Category Archives: News Articles

Learning from the Greeks – An Exceptional Seminar

Improving patients’ life – An exceptional Seminar

Want to learn how the Mediterranean diet, curative and preventative uses of herbs, oils, perfumes and therapeutic massages, and the art of healthy living can improve patients’ life?

Historian of medicine Alain Touwaide will guide an exceptional journey through ancient Greek medicine and therapies.

This Seminar will promote a scientific approach to practices for a better living of patients. It will present the Greek foundations of therapists’ practices together with the philosophy, knowledge and wisdom that underpinned their approach to medicine and a healthy life. It aims to provide practitioners with insights that will help them develop new and better-informed care for patients.

The Seminar will be held at the MOA Wellness Center, 4533 S Centinela Ave., Los Angeles, CA 9006, Saturday February 13 and 20, 2016, 2:00 to 6:00pm. Besides an introduction to ancient Greek medicine, the Greek way of maintaining good health, the Greek therapeutikon, and the art of restoring a healthy life, topics will include:
• Treating illness: herbs;
• Wellness: oils, perfumes, therapeutic manipulations and masssages;
• Prevention: eating the right food and living a health life.

Dr Alain Touwaide is a world-renown historian of ancient medicine. In recent years he has been
affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution and has been selected among the 100 scientists whose work might change the way of doing science. In 2007 he has co-founded the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions of which he is the Scientific Director.

Participation is limited to 20 (first come, first served). Registration is required. Fee: US $ 350,-.

Contact: Clifton Matsuno, PT. MOA phone #: 310-574-9900.
Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions: http://medicaltraditions.org. Email:

Asthma may lead to migraines

Pre-existing asthma may be a strong predictor of future chronic migraine attacks in individuals experiencing occasional migraine headaches, according to researchers from the University of Cincinnati (UC), Montefiore Headache Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Vedanta Research.

The findings were published online in November in the journal Headache, a publication of the American Headache Society.
“If you have asthma along with episodic or occasional migraine, then your headaches are more likely to evolve into a more disabling form known as chronic migraine,” explains Vincent Martin, MD, professor of medicine in UC’s Division of General Internal Medicine, co-director of the Headache and Facial Pain Program at the UC Neuroscience Institute and lead author in the study.

Martin teamed with Richard Lipton, MD, and Dawn Buse, PhD, both of Montefiore Headache Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Kristina Fanning, PhD, Daniel Serrano, PhD, and Michael Reed, PhD, all from Vedanta Research, to study about 4,500 individuals who experienced episodic migraine or fewer than 15 headaches per month in 2008.

“Migraine and asthma are disorders that involve inflammation and activation of smooth muscle either in blood vessels or in the airways,” says Lipton, director of Montefiore Headache Center, vice chair of neurology and the Edwin S. Lowe Chair in Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and founder of the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention Study. “Therefore, asthma-related inflammation may lead to migraine progression.”

About 12 percent of the U.S. population experiences migraine, which is almost three times more common in women than in men, according to Martin. Individuals with chronic migraine have headaches 15 or more days per month; this affects about 1 percent of the U.S. population and takes a severe toll on sufferers who often miss work and social events.

Asthma affects about 8 percent of American adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The researchers analyzed data from the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention (AMPP) Study. Study participants completed written questionnaires both in 2008 and 2009. Based on responses to the 2008 questionnaire, they were divided into two groups—one with episodic migraine and coexisting asthma and another with episodic migraine and no asthma. They were also asked about medication usage, depression and smoking status. The 2008 and 2009 questionnaires included questions about their frequency of headache, which enabled the authors to identify the participants who had progressed to chronic migraine.
Researchers found that after one year of follow-up, new onset chronic migraine developed in 5.4 percent of participants also suffering from asthma and in 2.5 percent of individuals without asthma. “In this study, persons with episodic migraine and asthma at baseline were more than twice as likely to develop chronic migraine after one year of follow-up as compared to those with episodic migraine but not asthma,” says Martin.

“The strength of the relationship is robust; asthma was a stronger predictor of chronic migraine than depression, which other studies have found to be one of the most potent conditions associated with the future development of chronic migraine,” explains Martin.

Researchers have considered various theories as to why asthma may have a predictive role in chronic migraine development for individuals with episodic or occasional migraine. Asthmatic patients are more likely to also have allergies and the researchers have shown in prior studies than patients with allergies might be prone to more frequent headaches particularly if they have hay fever, explains Martin.

Another possibility is that patients with asthma may have an overactive parasympathetic nervous system that predisposes them to attacks of both migraine and asthma, says Martin. It’s also possible that asthma may not directly cause chronic migraine, but that a shared environmental or genetic factor, like air pollution, which has been known to trigger both asthma and migraine attacks may play a role, he explains.

