Health capsules

Kids with food allergies at risk of asthma, rhinitis

Children with food allergy have a high risk of developing asthma and allergic rhinitis, warns a study. The risk increases with the number of food allergies, said researchers. "Eczema, asthma and allergic rhinitis are among the most common childhood medical conditions in the US," said a researcher. The study is an analysis of the e-health records of more than one million children from 2001 to 2015. Children with existing food allergy were at increased risk of developing asthma and allergic rhinitis. As many as 35 per cent developed asthma; and patients with multiple food allergies were at increased risk of developing asthma as compared to those with a single food allergy, another 35 per cent of patients with food allergy went on to develop allergic rhinitis, added researchers. Allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, is a type of inflammation in the nose which occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens in the air.Allergy to peanut, milk and egg significantly predisposed children to asthma and allergic rhinitis. The study was published in the journal BMC Pediatrics.

Disrupted sleep habits may cause suicidal thoughts

Staying awake at night or lack of good sleep may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts, a new study has found. The researchers highlighted the link between sleep problems, suicidal thoughts and behaviour changes. In this study, 18 participants were interviewed about the role sleep problems have on suicidal tendencies. Three inter-related pathways to suicidal thoughts were identified arising from sleep problems. The first — being awake at night heightened the risks of suicidal thoughts and attempts, partly a consequence of the lack of help or resources available at night. Secondly, a prolonged failure to achieve a good sleep at night made life harder for respondents, adding to depression, increased negative thinking, attention difficulties and inactivity. Finally, respondents said sleep acted as an alternative to suicide, providing an escape from their problems. However, the desire to use sleep as an avoidance tactic led to increased day-time sleeping which in turn caused disturbed sleeping patterns — reinforcing the first two pathways, said the paper published in the journal BMJ Open.

Using social sites may cut BP, diabetes in elderly

Being active on social media could reduce loneliness as well as chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes in older adults, says a study. It is because, social media technology like emails, Twitter, Skype has the potential to cultivate successful relationships among older adults, it says. Researchers said participants active on social media experienced less lonliness, were more satisfied with life and had fewer depressive symptoms and chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. For the study, the team examined 591 participants with an average age of 68.  The findings are published online in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking. — Agencies