As per the World Health Organization, all but 1% of the world's population is exposed to unhealthy air and also exceeds the WHO limits for pollutants. However, there are some parts of the world where aur quality has improved through policies that limits pollution, while in other parts, it has not reached the desired results.

For US, more than 25% of the population is exposed to "unhealthy" air as per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this is according to the report by the climate non-profit First Street Foundation. By 2050, the number of people exposed to "unhealthy" air will increase by more than half. The worst days of air pollution, reports BBC, "hazardous" or maroon under the EPA's system will rise by 27%.

Why are we talking about this today? It is because of the recent wildfire in California, which started on January 7. This is also one of the factors that is spiking the PM2.5 levels. It has increased by up to five micrograms per cubic metre in the western US in the past decade.

What is PM2.5?

It is a type of air pollution which is made of particulate matter and measures 2.5 micrometres across or less. It is roughly 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair. These particles are made with a mixture of solid and liquid substances, which varies in their chemical composition, including carbon, metals, and organic compounds.

These specks of airborne soot, dust and other substances can also trigger inflammation, which could also damage your brain.

As per a 2021 study titled The Changing risk and burden of wildfire in the United States, a quarter of US's PM2.5 pollution was caused by wildfire smoke. In 2023, US also witnessed a significant dip in air quality and visibility as smoke from wildfires north of the Canadian border entered across the continent. In May 2024, Canada also saw a start to its wildfire season, and one town was evacuated in British Colombia.

Wildfire smoke and its effects

Wildfires do not only affect those who live near forests, peatlands, and grasslands, but also to the cities and environment in general. It can send plumes up to 14 miles or 23km into the stratosphere, and from there, it can spread all over the globe. For instance, in 2023, the Siberian wildfires released smoke that travelled across the Pacific Oceans to reach Alaska and Seattle.

Other than PM2.5, wildfire smoke is also harmful to immune cells in lungs, and the toxicity could be four times greater than particulates from other types of pollution.

Another 2019 study titled Effects of Atmosphere Processing on the Oxidative Potential of Biomass Burning Organic Aerosols found the toxicity of smoke doubled in the hours after it was first emitted and reached four times greater toxicity at its peak.

Health Impact

There have been research that shows how pollution affects your brain. It can lead to impaired judgment, poorer performance in school and even higher levels of crime, as per the 2018 study by the London School of Economics.

Other health concerns include weight gain. There have been researches that links airborne pollution such as PM2.5 to obesity. The studies have found that children who live in most polluted areas are twice as more likely to have obesity. Some studies also find the link of air pollution harming our sense of smell. As per an Italian study from 2022, titled Association between environmental air pollution and olfactory functioning among Italian adolescents and young adults in Northern Italy, noses of teenagers and young adults became less sensitive to odors after being exposed to nitrogen dioxide, which is a component in traffic fumes.

In the recent years there have been questions about the potential of ivermectin which is used to treat cancer. These questions have surged, so have the misinformation. This was originally used as an anti-parasitic drug and it gained attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, with claims that it could treat the virus. However, these claims have been debunked by many different scientific studies. The US Food and Drug Administration also notes that no clinical trial data found ivermectin to be effective against COVID-19 in humans. Now, a new wave of discussions suggest that the drug could treat cancer. How true is that? Let's find out.

What Ivermectin Is Actually Approved For?

Ivermectin is a well-established medication that is highly effective—against parasite. It was developed to treat topical parasitic infections and has been widely used for conditions like river blindness and scabies. The drug's significance is treating these diseases was so profound that researchers who studied it won the Nobel Prize in 2015.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ivermectin tablets for treating specific parasitic infections in humans. It is also available as a lotion to treat lice and as a cream for rosacea. Additionally, veterinarians also use it to prevent and treat parasitic diseases in animals. however, none of these uses include cancer treatments.

The Misinformation Around Ivermectin

Even though there has been a lack of scientific evidence, ivermectin gained popularity as a cancer cure. The influential platforms are to be blamed. There is also a podcast episode which features a well-known actor, Mel Gibson who suggested that the drug helped people recover from Stage 4 cancer. The podcast was called "The Joe Rogan Experience". The episode received millions of views and thus lead to a spike in interest and misinformation surrounding ivermectin's potential benefits.

What added more to the controversy is that lawmakers in multiple states have proposed and even passed legislation that has made it easier to obtain ivermectin without a prescription. While this could seem like a step to expand and extend treatment options, medical experts have pointed that this could lead to misuse of an unproven drug to treat serious conditions like cancer.

What The Science Says About Ivermectin and Cancer?

As of now, there is no solid evidence that ivermectin can cure or even treat cancer in humans. There are some laboratory studies that suggest that ivermectin could kill certain cancer cells under specific condition. This was led by Dr Peter P Lee, the chair of the department of immuno-oncology at the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope in Duarte, Calif. However, these findings are preliminary and do not indicate that the drug is effective in real-world cancer treatment.

There are studies in human cells that also suggest that ivermectin could trigger immune response that could be beneficial in fighting cancer. Research in mice has shown that while ivermectin does not shrink tumors, it could be combined with existing cancer immunotherapy. Scientists are also trying to explore whether it is at all effective for cancer treatments. However, all these studies are still at their early stages.

