Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/js0YBT86Omo

Mmmmm.  Smell that fried dough!  Doesn’t that whiff of pepperoni pizza get your juices flowing?  

Businesses peddling less than healthy treats have been blowing fragrances of warm cinnamon rolls and buttered popcorn in our faces for years knowing that its tough for us to resist.  Marketing gurus from the University of South Florida’s college of business now come to our rescue.

As experimental subjects are presented with the choice of cookies or strawberries,  precisely-controlled scent nebulizers spew out a warm cookie scent.   The data shows that whiffing the cookie scent for 30 seconds or less will drive you to buy the cookie.  Continuing to inhale the cookie fragrance for more than 2 minutes resulted in a preference for the strawberries.  The same phenomenon occurred with a pizza-apple pairing.

So the next time you whiff those fatty and sugary smells, inhale them longer and think skull and cross-bones.  Then reach for that juicy apple.

#foodfragrances #fat #sugar #healthnews #healthtips #junkfood

Dipayan Biswas, Courtney Szocs. The Smell of Healthy Choices: Cross-Modal Sensory Compensation Effects of Ambient Scent on Food Purchases. Journal of Marketing Research, 2019; 002224371882058 DOI: 10.1177/0022243718820585

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/js0YBT86Omo

Mmmmm.  Smell that fried dough!  Doesn’t that whiff of pepperoni pizza get your juices flowing?  

Businesses peddling less than healthy treats have been blowing fragrances of warm cinnamon rolls and buttered popcorn in our faces for years knowing that its tough for us to resist.  Marketing gurus from the University of South Florida’s college of business now come to our rescue.

As experimental subjects are presented with the choice of cookies or strawberries,  precisely-controlled scent nebulizers spew out a warm cookie scent.   The data shows that whiffing the cookie scent for 30 seconds or less will drive you to buy the cookie.  Continuing to inhale the cookie fragrance for more than 2 minutes resulted in a preference for the strawberries.  The same phenomenon occurred with a pizza-apple pairing.

So the next time you whiff those fatty and sugary smells, inhale them longer and think skull and cross-bones.  Then reach for that juicy apple.

#foodfragrances #fat #sugar #healthnews #healthtips #junkfood

Dipayan Biswas, Courtney Szocs. The Smell of Healthy Choices: Cross-Modal Sensory Compensation Effects of Ambient Scent on Food Purchases. Journal of Marketing Research, 2019; 002224371882058 DOI: 10.1177/0022243718820585

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/cnqHqgpqycE

Someday soon, high-tech tattoos may replace blood testing for continuous monitoring.  Bioengineers at MIT and Harvard Med School as well as at the University of Colorado’s ATLAS Institute are combining nanoparticles with tattoo technology to create color changing indicators deep in the skin.

The Harvard-MIT team developed sensor inks that can signal levels of glucose, body fluid acidity or pH, and sodium levels.  They tattoo the indicator ink directly into the skin and state that the inks would have to be replaced periodically

The Colorado investigators, hoping to create a more permanent solution, are encasing such color-shifting chemicals in porous microcapsules that are then propelled into the skin using tatoo needles.  They are currently experimenting with particles that signal exposure to harmful UV rays but plan to use this same technology to continuously monitor blood sugar and blood alcohol levels.

#tattoos #bloodchemistry #glucosemonitoring #bloodalcohol #UVexposure #healthnews

https://www.sciencealert.com/mit-is-working-on-colour-changing-tattoo-ink-that-can-monitor-your-health-in-real-time

https://www.mdlinx.com/internal-medicine/article/3270

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/cnqHqgpqycE

Someday soon, high-tech tattoos may replace blood testing for continuous monitoring.  Bioengineers at MIT and Harvard Med School as well as at the University of Colorado’s ATLAS Institute are combining nanoparticles with tattoo technology to create color changing indicators deep in the skin.

The Harvard-MIT team developed sensor inks that can signal levels of glucose, body fluid acidity or pH, and sodium levels.  They tattoo the indicator ink directly into the skin and state that the inks would have to be replaced periodically

The Colorado investigators, hoping to create a more permanent solution, are encasing such color-shifting chemicals in porous microcapsules that are then propelled into the skin using tatoo needles.  They are currently experimenting with particles that signal exposure to harmful UV rays but plan to use this same technology to continuously monitor blood sugar and blood alcohol levels.

#tattoos #bloodchemistry #glucosemonitoring #bloodalcohol #UVexposure #healthnews

https://www.sciencealert.com/mit-is-working-on-colour-changing-tattoo-ink-that-can-monitor-your-health-in-real-time

https://www.mdlinx.com/internal-medicine/article/3270

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/ohUzmKKBY_I

One or two hits of cannabis in any form does permanently affect the brain structure of young people.  New studies by University of Vermont psychiatrists looked at brain imaging for 46 teens experiencing cannabis for the first time and compared their brains with those of with non-users.