So what does someone suffering from occasional migraine do to avoid chronic migraine? Martin says physicians may want to prescribe preventive medications for migraine at an earlier stage in these patients.

“Also, if allergies are the trigger it begs the question should we treat allergies more aggressively in these patients?” says Martin.

Explore further: IHC: stigma towards migraine sufferers high
Journal reference: Headache
Provided by: University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center

Sleeping With Wool—Nature’s Natural Air Conditioning

If the idea of sleeping with a wool comforter in the summer makes you sweat, think again. For over 12,000 years, wool has been used to make life more comfortable, especially in the hottest climes.

Wool bedding (mattress toppers, comforters, and pillows) actually provides the perfect temperature-controlled sleeping environment. Manufacturers have all tried to make a synthetic product with the qualities of wool, but to no avail.

A recent sleep study conducted by The Woolmark Company and the University of Sydney examined a variety of bedding products in a range of temperature and humidity environments, and wool was selected as the “undoubted winner.” This study proved wool breathes better than synthetics, increases periods of deep REM sleep, and also gets the body to a comfortable sleeping temperature quicker and maintains it for a longer period of time.

The following explains the benefits of wool and how it can help you sleep mofe comfortably during the summer.

Wool Is Animal-Friendly and Available Organically!
No animals are killed in the process of harvesting wool. As long as the sheep or alpaca graze in pesticide-free pastures for at least three years and are shorn using humane methods, wool batting can be considered natural, sustainable, and cruelty free.

Wool Regulates Body Temperature
Perhaps wool’s most-remarkable quality is its ability to maintain comfortable body temperature, no matter what the season. Wool produces warmth in winter without overheating, and—believe it or not—keeps you cooler on summer nights because of its natural moisture-wicking properties. Wool bedding works like a personal heating-and-cooling system, which makes it perfect for people who experience “night sweats.” A wool mattress topper or wool moisture pad can actually cool you off during the night by dissipating sweat through the wool’s coil-like fibers.

Wool Is Hypoallergenic
Wool is resistant to bacteria, mold, and mildew, which can trigger allergic reactions in some people. People with chemical sensitivities can also sleep without suffering if the wool is untreated.

Dust-mite allergens are the leading trigger for asthma attacks, but dust mites need moisture to survive, so they don’t like wool. Other types of bedding, such as down, feathers, or synthetic materials are more of a haven for dust mites.

Wool Is Soothing
Wool mattress toppers provide soft cushioning where your shoulders, hips, and knees meet your mattress. People who suffer from fibromyalgia, arthritis, and rheumatism find that wool buffers their sore body parts from their mattresses.

Wool Is a Natural Fire Retardant
Firefighters wear wool clothing. Why? When wool touches a flame, it won’t ignite because wool fibers do not support combustion. Wool is also used in natural and organic mattresses to meet fire-safety codes without using toxic chemical flame retardants.

Wool Is Soft!
Forget your association of wool with an itchy, scratchy sweater. Wool batting has a soft, down-like loft or puffiness. Pure-wool batting is sheared from living sheep or alpaca, washed without harsh soaps, and then carded (or combed) into soft, clean wool fill, which is placed inside cotton casings. There is no scratchiness at all.

How Wool Works
Wool fibers create a lining of still air, one of the best insulators found in nature. These little pockets of air create a dry layer of air next to your skin to hold in heat during colder months and cool your body as outdoor temperatures rise.

Evaporation of moisture is our body’s natural way of keeping cool. Wool helps this process along by drawing moisture from the body during sleep, absorbing it into cells, and reducing skin temperature. When you’re cooler, you toss and turn less often, and sleep more soundly in a deeper REM state.

In summer, outdoor heat is kept away from your skin because of wool’s insulating barrier of air pockets. Sleeping with a lightweight wool comforter acts like an air conditioner.

Where does all that moisture go? The average sleeper gives off nearly a pint of water vapor in an eight-hour sleep period. Wool can absorb up to 30% of its own weight without feeling damp or clammy. The cells of wool fibers are porous, so they quickly and efficiently absorb and evaporate moisture—unlike down, which actually holds moisture and can create mildew.

Wool Bedding
Wool comforters, pillows, and mattress toppers can be found online or in specialty retail stores. When purchasing wool bedding, it’s a good idea to ask a few questions about where the wool comes from and how it was processed to be sure it has not been treated with chemicals.

Resources
Good Night Naturals makes a complete wool bed as well as many other top of bed items such as pillows, comforters and mattress pads filled with pure wool and covered in 100% organic cotton ticking.

