stroke

Bonus Health Post: You, Me, and the Tiny Plastic Invaders: What Microplastics Are Doing to Our Health

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What do your water bottle, dinner plate, and yoga mat have in common? If you guessed “they’re watching me,” you might need more sleep. But if you guessed plastic—you’re on to something. In fact, you might even be part plastic without knowing it.

🌍 Plastic, Plastic Everywhere

We’ve all seen the photos of plastic waste swirling in oceans or stuck in sea turtles’ noses. But the real plot twist? Microplastics—tiny fragments less than 5mm—are now in our food, water, air, and even our bloodstreams. They’re showing up in bottled water, salt, produce, breast milk, and (brace yourself) even the human placenta.

A recent study found that one bottle of water can contain up to 240,000 microscopic plastic bits. We’re drinking them, eating them, and—yes—inhaling them.

🧠🫁🚨 Where Do They Go?

Once inside the body, microplastics don’t just leave a thank-you note and exit politely. Particles small enough (under 200 nanometers) can sneak past your gut lining, enter your bloodstream, and get comfortable in places like your lungs, liver, arteries, and even your brain. Yikes.

One study even found microplastics inside artery plaques, increasing the risk of stroke and heart attack. Another found them in carotid artery tissue—and folks with plastic in those tissues were more likely to have serious heart events.

🧬 What They Can Do

Scientists aren’t just speculating anymore. Lab and animal studies show microplastics can:

  • Trigger inflammation and oxidative stress
  • Damage cells and DNA
  • Disrupt hormones and fertility
  • Alter the gut microbiome
  • Worsen lung, heart, and brain health

And since plastics can absorb other toxins like BPA or phthalates, they sometimes act like microscopic taxis carrying harmful chemicals to your cells. Not the Uber we ordered.

🤰 Should We Be Worried?

Yes—but not panicked. While we don’t yet have long-term human studies that say “THIS much plastic causes THAT disease,” we do know these particles don’t belong in our bodies. They’re not biodegradable, and some may be with us for life.

Think of it like secondhand smoke in the early days—we didn’t know exactly how harmful it was, but the writing was already on the wall.

🧼 So, What Can You Do?

Here’s the good news: You can reduce your exposure starting today with a few small changes:

  • Use glass, stainless steel, or ceramic instead of plastic, especially for hot foods or drinks
  • Don’t microwave in plastic (yes, even the “microwave-safe” ones)
  • Choose filtered tap water over bottled
  • Cut back on single-use plastics and plastic-packaged foods
  • Support policies that reduce plastic use and encourage safer alternatives

🌱 Bottom Line:

Microplastics may be tiny, but their impact isn’t. The science is catching up, and while we wait for clearer answers, there’s power in awareness and action. You don’t have to live in a bubble (preferably not a plastic one), but a few smart swaps can protect your health—and the planet.

🙋‍♂️ Questions for You:

  1. What’s one plastic item you could swap out this week?
  2. Have you ever tried a “plastic-free” challenge or product?
  3. What surprises you most about where microplastics are found?

Health Facts: Think Twice or Three Times Before Hanging Out With the Negative Neds

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Here are two lesser-known but important health facts about the impact of optimism:

  1. Optimism strengthens immune function: Studies have shown that optimistic individuals tend to have stronger immune responses, particularly in situations involving stress. Optimists produce more antibodies when exposed to viruses or vaccines, suggesting a better defense against infections.
  2. Optimism supports cardiovascular health: While the connection between mental well-being and heart health is often mentioned, it’s lesser known that optimism can significantly reduce the risk of stroke. Research suggests that people with a more positive outlook tend to have healthier blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and are less likely to experience strokes, even when other risk factors are present.

These insights highlight how optimism plays a broader role in maintaining both immune and cardiovascular health.

Source: ChatGPT

Health Facts: DYK This About Energy Drinks?

