Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/2bMiR9-TgNM If a parent constantly corrects an infant, that child’s brain becomes more sensitive to angry vocalizations.  Investigators at Britain’s University of Manchester studied 40 six month old infants and their mothers utilizing the novel neuroimaging technique of Near Infrared Spectroscopy.  This permits the study of a baby’s brain activation by maternal vocalizations without the noise of MRI. Infants as young as 6 months can differentiate happy and unhappy vocal rhythms.  The researchers found that those babies whose mothers repeatedly corrected them developed nerve networks that preferentially respond to angry vocalizations. This study underscores the exquisite sensitivity of infant humans.  Parents need to monitor their own and each other’s interactions with their children and realize how much their behavior imprints their offspring in both negative as well as positive ways.   Good parenting is creating a safe, happy environment for your child by constructing boundaries in

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/fypNmBVBoTc Deep sleep, the slow wave, non-REM variety, is the best sleep for literally cleansing your brain according to a new study from the University of Rochester.  The scientists studied the effects of deep sleep in a mouse model inducing that state with the unique combination of general anesthetics ketamine and xylazine. The combination of deep slow wave sleep and the low level cardiovascular activity that accompanies it triggers the so-called glymphatic system, the brain’s unique plumbing apparatus that flushes waste from our brain cells.  This essential purging fails to occur during sleep deprivation and is also less likely to occur as we age when it becomes more difficult to achieve deep sleep.    Other studies suggest that the onset of Alzheimer’s is associated with less deep sleep and this may be due to poor glymphatic system activity. You can help yourself get deep sleep at any age with the following tips.  Before bedtime: no eating, caffeinated beverages, exercise, blue

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/aRoE1Ecok84 Soccer playing seems to increase the risk of developing ALS or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This is the conclusion of an Italian study that reviewed the medical records of all professional soccer players in the Italian leagues between 1959 and 2000.   Players were followed for at least 16 years after their playing days ended. The data showed that nearly twice as many soccer players as expected  developed ALS, and nearly 5 times as many younger players 45 years or less fell ill.  The average age at ALS diagnosis in the general population is just over 62 years but the average age at which soccer players developed the disease is age 40. Since ALS development is associated with a history of head injury, soccer heading is the likely culprit.  Parents, please listen up!  If your child is playing soccer at any age, insist that they not do any heading.  Ask their coaches to enforce a strict no-heading rule.   Soccer is called football in Europe and for good reason.  Ball handli

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/nbRiz8yLIUQ If 100 patients visit the emergency room, more than one-third of them will suffer a dangerous interaction between a medication prescribed by the ER staff and those drugs they are already taking.  This study from New Jersey’s Rutgers University sounds a warning and pinpoints those drug combinations most likely to cause issues. Three medication combinations that resulted from an ER visit and could cause serious issues were: Oxycodone/acetaminophen, better known as the common pain med Percocet, PLUS fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) or levofloxacin, (Levaquin) can together trigger seizures, delusions, and hallucinations. Percocet again PLUS the common diuretic and high blood pressure med hydrochlorthiazide can lead to blood pressure drops and a risk of falls. Lisinopril, frequently prescribed alone or with hydrochlorthiazine for high blood pressure, PLUS ibuprofen, Advil or Motrin, may cause kidney damage. When you see any doctor but particularly on

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/NXClddt3bzI Mothers who smoke, vape, or use oral and patch nicotine products may be exposing their unborn children to the risk of attention deficit and hyperactivity issues,ADHD, later in life.  A study from Finland just published in the journal Pediatrics studied over 1,000 children and matched controls born 10 years ago.   The researchers studied serum samples from mothers collected during the first and second trimesters and measured the levels of cotinine, a biomarker for nicotine.  Then the mothers were divided into 3 groups according to serum nicotine levels during pregnancy. Those mothers with the highest nicotine levels were more than 3 times more likely to have children suffering from ADHD.   Prior to this definitive study, there was no solid proof that the association was with nicotine. If you love your children-to-be, don’t consume nicotine in any form by smoking tobacco, vaping, chewing nicotine gum, or placing patches during pregnancy.  Don’t expose your developing child