Texel wool comes from sheep raised on an island off the Netherlands. According to the Texel Wool Company, the weather is extreme in this area and over the past 300 years, the Texelaar breed of sheep has adapted to produce “a unique, long wool fiber with a high crinkle factor and high natural lanolin content”. A few online stores carrying products with this wool claim the wool fiber offers more loft.

Many small, organic sheep and alpaca farmers in the U.S. and Canada produce wool for organic bedding products.

Whether humble sheep or adorable alpaca, the world owes these creatures a debt of gratitude for sharing their “miracle coats” so that we might enjoy a more restful night’s sleep—even in summer.

Source: Christine Chamberlin

Organic’s Top Ten scientific breakthroughs in 2015

Organic benefits shown to be significant and widespread
Maggie McNeil
mmcneil@organic-center.org
December 28, 2015

In 2015, numerous studies revealed scientific breakthroughs on the environmental and human health benefits of organic food and farming — from improving soil health and supporting water quality, to reducing our exposure to pesticides and mitigating climate change.

“The amount and scope of cutting edge research last year showing that the benefits of organic are supported by science was very impressive,” said Dr. Jessica Shade, Director of Science Programs for The Organic Center. “A large body of the research shows that pesticides that are banned from use in organic can have serious negative impacts on the environment and humans. The good news is that by choosing organic you can contribute to a healthier world.”

The Organic Center lists the year’s 10 most important organic findings:

1. Pesticides negatively impact bees. Perhaps the most important topic was the impact of pesticides on pollinator health. Several studies showed the class of pesticides called neonicotinoids (“neonics”) has various negative impacts on bees. One study found even exposure to very low levels of neonics can adversely affect bees. Another study correlated increased use of neonics with honey bee losses. Another found that even when neonics aren’t sprayed directly on fields, they can impact bee health. For more details, see The Center’s Pollinator Health report.

2. Organic improves soil. Key research studied organic’s benefits to soil health, particularly soil organisms. A long-term study showed organic farming is beneficial for soil organisms, with larger soil animals increasing to over 250 times that found in conventional soils, and microorganisms up 70 percent. In addition, another study showed organic management improves nutrient availability and soil structure. Still another found microbial communities of “good” soil organisms can suppress “bad” pathogens. Thus, diversity can promote resilience to diseases. One of The Center’s current projects collects soil samples from organic farmers to test for health qualities versus that of conventional soil.

3. Organic farming supports water quality. Researchers examining nitrogen runoff found organic cropping systems have less nitrogen pollution than conventional systems. Another study looked at water quality, and found organic methods can be used to reduce water pollution in U.S waterways. It showed nitrate loss via water in the conventional cropping systems was twice as high as that from the organic system. Putting these benefits of reduced nitrogen pollution into context, The Center is developing a nitrogen footprint calculator for individuals to examine their specific nitrogen contributions based on personal consumption patterns.

4. Dietary exposure to pesticides can hurt reproductive health. While research has long demonstrated clear dangers of pesticide exposure from living and working in agricultural areas, few studies have explored the health consequences of exposure to low-level pesticide residues in a conventional diet. Researchers at Harvard University published findings showing dietary exposure to pesticides can lower sperm quantity and quality in men. After taking into account confounding factors such as weight and smoking, researchers found that men exposed to the highest levels of pesticide residue through fruit and vegetable consumption had almost 50% fewer sperm and more abnormally shaped sperm when compared to men who consumed the least amount.

5. Roundup may be carcinogenic. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in the pesticide Roundup (prohibited for use in organic), has been touted as a pesticide posing few risks to humans. New groundbreaking research suggests it might not be as benign as previously thought. One study suggested that low-level exposure to Roundup over a long period could cause kidney and liver damage in rats. The doses used in the study were low enough to prompt researchers to note that the results of the study potentially have significant health implications for animal and human populations. Similar research results were cited in a recent study published by the World Health Organization calling glyphosate’s risk level as “probably carcinogenic to humans.”

6. Organic farming has higher yields than previously thought. Several recent studies tackled the myth that organic farms have lower yields than conventional. One study showed that farms under organic soil management systems can produce yields equivalent to conventional systems. It also found organic farming reduced weeds by up to 47 percent and increased total soil nitrogen by up to 7 percent. Another study synthesizing information from over 100 studies and over 1,000 observations, found similar results, showing the yields of organic crops are higher than previously thought.

7. Eating organic reduces your exposure to pesticides. How to reduce personal exposures to pesticides was explored. One large-scale study involving 4,000 participants from across the U.S. confirmed that choosing organic does, in fact, reduce exposure to pesticides. Another study on children’s exposure to pesticides showed eating an organic diet reduces the exposure to some pesticides in young children, and that an organic diet was associated with lower levels of commonly detected metabolites for all children.