The data reveals greater gray matter volumes in cannabis-binding zones of the brains in teens who used marijuana only once or twice by age 14.  The differences occur in the emotion-processing amygdala and in the memory processing hippocampus.

The researchers point out the teens’ brains naturally thin during adolescence in a type of pruning or refinement process.  Even a joint or two of marijuana may prevent this vital process from occurring.

The increasing legalization of marijuana means more of us and our kids will have access to it.  Studies like this should make us pause and ask if that’s a good thing.

#cannabis #marijuana #brainchange, teendruguse #emotion #memory #healthnews #healthtips

Catherine Orr, Philip Spechler, Hugh Garavan, etal. Grey Matter Volume Differences Associated with Extremely Low Levels of Cannabis Use in Adolescence. The Journal of Neuroscience, 2019; 3375-17 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3375-17.2018

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/ohUzmKKBY_I

One or two hits of cannabis in any form does permanently affect the brain structure of young people.  New studies by University of Vermont psychiatrists looked at brain imaging for 46 teens experiencing cannabis for the first time and compared their brains with those of with non-users.

The data reveals greater gray matter volumes in cannabis-binding zones of the brains in teens who used marijuana only once or twice by age 14.  The differences occur in the emotion-processing amygdala and in the memory processing hippocampus.

The researchers point out the teens’ brains naturally thin during adolescence in a type of pruning or refinement process.  Even a joint or two of marijuana may prevent this vital process from occurring.

The increasing legalization of marijuana means more of us and our kids will have access to it.  Studies like this should make us pause and ask if that’s a good thing.

#cannabis #marijuana #brainchange, teendruguse #emotion #memory #healthnews #healthtips

Catherine Orr, Philip Spechler, Hugh Garavan, etal. Grey Matter Volume Differences Associated with Extremely Low Levels of Cannabis Use in Adolescence. The Journal of Neuroscience, 2019; 3375-17 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3375-17.2018

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/9JV0SLJuclE

Standing, walking down the hall or room to room, even going to the kitchen....for water, ANYTHING BUT SITTING, will add years to your healthy life.  This health tip comes from New York’s Columbia College of Physicans and Surgeons as an ongoing study follows nearly 8,000 middle aged men and women using wearable activity monitors.

Swapping just 30 minutes of sitting for even low intensity activity cut the risk of early death by 17%.  A little more activity, say faster walking, going up the stairs, or pushing a cart around, cycling, or running more than doubled the benefit to a early death rate drop of 35%.

Since one-quarter of us spend our entire 8 hour days sitting, use your phone or watch to remind you to get up and do something, ANYTHING, for at least several minutes at least once an hour.

#sitting #couchpotato #standing #walking #exercise #earlydeath #longerlife #healthnews #healthtips

Keith M Diaz, Andrea T Duran, Natalie Colabianchi, Suzanne E Judd, Virginia J Howard, Steven P Hooker. Potential Effects of Replacing Sedentary Time With Short Sedentary Bouts or Physical Activity on Mortality: A National Cohort Study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2018; DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwy271

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/9JV0SLJuclE

Standing, walking down the hall or room to room, even going to the kitchen....for water, ANYTHING BUT SITTING, will add years to your healthy life.  This health tip comes from New York’s Columbia College of Physicans and Surgeons as an ongoing study follows nearly 8,000 middle aged men and women using wearable activity monitors.

Swapping just 30 minutes of sitting for even low intensity activity cut the risk of early death by 17%.  A little more activity, say faster walking, going up the stairs, or pushing a cart around, cycling, or running more than doubled the benefit to a early death rate drop of 35%.

Since one-quarter of us spend our entire 8 hour days sitting, use your phone or watch to remind you to get up and do something, ANYTHING, for at least several minutes at least once an hour.

#sitting #couchpotato #standing #walking #exercise #earlydeath #longerlife #healthnews #healthtips

Keith M Diaz, Andrea T Duran, Natalie Colabianchi, Suzanne E Judd, Virginia J Howard, Steven P Hooker. Potential Effects of Replacing Sedentary Time With Short Sedentary Bouts or Physical Activity on Mortality: A National Cohort Study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2018; DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwy271

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/A1dV3YvCf8w

Newborns and infants have very sensitive developing respiratory and gastrointestinal channels.  When parents have brought them to my pediatric ENT office, I found that their breathing issues were usually due to  airway irritation from refluxed feedings and dryness.  These observation became so common, that I began to offer 3 tips to every parent of a newborn or young infant.

1. Never Put Your Baby To Bed With A Full Stomach.

2. Wash Your Baby’s Nasal Cavities with Aerosol Saline After Every Meal.

3. Keep Your Child’s Bedroom At A Comfortable Humidity.

ONE: Never put your baby to bed with a full stomach.  Newborns and infants under a year of age have developing and poorly functional esophageal sphincters or gates.  Any fluids or foods in the stomach and the stomach acids they induce will easily back up, reflux, into the upper esophagus, the throat, the nose, and fall down into the airway.  The fluids, food particles, and acids are all irritating to linings and produce swelling and irritation in the throat, nasal linings, voice box, windpipe, and the lungs.  This leads to nasal congestion, coughing, and poor feeding.

