Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/oOUfv-qZeQ4   A severe CoVid infection is nearly 20 times more likely for unvaccinated than vaccinated police personnel and 5 times more likely for unvaccinated firefighters.  Once infected with CoVid, these first responders are sick for 2 to 3 weeks and miss up to 7 weeks of work.  These troubling statistics are just some of the conclusions of a collaborative study headed by public health researchers at the University of Miami.   The investigators dug down to understand the reasons why 41% of first responders remain unvaccinated.  Those resisting vaccination are more than 3 (3.2) times more likely to erroneously believe that CoVid vaccines are ineffective and more than 3.5 times (3.6) more likely to believe lies that CoVid vaccines are unsafe.     These mistaken beliefs are propagated on mass and social media using pseudoscience and outright lies to make responsible CoVid management a wedge political issue.  Media liars would have you believe that CoVid vaccination and masking ar

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/SxOANS2RUhs   Unvaccinated persons cause up to 90% of all new CoVid infections.  This the conclusion of a German mathematical modeling study seeking to understand the huge uptick in CoVid infections since October that is clogging German hospitals and driving consideration of lockdowns.   The German mathematicians calculated that two-thirds to as many as three-quarters of all new CoVid infections occur in unvaccinated persons.  In addition, their calculations suggest that 38 to 51 % of these infections occur because unvaccinated persons infect other unvaccinated persons.  Said another way, unvaccinated persons contribute more to the spread of CoVid than waning immunity in the vaccinated.   None of us wants to spend another winter locked up in our homes and unable to pursue any public indoor activities such as in-person work, in-person school and college, and indoor public activities including shopping, theater, and mass transit.  The surge of Delta CoVid and the appearance of Omicr

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Na8mKpi7N9Q   The FDA and The Spice House are recalling the Spice House Sichuan Chili BBQ Rub.  This product contains undeclared sesame.  Those allergic to sesame could develop a serious allergic reaction if they ingest this rub.  If you bought this product, dispose or it and contact The Spice House by email at support@thespicehouse.com to arrange a refund.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/spice-house-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-sesame-sichuan-chili-bbq-rub   #spicehouse #chilibbqrub #sesame #allergy #recall  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/KsQhYLK2-58   The FDA and TaDah! Foods are recalling TaDah! Spicy Brown Sugar Harissa Hummus Wraps.  This hummus contains undeclared milk allergen.  Those with a milk allergy can develop a serious or possibly life-threatening allergic reaction.  If you purchased these products, contact TaDah! Foods by phone at  1-571-335-1635 to get a full refund or replacement.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/tadah-foods-springfield-va-voluntarily-recalling-two-batches-production-spicy-brown-sugar-harissa   #tadah #hummus #wraps #milk #allergy #recall  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/4whDUz4S64c   The FDA and Kraft-Heinz are recalling multiple powdered beverages including: Country Time Lemonade, Tang, Arizona Tea, and some Kool-Aid.  These beverage packages have very small pieces of glass and metal.  If you have any of these products, return them to the place of purchase or destroy them.  For more information about the specific products involved, contact Kraft-Heinz Consumer Relations for the US at 1-855-713-9237 or for Canada at 1-855-268-1775.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/kraft-heinz-voluntarily-recalls-select-country-time-lemonade-tang-arizona-tea-powdered-beverages-and   #kraftheinz #powderedbeverages #countrytime #tang #arizonatea #koolaid #foreignbodies #lacerations #recall  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/o9vW-kIO07Q   The FDA and the Proctor & Gamble Co. have recalled Old Spice and Secret Aerosol Spray Antiperspirants and Old Spice Below Deck Aerosol Spray Products. The affected products include: Old Spice High Endurance AP Spray Pure Sport, Old Spice Hardest Working Collection Invisible Spray, Old Spice Below Deck Powder Spray, Secret Aerosol Powder Fresh, Secret Fresh Collection Invisible Spray, Secret Outlast Invisible Spray, and Old Spice Pure Sport.  These products contain dangerous levels of the human carcinogen benzene.  Exposure to this organic solvent on the skin, by inhalation, or by ingestion can cause cancers and blood disorders.  If you bought any of these, dispose of them and contact Proctor and Gamble’s Consumer Care Team by phone at 1-888-339-7689 or online at oldspice.com or secret.com.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/pg-issues-voluntary-recall-specific-old-spice-and-secret-aerosol-spray-antiperspirants-and-old-spice   #p