8. Commonly used pesticides negatively impact children’s health. The health effects of pesticide exposure in children was studied. One study showed an association between early exposure to organophosphate pesticides and respiratory symptoms consistent with childhood asthma. Another study linked pesticide exposure and decreased mental ability in children, including neurocognitive abilities. One study linked exposure to pesticides during child development to ADHD symptoms.

9. Organic agriculture supports whole-farm biodiversity. New research also showed organic farming promotes a wide diversity of organisms on the farm. One study showed organically farmed lands had more beneficial predatory insects and spiders than conventional farms. Not only did researchers find these beneficial insects controlled on-farm pests, they showed the impact reached beyond the organic farms, improving adjacent forest patches as well. Another study confirmed that the presence of organic farms increases the amount of biodiversity on surrounding conventional farms.

10. Organic farming helps mitigate climate change. Agriculture accounts for 35% of global greenhouse gas emissions, but an important study supports the idea that conversion to organic agriculture may be a climate-change solution. The study showed organic farming methods could mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon in the soil and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. Practices such as replacing chemical fertilizers with organic manure and using crop residues as forage for cattle were found to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase storage of carbon in the soils.

The Organic Center’s mission is to convene credible, evidence-based science on the health and environmental benefits of organic food and farming, and to communicate the findings to the public. As an independent non-profit research and education organization operating under the administrative auspices of the Organic Trade Association, The Center envisions improved health for the environment and for people through the conversion of agriculture to organic methods.

– See more at: http://ota.com/news/press-releases/18670#sthash.0BlPU9Ut.dpuf

Organic is bee-friendly, shows new report

The Organic Center outlines techniques to protect pollinator population.
Maggie McNeil
mmcneil@ota.com

An important and timely report just released by The Organic Center shows that organic farming practices are effective in maintaining the health and population of important crop pollinators, predominantly bees, which have been declining at an alarming rate in the past decade and threatening global food security.

Bee, Pollinators, Organic CenterTitled “The Role of Organic in Supporting Pollinator Health,” the report reviewed 71 studies detailing current threats to our pollinators and the impact of organic practices. It found that organic methods not only reduce risks to bees, but actively support the growth and health of populations of bees and other pollinators. The paper outlines pollinator-friendly techniques used by organic farmers that can also be incorporated into conventional farming systems.
“Our paper takes an in-depth look at the challenges faced by honey bees and other pollinators, and we look at organic as a model for supporting pollinator populations,” said Dr. Jessica Shade, Director of Science Programs for The Organic Center. “We hope this report acts as a tool to educate policymakers, growers and consumers. Bee-friendly practices being used by organic farmers can be adopted by all producers to foster healthy pollinators.”

Seventy-five percent of all crops grown for food rely on pollinators, mostly honey bees, for a successful harvest. But over the past decade, the bee population has plummeted. Since 2006, beekeepers have lost over a third of their bee hives. More than $16 billion worth of crops in the United States alone benefit from pollination every year. Without pollination from honey bees, many favorite fruits and vegetables such as apples, berries, carrots and onions would not be on our grocery shelves.

The Center’s report notes that no one factor has been consistently singled out as the cause of the disproportionate bee declines. Instead, a number of factors – including exposure to toxic pesticides, parasite and pathogen infections, poor nutrition and loss of habitat – likely interact together, resulting in lethal consequences for bees. Large-scale chemically intensive agricultural production has been implicated as a major source of the threats to pollinators.

Organic as the solution
Organic farming, because of the practices it follows, has been demonstrated by a number of studies to support more pollinators than conventional farming.

“One of the simplest ways to conserve our pollinator populations in an agriculturally reliant world is through organic farming. Consumers can rest assured that every time they purchase an organic product, they are supporting pollinator health,” said Shade.

Organic practices have been found to protect and support the health of bees in two critical ways:

Less exposure to toxic chemicals. One of the biggest threats to bee health is exposure to toxic chemical pesticides through insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and other synthetic toxins used in industrial agriculture. Neonicotinoids, a widely used class of insecticides, are found by many studies to be especially harmful to bees. Neonicotinoids can be applied not only as a spray, which is toxic to all insects, but also as a seed coating. When seeds are treated with neonicotinoids, the toxin then transfers into plant tissue and is present in the plant’s nectar and sap, which bees feed on. Organic farming standards largely prohibit organic farmers from using synthetic pesticides and require them to use integrated pest management (IPM) techniques instead of relying solely on pesticides.

