Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/6n6RFpV2k1w

Babies are dying in these infant rocker-sleepers when they roll over or twist their airways and suffocate.  The death count is a reported 32 infants, but that count likely under estimates the number.  

The device all over the news is the Fisher-Price Rock ’n Play Sleeper but amazon.com alone lists more than 40 similar products made by Fisher-Price, a division of Mattel Toys, but also Graco, 4Moms, Ingenuity, Disney, Tiny Love, Bright Start, Born Free, and more.  Any of these devices that cuddle a baby in an inclined or even a level position can be deadly for an infant capable of twisting and turning.

Infants should sleep flat in a crib devoid of any blankets, bumpers, pillows, or loose sheets.  If you are a parent, grandparent, nanny, sitter, or daycare staff member, do not put an infant into one of these sleeper-rocker devices.  

Efforts by the American Academy of Pediatrics and Consumer Reports are now underway to have them recalled.  That all takes time, and you need to act immediately.

If your baby does have a tendency to spit up or reflux, don’t elevate the infant hoping that it will safely prevent upflow of stomach contents.  Instead, you should be feeding your baby thickened liquids, burbing the baby often to prevent the stomach from filling with air, and holding your baby upright for up to 60 minutes to permit the stomach to empty. 

If you do place your infant in a carseat either in the vehicle or in an attached platform at home or on wheels, watch your baby like a hawk for any breathing issues or adverse skin color changes indicating a respiratory obstruction.  You cannot leave an infant unattended in a carseat!

Sudden unexpected infant death is a tragedy from which no parent can ever recover.  Don’t let it happy to you or to your family.

https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/AAP-Urges-U-S-Consumer-Product-Safety-Commission-to-Recall-Fisher-Price-Rock-n-Play-Sleeper.aspx

https://www.consumerreports.org/recalls/fisher-price-rock-n-play-sleeper-should-be-recalled-consumer-reports-says/

#parenting #pediatrics #infantrocker #infantsleeper #suddeninfantdeath #gerd #carseat #suffocation 

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/6n6RFpV2k1w

Babies are dying in these infant rocker-sleepers when they roll over or twist their airways and suffocate.  The death count is a reported 32 infants, but that count likely under estimates the number.  

The device all over the news is the Fisher-Price Rock ’n Play Sleeper but amazon.com alone lists more than 40 similar products made by Fisher-Price, a division of Mattel Toys, but also Graco, 4Moms, Ingenuity, Disney, Tiny Love, Bright Start, Born Free, and more.  Any of these devices that cuddle a baby in an inclined or even a level position can be deadly for an infant capable of twisting and turning.

Infants should sleep flat in a crib devoid of any blankets, bumpers, pillows, or loose sheets.  If you are a parent, grandparent, nanny, sitter, or daycare staff member, do not put an infant into one of these sleeper-rocker devices.  

Efforts by the American Academy of Pediatrics and Consumer Reports are now underway to have them recalled.  That all takes time, and you need to act immediately.

If your baby does have a tendency to spit up or reflux, don’t elevate the infant hoping that it will safely prevent upflow of stomach contents.  Instead, you should be feeding your baby thickened liquids, burbing the baby often to prevent the stomach from filling with air, and holding your baby upright for up to 60 minutes to permit the stomach to empty. 

If you do place your infant in a carseat either in the vehicle or in an attached platform at home or on wheels, watch your baby like a hawk for any breathing issues or adverse skin color changes indicating a respiratory obstruction.  You cannot leave an infant unattended in a carseat!

