Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/QI7ziMDZsi0   Any amount of running reduces your chances of death due to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and a variety of other causes.  Australian investigators draw these conclusions from their meta-analysis of 14 studies and over 232,000 participants.   Compared with those who did no running at all, those who did enjoyed a 30% reduced risk of cardiovascular death, a 23% lower risk of cancer death,, and a 27% reduced risk of death from any cause.  The frequency of running, the duration of the runs, and the pace did not change the affect the result.   The bottom line:jump off that couch and take some time to run around the block.  It exercises your heart and turbocharges your immunity.     Pedisic Z, Shrestha N, Kovalchik S, et al Is running associated with a lower risk of all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality, and is the more the better? A systematic review and meta-analysis British Journal of Sports Medicine Published Online First: 04 November 2019. doi: 10.1136/bjsports

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/SN1ALsZ2Uzs   Competitive electronic gamers risk eye, neck and back, wrist, and hand overuse disorders.  E-Sports medicine investigators at the New York Institute of Technology review current knowledge about the risks.   Esport athletes practice upwards of 10 hours a day.  Their eyes and hands make more than 10 moves a second.     Some 56% of gamers develop blurry vision, low back pain, and muscle tension headaches.  Pain in the hand and wrist due to carpal tunnel inflammation and tendinitis develop in 30% of pro players.   Professional gaming and the devices used for practice and play must limit the frequency and duration of sitting, gazing, and hand motions.  Otherwise, players will face disability retirements at very young ages.   Hallie Zwibel, Joanne DiFrancisco-Donoghue, Amanda DeFeo, Sheldon Yao. An Osteopathic Physician's Approach to the Esports Athlete. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 2019; 119 (11): 756 DOI: 10.7556/jaoa.2019.125   #Egaming #blurryvisi

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/E0aK-eRGVF4   A large British study now proves the “old wives tale” that certain weather, specifically damp, windy days with low barometric pressure, can trigger more joint pain.  The increased risk is only 20%, but if it’s your body.........   The University of Manchester epidemiologists studied nearly 2700 subjects who reported their pain levels via smartphone app.  There was no effect on pain by levels of rainfall or temperature alone.  However cold weather, high humidity, and wind gusts did yield the most pain.   If you tend to suffer weather-related arthritis, be strategic.  Use the weather forecast to prompt your timely use of pain killers like Tylenol, Advil, or good old coated aspirin.    Dixon, W.G., Beukenhorst, A.L., Yimer, B.B. et al. How the weather affects the pain of citizen scientists using a smartphone app. npj Digit. Med. 2, 105 (2019) doi:10.1038/s41746-019-0180-3   #Weather #pain #arthritis

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/tB4CDjCeoqE   A just published Harvard study shows that a natural measles infection eliminates up to 50% of your bodies immunity to other nasty viruses but also to pathogenic bacteria.  In the aftermath, you must reform this protective shield if you survive long enough to do so.   The measles virus triggers immune amnesia by destroying up to 73% of your anti-microbial antibodies.  A separate study reveals that this virus hobbles the B lymphocytes that produce these life-saving proteins.   This discovery is a giant impetus for universal measles vaccination using the MMR vaccine.  It is a powerful retort to those who claim a natural infection is the best way to induce immunity to the measles virus.   Michael J. Mina, Tomasz Kula, Yumei Leng, Mamie Li, Rory D. de Vries, Mikael Knip, Heli Siljander, Marian Rewers, David F. Choy, Mark S. Wilson, H. Benjamin Larman, Ashley N. Nelson, Diane E. Griffin, Rik L. de Swart, Stephen J. Elledge. Measles virus infection diminishes preexisting anti

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/nnjT1Pjw2KQ   Anti-immigrant government pronouncements prevent our Latino friends and neighbors from seeking timely healthcare and endanger all of us.  This from A UCLA study of nearly 1700 emergency room patients over an 18 month period.   Latino immigrant residents without documentation were 5 times more likely than those with papers to delay seeking emergency medical care for as much as 2 to 3 days.  A whopping 75% of undocumented immigrants but also 51% of Latino documented residents felt that divisive statements from Washington made them feel unsafe in the US today.   When neighbors remain sick without needed treatment, they could spread infection to our families.  Our 2020 elections are exactly one year away, and we must vote for humanists who will protect us all.   Citation: Rodriguez RM, Torres JR, Sun J, Alter H, Ornelas C, Cruz M, et al. (2019) Declared impact of the US President’s statements and campaign statements on Latino populations’ perceptions of safety and emergenc