Vidcast: ttps://youtu.be/ZflFG8eshQg Of the two chief components of marijuana, the THC, the psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol, appears to drive a greater overall therapeutic effect compared to CBD, the cannabidiol.  This new information comes from the University of New Mexico and studies employing the cannabis tracking smartphone app ReLeaf. The app gathered some 20,000 user sessions over 3 years. It digitally associates relief of various symptoms with the use of particular cannabis products that each have differing THC and CBD  concentrations.   The tabulated data reveals that those products with more THC did a superior job  relieving a variety of symptoms.  The pattern of symptom relief from THC suggested that its superiority did not stem from merely getting high. Keep in mind that everyone responds to THC ad CBD in different ways.  You should try each for any particular issue you may have.  Then you can use free app ReLeaf to determine which works best for you. As with any drug, use weed in moderation real

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/NYR-gRXk22Y I’m Dr. Howard Smith reporting from NYC with the Health News Roundup for the 1st week of MARCH, 2019.  This is Health News You Should Use, the latest medical discoveries that you can use in a practical way to keep yourself and your family healthy.   Here are the headlines for this weeks 15 top stories: THC and not CBD Drives Most Benefit From Weed Use Nicotine During Pregnancy Triggers Offspring ADHD ER Visits Create Drug Dangers Soccer May Lead To ALS How To Get Deep, Healthy Sleep Constant Infant Correction Sensitizes Their Brains To Anger Music Can Block Creativity Which Exercise Helps You Live The Longest Smartphone Apps Can Slim You You Night Owls Can’t Count On Weekend Catch-up Sleep There is NO Autism Risk From MMR Vaccine Convenience Stores Are Illegally Pedaling Cigarettes To Children Mouthwash May Bump Up Your Blood Pressure Cochlear Implants for Youngest Deaf Infants A Winning Strategy TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS:  The Arts Help The Sciences For more information, you

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/UtCOkUFVKyE You’ve likely savored a slice of delicious chocolate cake, a fine glass of wine, the smell of your brand new car, or a breathtaking sunset.  Savoring is focusing your mind so you linger for an extended period on a wonderful sensation. A study just published in the Journal of Language and Social Psychology explores the concept that we can and should savor various types of interpersonal communications.  The researchers studied 65 twenty year old subjects and defined 7 types of communications that lend themselves to savoring. The seven include: stories with a twist, deeply honest exchanges, non-verbal communications, words that honor, relationship-forming words, communications around life’s landmark moments, and unspoken communications.  Each type may be savored. The investigators emphasize that savoring at its heart is a type of time travel.  It allows you to look into the future and anticipate a wonderful experience.  More often, you travel back to an extraordinary moment

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/miGgyaFQSdw If you are having a baby, try to do it during the day on a weekday.  A new study from the Colorado State University reviews data from more than 2 million Texas births over a 5 year period and pinpoints the riskiest times to give birth. Obstetric complications are nearly 30% higher on holidays, about 20% higher during night shifts,  and 9% higher on weekends.  If you deliver in a teaching hospital in July when the new residents first arrive, the complication risk is an average of 28% higher.  Hospitals are sites where medical miracles occur, but, given the nature of human frailty and exhaustion, so too can medical mishaps.  When you or a family member is hospitalized, keep your eyes open and advocate for your own best interests in a friendly way.  Then, if you can, try to avoid those holidays, nights, and weekends. #birthcomplications #obstetriccomplications #nights #weekends #holidays #healthnews Sammy Zahran, David Mushinski, Hsueh-Hsiang Li, Ian Breunig, Sophie Mckee. C

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Wp6JvfrTXrk Keeping your head, hands, and body busy in middle age pays off big later in life.  The latest pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is that your risk of dementia drops by nearly 35 to more than 50 percent.   This finding comes from Sweden’s University of Gothenburg’s study of 800 women who were followed from their mid-forties well into their nineties. The physically active women were 34 % less likely to develop dementia than their inactive peers.  Their activities included intense exercise such as running and swimming but also lighter physical pursuits such as biking, walking, bowling, or gardening. The more intellectually active women enjoyed a 46 percent lower incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and a 34% lower incidence of any dementia.  Their activities were reading writing, needlework, attending shows and concerts, singing in a choir, and painting. I end each of my news reports with the suggestion that a smile on your face, an active mind, and your body in motion are t

