Dr. Howard Smith Reports

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

Breast Milk Crowd-Sourcing Can Be RiskyVidcast:  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

Swimming Too Hard Triggers “Swimmer’s Shoulder”Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/blWE7iLH_Mc

Overzealous coaches and a winning obsession may be damaging high school swimmers’ shoulders.  Data from 150 such athletes was just presented to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Nearly 77% report pain, 66% just suck it up hoping to become better swimmers, and 51% know a peer regularly using pain medicine.  Pain with possible joint damage is related to practice intensity: little or no pain from swimming 1600-3500 yards but definite pain swimming 2,000 to 6300 yards.

Swimming is a terrific sport, but developing bodies are vulnerable to repetitive trauma and overuse damage.  If your kid is a swimmer complaining of shoulder pain after and between practices, have a word with the coach.

American Academy of Pediatrics. "'Swimmer's shoulder,' common in more than three-quarters of swimmers: Research shows that painful swimmer's shoulder may be due to heavy training load and a 'no pain, no gain' work ethic." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 October 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191025075856.htm

#Swimming #shoulderpain #rotator cuff #swimteam

Swimming Too Hard Triggers “Swimmer’s Shoulder”Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/blWE7iLH_Mc

Overzealous coaches and a winning obsession may be damaging high school swimmers’ shoulders.  Data from 150 such athletes was just presented to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Nearly 77% report pain, 66% just suck it up hoping to become better swimmers, and 51% know a peer regularly using pain medicine.  Pain with possible joint damage is related to practice intensity: little or no pain from swimming 1600-3500 yards but definite pain swimming 2,000 to 6300 yards.

Swimming is a terrific sport, but developing bodies are vulnerable to repetitive trauma and overuse damage.  If your kid is a swimmer complaining of shoulder pain after and between practices, have a word with the coach.

American Academy of Pediatrics. "'Swimmer's shoulder,' common in more than three-quarters of swimmers: Research shows that painful swimmer's shoulder may be due to heavy training load and a 'no pain, no gain' work ethic." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 October 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191025075856.htm

#Swimming #shoulderpain #rotator cuff #swimteam

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/h0U1Gf37Yl0

Nearly 4 extra years of education cuts a risk of alcohol dependence by 50%.  National Institutes of Health investigators draw this conclusion from their study of 780,000 participants.

The genetic markers linked to more education were not associated with less alcohol consumption but rather with less binge drinking, fewer memory gaps due to drinking, fewer drinks on average per drinking day, and a lower weekly intake of beer or hard cider.  Added education did link to more alcohol with meals and more wine consumption.

Our politicians now talk about extending public education to include 4 years of college or vocational training.  One benefit of these additional years after high school may be fewer Americans with alcohol addiction.

Rosoff et al. Educational attainment impacts drinking behaviors and risk for alcohol dependence: results from a two-sample Mendelian randomization study with ~780,000 participants. Molecular Psychiatry, 2019 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0535-9

#Highereducation #college #trades #alcoholism

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/h0U1Gf37Yl0

Nearly 4 extra years of education cuts a risk of alcohol dependence by 50%.  National Institutes of Health investigators draw this conclusion from their study of 780,000 participants.

The genetic markers linked to more education were not associated with less alcohol consumption but rather with less binge drinking, fewer memory gaps due to drinking, fewer drinks on average per drinking day, and a lower weekly intake of beer or hard cider.  Added education did link to more alcohol with meals and more wine consumption.

Our politicians now talk about extending public education to include 4 years of college or vocational training.  One benefit of these additional years after high school may be fewer Americans with alcohol addiction.

Rosoff et al. Educational attainment impacts drinking behaviors and risk for alcohol dependence: results from a two-sample Mendelian randomization study with ~780,000 participants. Molecular Psychiatry, 2019 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0535-9

#Highereducation #college #trades #alcoholism

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/3lQomJHLMWE

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 handling should be restricted to the feet.  

Your child’s brains are worth more than some grandstanding with fancy heading during a game.  With accomplished foot-play, your team’s score may actually be higher.

https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/GetDigitalAsset/12892

#Soccer #heading #headinjury #ALS #amyotrophiclateralsclerosis

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/BvpOnQHfbeg

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.

Sammy Zahran, David Mushinski, Hsueh-Hsiang Li, Ian Breunig, Sophie Mckee. Clinical Capital and the Risk of Maternal Labor and Delivery Complications: Hospital Scheduling, Timing, and Cohort Turnover Effects. Risk Analysis, 2019; DOI: 10.1111/risa.13273

#birthcomplications #obstetriccomplications #nights #weekends #holidays

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/BvpOnQHfbeg

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.

Sammy Zahran, David Mushinski, Hsueh-Hsiang Li, Ian Breunig, Sophie Mckee. Clinical Capital and the Risk of Maternal Labor and Delivery Complications: Hospital Scheduling, Timing, and Cohort Turnover Effects. Risk Analysis, 2019; DOI: 10.1111/risa.13273

#birthcomplications #obstetriccomplications #nights #weekends #holidays

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/3lQomJHLMWE

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 handling should be restricted to the feet.  

Your child’s brains are worth more than some grandstanding with fancy heading during a game.  With accomplished foot-play, your team’s score may actually be higher.

https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/GetDigitalAsset/12892

#Soccer #heading #headinjury #ALS #amyotrophiclateralsclerosis