It takes 60 to 80 minutes for the stomach to naturally empty, and gravity helps the rate of emptying but also prevents reflux.  You can put your baby in a swing or a carseat during this emptying period.  If the baby falls asleep, you can transfer the child after the stomach is empty.  If in a carseat, it’s fine for the infant to sleep on.

TWO:Clean your baby’s nasal passages with aerosol saline after every meal.  

Just as esophageal valves are incompletely functional, so too are the throat and nasal valves that keep oral and throat material out of the nose.  Since fluids, food particles, salivary enzymes, and stomach acids back up into the rear nasal passages, cleansing the nose with a puff or two of nasal aerosol spray will clean the surfaces on each side of the nose and prevent lining swelling and often severe nasal congestion.  Nasal saline is available over-the-counter as under the brand names Simply Saline and Little Noses.  All nasal saline is normal saline, and it may be used for children and adults of any age.

THREE:Keep Your Child’s Bedroom At A Comfortable Humidity.  Room air, particular during the dry winter months or in desert climates, tends to dry out respiratory linings.  Newborns and infants breathe more rapidly than older children and adults and sometimes at twice the rate. This drying prevents their normal function, creates lining swelling, and leads to thick mucus that can harbor growing bacteria.  The ideal relative humidity is between 40 to 50%, and you can check the level with an inexpensive humidity gauge available at the hardware store.  If you have forced hot air heat, you can put a central humidifier on your system, but it must be cleaned regularly to remain safe.  Alternatively, I recommend the use of a warm air humidifier or vaporizer that s

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/A1dV3YvCf8w

Newborns and infants have very sensitive developing respiratory and gastrointestinal channels.  When parents have brought them to my pediatric ENT office, I found that their breathing issues were usually due to  airway irritation from refluxed feedings and dryness.  These observation became so common, that I began to offer 3 tips to every parent of a newborn or young infant.

1. Never Put Your Baby To Bed With A Full Stomach.

2. Wash Your Baby’s Nasal Cavities with Aerosol Saline After Every Meal.

3. Keep Your Child’s Bedroom At A Comfortable Humidity.

ONE: Never put your baby to bed with a full stomach.  Newborns and infants under a year of age have developing and poorly functional esophageal sphincters or gates.  Any fluids or foods in the stomach and the stomach acids they induce will easily back up, reflux, into the upper esophagus, the throat, the nose, and fall down into the airway.  The fluids, food particles, and acids are all irritating to linings and produce swelling and irritation in the throat, nasal linings, voice box, windpipe, and the lungs.  This leads to nasal congestion, coughing, and poor feeding.

It takes 60 to 80 minutes for the stomach to naturally empty, and gravity helps the rate of emptying but also prevents reflux.  You can put your baby in a swing or a carseat during this emptying period.  If the baby falls asleep, you can transfer the child after the stomach is empty.  If in a carseat, it’s fine for the infant to sleep on.

TWO:Clean your baby’s nasal passages with aerosol saline after every meal.  

Just as esophageal valves are incompletely functional, so too are the throat and nasal valves that keep oral and throat material out of the nose.  Since fluids, food particles, salivary enzymes, and stomach acids back up into the rear nasal passages, cleansing the nose with a puff or two of nasal aerosol spray will clean the surfaces on each side of the nose and prevent lining swelling and often severe nasal congestion.  Nasal saline is available over-the-counter as under the brand names Simply Saline and Little Noses.  All nasal saline is normal saline, and it may be used for children and adults of any age.

THREE:Keep Your Child’s Bedroom At A Comfortable Humidity.  Room air, particular during the dry winter months or in desert climates, tends to dry out respiratory linings.  Newborns and infants breathe more rapidly than older children and adults and sometimes at twice the rate. This drying prevents their normal function, creates lining swelling, and leads to thick mucus that can harbor growing bacteria.  The ideal relative humidity is between 40 to 50%, and you can check the level with an inexpensive humidity gauge available at the hardware store.  If you have forced hot air heat, you can put a central humidifier on your system, but it must be cleaned regularly to remain safe.  Alternatively, I recommend the use of a warm air humidifier or vaporizer that safely distills the water and creates water vapor or clouds rather than droplets.  Cold mist humidifiers spew the water into the air as droplets that may contain chemicals, bacteria, mold, and any other contaminants found in your humidifier’s reservoir.

Congratulations on the new baby in your family.  Do these 3 things to keep them healthy and happy….. and out of the ear, nose, and throat specialists’ offices.

#newborns #infantbreathing #gerd #reflux #salineaerosolspray #SimplySaline #LittleNoses #warmhumidifiers #carseats #infantswings