Weekly Health Quiz: Seed Oils and Your Heart, Tramadol's Health Tradeoffs, and Fighting Depression

1 Which cells absorb damaged cholesterol and form the earliest layers of artery plaque?

• Platelets that help stop bleeding
• Smooth muscle cells in artery walls
• Red blood cells that carry oxygen
• Foam cells formed from immune cell activity

  Immune cells absorb oxidized cholesterol, swell into foam cells, and create the first building blocks of plaque inside artery walls. Learn more.

2 Which statement about acupuncture is not true?

• Practitioners stimulate specific body points using thin, sterile needles
• The therapy focuses on restoring the flow of Qi (life energy)
• Acupuncture injects medication to block nerve pain signals

  Acupuncture does not involve drugs or injections. It works by stimulating points to support natural healing, pain reduction, and overall balance. Learn more.

• Treatment activates the body’s own healing response

3 Which countries maintained traditionally low linoleic acid (LA) diets?

• United States and Israel
• Canada and the United Kingdom
• Japan and Greece

  Japan and Greece preserved traditional diets low in linoleic acid, which were associated with markedly lower rates of heart disease. Learn more.

• Germany and Australia

4 How should niacinamide be dosed, in milligrams, to support nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels?

• 500 mg once per day
• 50 mg three times per day

  Taking 50 mg doses spaced through the day supports NAD+ production without the risks of high-dose vitamin B3. Learn more.

• 1,000 mg once per week
• 100 mg only at night

5 Which system is often described as the body’s stress thermostat?

• Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

  The HPA axis raises cortisol during stress and lowers it afterward, but chronic stress can keep it stuck in an overactive state. Learn more.

• Autonomic nervous system
• Lymphatic system
• Gut-brain axis (GBA)

6 Which type of milk remains the gold standard for infant nutrition?

• Unpastured cow’s milk fortified with iron
• Breast milk that provides immune protection and biological signals

  Breast milk delivers immune protection and biological signals that no substitute fully replicates, even when trace chemicals are detected at low levels. Learn more.

• Natural-based infant formula designed for sensitive digestion
• Powdered formula engineered to match calorie needs

7 Why should driving be avoided while taking tramadol?

• Sudden vision problems make driving unpredictable
• Risk increases only during long-distance trips
• Reaction time, coordination, and alertness can be impaired

  Tramadol can slow reactions and reduce coordination and alertness, especially early in treatment or after dose changes, raising crash risk. Learn more.

• Danger occurs only when alcohol is also consumed

8 How long does it take for people with Parkinson’s disease to show benefits from regular dancing?

• Improvements appeared within the first few weeks of practice
• Noticeable changes occurred after several months of training
• Benefits required daily sessions for one full year
• Positive effects emerged after about two years of weekly dancing

  Cognitive and movement benefits did not appear quickly. They became clear after roughly two years and persisted as long as weekly dancing continued. Learn more.

9 How much of the world’s adult population is affected by breathlessness?

• 1%
• 5%
• 10%

  Research estimates breathlessness affects over one in 10 adults worldwide and may limit daily activity long before a diagnosis is made. Learn more.

• 20%

10 Which industrial chemicals in plastic containers make them unsafe for storing and reheating food?

• Lead and mercury used in food dyes
• Nitrates added to packaged meats
• Bisphenol A (BPA) or phthalates

  BPA and phthalates in some plastics can leach into food, especially with heat, releasing hormone-disrupting chemicals. Learn more.

• Sodium compounds that control moisture

11 How many hours do adults in the U.S. spend online and looking at their screens?

• Over six hours per day

  Global screen time now averages more than six hours per day, while about 4 in 10 U.S. adults report being almost constantly online. Learn more.

• Around three hours daily
• About four to five hours
• Nearly 10 hours a day

12 How often should most water dispensers be deep-cleaned?

• Once every 3 to 6 months in normal settings
• Every 2 to 4 weeks, with more frequent cleaning for high use

  Experts recommend deep cleaning every 2 to 4 weeks, with weekly cleaning for high-use office or public dispensers. Learn more.

• Only when visible buildup appears, which happens every other month
• Once per year with professional servicing is enough to keep away grime

13 What happened to vaccine availability under the updated childhood schedule?

• Several vaccines were removed from federal coverage entirely
• All previously available vaccines remain accessible and fully covered

  No vaccines were removed; the update reorganized recommendations but kept full access through Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Vaccines for Children program. Learn more.

• Only vaccines with international consensus stayed on the market
• Access is now limited to private insurance without public support

14 How did long-term aspartame intake affect how the brain uses energy?

• It steadily increased glucose use without later changes
• Brain glucose use stayed normal over time
• Energy rose but dipped below normal levels with continued use

  Brain glucose use increased early, then fell below normal levels, a shift linked to slower movement, poorer memory, and signs of metabolic stress. Learn more.

• The brain stopped using glucose as a fuel source entirely

15 Which vitamin helps protect cartilage?

• Vitamin K2

  Vitamin K2 helps protect cartilage cells from inflammatory damage and prevents calcium from depositing in joints, which can worsen stiffness and degeneration. Learn more.

• Vitamin D
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin A

16 Which types of exercise help reduce depression symptoms?

• Only rest and relaxation, such as meditation
• Light movement without effort
• Walking, strength training, yoga, and dancing

  Research shows several exercise types improve depression symptoms when done consistently, including walking, strength training, yoga, and dancing. Learn more.

• Exercise has no long-term effect on mood

17 What is leisure crafting?

• Using hobbies mainly to relax without setting goals or making new friends
• Stepping away from work to recover energy through unstructured free time
• Turning hobbies into productivity tasks or income-focused hustles
• Using a hobby more intentionally through small goals, learning, or connection

  Leisure crafting means approaching hobbies with intention, focusing on growth and connection rather than just relaxation or distraction. Learn more.

18 How common is gestational diabetes in U.S. pregnancies?

• 1 in 50
• 1 in 25
• 1 in 10

  Gestational diabetes occurs when the body cannot regulate glucose during pregnancy and now affects nearly 1 in 10 U.S. pregnancies. Learn more.

• 1 in 3

19 Why should hydrogen water be consumed right after preparation?

• Hydrogen gas escapes quickly once released into water

  Hydrogen gas dissipates rapidly, so drinking it right away preserves its potential benefit. Learn more.

• The tablets lose flavor if left sitting too long and it'll be hard to drink
• Minerals settle at the bottom over time
• Water temperature drops too fast

20 What role does vitamin K2 play in calcium balance?

• Increased absorption moves more calcium into the bloodstream
• Proper guidance sends calcium into bones and away from arteries

  Vitamin K2 guides calcium into bones. Low levels allow calcium to harden arteries while bones become weak and brittle. Learn more.

• Removal of excess calcium happens through kidney filtration
• Storage of calcium occurs inside muscle tissue for later use

21 What is the normal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in blood plasma?

• Between 35 and 45 torr

  Normal blood CO₂ pressure ranges from 35 to 45 torr. Levels below this are common with overbreathing and reflect poor metabolic regulation. Learn more.

• Below 25 torr in healthy adults
• Around 50 to 60 torr at rest
• Less than 20 torr during normal breathing