In Today’s Note:

• 9 Kinds of Microplastics Found in Human Hearts♥

• Vape Ingredients: Metals, Nicotine…Radioactive Polonium? 🚬

• Hotter the Temp, Hotter on Your Heart🔥

• Drug Makers Triple the Price Drugs💊

“A healthy outside starts from the inside.” – Robert Urich

9 Kinds of Microplastics Are in Your Heart♥

1/Microplastics Found in Human Heart Tissues

In a groundbreaking pilot study, researchers have discovered the presence of microplastics in human heart tissues, shedding light on the extent of microplastic contamination within our bodies. The study, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, utilized advanced techniques like laser direct infrared chemical imaging and scanning electron microscopy. The investigation involved analyzing heart tissues from 15 patients who underwent heart surgery, with samples taken before and after the procedure.

2/ Implications and Research Directions

The research revealed that while microplastics were not uniformly present in all tissue samples, nine types were identified across five different tissue types, with diameters reaching up to 469 μm. The study also found microplastics in blood samples collected from participants before and after surgery, with alterations in the type and size distribution post-surgery. These findings suggest that microplastics may be introduced to the body during surgery. The researchers emphasized the need for further exploration into the potential health effects of microplastics in internal organs, calling for extended research to understand the impact of microplastic exposure on human health.

Radioactive Polonium🚬

1/Uncertainty in E-cigarette Contents and Health Impacts

Understanding the contents of e-cigarettes, disposable vapes, and e-liquids is a complex challenge. The sheer variety of products, changing ingredients upon heating, and inadequate labeling contribute to this uncertainty. Analytical chemistry studies reveal some common ingredients, such as nicotine, flavoring chemicals, and carrier liquids like propylene glycol and glycerine. However, the presence of volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, carcinogens, and unexpected chemicals like 2-chlorophenol raises concerns about potential health risks. Given the myriad factors at play, the health impacts of e-cigarette use remain variable and often unknown.

2/Complexities in E-cigarette Composition and Labeling

E-cigarette users face challenges in assessing what they inhale due to the complexity of ingredients and materials involved. Toxic metals like arsenic, lead, chromium, and nickel, as well as degradation products like formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein, can be detected in e-liquids and users' bodily fluids. The lack of comprehensive labeling compounds the issue. Nicotine concentrations may differ from labels, and flavors are often ambiguously named, masking the actual chemical composition. Even "food-grade" flavoring chemicals, when inhaled, can pose unique health risks. Limited information about these risks and interactions hampers regulatory efforts and informed decision-making.

Hotter the Temp, Hotter on Your Heart🔥

1/Health Risks of Extreme Heat

The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme heat events pose significant health risks to people around the world. Exposure to excessive heat can lead to dehydration, stress on the heart and other organs, and worsened pre-existing health conditions. Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and those with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, are particularly at risk. Mental health can also be affected, with studies indicating an increased risk of suicide and mental health-related emergency visits during extreme heat periods.

2/Impact on Air Quality and Disease Spread

Extreme heat exacerbates air pollution, reducing lung function and causing premature deaths due to conditions like ozone pollution. Additionally, higher temperatures promote the spread of infectious diseases, as changes in temperature and humidity create favorable conditions for disease transmission. Pathogens become more active and potent in warmer climates, potentially leading to higher infection rates. Such diseases include dengue fever, malaria, Zika virus, chikungunya, and cholera.

3/Mitigation and Solutions

To address the health impacts of extreme heat, governments and communities must implement various strategies. These include reducing carbon emissions to combat global warming, providing education on heat-related risks, establishing cooling centers, and improving city planning to incorporate more green spaces and heat-resilient infrastructure. Changing public discourse to emphasize the danger of extreme heat and its timing within the season could also enhance awareness and preparedness. Overall, collective efforts are essential to protect public health in the face of escalating extreme heat events.

Drug Makers Have Tripled the Prices of Top Medicare Drugs💊

1/Soaring Drug Prices in Medicare Part D

A new analysis by AARP reveals that the top 25 costliest drugs for Medicare Part D plans have experienced significant price hikes, with average increases exceeding three times their list prices since entering the market. These price hikes have far surpassed the rate of inflation, ranging from 20 percent to a staggering 739 percent during the drugs' lifetimes on the market. The average lifetime price increase for these drugs was 226 percent, with the highest increases observed in drugs that have been on the market the longest.

2/Impact on Medicare and Upcoming Changes

In 2021, Medicare Part D spent approximately $80.9 billion on the top 25 drugs analyzed, affecting over 10 million enrollees. AARP's report underscores the financial burden faced by Medicare Part D enrollees, who often resort to cost-coping strategies due to high drug costs. The analysis comes amid the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which aims to curb escalating drug prices by requiring rebates from drug companies that increase prices faster than inflation. Additionally, Medicare will soon begin direct price negotiations with drug manufacturers. Several of the drugs targeted for price negotiations are included in the top 25 costliest drugs identified in the AARP report.

Disclaimer: This health newsletter is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. The views expressed in the newsletter are those of the authors and not necessarily of the publisher or editor. Any information presented should be carefully evaluated and discussed with a healthcare provider before making any changes to medical or lifestyle choices.