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/HlSz7GuNKNQ Teen hypertension doubles the risk of end stage renal failure later in life.  A study just published in JAMA Internal Medicine looked at more than 1.5 million candidates for Israeli military service.  Of this group, nearly 8000 were found to have elevated blood pressures. Those with hypertension were predominately male and half were overweight or obese.  They were followed for nearly 20 years.  Teen hypertension doubled the risk of eventual kidney failure, a need for dialysis, and a possible kidney transplant even for those who were not overweight. Elevated blood pressures in children have become more common as the rate of childhood and adolescent obesity skyrockets.  Pediatricians now recommend that every child over the age of 3 years should have their blood pressures checked annually.   If their pressures are elevated, they should be measured at every visit and treated aggressively initially with lifestyle changes such as weight reduction, dietary modification, exercise

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/nzwEnrwCHOo We all must screen for colon cancer.   New data suggests that  you might be able to use a simple chemical test at home to replace that nasty bowel prep followed by either colonoscopy under anesthesia or a CT scan.   A meta-analysis by Indiana University of some 31 studies testing more than 120,000 persons shows that the so called FIT test, the fecal immunochemical test, is so sensitive and specific that it may be used on an annual basis by many of us in place of the screening colonoscopy. The FIT test may be purchased over the counter online for $10 to $30 and looks specifically for a chemical trace of blood in the stool. You need not follow any special diet or avoid any medications before using the test.   Each FIT test is different.  With some, you simply place a bit of stool on the test surface and cover the zone before dropping on developing liquid or mailing it off to the lab.  With others, you toss an indicator strip into the toilet bowl with the stool and watch for

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Efh0GI3jE1o There is an acute shortage of hearts for transplant, but the University of Pennsylvania’s transplant team is increasing the supply with a treatment that allows use of organs from donors infected with the Hepatitis C virus.   The clinicians treated a group of 10 heart transplant patients who developed positive tests for hepatitis C with a 3 month course of Zepatier, a two drug combo medication.  One of the patients suffered an unrelated rejection crisis, but the other 9 were cured of their hepatitis C and demonstrated excellent cardiac function. As we live longer, more of use suffer from tired hearts, better known as congestive heart failure.  Last year, more than 3000 hearts were transplanted, but more than double that number were left behind on the waiting list.  Innovative programs like Penn’s and the future use of genetically transformed pig hearts may hopefully shorten and eventually eliminate that list. One more thing.  In this day of astronomically high drug prices

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/3vS3ihs_e38 Want a mental boost in 20 short minutes?  It’s a simple as getting off your couch and visiting a nearby park.  If you prefer, you don’t even need to exercise to get the benefit. Researchers at the University of Alabama-Birmingham’s Department of Occupational Therapy document a significant improvement in emotional well-being for those who choose to visit one of three local parks.  They tabulated the results and found that the benefits would accrue even to those unable to pursue physical activities due to disability. If you think about it, you’ll be surprised to find just how close a green space is to your home or work.  Get over there, clear your mind, and take a 20 minute or longer mental vacation. #greenspace #urbanpark #relaxation #healthnews  Hon K. Yuen, Gavin R. Jenkins. Factors associated with changes in subjective well-being immediately after urban park visit. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 2019; 1 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2019.1577368

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/5btUv84ceEY Parents who do drugs have kids that use them as well.  This the conclusion of a study from Columbia University’s psychiatry department that looked at 35,000 parent-child pairings. When a either parent is a user, there is a 30 percent chance that one of their children is also hooked.  The risk factor is even higher for mothers alone as 62 percent of drug-using mother’s kids also use drugs.  Additional risk factors for child addiction include smoking, marijuana use, depression, peer pressure, and older age. We are parents are powerful role models, good and bad, for our kids.  If you can’t avoid drug use for yourself, do it for your children. #parenting #parentchild #drugs #healthnews Griesler PC, Hu M, Wall MM, et al. Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Use by Parents and Adolescents in the US. Pediatrics. 2019;143(3):e20182354

