Current Events in March 2022

Zillow, the online real estate marketplace, has some good news and bad news for first-time home buyers.

The good news is that the housing market will eventually return to 2019, pre-pandemic conditions -- when homes were more plentiful and affordable. The bad news is that a return to normal probably won’t happen until 2024 at the earliest.

Until then, Zillow’s panel of experts predicts that there will be fewer homes on the market and that they will cost more. Tabitha Mazzara, director of operations at mortgage lender MBANC, agrees with that assessment. She recently told ConsumerAffairs that low inventory will be the prime factor keeping home prices elevated.

“At most, we will see some flattening of home prices, but don't expect prices to plunge in 2022,” Mazzara said. “Where housing is concerned, we're not in a bubble that's going to pop any time soon.”

Fewer homes for sale

Zillow traces skyrocketing home prices to declining supplies of homes for sale, crediting that trend with a 32% increase in home prices over the last two years. Total inventory has fallen from a monthly average of 1.6 million units in 2018 and 2019 to just over 1 million units in 2021. Monthly figures in 2022 are even lower. 

At the same time, millions of Americans have sought to purchase homes. Many were renting apartments in 2020 when the pandemic began and suddenly saw the need for more space.

About 38% of the Zillow experts predict that inventory levels should return to a monthly average of 1.5 million units or higher in 2024. Some are more optimistic, believing things could be in a more normal state by sometime next year. However, almost no one in the group is expecting a turnaround this year.

"Inventory and mortgage rates will determine how far and how fast home prices will rise this year and beyond," said Zillow Senior Economist Jeff Tucker. "We are seeing new listings returning to the market, slowly, as we enter the hottest selling season of the year, but this supply deficit is going to take a long time to fill." 

Intense competition for homes

The reason for the “supply deficit” isn’t complicated. Since the housing market crash of 2008-09, builders have reduced the production of new homes by nearly 50%. At the same time, many baby boomers have decided to remain in their homes as they age and are not selling.

Because building costs have risen so much over the last decade, builders are producing fewer entry-level homes that first-time buyers can more easily afford. That’s caused first-time buyers to compete with one another for the limited number of entry-level homes on the market.

There is hope for first-time buyers, the Zillow experts say, but patience will be required. While most believe the market will return to normal in 2024, some expect it will take much longer. Eighteen percent of the experts polled did not believe the share of first-time buyers will rise above 45% until after 2030.

While many consumers know that exercise is an important part of a long, healthy life, working out isn’t always fun. However, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Georgia suggests that there are healthy alternatives that consumers can try out.

The team looked at exergaming – or active video gaming – and found that it could promote long-term health benefits by helping participants feel more in control of their workouts. These types of games include virtual reality games and games that require physical movement to play.

“When an individual feels autonomous, they’re more likely to exercise or exergame on their own,” said researcher Sami Yli-Piipari. “They feel ownership over what they are doing, and they’re doing it for themselves, so it’s more likely they will keep up the activity.” 

Active video games can benefit health

The researchers had 55 people who didn’t regularly exercise participate in the study. They were divided into two groups: one group participated in traditional aerobics classes three times a week while the other group played exergames three times a week for six weeks. The team tracked the participants’ satisfaction and motivation with their workouts, as well as physical activity and exertion during exercise. 

Although the participants in the aerobics classes worked out harder overall, the study showed that the participants who played exergames had more fun while working out. The researchers say that's an important point because enjoying a workout is likely to encourage consumers to keep up with it in the future. 

“I see exergaming and technology-enhanced exercise as a stepping stone,” Yli-Piipari said. “It’s the first step in the right direction, especially for people who are not involved in any kind of exercise.

Helping introduce kids to exercise

The researchers believe exergaming could be a good way for parents to get their kids up and moving while also playing video games. Rather than sitting down and gaming, getting games like Just Dance, EA Sports Active, or Zumba Fitness World Party can help consumers of all ages stay active and moving. 

