Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/UhNuAmT-254

Many Americans, some 20% of our friends and neighbors, take glucosamine for the pain and disability of arthritis.  Like many food supplements, we only know that it is probably safe.  No well-designed studies have proven that it works for joint problems.  One study of knee osteoarthritis published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed a glucosamine-chondroitin combo pill to be no more effective than a sugar pill.

Now a study from Tulane Public Health, the Harbin Medical University in China, and the Harvard School of Public Health shows that regular use of glucosamine use may actually protect you from cardiovascular disease.

Some half million British participants were studied.  The data showed that those using glucosamine enjoyed an 18% reduction in coronary artery disease, a 12% reduction in death from cardiovascular disease, a 9% reduction in stroke.  The supplement works even better in smokers with a 37% lower risk of any cardiovascular disease.

The exact mechanism of action is not known, but many researchers think it may be the anti-inflammatory properties of glucosamine.  Whatever the reason, you might want to consider taking glucosamine if you do have some arthritis, are at a higher risk for heart attack or stroke, or if you are a smoker.

Ma Hao, Li Xiang, Sun Dianjianyi, Zhou Tao, Ley Sylvia H, Gustat Jeanette et al. Association of habitual glucosamine use with risk of cardiovascular disease: prospective study in UK Biobank BMJ 2019; 365 :l1628

https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/do-glucosamine-and-chondroitin-really-help-arthriti-pain

#Glucosamine #coronarydisease #stroke #smoking

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/UhNuAmT-254

Many Americans, some 20% of our friends and neighbors, take glucosamine for the pain and disability of arthritis.  Like many food supplements, we only know that it is probably safe.  No well-designed studies have proven that it works for joint problems.  One study of knee osteoarthritis published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed a glucosamine-chondroitin combo pill to be no more effective than a sugar pill.

Now a study from Tulane Public Health, the Harbin Medical University in China, and the Harvard School of Public Health shows that regular use of glucosamine use may actually protect you from cardiovascular disease.

Some half million British participants were studied.  The data showed that those using glucosamine enjoyed an 18% reduction in coronary artery disease, a 12% reduction in death from cardiovascular disease, a 9% reduction in stroke.  The supplement works even better in smokers with a 37% lower risk of any cardiovascular disease.

The exact mechanism of action is not known, but many researchers think it may be the anti-inflammatory properties of glucosamine.  Whatever the reason, you might want to consider taking glucosamine if you do have some arthritis, are at a higher risk for heart attack or stroke, or if you are a smoker.

Ma Hao, Li Xiang, Sun Dianjianyi, Zhou Tao, Ley Sylvia H, Gustat Jeanette et al. Association of habitual glucosamine use with risk of cardiovascular disease: prospective study in UK Biobank BMJ 2019; 365 :l1628

https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/do-glucosamine-and-chondroitin-really-help-arthriti-pain

#Glucosamine #coronarydisease #stroke #smoking

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/s4PxSI92nGc

The air in our largest cities is destroying our arteries.   A study recently published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives studied over 6600 otherwise healthy adults in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore, St. Paul and Winston-Salem.

Over more than a decade during which the subjects’ carotid arterial thickness, carotid plaque quantity, and coronary artery calcification were measured, those exposed to chronically elevated ozone concentrations in urban air were found to suffer significant carotid and coronary arterial wall damage.  The study did not address the effect of bad air on the incidence of heart attacks, stroke, or death from cardiovascular disease.

If you live in such big city environments, try to spend as much time as you can in green spaces preferably out in the country or by the shore.  Environmental moderation is every bit as important to your health as dietary and exercise moderation.

Meng Wang , Paul D. Sampson , Lianne E. Sheppard , etal.

Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Ozone and Progression of Subclinical Arterial Disease: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and Air Pollution

https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP3325

#Ozone #coronary #carotid #airpollution

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/s4PxSI92nGc

The air in our largest cities is destroying our arteries.   A study recently published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives studied over 6600 otherwise healthy adults in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore, St. Paul and Winston-Salem.

Over more than a decade during which the subjects’ carotid arterial thickness, carotid plaque quantity, and coronary artery calcification were measured, those exposed to chronically elevated ozone concentrations in urban air were found to suffer significant carotid and coronary arterial wall damage.  The study did not address the effect of bad air on the incidence of heart attacks, stroke, or death from cardiovascular disease.