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Here are two important but lesser-known health facts about consuming energy drinks:

Impact on Heart Health: Energy drinks can significantly impact heart health, even in healthy individuals. They often contain high levels of caffeine and other stimulants like taurine and guarana, which can lead to increased heart rate and blood pressure. This can result in palpitations, arrhythmias, and, in some cases, severe cardiac events. A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that consuming energy drinks can alter the heart’s electrical activity and increase blood pressure, which can be particularly risky for individuals with underlying heart conditions.

Effect on Mental Health: Regular consumption of energy drinks can negatively affect mental health, contributing to increased anxiety, stress, and even depression. The high caffeine content, combined with other stimulants, can lead to overstimulation of the nervous system. This can cause jitteriness, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Poor sleep quality, in turn, exacerbates mental health issues, creating a cycle of dependence on energy drinks for alertness and subsequent negative impacts on mental well-being. Research has shown a correlation between energy drink consumption and increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among adolescents and young adults.

    Health Tip for Today ~ Can You Eat Too Much Protein?

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    Yes, you can eat too much protein. According to an online article by the Cleveland Clinic, if you follow protein driven diets or take protein supplements (shakes and powders) you might be overdoing it. Check the for the following signs provided by the Cleveland Clinic that might indicate your diet is too high in protein.

    Some signs that you’re eating too much protein include:

    • Bad breath: Eating too much protein, especially without a balanced amount of carbs, can cause ketosis, a metabolic state that happens when your body starts burning fat for energy. “Keto breath,” as it’s called, is one of the side effects.
    • Dehydration: Your kidneys are responsible for filtering waste from your blood, including the byproducts of protein. They need water to make the process work smoothly, but when they’re stressed — like when you consume too much protein — you can end up dehydrated.
    • Digestive problems: Eating too much protein, especially in the form of red meat, can bring on unwelcome tummy troubles like bloating, constipation and diarrhea.
    • Extra calories: “High protein intake also means ingesting excess calories,” Patton says. Your body turns excess protein into fat, so it’s important to know how much you need in order to maintain your weight (or to lose weight, if that’s your goal).
    • Foamy urine: This is one sign that you should head to the doctor ASAP. Foamy or bubbly pee is a sign of proteinuria, a high level of protein in your urine, which can be a sign of kidney damage.
    • Kidney issues: High amounts of protein make your kidneys work harder, which can cause kidney damage or make existing kidney problems worse. (High-protein diets aren’t recommended for people who have kidney troubles.)

    Eating too much protein in the form of red meat comes with its own set of risks, including heart attack, stroke and certain types of cancer.

    Health Tip of the Day ~ What is Your Body Telling You?

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    4 Ways Your Body Talks to You

    Red Flag Messages from Your Body – Your body will often let you know if something suddenly goes drastically wrong. If something feels really off — like changes in being able to see, talk, walk, think clearly, or communicate, or having chest pain or shortness of breath — call 911. Don’t wait to see if you feel better. If it’s a stroke or heart attack, you need medical care right away.

    Do You Need a Rest Day from Exercise? You don’t feel up to your regular workout. Should you pass? Tune in. Do you feel sore and worn out? Then you may need a lighter day. Or are you feeling tempted by your favorite show and your couch? How often you need rest depends on how hard you work out and what you do, and how you feel. If you’re not in pain, some movement is usually a good idea. A certified personal trainer can give you a training schedule that builds in recovery.

    Your Heart Rate Feels Off ~ You may feel lightheaded or dizzy with a racing, fluttering, or slowed pulse. If it lasts more than a few minutes or happens often, it might be from an illness or heart rhythm problem. Serious chest pain or trouble walking or speaking could mean a heart attack or stroke: Get to a hospital. An easy workout that suddenly seems hard and raises your pulse longer than usual may mean you’re overdoing it. Talk to a doctor about your symptoms.

    Mood Matters ~ Everyone has times when they feel down or anxious. But if you have depression or anxiety, those conditions can affect you physically as well as emotionally. You might notice that you cry a lot, isolate yourself, avoid doing things you normally love, have tense muscles, find it hard to concentrate, and sleep or eat more (or less) than normal. These are cues to talk to your doctor or a therapist to get help.