While following a traditional physical activity routine can be difficult, the team hopes these findings offer an alternative perspective that could keep consumers interested in working out. 

“We forget sometimes that it’s really hard for inactive people to take that first step,” Yli-Piipari said. “These games may be able to address that problem.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from University College London explored the mental health benefits associated with teens participating in artistic activities. 

Their work showed that engaging in activities like dance, orchestras, and acting, among several others, was linked with less antisocial and criminalized behaviors. Teens were also more likely to report better well-being and mental health when participating in these groups. 

“Past research has shown that getting involved in the arts can have a big impact on teenagers’ mental health and well-being,” said researcher Dr. Daisy Fancourt. “Our study adds to evidence about the wide-ranging benefits that arts and culture can have for young people, demonstrating a positive link between the arts and a lower prevalence of antisocial behavior.

“Notably, these findings remained, even when taking into account factors such as children’s age, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic background, their parents’ educational background, where they lived, and their previous patterns of antisocial behavior.” 

Mental health benefits of artistic activities

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 25,000 teens enrolled in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health and the National Educational Longitudinal Study. Participants and their parents reported on their involvement in arts and culture activities, and the team assessed their mental health and well-being at several points over the course of the study. 

“Our definition of arts and cultural engagement was very broad,” said researcher Dr. Jess Bone. “It included dancing and acting in school clubs, reading, going to cinemas, museums, concerts, and music classes, as well as other hobbies that teenagers took part in regularly.” 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that there was a positive correlation between participating in artistic activities and reduced antisocial and criminal behaviors. Teens were less likely to sell drugs, misbehave in school, or get into fights. They also reported viewing these behaviors in a negative light and reported stronger self-control. 

Overall, teens had better overall mental health and well-being when they spent more time involved with the arts. This was true even one and two years removed from participating in such activities. 

“Finding ways to reduce antisocial behavior among teenagers is important because these behaviors may become established and continue into adulthood, affecting someone’s whole life,” said Dr. Bone. “Our findings demonstrate the importance of making arts and cultural activities available for all young people, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has limited access to and funding for these resources.” 

The price of gasoline remains at record highs, but the national average price continued to fall this week.

AAA’s daily gas price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas has fallen three cents a gallon from last Friday to $4.24 a gallon. It’s still 69 cents a gallon more than four weeks ago.

The average price of premium gas is $4.90, also three cents a gallon less than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $5.07 a gallon, down a penny from last week.

Maryland drivers got the biggest break at the gas pump this week. Gov. Larry Hogan signed a measure suspending the state’s gasoline tax, sending prices sharply lower. Maryland became the state with the fourth-cheapest gas prices, with the statewide average falling by 35 cents a gallon.

Motorists in California and Nevada weren’t quite so lucky. The statewide average rose 14 cents a gallon in Nevada and 10 cents a gallon in California.

“Usually this time of year, with warmer weather and longer days, we’d see an uptick in gasoline demand as more people hit the road,” said AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross. “But we had a slight drop in demand last week, which may be due to higher pump prices.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($5.88)   

• Hawaii ($5.08)     

• Nevada ($5.17)   

• Washington ($4.73)

• Oregon ($4.71)  

• Alaska ($4.71)      

• Arizona ($4.66)   

• Illinois ($4.49)     

• Idaho ($4.39)   

• New York ($4.35)  

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Kansas ($3.77)

• Missouri ($3.76)  

• Oklahoma ($3.78)

• Maryland ($3.79)     

• Arkansas ($3.82)

• Nebraska ($3.87)

• Iowa ($3.88)

• North Dakota ($3.90)

• Minnesota ($3.92)   

• Mississippi ($3.92) 

General Motors is recalling 740,581 model year 2010-2017 GMC Terrain vehicles.

A reflection caused by the headlight housings may illuminate areas above the vehicle and outside the driver's view with excessively bright light.

The bright reflection may cause a glare for other drivers, reducing their visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

The remedy is currently under development.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on April 23, 2022.

Owners may contact GMC customer service at (800) 462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222363740.

