The CDC issued a statement regarding COVID safety guidelines during Halloween. Here’s what they said about costume masks and the protection they may offer.
Now that Halloween is around the corner, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is trying its best to provide clear guidelines and recommendations for us. We already know we’re supposed to avoid large parties, haunted houses and trick or treating, but what about Halloween masks?
According to the CDC, people should continue to use face masks as a way of staying safe. Sadly, Halloween masks, unless they’re made of two breathable layers that cover nose and mouth, won’t keep people safe from the virus.
“Do not use a costume mask (such as for Halloween) as a substitute for a cloth mask unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers your mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around your face,” explains the organization.
Photo by Oscar Chevillar via Unsplash
The CDC also warns against wearing a cloth face masks underneath a Halloween mask, since this could make it difficult to breathe and may result in dangerous situations for the wearer. “Do not wear a costume mask over a cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.”
It’ll be difficult to try to recreate a Halloween like the ones we’ve experienced in previous years, but this doesn’t mean that people can’t get creative with their plans. The CDC offers some pretty snoozy (but safe!) alternatives that will still allow you to celebrate the holiday. These include:
Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart
Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least 6 feet apart
Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing
When it comes to treating high blood pressure, anxiety and even acne, CBD may be a safe and natural option for certain people.
Cannabidiol, or CBD as it’s more commonly known, has emerged in recent years as a popular natural treatment for a variety of ailments. It is one of the many compounds that makes up cannabis, or marijuana, but doesn’t produce the same psychoactive effects that cannabis is known for.
CBD doesn’t have the intoxicating effects of THC, and can provide certain people with a number of benefits. Here are four of the most surprising benefits of consuming CBD.
Acne treatment
A large portion of the population deals with acne at some point or another. Most of the time it’s a genetic condition passed down from your parents, but it can also be the result of a number of factors, including hormone imbalances, exposure to harmful bacteria, and certain medications. It can be a painful condition that results in unsightly pus-filled pimples.
You can try to treat acne using skincare products like Proactiv’s acne treatment system. However, some studies have suggested that CBD can also play a role in treating acne.
CBD is known to have anti-inflammatory properties and, when consumed, can affect the cells responsible for producing sebum, one of your body’s natural oils produced by the sebaceous glands.
One of the causes of acne is an overproduction of sebum, which mixes with dead skin cells and clogs up your hair follicles. By reducing the amount of sebum produced, CBD can balance out your body’s natural oil production and prevent clogged follicles, thereby alleviating the symptoms of acne.
Pain reduction
In some cases, CBD can be an effective treatment for chronic pain and inflammation. This could be partly due to the fact that one of the systems in our body that plays a role in regulating pain response is known as the endocannabinoid system, which produces endocannabinoids, or neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors in your body’s nervous system.
Consuming CBD-infused products, made by companies such as CBDfx, can help relieve the symptoms of those suffering from chronic pain and inflammation by interacting with these endocannabinoid neurotransmitters and altering their activity.
A number of studies have supported the claim that CBD has natural pain-relieving effects, specifically in cases where a patient has multiple sclerosis (MS) or arthritis.
In fact, an oral spray containing both THC and CBD called Sativex has secured regulatory approval in multiple European countries to treat pain caused by certain conditions. Several studies have shown that Sativex offers promising results when it comes to pain relief for patients suffering from MS and arthritis.
Heart health
More than 100 million people, or nearly half of all adults in the United States, deal with high blood pressure. High blood pressure can increase the stress put on your heart and blood vessels and lead to serious medical problems, such heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. However, some research has shown that CBD may be an effective natural treatment for high blood pressure.
In a study published by the American Society for Clinical Investigation, researchers gave nine healthy male volunteers a 600 mg dose of CBD or placebo in a randomized double-blind study.
Photo by Larisa Shpineva/EyeEm/Getty Images
When the researchers gave the men stress tests that would usually result in heightened blood pressure levels, they found that those given CBD had lower than normal rises in blood pressure. They also concluded that CBD may play a role in reducing your resting blood pressure levels.
