Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/hMLMwnzMn9s   Restricting childrens’ sedentary screen time in favor of more physically active pursuits is the latest weapon in the war against childhood obesity.  New Canadian research just published in the journal BMC Obesity reminds us that parenting practices are key factors in their offsprings’ screen time.   Nearly 40 families with at least one child 18 monthS to 5 years of age were studied.  Parental device use and television viewing during meals as well as the offering of extra screen time as a reward resulted in excessive screen times for the children.    Kids are sponges, and they quickly see if you follow your own advice.  Get your head out of your phone and offer a good example.  To reward healthy behavior, offer physical activities such as the playground, sports play with you, and healthy treats rather than always suggesting extra screen time and sugary treats.   Lisa Tang, Gerarda Darlington, David W L Ma, Jess Haines. Mothers’ and fathers’ media parenting practices asso

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/2vy8C8HHGdI   Half of the millions using the most common type of sleeping pills might never wake to escape a fire.  Taken to induce sleep and relaxation, the popular benzodiazepine medications or benzos for short include Restoril, Halcion, Ativan, Xanax, and Valium.  This class of drugs induces drowsiness but also suppresses emergency arousal.  Even newer drugs such as Ambien and Lunesta trigger sustained drowsiness and some disorientation.   A new class of medication called DORAs, dual orexin receptor antagonists, induce sleep but permit retention of sensory input including sound, vibration, smell, and lack of oxygen.  This makes for a safer sleeping pill.  After a threat has passed, the medication also re-induces sleep.   To date, only one DORA sleeping pill has won FDA approval.  Belsomra (suvorexant) may only be prescribed those 18 years or older, but its expensive and often not covered by insurance.  As other DORA drugs become available, competition will drive down price and in

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/6PeLF8SxYHI Here’s a flash from the off-beat health news department.  Researchers in Sweden and Hungary report that the black and white striped design seen on Africa’s Zebras and copied into body painting by indigenous peoples protects against biting and blood-sucking insects including mosquitos and horseflies.    The scientists compared the frequency of horsefly attacks on 3 different mannikins: one beige, one brown, and one black with white stripes.  The striped skin design reduced insect attacks by 90% compared to brown skin and by 50% compared with beige skin.   It is likely that Africans years ago discovered the protective effect of Zebra designs against insect-borne infections such as malaria.  We don’t yet know if Zebra-striped garments are as good insect repellants as body painting, but this is something you should try for yourself.  Do let me know if it works. Gábor Horváth, Ádám Pereszlényi, Susanne Åkesson, György Kriska. Striped bodypainting protects against horseflies.

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/vDcsb8EVH6Y   Aspirin has now been shown to significantly improve survival for at least one type of cancer in those patients whose tumors have a specific genetic variant.  That cancer is squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with an altered PIK3CA gene.   A study just published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine followed 266 patients after surgical resection of their tumors and post-operative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.  Those patients regularly taking aspirin or another NSAID for 6 months and also having an activated PIK3CA gene were 3 times more likely to survive 5 years.  Specifically, the average survival rate rose from a baseline of 25 percent to a gratifying 78 percent.  Those without the PIK3CA gene mutation enjoyed no survival benefit.   A larger, confirmatory study is now underway.  Meanwhile, know that the PIK3CA oncogene is present and mutated in about one-third of other cancers including colon, stomach, esophageal, pancreatic, liver, breast, cervical, e

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/hnuh7zTs1Lk   We doctors constantly repeat it and you constantly hear it: avoid all but healthy food during pregnancy.  Despite this mantra, nearly one-third of pregnant women believe that cannabis is safe for their developing babies.   The analysis by Canadian doctors of 6 US studies shows that, as years go by, more pregnant women are using marijuana.  Currently, at least 4% of women use the drug sometime during their pregnancy.     Ironically, the rate of use is the highest at 7.4% during the critical first trimester when so many body systems are just beginning to blossom.  In one study, 35% of women were users when they discovered their pregnancy, and that only dropped down to 12% after the positive pregnancy test.  Half of those continuing to use did so almost daily.   The available research on cannabis shows that it is associated with low birth weight, stillbirths, and NICU admissions.  OB/GYN specialists and most doctors recommend against any cannibis use while trying to get p