When was the last time you looked at your homeowner’s insurance policy? If you haven’t checked it in a while, it may be wise to do so. That’s because inflation is rapidly increasing building costs. If your house is damaged or destroyed, having inadequate coverage might result in a significant loss.

For example, if your dwelling is insured for $300,000 but the cost of rebuilding your home is $375,000, you would have to make up the difference in the event of a total loss. 

To get around this issue, most insurance companies now offer something called “replacement cost guarantee,” although different carriers may use different terminology. That provision covers the entire cost to repair or replace your home, even if the amount exceeds your coverage.

Sometimes called "RCV," the replacement cost value is what would be required to replace your damaged or destroyed home with the exact same or similar home in today's market. 

“This is generally the most recommended option, since it gets homeowners closest to their living situation before a covered peril occurred,” ValuePenguin advises.

Inflation guard endorsement

P.J. Miller, a partner with Ohio-based Wallace & Turner Insurance, says the forerunner of the current day “guaranteed replacement cost” was the “inflation guard endorsement.” While it’s not known if all carriers provided this option, he says most did and for various reasons.

“An example would be the simple fact that you don’t have to remember to contact your carrier to increase coverage and the peace of mind knowing that it’s done automatically,” Miller told ConsumerAffairs. 

But Miller says it’s important to understand how your policy’s inflation adjustment works. Some policies might increase the coverage only for the policy term and then reset it to the prior term’s coverage amount. 

“Typically, this form would offer an increase of a small amount, maybe 2% per quarter, so by the end of the policy term you could potentially have 8% more coverage than you started with on that policy term,” Miller said. “Some carriers include this coverage, others charge a very nominal premium, $10, for example.”

Miller says the recent California wildfires exposed gaps in many homeowners’ insurance coverage. 

Replacement costs are rising

Bill Martin, president and CEO of Plymouth Rock Home Assurance Corporation, says homeowners should be prepared for much higher repair costs when they make a claim. In short, he says it will probably cost more to provide adequate insurance coverage.

“Most insurers will offer an option to buy extra coverage for the current cost to repair your home,” Martin told ConsumerAffairs. “The amount of insurance coverage available to repair or replace a house is tied to the dollar amount it would take to rebuild, not market value.”

Martin’s advice is to check with your insurance agent or insurer to see if you can afford to buy the extra coverage for what a replacement will cost as opposed to its insured or actual depreciated value, which is included in most base policies. In the event of a major claim, the extra cost will be worth it.

“I recommend you boost your coverage, especially ‘Coverage A,’ which is the part of a homeowners policy that may help to rebuild or repair the physical structure of your home if it’s damaged by a covered hazard,” Martin said. “The majority of damage doesn’t destroy your entire house, which makes it relatively inexpensive to increase your coverage in the event of needing to replace the whole house and its contents.”

Out of the goodness of their hearts, people around the world are supporting the people of Ukraine as the country's war against Russia drags on. Some are doing that by making monetary donations, but doing so can be risky.

When people look for ways to give, the emails they receive, social media posts they read, or the search results they find are pockmarked with scammers trying to siphon off donations into their own pockets.

The scams are your typical bleeding heart cons dressed up in the blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag and adorned with official-looking logos. When ConsumerAffairs ran a sample “I want to make a donation to Ukraine” search online, we found 927,000 results. Needless to say, it’s doubtful all of those are legitimate.

The Ukrainian Airbnb scam

Shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a rather ingenious idea popped up in which people booked stays at Airbnb locations in places like Kiev to get money directly into Ukrainian bank accounts. But rather than actually going there, kind-hearted souls left the Airbnb hosts a note saying they wouldn’t actually be coming and they should use the money as their version of humanitarian aid. Unfortunately, that good intention went bad.

“While the Airbnb donation program is a wonderful idea and has been helpful, due to ghost listings and scammer exploitation, Airbnb has cracked down considerably which has inhibited the flow of funds to those in need,” Adam Levin, former Director of Consumer Affairs for the State of New Jersey and author of the security manifesto Swiped, told ConsumerAffairs. 