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/oNGOsHFbQDA The rate of drug overdose deaths in the US is 27 times higher than those in Italy and Japan and twice as high as those for Finland and Sweden who have the highest rates next to ours.   A review from the USC also warns that our 3.5 times higher drug overdose death rate is lowering Americans’ average life expectancy compared with other industrialized and wealthy nations.  At present, Americans live more than 2.5 fewer years on average compared with those in other high-income countries. You no doubt know that there is a national campaign against opioid use.  You can do your part by only requesting and using non-narcotic pain medications after injuries or surgery.  If you do require narcotics or know someone who does, be certain to have a supply of the antidote Narcan on hand in the event an overdose occurs. #drugoverdose #opioids #narcotics #drug deaths #healthnews  Jessica Y. Ho. The Contemporary American Drug Overdose Epidemic in International Perspective. Population and D

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/yeOWPF7rmuE Food with lots of sugar and fat is associated with significant psychologic distress.  This conclusion comes from a study of nearly quarter million Californians participating in the California Health Interview Survey. The study showed that nearly 17 percent of Californians had psychological distress associated with frequently consuming unhealthy foods.  Other factors such as gender, age, and socioeconomic status were less important. This represents more proof that “you are what you eat.”  To maintain your weight and your health, stick with clean foods: fruits and vegetables with the addition of chicken and fish as protein sources. #junkfood #fats #sugars #neurosis #psychologicdistress #healthnews  Jim E. Banta, Gina Segovia-Siapco, Christine Betty Crocker, Danielle Montoya, Noara Alhusseini. Mental health status and dietary intake among California adults: a population-based survey. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 2019; 1 DOI: 10.1080/09637486.2019.157

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/jYta_STVrhg I hate to be a nag, but a new study from Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital now adds avoiding arthritis to the already long list of reasons to quit smoking or never start.  The researchers looked at data from nearly a quarter million women participating in the Brigham’s Nurse’s Study and focused in on the nearly 1500 with so-called rheumatoid arthritis (RA).  Compared with non-smokers, smokers were 47% more likely to have developed RA.  The more packs per day that they smoked, the higher the risk. Smokers with RA who quit for good showed a reduction in arthritis risk after 5 years and a substantial 37% risk reduction by 30 years.   The risk improvement was most notable for those with auto-antibodies, so-called seropositive RA. Here’s one more reason to avoid smoking.   The more we learn, the longer the list becomes. #smoking #arthritis #healthnews Xinyi Liu, Sara K. Tedeschi, Medha Barbhaiya, Cianna L. Leatherwood, Cameron B. Speyer, Bing Lu, Karen H. Costenbader, Eliz

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/j39J8Pg4EgQ Your soap or toothpaste, touted to be fortified with antibacterial powers, will ironically arm any bacteria entering your body to resist commonly prescribed antibiotics.   A new study from Washington University-St. Louis shows that the triclosan added to toothpaste, mouthwash, cosmetics, clothing, baby toys, and even plastic cards in hopes of reducing bacteria growth actually protects the bugs from dying after exposure to common antibiotics like ciprofloxacin or amoxicillin.  Worse yet, triclosan hangs around in the body for long periods of time. The FDA warned against adding triclosan to soap two years ago, but it’s still being added to other products.  This is yet another reason for you to carefully read product labels.   Avoid buying any product containing triclosan.  You’ll find a long list on beyondpesticides.org. #triclosan #cosmetics #toothpaste #antibiotic #healthnews Corey Westfall, Ana Lidia Flores-Mireles, John Isaac Robinson, Aaron J.L. Lynch, Scott Hultgren,

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/QbvCjKTHBag Here’s another reason for you to put down that salt shaker.  Immunologists at the Technical University of Munich report that higher concentrations of sodium chloride, better known as table salt, turbocharges T cells increasing their production of the inflammatory mediators interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 and helping them go rogue. Such rogue T-cells are at the heart of atopic dermatitis, a common allergy-mediated skin condition.  It turns out that atopic dermatitis is also associated with a 30 fold higher concentration of skin salt compared with that in normal skin.  The extra salt turns out to be doubly unhealthy as it not only triggers T-cell overactivity but also growth of that nasty bacterium Staph aureus. There is plenty of natural salt in the food we eat so don’t pile on more.  If you want more flavor, use seasonings and spices that won’t throw your bodies machinery out of whack. #salt #Tcells #atopicdermatitis #healthnews J. Matthias el al., "Sodium is an ionic ch