Protection of the bee’s native habitat and biodiversity. Lack of habitat and nutritional food sources are key factors in pollinator decline. Bees need a diversity of plants from which to collect sufficient pollen and nectar to support their hives. Because organic producers are required to manage their farms in a way that maintains and improves natural resources, organic farms tend to have a more diverse landscape with more flowering plants to support and feed bees.
“Organic farming supports all of agriculture by maintaining and nourishing healthier pollinator communities, through practices such as crop rotations, hedgerow planting and the use of integrated pest management techniques. Our goal is to gain recognition for these important organic practices,” said Shade.

The Organic Center’s report follows the recent release from the White House of its official strategy to protect bees and other pollinators. The White House strategy provides funding to protect bee habitat, increase research, and directs the Environmental Protection Agency to re-evaluate neonicotinoids.

The Organic Center’s mission is to convene credible, evidence-based science on the health and environmental benefits of organic food and farming, and to communicate the findings to the public. As an independent non-profit research and education organization operating under the administrative auspices of the Organic Trade Association, The Center envisions improved health for the environment and for people through the conversion of agriculture to organic methods.

– See more at: http://ota.com/news/press-releases/18208#sthash.eHOBepHY.dpuf

10 Reasons Why People Who Like Sleeping Naked Are Healthier People

Did you know that only 8% of Americans sleep naked, even though it’s healthier and improves more than one area of your life? Are we all sabotaging our sleep, beauty, and sex, or are we just unaware? Well the following information may just cause you to chuck those pajamas and bring out your birthday suit. Here are 10 reasons why people who sleep naked are healthier.

1. Sleeping naked helps prevent insomnia.
A recent Australian study concluded that a drop in core body temperature is needed in order for sleep to initiate normally. The body pushes the heat out from the core like a radiator and releases it. If your body can’t release the heat because of heavy pajamas or socks, you are more likely to suffer from insomnia, because your core won’t be able to release the heat. Sleeping naked allows the heat to release more quickly, and helps you fall asleep faster.

2. Naked sleepers get deeper, longer sleep.
Another study showed that the regulation of in-bed body temperature could significantly help in reaching a deeper sleep for longer periods of time. In one study in particular, Dutch scientists placed thermo suits on participants in order to lower their skin temperature. As a result, the participants had an uninterrupted sleep and spent more time in the deep sleep stages.

3. Sleeping naked helps prevent excess belly fat.
Natural body cooling at night helps you lower your cortisol levels. The deep sleep hours between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. lower cortisol levels to a minimum, then after 2 a.m., the glands that produce cortisol start working more actively to prepare the body for the next day. This is so you feel energized when you wake up.

When you don’t get enough sleep, you wake up with abnormally high cortisol levels, which stimulates your appetite for comfort foods that create belly fat when eaten. Since sleeping without pajamas keeps you cooler, it helps to regulate those cortisol levels.

4. Sleeping naked can make your sex organs healthier.
The vagina is naturally a warm and humid place, creating an environment where yeast and bacteria thrive. By removing those pajamas and exposing it to free flowing air, you allow the vagina to breathe, helping to prevent the growth of yeast and bacteria.

For men, keeping the testes cooler helps keep sperm healthy and the reproductive systems functioning normally, which is why the testes are located outside of the body in the first place. When you are wearing tight briefs, the testes heat up and lower your sperm count.

5. A cooler body helps prevent aging.
According to a study published in the journal “Sleep”, sleep in and of itself triggers the release of growth hormones and melatonin, which are the most vital anti-aging hormones. So the more you sleep, the more of these hormones you produce. And since we’ve already determined that lower body temperatures create a deeper, longer sleep, being naked is sounding better and better. I mean, who doesn’t want to slow the aging process?

6. Skin-to-skin contact improves your sex life.
If you’re not sleeping alone, skin to skin contact with your partner can boost the release of oxytocin in your body. Oxytocin is a powerful “feel-good” hormone, which is needed for orgasm and sexual responsiveness, dealing with stress, combating depression, reducing intestinal inflammation, and reducing blood pressure. It’s also important to note that being naked removes any obstacles between you and your partner and encourages a more sexual environment.

7. Airing out your skin prevents skin diseases.
Airing out the skin all over your body, especially in areas like your feet, armpits, and genitals, means a lowered risk for skin diseases like athlete’s foot and Intertrigo, which result from wet, restricted skin!

8. Being exposed to your body improves self-esteem and acceptance.
Theories suggest that the more time you spend in the nude, the more comfortable you feel in your skin. And the more comfortable you feel, the more confidently you’ll behave, making you happier and more attractive to others. And according to a study done by the University of Central Florida, pro-nudity students “were significantly more accepting of other religious groups and the LGBT crowd” when compared to the anti-nudity students. They were also “less prejudiced towards ethnically dissimilar peers.”

