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Home , Bad breath, Body odor

September 2018

National Institutes of Health • Department of Health and Services • newsinhealth.nih.gov

Inside News: 3 Body 4 Knee Arthritis and Weight Loss 4 Lead 4 Prescription Drug Disposal Breathe Easier Dealing with Bad Air Quality Even though you can’t see expert at NIH. “As a it, the air you breathe can result, air passages affect your health. Pollut- narrow, which makes ed air can cause difficulty it much harder to , flare-ups of al- breathe.” lergy or asthma, and other Another type of problems. Long-term outdoor pollutant that exposure to air pollution affects health is partic- can raise the risk of other ulates. These are fine diseases, including heart and coarse particles disease and cancer. that are released when Some people think of fuel is burned. They air pollution as some- can come from things thing that’s found mainly like cars, power plants, outside. They may pic- and wildfires. Research ture cars idling or power has linked particulates plants with smoke stacks. to short- and long-term But air pollution can also lung problems. occur inside—in homes, To track these offices, or even schools. and other harmful Whether outdoors or understand and reduce the impact pollutants, air quality indoors, the effects of air pollution that air pollution—both outdoors monitors have been set up at over are most obvious for those who and indoors—has on health. 1,000 locations across the country. already have difficulty breathing. The U.S. Environmental Protection “All people are likely susceptible to What’s Outside • Several different Agency uses these monitors to the adverse effects of air pollution. types of pollutants can affect your produce the Air Quality Index (AQI). But people who have chronic lung health. When the weather is warm, The index can be found online at diseases such as asthma are more an invisible gas called ozone can www.airnow.gov. susceptible,” explains Dr. Nadia make it harder for some people People who are sensitive to Hansel, who studies lung problems to breathe. This gas is created outdoor pollution may want to use at Johns Hopkins University. when sunlight triggers a chemical the AQI to track when levels are NIH researchers are working to reaction between oxygen and certain high. This information can help pollutants from cars, factories, and you make choices about when to do other sources. outdoor activities. Ozone can irritate the lining of Definitions continued on page 2 your airways and . People with asthma and other lung conditions Asthma are more likely to feel its effects. A chronic lung disease that causes “When people with poorly wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and controlled asthma are exposed to trouble breathing. @ low levels of ozone, the amount of Subscribe inflammation in the lungs goes way Swelling, redness, or irritation caused by up,” explains Dr. Daryl Zeldin, a lung newsinhealth.nih.gov the body’s protective response to injury or and environmental health science infection. 2 newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/09 continued from page 1 “Studies have shown that high pollutant levels inside the home can Improving Air Indoors • Indoor Wise Choices make breathing harder for people air pollution can be harmful, too. with COPD,” Hansel says. Tips to Breathe Easier It can come from many sources. Hansel’s team is now testing To reduce the effects of poor quality Secondhand tobacco smoke contains whether using air cleaners with air on your health: tiny particles that can hurt your special filters in the home can lungs. Gas stoves and appliances can l Avoid outdoor activities in the decrease COPD symptoms. The create harmful gases. afternoons on warm days, when filters they’re testing remove both Pets and pests (such as mice and the risk of air pollution is highest. particulates and nitrogen dioxide, a cockroaches) can shed substances, l gas pollutant produced by cooking. Avoid strenuous outdoor activi- called allergens, that cause allergies. ties if the air is polluted. Check The researchers will compare Mold and dust mites also produce your region’s air quality index. COPD symptoms in people who use allergens. Even furniture and Orange and red mean it’s a bad the filters with those who don’t. They cleaning products can release air day, so people with lung prob- hope the use of the filters will also harmful compounds into the air. lems should avoid the outdoors. reduce hospital visits. In recent years, researchers have Purple and maroon mean air pol- Research has shown that improv- learned a lot about how exposure to lution is extreme, and everyone ing indoor air quality in the home indoor pollutants contribute to dis- should try to stay in an indoor can improve the health of kids with ease. “Studies are now asking: What environment with clean air. lung conditions, explains Dr. Wanda do we do about it? What sorts of l Phipatanakul, a children’s health Reduce pollutants in your home. things can help reduce some of these Don’t let anyone smoke in your expert at Boston Children’s Hospital. exposures?” Zeldin says. home. Avoid burning candles, But while air quality in the home Several NIH-funded researchers , or wood fires. Run fans matters, children can spend more are looking at ways to reduce harm or open a window when cooking. than eight hours a day indoors at from indoor air pollution. Hansel Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter school. Improving air quality in studies the use of air cleaners (also instead of sweeping to avoid schools has the potential to improve called air purifiers) to improve the stirring up dust and allergens. the health of many children at once, air quality for older adults with Phipatanakul adds. chronic obstructive pulmonary “Home-based interventions help disease (COPD). This condition Inside Out • One good thing about individual families, but targeting makes it hard to breathe and puts indoor air pollution is that many schools could help all the kids people at increased risk of dangerous causes can be removed or changed. that are there, and has much more lung infections, such as pneumonia. “It’s difficult to change the outdoor potential for impact,” she says. environment,” Phipatanakul says, Phipatanakul is running an NIH- “but indoors is more contained.” NIH News in Health funded study in about 40 schools. A simple tool for many homes is The intervention includes air ISSN 2375-6993 (Print) ISSN 1556-3898 (Online) making sure inside air has a chance cleaners in classrooms to remove Editor Harrison Wein, Ph.D. to escape. “Ventilating your house, particles and special pest control such as opening windows, can actu- Managing Editor Tianna Hicklin, Ph.D. strategies to reduce allergens. The ally lower the air pollution levels Graphics Alan Defibaugh (illustrations), Bryan Ewsichek (design) researchers are tracking children inside, and it really doesn’t cost with asthma at the schools over the Contributors Geri Piazza and Sharon Reynolds anything,” Hansel explains. school year to see if the intervention Use our articles and illustrations in your own This strategy may not work on publication. Our material is not copyrighted. improves their symptoms. days when outdoor pollution is very Please acknowledge NIH News in Health as the Research has shown that, in addi- high, she says. Paying attention to source and send us a copy. tion to improving health, improving the AQI or other measures of out- indoor air quality can also boost how door air quality can help you decide well kids do in school. “Kids who when to let inside air out. newsinhealth.nih.gov come to school and aren’t as sick are Learn more about air pollution at going to do better. So that’s kind of www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/ the overall goal,” Phipatanakul says. agents/air-pollution/index.cfm. n NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®

