Poor diet and lifestyle causing strokes in younger men

UK media reports on an “alarming increase in the number of working-age people suffering strokes”. According to the Stroke Association, the number of strokes in those aged between 20 and 64 in England has gone up 25% since 2000, and nearly 50% in those aged between 40 and 54. This is of particular concern to employers and is being attributed to unhealthy lifestyles. John Barrick from the Stroke Association said, “One of the major causes is high blood pressure and often that is something people do not realise they have. High blood pressure is associated with obesity, lack of exercise, increase in salt and bad diet plus all of the things we are told we mustn't do like smoking or drinking too much.” The association believe that once a worker has suffered a stroke, employers could be doing much more to help – however prevention is always better than cure and action should be taken beforehand.

Vaccinations suspended in Mexico following infant deaths

Two babies have died and 39 others are in hospital after having been vaccinated against tuberculosis, rotavirus and hepatitis B. A total of 52 children were given the shots under the National Vaccination Program in the indigenous community of La Pimienta, San José and San Antonio del Monte, located in the municipality of Simojovel, Chiapas, Mexico. The two that died were 28 and 30 days old and others have been transferred to hospitals where one is in a serious condition, 14 are in poor condition and another 22 are stable. The Social Security Institute (IMSS) has launched an investigation and suspended all vaccinations.

Monsanto lies about the enzymes that Roundup targets

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Monsanto for false advertising. The allegation focuses on the claim that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, targets an enzyme only found in plants and not in humans or animals. It also argues that the targeted enzyme, EPSP synthase, is found in the microbiota that reside in our intestines and therefore this enzyme is found in humans and animals. Attorney T. Matthew Phillips says, “We are not trying to prove that Roundup is harmful or carcinogenic, we are merely pointing out that Monsanto is lying about the enzymes that Roundup targets. Roundup kills the weeds in your backyard and the weeds in your stomach.”

Customers force McDonald’s multiple closures

Fast-food company McDonald’s has been forced to close a total of 700 stores globally this year, and not just in underperforming stores in China and Japan. McDonald’s reported a more severe sales decline than expected in the first three months of the year and it expects sales declines to continue this month. It has begun to implement a turnaround strategy, including simplifying their cluttered menu, closing weak stores, and giving salary increments to workers at company-owned stores. But so far, McDonald’s has little to show for those efforts. CEO, Steve Easterbrook, said, “I often describe McDonald’s as possibly the most democratic — with a small ‘d’ — brand in the world....And what customers love the world over, and none more so than here in the U.S., is how they can buy into aspirational quality products, but at a McDonald’s price.” Chipotle are among the new kids ont he block eating into McDonald's sales. Hopefully, this consumer-driven trend is something we'll see plenty more of - as consumers become ever more health conscious with a desire for less processed or unprocessed food.

WHO to employ marketing tactics to sell vaccines

To overcome worldwide resistance to vaccines the World Health Organization (WHO) has enlisted the help of the world’s most successful marketeers, among them The Coca Cola Company, Pepsico and McDonalds. In a major report entitled, “Report of the SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy,” the WHO decided to adopt the food and beverage industry’s approaches: forget facts, and sell vaccines the way Coca-Cola is sold, on the basis of emotion. SAGE is the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization and their reports led to the setting up of a working group on vaccine hesitancy. This working group explored private-sector approaches to shaping behaviour, as well as strategies used by other organisations to change behaviour and concluded that the fact-free, emotion-laden Coca-Cola style marketing strategy will help the pro-vaccination movement overcome the public’s reluctance to vaccinate. In ANH’s view consumers are more informed these days and recognise how education leads to empowered decision-making.

Wi-Fi alters expression RNA molecules

A new study published in PubMed concluded that “long term exposure of 2.4 GHz RF [radiofrequency] may lead to adverse effects such as neurodegenerative diseases originated from the alteration of some MicroRNAs (miRNAs) expression and more studies should be devoted to the effects of RF radiation on miRNAs expression levels.” The aim of the study was to investigate the long-term effects of RF radiation from a Wi-Fi system on some of the miRNAs in brain tissue. The study was carried out on adult male rats with one group being exposed to 2.4 GHz RF radiation for 24 hours a day for twelve months, and the other group had the Wi-Fi turned off. The results revealed that long-term exposure can alter expression of some of the miRNAs.

We’ve just heard too, this Monday the 11th May, that 190 international scientists from 39 nations have appealed to the United Nations, UN member states and the World Health Organization (WHO) to protect humans and wildlife from electromagnetic fields and wireless technology. A welcome development indeed.

Girl with autism gets thrown off flight

15-year-old teenager, Juliette Beegle, ended up being escorted off a flight with her parents following the pilot’s “fears of autism.” After a brief interaction with an air steward, explaining that Juliette needed a hot meal to avoid a ‘melt down’, the airplane made an emergency landing in Salt Lake City with the cabin crew saying it was due to a passenger “in the back of the plane who has behavior issues.” The issue of a hot meal had been resolved and Juliette was sitting quietly watching a show as police came aboard the plane and asked the family to leave. None of the passengers felt threatened by Juliette, just the cabin crew and she was booked onto another flight. Her mother, Donna, commented, “I get the ignorance but it has to change.” They are filing a law suit but have said, “Its not about the money, its about the training.” They are filing the suit “so no one else has to go through this.”

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