Today’s Headlines: Having Pets May Help Lower Kids’ Risk of Developing Asthma, Why Where You Live Can Affect Your Chances of Surviving a Cardiac Arrest, and the Benefits of Eating Fish While Pregnant

You don’t have to get rid of your pet if you’re having a baby. A new Swedish study shows that exposure to pets—especially their fur and bacteria—may actually help build up a child’s immune system as it develops. “Dog exposure during infancy was associated with a 13 percent lower risk of asthma in school-age children, while farm animal exposure was linked to a 52 percent risk reduction. Preschoolers had a 10 percent lower risk of asthma if they’d been exposed to dogs, and a 21 percent lower risk with exposure to farm animals.” Children that have animals also have a tendency to play outside more and can therefore develop a resistance against certain allergens as well. (NBC)

If you live on the third floor or higher, you may want to consider putting an emergency plan in place in case of cardiac arrest. While researchers know that mere seconds can impact the survival rate of a person in cardiac arrest, they have found that living on a higher floor in a high-rise building can impact survival because first responders must travel farther to reach a patient. “The researchers studied 7,842 people who had cardiac arrest in private residences and were treated by first responders after a 911 call. Less than four percent of people survived to be discharged from the hospital. Of the 5,998 people who lived below the third floor of their buildings, 4.2 percent survived, compared to 2.6 percent of those living above the third floor. Less than one percent of those living above the 16th floor survived, and none of the 30 patients who lived above the 25th floor survived…” While you don’t need to pack up and move, the researchers suggested considering it if you have a history of cardiac issues and urged everyone to make an emergency plan so responders can access buildings and apartments faster. (Reuters)

Eating three servings of fish (up to 12 ounces) per week during pregnancy may help brain development in babies. Fish has long been known as a brain food but the risk of high mercury levels in seafood has also triggered warnings against its consumption for pregnant women. But now, research has shown that the mercury levels in certain fish are insignificant and it is more beneficial for pregnant women to eat fish than to avoid it. “In an attempt to balance the potential harms of such pollutants with the general health benefits of fish, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 2014 guidelines encourage pregnant women to eat fish, but no more than 12 ounces per week. The link between higher maternal consumption and better brain development in children was especially apparent when kids were five. The researchers also saw a consistent reduction in autism-spectrum traits with increased maternal fish consumption.” Some of the types of fish that were safe and beneficial for consumption were sardines, salmon, and shellfish. (Fox)

The post Today’s Headlines: Having Pets May Help Lower Kids’ Risk of Developing Asthma, Why Where You Live Can Affect Your Chances of Surviving a Cardiac Arrest, and the Benefits of Eating Fish While Pregnant appeared first on The Oz Blog.