering can help us understand our different skin types better. Those exercising heavily or prone to abundant perspiration should certainly wash away accumulating sweat regularly. Letting pores clog risks breakouts and infections, while scalp oils similarly merit shampooing too for some prone to

December 12, 2023
The science of bathing: Why more isn't always better
Health|Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Can You Really Test For Your "Trigger Foods"? The Controversy Explained

Millions seeking digestive relief turn to diagnostic kits promising personalized answers on triggering foods. However, experts argue evidence doesn’t support home sensitivity tests flooding the alternative wellness market and making big claims on customized health insights. Behind marketing suggesting custom diets curing bloating and discomfort lurk problematic science and potential harms meriting caution before buying. Mainstream medicine makes limited distinctions around adverse food reactions beyond clear-cut allergies and intolerances like lactose or gluten. Still, companies sell hair mineral scans or blood antibody screens purportedly unveiling specific inflammatory triggers. These expensive, unreliable results often severely restrict diets without clinical basis. Seeking

December 12, 2023
Can You Really Test For Your "Trigger Foods"? The Controversy Explained
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Christmas Trees Can Trigger Miserable “Holiday Syndrome”

Decking halls with boughs of holly and twinkling trees spreads yuletide cheer for many holiday celebrants. But amid the backdrop of nostalgic decor emerges a seasonal syndrome sabotaging merriment for some. Invisible allergens riding evergreens trigger classic respiratory and skin symptoms creating “Christmas tree syndrome” – the sad fate of developing runny noses, coughs or rashes instead of cozy comfort from the symbolic centerpiece. Culprits range from specific pollen species to generic irritants like mold, dust and pesticides. Real varieties pose more concerns with natural volatile oils and shedding pine needles. But cheap synthetic trees harbor other hazards after years

December 12, 2023
Christmas Trees Can Trigger Miserable “Holiday Syndrome”
Economy|Health|WrittenByLAPost

Exhausted Air Traffic Controllers Raise Alarm on Safety Risks

A nationwide air traffic controller shortage has forced intensely demanding schedules and deteriorating working conditions, fueling a dangerous increase in mistakes guiding planes. Fatigued and demoralized, some controllers report nodding off during shifts while others show up drunk – alarming violations jeopardizing passenger safety. Hundreds of incident reports describe distraught employees struggling with impossible overtime burdens amid understaffing crisis levels. Controllers manage unfathomable stress directing thousands of lives daily. But current excessive strains break even the most dedicated. While recent years saw traffic rebound from the pandemic, controller numbers significantly declined over the past decade despite elevated retirements requiring replacement.

December 12, 2023
Exhausted Air Traffic Controllers Raise Alarm on Safety Risks
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Can an Open Marriage Bring Couples Closer?

When Sheila first suggested to her husband Jim that they go to an event for monogamous couples, he reluctantly agreed, hoping that she could enjoy her sense of adventure. But neither of them expected the strong desire to explore even further after becoming friends with another nice couple there. As middle-aged parents of two teenage children stuck in an affectionless rut, Jim and Sheila saw their family-oriented responsibilities were slowly suffocating the carefree pair who had met in a bar almost 20 years ago. Because they wanted to get away, they went to a polyamorous retreat that promised “sexy fun.”

December 06, 2023
Can an Open Marriage Bring Couples Closer?
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Can Ice Plunges Sooth Anxiety and Depression? Watch the Video

A growing wellness trend touts icy plunges as self-treatment for anxiety, depression and other mental health woes. From TikTok’s #ColdPlunge community to Netflix documentaries on extreme athlete Wim Hof’s frigid endurance challenges, the notion of therapeutic benefits from voluntarily induced hypothermia proliferates in pop culture. And while evidence remains limited and risks plentiful, some preliminary research does suggest cold water immersion may improve certain markers of mood and resilience. Proponents claim subjecting the body to freezing temperatures counterintuitively promotes relaxation and calm after the initial shock. The hypothesis makes physiologic sense – activating the stress response stimulates release of hormones