Fancy Gift Wrapping Can Trigger Disappointment or Impress Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/3lZ6g4FQiJk   The holidays are ahead, and, if you want your friends and family to enjoy your gift, don’t overdo the wrapping.  Consumer psychologists at the University of Nevada compared the reactions of gift recipients to neatly or sloppily wrapped presents.   A beautiful, precise gift wrap for those you know overpromises frequently creates disappointment when what’s inside falls short of the promise.  Better to contain the gift in a bag or more informal wrapping.   Different situation if you’re gifting your boss or non-family.  Then, the gift itself is immaterial.   A beautiful wrap communicates organizational skills and how you value the relationship.  A sloppy wrap reflects the opposite.   The choice of the gift wrap can be as important as what’s inside.   Jessica M. Rixom, Erick M. Mas, Brett A. Rixom. Presentation Matters: The Effect of Wrapping Neatness on Gift Attitudes. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 2019; DOI: 10.1

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/XbRK74f4Hog   Short bursts of exertion to near maximum creates more cardiovascular fitness than the traditional continuous exercise in one-third less time.  A Japanese study in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings followed 679 subjects over a 5 month period.   The interval training routine was walking at a pace 70% of the individuals maximal capacity for 3 minutes, then at 40% of capacity for 3 more.  This cycle was repeated 8 to 9 times over the week for a max of 50 minutes.  Those using this plan showed a significant 14% increase in aerobic capacity and a 17% decrease in lifestyle-linked disease compared with those following the traditional 75 minutes of intense aerobic exercise.   The bottom line:less is more.   Shizue Masuki, Mayuko Morikawa, Hiroshi Nose. High-Intensity Walking Time Is a Key Determinant to Increase Physical Fitness and Improve Health Outcomes After Interval Walking Training in Middle-Aged and Older People. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2019; DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2019.04.039

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/KNGlHUOcAtU   Enjoying a daily avocado helps to keep your coronary arteries open by increasing antioxidants and lowering harmful LDL cholesterol .  Penn State nutritionists now publish this finding after  studying 45 overweight and obese subjects with elevated LDL cholesterol levels.    Adding avocado to a moderate fat diet right-sized the circulating LDL and LDL particle levels while increasing beneficial antioxidants more than either a moderate fat diet alone or even a low fat diet.  This is the first study to credit the avocado with reducing dangerous small LDL particles that readily penetrate and damage blood vessel linings.   Avocados tastefully replace mayonnaise on salads and sandwiches.  Add at least one a day to live longer.   Li Wang et al, A Moderate-Fat Diet with One Avocado per Day Increases Plasma Antioxidants and Decreases the Oxidation of Small, Dense LDL in Adults with Overweight and Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial, The Journal of Nutrition (2019). DOI: 10.10

Vidcast:  ttps://youtu.be/uwQjrBlO6DQ Constant noise will raise your risk of sustaining a severe stroke by 30%, while quiet, green space reduces that risk by 25%.  These conclusions come from a Spanish study of nearly 2800 stroke victims over a 10 year period.   Strokes kill 6.7 million worldwide annually. Reduce your chances of having one by keeping your weight, blood pressure, lipid levels in control.  Then too, avoid noisy places,   Problem is, noise is becoming epidemic.  Nearly everyone is screaming in restaurants, on subways, at sports events, and on the street.     Besides worsening strokes, noise also kills your hearing, raises your blood pressure, and drives heart disease.  We should all take the advice we so often give to children as they scream: indoor voices dear!     Rosa Maria Vivanco-Hidalgo, Carla Avellaneda-Gómez, Payam Dadvand, Marta Cirach, Ángel Ois, Alejandra Gómez González, Ana Rodriguez-Campello, Pablo de Ceballos, Xavier Basagaña, Ana Zabalza, Elisa Cuadrado-Godia, Jordi Sunyer, Jaume