Office of Communications & Public Liaison Building 31, Room 5B52 Bethesda, MD 20892-2094 For more about air quality and your health, email: [email protected] Web see “Links” in the online article: phone: 301-451-8224 Links newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/09/breathe-easier 3 newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/09 Smelling Sickness May Be Sign of Disease Did anyone ever tell you that released through your sweat you smell bad? Funky breath or glands. That can make your stinky underarms can happen armpits and skin smell bad. to anyone, at any age. Whether It’s normal for stress to cause or not you’ve noticed them, some smelly compounds to be released body can signal a health through your sweat. problem. But most breath and But your armpits can smell for body odors are normal. other reasons too. Both moisture “ is most often and hair enable to thrive. caused by bacteria on the These bacteria can make smelly teeth and ,” explains compounds. Bathing, shaving, Dr. Madeleine S. Deming, an and can help keep internal medicine expert at the these odors in check. NIH Clinical Center. Because certain diseases It’s normal if your breath cause breath or body odors, smells a little in the morning, NIH-supported researchers are especially if you slept with your developing an electronic “nose” mouth open. A dry mouth allows to help doctors detect them. This bacteria to thrive. Bacteria that research is at an early stage. In live in the mouth can make the lab, scientists can already compounds that have sulfur. analyze odor compounds from These compounds are especially the body. They’ve even trained stinky. They can smell like to detect signs of certain rotten eggs or , for example. cancers in breath samples. If bad breath isn’t cleared up Other causes of foul breath If you’re concerned about a new by brushing your teeth or using odor may be sinus, , or lung or worsening body odor, “a trip to , it may be a sign of infections. These need to be treated the doctor for evaluation is always another issue. Over time, bacteria by a health care professional, too. the first step,” Deming advises. “Bad can cause and gum Your breath can also carry clues breath is best assessed by a dentist.” disease. Decay and gum disease do of disease from other parts of your Your dentist can examine your not smell good. Both require a trip to body. That’s because you exhale mouth for signs of trouble. If body the dentist for treatment. more than just air. Your breath also odor is your concern, your doctor contains gassy compounds that can conduct a physical exam. If move from your organs through the needed, your doctor can suggest bloodstream into your lungs. further tests. Wise Choices Breath that smells fruity or like “A trial of avoiding that are Concerned About a rotten apples, for example, can be known to cause body odor may be Body Odor? a sign of that’s not under considered. In rare cases of body control. odor due to an underlying medical To prevent strong breath or body Rarely, people can have bad condition, the treatment of that odor: breath because of organ failure. A condition may help to manage the l Bathe, wear clean clothes, and person with may have odor as well,” Deming says. use deodorant. breath that smells like See the Wise Choices box for some l Clean and care for your teeth and or urine. Serious disease can ways to prevent strong breath and mouth. make breath smell musty or like body odors. n and rotten eggs. l Keep your mouth moist and your Compounds that are transported body dry. through the blood can also be l Avoid eating , garlic, and other strong-smelling foods. For more about body odors and health, Web see “Links” in the online article: Links newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/09/smelling-sickness 4 NIHnewsinhealth.nih.gov/ News in Health2018/09

