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America's Well-To-Do Have Less Heart Disease Risk

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Wednesday, March 12, 2025

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterWEDNESDAY, March 12, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- Well-to-do and better-educated Americans have far lower rates of heart disease than the rest of the population, a new study says.The top 20% of high-income, college-educated Americans have less heart disease risk than others, and this gap has widened over the past two decades, researchers say.“The accumulation of economic and educational advantages appears to drive better health outcomes, rather than any single factor alone,” lead researcher Salma Abdalla, an assistant professor of public health at Washington University in St. Louis, said in a news release.“Wealth and education cluster among a small, advantaged group, while the majority of Americans face an increased risk of heart disease,” she added.Compared to wealthier, college-educated people, low-income folks who didn’t graduate from college have a:6.3 times higher risk of heart failure due to clogged arteries. 3.2 times increased risk of a stroke. 2.3 times increased risk of a heart attack. 2.1 times higher risk of angina. These disparities persisted even after adjusting for heart health factors like blood pressure, cholesterol and Body Mass Index (BMI, an estimate of body fat based on height and weight).High income and advanced education consistently correlated with better heart health.Even though the U.S. spends more on health care per person than any other high-income country, overall outcomes continue to lag behind, researchers said.Life expectancy for the richest 1% of Americans is now 10 years higher than for the poorest 1%, researchers said in background notes.For this study, researchers analyzed 20 years of data gathered from nearly 50,000 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2018.Researchers cited a number of reasons why more well-to-do people have an advantage when it comes to heart health.Poorer folks might suffer from more stress due to their economic insecurity, while higher-income or better-educated people might have more access to healthy behaviors and activities throughout their lives, researchers said.The well-to-do also might be better at taking prescribed medicines, have less exposure to environmental toxins and might benefit from stronger support systems, Abdalla said.Policies to promote broad access to economic opportunity and education are just as important as increased access to health care when it comes to protecting heart health, said senior researcher Dr. Sandro Galea, dean of public health at Washington University.“The continued widening of health disparities in the U.S. underscores the need for action,” he said in a news release. “If we want to improve public health outcomes, we must address the root causes — economic opportunity, education and access to resources that support long-term health.”SOURCE: Washington University in St. Louis, news release, March 6, 2025Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterWEDNESDAY, March 12, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- Well-to-do and better-educated Americans have far lower rates of...

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, March 12, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- Well-to-do and better-educated Americans have far lower rates of heart disease than the rest of the population, a new study says.

The top 20% of high-income, college-educated Americans have less heart disease risk than others, and this gap has widened over the past two decades, researchers say.

“The accumulation of economic and educational advantages appears to drive better health outcomes, rather than any single factor alone,” lead researcher Salma Abdalla, an assistant professor of public health at Washington University in St. Louis, said in a news release.

“Wealth and education cluster among a small, advantaged group, while the majority of Americans face an increased risk of heart disease,” she added.

Compared to wealthier, college-educated people, low-income folks who didn’t graduate from college have a:

  • 6.3 times higher risk of heart failure due to clogged arteries.

  • 3.2 times increased risk of a stroke.

  • 2.3 times increased risk of a heart attack.

  • 2.1 times higher risk of angina.

These disparities persisted even after adjusting for heart health factors like blood pressure, cholesterol and Body Mass Index (BMI, an estimate of body fat based on height and weight).

High income and advanced education consistently correlated with better heart health.

Even though the U.S. spends more on health care per person than any other high-income country, overall outcomes continue to lag behind, researchers said.

Life expectancy for the richest 1% of Americans is now 10 years higher than for the poorest 1%, researchers said in background notes.

For this study, researchers analyzed 20 years of data gathered from nearly 50,000 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2018.

Researchers cited a number of reasons why more well-to-do people have an advantage when it comes to heart health.

Poorer folks might suffer from more stress due to their economic insecurity, while higher-income or better-educated people might have more access to healthy behaviors and activities throughout their lives, researchers said.

The well-to-do also might be better at taking prescribed medicines, have less exposure to environmental toxins and might benefit from stronger support systems, Abdalla said.

Policies to promote broad access to economic opportunity and education are just as important as increased access to health care when it comes to protecting heart health, said senior researcher Dr. Sandro Galea, dean of public health at Washington University.

