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Study: New Hip Implants Can Cause Toxic Metal Poisoning Read more: Study: New Hip Implants Can Cause Toxic Metal Poisoning Important: At Risk For A Heart Attack? Find Out Now.

Hundreds of thousands of hip-replacement patients have been exposed to dangerously high levels of toxic metals from failing implants, according to a new study by British researchers. A joint investigation by the BBC and the British Medical Journal has found toxic cobalt and chromium ions can seep into the tissues of patients with all-metal hip implants, leaving some patients with long-term disability. Studies have also shown that metal ions can damage bone and muscle, leach into the bloodstream, and spread to the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and kidneys, researchers noted. There are also concerns about damage to chromosomes that can lead to genetic changes. In a release that accompanied the study’s findings, researchers said their investigation raises new concerns over metal hip implants that “may affect more people than the (European) breast implants scandal.” "Hip replacements are one of the great successes of modern medicine. But a combination of inadequate regulation and untrammeled commercialism has caused actual and potential harm for large numbers of patients around the world,” said BMJ editor in chief Dr. Fiona Godlee, in a statement Tuesday. “They should have known about the risks, as the manufacturers and regulators did, but they were not told." Dr. David Brownstein, a board-certified family physician, tells Newsmax Health the findings highlight the need for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to take stronger steps to protect patients. “Certainly the findings are surprising because we expect when the FDA approves a replacement device, we expect it to be good quality and properly studied,” said Dr. Brownstein, medical director for the Center for Holistic Medicine in West Bloomfield, Mich. “This is another example of the FDA not doing its job and not looking out for us. They seem to make misstep after misstep, and unfortunately patients are paying the price for these missteps.” Dr. Brownstein, author of the “Natural Way to Health” newsletter, advises any patients who have metal implants to keep the stress off their hips by keeping their weight down, and also to do everything they can to boost their immune systems to fight any impacts from leaching metals. “Take antioxidants and keep your detoxification pathways open,” he said. In an article accompanying the BMJ study, Dr. Carl Heneghan and colleagues suggest the alarming findings highlight the need for follow up review of medical devices after they hit the open market. "No pre-market system can ensure all devices are safe, but they can certainly make it more likely," he said. "Creating an independent system for post-marketing analysis for implantable medical devices that is robust and increasing international coordination around device alerts and withdrawals should go some way to sorting out the current mess." The BMJ study is the latest in a series of developments over the past year that have raised questions and concerns about the safety of so-called metal-on-metal hip replacements — where the ball and cup of the implant are both made of metal. Last May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered the makers of all-metal replacements to study how frequently they fail after Johnson & Johnson recalled one of the most problematic devices, the Articular Surface Replacement. The FDA also said it has received thousands of patient complaints about faulty metal-on-metal hips last year. Then in January, the U.S. Hospital for Special Surgery reported that tens of thousands of patients with faulty replacements can have lasting, debilitating damage. In addition, many of the 500,000 patients who have received all-metal hip implants may need to have them replaced, researchers said.

