Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/iFJN2LvoWjA The knee takes a beating in many athletic contests, and anterior cruciate ligament repair is a frequent operative event in the world of sports medicine.  During recovery, though, there tends to be a loss of muscle mass and bone density despite good rehabilitation therapy. Orthopedic surgeons at Houston’s Methodist Hospital report to the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine that precise and cyclic limitation of blood flow to the healing limbs during postoperative rehabilitation exercises reduced if not eliminated the loss of both muscle and bone mass.  An automated tourniquet was used to reduce the blood flow by about 80% on an intermittent basis. Researchers across the country and around the world are now studying this phenomenon to better understand the underlying reasons for the benefit.  If you are contemplating an ACL repair, ask your orthopod about this tourniquet technique. American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. "Blood flow restriction therapy

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/UqPntXmJwHk Pregnant women will suffer colds and may get the flu despite receiving the flu vaccines.  When that occurs, the babies they are carrying are more likely to develop excessive neural sensitivity.  That in turn leads to agitation for infants and toddlers and attention deficits and even serious psychosis such as schizophrenia later in life. A study by University of Colorado pediatricians and psychiatrists reveals that this problem may be prevented by sufficient levels of the essential B vitamin choline.  Choline is necessary for the synthesis of the cell membranes of neurons and the sheaths of nerves. While choline is found in some foods including eggs, red meat, and liver, 75% of pregnant women fail to consume the recommended daily 450 milligrams of this nutrient.  Unfortunately, prenatal vitamins do not contain choline. Pregnant women should take a 500 mg choline supplement daily for at least the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.  Choline may be obtained from most drugstores and

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/tuTQifoAHhg 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. Drownings

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/_eha4PyY5O0 Published in October, 2018 The position of those dreaded calorie count numbers on a menu determine their effect on our food choices. #calories #dieting #restaurants #menu  

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/VKTvqhKr668 Published in October, 2018 There is no known gene for bullying, and studies show that it is a behavior learned often by imitation.  #Parenting #bullying #bully #imitation

Vidcast -https://youtu.be/oaVx_NINt8Y Published in October, 2018 Regular consumption of coffee by women reduces the risk of an annoying dermatitis. #Coffee #skin #dermatitis #rosacea

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Um4_I-3NiP8 Published in October, 2018 The American Academy of Pediatrics now permits pediatricians to expel unvaccinated children and families from their practices. #vaccinedeniers #antivaxx #pediatrician #AAP

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/5SG86iEupkk Published in October, 2018 Stomach acid reducing drugs, proton pump inhibitors, frequently used to treat reflux, gastritis, and ulcer have a potentially dangerous side effect. #protonpumpinhibitors #reflux #osteoporosis #gastritis #ulcer

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/1EPsiCvrYhk Published in October, 2018 Bratty kids are made, not born.  Immunize your children again nasty entitlement using gratification exercises. #brat #entitled #teens #children #parenting

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/T_PXwqbfZFU Published on Oct 8, 2018 Creating see-saw weight loss-gain and fluctuations of your other body numbers by yo-yo dieting can lead to disaster. #dieting #yoyo #yoyoweight

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/F92uUfjzQag Published on Sep 15, 2018 Back pain in teens is associated with self-destructive and anti-social behavior that may require parental and professional intervention. #backpain #teens #selfdestruction #antisocial #neurosis

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/xPOuK52tjSw Published on Mar 15, 2017 A Cocoa-Caffeine Cocktail can sharpen your mind and strategically timed aerobic exercise can improve your memory. #cocoa #caffeine #memory #cognition #problemsolving

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/lls74cm09OY Published on Feb 22, 2017 The increasing numbers of Americans eating gluten-free diets may be exposing themselves to poisons. #gluten #glutenfree #poisons #arsenic #mercury  

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/sYDFN3FgFj8 Published on Feb 17, 2017 Drinking pomegranate juice can reduce high blood pressure but has other benefits. #Pomegranate #hypertension #bloodpressure #antioxidant

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/q5721toUkjw Published on Aug 1, 2016 Cinnamon may improve your memory. #cinnamon #memory #dementia

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/HGZ7oROKPyg Published on Jun 12, 2016 Cleaning your charcoal grill could lead to injuries of the mouth, throat, and intestines.   #Grilling #grillcleaning #foreignbodies #grillbrushes

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/XBVuiU1SwvE Published on Apr 16, 2016 Tylenol can affect your reaction times and judgement. #Tylenol #acetaminophen #reactiontime #judgement

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/mY6ggkY0vBE Published on Dec 6, 2015 React to Your Baby's Babbling to foster the development of communications with your baby. #Parenting #babbling #language #infancy #communications  

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/6-EdsjAk52c Here’s some very good news.  A new study from Yale cardiology shows that the incidence of heart attacks and the rates of death from them are at 20 year lows. Following more than 4 million Medicare patients from 1995 to 2014, the investigators report a 38% decline in heart attack hospitalizations over 2 decades.  Even more impressive is the all time low 12% 30 day mortality rate after any given heart attack. This is no accident.  We as a society have been assaulting cardiovascular disease by exercising more, eating less or at least less unhealthy food, and monitoring as well as lowering our cholesterol levels. The Yalies caution us about resting on our laurels.  We should be literally heartened by our success to date but also press forward until we have eliminated all cardiac disease. Harlan M. Krumholz, Sharon-Lise T. Normand, Yun Wang. Twenty-Year Trends in Outcomes for Older Adults With Acute Myocardial Infarction in the United States. JAMA Network Open, 2019; 2 (3): e1

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Ks1j_yT6_Gs The drug dapagliflozin (DAP-AG-LI-FLOSIN), marketed as Farxiga (FAR-SIGA), which helps type 2 non-insulin dependent diabetics control their blood sugars, can help patients with heart failure as well.   The beneficial effect of Farxiga on heart failure has been known, but the new information from the international DECLARE-TIMI study is that the drug preferentially benefits those heart failure patients with a reduced ejection fraction of 45% or less, that is the sickest patients with the weakest heart pumping action. Farxiga helped these patients with the weakest hearts by reducing their need for hospitalization and their likelihood of dying from any causes by 38% and reduced their deaths from cardiovascular causes by 45%.  The drug also helped those with stronger hearts, but it only reduced their hospitalization and death rates by 12%. The drug is effective for diabetics by causing the kidneys to dump excess blood sugar into the urine and out of the body.  The drug’s abili