Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Aspirin Can Help Cure Cancer

Most Brainpower Develops During Childhood and Adolescence

Muscle Power Banked During Youth Supports Later Vigor

Weed is Fetal Poison

A Short Delay Bathing Newborns Enhances Breastfeeding

Low Dose Aspirin Prevents Preelampsia-Associated Stroke

A Simple Swallow Can Detect Esophageal Cancer

The Ketogenic Diet Is Safe

It’s Karma: School Bullies Sustain More Injury Than Victims

Girls In Pain Get Less Sympathy

Pop Music Lyrics Getting Darker and Angrier

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/5dAOUVMx16c

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/jan-2019-5th-week-health-news

#Aspirin #cancer #cognitivepower #GCA #muscles #exercise #frailty #preeclampsia
#stroke #esophagealcancer #ketogenicdiet #schoolviolence #bullying #gende bias #meetoo #popmusic

Aspirin Can Help Cure Cancer

Most Brainpower Develops During Childhood and Adolescence

Muscle Power Banked During Youth Supports Later Vigor

Weed is Fetal Poison

A Short Delay Bathing Newborns Enhances Breastfeeding

Low Dose Aspirin Prevents Preelampsia-Associated Stroke

A Simple Swallow Can Detect Esophageal Cancer

The Ketogenic Diet Is Safe

It’s Karma: School Bullies Sustain More Injury Than Victims

Girls In Pain Get Less Sympathy

Pop Music Lyrics Getting Darker and Angrier

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/5dAOUVMx16c

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/jan-2019-5th-week-health-news

#Aspirin #cancer #cognitivepower #GCA #muscles #exercise #frailty #preeclampsia
#stroke #esophagealcancer #ketogenicdiet #schoolviolence #bullying #gende bias #meetoo #popmusic

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/YFe2s7g4drk

from www.goodnewsNetwork.org

Kate, not her real name, has epilepsy.   Late once night, she began suffering seizures and went to the ER.  She stabilized and was discharged at 4 in the morning.  She called a Lyft to get home as she could not drive.  

Here’s her first person account:

 I called a Lyft to pick me up and hoped against hope that it would be someone kind, someone safe.  A small SUV pulled up in front of the hospital doors and I climbed in, expecting some awkward small talk. After all, it was 4:30AM and I was being picked up from a hospital by a complete stranger. 

I buckled my seatbelt, and then the driver turned around; she was a woman in her mid-forties with the kindest eyes.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” she asked.

“Oh, I’m fine. I just have epilepsy so I can’t drive.” I replied, expecting her to shrug it off and hit the road. Instead, she began to tell me about her daughter’s recent epilepsy diagnosis. She said she understood my struggle of being sick and unable to drive; needing food to stay healthy, but not being capable of taking care of it myself; the unique riddle of needing help, but not knowing how to ask.  She told me about how – even though her daughter lives hours away – she drove to bring her groceries several times a week.

This was already some kind of serendipitous encounter, a little blessing after a few rough days – but what she said next surprised me.  “Honey, do you need groceries? Can I please take you to a store?” It was nearing 5 in the morning and a total stranger was worried that I wouldn’t be able to eat that day. I was so surprised. I told her, “No, it’s okay. I can handle it tomorrow, but thank you so much.”

As we got closer to my house, she gave me her cell number and insisted that I call her when I needed help – not just with more dire situations, but also with groceries and doctor’s appointments too. I felt comforted, but I knew deep down that my stubborn aversion to accepting help would probably keep me from ever picking up the phone.

But then the next day, she called me, knowing I needed food but sensing that I didn’t want to impose – and we went to the grocery store that afternoon.

She not only gave me safety and helped me fill my cupboards, but she gave me something I thought I had lost: she gave me hope. It was just a little taste, but it’s carried me through a lot, and these little glimmers of light can be so bright in the dark – and now I know that when the nights seem dark, my best choice is to find the light and follow it.

When you get a chance, do pay it forward.  You will feel wonderful.

#kindness #payitforward #epilepsy

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/when-i-was-alone-at-the-hospital-at-4am-a-lyft-driver-restored-my-faith-in-humanity/

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/YFe2s7g4drk

from www.goodnewsNetwork.org

Kate, not her real name, has epilepsy.   Late once night, she began suffering seizures and went to the ER.  She stabilized and was discharged at 4 in the morning.  She called a Lyft to get home as she could not drive.  