Statin Users Warned of Memory Loss, Diabetes

Health regulators are adding warnings to the labels of widely used cholesterol lowering drugs, such as Lipitor, to say they may raise levels of blood sugar and could cause memory loss. The Food and Drug Administration announced on Tuesday the changes to the safety information on the labels of statins such as Pfizer Inc's Lipitor, AstraZeneca's Crestor and Merck & Co's Zocor that are taken by tens of millions of people. Statins have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of heart attack and heart disease, and the FDA said the new information should not scare people into stopping taking the drugs. "The value of statins in preventing heart disease has been clearly established," Amy Egan, deputy director for safety in FDA's Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products, said in a statement. "Their benefit is indisputable, but they need to be taken with care and knowledge of their side effects." Lipitor, which became available late last year in generic form as atorvastatin, is the world's all-time biggest selling prescription medicine with cumulative sales in excess of $130 billion. As a class, statins have helped enrich the world's largest drugmakers, but most of the major brands are now prescribed as far cheaper generic medicines. Last year, more than 20 million Americans were taking some form of statin, according to IMS Health. "These are nuances, tiny little tweaks to the label, and the bigger picture doesn't change," said Steven Nissen, chief of cardiology at Cleveland Clinic. "There are few drugs that have saved as many lives as statins and we don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater here. "If you have heart disease, you probably should be on a statin. If you're at high risk, a statin may be warranted. But we don't think these drugs should be put in the water supply," Nissen said. ALERT: 3 Nutrients Work Better Than Statins in Stopping Heart Attacks Asked what prompted the label changes, FDA spokeswoman Erica Jefferson said they were based on the agency's review of medical literature, clinical trial data and reports of adverse events. "I wouldn't point to any one thing," she said. "We've been looking at all the information for some time. It's part of our ongoing surveillance." The FDA said it was aware of studies in which some patients taking statins may have a small increased risk of higher blood sugar levels and of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The statin labels will also now reflect reports of certain cognitive effects such as memory loss and confusion experienced by some patients taking the drugs, the agency said. It said those reports generally have not been serious and the symptoms were reversed by stopping use of the statin. "We have known for three or four years that statins slightly increase blood sugar," Nissen said. "The fact that the blood sugar went up a little bit did not diminish the effectiveness of the statins in reducing (heart) risk for patients." The elevated diabetes risk cropped up in a 2008 Crestor study of nearly 18,000 patients. A separate study published in the Lancet medical journal in 2010 found that statins can raise the risk of diabetes by 9 percent. The memory loss issue was more anecdotal from adverse event reporting and not from formal studies, the FDA said, adding that there was no proof that the problem was caused by statins but that it wanted people to be aware of the possibility. One safety warning long associated with the class of medicines will be reversed, the FDA said. Patients taking statins will no longer need periodic monitoring of liver enzymes, since cases of serious liver injury are rare and unpredictable in individual patients. Other statins, most of which are available as generics, include Livalo, Mevacor, Pravachol, Altoprev and Lescol. There are also combination medicines that include statins, such as Merck's Vytorin and Abbott Laboratories' Simcor. Jon LeCroy, an analyst who follows the pharmaceutical industry for MKM Partners, said he did not believe the label changes would have a lasting impact on statin use. "The overwhelming evidence on statins is they save lives, so I can't imagine this would reduce anyone prescribing them," LeCroy said. "There are some buzzwords that tend to scare the lay public. This is not a cancer warning," he said. The FDA also specifically said that Merck's Mevacor, the world's first approved statin, known generically as lovastatin, should never be taken with certain drugs used to treat HIV and certain bacterial and fungal infections due to increased risk of a serious muscle disease. "I don't think we should change our practice based on this report," said Dr. Kenneth Ong, acting chief of cardiology at the Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York. "But the report is a sobering reminder there's no such thing as a free lunch," Ong said. "Every drug has its problems and its side effects, despite the benefits."