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/xjgFV9pe82M   Obesity and overweight problems are more common in kids of all ages living close to convenience stores.  New York University researchers report these results online this week after reviewing data from 1 million school-aged New York City children.   Of those living within a half-block of a convenience store or bodega, some 20% were obese and 40% were overweight.  For every half or full city block kids live away from these junk food havens, the incidence of obesity dropped from 1 to 4%.   If you live close to such stores, keep an eye on your children’s purchases.  The investigators also suggest that these neighborhood gathering places could be incentivized publicly or privately to stock healthier fruits and vegetables.   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191029080737.htm   #conveniencestores #bodegas #junkfood #obesity #overweight

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/o_fpt8jt3ZQ   If you plan to use weed for significant psychological issues, think again!  It simply doesn't not help manage these problems.   A mammoth Australian meta-analysis just published in the The Lancet Psychiatry looked at 83 studies in which marijuana was used to treat depression, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, psychosis,  and Tourette syndrome.   Weed did help with minor situational anxiety due to short-lived illness issues, but THC with or without CBD offered no relief for the other disorders studied.  In some cases, its use exacerbated the symptoms.   If you or a family member has serious psychiatric problems, seek help from qualified psychiatrists or psychologists.  Don’t self medicate with recreational drugs.   Nicola Black, Emily Stockings, Gabrielle Campbell, Lucy T Tran, Dino Zagic, Wayne D Hall, Michael Farrell, Louisa Degenhardt. Cannabinoids for the treatment of mental disorders and symptoms of mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry,

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/6GAM_yWOM6s   Jon and his college pals were celebrating the end of exams with endless parasol-topped drinks at the Szechuan Star Restaurant.  His buddy Bill screams, “Jon....bet you can’t down this quart of soy sauce.   Jon wins the bet but nearly loses his life.  He starts to seize and becomes unresponsive.  At the ER, the anti-seizure medicines work but he is in a coma.  Blood testing shows his blood sodium to be the highest ever recorded.   He only recovers after a massive infusion of 6 liters of sugar water into his gastrointestinal tract.  He never wants to see soy sauce again.  Soy sauce is salty and the quart he chugged contains one-third pound of salt.     https://www.jem-journal.com/article/S0736-4679%2813%2900202-3/fulltext   #soysauce #salt #seizures

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/rNQ3yz7Gdc4   Betty was rushing to dress for her New Year’s Eve date.  She picked up an earring, but her asthma suddenly flared.  After rushing to extract her inhaler from a handbag, she deeply inhaled her medicine.   She felt a throat scrape followed by a cough deeper than she usually experiences after medication inhalation.  Betty’s cough persisted and became bloody.  Her breathing became more difficult.   Her date rushed her to the hospital where a chest x-ray revealed an object blocking her right lung’s airway.   Then on to the operating room where surgeons extracted an earring from that right lung.    The earring had fallen into the inhaler as Betty fumbled through her purse.  Lesson learned: she never again left the cap off her inhaler.   https://casereports.bmj.com/content/2015/bcr-2014-207398   #Foreignbody #asthmainhaler  

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/9cFQ6A3girI   Regular exercise helps prevent most women’s cancers and many gastrointestinal malignancies.   It improves the results of all forms of treatment for these dread diseases and also for prostate cancer.  Problem is that fewer than half of cancer patients exercise.   Why?  Studies say it’s lack of encouragement by doctors and nurses.  Currently only 21% of oncologists and 9% of nurses cajole their patients to pursue the 3 times weekly aerobic and/or resistance workouts that will turbocharge their systems to eradicate cancer cells and lift their spirits.   If you are a cancer patient or don’t want to be one, pound on your docs and nurses to suggest or approve exercise tailored to your body’s needs.     Kathryn H. Schmitz, Anna M. Campbell, Martijn M. Stuiver, etal.  Exercise is medicine in oncology: Engaging clinicians to help patients move through cancer.  CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.  https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21579.   #Exercise #cancer #PT #mood

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/eErkpq7PXEg   A happy tune is THE secret to unmasking solutions to your dilemmas as you get some ZZZs.  This remarkable discovery comes to us from Northwestern University psychologists.   Investigators tested 57 subjects presenting them with tricky puzzles the evening before sleep. Each puzzle was accompanied by a unique sound.  Then, as they slept, they heard the unique sounds of half the brain teasers.  The next morning, the participants were able to solve those puzzles whose sounds they heard while sleeping some 55% more efficiently.   If you have an nagging issue, try associating a tune with it.  Then play the song at low levels as you sleep.  You might just wake up with a brighter idea.   Kristin E. G. Sanders, Samuel Osburn, Ken A. Paller, etal.  Targeted Memory Reactivation During Sleep Improves Next-Day Problem Solving.  Psychological Science, 10/19; https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797619873344   #Sleep #problemsolving #creativity

