The Daily News – February 6, 2025

In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing how iron deficiency is more common and serious than you might think. Next, the truth about screens and your eyes. And lastly, should the Body Roundness index replace BMI? Welcome to the Daily News For Our first story. Iron deficiency impacts the body’s ability to transport oxygen, leaving people feeling tired, dizzy, and short of breath. Globally, more than 2 billion people are affected by iron deficiency. According to a recent article in National Geographic. If untreated, it can lead to anemia, a condition where the body lacks healthy red blood cells without enough iron. Hemoglobin production slows reducing oxygen available to organs and tissues. Iron deficiency affects people of all ages, but some groups face higher risks. Pregnant women, for example, need significantly more. Iron and heavy menstrual cycles also increase the risk for women, men generally require less iron. The article notes that symptoms of iron deficiency go beyond the physical. A lack of iron can affect brain health causing memory issues and trouble concentrating for pregnant women. Iron deficiency anemia increases risks for both mother and the baby, including complications during childbirth and developmental delays. In infants, one expert highlights another risk. Heart health. She explains even before anemia develops, low iron levels can lead to poor oxygen delivery and increase the strain on the heart. Low iron can also worsen existing health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure. It reduces the body’s ability to exercise and recover from injuries. The good news experts in the article emphasize that iron deficiency is treatable. Iron supplements and iron-rich diets are simple and effective solutions to improve energy levels, brain function and heart health. Iron deficiency might not seem urgent. Getting tested and addressing it early is important. If you are having symptoms such as lack of energy, feeling cold, poor, sleep quality, and generalized weakness, talk with your primary care physician to decide what may be the best plan for you to follow. Next up, one in three children are now nearsighted globally. So was mom right when she said, don’t sit too close to the TV, or you’ll ruin your eyes. Well, a recent article in the Washington Post sheds light on how screens, especially the modern kind, can affect our eyes, particularly for children. So what’s the risk and what can we do to protect our vision? According to the article, modern screens like smartphones, tablets, or computers pose a greater risk to our eyes than the old tube TVs. Children age seven to 15 are particularly vulnerable according to one ophthalmologist. When you consistently focus too close, the eye lens spends more time accommodating and changes its shape to focus the image on your retina. If you do this too much, then you will encourage your eye to grow too fast. This can lead to myopia. Children’s eyes, which continue to develop until about age 25 are most at risk, but adults aren’t immune. Another pediatric ophthalmologist notes that young adults in their twenties may still experience late onset myopia from excessive screen time. While those over 40 can develop eye fatigue and even double vision, and the long-term risks are serious, severe myopia can lead to complications like retinal detachment or even vision loss. Genetics also play a role children with one or both parents who are nearsighted face a higher risk. So what can families do to protect their eyesight? Well, the first step is limiting screen time. For younger kids, that means keeping recreational screen used to under an hour a day. Another important habit is maintaining a safe distance from screens. Encourage children to hold devices at least in arm’s length away. Spending more time outdoors can also make a big difference. The article recommends two hours of outdoor time daily for children, noting that daylight seems to help relax their eyes and don’t skip those eye exams. The article advises scheduling at least one professional eye exam before your child reaches kindergarten. Finally, parents can set a powerful example by managing their own screen habits. So was mom, right? Well, it turns out she was, but the culprit isn’t the TV anymore. With a few simple precautions, especially for kids, we can help protect vision for years to come. Now for our last story, should the body roundness index BRI replace body mass index BMI as a measure of health risk? That’s the question raised in a recent Medscape. Article BMI has long been the standard for assessing weight related health risks. However, critics point out its limitations. It doesn’t differentiate fat from muscle or account for fat. Distribution. BRI offers a potential improvement by incorporating waist circumference and height to measure a person’s roundness. Studies indicate it may better predict risks associated with fat around abdominal organs. For instance, in American Heart Association study found higher BRI correlated with greater cardiovascular disease risk over time. Despite these findings, BMI remains entrenched in healthcare systems influencing everything from growth charts to medication dosages. Experts caution that replacing it with BRI would be difficult. Even B’S co-creator, Dr. Diana Thomas notes that such a shift will take time. For now, both BMI and BRI are seen as useful tools for everyday care, but insufficient for in-depth obesity research. Gold standard methods like MRIs or CT scans remain essential for accurately assessing fat and related health risks. Those were our top stories for today. As always, thank you so much for joining us on the Daily News.