How Disordered Eating Harms Your Body Experts Tackle Eating Disorder Health Hazards

Starving and bingeing and purging may start as misguided attempts at weight loss, but they lead to serious health problems. To mark Eating Disorders Awareness Week, read on to learn how anorexia, bulimia and other disordered eating problems can hurt the body... Christine Harrison is only 28, but she already has osteoporosis. “I’ve had anorexia and bulimia for 13 years, and they’ve made my bones as weak as those of an 80-year-old woman,” she says. Christine, whose weight has yo-yoed between 55 and 130 pounds on her 5-foot frame, was in and out of eating-disorder institutions since age 15. Now a college grad, she has a fulfilling career working with special-needs children at a psychiatric facility in Massachusetts. But recently, her eating disorder spiraled out of control again, and she has become too thin and frail to do much of anything. About 7 million women suffer from eating disorders such as anorexia, characterized by self-starvation, and bulimia, which involves binge-eating and purging afterward. For them, disordered eating isn’t only about a desire to lose weight. The root is complex, a combination of biological and psychological factors, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. “An eating disorder isn’t just about food – it’s a serious psychiatric and physiological disorder that can have life-threatening consequences,” says Kenneth L. Weiner, M.D., assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado Medical Center and co-founder and CEO of the Eating Recovery Center in Denver. That’s because one consequence of an eating disorder – malnutrition – “deprives organs of nutrients they need for virtually every bodily function,” says James Greenblatt, M.D., medical director of Comprehensive Psychiatric Resources in Waltham, Mass., and author of Answers to Anorexia (Sunrise River Press). For example, “many women with eating disorders shun meat and dairy products to save calories and fat and wind up developing a vitamin B12 deficiency, which causes depression, anxiety, paranoia and memory problems,” he says. Also, women who repeatedly force themselves to vomit and abuse laxatives and/or diuretics also may have lower levels of electrolytes (important minerals such as potassium, sodium and chloride), leading to serious heart and kidney problems, Greenblatt explains. Read on for the top 5 ways disordered eating damages your health. 1. No menstrual cycle Your body needs healthy levels of calories, fat and protein to prepare it to carry a baby. With an eating disorder, however, you don’t eat enough nutrients to support yourself, much less a baby, says Rebecca Appleman, R.D., a nutritionist at Columbus Park Collaborative, a private outpatient treatment center in New York City. So to prevent pregnancy, your body shuts down its reproductive cycle and stops menstruation, a condition called amenorrhea, she says. Eating disorder treatment: In most cases, you can reverse the danger and damage by gaining weight and eating a healthy diet. “Just don’t try to fix things yourself,” Weiner advises. “The fastest and safest way to recovery is a residential or outpatient eating disorders clinic where a team of professionals [for example, nutritionists, psychologists, psychiatrists, fitness professionals, bone specialists and ob-gyns] can address every aspect of your disease.” 2. Weak bones “Amenorrhea causes estrogen levels to plummet, [which] increases bone loss,” says Felicia Cosman, M.D., clinical director of the National Osteoporosis Foundation and medical director at the Clinical Research Center of Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw, N.Y. That’s because estrogen protects bone by suppressing the action of osteoclasts, cells that break down bone. Without sufficient estrogen, osteoclasts go into overdrive, accelerating bone loss faster than the body can build it up again, according to a 2011 Polish study conducted at Poznan University of Medical Sciences. Women with disordered eating problems are also depriving their bodies of nutrients critical for bone development, including: Bone-protective calcium. “Many of the biggest ‘fear foods’ among women with eating disorders are dairy foods that are high in calories and saturated fat, but which contain the most calcium,” says dietitian Jodi Krumholz, L.D.N., director of nutrition at the Renfrew Center of Florida in Coconut Creek. Vitamin D and healthy fats. “Calcium can’t be absorbed without vitamin D, and it can’t be circulated in your body unless you eat food that contains fats,” Appleman says. As a result, “92% of women with anorexia have osteopenia and 40% have osteoporosis,” Weiner says. With osteopenia, bones are less dense than normal. In osteoporosis, bones may be so weak that a sneeze could lead to a fracture, Cosman warns. Most of the bodily harm from eating disorders can be repaired, but not bone health. That’s especially true for young women, who comprise more than 90% of those with disordered eating problems, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. “Adolescence is the body’s prime bone-building time,” Weiner says. “If you starve your body of vital nutrients, you lose bone instead of building it, and your bones never catch up.” Statistics back him up: “Eighty-five percent of partially recovered anorexics still have bone mineral deficiencies,” Krumholz adds. Eating disorder treatment: Work with a nutritionist to eat a healthy diet that contains about 2,000 daily calories and plenty of bone-building nutrients, including calcium and vitamin D, Cosman advises. The Institute of Medicine recommends 1,000 mg of calcium daily if you’re younger than 50 and 1,200 mg if you’re 50 or older. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin D is 600 IU (International Units) for women younger than 70 and 800 IU for women 70 and older. But some experts recommend you take more, especially if you have an eating disorder. “To maximize calcium absorption, get at least 2,000-3,000 IU daily,” says Michael Holick, M.D., Ph.D, a professor of medicine at Boston University Medical Center and author of The Vitamin D Solution (Penguin). Also, “eat plenty of healthy fats, including polyunsaturated fats [found in safflower, corn, sunflower, soy and cottonseed oils, nuts and seeds], monounsaturated fats [found in olive oil, peanut oil, canola oil, avocados, nuts and seeds] and omega-3 fatty acids [found in fatty, cold-water fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel and herring, flaxseeds, flax oil and walnuts],” Appleman says. Another bone preservation tip: Don’t overdo rigorous exercise until you’re close to your ideal weight, Weiner says. Moderate exercise and weight training can help preserve bone, but more than eight hours of rigorous exercise weekly can trigger amenorrhea and bone loss, according to the National Institutes of Health. 3. Heart disease Ninety-five percent of women with anorexia had irregular heartbeats that could lead to heart disease or heart attacks, according to a 2011 study conducted at Rutgers University. The risk of heart disease is so great that women with eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all women with psychiatric diseases, a 2006 study at New York’s Montefiore Medical Center found. That’s because vomiting, and abusing laxatives and diuretics, can lead to dangerously low levels of electrolytes, which are needed to maintain a healthy heartbeat and blood pressure, says Shalizeh Shokooh, M.D., a cardiologist and co-medical director of the Women's Heart Center at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif. In addition, many women with eating disorders lose excessive amounts of body fat, which can lead to extremely low blood pressure and body temperature – problems that can cause an irregular heartbeat, a heart attack, even sudden death, Greenblatt says. Also, eating disorders can trigger physical changes in the heart, such as mitral valve prolapse, a potentially life-threatening condition that prevents the valve that separates the upper and lower chambers of the left side of the heart from closing, according to a 2003 study at Italy’s Florence University School of Medicine. Eating disorder treatment: “Gaining weight, eating a healthy diet and [not vomiting, starving, abusing laxatives and diuretics] can all help reverse heart damage caused by eating disorders,” Greenblatt says. “If you’ve had an eating disorder for more than a few months, get your potassium levels measured regularly [with blood and urine tests] and make sure you eat a diet rich in potassium,” he adds. The RDA for potassium is 4,700 mg daily. Foods rich in potassium include avocados, dried fruit such as apricots and dates, beans, flaxseed, pistachios, salmon, tuna, paprika, cocoa powder and chocolate. 4. Kidney disease The kidneys remove toxins and maintain a proper balance of water and potassium in your body. But if you vomit or abuse laxatives or diuretics, your potassium levels could fall to dangerously low levels, warns Jessica Bartfield, M.D., an internist who specializes in weight management at Loyola University’s Gottlieb Memorial Hospital outside of Chicago. This could lead to dehydration and low blood pressure – which alone or together could cause kidney infection. That, in turn, could increase the risk of kidney damage or even failure, she says. As much as 40% of women with eating disorders have dangerously low potassium levels, according to a 2011 study conducted at the Kidney Institute at China Medical University Hospital in Taiwan. Eating disorder treatment: “Get your potassium levels tested regularly, refrain from disordered eating behaviors and eat a potassium-rich diet to correct deficiencies,” Greenblatt says. 5. Indigestion Starving, vomiting and abusing laxatives and diuretics deplete enzymes needed to digest food and absorb nutrients, Greenblatt says. Such practices cause serious electrolyte imbalances, which increase or decrease bowel activity, triggering cramps, bloating, flatulence, constipation and diarrhea, he says. Chronic vomiting also can tear the esophagus and even rupture the stomach, he says. Eating disorder treatment: If you have an eating disorder, a simple urine test can detect deficiencies in digestive enzymes, Greenblatt says. If you have deficiencies, work with your physician and a dietitian to eat healthy foods and take probiotics to aid digestion. For more information on eating disorders, visit: The Eating Disorder Foundation National Eating Disorders Association National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders For more information and expert advice, visit our Mental Health Center. Do You Have an Eating Disorder? In today's thin-obsessed society, it's hard to feel confident about your body. You may overindulge in junk foods, or you may often feel ashamed of your weight. Everyone has insecurities, but these insecurities can lead some people to develop a negative relationship with food. Are your eating habits normal, or are you on the road to an eating disorder?