Therefore, it’s reasonable to think that CBD may provide your heart and your circulatory system with important benefits, similar to how sterol supplements by iHerb promote cardiovascular health.
Anxiety treatment
Many adults suffer from anxiety and depression, mental disorders that can be devastating and seriously affect one’s quality of life in some cases. When it comes to treating these disorders, CBD may be a safe and natural option for certain people.
By interacting with the receptors in the brain that produce serotonin, a naturally produced chemical known to contribute to one’s well-being and happiness, CBD can help regulate mood and act as an alternative to traditional pharmaceutical drugs, some of which have harmful side effects.
In studies regarding anxiety and depression conducted on both humans and animals, CBD showed promising results. In one particular study, researchers gave a dose of CBD to volunteers suffering from social anxiety and had them undertake a public speaking test. They found that a 300 mg dose of CBD proved effective in reducing anxiety levels in the volunteers during the public speaking activity.
More and more research is being done about the effects of CBD as it gains popularity among people. So we soon may know even more about the unique benefits that CBD can provide. Thus far, though, it appears to be a very promising natural treatment, with a bright future ahead of it.
Everyone has different beliefs and relationships when it comes to food. Here are some “food rules” you should be wary of.
There are some things about food that you know implicitly, such as eating late is a bad idea and eating as a reward only reinforces a weird relationship with food. Some of these rules are helpful and meant to keep you healthy, but others could result in a charged relationship with food that can result in eating disorders, low self-esteem, and a lot of unhappiness.
Food is a complicated issue for many of us and we should all be more gentle with ourselves and our relationship with it. Self magazine spoke with different dietitians who talked about the most popular “food rules” that people should unlearn. Even when they provide helpful guidelines, dietitians believe that this advice shouldn’t be interpreted as a rule.
Here are 5 of the most popular ones:
Emotional eating is bad
Unless you’re a robot, there’s no way that eating isn’t tied to some sort of emotion. People go out to eat when they’re celebrating, bonding or just want to get out of the house. They also eat when they’re mourning, which can act as a processing tool. “[Emotional eating] is simply another way of seeking comfort when needed,” says Kimmie Singh, M.S., R.D. “Part of having a healthy relationship with food includes having permission to eat emotionally when it is helpful.”
While eating can be one of your coping mechanisms, it shouldn’t be the only one you use. If you have trouble accessing other tools, you should talk to someone and look for outside help.
While home cooking is generally associated with healthier habits, this doesn’t mean that processed or frozen foods can’t be a part of healthy meals. For some families, it’s unrealistic to cook every meal from scratch. They should know that there are plenty of foods that can be purchased that can also be delicious and healthy as long as there’s enough veggies and healthy proteins to choose from.
Drink water when hungry
Drinking water is sometimes used as a way of keeping hunger at bay. Surprise, it doesn’t work. “This rule is used to suppress hunger, and while it may keep you temporarily full, the body will eventually figure out that no energy is coming into the body,” says Carolina Guizar, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N. You should eat when you’re hungry.
While carbs are the enemies of most fad diets, they’re great and necessary for our bodies, just like veggies, proteins and fats. Carbs are necessary for providing us with energy when we need to work out or complete our everyday activities. With no carbs, it can be really difficult to not feel lethargic and like we can’t get through with the tasks that make up our day to day lives. Our brains thrive on carbs. Don’t ignore them.
Be wary of sugary fruits
A lot of people talk about how bad fruits are and how much calories and sugar they contain. While they do contain sugar in the form of glucose (as opposed to cane sugar), they also have fiber, vitamins and minerals that are good for you. Fruits are delicious and also make for great replacements for other desserts, satisfying a craving while avoiding the side effects of caloric sweets.
Biden’s use of the word “inshallah” during the presidential debate has prompted a lot of questions from viewers. Here’s what it means.
The first of three presidential debates is under our belts, and if Tuesday’s fiasco of a face-off is any indication, we’re in for a bumpy ride between now and November 3.