Sudden unexpected infant death is a tragedy from which no parent can ever recover.  Don’t let it happy to you or to your family.

https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/AAP-Urges-U-S-Consumer-Product-Safety-Commission-to-Recall-Fisher-Price-Rock-n-Play-Sleeper.aspx

https://www.consumerreports.org/recalls/fisher-price-rock-n-play-sleeper-should-be-recalled-consumer-reports-says/

#parenting #pediatrics #infantrocker #infantsleeper #suddeninfantdeath #gerd #carseat #suffocation 

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/SW0ORYzGoY4

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

Here are this weeks stories:

You CAN Prevent Childhood Drownings

Pregnancy Illness Triggers Preventable Childhood Brain Ills

ACL Repair Improved By Reducing Blood Flow

Gut Bacteria Wreck Your Arteries

Traffic Lights Halt Poor Food Choices

3D Mammography Eliminates Breast Biopsies

Smart Toilet Seat Diagnoses Heart Disease

Childhood Team Sports Prevent Later Depression For Men

Creative Productivity Soars When Dollars Drive Brainstorming Followed By Reflection

Losing Weight May Stop Migraines

Working Nights Triggers Miscarriage

Virtual Reality Cures Fear of Heights

Compression-Only CPR Can Save Lives

Dirtiest Air During Evening Commute

Heavy Drinking Stops Brain Growth

#Drowning #parenting #Choline #neuropathy #ADHD #pregnancy #ACL #sportsmedicine #Atherosclerosis #microbiome #TMAO #yogurt #oliveoil #fiber # dieting #Mammography #tomosynthesis #3Dmammography #breastbiopsy #Heartfailure #CHF #toiletseat #telemetry #readmissions #homemonitoring #Sports #teams #hippocampus #depression #music #art #Creativity #brainstorming #motivation #Migraines #obesity #Nightshift #miscarriage #highriskpregnancy #melatonin #Acrophobia #heights #VR #selfhelp #CPR #chestcompression #rescuebreathing #mouthtomouth #cardiacarrest #Pollution #commuting  #bicycling #walking #Alcoholism #teens #dementia #ulcer #cirrhosis

For more information#you’ll find all the references for the stories and a copy of show notes on my website at: https://www.drhowardsmith.com/apr-2019-1st-week-health-news

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/SW0ORYzGoY4

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

Here are this weeks stories:

You CAN Prevent Childhood Drownings

Pregnancy Illness Triggers Preventable Childhood Brain Ills

ACL Repair Improved By Reducing Blood Flow

Gut Bacteria Wreck Your Arteries

Traffic Lights Halt Poor Food Choices

3D Mammography Eliminates Breast Biopsies

Smart Toilet Seat Diagnoses Heart Disease

Childhood Team Sports Prevent Later Depression For Men

Creative Productivity Soars When Dollars Drive Brainstorming Followed By Reflection

Losing Weight May Stop Migraines

Working Nights Triggers Miscarriage

Virtual Reality Cures Fear of Heights

Compression-Only CPR Can Save Lives

Dirtiest Air During Evening Commute

Heavy Drinking Stops Brain Growth

#Drowning #parenting #Choline #neuropathy #ADHD #pregnancy #ACL #sportsmedicine #Atherosclerosis #microbiome #TMAO #yogurt #oliveoil #fiber # dieting #Mammography #tomosynthesis #3Dmammography #breastbiopsy #Heartfailure #CHF #toiletseat #telemetry #readmissions #homemonitoring #Sports #teams #hippocampus #depression #music #art #Creativity #brainstorming #motivation #Migraines #obesity #Nightshift #miscarriage #highriskpregnancy #melatonin #Acrophobia #heights #VR #selfhelp #CPR #chestcompression #rescuebreathing #mouthtomouth #cardiacarrest #Pollution #commuting  #bicycling #walking #Alcoholism #teens #dementia #ulcer #cirrhosis

For more information#you’ll find all the references for the stories and a copy of show notes on my website at: https://www.drhowardsmith.com/apr-2019-1st-week-health-news

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/z8IdZ7-cD-w

Chugging those 6 packs and downing those jelly shots depresses the growth of the developing brain.  The skyrocketing alcohol consumption by teens and young adults may well be sapping the collective brainpower of our country.

Neuroscientists at the Oregon Health and Science University studied this phenomenon in 71 rhesus monkeys allowed to binge on alcoholic beverages and monitored for brain growth using MRI scans.  The study found that the equivalent of 4 beers per day on a consistent basis reduced brain growth and development by 0.25 milliliters per year.