Do’s and Don’ts for Chronic Pain Relief Tips and Treatments to Feel Better Now

Living with chronic pain can knock you flat. One day the ache is a "4" and you're able to handle normal tasks; the next it's a "9," and all you want to do is lie down. But that's not the right move, chronic pain management experts say. There's a lot you can do for chronic pain relief... About 50-75 million Americans live with chronic pain that lasts beyond the normal healing time. It can be triggered by an illness, an ongoing condition such as arthritis or cancer, or an injury. “A broken bone is supposed to heal in about six weeks,” explains Charles Argoff, M.D., co-author of Defeat Chronic Pain Now! (Fair Winds Press), professor of neurology at Albany Medical College and director of Albany Medical Center’s chronic pain management program. “If pain lasts longer than that, it’s chronic pain.” While you may not get complete chronic pain relief, you can take steps to control the problem. “All types of chronic pain share common features,” Argoff says. “It’s usually more complicated to treat than acute pain, but it can be treated.” Try these doctor-recommended tips to tame your troublesome aches. 1. Do consume anti-inflammatory foods and supplements. Because inflammation can trigger pain, soothing foods and supplements can provide chronic pain relief. “For example, curcumin – found in turmeric, the herb used in curry – is a great anti-inflammatory and can be eaten in food or taken in capsules,” explains Susan Blum, M.D., assistant clinical professor of preventive medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and founder of the Blum Center for Health in Rye Brook, N.Y. “Ginger [also] can bring chronic pain relief in food or as a supplement,” she says. So can eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid found in fatty fish (like tuna and salmon), nuts, seeds and flaxseed oil. Or you can opt for 1,000 milligrams (mg) to 1,200 mg of fish oil supplements per day, says Alpana Gowda, M.D., co-author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Pain Relief (Alpha), chronic pain management physician and clinical instructor in pain medicine at Stanford University. Some supplements, such as boswellia serrata, devil’s claw and magnesium, have pain-relieving properties too, Blum adds. “I’ll often give patients magnesium supplements to relax muscles,” Blum says. “Foods such as whole grains, nuts, black beans and spinach are high in magnesium – but they don’t contain enough to get the job done.” The key is getting the right magnesium supplement, she says. “Magnesium citrate can cause loose stools and is often used to treat constipation,” Blum warns. “For muscle relaxation, I give magnesium glycinate – a chelated form that doesn’t have the bowel effect.” If you have muscle pain, “soaking in a bath with Epsom salts can increase magnesium levels in the body, which promotes muscle relaxation,” Blum says. Some people with arthritis pain or musculoskeletal pain use topical creams with capsaicin, a well-studied pain reliever derived from hot peppers. But before starting any supplements, always consult your doctor. 2. Don’t skimp on H20. “If you’re dehydrated, you’ll have a lot more muscle spasms and cramps,” Gowda says. Being properly hydrated encourages chronic pain relief because water keeps joints and muscles lubricated, hydrated and plumper, easing flexibility. Aim for 1.5-2 liters (about 6-8 cups) of water daily, Gowda advises. Limit coffee and other caffeinated drinks, because caffeine is dehydrating. Also eat water-rich foods – peaches, watermelon, grapes, citrus fruits, celery, cucumbers and broth-based soups – to boost your hydration level. You'll know if your body is hydrated enough when your urine is clear, not bright yellow. 3. Don’t stop moving. Chronic pain is no excuse to skip workouts. Pain may make you want to rest, but exercise can provide chronic pain relief. “Exercise, aerobic or otherwise, has cardiovascular benefits and increases flexibility,” Argoff says. “It releases of endorphins, which naturally help with chronic pain relief and make us feel better.” The key is doing the right exercises for your body and condition, so talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise program. For example, if you have severe osteoporosis, it might be risky to lift weights. A low-impact workout, such as water exercises, might be easier on your bones, Argoff suggests. Those with fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis also may find chronic pain relief with less intense, milder activities such as walking and stretching. “Walking is [easier] on joints, such as ankles, knees and hips, [than] running or even biking, and walking on a flat path is something most people can do quickly and immediately,” Gowda says. 