Dr. Howard Smith Reports

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 Nutrition, 2019; DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz139

#Fruits #vegetables #gutmicrobiome

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 Nutrition, 2019; DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz139

#Fruits #vegetables #gutmicrobiome

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: 10.1177/2332858419852592

#Stress #pets #college #work

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: 10.1177/2332858419852592

#Stress #pets #college #work

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. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190715094910.htm.

#Hearingaid #Hearingloss #memory #dementia

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. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190715094910.htm.

#Hearingaid #Hearingloss #memory #dementia

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 addicted due to prolonged narcotic use.

Nathalie Auger, Nancy Low, François M. Carrier, Aimina Ayoub, Thuy Mai Luu. Maternal prepregnancy surgery and risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome in future newborns: a longitudinal cohort study. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2019; 191 (28): E779 DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.181519

#Womenshealth #surgery #pregnancy #neonatalabstinence

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 addicted due to prolonged narcotic use.

Nathalie Auger, Nancy Low, François M. Carrier, Aimina Ayoub, Thuy Mai Luu. Maternal prepregnancy surgery and risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome in future newborns: a longitudinal cohort study. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2019; 191 (28): E779 DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.181519

#Womenshealth #surgery #pregnancy #neonatalabstinence

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/joU9-5CEU4s

Extreme training drills inflicted on high school and college football players by over-zealous coaches produce more non-traumatic fatalities than game play.  This conclusion comes from a study of 187 such deaths occurring over the past 20 years and just presented to the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine’s Annual Meeting.

Football remains the most dangerous sport for young people clocking the largest number of fatalities, and there are 2 to 3 times more non-traumatic deaths than traumatic ones.  The data shows that 52% of these tragedies are associated with cardiac problems, 24% with heat exhaustion, and 5% with asthma.  Most deaths occurred in August before the regular season.

The study authors blame unreasonably intense workouts and punishing drills as the causes for these unnecessary deaths.  We should add lax medical screening for both heart and sickle cell disease.

You parents of teens and young adults playing football should be certain that your kids are medically fit before beginning participation.  You must closely monitor what their coaches are demanding of them and speak up when you fear for their safety.

American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. "Over-conditioning kills: Non-traumatic fatalities in football is preventable." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 13 July 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/1

#Football #nontraumaticdeaths #heatexhaustion #sicklecell 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/joU9-5CEU4s

Extreme training drills inflicted on high school and college football players by over-zealous coaches produce more non-traumatic fatalities than game play.  This conclusion comes from a study of 187 such deaths occurring over the past 20 years and just presented to the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine’s Annual Meeting.

Football remains the most dangerous sport for young people clocking the largest number of fatalities, and there are 2 to 3 times more non-traumatic deaths than traumatic ones.  The data shows that 52% of these tragedies are associated with cardiac problems, 24% with heat exhaustion, and 5% with asthma.  Most deaths occurred in August before the regular season.

The study authors blame unreasonably intense workouts and punishing drills as the causes for these unnecessary deaths.  We should add lax medical screening for both heart and sickle cell disease.

You parents of teens and young adults playing football should be certain that your kids are medically fit before beginning participation.  You must closely monitor what their coaches are demanding of them and speak up when you fear for their safety.

American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. "Over-conditioning kills: Non-traumatic fatalities in football is preventable." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 13 July 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/1

#Football #nontraumaticdeaths #heatexhaustion #sicklecell