Levin doesn't say just skip the Airbnb idea altogether -- just be careful.

“If you are still inclined to give through the Airbnb network, confirm that the listing has been established over time,” Levin suggested. "[But] be suspicious of multiple listings, it could be a company trying to profit from the outpouring of support rather than a family in need.”

Other new scam twists to be aware of

As scammers become more sophisticated, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to instantly spot a potential scheme. Thankfully in this situation, there are lots of organizations stepping up to stop scammers from making money off of human tragedy.

While bad spelling and grammar and requests for gift cards are still hallmarks of a scam, ConsumerAffairs went looking for new wrinkles that might help out in today’s more refined scam world. Here’s what we found:

Websites that have “Ukraine” in the URL. Anyone -- including scammers -- can register a domain name that contains nearly every possible combination of words. As an example, when ConsumerAffairs looked for variations of “SupportUkraine.com," we found nearly 30 variations ranging from “supportukraine.services” and “helpforukraine.com” to “supportukrainestudents.com.”

Security researchers at ESET have already done some homework on fake URLs and found several Ukraine-related domains that people should “be wary of."

Beware of group-based social media. ESET researchers said they’ve also seen emotional pleas for help that are based in social media “groups.” ConsumerAffairs found several “Help Ukraine” related communities on Reddit – two with tens of thousands of members. More than 50 results popped up when we looked for Facebook groups relating to “Help Ukraine.”

“Be skeptical of social media posts that promote a charity unless you verify that the organization is legitimate. The friend recommending it may not have done their research and the number of likes for a social media post doesn’t say much about its legitimacy, either,” the ESET researchers said.

How to find out if a charity is truly legitimate? 

Consumers who want to verify that the charity they're giving to is legitimate can use Candid and CharityNavigator. In its coverage of the Ukrainian donation situation, the Council on Foundations appeared to be a big cheerleader of Candid. It credited the organization with tracking 310 Ukraine-related grants valued at $443 million and an additional $333 million in pledges.

The Council on Foundations also offers thoroughly-vetted response funds that people can feel safe donating to, as well as non-profits for people who are sympathetic to those impacted in Russia.

“You should also check with your state's Bureau of Charities,” Levin told us. “They’re usually part of the State Division of Consumer Affairs or the Office of the Attorney General in your state.” 

U.S. airline officials are asking the White House to lift the federal mask mandate on airplanes, as well as the pre-departure testing requirement for international travelers flying back into the U.S.

In their collective opinion, chief executives and officials representing Delta, United, American, Airlines for America, and seven other U.S. airlines say discontinuing the mandate is warranted due to the falloff in COVID-19 cases in the U.S. They also say these actions are already happening in other consumer categories across the country. 

This is the second such effort to roll back the federal mask mandate in the last couple of weeks. Earlier this month, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution to end the mandate for travel after President Biden, the Transportation Safety Authority (TSA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extended the mask mandate until mid-April.

Mandate doesn't fit the COVID-19 situation

The main ax the airlines have to grind with the White House is that the mandate is “no longer aligned with the realities of the current epidemiological environment.”

"During the global health crisis, U.S. airlines have supported and cooperated with the federal government's measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. We are encouraged by the current data and the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions from coast to coast, which indicate it is past time to eliminate COVID-era transportation policies," the group wrote in a letter to President Biden. 

The U.S. Travel Association also called on the Biden administration to drop the current protocol mandates, saying in a statement that the "public health benefits of these policies have now greatly diminished" and that the "economic consequences continue to grow."

The plea to end the federal mask mandate comes as Canada, the Netherlands, Thailand, and other countries have dropped pre-arrival testing. Aruba, Ireland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom have also removed pandemic-era travel restrictions completely.