This adverse effect of a young person’s brain development and likely their powers of thought and problem-solving can be added to the other dangers of alcohol abuse.  These are: liver rotting, stomach ulcers, and all those goes along with serious substance addiction.  

If you find that your teen is drinking more than occasionally, and you will have to actively look, intervene to get them the help they need.

Tatiana A. Shnitko, Zheng Liu, Xiaojie Wang, Kathleen A. Grant, Christopher D. Kroenke. Chronic alcohol drinking slows brain development in adolescent and young adult non-human primates. eneuro, 2019; ENEURO.0044-19.2019 DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0044-19.2019

#Alcoholism #teens #dementia #ulcer #cirrhosis

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/z8IdZ7-cD-w

Chugging those 6 packs and downing those jelly shots depresses the growth of the developing brain.  The skyrocketing alcohol consumption by teens and young adults may well be sapping the collective brainpower of our country.

Neuroscientists at the Oregon Health and Science University studied this phenomenon in 71 rhesus monkeys allowed to binge on alcoholic beverages and monitored for brain growth using MRI scans.  The study found that the equivalent of 4 beers per day on a consistent basis reduced brain growth and development by 0.25 milliliters per year.

This adverse effect of a young person’s brain development and likely their powers of thought and problem-solving can be added to the other dangers of alcohol abuse.  These are: liver rotting, stomach ulcers, and all those goes along with serious substance addiction.  

If you find that your teen is drinking more than occasionally, and you will have to actively look, intervene to get them the help they need.

Tatiana A. Shnitko, Zheng Liu, Xiaojie Wang, Kathleen A. Grant, Christopher D. Kroenke. Chronic alcohol drinking slows brain development in adolescent and young adult non-human primates. eneuro, 2019; ENEURO.0044-19.2019 DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0044-19.2019

#Alcoholism #teens #dementia #ulcer #cirrhosis

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/s44du_Y3pjo

If you bicycle or walk home from work, go out of your way to use the side streets.  Urban scientists at England’s University of Surrey collaborated with colleagues in England, the Netherlands, and Brazil to measure air pollution during the morning and evening commutes.

The scientists studied black carbon levels in these 3 cities on both the most heavily trafficked routes and on alternative byways.  The data revealed twice has high pollution levels on the main routes in all three cities.  In London, the levels of toxic carbon were twice as high in the evening as they were in the morning.

If you don’t fancy sucking carbon monoxide and diesel dust during your commute, walk and cycle on the less-traveled routes.  Those streets are also safer for you overall.  If you do drive, keep your windows and sunroofs closed.

Veronika Sassen Brand, Prashant Kumar, Aline Santos Damascena, John P. Pritchard, Karst T. Geurs, Maria de Fatima Andrade. Impact of route choice and period of the day on cyclists' exposure to black carbon in London, Rotterdam and São Paulo. Journal of Transport Geography, 2019; 76: 153 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2019.03.007

#Pollution #commuting #London #Rotterdam #São Paulo #bicycling #walking

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/s44du_Y3pjo

If you bicycle or walk home from work, go out of your way to use the side streets.  Urban scientists at England’s University of Surrey collaborated with colleagues in England, the Netherlands, and Brazil to measure air pollution during the morning and evening commutes.

The scientists studied black carbon levels in these 3 cities on both the most heavily trafficked routes and on alternative byways.  The data revealed twice has high pollution levels on the main routes in all three cities.  In London, the levels of toxic carbon were twice as high in the evening as they were in the morning.

If you don’t fancy sucking carbon monoxide and diesel dust during your commute, walk and cycle on the less-traveled routes.  Those streets are also safer for you overall.  If you do drive, keep your windows and sunroofs closed.