If you live in such big city environments, try to spend as much time as you can in green spaces preferably out in the country or by the shore.  Environmental moderation is every bit as important to your health as dietary and exercise moderation.

Meng Wang , Paul D. Sampson , Lianne E. Sheppard , etal.

Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Ozone and Progression of Subclinical Arterial Disease: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and Air Pollution

https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP3325

#Ozone #coronary #carotid #airpollution

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/A3FZGwlqq_g

Playing video games that feature guns and swords leads children to handle real guns.  

This is the conclusion of a Ohio Statue University study of 220 eight to twelve year olds.

Of the children playing a video game shooting guns, 62% touched a real handgun, of those playing a game with sword violence, 57% touched a handgun.  Of the control group of kids playing a non-violent video game, only 42% touched the gun.  Those playing the violent video games were significantly more likely to pull the gun’s trigger multiple times and to aim the gun at a playmate.

Since we in the USA lack the political guts to establish effective gun controls, the best we can do is to expose our children to non-violent recreation, both digital and real-world varieties, that reinforce our own rejection of weapon use.

Chang JH, Bushman BJ. Effect of Exposure to Gun Violence in Video Games on Children’s Dangerous Behavior With Real Guns: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(5):e194319. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.4319

#Videogames #guncontrol #guns #swords #parenting

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/A3FZGwlqq_g

Playing video games that feature guns and swords leads children to handle real guns.  

This is the conclusion of a Ohio Statue University study of 220 eight to twelve year olds.

Of the children playing a video game shooting guns, 62% touched a real handgun, of those playing a game with sword violence, 57% touched a handgun.  Of the control group of kids playing a non-violent video game, only 42% touched the gun.  Those playing the violent video games were significantly more likely to pull the gun’s trigger multiple times and to aim the gun at a playmate.

Since we in the USA lack the political guts to establish effective gun controls, the best we can do is to expose our children to non-violent recreation, both digital and real-world varieties, that reinforce our own rejection of weapon use.

Chang JH, Bushman BJ. Effect of Exposure to Gun Violence in Video Games on Children’s Dangerous Behavior With Real Guns: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(5):e194319. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.4319

#Videogames #guncontrol #guns #swords #parenting

Vidcast:  hhttps://youtu.be/2hn9iZ29Z3k

Despite the many public campaigns and manufacturers efforts over recent years to make these pods look less like candy, a new study from the Nationwide Children’s Hospital shows that pod poisonings have actually increased for children older than 6 and only slightly diminished for younger kids.  Every 42 minutes a poison control center gets a frantic call about liquid laundry soap pods.

The study reviewed data from 2012 through 2017 compiled at the nation’s poison control centers.  There were almost 73,000 calls during this period, and over 90% of the poisonings involved kids under 6 and occurred at the child’s home.  Sadly, there were 2 child deaths.

The highly-concentrated liquid detergent in these convenience containers turns out to be more toxic than the usual detergent powder or liquid found in multi-use packages and bottles.  My recommendation: if you are the parent of a young child, simply don’t buy these laundry and dishwasher pods.  They are more expensive and much more dangerous to your family.

Nationwide Children's Hospital. "Despite safety standard, laundry packet exposures increase in older children, adults: Researchers say current safety standard isn't doing enough to protect our most vulnerable populations." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 3 June 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/0

#Detergentpods #soappackages #poisonings #parenting #pediatrics

Vidcast:  hhttps://youtu.be/2hn9iZ29Z3k

Despite the many public campaigns and manufacturers efforts over recent years to make these pods look less like candy, a new study from the Nationwide Children’s Hospital shows that pod poisonings have actually increased for children older than 6 and only slightly diminished for younger kids.  Every 42 minutes a poison control center gets a frantic call about liquid laundry soap pods.

The study reviewed data from 2012 through 2017 compiled at the nation’s poison control centers.  There were almost 73,000 calls during this period, and over 90% of the poisonings involved kids under 6 and occurred at the child’s home.  Sadly, there were 2 child deaths.