“The continued widening of health disparities in the U.S. underscores the need for action,” he said in a news release. “If we want to improve public health outcomes, we must address the root causes — economic opportunity, education and access to resources that support long-term health.”

SOURCE: Washington University in St. Louis, news release, March 6, 2025

Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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Air quality alert for Deschutes County Wednesday

An air quality alert was reported by the National Weather Service on Monday at 5:15 p.m. in effect until Wednesday at 3 p.m. for Deschutes County.

An air quality alert was reported by the National Weather Service on Monday at 5:15 p.m. in effect until Wednesday at 3 p.m. for Deschutes County."Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Advisory. until 3 p.m. Wednesday. A Smoke Air Quality Advisory has been issued. Wildfires burning in the region combined with forecasted conditions will cause air quality to reach unhealthy levels. Pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose, aggravate heart and lung diseases, and aggravate other serious health problems. Limit outdoor activities and keep children indoors if it is smoky. Please follow medical advice if you have a heart or lung condition," comments the weather service.Guidance for air quality alerts: Insights from the weather serviceWhen an air quality alert pops up on the radar, deciphering its implications is crucial. These alerts, issued by the weather service, come with straightforward yet essential guidance to ensure your safety:Prioritize indoor stay:If it's within your means, stay indoors, especially if you have respiratory issues, health concerns, or fall within the senior or child demographics.Trim outdoor activities:When venturing outside is unavoidable, restrict your time outdoors solely to essential activities. Reducing exposure is paramount.Reduce pollution contributors:Be conscious of activities that contribute to pollution, such as driving cars, using gas-powered lawnmowers, or relying on motorized vehicles. Curtail their use during air quality alerts.A no to open burning:Refrain from igniting fires with debris or any other materials during air quality alerts. Such practices only contribute to the problem of poor air quality.Stay well-informed:Stay updated of developments by tuning in to NOAA Weather Radio or your preferred weather news source. Being well-informed empowers you to make informed decisions regarding outdoor pursuits during air quality alerts.Focus on respiratory health:If you have respiratory problems or underlying health conditions, exercise extra caution. These conditions can increase your vulnerability to adverse effects from poor air quality.By adhering to the advice from the weather service, you can enhance your safety during air quality alerts while reducing your exposure to potentially harmful pollutants. Stay aware, stay protected, and make your health a top priority.If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

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Multiple Sclerosis Explained: Symptoms, Risk Factors & How It’s Treated

By Dr. Aaron Bower, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Yale School of Medicine HealthDay ReporterMONDAY, Nov. 10, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Multiple...