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/fV5zjq6xVlA   Celiac disease may be initiated by an agent used to improve food texture and to literally glue together meat fragments into a more substantial, steak-like product.  The agent is microbial transglutaminase, and a review of data about the causation of celiac diease just published in Frontiers in Pediatrics suggests that the increasing amounts of this substance that are finding their way into our food supply may be at fault.   Over 3 million American have celiac disease.  It is an inherited autoimmune disorder, and you are 6 times more likely to have it if a close member member is affected.    It is characterized by an attack of a person’s own immune system on their gut lining, and it’s triggered by the presence of the gluten protein found in wheat, barley, and rye.  Other factors such as stress, infection, or antibiotic use seem to initiate or exacerbate the process.   Although our own systems make transglutaminase, they do so in very small quantities compared with what

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Q_ysMuyhRLA   Electronic cigarette use is on the upswing, and their makers trumpet the latest studies showing that e-cigs help current tobacco smokers kick the habit.  In actuality, as older smokers quit more teens use e-cigs and move on to the nasty and dangerous habit that is tobacco cigarette smoking.   Besides the addicting nicotine, the e-cigs vaporize and spew a raft of of chemicals into the lungs including heavy metals, propylene glycol or anti-freeze, and formaldehyde.  The latest study from Harvard’s School of Public Health focuses on the toxicity of the chemicals used for flavoring the vapors.   Those ingredients are diacetyl and pentandione, and they create a buttery aroma.  You’ve definitely smelled it at the movie theater, and repeatedly inhaling the vapor leads to chronic irreversible lung damage and a disease appropriately named “popcorn lung.”   The Harvard team conclusively showed that these flavoring chemicals interfere with the genes that control development of no

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Lwn3bMuGWHM   Are you a good or a bad boss?  Do you have a good or a bad boss.  The latest study shows management style definitely affects the bottom line. ______ An-Chih Wang, Chou-Yu Tsai, Shelley D. Dionne, Francis J. Yammarino, Seth M. Spain, Hsiao-Chi Ling, Min-Ping Huang, Li-Fang Chou, Bor-Shiuan Cheng. Benevolence-dominant, authoritarianism-dominant, and classical paternalistic leadership: Testing their relationships with subordinate performance. The Leadership Quarterly, 2018; DOI: 10.1016/j.leaqua.2018.06.002   #bosses #profits #authoritarian #benevolentmanager

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/vFDQ2QUXUC8   Fraudulent products, procedures, and people abound on the web.  Here are some ready strategies that will help prevent you from being taken. ____________ Victoria Perez, Seth Freedman. Do Crowdsourced Hospital Ratings Coincide with Hospital Compare Measures of Clinical and Nonclinical Quality? Health Services Research, 2018; DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.13026   https://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/search.html   https://www.qualitynet.org/dcs/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=QnetPublic%2FPage%2FQnetBasic&cid=1228776614455   #healthscams #webscams

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Bs963ywQHJE   The majority of American parents believe that young children should not be playing tackle football.  A study recently published in the journal Pediatrics tabulated the results of a nationwide survey.   Over 1000 parents completed the survey.  Sixty-one percent definitely favored restrictions and another 24% were leaning toward bans on tackling for younger children for a total of 85% considering restrictions.   Meanwhile, on the political front, a 6 states have proposed bills to regulate tackle football for children under the age of 12.  Bills have been filed in New York, Illinois, California, Maryland, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.  So far none of them have passed into law, and the bills in California and Illinois have been withdrawn.  The New York and Maryland bills were defeated.   Finally, consider these two facts.  ONE. The sad cases of adolescent athletes and multiple studies show that head injuries produce lasting and in some cases progressive damage to the brai