President Donald Trump and Joe Biden went at it in an unprecedented manner, barely allowing the other person to speak. CNN’s Dana Bash described it perfectly: “That was a shit show.” Few policies were discussed and the moderator, Chris Wallace, had a hard time controlling the situation. Still, after the 90 minutes had passed, many memes were born and there were a few moments worth discussing, like when Biden said “inshallah” as a reply to Trump’s response regarding questions on his tax returns.
I just heard Biden saying InshaAllah… am I hearing things?
“Inshallah” is a popular Arabic phrase, perhaps their most popular and utilized expression; it means “God willing.” It’s a word that has many wrinkles, that can mean different things depending on the context and the way that it’s used.
Photo by Sean Rayford/Stringer/Getty Images
“If you grew up Muslim, Arabic speaking or not, you’d know it best as the thing your parents say like a gentle-sneaky no. You’d ask your parents to buy you a skateboard or a guitar, and not taking you seriously, they’d say Inshallah,” American Muslim Aymann Ismail explained via Slate.
“They’re telling you eventually or, in most cases, never. It’s amorphous in this way, and really changes in meaning the way you say it. I’d say it fits pretty well in Biden’s purported use.”
Okay, for those of you wondering – did Joe Biden really drop an “inshallah” with the appropriate sarcastic usage?
Yes, he did. I confirmed with his campaign – that is indeed what the man said. https://t.co/MqseBsl2Ck
The use of the word “inshallah” has riled both Democrats and Republicans. Democrats of Arabic descent have praised the use of the phrase while others have decried it. Some Republicans started to speculate on whether this means that Biden is a Muslim, which is highly unlikely.
Okay, for those of you wondering – did Joe Biden really drop an “inshallah” with the appropriate sarcastic usage?
Yes, he did. I confirmed with his campaign – that is indeed what the man said. https://t.co/MqseBsl2Ck
Biden’s use of the word “inshallah” likely suggests that he surrounds himself with a diverse group of people, something that we could all use more of. While the debate may have been a dumpster fire, at least viewers got schooled on a new term.
Cannabis does not actually calm the digestive tract. Instead, this is how it treats nausea.
People around America more and more are using cannabis as a treatment for nausea, from cancer patients trying to combat the nausea that follows chemotherapy to expecting mothers trying to keep food down in the months before birth.
As more is discovered about the endocannabinoid system, scientists are coming closer to pinpointing exactly why cannabis helps to reduce nausea.
Nausea is a necessary function of the body, used primarily to alert the body that something it ate might be poisonous or rotten and should be avoided now and in the future, or that the body is experiencing an illness or imbalance and needs treatment or rest. For example, dehydration can trigger nausea because the body is trying to send a signal that it’s unbalanced and needs more water.
But there are other factors, like motion or certain medications, that will also increase the signals being sent to the brain from the rest of the body, many of which the brain interprets as nausea.
Photo by Felix_Hu via Pixabay
Cannabis, when used to treat nausea, is not itself calming the digestive tract but rather controlling and reducing the signals that are being sent to the brain by certain receptors in the endocannabinoid system. This is the system in the body that responds to cannabis, regulating different things including appetite, memory and nausea. CBD and THC target different receptors in that system, to differing results.
Chemotherapy, for example, can trigger some receptors to send a signal to the brain that tells the body it is nauseous. Cannabis, when it interacts with the CB1 receptor in the endocannabinoid system, can reduce some of the signals CB1 receptors in the digestive tract send to the brain. Reducing those signals, in turn, reduces nausea and vomiting.
Synthetic CBD, in the form of the medicines Nabilone and Dronabinol, has been used to treat nausea for the last twenty years. Both products are approved by the FDA.
TikTok and social media have become popular platforms for people cleaning and organizing. You can blame the pandemic.
The internet is home to all sorts of videos, good and bad. There’s viral content out there of pimple popping, people doing their nails and paint being applied to walls. All of these topics satisfy a strange craving. But the newest addition to these videos is also useful: people cleaning. According to some experts, there’s a psychological explanation for this obsession.
