Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast:  tps://youtu.be/KAKxzmjoacw

So you’re out of shape and finding your body toning workout impossibly grueling.  A  Canadian study just published in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise shows that listening to upbeat music as you work up that sweat will sweeten your experience.

Music is a known dissociative influence that distracts you from the consequences of exercise including sore muscles and heavy breathing.  The investigators exposed a group of 24 exercisers to each of 3 different audio experiences: upbeat, swinging music, a non-musical podcast, or no sound.  

The subjects demonstrated better performance and reported a more enjoyable experience when they were “sweatin’ to the oldies” or any fast-paced tunes.  Their heart rates also increased as though the fast music was almost serving as a heart metronome.

So create a swinging playlist to accompany your exercise, and those many minutes of seeming physical torture will fly on by.

Matthew J. Stork, Costas I. Karageorghis, Kathleen A. Martin Ginis. Let’s Go: Psychological, psychophysical, and physiological effects of music during sprint interval exercise. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 2019; 45: 101547 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.101547#Music #exercise #upbeat

Vidcast:  tps://youtu.be/KAKxzmjoacw

So you’re out of shape and finding your body toning workout impossibly grueling.  A  Canadian study just published in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise shows that listening to upbeat music as you work up that sweat will sweeten your experience.

Music is a known dissociative influence that distracts you from the consequences of exercise including sore muscles and heavy breathing.  The investigators exposed a group of 24 exercisers to each of 3 different audio experiences: upbeat, swinging music, a non-musical podcast, or no sound.  

The subjects demonstrated better performance and reported a more enjoyable experience when they were “sweatin’ to the oldies” or any fast-paced tunes.  Their heart rates also increased as though the fast music was almost serving as a heart metronome.

So create a swinging playlist to accompany your exercise, and those many minutes of seeming physical torture will fly on by.

Matthew J. Stork, Costas I. Karageorghis, Kathleen A. Martin Ginis. Let’s Go: Psychological, psychophysical, and physiological effects of music during sprint interval exercise. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 2019; 45: 101547 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.101547#Music #exercise #upbeat

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/HHJZs5YRDXU

You know you should exercise but you don’t have the time or money for a health club.  A British study just published in the Journal of Physiology shows that you can keep fit with three 20 minute home sessions a week using high intensity training and virtual but not direct supervision.

The researchers studied some of the toughest cases, 32 obese adults at risk for significant heart disease participating in one of three exercise regimens for 3 months.  The data showed that that those subjects using the three weekly 20 minute self-directed high intensity home exercise programs without the use of equipment showed the same benefits as those in a professionally supervised high intensity training program at a gym or a more leisurely 150 minutes a week moderate intensity home training program.  The benefits of all programs included reduced cardiovascular disease risk, better glucose metabolism, and improved body composition.

This study supports use of inexpensive structured home exercises for those in need of cardiovascular rehab training.  If you have the need, your physical therapist can design such a program for you to use at home that which will be cost effective and convenient.

Sam N. Scott, Sam O. Shepherd, Nicola Hopkins, Ellen A. Dawson, Juliette A. Strauss, David J. Wright, Robert G. Cooper, Pradesh Kumar, Anton J. M. Wagenmakers, Matthew Cocks. Home-HIT improves muscle capillarisation and eNOS/NAD(P)Hoxidase protein ratio in obese individuals with elevated cardiovascular disease risk. The Journal of Physiology, 2019; DOI: 10.1113/JP278062

#Cardiacrehab #homeHIIT #HIIT

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/HHJZs5YRDXU

You know you should exercise but you don’t have the time or money for a health club.  A British study just published in the Journal of Physiology shows that you can keep fit with three 20 minute home sessions a week using high intensity training and virtual but not direct supervision.

The researchers studied some of the toughest cases, 32 obese adults at risk for significant heart disease participating in one of three exercise regimens for 3 months.  The data showed that that those subjects using the three weekly 20 minute self-directed high intensity home exercise programs without the use of equipment showed the same benefits as those in a professionally supervised high intensity training program at a gym or a more leisurely 150 minutes a week moderate intensity home training program.  The benefits of all programs included reduced cardiovascular disease risk, better glucose metabolism, and improved body composition.

This study supports use of inexpensive structured home exercises for those in need of cardiovascular rehab training.  If you have the need, your physical therapist can design such a program for you to use at home that which will be cost effective and convenient.

Sam N. Scott, Sam O. Shepherd, Nicola Hopkins, Ellen A. Dawson, Juliette A. Strauss, David J. Wright, Robert G. Cooper, Pradesh Kumar, Anton J. M. Wagenmakers, Matthew Cocks. Home-HIT improves muscle capillarisation and eNOS/NAD(P)Hoxidase protein ratio in obese individuals with elevated cardiovascular disease risk. The Journal of Physiology, 2019; DOI: 10.1113/JP278062

#Cardiacrehab #homeHIIT #HIIT

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/dzrI4PAJc3E

A Brazilian study just presented last week at the American Society for Microbiology reminds us just how contaminated our cell phones can be.  Forty percent of the phones carried by university students were infested with antibiotic-resistant Staph Aureus.  Even more frightening but not surprising is that fact that the majority of such phones were in the hands of nursing students risking spread to their patients.

