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Daily Mail
12 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Neurologist warns against popular sleep aid that could fuel your risk of dementia in later life - 'I'd never use it'
A neurologist has revealed he would never use a white noise machine to help himself sleep—because he claims it may increase your risk of dementia. In a recent video, Dr. Baibing Chen, who posts as Dr. Bing on TikTok, told his 144,500 followers that the machines have been linked to hearing loss, one of the known triggers for the devastating illness. It has become a popular trend to listen to 'white noise'—which sounds similar to a television or radio static—to aid sleep, with devotees streaming the soothing background noise from special machines or phone apps. Some sleep professionals and parenting influencers claim that the steady background noise helps the brain focus less on sudden, disruptive noises that could break concentration or wake them up. But Dr. Bing wants people to think twice before they hunker down for their next static-soundtracked good night's sleep. In a new clip, in which the Michigan-based neurologist shared three things he would never do at night, he said: 'I don't blast my white noise machine. 'Not all of you use white noise machines, but if you do, I get it. I use one. You are probably trying to block out traffic, your partner's snoring, or your dog licking his paw at 2 am in the morning. 'But if it is (set) too loud, that can actually lead to hearing damage over time. And, as I have mentioned in my previous videos, hearing loss is one of the biggest risk factors for dementia later in life.' While it's important to stress that there isn't direct evidence linking white noise machines to an increased risk of dementia later in life, there have been studies linking them to hearing loss. However, if the idea of trying to nod off without any background noise is your idea of a living nightmare, don't fret—just turn it down. Dr. Bing advised to make sure the noise is set to no louder than '50 decibels, max'. He added that if you're unable to set the volume on the device itself, you can check the volume with an Apple watch or by using a free phone app like Decibel X which 'literally takes two seconds'. According to the conclusion of a 2021 study which found that the machines are linked to hearing loss in infants, parents should ensure they are placed at least 30cm away from children, and the volume isn't set to the maximum. In 2024, researchers who reviewed 20 studies found existing data supports the need for limiting maximum volume and duration on white noise devices. And earlier this year, US scientists tracked almost 3,000 elderly adults with hearing loss and found almost a third of all dementia cases could be attributed to the issue. It is difficult to make a direct link between these studies to suggest it backs up his claim, because they looked at different age groups. However, several studies suggested a link between being exposed to noise pollution, which is unwanted or disturbing sounds, and dementia. In Dr. Bing's video, which has been watched more than 15,300 times, the second thing the he revealed he would never do is leave a night light on. He said: 'I know it feels cozy to some people and helps you get to the bathroom without stepping on a piece of Lego. 'But even a small artificial or blue light can lower melatonin, spike your blood sugar and keep your brain in a kind of awake mode all night. 'Instead try to use a motion sensing amber night light. It only turns on when you move and doesn't trick your brain into thinking its sunrise, while your just trying to use the bathroom in peace.' The final thing he said he'd never do at night is getting out of bed too quickly, which he claimed can be linked to brain bleeds. He said: 'One of the most common things I see in the hospital in the middle of the night is people coming into the ER with brain bleeds from fainting.' These patients, he explained, get them 'after getting up from bed or up from the toilet too quickly'. After posting the video, several social media users commented they simply can't go without the white noise or a nightlight.
The Independent
27 minutes ago
- The Independent
Your toddler may have up to 96 chemical substances lurking inside of them, scientists discover
Your preschooler might be routinely exposed to as many as 96 potentially harmful chemicals, according to researchers. A new analysis conducted by multiple U.S. institutions has found that 48 chemicals were found in more than half of the urine samples from more than 200 children between the ages of two and four years old. There were 96 chemicals detected in five children. The institutions had tested for 111 chemicals, including plastic-fortifying phthalates, pesticides, benzophenones that are used in sunscreens and cosmetics, bisphenols found in plastic containers and parabens that are commonly used in cosmetics, lotions, shampoos and pharmaceuticals. Exposure to phthalates has been linked to breast cancer, and benzophenones have also been listed as 'possibly carcinogenic to humans.' Previous research has also suggested a possible link between exposure to certain bisphenols and an increased risk of certain cancers. 'Our study shows that childhood exposure to potentially harmful chemicals is widespread. This is alarming because we know early childhood is a critical window for brain and body development,' Deborah Bennett, professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of California at Davis, said in a statement. 'Many of these chemicals are known or suspected to interfere with hormones, brain development and immune function.' Bennett is the lead author of the study, which was published on Tuesday in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. The authors also discovered that 34 of the chemicals they tested for were found in more than 90 percent of the children included in the study. The kids lived in California, Georgia, New York and Washington. Levels in two-year-olds were higher than their older counterparts, and firstborn children had significantly lower chemical levels than their younger siblings. There were also racial disparities, with children from racial and ethnic minority groups found to have higher levels of parabens, several phthalates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are chemicals that occur naturally in coal, crude oil and gasoline. Those chemicals include nine that are not currently tracked in national health surveys, and the researchers noted that many of these chemicals are not routinely monitored. Children are exposed to the chemicals through everyday activities. They may touch contaminated surfaces, breathe indoor and outdoor air and play close to the ground. Frequent hand-to-mouth contact makes them especially vulnerable. Parents can limit their children's' exposure by choosing safer products, maintaining hygiene, ventilating their spaces and cleaning regularly. The researchers noted that more studies are needed to fully understand the long-term health implications of exposure to the chemicals. 'Exposure to certain chemicals in early childhood — such as pesticides, plasticizers and flame retardants — has been linked to developmental delays, hormone disruption and other long-term health issues,' Jiwon Oh, first author of the study and a postdoctoral scholar in the UC Davis Department of Public Health Sciences, said. 'This new study highlights the urgent need for expanded biomonitoring and stronger regulations to protect children from harmful exposures.'