December 06, 2023
Can Ice Plunges Sooth Anxiety and Depression? Watch the Video
Health|WrittenByLAPost

40% Suicide Spike- LA's Teen Mental Health Crisis

For the first time, the typical age of teen suicide in Los Angeles County has dropped to just 16 years old. This was the shocking news. Also, the number of girls who kill themselves has gone up to almost half of all student deaths this school year. These alarming figures from county medical examiners expose a youth mental health crisis worsening despite years of prevention efforts. Now, families who have lost a loved one say that strict school rules that are supposed to keep kids safe may be making teens even more depressed after the pandemic. When 17-year-old Jeramie Naya

December 01, 2023
40% Suicide Spike- LA's Teen Mental Health Crisis
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Necrophilia Nightmare: Electrician Violated Over 100 Corpses for 15 Years While Hospital Management Failed to Notice

A damning 300-page British inquiry report reveals that electrician David Fuller’s unfathomable 15-year spree violating over 100 corpses could have been prevented. Fuller ultimately faced conviction for 1987 double homicide cold cases, prompting discovery of his mortuary necrophiliac acts. However, the inquiry condemned systemic “failures of management, governance, regulation and processes” enabling his crimes. Authorities uncovered Fuller’s acts after tying DNA from decades-old murder scenes to the 69-year-old electrician. This launched inquiries into mortuary breaches at two Kent hospitals where Fuller worked. Investigators subsequently unearthed over 10 million disturbing media files within the killer’s residence. Among these were timestamped photos

November 30, 2023
Necrophilia Nightmare: Electrician Violated Over 100 Corpses for 15 Years While Hospital Management Failed to Notice
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Here's Why Your Cold Seems More Severe After Bedtime

If your cold or cough seems worse at night, science confirms it’s not your imagination. Physicians identify biological rhythms, hormone fluctuations and body positioning as key factors aggravating overnight symptoms. Simple home remedies like hydration, humidifying and cough drops can ease disruption, but understanding the body’s natural circadian cough cycle helps normalize the experience. Tuning into the outsized reaction at one point of the daily clock offers reassurance while combatting its severity. Specifically, our inner sleep/wake programming directs key immune cells to rev up activity after dark seeking pathogens. But their well-intended efforts also spark inflammation temporarily compounding congestion, irritation

November 28, 2023
Here's Why Your Cold Seems More Severe After Bedtime
Health|WrittenByLAPost

FDA Bans Cancer-Causing Straighteners

This week the FDA proposed banning hair straighteners containing formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, targeting products marketed mainly for Black women despite over a decade of evidence on cancer risks. The agency determined frequent chemical straightener use significantly elevates uterine cancer chances, with toxicity also linked to breast and ovarian malignancies. But though the FDA itself deemed formaldehyde carcinogenic in 2015, only mounting publicity and Congressional regulation recently prompted concrete plans to halt allowable exposure from cosmetics. Specifically, the agency now moves to outlaw hair products emitting formaldehyde directly or through release from compounds that convert to the chemical through air

November 27, 2023
FDA Bans Cancer-Causing Straighteners
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Running vs. Walking: Study Finds Picking Up The Pace Adds Health Benefits

Walking is rightfully lauded as an accessible, enjoyable activity with proven health benefits. But science shows that making even part of your regular walk a jog or run delivers advantages in less time. While both provide a path to fitness, running edges out walking for improving cardiovascular health and longevity based on key research. With a thoughtful progression, it’s possible to transition gradually from walking to running within two months or less. It’s simple why walking is so popular worldwide – it requires no equipment except shoes and can be done almost anywhere. Studies confirm walking helps lower anxiety, depression,

November 20, 2023
Running vs. Walking: Study Finds Picking Up The Pace Adds Health Benefits

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