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/hO0nhRo7HYE   With the coming of ever warmer weather, the news here is bad news.  At least 1000 children perish due to preventable drownings every year, and accidental drowning is the single leading cause of injury-related death for kids 1 to 4 years of age.  These tragedies occur because naturally-curious kids gain unexpected access to water.  Those children also at a high risk of drowning are teens who tend to be overconfident about their swimming skills.   These drownings are all preventable, and the American Academy of Pediatrics reminds parents about a few simple rules: Teach your child to swim after the first birthday if your pediatrician agrees he or she is developmentally ready. Never leave children alone or with another child near any water: pools, bathtubs, spas, or any open water including toilets. When infants and toddlers are around water, an adult who is a good swimmer should be within arm’s reach. An adult with lifesaving skills should supervise teen swimming.   Dro

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/4R0XogusZx0   I’m Dr. Howard Smith, PENTA Medical Network, reporting from NYC with the Health News Roundup for the 3rd week of JULY, 2019.  This is Health News You Should Use, the latest medical discoveries and commonsense advice that you can use in a practical way to keep yourself and your family healthy.     Here are this weeks stories : To Prevent Dementia Bank Your Brainpower Cutting Calories Is Always Healthy Helping Those In Need Depends On Imagination Air Pollution Blocks Your Arteries Time In Green Spaces Erases Unhealthy Lusts Preterm Babies Suffer Adult Relationship Issues Punishing Football Practices Trigger More Injuries Than Actual Games Surgery For Young Women Linked To Addicted Babies Rejecting A Needed Hearing Aid Risks Dementia Pets Relieve Stress Eating Healthy Pampers Your Gut Bacteria New Treatment For Weed Dependency Rugby Tackling Safer Than Football Tackling Toss Tampons And Try The Menstrual Cup Heroin Addicts Hate The Term   For show notes and references to f

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/k1bHDtP93Zw   Our friends and neighbors sadly dependent on heroin call themselves “addicts,” but they would prefer we call them “people who use drugs.”   This finding comes from a first-of-its-kind study by psychiatrists and health law experts at UMass and Boston University.   The study polled participants embarking on an inpatient heroin withdrawal program.  While 70% of the patients referred to themselves as “addicts,” fewer than 15% preferred terms such as “users” or “junkies.”  The most hated designations were “heroin misuser”  or “heroin-dependent.”   The preferred “people who use drugs” begins with the word “people” emphasizing that those on heroin or any other substance are first and foremost people.  As they work to break their habits, they deserve our love, respect, and support.   Ekaterina Pivovarova, Michael D. Stein. In their own words: language preferences of individuals who use heroin. Addiction, 2019; DOI: 10.1111/add.14699   #Heroin #addict #druguser

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Xk6ebT6Hchw   Women looking for a cheaper alternative to tampons need look no further than the Menstrual Cup.  Now this is not a new invention and it’s been around since the 1930’s, but a new meta-analysis just published in The Lancet reviewed the experiences of some 3300 women using the cup to determine its utility and safety.   The majority of menstrual cups are placed in the vagina to trap and hold menstrual flow.  There is an alternative menstrual disc that fits over the cervix, but it may be more difficult to insert and remove.  Even inserting the vaginal cup takes a little practice, but after 2 cycles it seemed easy to most users.    The study showed that nearly three-quarters of women trying the cups planned to continue their use.  The incidence of leakage and infection was no different than for other menstrual products.  The cup did not damage linings, but there were a few cases of allergy to the cup materials.   Multi-use menstrual cups are convenient and cheap.  If you aren

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/tLIrv6XIfMg   Players who tackle their opponents by leading with the shoulders rugby-style rather than with the head football-style sustain fewer and less forceful impacts.  This is the conclusion of a sports medicine study at West Virginia’s Marshall University to be presented next week to the American Academy of Neurology’s Sports Concussion conference.   The study focused on 20 football players and 10 rugby players during practice season play.  The serious impacts they sustained and the impact forces were quantitated by helmet and mouthguard sensors.   The shoulder-first rugby tacklers sustained significantly fewer impacts with significantly lower impact forces compared with the head-first football tacklers.  The average football-associated impact force was 63 X g, 3 times greater than the average rugby-associated force at 21X g.   If brain-damaging tackling continues to be permitted in high school and college sports at all, mandating shoulder-first tackling may be a first step t