For links to more information, please visit our website Health Capsules and see these stories online. Weight Loss Helps Knee Arthritis Recent research shows that people Recently, an NIH-funded research lower level of a substance related to who are overweight can reduce their team wondered whether 20% weight pain and swelling. symptoms of knee arthritis by losing loss would help reduce symptoms “The importance of our study is at least 20% of their weight. even more. that a weight loss of 20% or greater— Millions of older adults have stiff, The study included 240 over- double the previous standard— painful knees caused by arthritis. weight and obese adults over 55 with results in better clinical outcomes Arthritis causes a breakdown of the painful knee arthritis. The research and is achievable without surgical or cushion of tissue inside the knee team helped them to exercise and pharmacologic intervention,” says joint. Without this cushion, bone can diet to lose weight. lead researcher Stephen P. Messier rub against bone. That may cause The researchers compared the at Wake Forest University. pain and swelling. Being overweight people who lost 20% or more body The researchers are planning to could make the symptoms worse. weight with those who lost 5%. enroll three times as many people Experts generally advise adults The people who lost 20% or more for their next study of pain reduction who are overweight or obese to reported less pain. They could from diet and exercise. n lose at least 10% of their weight to walk farther in a 6-minute test. In reduce symptoms of knee arthritis. addition, blood tests revealed a much

Prevent Lead Exposure Lead is toxic. No amount is safe. Older homes can also have lead problems in kids. A high level of lead The more you have in your body, the in the pipes. It can end up in your is also linked to delayed and worse its effects. drinking water. hearing problems. Lead is a metal found in nature. It Be careful about using lead-glazed In adults, a high level of lead is can get into your body in many ways. pottery and porcelain for or linked to high blood pressure and You might breathe, drink, or eat drinks. Sometimes lead leaches out. tremor. It also can cause kidney, things that have lead. Lead can also be found in some heart, and nerve problems. In the US, lead used to be added painted toys. Kids put toys and their If you’re concerned about lead, to gasoline and paint. Homes built hands into their mouths. And small your local health department can before 1978 may still have lead paint. children are at most risk of lead tell you how to test for lead in your When the paint peels and cracks, it poisoning. home. Learn more about lead at makes lead dust you may breathe in Lead is linked to a lower IQ score, www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/ or small children may eat. learning challenges, and behavior agents/lead. n

Featured Website Safe Disposal of Prescription Drugs teens.drugabuse.gov/parents/safely-dispose-your-prescription-medicines

Teens who misuse prescription This interactive website shows you drugs most often get them from how to get rid of expired, unwanted, friends and family. Keep your or unused prescription drugs. medicine out of teens’ hands. How to get NIH News in Health Subscribe online. Get it in print. Visit newsinhealth.nih.gov Contact us (see page two) to get print Subscribe copies free of charge by mail for display in offices, libraries, or clinics within the U.S.