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Women need to be aware that certain medications have different gender related effects.

A survey released by the Society for Women’s Health Research found that although most American women read the labels of their prescribed drugs regarding sex differences, many do not discuss the issue with their doctors. President of the society, Phyllis Greenberger, says that doctors may not have the complete answers but asking them about these issues may help doctors to think carefully about gender differences in medications. The important question to ask is - is there any a known efficacy difference, or negative side effects, that are more common in or only applicable to women.

The survey found that over 58% of women “always” or “most of the time” read labels for gender related differences, but nearly 64% “almost” or “never” asked doctors about potential differences. About half of women surveyed believe a drug’s effectiveness can vary between the sexes, while a more than a third believed such differences do not exist.

It is not always clear why drugs affect men and women differently but the rate at which drugs are metabolized may be a factor. Women have, on average, lower body weight, higher percent body fat, smaller organs, and reduced blood flow compared to men. Women need to be aware of these issues and actively question their health care providers.

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New research reveals a critical period when a child is at risk of becoming obese.

A study from Columbia University Medical Center found that during the ages of 1-3 years, children are at risk of gaining significant weight. The researchers reviewed growth charts of over 1,700 children in New York City between the ages of one through five. They found that the rate of being overweight increased significantly with each year of age, with the biggest gains between ages of one and three years.

Lead author of the study and attending pediatrician, Melissa Glassman warns that it’s during these years that children begin to develop eating habits and food preferences. Parents need to play an active role in incorporating a balanced diet and be aware of the types of food to which children have access. It may take multiple attempts to offer new foods to children, so parents must undertake meal times with patience and determination to instill essential eating habits.

These finding have gotten the attention of pediatricians who believe that intervention is necessary to prevent childhood obesity during these crucial years. Parents should pursue healthy eating routines of their own because children observe and model their behavior after them. With America’s obesity epidemic, understanding the causes of childhood obesity is critical.

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A 2006 U.S. Surgeon General’s Report claims secondhand smoke kills tens of thousands of people each year, and it has long been claimed that second hand smoke can be dangerous through indoor exposure. However little is known about the risks of outdoor inhalation. Recent research from Stanford University examines how smoking can affect the quality of air at park benches, sidewalk cafes and other public places. Researchers concluded that sitting a few feet downwind of a smoker can leave someone exposed to contaminated fumes that are much more concentrated than normal air pollution levels.

To accurately quantify the level of outdoor smoke exposure, Stanford Researchers used portable electronic monitors to measure toxic airborne particles. These instruments are designed to detect a hazardous chemical known as particulate matter-2.5 (PM2.5). This toxic pollutant contains carcinogens amongst other chemicals that may contribute to chronic bronchitis, irregular heartbeats, heart attacks and an assortment of other health conditions.

The outcome of the study found that the closer you are to outdoor tobacco smoke, the higher your risk of hazardous inhalation. They found that brief exposures, multiple times over several hours in an outdoor pub, could lead to a daily average of 35 micrograms of PM2.5 exposure. If someone is in close proximity to a smoker, they could potentially inhale a breath of 1,000 micrograms, which is 50 times more concentrated than the surrounding air. Researchers warn that although outdoor secondhand smoke dissipates quickly, non-smokers should still be aware of their exposure.

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