4. Don’t work out too hard. “If your body isn’t used to regular exercise, the pain can flare for a couple of days, and you’ll have to miss out on conditioning because you can’t move,” Gowda explains. That’s why you should use a heart rate monitor to gauge how hard you’re exercising, she advises. To find your target heart rate zone, first consult your doctor, then use a monitor to maintain pacing. “If you aren’t trying to lose weight, you want your heart rate at a comfortable level,” Gowda says. “But most people overshoot rather than undershoot it.” To calculate your heart rate without a monitor, take your pulse. Count the number of heartbeats in 10 seconds and multiply that by six. 5. Do stretch. Stretching is crucial for chronic pain relief because “it actually relaxes muscles and decreases tightness in various body parts,” Gowda explains. “This reduces pain and discomfort.” For example, tight hamstring or hip flexor muscles might trigger back pain. Relax those areas and you’ll decrease back pain. Those with carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition in which nerves between arms and fingers become compressed, benefit from stretching wrists and hands. Have upper-back, shoulder or neck aches? Stretching the upper back, shoulder and chest wall muscles might bring chronic pain relief. “[I] advocate 20 minutes of stretching daily,” Gowda says. “That can be hard to do, but the easiest way is to go to a physical therapist [who will] start you on a home exercise program.” Though it costs money and isn’t always covered by insurance, 1-3 sessions can jump-start you into a proper, problem-specific home-stretching program, she says. 6. Do get enough sleep. Skimp on sleep and you’ll not only be cranky and groggy, but you’ll also feel more aches and pains. “A lot of the neural pathways are interconnected, so if you lack sleep, the same pain pathways are activated,” Gowda explains. One way to get a good night’s rest: Establish proper sleep hygiene. This includes not watching TV in bed, not working in your bedroom, turning in and waking at the same time and avoiding naps during the day. 7. Do try alternative remedies. Guided visualization is a very effective chronic pain relief technique, according to a 2010 study at the Indiana University School of Nursing in Indianapolis. Significant improvements in pain and mobility were reported in osteoarthritis patients who used guided imagery compared to those who used relaxation or a “sham intervention” called planned relaxation. “Purchase CDs (at iTunes or www.healthjourneys.com) geared toward pain relief,” Blum says. “These visualizations can be put on your iPod, and you can close your eyes, listen to the music and voice and go to a lovely pain-free place that reduces stress that makes the pain worse.” Other chronic pain relief options include meditation, biofeedback, relaxation, cognitive behavioral therapy, breathing and even just enjoying yourself with recreational activities. 8. Do try acupuncture. A 2007 study at the Technische University in Munich found that after six months of acupuncture pain treatment, almost half of 2,564 patients felt “significant improvements in ability to function,” and the average number of days with pain decreased by half. Another 2007 study of 5,690 patients at the Pain Treatment Unit in Spain found acupuncture reduced the use of anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving drugs at a success rate of 80%. Most of the patients were women experiencing back pain. 9. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Stress aggravates pain. “You may tighten or clench your jaw or raise your shoulders and be in a very guarded position when you’re stressed out,” Gowda says. “These things can actually change the neural pathway firings in the brain, keeping you more susceptible to pain and heightening your perception of [it],” she adds. 10. Do get support – literally. Splints and supports are great tools for chronic pain relief, especially when you’re suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, knee pain, back pain and foot pain, because you can target the specific area of pain. They support muscles, protecting the area of injury or positioning the body so further injury doesn’t happen. “A physician must diagnose the injury, because you need to have the proper splint/support, and it needs to be fitted and worn correctly,” Gowda explains. “If not, these things can actually cause more damage.” For more expert advice and information, visit our Pain Health Center . How Bad Is Your Back Pain? So your back hurts? Take our back pain quiz to see how severe it really is. You may need to see a doctor but have just been avoiding it, thinking it will get better. On the other hand, your back pain may be more normal than you suspect.