9. Sleeping naked helps prevent type 2 diabetes.
A study, published in the June edition of Diabetes, found that sleeping in colder temperatures has been linked to improving our metabolisms, lowering blood sugar levels and even preventing type 2 diabetes. Scientists found that, when the participants were colder—and sleeping almost entirely in the nude, their unhealthy fat began disappearing within just a few weeks, and their health was rapidly improving, especially in the metabolic aspects.

10. You’ll experience better blood flow.
Without all those elastic bands around your waist, twisted t-shirts, and tight socks cutting off your circulation, your blood can more freely flow through your body. This increased circulation benefits the heart, muscles, and arteries as the oxygen rich blood flows to your extremities.

With all this information on why sleeping naked is SO MUCH better for you, why are you still wearing pajamas? Go ahead, indulge in a little naked time. According to science, you won’t regret it.

Lifehack – Sleep Naked

Unless nations act, air pollution deaths will double by 2050, study concludes.

By Puneet Kollipara 16 September 2015

The annual death toll from outdoor air pollution could double to 6.6 million globally by 2050 without new antipollution measures, a new study suggests. But policymakers seeking to reduce the death toll will need to clamp down on a wide array of potentially hard to control pollution sources—including household furnaces and agricultural activities—that are expected to play a growing role, researchers report today in Nature.

The study marks a solid step toward clarifying exactly how major sources of air pollution contribute to premature death around the world, says Aaron Cohen, an epidemiologist at the Health Effects Institute, a nonprofit research organization in Boston, who wasn’t involved in the study. That information will prove useful to policymakers, he suggests.

Existing estimates have been hampered by gaps in air pollution data, particularly in the developing world, and a lack of knowledge about how specific air pollution sources contribute to the risk of disease and death.

To get a clearer picture, researchers led by Jos Lelieveld of the Germany-based Max Planck Institute decided to take a global look at outdoor air pollution, which the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates is responsible for almost 3.5 million premature deaths annually. (WHO estimates indoor air pollution accounts for an additional 3.5 million.)

Using a computer model that fused air pollution and atmospheric chemistry data, they estimated what annual average levels of ozone (a key smog ingredient) and fine particulates smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) were in 2010 within 100-km-by-100-km grid squares across the world. Then they forecast what the levels of both pollutants would be in 2050, assuming policymakers implemented no new controls.

Next, the researchers estimated how many premature deaths the pollution caused in each square. To do that, they used a set of equations—recently updated based on the most recent epidemiological research—describing how exposure to air pollution affects a person’s risk of dying from various diseases. These “exposure response relationship” equations enabled the researchers to calculate how fine particles and smog would affect the risk of a range of diseases, including heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer, and pulmonary disorders.

In a final step, they estimated the fraction of deaths in each square attributable to a specific pollution source, including automobiles, power plants, in-home energy generation, and farm activities such as burning crop residues.

Overall, the researchers concluded that, in 2010, 3.3 million people died prematurely from outdoor PM2.5 and ozone pollution. That number echoes recent WHO estimates. But the more troubling finding, the researchers say, is that the annual death toll would rise to 6.6 million by 2050 without new controls.

The deadliest outdoor pollution source—accounting for 31%, or about 1 million, of premature deaths in 2010—is residential energy use, such as furnaces. And the bulk of these deaths would occur in Asian countries such as India and China, the researchers concluded, where households often use soot-emitting stoves and furnaces powered by wood. These emissions could be tricky to clamp down on; for instance, persuading residents of India to adopt cleaner technologies has proven difficult, Lelieveld says, in no small part because of cultural and family traditions.

The second deadliest source of pollution in 2010 was agriculture, accounting for about 20%, or more than 600,000, of the premature deaths in 2010, the researchers say.

“I was surprised” by that result, Lelieveld said. “What you tend to think is that [air pollution comes from] mostly traffic, and maybe industry.” But agricultural activities such as animal husbandry and fertilizer use generate ammonia, which can be converted to fine particles in the air, he explained. Agriculture is the leading source of outdoor pollution–related premature mortality in the eastern United States, Europe, and in countries such as Russia, Japan, and Turkey, the researchers found.

Other pollution sources, including the power sector, industry, biomass burning, and vehicle traffic, each made smaller contributions to the death total, the study concluded.

Lelieveld cautions that the findings depend on a number of assumptions. One is that all forms of PM2.5 have the same toxicity. But the particles can differ in chemical composition, he notes, and thus could differ in toxicity, based on location or source type. For instance, a limited body of research suggests that carbon-rich particles from residential energy and biomass are more toxic than particles from agriculture and other sources, Lelieveld says. If that’s true—though Cohen argues that this is still an area of unsettled science—the fraction of outdoor pollution–related deaths from residential energy and biomass burning could be higher than the study found, whereas the fraction from the other sources would go down, the researchers say.