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/F0uHaSyNJ7g   The FDA and Fischer and Wieser Specialty Foods are recalling H-E-B Tomato Basil Soup.  This product has glass foreign bodies in its jars.  The involved lot is 22871 with a best buy date of 10/14/22.  If you bought this product, do not consume it.  Return it to the point of purchase for a refund.  For additional information, call Fischer and Wieser Specialty Foods at 1-830-997-7194.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/fischer-wieser-specialty-foods-issues-voluntary-recall-h-e-b-creamy-tomato-basil-soup   #heb #tomatosoup #glass #foreignbody #laceration #recall  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/sHOo1JWbd4E   The FDA and JFC International Inc are recalling Wel-Pac Shrimp Powdered Soup Stock.  This product contains undeclared fish including sardine, tuna, and bonito.  If ingested by a person with allergies to any or all of these fish, the product could trigger a serious or fatal allergic reaction.  If you have this soup stock, do not use or consume it, and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.  If you need more information, contact JFC International by phone at 1-800-633-1004 or via e-mail at consserv@jfc.com.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/jfc-international-inc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-fish-bonito-sardine-tuna-wel-pac-shrimp-soup   #welpac #shrimpsoupstock #fish #allergy #recall  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/-fBMRZVjgn4   The FDA and the Flagship Food Group are recalling TJ Farms Select Frozen Cauliflower.  This product is contaminated with listeria monocytogenes.  Listeria triggers a severe and sometimes life-threatening infection in the very young, older individuals, and in those with immunosuppression.  This cauliflower was sold in  Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.  If you have this product, don’t consume and and either return it to the place of purchase for a refund or dispose of it.  If you have questions about the product or recall, call Flagship Food Group at 1-800-292-9600.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/flagship-food-group-recalls-frozen-cauliflower-because-possible-health-risk   #tjfarms #cauliflower #listeria #infection #recall  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/adpqpdelZ_o   The FDA and Conagra Brands, Inc. are recalling Birds Eye Broccoli Tots.  Packages of this product contain small rocks and metal fragments.  The contaminated batches have best buy dates of 8/11/22, 8/12/22, 8/19/22, 8/25/22, 11/10/22, and 11/17/22.  If you bought one of these packages, return it to the point of purchase for a refund.  For more information call Conagra Consumer Care at 1-800-921-7404.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/conagra-brands-issues-voluntary-recall-certain-birds-eye-broccoli-totsr-due-potential-presence-small   #birdseye #broccolitots #foreignbodies #laceration #recall  

Impex Olympic Dumbbell Handles on Recall Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/vYBzIQT-KVU   The CPSC and Impex Fitness are recalling Impex Olympic Dumbbell Handles.  The locking collars on these dumbbell handles may slip leading to dropped weights if the dumbbell is held perpendicular to the floor and this creates an injury hazard to the user or bystanders.  About 77,200 of these dumbbell handles were sold at Dick’s Sporting Goods stores nationwide and online at dickssportinggoods.com.  Immediately stop using these dumbbell handles and contact Impex Fitness by phone at 1- 800-999-8899 or online at impex-fitness.com/fitness-gear-olympic-dumbbell-handle-recall.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Impex-Fitness-Recalls-Dumbbell-Handles-Due-to-Impact-Injury-Hazard   #impex #dumbbellhandle #collars #injury #recall  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/YdhbISztvJE   When vaccinated persons develop a case of breakthrough CoVid they have a 59% higher risk of developing at least one manifestation of long CoVid, usually lung disease, compared with individuals who never developed a CoVid infection.  Worse still, those with breakthrough CoVid have a 53% higher risk of unexpected death compared with the uninfected.   According to the Reuters Health news service, researchers analyzing data from the US Veteran Affairs database studied 16,035 vaccinated persons who developed breakthrough CoVid and nearly 3.6 million uninfected persons.  They tabulated the risks of long CoVid and death at 6 months following the CoVid infections in question.   Unfortunately, the actual study data has not yet appeared online, but Reuters is a reliable source.  Once I find the prepublication document, I will file another report.   For now, I wanted to share this important warming with you as the holiday season begins.  These data suggest that vaccines are eff

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/7jNYQZuoijs   Persons simultaneously receiving CoVid boosters with the Moderna mRNA vaccine and the high dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine developed the same robust immune responses to the vaccines as those receiving only one vaccine at a time and showed no evidence of increased adverse reactions to the piggy-backed vaccinations.  This the data from an ongoing Phase 2 multicenter trial sponsored by vaccine maker Sanofi-Pasteur.   A total of 296 persons were divided intro 3 experimental groups: 100 received the Moderna and Flu vaccines together; 104 the Moderna booster only; and 92 the high dose flu vaccine only.  Antibody titers against CoVid increased to similar levels whether or not the participant also received the flu shot.  Antibody titers against the 4 influenza strains increased to similar levels whether or not a CoVid shot was administered at the same time.  There were no differences in side effects when vaccines were given at same time.   Now is the time for you to get