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/tjCw6J7GYZk   A new cannabis-based drug can effectively treat those addicted to marijuana.  An Australian study just published in JAMA Internal Medicine shows that nabiximols, a CBD-THC combo medication marketed as Sativex™, can not only help weed users quit by reducing withdrawal symptoms, but also diminish their chances of relapse.   The University of Sydney’s Drug & Alcohol Services followed 128 patients taking Sativex over a 12 week period.  This drug is administered by spraying it under the tongue once every waking hour.  Those using the active drug versus a control inactive liquid spray consumed significantly less cannabis, were not bothered by withdrawal cravings, and maintained a reduced using pattern over a longer period of time.   Sativex is the first cannabis-based drug that effectively helps users off marijuana.  The fact that such a drug is necessary in the first place should be a wake-up call to those who proclaim weed to be completely harmless.   Nicholas Lintzeri

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/0rJe-bmI3OA   Every week there is more news that the bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract affect not only your body’s metabolism and immune system but also the health of distant organs such as your brain.  A new study from the Baylor College of Medicine shows that you need a healthy diet to spawn healthy bacteria in your gut’s microbiome.   The investigators studied nearly 100 colonoscopy samples from 34 polyp-free subjects and analyzed the bacterial spectrum found in each.  Those subjects with higher so-called Health Eating Index values (HEI) had a preponderance of healthy bacteria.  Those with lower diet scores had fewer healthy and more pathologic bacteria present.   Once again, you are what you eat.  Think about that when you bypass the fruits and veggies in favor of that juicy cheeseburger and a side of fries.   Yanhong Liu, Nadim J Ajami, Hashem B El-Serag, etal. Dietary quality and the colonic mucosa–associated gut microbiome in humans. The American Journal of Clinical Nut

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/TLtTka9aWa4   Just 10 minutes petting a friendly dog or cat can significantly diminish the stress on a college student stemming from academic demands, social pressures, and student loans.  The data gathered from 249 students at the Washington State University by scientists there quantitated stress levels by measurement of steroids in the students’ saliva.   The students who actually petted animals had significantly lower stress hormones compared with those watching others petting, or those merely seeing pictures of the animals.   If you find yourself under stress from not only school but also work or your parental responsibilities, consider bringing a pet into your life.  Be sure, though, to choose one that doesn’t exacerbate the demands on your time, attention, or budget.   Patricia Pendry, Jaymie L. Vandagriff. Animal Visitation Program (AVP) Reduces Cortisol Levels of University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial. AERA Open, 2019; 5 (2): 233285841985259 DOI: 10.1177/23328584

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/ooe4-3n-D-0   If you have problems hearing and reject wearing a hearing aid due to pride, you are increasing your chances of losing your mind later in life.  British investigators at the University of Exeter recently presented the data behind this warning to the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Los Angeles.   The study looked at 25,000 hearing impaired persons who were given annual cognitive tests over a 2 year period.  The hearing aid-wearing participants showed better attention, working memory, and faster reaction times compared with non-wearers.  This confirms other studies which show that hearing loss may lead to a loss of brain function, memory skills, and outright dementia.     If you have a hearing loss, embrace the 21st century by using bionic ears to maintain not only your social relationships but also your vital brain function.   University of Exeter. "Wearing hearing aid may help protect brain in later life." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 15 July 2019. ww

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/YiI9buLkoCg   When women of child-bearing age undergo surgery, their postoperative pain medications often addict them to narcotics.   These dependencies then create a drug problem for their babies even years later.     A study of 2.2 million Canadian births over the past 27 years concludes that neonates born to mothers who had heart, thoracic, urologic, or neurologic surgery were 1.6 times more likely to develop an opioid withdrawal problem at birth.   Young women may undergo painful procedures and are prescribed powerful narcotics for extended periods of time.  I echo the study authors’ pleas that surgeons operating on potential mothers soft pedal and, if at all possible, completely avoid use of opioids for postop pain control.   If you as a woman are facing such surgery, demand alternatives to narcotics including industrial-strength Tylenol possibly assisted by NSAIDs like ibuprofen and potentiating drugs such as the antihistamine Benadryl.  Be on guard, and avoid becoming addicte