COVID-19 ‌tally‌ ‌as‌ ‌‌compiled‌‌ ‌by‌ ‌Johns‌ ‌Hopkins‌ ‌University.‌ ‌(Previous‌ ‌numbers‌ ‌in‌ ‌parentheses.)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 79,850,511 (79,805,851)

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 974,976 (973,381)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 474,152,127 (474,340,642)

Total ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 6,106,547 (6,100,583)‌

CDC says cases are falling but more funding is needed

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the COVID-19 numbers continue to trend in an encouraging direction. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, says the current seven-day daily average of cases is about 28,600, a decrease of about 9% over the previous week. 

“We have seen cases decrease dramatically over the past few weeks,” Walensky said at a White House press briefing. “And our national numbers remain close to historic lows, which is really encouraging.  In some areas, we are now recording small increases even as cases continue to fall in other areas.”

Despite the declines, administration health officials say Congress should appropriate additional funds to counter the virus. They warn that the BA.2 subvariant could result in a surge in new cases like many other countries have experienced.

Scientists studying how COVID-19 affects children

One of the biggest mysteries surrounding the coronavirus is why some people get really sick while others don’t have any symptoms. In particular, scientists have tried to understand why most children don’t get very sick.

Dr. Andrew Freedman, an academic in infectious diseases at the U.K.’s Cardiff University Medical School, says theories have suggested a number of different reasons, mostly revolving around a child’s immune system.

Theories include “a more effective innate immune response, less risk of immune over-reaction as occurs in severe COVID, fewer underlying co-morbidities and possibly fewer ACE-2 receptors in the upper respiratory epithelium — the receptor to which SARS-CoV-2 binds,” Freedman told CNBC.

Leafy vegetables may slow COVID-19, researchers find

Here’s another reason to have another helping of broccoli. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center are citing evidence from lab experiments that suggest a chemical from a compound found abundantly in broccoli and other leafy plants may offer a potentially new and potent weapon against the viruses that cause COVID-19. As an added benefit, they say it may also protect against the common cold.

In a study described in the Nature journal Communications Biology, the researchers demonstrated that the chemical can inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and another human coronavirus in cells and mice.

The group also examined the effects of the chemical – sulforaphane – when combined with remdesivir, an antiviral medication used to shorten the recovery of hospitalized adults with COVID-19 infections. The research team reports that sulforaphane and remdesivir interacted synergistically at several combination ratios to reduce the virus in cells by 50%.

Around the nation

• Texas: The Texas Department of State Health Resources reports that the number of Texas residents hospitalized for COVID-19 has dropped to its lowest number since April 2020. As of March 21, 1,425 Texans were hospitalized with the virus.

• New York: Mask mandates have fallen by the wayside in New York, but the vaccination mandate for state employees remains in place. More than 150 New York state court employees, including four state judges, could be fired soon if they don’t receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

• Indiana: Indiana’s COVID-19 tracking map is almost solid blue, with all but five counties now in the lowest transmission rate category. The five counties that are in the yellow category are experiencing a moderate spread of the virus. Statewide, no counties are in the more serious color categories.

• Oregon: The mask mandate has ended, but state health officials say there has been an unintended consequence. Cases of COVID-19 have remained low, but cases of the flu are trending higher. Officials say mask-wearing has kept influenza cases in check for the last two years.

• Tennessee: A bill introduced in the state legislature would make the antiviral drug ivermectin available at pharmacies without a prescription. The drug has been promoted by some as a treatment for COVID-19, but the FDA has not authorized it for that use. The drug is commonly used to treat malaria.

The cost of health care has skyrocketed in recent years, not only for people but also for their pets. According to Care Credit, the average first-year cost of veterinary care for a medium-size dog is $1,779, and the average cost of care for a cat is $1,174.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) says pet insurance can cover unexpected veterinary bills and, in some cases, routine wellness expenses. However, policies vary greatly in price and coverage.

The BBB has published a guide to selecting a pet insurance policy. It suggests that consumers first investigate different policies and what they offer. For example, accident-only coverage offers reimbursement for accidental injuries only, such as ingesting a toxin or breaking a bone. Accident and illness coverage includes reimbursement for common illnesses like cancer or genetic conditions.