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/06uzDxH7z6U   Hospitalized CoVid patients are 28% less likely to die of the disease if they are taking fluoxetine, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, SSRI, best known as Prozac and prescribed for clinical depression.  A study from UC-San Francisco analyzed the data from 83,584 patients diagnosed with CoVid of whom 3,401 were on an SSRI.   The researchers comment that the beneficial effects of SSRIs are less dramatic compared with the medications already in use to treat hospitalized CoVid patients such as antibody cocktails, remdesivir, dexamethasone, and tocilizumab.  It is possible, though, that these anti-depressive medications may yet play a role in the treatment of hospitalized CoVid patients by enhancing the effects of these other medications.   https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2786136   #CoVid #ssri #antidepressives #prozac #hospitalization #death  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/05Otlnb0Uss   Boosting 100,000 older Americans with the Pfizer vaccine will cost $3.4 million but save twice that amount in ultimate medical costs over a 6 month period. Researchers in China and at New York’s Mt. Sinai Medical School developed a computer model to assess the cost-effectiveness of boosting the CoVid immunity 6 months following the second dose of the Pfizer CoVid vaccine.   The study predicts a 67% probability that this CoVid booster strategy will be cost effective.  It would save $3.4 million per 100,000 American for a total savings of $11.9 billion.   Take advantage of the privilege and safety that a CoVid booster will afford you and your family.  If you are 6 months following your second Moderna or Pfizer shot or 2 months after your J&J shot, get the immune boost, possible save your life, and save your country money.   By the way, that booster only becomes effective 2 weeks after the jab.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.11.14.21266318v1.full.pd

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/yybyuta-738   Repeated shots of Regeneron’s antibody cocktail REGEN-COV reduced the risk of a CoVid infection by 92.4% for unvaccinated persons.  Regeneron-sponsored doubled-blinded, placebo controlled trials in Texas and Ohio studied 969 uninfected and unvaccinated subjects receiving 6 monthly shots of antibody compared with a control group of 240 subjects receiving placebo injections.   The monthly antibody injections were significantly protective even for those persons with complicating medical issues.  Injection site reactions occurred in 37% of the treatment group but the majority were mild and resolved within 4 days of injection.  There were no significant immunological reactions mounted against the injected antibodies that would limit their protection.   This Regeneron cocktail has been successfully used as an intravenous injection to treat hospitalized patients with severe CoVid.  This new study shows that subcutaneous shots of the same drug can successfully prevent CoVid.

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/7jhOt9TyQXs   CoVid patients who received even one dose of an FDA-approved CoVid vaccine within a month of their CoVid diagnosis are more than 5 times less likely than an unvaccinated person to develop multiple symptoms of the dreaded long CoVid.   Researchers at the Massachusetts health think tanks Arcadia and MITRE studied 1,065,626 CoVid patients.   Analysis of the vaccination histories and the occurrence of long CoVid symptoms in these patients showed the protective effects of CoVid vaccines.  While vaccination following the diagnosis of an active CoVid infection protects against long CoVid the best when completed within a month of infection diagnosis, vaccination prior to any diagnosed CoVid infection is the most effective reducing the likelihood of developing long CoVid nearly 9 fold.   Preventing long CoVid is yet another reason to be vaccinated against CoVid.  The vaccines are most effective protecting you against both CoVid and long CoVid if completed long before possible

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/gV9UXQwKvkw   If you can’t seem to please your boss, the problem, dear Brutus, is not in your stars but in your commute.  A just published Dartmouth study tracked 275 information technology workers using their smartphones and wearables to quantify the characteristics of their commutes and their bodily reactions to them.  Their HR records served to determine their work performances.   When the numbers were crunched, the researchers found that poor performers at work consistently struggled with higher stress levels in association with their commutes.  Excellent work performers enjoyed smoother commutes with more consistent durations and less associated anxiety.   To protect your body from undue stress and to guard yourself from embarrassments at work, take the easiest route to and from your job and …. play soothing music.   https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9596583   #commute #stress #jobperformance #smartphone #wearables  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/3GA51tTaZ5w   When infection occurs post-operatively, a timely selfie of the operative incision is nearly 4 times more likely to prevent a delayed diagnosis.   University of Edinburgh surgeons proved this point with the study of 233 surgical patients following their operations.   Each patient was contacted on days 3, 7, and 15 post-operatively, questioned about how they were feeling, and asked to take a selfie of their wounds.  A surgeon evaluated each photo.  The patients were again contacted at day 30 postop to find out if they had been diagnosed with an infection.   When compared with a control group of 269 surgical patients who were followed without photos, those in the selfie group had any wound infections diagnosed within 7 days of surgery about 4 times more frequently.  Don’t forget to tell your incision to smile!   https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-021-00526-0   #selfie #surgery #infection #incision #delayeddiagnosis  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/CEyPIeppXU8   Ever more frequent heat waves promise deadly heart strain and an epidemic of heart failure.  These warnings come from a  Montreal Heart Institute review of the consequences of extreme heat events.   Even beyond heat stroke with its dangerously high body temperatures, confusion, nausea and vomiting, environmental temperatures in the 100’s put a dangerous strain on your heart.  In a futile attempt to cool the body by superpowering its sweat glands, the heart ramps up its pumping function to dangerously high levels.   Those with pre-existing medical problems, particularly cardiovascular disease, are at particular risk.  The heat-associated heart strain can readily trigger heart attacks and ultimate heart failure.   To prevent these heat-related consequences, Canadian provinces routinely warn the public 18-24 hours before heat events with suggestions about how to beat the heat.  To prevent heat-driven heart damage, we must all seek air conditioning or use fans, remain hy