MONDAY, Nov. 10, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases affecting the brain and spinal cord, with 2.9 million people estimated to be living with the disease worldwide.As MS is an autoimmune disease, damage is caused by inappropriate actions of the body’s infection-fighting (immune) cells. The damage typically involves myelin, the outer covering of the cells that reside in the brain and spinal cord. This impedes the electrical signals necessary for the brain and spine to function properly.The damage can lead to both sudden “flares” of inflammation and a slow worsening of symptoms over time. Historically, MS has been broken down into specific subtypes, as detailed below. But the reality of the disease may be better understood as a spectrum that likely started even before symptoms were noticed.Relapsing and remitting MS is:The most common subtype (85% of cases)  Characterized by flares of inflammation, known as “relapses” Separated by periods, known as “remissions,” when patients feel relatively normal  Primary progressive MS is: The less common subtype (10% to 15% of cases)  Characterized by consistent worsening of symptoms over months to years  Not characterized with clear “flares” or periods of stability  Secondary progressive MS: Initially follows a course like that of relapsing and remitting MS  Evolves over time, with patients noting a consistent worsening of symptoms in the absence of any clear “flares” What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis? Since MS can affect any part of the brain or spinal cord, patients can present with a wide variety of symptoms, depending on where the damage has taken place.In patients with the most common subtype, relapsing and remitting, these symptoms will typically come on over days and improve over weeks to months.Common initial symptoms include: Painful loss or blurred vision Double vision  Face drooping on one side   Slurring words  Room-spinning dizziness and unsteadiness  Weakness in arms and/or legs  Numbness and tingling in arms and/or legs Difficulty with fine motor tasks (such as typing, buttoning a shirt and eating) Difficulty walking, possibly leading to falls  Electric shock-like sensation down the spine when touching chin to chest (“Lhermitte’s sign”)  Tight, squeezing sensation around the chest or belly (“MS hug”) What are the causes and risk factors of multiple sclerosis? There is no single cause of multiple sclerosis. It likely results from interactions between genetic and environmental risk factors. How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed? A diagnosis of MS generally requires a doctor to pursue several different tests during the initial evaluation. These tests help rule out other possible causes and provide evidence that supports a diagnosis of MS. Blood work To look for evidence of other diseases (including infection, inflammation, vitamin deficiencies, for example) Imaging: MRI of the brain and spine  Procedure: Lumbar puncture  A neurologist may also recommend evaluations by additional medical providers. This can include an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) who can look for evidence of MS affecting the optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain.This can be achieved through non-invasive testing, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), which examines the thickness of the nerves at the back of the eye, or visual evoked potentials (VEPs), which assess the function of the optic nerve.How is multiple sclerosis treated? MS treatment is provided on two fronts: 1) Treatment of active inflammation. 2) Prevention of new inflammation and damage to the brain and spine. If a patient is having active inflammation due to MS (“flare”), a provider will typically recommend treatment with steroids. Steroids quickly reduce inflammation in the body to speed recovery. This is generally administered by IV infusion over three to five days.To avoid recurrent “flares” and the side effects of frequent steroid use, however, the key to MS treatment is prevention.Preventive medications in MS are referred to as disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). These medications should be started as early as possible to limit damage to the brain and spine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved many DMTs for relapsing-remitting MS. Each medication can vary in effectiveness, side effects and how it is administered (pills, injections or infusions). Ultimately, the choice of treatment is an individualized discussion between the patient and provider. There are fewer options for secondary and primary progressive MS. A single medication (Ocrevus) is currently FDA-approved to treat this subtype of MS.What is it like living with multiple sclerosis? Living with MS has changed dramatically as more effective treatments have been developed, with patients generally acquiring less disability and limitations over time.However, many people with MS can continue to struggle with “day-to-day” symptoms that require additional treatment. Possible “day-to-day” symptoms include: . Fatigue  Slowed processing speed and memory impairments  Issues with mood (depression, anxiety)  Problems with urination and bowel movements  Tingling and burning sensations  Muscle tightness and cramping  Walking difficulties and instability  Heat intolerance  Given the variety of symptoms one can face with MS, a patient’s neurologist will work with other medical providers to optimize care.Additional team members could include physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, physiatrists, mental health care providers, and specialists in the areas of eye, bladder, GI and sleep.Together, the health care team will work with the patient to prevent and treat the complications of MS, allowing patients to live life as they want.Dr. Aaron Bower is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Yale School of Medicine. He is a board-certified neurologist and completed fellowship training in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology. He specializes in treating patients with inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system such as Multiple sclerosis, Neuromyelitis Optica, Autoimmune encephalitis, MOG-associated disease, and the neurologic sequelae of systemic Rheumatologic disease.Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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This November is COPD Awareness Month: Take Action in Texas to Improve Health, Policy, and Lives

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects an estimated 30 million Americans, yet half remain undiagnosed. In Texas, the burden is especially high — both in human and economic terms. As November marks COPD Awareness Month, the COPD Action Alliance urges Texans to not only raise awareness but also advocate for stronger policies that improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment

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COPD is a progressive lung disease that causes inflammation and airflow blockage, making breathing a daily challenge. It includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema and is now the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 130,000 lives each year. While smoking is a leading cause, one in four COPD patients have never smoked. Environmental exposure, occupational hazards, asthma, and genetic factors like Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency also contribute. The good news: COPD is highly treatable — particularly when caught early. Today’s options range from inhalers and pulmonary rehabilitation to breakthrough biologic therapies recently approved by the FDA. Suzi Media – stock.adobe.comThe Changing Faces of COPD The image of COPD as a “smoker’s disease” no longer holds true. The COPD Action Alliance’s 2025 survey found that 14 percent of respondents with COPD had never smoked, and many cited workplace and environmental exposure as key factors.  Veterans are more likely to be diagnosed with COPD than civilians. Over 1 million U.S. veterans live with COPD, which is about 25 percent of the veteran population. COPD rates are rising, especially among those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Firefighters and first responders face increased risk from smoke and airborne toxins. Retired firefighters were 7.4 times more likely to have COPD than those still on active duty. Women are 35 percent more likely to have COPD than men, possibly due to smaller airways that are more prone to inflammation. “There’s a stigma around COPD. Many people assume I have it because I smoked cigarettes, but I’ve never smoked. I grew up in a smoker’s home and worked in jobs that contributed to my COPD,” one survey participant shared. 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Meanwhile, 79 percent said navigating the health-care system is difficult, and nearly half believe current U.S. policies are failing to improve COPD care. COPD is both a medical and economic challenge—and addressing it will require a stronger national commitment to prevention, early diagnosis, and equitable access to treatment. Policy Priorities for a Healthier Future The COPD Action Alliance recommends targeted policy actions that could improve care for Texans and millions nationwide: Increase Awareness and Education Launch public health campaigns that address COPD stigma and encourage early diagnosis. Improve Access to Treatment Eliminate prior authorization barriers and expand telehealth and pulmonary rehabilitation in rural communities. Fund COPD Research Direct more federal and state funding toward biomedical research and data collection to close diagnostic and treatment gaps. Implement the National COPD Action Plan Fully realize the 2018 NIH blueprint for reducing the burden of COPD through education, data tracking and research coordination. Doctor or nurse caregiver showing a tablet screen to senior man and laughing at home or nursing home Lumos sp – stock.adobe.comThe Path Forward COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide and the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. It is twice as common in rural areas as in large cities, pointing to the need for targeted awareness and healthcare interventions in rural communities. The COPD Action Alliance, in collaboration with policymakers, healthcare providers, and community leaders, aims to create a future where patients have the support and resources they need to manage their condition effectively. With increased awareness, expanded research, and improved healthcare access, Texans living with COPD can look forward to better outcomes and a higher quality of life. 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Radioactive pollution still haunts Hunters Point in San Francisco

Last week, residents were informed by the San Francisco Department of Health that a test taken in November 2024 at the former site of Hunters Point Naval Shipyard showed radiation levels of airborne Plutonium 239 had exceeded the Navy's "action level."