The mortality numbers also depend to some degree on the accuracy of assumptions about how exposure to different levels of pollution affects disease risk. For example, in the case of deaths due to cardiovascular disease related to PM 2.5 exposure, research now suggests that adding even small amounts of pollution to relatively clean air boosts disease risks more than adding the same amount of pollution to relatively dirty air. The researchers incorporated that research in modeling how PM2.5 levels related to risk of death. That carries a big policy implication, Cohen says: It not only “makes both public health and economic sense to clean up dirty places,” but also means there could be significant health benefits from reducing air pollution even in areas that already have relatively tight controls.

“Even in countries with good air quality such as Australia, there is still a health gain to be made by reducing fine particle pollution,” noted health researchers Christine Cowie and Bin Jalaludin the University of New South Wales, Kensington, in Australia, in a statement released by the Science Media Centre.

Cohen notes a limitation to the study. The authors assumed that death rates from cardiovascular disease would be constant over time, he says, even though populations in countries like China and India are steadily aging—potentially boosting such death rates. To offset that demographic impact, China and India may have to make even deeper pollution cuts in order to cut death rates, Cohen and other researchers noted earlier this year in a study published in Environmental Science & Technology.

Still, Cohen lauds the new work. “It’s important,” he says, “because actions taken to improve air quality, and to improve public health, have to focus on [controlling emissions from] major sources of air pollution.”

What your sleep position says about you

Does the way in which you sleep reveal your true nature? One study concludes that it just might.

By: Melissa Breyer
November 21, 2014, 9:55 a.m.

Sleep positions
You don’t have to talk in your sleep to reveal secrets while slumbering. (Photo: Rugdal/Shutterstock)
Your dog breed, face shape, blood type … there’s no shortage of random attributes that are said to describe the inner you. Various researchers claim that Labrador owners are agreeable, people with wide faces are aggressive, if you have type A blood you are earnest and creative. We love to have our personality traits confirmed by external considerations.

And as it turns out, our character can even be assessed by the way we arrange our bodies while catching 40 winks, says one expert.

In a study about sleeping positions and personality, Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, analyzed six common sleeping positions and found correlations between slumbering posture and one’s true nature, reports the BBC.

“We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our subconscious posture says about us,” says Idzikowski. “What’s interesting is that the profile behind the posture is often very different from what we would expect.”

Here’s what he found:

Fetus
woman sleeping in fetus position

Photo: Dima Sidelnikov/Shutterstock
Do you sleep curled up on your side? If so, you aren’t alone ­— it’s the position adopted by 41 percent of the 1,000 participants who took the survey. Those who sleep in the fetus position are said to be tough on the outside but sensitive at heart. And while shy upon first encounters, they open up quickly. More than twice as many women than men sleep in this position.

Freefall
woman sleeping in freefall sleep position

Photo: Igor Dutina/Shutterstock
If you sleep on your stomach with your hands up by your ears and your head turned to the side, Idzikowski’s study would mark you as a gregarious person, but one who is sensitive underneath and doesn’t like criticism or extreme situations. That said, sleeping in this position is great for your digestion!

Log
woman sleeping in the log position

Photo:
vgstudio
/Shutterstock
Do you sleep like a log? In terms of position, that is — lying on your side with both arms down straight along your torso. These sleepers are easy-going extroverts who like being part of the hip crowd. They trust strangers, and thus, can be gullible.

Soldier

woman sleeping in soldier position

Photo: Dima Sidelnikov/Shutterstock
Soldier sleepers recline on their backs with both arms straight down the sides, just like, you know, a soldier. Sleeping like this may suggest that you are quiet and reserved. You probably don’t like to fuss about things, but also have high standards. Note that this position often leads to snoring.

Yearner
man sleeping in yearner sleep position

Photo: wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock
If you sleep on your side with both arms out in front of your body, then according to Idzikowski you probably tend to have an open nature, but can be suspicious and cynical. Yearners are slow to make decisions, but once they’ve made up their mind they are determined not to change it.

Starfish

woman sleeping in starfish sleep position

Photo:
Igor Dutina
/Shutterstock
Do you sleep on your back with your arms up around your head, doing your best impression of a sea star? If so, you are probably a good friend to have, lending an ear to those in need and always willing to help out. Meanwhile, you don’t enjoy being the center of attention. Like soldier sleepers, starfish slumberers may be prone to snoring.