The highly-concentrated liquid detergent in these convenience containers turns out to be more toxic than the usual detergent powder or liquid found in multi-use packages and bottles.  My recommendation: if you are the parent of a young child, simply don’t buy these laundry and dishwasher pods.  They are more expensive and much more dangerous to your family.

Nationwide Children's Hospital. "Despite safety standard, laundry packet exposures increase in older children, adults: Researchers say current safety standard isn't doing enough to protect our most vulnerable populations." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 3 June 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/0

#Detergentpods #soappackages #poisonings #parenting #pediatrics

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/35EBOOTfQ2Q

This is Health News You Should Use, the latest medical discoveries and commonsense advice that you can use in a practical way to keep yourself and your family healthy.  

Here are this weeks stories :

IVF and Heart Failure During Pregnancy 

Weed Use In Adolescence Numbs The Adult Brain

Overweight Teen Boys Risk Later Heart Failure

Premies Brains Develop Better To Music

Calling Addiction A Disease Harms Those Fighting It

Links Between Allergy and Mental Illness

If It Feels Like A Heart Attack….Better Get Help

Fainting While Pregnant Signals Impending Complications

Exercise Your Placenta

Timeout For Healing Needed Following Knee Surgery

Low Birthweight Infants Suffer Adult Lung Problems

Obese Kids Develop Early Arterial Disease

Reading To Toddlers Improves Their Behavior and Yours

Freezing Testicular Tissue For Boys With Cancer

Hookahs Heated Electrically No Safer

For show notes and references for the stories, check out my website at: https://www.drhowardsmith.com/may-2019-4th-week-health-news

#IVF #assistedreproduction #heartfailure #peripartumcardiomyopathy #obstetrics #womenshealth #Marijuana #adolescence #teens #memory #decisionmaking #selfcontrol #Premies #music #flute #harp #bells #neuraldevelopment #Addiction #selfhelp #counseling #substanceabuse #Allergy #seasonalallergy #perennialallergy #anxiety #depression #Heartattack #delay #actionparalysis #cardiology #ACLrepair #orthopedics #sportsmedicine #parenting #Exercise #placenta #obstetrics #womenshealth #Premies #lowbirthweight #BPD #COPD  #Obesity #arterialstiffening #hypertension #cholesterol #parenting #Sperm #testiculartissue #malefertility #menhealth #urology #cancer #Hookah #electricwaterpipe #charcoalwaterpipe #nicotine

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/35EBOOTfQ2Q

This is Health News You Should Use, the latest medical discoveries and commonsense advice that you can use in a practical way to keep yourself and your family healthy.  

Here are this weeks stories :

IVF and Heart Failure During Pregnancy 

Weed Use In Adolescence Numbs The Adult Brain

Overweight Teen Boys Risk Later Heart Failure

Premies Brains Develop Better To Music

Calling Addiction A Disease Harms Those Fighting It

Links Between Allergy and Mental Illness

If It Feels Like A Heart Attack….Better Get Help

Fainting While Pregnant Signals Impending Complications

Exercise Your Placenta

Timeout For Healing Needed Following Knee Surgery

Low Birthweight Infants Suffer Adult Lung Problems

Obese Kids Develop Early Arterial Disease

Reading To Toddlers Improves Their Behavior and Yours

Freezing Testicular Tissue For Boys With Cancer

Hookahs Heated Electrically No Safer

For show notes and references for the stories, check out my website at: https://www.drhowardsmith.com/may-2019-4th-week-health-news

#IVF #assistedreproduction #heartfailure #peripartumcardiomyopathy #obstetrics #womenshealth #Marijuana #adolescence #teens #memory #decisionmaking #selfcontrol #Premies #music #flute #harp #bells #neuraldevelopment #Addiction #selfhelp #counseling #substanceabuse #Allergy #seasonalallergy #perennialallergy #anxiety #depression #Heartattack #delay #actionparalysis #cardiology #ACLrepair #orthopedics #sportsmedicine #parenting #Exercise #placenta #obstetrics #womenshealth #Premies #lowbirthweight #BPD #COPD  #Obesity #arterialstiffening #hypertension #cholesterol #parenting #Sperm #testiculartissue #malefertility #menhealth #urology #cancer #Hookah #electricwaterpipe #charcoalwaterpipe #nicotine