It could mean the difference in getting care

Kim, of Portland, Ore., has a policy with Healthy Paws Pet Insurance and, in her line of work, sees firsthand how important the right coverage can be.

“I am a veterinarian and see pets all the time that cannot receive care because of financial limitations,” Kim wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “Even receiving a discount on services, I have been able to offer my pets care that I wouldn't be able to offer without insurance.”

The BBB says it's important to decide on the right type of coverage. While accident-only coverage is generally the least expensive, it might not be right for an indoor dog that may live into “old age” and have a growing list of medical needs.

Regarding age, it will be more cost-effective to insure a pet when it is young and healthy. Waiting until problems develop will be more expensive. It may also be too late because the insurance company may decline to insure your pet because of pre-existing conditions.

How payments work

It’s also important to understand how pet insurance payments work. Unlike human health care providers that usually bill an insurance company, most veterinarians will expect payment for services when they are rendered. The policyholder then files a claim with the insurance company and is reimbursed by the insurance company.

According to the BBB, waiting periods vary between insurers and can even vary depending on the type of treatment. For example, wellness visits can have a different waiting period than accident coverage within the same plan.

There may be ways to save money on a policy by receiving discounts, so it’s important to ask. Some policies offer multi-pet discounts, discounts for spayed or neutered pets, or military discounts. 

Much of the consumer talk around the strict sanctions the U.S. and others have imposed on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine is about the impact on goods like gas and food. Interestingly enough, though, one consumer segment that's experiencing some fallout from that decision is the U.S. jewelry market. 

Despite all the marketing spiel about Antwerp, Belgium, being the “diamond capital of the world,”  Russia and Botswana actually hold the world’s largest diamond reserves. In Russia, the Kremlin-controlled diamond producer Alrosa mines 90% of the country’s stones. With Alrosa having no way to supply buyers outside of Russia with diamonds because of the sanctions, the availability of precious stones has dropped precipitously. That, in turn, has sent prices soaring by double-digits. 

The story doesn’t end there either. Alrosa may be taking on additional risk because it could be further sanctioned or prevented from providing diamonds to the jewelry market via its African operations if it’s hit with individual jewelry store sanctions. If that happens, the world’s diamond supply would be choked even further, which could send prices even higher. 

Alrosa is putting on its best game face, though. The company told Diamonds.net that its interactions with international partners would continue despite the sanctions and that it was working to avoid any impact.

“Alrosa is carefully studying new working conditions in connection with the imposed sanctions,” a spokesperson for the company said. “We intend to offer all our stakeholders the best possible service. We do our best to fulfill our obligations so that their businesses [will] continue to operate as usual.”

Lab-grown diamonds may be an alternative

For people who have engagements, weddings, anniversaries, and the like coming up and are counting on a diamond as a gift, all is not lost. One way a consumer can get around the Russian diamond dilemma is by buying lab-grown diamonds, also known as LGDs or synthetic diamonds. Companies that produce LGDs include Blue Nile and Brilliant Earth. Even diamond-faithful DeBeers has jumped on the grown diamond bandwagon.

At the moment, lab-grown gems only make up about 10% of diamond sales. But since the stones aren’t mined, they’re considered to be eco-friendly and of comparable quality. The best part for buyers is that their prices can be as much as 40% lower than a diamond coming from a mine.

“Unlike other commodities such as oil, aluminum and platinum which have comparable Russian-invoked supply chain constraints, diamonds have high-quality substitutes in lab-grown gems which are real and identical in carbon chemical composition,” Bill Rieke, who teaches Supply Chain Management at Xavier University, told ConsumerAffairs.  

FTC gets tough on diamond marketers 

Despite some potential upsides, there are some drawbacks when it comes to lab-grown diamonds. For one, many “fine jewelers” have pushed back against these gems because they’ve staked their reputations on the real thing. The resale value of lab-grown diamonds is also a sticking point.