7 Hidden Dangers in Your Home

Home is where the heart is, but it’s also where tons of health hazards dwell. What you breathe and touch could actually be making you sick. From mold, mothballs, dust mites, carpet chemicals and more, learn what the top 7 hazards are and how to protect yourself... Out of sight, out of mind, right? Not when it comes to the hidden health dangers in your home. Odorless gases, fumes from your carpet, even the innocent-looking cleaners in your cabinet can harm you and your family. So what can you do? We talked with top experts to find out what’s lurking in your home-sweet-home. Here are their tips for protecting you and your loved ones: 1. Mold Does your bathroom, closet or basement have an old musty odor? Blame mold spores. They make themselves at home in damp spots. “Mold can grow within 24-48 hours where there’s moisture and what they consider a food source,” says Jeff May, co-author of My House Is Killing Me! and The Mold Survival Guide (both from The Johns Hopkins University Press). It doesn’t take much to make mold happy and multiply: It chomps down on dust, wood, paint, paper, cotton or oil, among other things. It’s attracted to modern building materials like drywall. Complex heating and cooling systems can make mold matters worse, especially if you suffer from allergies or asthma. Mold spores can trigger asthma symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath, the Mayo Clinic reports. Allergic reactions include: sneezing; runny or stuffy nose; itchy, watery eyes; and inflamed sinuses. Common spots to find the fuzzy stuff – it often grows in a circular pattern and can be black, brown, white, yellow, pink or greenish-blue – are basement walls and carpets, closets and on wooden backs and bottoms of furniture stored in damp spaces. Protective steps: Use a dehumidifier to keep the humidity in mold-prone rooms below 50%. Operate an oscillating fan in the bathroom after showering and fix leaks as soon as possible. Keep rooms well ventilated. If you suspect mold, check the area with a flashlight (some of the fungi can only be seen with a bright light). Can’t find the mold or its cause? Turn to the pros. “An American Society of Home Inspector (ASHI) member can be very useful in determining moisture sources,” May says. 2. Dust mites You can’t see these microscopic critters with the naked eye, but they can wreak havoc on your health. They may be one of the most common causes of allergies and asthma and can trigger the same miserable symptoms. Dust mites, too, need moisture and feed off the dead skin cells our bodies shed. Their favorite hiding place? Beds, pillows, mattresses and sheets. Protective steps: Face it: Dust mites are a part of your life. “There’s no way to get rid of dust mites, so you need to put a barrier between you and them,” says Linda B. Ford, M.D., a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and associate professor of medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Here are some tips: Allergy covers can help because they’re woven, so even dust mites can’t slip through them. Seal your mattress, box spring, comforter and pillows. (You can usually buy allergy covers where sheets are sold.) Wash your bedding and area rugs in hot water (120 degrees F) at least once a week. Put items that aren’t machine washable – like a special pillow or stuffed animal – in the freezer for a couple hours at a time to kill dust mites. Don’t go to bed with wet hair − you’re just giving the mites more moisture. Regularly vacuum all floors, especially carpets, where dust mites can hide. 3. Carpet chemicals Redecorating or renovating your house can give you a headache – literally. When your wall-to-wall or area rug gives off that new carpet smell, it’s usually shedding 4-PC, a chemical in carpet backing, May says. Though the smell probably will go away within days or weeks, it can cause temporary headaches and hoarseness in people sensitive to chemicals. Protective steps: Ideally, new carpet should be aired before installation. But if that’s not possible, keep the carpeted room well ventilated and stay out if you’re sensitive to 4-PC. “If the odor is strong despite ventilation for a week, you may want to have that carpet removed,” says May, who adds that some carpets never stop giving off 4-PC. Here’s how he tells if carpet odor is giving off gas: 1. Take a clean, fragrance-free paper towel and fold it in half twice. 