San Francisco — More than a half century after the U.S. ignited 67 atomic weapons in the the central Pacific Ocean, a former Navy base in the Bay Area continues to carry that nuclear legacy.Last week, residents were informed by the San Francisco Department of Health that a test taken in November 2024 at the former site of Hunters Point Naval Shipyard showed radiation levels of airborne Plutonium-239 had exceeded the Navy’s “action level,” requiring the military to further investigate. The city and the residents were not informed until 11 months after that initial reading. Hunters Point, a 500-acre peninsula jutting out into San Francisco Bay, served as a military laboratory to study the effects of nuclear weapons from 1946-69 following World War II. Although the research largely focused on how to decontaminate U.S. warships and equipment targeted with atomic bombs, the experimentation left much of the shipyard laced with radioactive contaminants and toxic chemicals.For the last 30 years, the Navy has sought to clean up the area — now a U.S. Superfund site — with the long-term goal of redeveloping it into new housing and parkland. But some Bay Area community leaders say haphazard remediation work and lackluster public outreach have endangered the health and safety of residents of the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood that sits beside the former shipyard. And they point to the Navy’s nearly year-long delay in informing them of the elevated Plutonium-239 reading, taken in November 2024, as just the latest example.Plutonium-239 is a radioactive isotope and byproduct of nuclear bomb explosions. The elevated readings from November 2024 came from a 78-acre tract of land on the northeast portion of the shipyard, known as Parcel C.“The City and County of San Francisco is deeply concerned by both the magnitude of this exceedance and the failure to provide timely notification,” wrote San Francisco Health Officer Susan Philip in an Oct. 30 letter to Navy officials. “Such a delay undermines our ability to safeguard public health and maintain transparency. Immediate notification is a regulatory requirement and is critical for ensuring community trust and safety.”Navy officials and some health experts insist the radiation levels detected at the site, while above the Navy’s action level, did not pose an imminent or substantial threat to public health. Exposure to this level of Plutonium-239 every day for one year would be less than one-tenth the dose of radiation from a chest X-ray, according to a Navy spokesperson. “The San Francisco Department of Public Health’s letter references a single outlier air sample that detected Plutonium-239 above the regulatory action level,” a Navy spokesperson said in a statement to The Times. “Regulatory action levels are deliberately and conservatively established below levels of health concern, and a single detection of Pu-239 at this level does not pose a risk to human health or public safety.”The Navy said it has collected more than 200 ambient air monitoring samples from Parcel C since it began performing fieldwork there in 2023. The November 2024 sample was the only reading with elevated Plutonium-239, the Navy spokesperson told The Times. Plutonium isotopes emit alpha radiation that is relatively benign outside the body, because it cannot travel through solid objects. However, if these radioactive particles are inhaled, they can damage the lungs and increase the long-term risk of developing certain cancers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “What we generally are concerned about for alpha emitters is if you get them into your body, and either through inhalation, ingestion, inadvertent injection — like somebody gets a cut and it gets into their body,” said Kathryn Higley, a professor of nuclear science at Oregon State University. But it’s the lack of transparency and the 11-month delay in reporting the reading that has fomented community mistrust and raised questions regarding the military’s competency to safely clean up the polluted shipyard. In 2000, the EPA admonished naval officials for neglecting to inform residents that a fire had broken out at a hazardous landfill at Hunters Point. In 2017, two employees of the consulting firm Tetra Tech, who were hired by the Navy to assess radiation levels at Hunters Point, pleaded guilty to falsifying data in an effort to avoid having to perform additional cleanup on some areas of the shipyard. The presence of radioactive air contaminants — at any level — compounds the health risks of the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood, which already faces high exposure to toxic diesel particles from big rigs traveling on nearby freeways and cargo ships visiting the Port of San Francisco. Hunters Point Biomonitoring Foundation, a local nonprofit, has found concerning levels of toxic substances in urine screenings it has provided to several residents of the neighborhood, especially among older individuals and those living closer to the former Naval shipyard.“Now, you’re talking about adding one of the most devastating radionuclides known to the human cardiopulmonary system to the chemical burden,” said Dr. Ahmisa Porter Sumchai, the foundation’s medical director and principal investigator. “The particulate load is enough to kill people,” Sumchai added. “But you add ... a little Plutonium-239, and it’s a recipe for death.” Philip, the San Francisco health officer, said in a statement that she met with Navy officials Oct. 31 and received assurances that air and dust monitoring is “ongoing” and that the military agency is “reviewing their duct control methods to ensure they are fully protective of public health.”As a result, “no immediate action is required from a public health safety standpoint,” she said, adding that her office will continue to closely monitor the situation.Other experts argued the situation was overblown. Phil Rutherford, a radiological risk expert and corporate consultant, called the delayed notification “unacceptable” but said the San Francisco health department’s letter was “a storm in a teacup” considering the low levels of radioactive material.Higley, the Oregon State professor, said the site’s long history of delays and scandals likely added to backlash from community members. “I understand [residents’] frustration that they want to see this place cleaned up so that they can safely use it,” Higley said. “And there’s been a lot of reasons for why this process takes so long. But, from a radiological perspective, the actual residual radioactivity at the site is pretty modest.”In November 2024, a Navy contractor was grinding asphalt on the site — a construction project that, while unrelated to the site’s historical contamination, triggered the Navy to monitor for any air quality issues. One of its air samplers, in Parcel C — collected 8.16 times 10‐15 picocuries per milliliter of Plutonium-239 — twice the established action level — according to a Navy spokesperson. Navy officials sent the sample to a lab for analysis, and the initial results came back in March 2025, showing high radiation levels. In April, they ordered the lab to reanalyze the sample. In the follow-up analysis, radiation levels of Plutonium-239 were below action levels.Between May and September, the Navy “further investigated the test results and conducted a methodical review of the laboratory’s procedures and practices to ensure they complied with standards,” according to the Navy spokesperson. “A third party also conducted an analysis of the lab’s performance.”Later that September, the Navy told the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and several California state agencies about the elevated airborne radiation from Plutonium-239, in preparation for an upcoming community meeting. That information later trickled down to the San Francisco health department. At some point, the Navy published some air quality data for Parcel C gathered between October and December 2024 on a website where it curates several environmental monitoring reports. That report only showed the lower Plutonium-239 radiation levels from the reanalysis were below the action level.A Navy spokesperson told The Times that it was “mistakenly uploaded.”“As soon as the Navy realized an incomplete report was uploaded, it was removed from the website,” the spokesperson said, while the Navy worked to verify the results. All that has contributed to the confusion and concern among locals and advocates alike. Navy officials are expected to attend a Hunters Point Shipyard Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting on Nov. 17. When fieldwork is occurring at the shipyard, the Navy monitors for Plutonium-239 and several other radioactive elements that may have resulted from historic fallout from atomic weapons testing. Acquired by the Navy in 1940, Hunters Point was initially a base where ships were built, repaired and maintained during World War II. After the war ended, it became home to the Navy Radiological Defense Laboratory, a military research facility dedicated to investigating the effects of nuclear weapons and radiological safety.The Navy bombarded a fleet of U.S. warships with nuclear weapons as a part of atomic testing in the Marshall Islands. The irradiated vessels were towed to Hunters Point, and used as the material and hardware upon which scientists tested decontamination methods. In 1974, the shipyard was deactivated. Hazardous chemicals and low-level radiological contamination were identified, prompting the U.S. EPA to place the site on its Superfund list in 1989. The Navy has led cleanup efforts, excavating contaminated soil and demolishing buildings. A largely residential parcel of the base, Parcel A, was turned over to San Francisco and has been redeveloped with new town houses and condos. A collective of 300 artists live and work in former naval buildings. But dangers continue to emerge during ongoing remediation work. In recent years, the Navy has recovered radioactive objects, including dials and deck markers coated with paint containing Radium isotopes to provide a glow-in-the-dark effect. Sumchai, medical director of the biomonitoring foundation, said she has observed large stockpiles of contaminated soil held in areas without any protective fencing to prevent contaminants from spreading off site. “I view this as a local public health emergency,” Sumchai said. “I think that everything should be done to contain it and to remove people safely, if necessary, from documented areas of exposure.”But to the casual observer the site looks unremarkable.Hunters Point juts out into the San Francisco Bay just north of where Candlestick Park, the former home of the San Francisco 49ers, used to stand. Beyond the abandoned barracks and drydocks, the site is now mostly an empty expanse of grass and reeds, with an unobstructed view of the bay. The cleanup sites, including Parcel C, are still fenced off, and only those with authorized credentials are allowed onto the property.On a recent weekday afternoon, ravens flew and cawed over the long-vacant shipyard buildings, while construction crews and trucks ferried building equipment up and down Hill Drive — a steep road leading to brand new homes standing sentinel over the former shipyard.And beyond waiting for a new batch of Navy reports, there was no way of knowing what’s in the air.