Are There Any Risks In Using Ivermectin For Cancer?

Neurological issues: High doses can lead to blurred vision, confusion, and even seizures.

Drug interactions: Ivermectin may interfere with the way the body processes other medications, such as blood thinners, potentially leading to dangerous side effects.

Toxicity risks: Overuse can cause toxicity, leading to central nervous system damage, coma, or even death.

Delaying proven treatments: Perhaps the most dangerous risk is that some patients may forgo or delay effective cancer treatments in favor of an unproven drug, allowing the disease to progress unchecked.

Cardiovascular diseases is the number one reason for death among women and men according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Statistics show that about 44% women are living with heart diseases and it is responsible for the death of 1 in 5 women.

There are many risk factors for heart diseases like high blood pressure, which often goes undiagnosed for women. While studies have shown that women are more likely to live longer, even with diseases, a recent report shared how women are also more likely to have cardiovascular diseases than men.

According to the study published in the American College of Cardiology, even though women often try to live healthier, if they have issues like bad food habits or high blood pressure, their risk of heart disease goes up much more than it does for men. This is a big deal because, as CDC notes, heart disease is the number one killer for everyone in the United States, and we need to understand why women are affected more.

How Heart Diseases Go Undiagnosed In Women

Often doctors don't pay as much attention to the heart risks women face. They might not realize how much things like diet or stress can hurt a woman's heart. Also, women might not get as much advice on how to change their habits to be healthier. Historically, medicine has ignored, or under-studied issues faced by women or how their bodies may react to treatments.

Doctors say we need to look at each person's risks differently, because what works for one person might not work for another. We need to stop thinking that everyone's heart risks are the same and start giving women the special care they need.

Researchers looked at a lot of people in Canada, over 175,000 of them, to see how different things affect their heart health. They checked what people ate, how well they slept, if they exercised, and if they smoked. They also looked at blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure. All these things can make heart disease more likely. The researchers followed these people for years to see who got heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, and who died from heart disease. This helped them figure out how much each risk factor matters.

How Healthcare For Women Needs To Improve

Experts are emphasizing on how doctors must give women personalized advice about their heart health, because what helps one woman might not help another. We need to look at each woman's risks and give them the right care. Although this often goes unnoticed, studies have shown how estrogen has a protective effect on the heart. According to British Heart Foundation, when estrogen levels fall, your arteries build up fat causing them to be narrower and increasing your risk of heart diseases.

Living A Healthy Life

Even though bad habits can be really hard on women's hearts, good habits can really help. Eating healthy foods, moving your body, and keeping your blood pressure in check can make a big difference. Doctors need to talk to women about these things and help them make healthy choices. We need to focus on helping women build good habits, because they can protect their hearts a lot.

Whether it is school, college or work, waking up at a certain hour every day makes your body clock aware that you should be conscious during these hours. However, as time progresses and your obligations change, so can your health. Many jobs these days require night shifts or early mornings, that can throw one’s body clock off.

This mix-up leads to trouble sleeping, feeling super tired during work hours, and general exhaustion. Even people with very early morning commutes can experience this. It's not just being tired; it’s a real problem with your body's sleep rhythm, making it hard to function normally. According to the Cleveland Clinic this is known as Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD) which is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder that causes unwanted sleepiness, being unable to stay awake and other issues.

How Do You Know Whether You Have SWSD?

Shift work disorder does more than just make you sleepy. It's like being constantly tired, even after "sleeping." You might struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep, and you might wake up feeling like you haven't rested at all. Headaches and body aches become frequent, and you might feel irritable or easily annoyed.

Focusing on work becomes difficult, and you might make more mistakes. Your relationships can suffer because you’re always tired and grumpy. You may also feel sad or hopeless, and your memory might get worse. Even your reaction time can slow down, which is dangerous, especially in jobs that require quick thinking. Basically, you never feel truly rested, which affects every part of your life.

How Can You Help SWSD?

If you can’t change your work hours, you can still improve your sleep and feel better. The main goal is to get better sleep quality and duration. If you think you have shift work disorder, you’ll need to talk to a doctor. It’s important to find out if your sleep problems are from your work schedule or something else, like another circadian rhythm disorder. To work towards better, here are some tips according to the Sleep Foundation.

Create a Sleep-Friendly Environment

Make your room super dark and quiet. Use thick curtains and earplugs. A good sleep space helps your body know it's time to rest, even in the daytime.

Maintain a Consistent Sleep Schedule

Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even when you're not working. This helps your body get used to a new sleep routine, making it easier to sleep.

Take Naps

Short naps during your breaks can help you stay awake and alert during your shift. Keep naps short, like 20-30 minutes, so you don’t feel groggy later.

Gradual Shift Adjustments

If your schedule changes, slowly move your bedtime and wake-up time by an hour or two each day. This gives your body time to adjust to the new schedule.

Use Dark Glasses

Wear sunglasses when you leave work in the morning. This blocks out sunlight, which tells your body it's still nighttime, helping you fall asleep faster when you get home.

Limit Caffeine

Don't drink coffee or energy drinks close to bedtime. Caffeine keeps you awake. Stop drinking it several hours before you plan to sleep.

Regular Exercise

Being active helps you sleep better. But, avoid working out right before bed. Exercise too close to sleep time can make it harder to fall asleep.