But perhaps the biggest drawback might be the Federal Trade Commission’s view on the hype that lab-grown producers give their products. In fact, the agency thought the advertising zeal on LGDs was so overblown that it issued guidance on how diamonds and LGDs can be marketed so consumers had at least a little layer of honesty to protect them. 

The FTC’s updated rules warn companies that they must never use the word "diamond" to describe a lab-created product as real unless it has the “same optical, physical, and chemical properties as the named stone, and an equally conspicuous ‘laboratory-grown,’ ‘laboratory-created,’ ‘[manufacturer name]-created,’ or ‘synthetic’ disclosure immediately preceding the gemstone name.”

A new study conducted by researchers from Edith Cowan University explored how home cooking can affect our mental health. According to the findings, cooking healthy meals at home, and feeling confident in the kitchen, can improve consumers’ confidence and life satisfaction. 

“Improving people’s diet quality can be a preventative strategy to halt or slow the rise in poor mental health, obesity, and other metabolic disorders,” said researcher Dr. Joanna Rees.

“Future health programs should continue to prioritize the barriers to healthy eating, such as poor food environments and time restrictions, whilst placing greater emphasis on the value of healthy eating via quick and easy home cooked meals, rich in fruit and vegetables and avoiding ultra-processed convenience foods.” 

Cooking confidence improves mental health 

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from over 650 participants who completed a cooking class at Edith Cowan University between 2016 and 2018. Over the course of the seven-week classes, students learned how to make healthy dishes at home. After seven weeks, a group of researchers assessed the participants’ behaviors with food, their mental health, their confidence in the kitchen, and their satisfaction with cooking. 

The researchers observed notable shifts in the participants’ mental health – even six months after completing the healthy cooking course. Completing the cooking class was linked with improvements in both physical and mental health and overall vitality. 

Participants also reported specific improvements to mental health. They felt better able to adopt healthy eating patterns and had gained more confidence in their cooking abilities. 

This confidence also translated across genders. Before the study began, nearly 75% of female cooking students and 23% of the male students felt confident in their cooking abilities. That gap narrowed considerably by the end of the seven-week period, with both men and women reporting similar levels of confidence in their cooking skills.

“This change in confidence could see change to the household food environment by reducing the gender bias and leading to a gender balance in home cooking,” Rees said. “This in turn may help to overcome some of the barriers presented by not knowing how to cook, such as easing time constraints, which can lead to ready-made meals, which are high in energy but low in nutritional value.” 

The researchers also found that these findings held up regardless of what the participants’ diets looked like after completing the class. Though the courses were focused on healthy eating, participants were left to their own devices once the class was over. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the American Heart Association explored some of the health risks firefighters face on the job. Their work showed that the more fires that firefighters are exposed to, the higher the likelihood that they’ll struggle with atrial fibrillation (AFib). 

“A few years ago, I treated a local firefighter for atrial fibrillation, and he felt dramatically better with the treatment, so he referred other firefighters to me for care, all with AFib,” said researcher Dr. Paari Dominic. “I decided to methodically examine AFib in the firefighter population, as it may shed light into the cause of atrial fibrillation in non-firefighters as well.” 

Heart health risks on the job

For the study, the researchers surveyed nearly 11,000 firefighters from across the country. They answered questions about their medical histories, specifically regarding their heart health, and the number of fires they typically fight in a year. 

The researchers found that firefighters had a higher risk than the general population for developing AFib. The risk among male firefighters was just under 3%, while the risk among female firefighters was just under 1%. 

“Among adults in the general population younger than age 60, there is a 0.1-1.0% prevalence of having AFib,” Dominic said. “However, among our study population, 2.5% of firefighters ages 60 or younger had AFib. Of the few respondents who were 61 or older, 8.2% reported a diagnosis of AFib.” 

The team believes there is a combination of several factors that contribute to these heart health risks: exposure to harmful chemicals and pollutants, psychological stress, and exposure to high temperatures. 