While cleaning up after yourself is never the most fun of activities, it’s something that can help you feel like you’re in control. That feeling you get after you deeply clean up your room or your house is one of accomplishment. Watching videos of people doing the same, with the added perks of fun music and cute filters, can produce this same feeling minus the sweat and hard work.
Cleaning videos are particularly popular on TikTok, where they’re known as CleanTok, because of course. People tag these clips with hashtags like #cleanwithme, #cleaningtok, #organizeit, and more, amassing millions of views by the day.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez via Unsplash
Therapist Caroline Given told Bustle that these videos are especially effective and satisfying when people are stressed or experiencing depression. It makes a lot of sense then that these sorts of clips are trending during the current pandemic.
“To see someone finally throwing away their to-go cup graveyard and putting away piles of clothes is aspirational because we’re getting visual access to an inner healing that is beginning to take place, which is inspiring,” said Given. “At a basic level, cleaning is behavioral activation, a therapeutic technique that has been well documented to improve symptoms of depression. Behavioral activation involves the completion of specific, measurable tasks to build momentum and confidence.”
Not only are living through a pandemic, this year has also brought and election, heightened racial inequality, and an escalating global warming crisis, all contributing to our general feeling of being out of sorts. And our homes are one of the only places where we can exert control.
Even if it’s difficult and tough to gather up the energy for it, cleaning and organizing your space are satisfying activities and healthy ways of coping as long as they’re kept under control. If you find some pleasure and relief out of watching others do the same, enjoy yourself. There’s no better time to indulge, and they’re better than the news.
Studies are just beginning to scratch the surface for individuals who are looking for healthier alternatives to regular allergy medications.
From the first sneeze to the first snow, many around the nation experience the trials and tribulations of seasonal allergies. The thought of treating allergies to weed with weed can make some pause, but the science is sound.
According to Americans for Safe Access, decades of research led to a breakthrough in treating skin allergies when a team from the University of Bonn in Germany studied THC’s effect on inflammation. Already genetically engineered to not react to cannabinoids generated in their brain, the team used mice and found that the animals’ ears became red and swollen.
The scientists realized what this meant – that cannabinoids act like a brake, preventing the immune system from running out of control and triggering inflammation.
Using ointment with THC, researchers carefully applied lotion to the ears of the mice and found that the medicine had some remarkable effects. With less swelling and irritation, the THC seemed to alleviate some symptoms of skin irritation and allergies.
The National Eczema Association also believes that marijuana or cannabis holds promise in treating skin conditions. They state, “Cannabinoids, however, have a powerful anti-itch effect. There are receptors in the skin that interact with cannabinoids that could reduce the symptoms and appearance of AD (atopic dermatitis). These effects happen through a constellation of interactions between phytocannabinoids and our endogenous cannabinoid system.” Simply put, natural chemicals secreted by marijuana or cannabis trigger a response from our own bodies.
Photo by Mojpe via Pixabay
So, how does it work? Humans have cannabinoid receptors. And when activated, much like the body sends white blood cells to an infection, these receptors can ignite to help fight an allergic reaction.
With so much known already about the potential benefits for marijuana on the skin, it’s no wonder studies are just beginning to scratch the surface for individuals who are looking for healthier alternatives to regular medications. In fact, a Eos Scientific recently unveiled research that showed in a study of 2000 U.K. adults:
Here are three things to know about Marijuana and allergies:
CBD and cannabis may help block histamines
Released in your body’s system, histamine can cause major issues. From itchy eyes to a scratchy throat, histamine is your body’s reaction from antibodies appearing. CBD and cannabis products help reduce antibodies by blocking histamine, triggering less allergic reactions in the body’s system.
Photo by rawpixel.com
Antihistamine treatments are just the beginning
With new studies happening all the time, researchers are just starting to connect the dots to the power of decreasing histamine in the body and the effect on lower histamine on multiple diseases and conditions. From Multiple Sclerosis to eye allergies, to brain cancer treatment, and even the risk of dementia, scientists are looking at the powerful benefits and risks of histamine on the body.