2. Place it on a section on the rug and cover it with aluminum foil secured with tape. 3. After 24 hours, fold the towel inside the foil quickly. 4. Then go outside and unwrap it just enough to take a whiff. 5. If it stinks, your carpet is giving off gas. 4. Medications To tweens, toddlers and preschoolers, prescription and over-the-counter medications may look as tempting as candy, thanks to their interesting shapes and colors. Protective steps: Store these drugs where kids can’t find them and use a safety lock on that cupboard or cabinet. Never leave meds within easy reach, such as your purse, night-table or countertop. Make sure all bottles have child-resistant caps. Never call any drugs candy – no matter how desperate you are to get them to take it when they’re sick – or they may dip into the “sweet stuff” on their own. Most important: Put the number of your local Poison Control Center where you can easily find it in an emergency. Need the number? Visit the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). 5. Mothballs They may keep your favorite sweaters from resembling Swiss cheese, but the stinky naphthalene balls that keep moths away also emit chemicals that can irritate people. “Most of them are pesticides, which can be harmful to anyone’s health,” May says. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “acute exposure through inhalation, ingestion and dermal contact is associated with anemia, damage to the liver, and, in infants, neurological damage.” Signs that you’ve had short-term exposure to naphthalene include headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, anemia, jaundice and convulsions. Protective steps: Play it safe by replacing moth balls (and their horrible aroma) with natural moth repellants like cedar blocks or chips or dried lavender. Even white peppercorns are reputed to ward off these flying insects. 6. Cleaning products More than one million children under 5 years old are exposed each year to potential poisons such as medicines and household chemicals, the AAPCC reports. And like medications, the bright colors and sweet scents of cleaning products make them look appealing to little ones. But there’s nothing pretty about health problems they can cause. The most common products ingested by children are drain, oven and toilet bowl cleaners, bleach, detergents, furniture polish and rust remover. Protective steps: High, not low: Under the kitchen and bathroom sinks are common places to store cleaning products, but it’s better to keep them on high shelves, out of reach of kids. If you have to store cleaners in low cabinets, use baby-proof locks and make sure all tops are properly closed. When you take products out to clean, make sure they’re way out of your child’s reach and securely closed. Put a danger mark on all hazardous products (draw your own or use a sticker) and teach kids to steer clear when they see it. 7. Carbon monoxide This odorless, colorless gas is toxic and may even kill you. And you may not even realize it’s in your home! Typically, the danger comes from fuel-burning appliances: furnaces, stoves, fireplaces, clothes dryers, water heaters and space heaters, as well as automobile exhaust from attached garages. Low levels of this toxic gas may cause headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue, according to the EPA. Higher levels can lead to impaired vision and coordination, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, unconsciousness and, at very high concentrations, death. Protective steps: Buy a carbon monoxide detector, something the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends for all homes. Make sure it’s installed properly and test it regularly. Make sure fuel-burning appliances are installed correctly. To stay safe, have a pro inspect all your fuel-burning appliances annually. With gas stoves, use an exhaust fan vented to the outside. Make sure the flue is open when using your fireplace and that your space heater is vented. Never let your car idle in the garage. How Much Do You Know About Child Safety? Protecting your kids is a natural instinct, but how much do you actually know about child safety?