Bonus! And here’s a random detail just for kicks. Sleeping with one arm or leg sticking out from beneath the duvet was the most popular covering habit of those surveyed. Next popular was both feet sticking out the end. Only one in 10 people reported a preference for covering all limbs with their blankets. Now we need a study to reveal what that means.

Good Sleep: It’s Not Just About the Night

Busy through the day? Running from one thing to the next? It’s likely to be impacting your sleep.

Often people looking to improve their sleep are overly focused on what they do at night and in the evening preparing for bed. They’ve stopped drinking coffee late in the day, aren’t exercising at night, have begun using earplugs and managed temperature and light in the bedroom. But despite these measures they’re still not sleeping well. In part, that’s because they’re not paying attention to what they’re doing through the day and how they’re doing it.

We’re all busy, but are we too busy?

Running on nervous energy or rushing from one thing thing to the next are worn as badges of honor in today’s society. No wasted time, every waking minute accounted for, ticking off tasks on our to-do lists. This stereotype pervades the business world, but is also seen in other areas. One group I commonly see in my practice are supermoms. Women in modern society have the dual pressures of being expected to be successful in work and family life and can find themselves overly busy with no downtime, trying to manage their myriad responsibilities. The stereotype of the supermom is often held up as an example of a successful woman for others to aspire to, despite research showing supermoms are at higher risk of depression.

2015-11-29-1448784343-5838227-AngelaWayeviaBigstockphoto.jpgAngela Way via Bigstockphoto

Another common group I see in clinical practice are small, medium enterprise business owners or entrepreneurs who are not sleeping well. Sometimes people I see recognize that they are burning out, but often it takes a dramatic turn of events, such as the development of insomnia or other health impacts to get them to seek help. Arianna Huffington, in her book Thrive gives a good description of the predictable consequence of this lifestyle. Arianna’s tale of collapsing with exhaustion and her reflection of just how self-destructive her previous behavior of never switching off had been is telling.

The warning signs that people need to slow down can be intermittent episodes of insomnia or finding that they’re waking earlier than usual. If people don’t heed these signs, they can get in to a vicious cycle of sleeping less, feeling more tired, and having to work harder, running on adrenaline, during the day to keep up with their tasks. This is turn leads to worsening sleep, and the cycle repeats itself. As people develop insomnia, other areas of health can be effected such as mood.

The effect of being overly busy or stressed on sleep is something that has been increasingly clear over the last few years, both in what I see in my practice and in research. One of the key recent papers on insomnia, published in the journal Sleep showed that stress is an important contributing factor to insomnia. That in itself is nothing new, as people have long associated stress with poor sleep. The interesting part was that it isn’t just acute, or short-term stress that impacts on sleep. Chronic stress, which can just be being overly busy on a day-to-day basis was just as likely to result in insomnia as acute stress.

Sleeping well takes a lifestyle, not just focusing on sleep.

The message isn’t that we need to quit our jobs, or abandon our families and go sit on the beach all day. That’s not realistic as we all have responsibilities. But it is important that we manage our workload so that it is sustainable, and give ourselves permission to periodically switch off or disconnect, as well as develop relaxation or stress management strategies that we practice regularly.

It’s also important to not lose sight of other factors that can impact on sleep. Keeping good physical and mental health, maintaining a healthy diet and being physically fit and active all impact on energy levels through the day and sleep at night.

The key to sleeping well is not just about the night. In fact, many people with poor sleep are overly focused on their behaviors around sleep and over-analyze their sleep, which exacerbates the problem. A common blind-spot is what they’re doing during the day, and the impact that is having. Recognizing this is a great starting point on the road to better sleep.

Are there factors about your lifestyle that may be impacting on your sleep?

This post originally appeared in a modified form on the online sleep resource, SleepHub. You can follow David on Facebook and Twitter.

Follow David Cunnington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DavidCunnington
MORE: Sleep Stress Insomnia Busyness Sleep + Wellness Too Busy

There Really Is A ‘Wrong Side’ Of The Bed

Some mornings it feels like the side of the bed on which you woke up is full of thorns and decaf coffee. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

According to a recent survey conducted by Sealy UK, there really may be a “wrong” side of the bed. The survey results suggest that those who usually get out of the left side of bed were four percent more likely to be in a good mood in the morning, eight percent more likely to like their job, 9.5 percent more likely to have a positive outlook on life and eight percent more likely to have a lot of good friends compared to those who exit the bed on the right.

The survey, which queried 1,000 people from across the United Kingdom, was commissioned by Sealy to better understand the factors that can contribute to becoming a “deeper sleeper,” according to a press release. More research needs to be done to look into the reasons why left is right, but in the meantime, if you’re one of the one in 10 couples who argue about who gets to sleep on which side, you might want to hide this news from your partner