Holiday drinking habits quiz reveals surprising July 4th trends; hormone therapy linked to breast cancer risk changes in women under 55; U.S. preschoolers widely exposed to nearly 100 harmful chemicals – Morning Medical Update

Holiday drinking habits quiz reveals surprising July 4th trends

As Independence Day approaches, Medical Economics’ sister publication, Patient Care Online, invites physicians to test their knowledge of U.S. holiday alcohol habits with a quick 10-question quiz. Based on survey data from Alcohol.org, the quiz explores who drinks, how much and on which holidays. Findings from more than 1,000 U.S. adults shed light on gender differences and seasonal spikes in alcohol consumption. Take the quiz and put your knowledge to the test on Patient Care Online.

Hormone therapy linked to breast cancer risk changes in women under 55

A new National Institutes of Health (NIH) study has found that hormone therapy can influence breast cancer risk in younger women. Women using unopposed estrogen (E-HT) had a 14% lower risk of breast cancer compared to non-users, while those on estrogen plus progestin (EP-HT) faced a 10% higher risk. The risks were mostly elevated among EP-HT users with intact uteruses and ovaries, particularly after two or more years of treatment.

U.S. preschoolers are widely exposed to harmful environmental chemicals

A new NIH-funded study from UC Davis, published in Environmental Science & Technology, finds that children ages 2 to 4 are routinely exposed to dozens of potentially harmful chemicals through everyday activities. In total, 96 chemicals were detected — including plastics additives, flame retardants, pesticides and parabens — in urine samples from preschoolers across four states. Alarmingly, 34 chemicals appeared in more than 90% of the children. Many of these are known or suspected to affect hormone levels, brain development and immune health.