This is nothing new as previous studies over the past years have demonstrated E. coli bacteria, influenza viruses, and a raft of other contaminants on phones.  One study proved that your phone was at least 10 times dirtier than your toilet seat.  

Your own phone is unlikely to make you sick, but it can spread bug to others if they touch it or via tables on which it is placed. Microbiologists recommend decontaminating your phone at least once a day with disinfectant wipes, a foam hand sanitizer, or a UV smartphone sanitizer and charger.

American Society for Microbiology. "Dissemination of pathogenic bacteria by university student's cell phones." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 June 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/19

https://cals.arizona.edu/news/why-your-cellphone-has-more-germs-toilet

#Smartphone #bacteria #Staph

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/dzrI4PAJc3E

A Brazilian study just presented last week at the American Society for Microbiology reminds us just how contaminated our cell phones can be.  Forty percent of the phones carried by university students were infested with antibiotic-resistant Staph Aureus.  Even more frightening but not surprising is that fact that the majority of such phones were in the hands of nursing students risking spread to their patients.

This is nothing new as previous studies over the past years have demonstrated E. coli bacteria, influenza viruses, and a raft of other contaminants on phones.  One study proved that your phone was at least 10 times dirtier than your toilet seat.  

Your own phone is unlikely to make you sick, but it can spread bug to others if they touch it or via tables on which it is placed. Microbiologists recommend decontaminating your phone at least once a day with disinfectant wipes, a foam hand sanitizer, or a UV smartphone sanitizer and charger.

American Society for Microbiology. "Dissemination of pathogenic bacteria by university student's cell phones." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 June 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/19

https://cals.arizona.edu/news/why-your-cellphone-has-more-germs-toilet

#Smartphone #bacteria #Staph

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/QAUrV6t24sc

The non-psychoactive component of weed may be one way to control menacing supergerms that are no longer sensitive to our strongest antibiotics.  Australian microbiologists presented their exciting findings at last week’s meeting of the American Society For Microbiology.

Studies of topical CBD as treatment for a variety of skin conditions revealed that this agent can kill antibiotic-resistant Staph Aureus, known as MRSA, and antibiotic-resistant Strep Pneumoniae or Pneumococcus.  The CBD could also kill bacteria hiding in biofilms, those mucus layers that typically sequester nasty bacteria permitting them to evade many antibiotics.

CBD is already used for treatment of epilepsy and thought to be helpful for management of anxiety, pain, and inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.  It may soon be added to our infectious disease-fighting toolbox as well.

American Society for Microbiology. "Cannabidiol is a powerful new antibiotic." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 23 June 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190623143055.htm

#CBD #cannabis #Staph #Strep #antibiotic

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/QAUrV6t24sc

The non-psychoactive component of weed may be one way to control menacing supergerms that are no longer sensitive to our strongest antibiotics.  Australian microbiologists presented their exciting findings at last week’s meeting of the American Society For Microbiology.

Studies of topical CBD as treatment for a variety of skin conditions revealed that this agent can kill antibiotic-resistant Staph Aureus, known as MRSA, and antibiotic-resistant Strep Pneumoniae or Pneumococcus.  The CBD could also kill bacteria hiding in biofilms, those mucus layers that typically sequester nasty bacteria permitting them to evade many antibiotics.

CBD is already used for treatment of epilepsy and thought to be helpful for management of anxiety, pain, and inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.  It may soon be added to our infectious disease-fighting toolbox as well.

American Society for Microbiology. "Cannabidiol is a powerful new antibiotic." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 23 June 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190623143055.htm

#CBD #cannabis #Staph #Strep #antibiotic

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/vr8B0vBAEoI

Nearly one- quarter to one-third of women surveyed in two recent psychological studies admitted that they only set up a date to get a free meal.  This so-called “foodie call” phenomenon was analyzed by teams at Azusa Pacific University and UC-Merced.

The researchers surveyed a total of nearly 1200 women # The two-thirds to three-quarters of women who had not been on a foodie call felt that the practice was morally objectionable.

The “foodie call” women were more likely to have so-called “dark triad” personality traits of narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism.  Many also have one night stands and faked orgasms. 

Men were not studied, but the psychologists hypothesize that the “foodie call” sham can be perpetrated by all genders.  A trying for a free meal isn’t the worst male dating infraction.

Society for Personality and Social Psychology. "Foodie calls: Dating for a free meal (rather than a relationship)." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 June 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/19.

#Freemeal #foodiecall #darktriad

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/vr8B0vBAEoI

Nearly one- quarter to one-third of women surveyed in two recent psychological studies admitted that they only set up a date to get a free meal.  This so-called “foodie call” phenomenon was analyzed by teams at Azusa Pacific University and UC-Merced.

The researchers surveyed a total of nearly 1200 women # The two-thirds to three-quarters of women who had not been on a foodie call felt that the practice was morally objectionable.

The “foodie call” women were more likely to have so-called “dark triad” personality traits of narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism.  Many also have one night stands and faked orgasms. 

Men were not studied, but the psychologists hypothesize that the “foodie call” sham can be perpetrated by all genders.  A trying for a free meal isn’t the worst male dating infraction.

Society for Personality and Social Psychology. "Foodie calls: Dating for a free meal (rather than a relationship)." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 June 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/19.

#Freemeal #foodiecall #darktriad