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Check Your City: Air Pollution Linked to Slower Marathon Times

By Deanna Neff HealthDay ReporterTHURSDAY, Nov. 6, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Does the city you run in make a difference? Researchers say yes, it...

By Deanna Neff HealthDay ReporterTHURSDAY, Nov. 6, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Does the city you run in make a difference? Researchers say yes, it does.When marathon runners hit the wall or fall behind their goal pace, they often blame fatigue, weather or nutrition. However, a study from Brown University published in Sports Medicine suggests a less obvious, environmental culprit: air pollution.Researchers analyzed a dataset of 2.6 million marathon finish times from major U.S. races, including those in Boston, New York City and Los Angeles, spanning 17 years and matched it to estimated pollution levels from weather stations. They found a direct link between slower average finish times and higher concentrations of fine particulate matter known as PM2.5.The data also showed that the fastest runners were more affected by this effect.PM2.5 refers to tiny pollutants smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. These particles are often the focus of air-quality health advisories, because they can travel deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing inflammation and chest constriction, reports The New York Times.The study revealed a measurable slowdown tied to PM2.5 levels. For every increase of one microgram per cubic meter increase in these tiny particles, the average finish time for runners dropped.In other words, on a day with even moderately elevated pollution, a runner's time could be slower by several minutes.The Los Angeles Marathon generally had the highest estimated median pollution levels and the slowest median finish times among the races studied. While this could owe to other factors like warmer weather and a hillier course, the overall pattern of slower finishes in more polluted races held true across all cities, even when comparing different years within the same marathon city.Boston had the fastest average finish time and one of the cleanest air levels among the cities, along with Minneapolis/St. Paul and New York City.What makes this finding particularly notable is that it affects even the fittest individuals. “What’s notable is that we’re looking at people who are all incredibly healthy,” Joseph Braun, a professor of epidemiology at Brown, told The New York Times. “But even among really healthy people, air pollution is having an important, albeit subtle, effect on your physiology.”Surprisingly, the slowdown was more pronounced for faster-than-average runners. Researchers suspect this may be because elite and competitive marathoners breathe in more air — and do so more rapidly — inhaling a larger dose of the pollution over the 26.2-mile course.PM2.5 primarily comes from the burning of fossil fuels — such as from power plants, gasoline or diesel vehicles — as well as from forest fires and wood burning. While air quality has improved in many U.S. regions, short-term spikes from sources like wildfire smoke have become a growing concern, The Times said. SOURCE: The New York Times, Nov. 1, 2025Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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Health