Cannabis is a heckuva anti-inflammatory
From eczema to joint pain, cannabis has been proven time and time again to help alleviate troublesome symptoms. Even better, researchers unlocked why cannabis is so effective at helping inflammation. With research showing that the genetic makeup of cannabis offers nearly 30 times the power of aspirin to inhibit inflammation, research from over three decades ago lit a spark in scientists overseas to better understand the genetic makeup of cannabis cells, beyond the reach of the US Federal Government.
Building a research superhighway, using molecules from bacteria and plants, Tarig Ahktar recently demonstrated the ability to circumvent the restrictions on place in studying cannabis, and find equal compounds elsewhere in the bodies of animals, plants and more.
Working from home is a process that varies from person to person. But the challenge of keeping your space clutter-free is something that unifies us all.
By this time of year, the majority of us should be experts at working from home. Our home offices should be functional and comfortable, and our work schedules should be on track. If you’ve had video chats with friends or co-workers, you’ve likely seen that this isn’t the case for most. In fact, a large percentage of people are struggling now that they don’t have an office to go to, finding it hard to complete their work on time and concentrate.
Home offices can be difficult places to work, especially when you live in a small apartment or live with children or roommates. It’s common to end up working on your bed for long stretches of time, something that’s confusing for your brain and that might result in trouble sleeping later on at night. Small spaces often blur the lines between work and normal life, making it hard for you to adjust when your work day is over.
Marie Kondo explains in her new working from home online course that it’s important for people to stay organized in their home office by creating a space that’s both functional and joyful.
“No matter where you work, it’s important to create an environment that helps you focus. If you don’t have a home office, identify the items that are crucial to getting your work done and designate a clear spot for them ― a box or portable carrier will do,” explains Kondo.
Photo by Ivan Samkov via Pexels
Like other experts who provide recommendations on working from home, Kondo recommends doing an activity in the morning that signals the start of your work day, whether that’s taking a shower, going for a morning walk or striking a tuning fork.
Make it a personal goal to keep track of the items in your home office, preventing clutter and disorganization. Don’t let the coffee mugs pile up; it’s easier to clean a couple of them than to have to fetch them all over your home once you realize that you ran out of clean cups.
Make to-do lists and listen to music, anything that makes your work life feel more productive and goal oriented. Avoid social media, Netflix, video games or entertainment during the mornings, and keep up the work momentum for as long as you can. At the end of your workday, be sure to turn off notifications and do something that signals that you’re work is done, whether that’s going for a walk, closing the door to your office, or putting your laptop someplace that isn’t readily accessible.
Working from home is a process that’s subject to change. Some days are easier than others, filled with less distractions and interruptions. What matters most is to create a space that’s functional and switch things up if you feel like you’re not being as productive as you can. Get creative with your work space and always try to make it enjoyable. While working from home is challenging, it’s also kind of great to have the ability to dictate the pace and rhythm of your work.
According to a recent poll, 21% of voters say the pandemic has caused them to change their support for marijuana legalization.
Early signs indicate significant support for recreational marijuana legalization in New Jersey. One poll this summer found almost 7 out of 10 residents favored ending prohibition and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy suggested the act “an incredibly smart thing to do” as a post-pandemic fix for the economy.
“We’re not inventing marijuana,” Murphy said. “It exists.”
But the coronavirus pandemic is influencing how locals feel about legalization, according to a recent poll from Brach Eichler’s Cannabis Law Practice. Participants who previously planned to vote against the measure in November have since changed their mind. About 21% said the outbreak has reshaped their position on cannabis.
Among those survey, 13.5% said the pandemic caused them to now favor legalization while 7.5% now oppose such action. In total, the poll reported 65% of New Jersey residents strongly supported or somewhat supported the ballot question.
“I was somewhat surprised that it did influence that many people,” Charles Gormally, co-chair of the firm’s Cannabis Law Practice, told NJ.com. “I really think the reason it influenced people is a natural derivative of beginning to accept the concept that cannabis isn’t harmful, and may in fact have a positive impact in many circumstances.”