“First, and foremost, are the inhalation and absorption through the skin of harmful compounds and substances produced by the combustion of materials during a fire, including particulate matter, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and benzene,” Dominic said. “Exposure to these substances, especially particulate matter in air pollution, even for a short time has been previously linked to an increased risk of AFib. 

“In addition, firefighters are exposed to high physical and psychological stress together with long work hours, all of which can increase their adrenaline levels and cause an imbalance in the mechanisms that maintain heart rate. Finally, heat stress (exposure to high temperatures) can cause an increase in core body temperature and severe hydration, both of which increase the demand for a higher heart rate, and may subsequently trigger AFib.” 

The study showed that the risk of developing AFib was 2% for firefighters who fought up to five fires per year. However, when that number increased to 31 or more fires per year, the risk of AFib was 4.5%. 

“Clinicians who care for firefighters need to be aware of the increased cardiovascular risk, especially the increased risk of AFib, among the unique group of individuals,” Dominic said. “The conditions that elevate their risk further, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, lung disease, and sleep apnea should be treated aggressively. In addition, any symptoms of AFib, such as palpitations, trouble breathing, dizziness, and fatigue should be investigated promptly.” 

Chrysler is recalling 370,437 model year 2019-2022 Ram 2500s, model year 2021-2022 Dodge Durangos, and model year 2019-2022 3500 cab chassis with GVWR less than 10,000 lbs.

The ABS control module software may prevent the electronic stability control (ESC) malfunction indicator light from illuminating during certain conditions.

An ESC malfunction indicator light that fails to illuminate during an electronic stability control problem can increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will update the ABS control module software free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on April 29, 2022.

Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at (800) 853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Z20.

HD Premier of Wilmington, Del., is recalling about 119,620 DigitDots 3mm and 5mm magnetic balls.

When two or more high-powered magnets are swallowed, either intentionally by younger children or accidentally by older children, the ingested magnets can attract to each other, or to another metal object, and become lodged in the digestive system.

This can result in perforations, twisting, and/or blockage of the intestines that can cause infection, blood poisoning, and death.

The firm is aware of four children who have ingested DigitDots and required surgery to remove the magnets. The CPSC is also aware of other reports of children and teenagers ingesting other companies’ high-powered magnets and requiring surgery, including two deaths.

This recall involves 3mm and 5mm DigitDots magnetic balls, which are small, spherical, loose, and separable neodymium rare-earth magnets with a strong magnetic flux.

The magnets are sold in two sizes: 3mm and 5mm. The 3mm diameter magnets are sold as aggregated loose magnets in sets of 512 multi-colored magnetic balls. The 5mm diameter magnets are sold as aggregated loose magnets in sets of 222 silver magnetic balls or 224 multi-colored magnetic balls.

The recalled DigitDots were sold encased in clear, disposable packaging bearing the “DigitDots” name and logo. The product includes a plastic carrying case that also bears the “DigitDots” name and logo.

The magnetic balls, manufactured in China, were sold online at www.ilovedigitdots.com, www.amazon.com, and other websites from March 2019, through January 2022, for between $20 and $30.

What to do

Consumers should stop using the recalled magnets immediately, take them away from children, and contact HD Premier to receive a pre-paid label to return the recalled products. Upon receipt of the products, consumers will receive a refund.

Consumers may contact HD Premier by email at recall@ilovedigitdots.com or online for more information.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling four model year 2020 AMG CLA 35s and model year 2021 GLA 250s.

The rear brake caliper housing fasteners may be loose, which can reduce brake performance or cause rear brake components to detach from the vehicle.

Reduced brake performance can increase the risk of a crash. Detached brake components can also create a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash for other drivers.

What to do

Dealers will inspect and tighten the fasteners on the rear brake caliper housings -- as necessary -- free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on May 3, 2022.

Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at (800) 367-6372.

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 140 model year 2022 Elantras and Elantra HEVs.

The front passenger-side seat belt pretensioner may explode upon deployment in a crash.

An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle that strike occupants and result in injuries.

What to do

Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on May 2, 2022.

Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at (855) 371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 220.