This week's must-read:
- Would you like to participate in the fall marathon?It's time to choose Training plan tailored to your goals.
- how to get pregnant faster aging process
- How to age better than your parents
- How to start Tai Chi (With cherry blossom bonus)
Remove “permanent chemicals” from drinking water
For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a national drinking water standard for “permanent chemicals.” These are persistent man-made chemicals that are associated with cancer, low birth weight, high cholesterol, and negative effects on the liver, thyroid, and immune system.
You've probably seen these chemicals called PFAS. PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and can persist in the environment for centuries.
Robert Bilott, a Cincinnati environmental attorney whose fight against forever chemicals led to large class-action settlements against DuPont and 3M, said in a statement that PFAS “has never been present in our nation's drinking water supply. It is the most toxic, persistent, and bioaccumulative chemical ever discovered.” (For more on Bilot, watch Dark Waters, a fact-based film about his efforts to hold the chemical industry accountable for the harm these compounds can cause. (Highly recommended.)
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that nearly all Americans have measurable amounts of PFAS in their blood, and nearly half of the nation's tap water contains one or more PFAS. EPA officials estimate that the federal rule would reduce exposure to PFAS in the drinking water of about 100 million people.
Starting in 2027, water systems will be required to notify customers if the utility has detected certain PFAS listed in federal regulations. after that, by In 2029, utilities will be required to notify the public within 30 days of a water system's knowledge of a violation of any of the PFAS limits.
So what should we do until then?
Until the new rules go into effect, you can contact your municipal water system and ask if they have tested their system for PFAS. Your utility company may have up-to-date test results available online. We may also share recent research results directly with you. You can use this link to enter your state or county to search for your water system's annual water quality report through the EPA.
People who rely on private wells should regularly test their own water supply. According to PFAS Exchange, a project led by the Silent Spring Institute and funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, testing at private labs can be expensive and some people don't seek out PFAS. EPA recommends that those who rely on private wells work with state-certified laboratories that use EPA's drinking water testing methods.
You can also purchase a home water pitcher with a filter that can remove all or most PFAS from drinking water. The Environmental Working Group tested several pitchers. For more information on the award-winning companies, see the report, “His EWG Guide to PFAS Water Filters.”
Read the full text here.
Surprising symptoms of kidney disease
This week, Eating Lab columnist Anahad O'Connor shared an interesting conversation he had with former NBA star Sean Elliott. Elliott is best known for helping the San Antonio Spurs win their first NBA championship in 1999. However, many people don't know that just two months after winning, Elliott underwent a kidney transplant, a setback that ended his career. Less than a year later, he returned to the sport.
Elliott talks about the dietary changes he's made and offers other advice on kidney health. Kidney disease is often not diagnosed until it is advanced. But I was particularly fascinated by some of the subtle and somewhat strange symptoms that Elliott was experiencing.
“My first symptoms were difficulty getting out of bed. I was lethargic all day. I lost my appetite and didn't want to eat. But I thought I was just depressed because we lost in the playoffs.
I also had a lot of swelling and water accumulation in my legs, called edema. It was so bad that when I pressed my foot with my finger, it left a dent for 10 minutes. It was as if his feet were made of clay.
Another thing I noticed is that my urine foams when I urinate. By the time I finished urinating, I felt like I was in a bubble bath. It was really weird. I was told that it was because I had spilled protein in my urine. ”
We encourage you to read the full conversation.
New rules for sensitive medical examinations
I saw on the news that a patient consent form is now required for pelvic examinations. What should I know before my next appointment?
Examinations of sensitive areas, such as pelvic exams for women, prostate exams for men, and rectal exams for everyone, are a part of a doctor's visit that no one looks forward to. Many people are afraid of them.
Federal guidelines always require doctors to explain these tests, the risks and benefits, and why they recommend them. This conversation is part of the informed consent process and previously could be done verbally.
Now, new guidelines from the Department of Health and Human Services say hospitals must obtain written consent. The guidelines issued on April 1 took effect immediately.
These apply to all hospitals that receive reimbursement from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, which means most healthcare providers. Although testing under sedation is especially important, the guidelines also apply to situations where a patient is fully awake and seen by a health care provider in the hospital setting, an HHS spokesperson acknowledged.
To learn more about your next pelvic exam and what to do before, during, and after your exam, read the latest Ask a Doctor column by Trisha S. Pasricha, MD.
Find fun animal-related treats!
In honor of National Pet Day, we're sharing stories that have brought joy to our furry and feathered friends.
- Stray pigeon flies to animal shelter, adopted, wears diaper
- Cupid the peacock was shot with an arrow. Neighbors banded together to help him.
- A dog on your lap at the dentist? 'Yes, please. '
- How the dog walking business saved me
- Inside the life of a 40-pound cat: We spoke to the humans at Patches
- These dogs ride buses just like humans, 'and now the internet is going crazy'
Want to learn more about “fun” snacks? Our Brain Matters Columnist Richard Sima explains. Yyou can too Read this story as a manga.
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