In His Own Home

Heavily armed officers of the University of Florida police department in Gainesville, FL, responding to a 911 call from a neighbor who heard screams, break into the campus apartment of Ghanaian graduate student, Kofi Adu-Brempong. Clad in SWAT gear and ready to attack, they see the disabled doctoral student, sitting with a metal table leg in his hand and within a minute of entry, shoot the unarmed man in the face. Adu-Brempong, who because of childhood polio, needed a cane to walk, and had been suffering from mental illness, now has severe facial injuries, and is charged with resisting arrest. He is guarded outside his hospital door, his legs shackled together when going to the bathroom. The officer who shoots Kofi, and who had previously been caught cruising through town throwing eggs at residents of a Black neighborhood, is not suspended or fired. Student protests lead the administration to drop charges but calls for revoking SWAT-like teams on campus go unheard. Kofi’s shooting is not an isolated incident but part of an ongoing pattern of police brutality against Blacks and a stark reminder of the dangers of increasingly militarized campuses nationwide. In His Own Home came out of outrage by a small group of concerned community members committed to seeing social justice happen on a local level. This documentary is an educational and organizing tool, especially calling for our communities to be safe from violence by racist and over-armed police.

Social Justice
Health
Activism

Vanishing Springs

The Florida you know is a lie. In contrast to what Americans have been told, Florida’s magic is not found in the giant mouse, the rolling green golf courses, or in the beachside palaces. The beauty and uniqueness of Florida is under our feet - the aquifer. This pure, crystal clear water is the life blood of our state and without it, life as we know it in the sunshine state would not exist. This life sustaining force is only seen where it bubbles up to the surface through Florida’s collection of 1,000 springs. These springs were originally what drew society to this land. Wealthy tourists in the 1900’s flooded the Florida springs seeking medicinal cures from its pristine waters. As springs became a popular tourist destination, spring houses were built around these pools of water. When this development began, the springs began flowing less and some eventually stopped altogether. People assumed this was the natural order of this wonder and moved on. Theme parks, golf courses and resorts were erected to entice tourists to visit Florida, the natural beauty of the state soon faded out of our memory. The springs of Florida now silently suffer from the effects of continued development in Florida. The current strain we are placing on the fragile ecosystem is choking the life out of our state. Overdevelopment is one of the leading forces that is damaging the springs. The once pure sources of water no longer boil up like a fountain the way they have for centuries. The water that the springs do produce is polluted by nitrates. This pollution fuels the growth of toxic algae blooms, which are taking over springs and the rivers they feed, thus putting our health at risk. Over 90% of our drinking water gushes out of these sapphire pools. These glorious reservoirs have begun to shrink. If something is not done soon, the springs will simply become part of Florida history. In southern Florida they already have. Springs once bubbled up all across the state. They were wiped out in South Florida decades ago by the ditching and draining of the landscape as well as over-pumping of the aquifer. This water was then sprayed on suburban lawns and farmers' fields, run through showers and flushed down toilets, turned into steam to crank turbines for electricity, or siphoned into plastic bottles for sale around the country. Because of poor use and neglect of our greatest resource, we will soon be without this supply of fresh water. Floridians regard their water supply as abundant and cheap, when the fact is it's neither. Until this attitude changes, the springs will not be rescued.

Water
Conservation
Health

Lead in the Land

Lead in the Land is a documentary focusing on the harsh reality and far-reaching effects of lead poisoning, an invisible and insidious threat afflicting thousands of children in the United States. The film sheds light on the circumstances around lead poisoning, examining its causes, effects and potential solutions.

Chemicals
Social Justice
Health

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