Here’s her first person account:

 I called a Lyft to pick me up and hoped against hope that it would be someone kind, someone safe.  A small SUV pulled up in front of the hospital doors and I climbed in, expecting some awkward small talk. After all, it was 4:30AM and I was being picked up from a hospital by a complete stranger. 

I buckled my seatbelt, and then the driver turned around; she was a woman in her mid-forties with the kindest eyes.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” she asked.

“Oh, I’m fine. I just have epilepsy so I can’t drive.” I replied, expecting her to shrug it off and hit the road. Instead, she began to tell me about her daughter’s recent epilepsy diagnosis. She said she understood my struggle of being sick and unable to drive; needing food to stay healthy, but not being capable of taking care of it myself; the unique riddle of needing help, but not knowing how to ask.  She told me about how – even though her daughter lives hours away – she drove to bring her groceries several times a week.

This was already some kind of serendipitous encounter, a little blessing after a few rough days – but what she said next surprised me.  “Honey, do you need groceries? Can I please take you to a store?” It was nearing 5 in the morning and a total stranger was worried that I wouldn’t be able to eat that day. I was so surprised. I told her, “No, it’s okay. I can handle it tomorrow, but thank you so much.”

As we got closer to my house, she gave me her cell number and insisted that I call her when I needed help – not just with more dire situations, but also with groceries and doctor’s appointments too. I felt comforted, but I knew deep down that my stubborn aversion to accepting help would probably keep me from ever picking up the phone.

But then the next day, she called me, knowing I needed food but sensing that I didn’t want to impose – and we went to the grocery store that afternoon.

She not only gave me safety and helped me fill my cupboards, but she gave me something I thought I had lost: she gave me hope. It was just a little taste, but it’s carried me through a lot, and these little glimmers of light can be so bright in the dark – and now I know that when the nights seem dark, my best choice is to find the light and follow it.

When you get a chance, do pay it forward.  You will feel wonderful.

#kindness #payitforward #epilepsy

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/when-i-was-alone-at-the-hospital-at-4am-a-lyft-driver-restored-my-faith-in-humanity/

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/DgFFJMe2_no

Here’s a flash from the off-beat health news department.  Researchers in Sweden and Hungary report that the black and white striped design seen on Africa’s Zebras and copied into body painting by indigenous peoples protects against biting and blood-sucking insects including mosquitos and horseflies. 

The scientists compared the frequency of horsefly attacks on 3 different mannikins: one beige, one brown, and one black with white stripes.  The striped skin design reduced insect attacks by 90% compared to brown skin and by 50% compared with beige skin.

It is likely that Africans years ago discovered the protective effect of Zebra designs against insect-borne infections such as malaria.  We don’t yet know if Zebra-striped garments are as good insect repellants as body painting, but this is something you should try for yourself.  Do let me know if it works.

#bodypaint #zebrastripes #mosquitos #horseflies #malaria #healthnews #healthtips

Gábor Horváth, Ádám Pereszlényi, Susanne Åkesson, György Kriska. Striped bodypainting protects against horseflies. Royal Society Open Science, 2019; 6 (1): 181325 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.181325

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/DgFFJMe2_no

Here’s a flash from the off-beat health news department.  Researchers in Sweden and Hungary report that the black and white striped design seen on Africa’s Zebras and copied into body painting by indigenous peoples protects against biting and blood-sucking insects including mosquitos and horseflies. 

The scientists compared the frequency of horsefly attacks on 3 different mannikins: one beige, one brown, and one black with white stripes.  The striped skin design reduced insect attacks by 90% compared to brown skin and by 50% compared with beige skin.

It is likely that Africans years ago discovered the protective effect of Zebra designs against insect-borne infections such as malaria.  We don’t yet know if Zebra-striped garments are as good insect repellants as body painting, but this is something you should try for yourself.  Do let me know if it works.

#bodypaint #zebrastripes #mosquitos #horseflies #malaria #healthnews #healthtips

Gábor Horváth, Ádám Pereszlényi, Susanne Åkesson, György Kriska. Striped bodypainting protects against horseflies. Royal Society Open Science, 2019; 6 (1): 181325 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.181325

Vidcast:https://youtu.be/RldzY17lQUQ

Acupressure can give breast cancer survivors significant relief from pain, anxiety, depressive symptoms, fatigue and sleep problems.  A continuing study at the University of Michigan reports a news analysis of 288 patients.

