Many of us get our dyed or straightened regularly with products that contain thousands of chemicals, including some known carcinogens, such as formaldehyde. New research is teasing out whether some salon habits raise our cancer risk.
The Sister Study, sponsored by the National Institute of Environmental Health, looked at the medical records and lifestyle surveys from nearly 50,000 women between the ages of 35 and 74 who had a sister with breast cancer.
An analysis of the data published this week found that the routine use of permanent hair dyes and chemical straighteners was associated with a significantly higher risk of breast cancer, particularly among African American women.
Now, any cancer risk from using these products is likely much smaller than, say, smoking tobacco, carrying a lot of extra weight, or not getting exercise, doctors note, and more study is needed to confirm a link to harm.
"I think it's important for women, particularly African American women, not to panic every time a study comes out," Dr. Doris Browne, a medical oncologist and former president of the National Medical Association, tells NPR. "But it should raise questions for our primary care providers.”
Read on to learn why some hair treatments might be riskier than others.
BONUS: Making Sense Of Tooth Whiteners. Should You Bleach Teeth, Or Not? |
When you have a chronic illness, it can be hard for anyone to eat right, and when you’re not getting enough to eat it’s hard to heal. Finally, some clinics and hospitals nationwide are getting that message, and adding an on-site food pantry to their pharmacies.
These pantries stock high-calorie, nutrient-rich food for cancer patients to help keep their weight up. Plus low-sugar staples for people with diabetes and low-sodium products for patients with high blood pressure.
None too soon. According to the anti-hunger group Feeding America, more than 5 million American elders don't have enough food to lead a healthy life. That number has doubled in the last two decades.
Read on to learn more about the health power of the pantry.
BONUS: What Happens To Waistlines When Doctors Prescribe Fruit And Veggies
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Get over your awkwardness, already, and save a life!
Studies find that bystanders are less likely to perform CPR on women than men, and CPR experts say part of the problem may be that manikins used in training are flat-chested.
Confronted with a curvier female form in a real emergency, some would-be good Samaritans apparently get flustered over where to put their hands to jump-start the heart. (Hint: Effective chest compressions should be performed the same way on every body type – on the sternum, not the breasts.)
A group called the United States of Women has come up with a vest for the standard CPR dummy that might help: The Womanikin is outfitted with silicone breasts.
Whatever it takes to save more lives: A 2017 study found that only 39% of women having a cardiac event in public were given CPR by strangers, as compared to 45% of the men; many more men survived.
Read on to learn more about other strategies for reducing that gender gap.
BONUS: Got Rhythm? Songs To Do CPR To
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| More of this week's health stories from NPR |
We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of NPR's health journalism on Shots and follow us on Twitter at @NPRHealth.
Your Shots editor,
Deborah Franklin
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