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MONDAY, Dec. 20, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- It is likely a connection few have considered, but new research in mice suggests that obesity may up your risk of gum disease.Specifically, chronic inflammation caused by obesity may trigger the development of cells called osteoclasts that break down bone tissue — including alveolar bone that holds teeth in place.“Although there is a clear relationship between the degree of obesity and periodontal (gum) disease, the mechanisms that underpin the links between these conditions were not completely understood,” said researcher Dr. Keith Kirkwood, a professor of oral biology at the University of Buffalo's School of Dental Medicine.For the new study, he and his colleagues fed two groups of mice vastly different diets for 16 weeks. One group...

SUNDAY, Dec. 19, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- If you're among the many people who use space heaters and generators during the winter, you need to guard against fire and carbon monoxide (CO) hazards, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says. In the United States, that's especially true for Black Americans, who have the highest rate of fire deaths — nearly twice the rate of the general population — and who account for 22% of portable generator-related CO deaths, nearly 170 from 2010 to 2020. Space heaters are involved in about 1,700 fires in the United States each year that result in about 80 deaths and 160 injuries annually, according to the CPSC. The safety experts advise that you should always plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet and never into a power...

SATURDAY, Dec. 18, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Like Mr. Grinch, heartburn can crush your holiday, but there are easy ways to prevent it."Heartburn is caused by acidic stomach content moving into the esophagus, or gullet, which is much less resistant to acid," said Dr. James East, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London. "This results in irritation and damage to the lining of the esophagus, literally a burn, that causes pain."Some holiday favorites can be culprits. Eating large, fatty, greasy or spicy meals can trigger heartburn, as can onions, citrus fruits, tomato-based foods, and even chocolate and peppermint. Alcohol, fizzy beverages and caffeine can bring on heartburn, too.Chronic heartburn is known as GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease.So how can you avoid it...

FRIDAY, Dec. 17, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Unvaccinated students exposed to COVID-19 can remain in the classroom as long as they're regularly tested for the virus at school, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.The CDC pointed to two new studies from California and Illinois as evidence that school districts can employ a "test-to-stay" policy to keep kids safely with in-person learning, even if they've come into contact with someone infected with COVID.“These studies demonstrate that test-to-stay works to keep unvaccinated children in school safely,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told reporters Friday, the Washington Post reported. The policy is “a promising and now proven practice," Walensky added.Up to now, students usually are sent home to quarantine...