Photo by BruceEmmerling via Pixabay
Murphy campaigned on legalizing recreational marijuana in New Jersey and has attempted to push legislation through multiples times with little success. Last year, the Republican-led Senate killed a bill that would’ve ended prohibition. Lawmakers placed marijuana legalization to voters instead as a result.
The poll also showed that promotional material and ad campaigns for and against legalization have yet to influence voters. Only 25% of participants in the poll said they’d seen any such campaigns and it is unclear yet what impact it could have at the ballots.
“With the drumbeat of the national election cycle quickening, and the Democrat support for decriminalization, it is likely that we will see a continuing erosion of the desire to maintain what is widely regarded as a failed policy of cannabis prohibition,” Gormally told The Fresh Toast in a statement. “This erosion will support further interest in creating an adult use, regulated cannabis marketplace with New Jersey voters.”
What the presidential debate last night showed most Americans is that such a setting will not be a resource to help answer their questions.
During the first Presidential debate of the 2020 cycle, Americans were exposed to a largely out-of-control event in which very little policy was covered. This happened in large part because of a moderator who was largely out of control and one candidate—President Donald Trump—employing a strategy focused on interrupting his opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden. What is lost, of course, in a substance-free, 90-minute debate is for voters to get a better understanding of what the candidates stand for, leaving them to remain uninformed or put the onus on them to find that information themselves.
Although the moderator, Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, focused on a series of important issues—the economy, the pandemic, voting, and race relations—an opportunity was missed to accomplish a substantive discussion. It also reflects that having a few debates focused on covering a multitude of issues ensures that the details are the victim.
One set of issues that Wallace asked about involved race relations, policing, protesting, and rioting. The candidates said little that mattered, and it demonstrated a weakness in this debate format. These issues should be the topic of a debate in itself for a variety of reasons.
First, Democrats, Republicans, and independents all feel that those issues are among the most important right now. Recent polling reflects this fact, and as stories related to these issues fill airwaves, newspapers, and blogs, the American public is continuously reminded of these policies and their associated problems.
Second, the parties feel quite differently about why those issues are problems and what solutions should look like, and that is exactly the point of a debate! These issues are divisive among politicians and, of course, among the public as well. Hearing the candidates discuss the contours of the current situation, the challenges the present, and the manner in which the president will work with Congress and state and local officials to achieve resolution is key.
Photos by: Win McNamee/Staff/Getty Images; Drew
Third, issues of race and criminal justice are just a doorway into discussing a variety of other, related and important issues. Policing policy, racial discrimination in economic settings (housing, employment, education, etc.), drug policy more broadly, cannabis reform policy specifically, and other issues all serve as important parts of the conversation. What’s more, while the current state of policy and politics in this area is fraught with polarizing, many of the sub-parts of the conversation rally significant bipartisan support.
An effective debate—and a debate most Americans would like to listen to—involves presidential candidates disagreeing about items like police reform and racial bias in use of force, while doing as the public does and find common ground on issues including over-incarceration and cannabis reform.
Shouting over an opponent, losing control of a debate, and deflecting from the questions a moderator ask may serve as a strategy in modern presidential debates. However, such approaches create real problems for the democracy. First, voters remain underinformed, and that comes with additional risks in 2020. Expecting Americans facing both public health and economic crises to take any additional time to hunt down candidates’ policy views, may be asking a lot of them.
Second, it further solidifies many Americans’ disgust with the state of affairs of politics and distrust of our governing institutions. That breeds a cynicism that spills over into decisions around whether to vote, for whom to vote, and how else to engage with and learn about the political system. Finally, it telegraphs to Americans a growing sentiment: that politicians don’t care about their concerns.
Surely, presidential candidates cannot be expected to discuss every issue that concerns every American. But what the presidential debate last night showed most Americans is that such a setting will not be a resource to help answer their questions. Perhaps the next two debates will be different. Perhaps those debates will be better controlled and more focused on issues. Perhaps the candidates will take different strategic approaches. But perhaps, too, the damage has been done, and many fewer Americans will opt to look away, rather than tune in.