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    Health Tip of the Day ~ The Color is Purple

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    Purple Veggies and Fruit Have Big Time Health Benefits

    Purple-colored foods include various fruits and vegetables, such as eggplants and grapes. These foods could have several health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease and cataracts.

    Eating the rainbow involves eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, including purple foods. Setting an intention to add purple produce to meals may encourage people to try new foods and make their diet healthier.

    The purple color of fruits and vegetables indicates a rich antioxidant content, which may help to improve overall health and prevent health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

    Purple fruits and vegetables are a nutritious addition to a healthy diet for many people, which can have physiological and psychological benefits. Increased intake of fruits and vegetables may help to lower the riskTrusted Source of health conditions such as obesity, cataracts, and heart disease.

    Purple foods contain anthocyanins, which are antioxidants that prevent and repair cellular damage. They are natural plant pigments that cause red and blue colors in certain plants. Antioxidants may help to prevent cancer, heart conditions, and neurological conditions. They may also protect against radiation, pathogens, and stress conditions.

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    Today’s Health Tip ~ Sugar is Not Your Friend

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    Cut Back on the Sugar for a Healthier You

    We all know smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health, but a more stealth killer may be having the same level of impact: sugar. Just as cigarettes have long been linked to preventable mortality from cancer, heart disease, and stroke, researchers have increasingly found that consuming added sugar leads to similarly deadly conditions. According to a 2016 report in the journal Nutrients, too much sugar leads to “a variety of chronic diseases including obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as well as cognitive decline and even some cancers.” 

    Today’s Health Tip ~ Laughing is Good for Your Heart

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    It’s well known that laughter can be a valuable coping tool for those suffering from medical conditions. But according to one 2016 study published in The Journal of Epidemiology, it could also directly contribute to a healthier heart. Among male and female study subjects over the age of 65, those who reported laughing daily had drastically lower rates of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

    Today’s Health Tip ~ What Are the Health Benefits of Walking?

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    Health benefits of walking

    You carry your own body weight when you walk. This is known as weight-bearing exercise. Some of the benefits include:

      • increased cardiovascular and pulmonary (heart and lung) fitness
      • reduced risk of heart disease and stroke
      • improved management of conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness, and diabetes
      • stronger bones and improved balance
      • increased muscle strength and endurance
      • reduced body fat.

    Walking for 30 minutes a day

    To get the health benefits, try to walk for at least 30 minutes as briskly as you can on most days of the week. ‘Brisk’ means that you can still talk but not sing, and you may be puffing slightly. Moderate activities such as walking pose little health risk but, if you have a medical condition, check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program of physical activity.

    Today’s Health Tip ~ Foods that may Lead to a Stroke

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    The Good News is that Strokes can be Prevented

    One key element to this is your diet. Here are some food items that have been negatively associated with an increase in stroke risk.

    Processed Foods That Contain Trans Fat – Processed foods or junk foods, such as crackers, chips, store-bought goods and fried foods, typically contain a lot of trans fat, a very dangerous type of fat because it increases inflammation in the body. . . .  It is t is linked to increased stroke risk and also many other serious, life-threatening diseases as well.

    Smoked And Processed Meats – There are certain preservatives found in smoked and processed meats — namely sodium nitrite and nitrate — that damage your blood vessels and thus increase your stroke risk. Not only that, but nitrates convert into nitrosamines which have been linked to certain cancers as well. Examples of smoked and processed meats include hot dogs, bacon and salami. Ideally, you would limit smoked and processed meats completely from your diet. However, if this cannot be done, at least ensure that you limit their quantities, as well as ensure that your meat is grass-fed, organic, free of nitrates and is labelled as 100 percent beef.

    Table Salt – By salt, this means processed salt found in packaged foods and table salt. Natural, unrefined salt, such as Himalayan salt, is not associated with increased stroke risk and can be used to flavour food. In fact, natural salt can even help to regulate your blood pressure.

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