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/AHxyX4NwegA   Parents who used marijuana only in their teens give birth to kids who, as teens themselves, are 2.5 times more likely to overuse weed and nearly twice as likely to overuse alcohol.  These findings come from a University of Washington study of 380 families over the past 30 years.   Parents who are lifelong marijuana users have children 4.5 times more likely to use weed and 2.8 times more likely to use alcohol.  Teen users have poorer high school academic performances and a lower economic status as adults.   With weed ever more available, parents must instill the dual themes of moderation and self-control in their children from an early age.   Marina Epstein, Jennifer A. Bailey, Madeline Furlong, Christine M. Steeger, Karl G. Hill. An intergenerational investigation of the associations between parental marijuana use trajectories and child functioning.. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 2019; DOI: 10.1037/adb0000510 #Marijuana #alcohol #teens

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/P6q74WG7d0I   Adding just one hour of TV or cell use each day bumps teen sugar and caffeine intake beyond World Health Organization guidelines.  Pediatricians at Canada’s McMaster University studied more than 32,000 US students from 8th through 10th grade.   The additional hour of TV bumped the risk of exceeding WHO sugar guidelines by 32% and caffeine guidelines by 28%.  The hour of cell use raised the risk of exceeding both sugar and caffeine limits by 14%.   Watching TV or talking on the cell distracts teens from what they put into their mouths.  Replace the soda and snacks on the side table with abundant ice cold water and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables.   Kelly M. Bradbury, Ofir Turel, Katherine M. Morrison. Electronic device use and beverage related sugar and caffeine intake in US adolescents. PLOS ONE, 2019 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223912   #TV #cellphone #snacks #sugar #caffeine

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/VIdlb5NYSdg   Consuming abundant fiber and yogurt cuts your risk of lung cancer by as much as 33%.  So say Vanderbilt University researchers who studied 1.4 million US, European, and Asian subjects.   This benefit held for men, women, and non-smokers.  Smokers, past or present, derived about a 20% reduction in lung cancer incidence.    The investigators suggest that fiber and yogurt exert their influence by promoting growth of bacterial populations in the gut capable of enhancing the body’s immune response.  The two foods appear to work together to achieve the benefit.   Fiber and yogurt are already known to reduce heart and gastrointestinal cancer.  Protecting yourself against lung cancer is yet another reason to eat both of them regularly.   Jae Jeong Yang, Danxia Yu, Yong-Bing Xiang, William Blot, Emily White, Kim Robien, Rashmi Sinha, Yikyung Park, Yumie Takata, DeAnn Lazovich, Yu-Tang Gao, Xuehong Zhang, Qing Lan, Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita, Ingegerd Johansson, Rosario Tumino, Elio

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/wgBg2CkXW0o   A full 80% of child and family social workers would consider it parental neglect if a child under the age of 10 is left home alone.   Most considered it criminal neglect if a child under 12 left alone becomes injured.     University of Iowa researchers report this conclusion after polling 485 pediatric social workers.  They remind us that more than 40% of pediatric injury-driven deaths are due to lack of adult supervision   Given these standards, the “Home Alone” parents would likely face criminal charges for accidentally leaving little Kevin behind.  He might even end up in a foster home if the relentless but inept home invaders actually harmed him.   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191025075904.htm   #Homealone #parenting  #neglect

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/kUd4ZGD1awU   Breast milk is the best milk for your baby.  If you supplement your own with some from a friend, neighbor, or a co-op, you could be dangerously exposing your child to viruses, disease, dangerous drugs, or inappropriate medications.   Researchers at New York’s Northwell Children’s Medical Center surveyed 650 mothers.  Half of them had no concerns about the safety of informally donated breast milk, and 80% of those who did give it to their babies never medically screened the donors.   Mothers needing supplemental breast milk can obtain it from registered milk banks that do screen donors carefully. Failing that, formula is second best, but using it will not sicken or poison your infant.   https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/Informal-Sharing-of-Breast-Milk-Gains-Popularity-Among-Women-Despite-Safety-Risks.aspx    https://www.northwell.edu/news/banking-the-benefits-of-breast-milk   #$Breastfeeding #milkbanks #breastmilk #crowdsourcing