Veronika Sassen Brand, Prashant Kumar, Aline Santos Damascena, John P. Pritchard, Karst T. Geurs, Maria de Fatima Andrade. Impact of route choice and period of the day on cyclists' exposure to black carbon in London, Rotterdam and São Paulo. Journal of Transport Geography, 2019; 76: 153 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2019.03.007

#Pollution #commuting #London #Rotterdam #São Paulo #bicycling #walking

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/8OMzNy8ABzA

Do you cringe at the thought of looking down from bridge or tall building, going up in a balloon, or parasailing?  Are you afraid of falling even if you are only up on a chair?  Some caution makes sense, but if you have a pathologic fear that limits your life choices then you probably suffer from acrophobia or the extreme, irrational phobia about height.   

From 2 to 5% of us have acrophobia, and twice as many women as men suffer from it.  It can be extremely dangerous if an affected person develops a panic attack and becomes so agitated that she or he cannot safely get down.

Dutch researchers developed a VR app to help acrophobics control their fears using cognitive behavioral therapy without the use of formal psychotherapy.  The app called ZeroPhobia, available on the iOS and Google Play app stores for $14, works with your smartphone and cardboard goggles.

The neuroscientists studied this app in a trial involving nearly 200 subjects.  Half were treated with 6 animated modules over 3 weeks and half were not.  The treated group experienced a significant reduction in their fears.

The app provides individual self-help at home for a reasonable price.  The theory behind this type of exposure therapy is that it triggers hippocampal extinction neurons which suppress undesirable memories.

If you have fear of heights, you may want to try the VR app.  If you want save a few bucks, check out the wonderful high altitude 2D YouTube videos that will also help you fight your fears!

Tara Donker, Ilja Cornelisz, Chris van Klaveren, Annemieke van Straten, Per Carl-bring, Pim Cuijpers, Jean-Louis van Gelder. Effectiveness of Self-guided App-Based Virtual Reality Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Acrophobia. JAMA Psychiatry, 2019; DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.0219

Anthony F. Lacagnina, Emma T. Brockway, Chelsea R. Crovetti, Francis Shue, Meredith J. McCarty, Kevin P. Sattler, Sean C. Lim, Sofia Leal Santos, Christine A. Denny, Michael R. Drew. Distinct hippocampal engrams control extinction and relapse of fear memory. Nature Neuroscience, 2019; DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0361-z

#Acrophobia #heights #VR #selfhelp

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/8OMzNy8ABzA

Do you cringe at the thought of looking down from bridge or tall building, going up in a balloon, or parasailing?  Are you afraid of falling even if you are only up on a chair?  Some caution makes sense, but if you have a pathologic fear that limits your life choices then you probably suffer from acrophobia or the extreme, irrational phobia about height.   

From 2 to 5% of us have acrophobia, and twice as many women as men suffer from it.  It can be extremely dangerous if an affected person develops a panic attack and becomes so agitated that she or he cannot safely get down.

Dutch researchers developed a VR app to help acrophobics control their fears using cognitive behavioral therapy without the use of formal psychotherapy.  The app called ZeroPhobia, available on the iOS and Google Play app stores for $14, works with your smartphone and cardboard goggles.

The neuroscientists studied this app in a trial involving nearly 200 subjects.  Half were treated with 6 animated modules over 3 weeks and half were not.  The treated group experienced a significant reduction in their fears.

The app provides individual self-help at home for a reasonable price.  The theory behind this type of exposure therapy is that it triggers hippocampal extinction neurons which suppress undesirable memories.

If you have fear of heights, you may want to try the VR app.  If you want save a few bucks, check out the wonderful high altitude 2D YouTube videos that will also help you fight your fears!

Tara Donker, Ilja Cornelisz, Chris van Klaveren, Annemieke van Straten, Per Carl-bring, Pim Cuijpers, Jean-Louis van Gelder. Effectiveness of Self-guided App-Based Virtual Reality Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Acrophobia. JAMA Psychiatry, 2019; DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.0219

Anthony F. Lacagnina, Emma T. Brockway, Chelsea R. Crovetti, Francis Shue, Meredith J. McCarty, Kevin P. Sattler, Sean C. Lim, Sofia Leal Santos, Christine A. Denny, Michael R. Drew. Distinct hippocampal engrams control extinction and relapse of fear memory. Nature Neuroscience, 2019; DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0361-z

#Acrophobia #heights #VR #selfhelp