Two different type of Eastern medical acupressure, relaxing acupressure and stimulating acupressure, were compared with standard relaxation and sleep management techniques.  Both acupressure approaches bested standard therapy for anxiety and pain.  Relaxing acupressure was most effective for depression, sleep, and fatigue.

Acupressure's mode of action is not yet understood.  The best news is that it may be carried out at home, and women learn to apply proper pressure to appropriate body points with few negative effects.

Acupressure may well work for anyone suffering from anxiety, pain, depression, and sleep issues.  If you fit that description, look into it.

#acupressure #Easternmedicine #breastcancer #pain #anxiety #insomnia #depression #healthnews #healthtips

Suzanna Maria Zick, Ananda Sen, Afton Luevano Hassett, Andrew Schrepf, Gwen Karilyn Wyatt, Susan Lynn Murphy, John Todd Arnedt, Richard Edmund Harris. Impact of Self-Acupressure on Co-Occurring Symptoms in Cancer Survivors. JNCI Cancer Spectrum, 2018; 2 (4) DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pky064

Vidcast:https://youtu.be/RldzY17lQUQ

Acupressure can give breast cancer survivors significant relief from pain, anxiety, depressive symptoms, fatigue and sleep problems.  A continuing study at the University of Michigan reports a news analysis of 288 patients.

Two different type of Eastern medical acupressure, relaxing acupressure and stimulating acupressure, were compared with standard relaxation and sleep management techniques.  Both acupressure approaches bested standard therapy for anxiety and pain.  Relaxing acupressure was most effective for depression, sleep, and fatigue.

Acupressure's mode of action is not yet understood.  The best news is that it may be carried out at home, and women learn to apply proper pressure to appropriate body points with few negative effects.

Acupressure may well work for anyone suffering from anxiety, pain, depression, and sleep issues.  If you fit that description, look into it.

#acupressure #Easternmedicine #breastcancer #pain #anxiety #insomnia #depression #healthnews #healthtips

Suzanna Maria Zick, Ananda Sen, Afton Luevano Hassett, Andrew Schrepf, Gwen Karilyn Wyatt, Susan Lynn Murphy, John Todd Arnedt, Richard Edmund Harris. Impact of Self-Acupressure on Co-Occurring Symptoms in Cancer Survivors. JNCI Cancer Spectrum, 2018; 2 (4) DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pky064

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/p-LdqwUqtPg

The wearable foot sensors that many serious runners think may prevent devastating stress fractures are measuring the wrong forces.  Engineers and orthopedic specialists at Vanderbilt University now report that muscular forces on the leg bones rather the force of the foot striking the running surface are the principal causes of the incapacitating, tiny cracks in bones.  

Most of the currently marketed wearable sensors only measure forces of the foot impacting the ground.  The Vanderbilt studies utilized high-speed motion capture and biomechanical algorithms to compute the relevant muscular forces in addition to a force-measuring treadmill to estimate the ground-strike force.

Work is now underway to develop a system of wearables that will measure all forces acting on the leg bones.  That task may not be easy or inexpensive.

#stress fracture #running #gaitanalysis #wearablesensors #humankinematics #jointkinetics #healthnews #healthtips

Vanderbilt University. "Stress fracture? Your foot hitting pavement wasn't the main problem: Engineer, NFL Players Association adviser find issue with running sensors." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 January 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190117142049.htm

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/p-LdqwUqtPg

The wearable foot sensors that many serious runners think may prevent devastating stress fractures are measuring the wrong forces.  Engineers and orthopedic specialists at Vanderbilt University now report that muscular forces on the leg bones rather the force of the foot striking the running surface are the principal causes of the incapacitating, tiny cracks in bones.  

Most of the currently marketed wearable sensors only measure forces of the foot impacting the ground.  The Vanderbilt studies utilized high-speed motion capture and biomechanical algorithms to compute the relevant muscular forces in addition to a force-measuring treadmill to estimate the ground-strike force.

Work is now underway to develop a system of wearables that will measure all forces acting on the leg bones.  That task may not be easy or inexpensive.

#stress fracture #running #gaitanalysis #wearablesensors #humankinematics #jointkinetics #healthnews #healthtips

Vanderbilt University. "Stress fracture? Your foot hitting pavement wasn't the main problem: Engineer, NFL Players Association adviser find issue with running sensors." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 January 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190117142049.htm