Daily Mail
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Experts sound alarm over a rise in a mysterious tick-borne illness spreading across America
If you've recently been bitten by a tick, you're at risk of a deadly new allergic condition. Alpha-Gal Syndrome, or AGS, causes a red meat allergy in humans. It is triggered when a person is bitten by a tick - most commonly the lone star tick - that carries the alpha-gal sugar. When the tick bites someone it injects the sugar into the person's body and causes the immune system to develop antibodies that attack it. Alpha-gal molecules are also found in the meat of most mammals, including pork, beef, venison and other red meats, as well as milk, gelatin or other animal products. When a person eats these foods, the body detects the alpha-gal and attacks it. This immune response can lead to a life-threatening allergic reaction. According to the CDC, approximately 110,000 cases have been documented since 2010, but because of underreporting or misdiagnoses, the true number could be as high as 450,000. And numbers are growing, experts warn, as temperatures rise and ticks survive milder winters. Health officials have said they are not aware of any confirmed deaths from AGS, but there is a risk if the allergic reaction becomes severe. Brandon Hollingsworth, a tick expert at the University of South Carolina, told The Guardian: 'We thought this thing was relatively rare 10 years ago but it's become more and more common and it's something I expect to continue to grow very rapidly.' Cases have been predominantly in southern, midwestern and mid-Atlantic regions of the US, but recent testing on human and tick samples suggests millions more Americans could be at risk because the tick that causes AGS is spreading to new geographical areas. Additionally, it's been found the condition is increasingly being passed on to humans by new species of ticks. Laura Harrington, a disease specialist at Cornell, added: 'With their adaptive nature and increasing temperatures, I don't see many limits to these ticks over time.' According to Allergen Insider, symptoms not only come from eating red meat but in more severe cases people reported that they experienced symptoms after just inhaling fumes of mammalian meat being cooked. AGS may not show symptoms immediately, which is why it is difficult to link the allergy to a tick bite. After consuming meat it can be between two to six hours before any symptoms appear. And they can vary widely, including hives or an itchy rash, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, dizziness, stomach pain and swelling of the lips, throat, tongue, or eyelids. The Lone Star Tick bite is largely responsible for the condition, and can be found in the southeastern US, but they are slowly spreading north with rising temperatures. In a recent case study, a 61-year-old woman experienced two major allergic reactions brought on by Alpha-Gal Syndrome after eating beef and pork tacos. During her first experience, 29 days after a tick bite, she developed hives and swelling but her mild symptoms resolved with over-the-counter allergy medication. But during her second episode a month later, her tongue swelled so much that she could not speak and was rushed to the hospital, as her blood pressure dropped dangerously low and heart rate increased rapidly. She was given epinephrine - the typical treatment for allergic reactions - but her symptoms worsened and her throat began to close. The woman was then given steroids and by the time she arrived at the hospital her condition began to improve. While she originally reported no significant event preceding either allergic reaction, in later interviews she said about a month before the first episode she had been bitten by a tick and was treated with an antibiotic. To prevent AGS, experts recommend checking for ticks after spending time outdoors. If you discover a tick bite, quickly remove the tick, disinfect the area, and monitor yourself for symptoms. They also stress the importance of increased surveillance of AGS and the types of ticks people acquire the condition from as ticks and states that historically have not posed the risk of AGS are increasingly being traced as the source. Hollingsworth said: 'We've seen an explosive increase in these ticks, which is a concern. I imagine alpha-gal will soon include the entire range of the tick, which could become the entire eastern half of the US as there's not much to stop them. 'It seems like an oddity now but we could end up with millions of people with an allergy to meat.'
