Dr. Howard Smith Reports

An 80 pound, 11 year old immigrant boy saved a 34 year old man twice his weight from drowning in a Minnesota apartment swimming pool when no other swimmers were around.  

Advaik Nandikotkur, an Indian boy only 3 years in this country, was at the pool with his parents, both non-swimmers, when another apartment resident began drowning.  His father was unable to reach the panicked man with a flotation device, but Advaik quickly plunged into the water and pulled the victim to safety.

His uncle, untrained in CPR, began working on the drowned man with maneuvers he had seen on   TV and in the movies.  The victim began to recover before the EMTs arrived and took him to the hospital.  Thanks to Advaik’s swift and selfless actions, he made a full recovery.  

The near-drowning victim later thanked Advaik for what the St Paul police lauded as heroic actions, but the shy boy underplayed his role.  We can also thank the accuracy of those TV and motion picture CPR rescues for “training” his uncle and contributing to the happy outcome.

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/QPGWXkW8Hx0

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/11-year-old-boy-saves-drowning-man-twice-his-size-when-no-one-else-could-swim/

An 80 pound, 11 year old immigrant boy saved a 34 year old man twice his weight from drowning in a Minnesota apartment swimming pool when no other swimmers were around.  

Advaik Nandikotkur, an Indian boy only 3 years in this country, was at the pool with his parents, both non-swimmers, when another apartment resident began drowning.  His father was unable to reach the panicked man with a flotation device, but Advaik quickly plunged into the water and pulled the victim to safety.

His uncle, untrained in CPR, began working on the drowned man with maneuvers he had seen on   TV and in the movies.  The victim began to recover before the EMTs arrived and took him to the hospital.  Thanks to Advaik’s swift and selfless actions, he made a full recovery.  

The near-drowning victim later thanked Advaik for what the St Paul police lauded as heroic actions, but the shy boy underplayed his role.  We can also thank the accuracy of those TV and motion picture CPR rescues for “training” his uncle and contributing to the happy outcome.

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/QPGWXkW8Hx0

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/11-year-old-boy-saves-drowning-man-twice-his-size-when-no-one-else-could-swim/

If you’re a regular user of the pinks, blues, yellows, and greens, the non-sugar sweeteners, a study just published in the British Medical Journal now reveals that these products will not help you lose weight.  Scientists at Germany’s University of Freiberg conducted a Cochrane review of 56 individual studies and found no convincing statistical evidence that use of fake sugar leads to weight loss for either obese children or overweight adults.

They admit that many of the available studies were of relatively short durations and that longer, longitudinal studies would be helpful.  Meanwhile, they recommend moderating the use of artificially-sweetened drinks or switching from them to water or natural juices as the safety of continuously using fake sugar has not been confirmed.

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/s5FO6xh58nE

nonsugarsweeteners #fakesugar #obesity #weightloss #saccharin, sweetnlow #aspartame #equal #sucralose #splensa #acesulfame #aceK #stevia #truvia #healthnews #radionews

Ingrid Toews, Szimonetta Lohner, Daniela Küllenberg de Gaudry, Harriet Sommer, Joerg J Meerpohl. Association between intake of non-sugar sweeteners and health outcomes: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomised and non-randomised controlled trials and observational studies. BMJ, 2019; k4718 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.k4718

If you’re a regular user of the pinks, blues, yellows, and greens, the non-sugar sweeteners, a study just published in the British Medical Journal now reveals that these products will not help you lose weight.  Scientists at Germany’s University of Freiberg conducted a Cochrane review of 56 individual studies and found no convincing statistical evidence that use of fake sugar leads to weight loss for either obese children or overweight adults.

They admit that many of the available studies were of relatively short durations and that longer, longitudinal studies would be helpful.  Meanwhile, they recommend moderating the use of artificially-sweetened drinks or switching from them to water or natural juices as the safety of continuously using fake sugar has not been confirmed.

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/s5FO6xh58nE

nonsugarsweeteners #fakesugar #obesity #weightloss #saccharin, sweetnlow #aspartame #equal #sucralose #splensa #acesulfame #aceK #stevia #truvia #healthnews #radionews

Ingrid Toews, Szimonetta Lohner, Daniela Küllenberg de Gaudry, Harriet Sommer, Joerg J Meerpohl. Association between intake of non-sugar sweeteners and health outcomes: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomised and non-randomised controlled trials and observational studies. BMJ, 2019; k4718 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.k4718

If you’re taking an antibiotic with “FLOXACIN” in its name, listen up.  The FDA wants you to know that the drug can weaken the walls of your aorta leading to deadly ruptures.

The fluoroquinolone antibiotics including ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin), ofloxacin (Floxin), and moxifloxacin (Avelox) and a few others have been around for more than 30 years, and they can be invaluable for treating some nasty bacteria that other drugs won’t touch.  Although used in Europe, their approval by the FDA for use in the USA was delayed for many years by concerns about their tendency to weakening connective tissues leading to tendon ruptures.  Now, after FDA approval, they are increasingly and unnecessarily being prescribed for less critical infections such as sinusitis that other antibiotics can effectively treat.

This year, the FDA issued significant warnings and labelling changes due to an accumulation of adverse event reports.  This past July, the FDA strengthened warnings that this class of drugs can cause serious mental disturbances including disorientation, agitation, memory impairment, nervousness as well as blood sugar disturbances including hypoglycemic coma.

Now, the FDA heralds a more serious warning: the “FLOXIN” antibiotics tendency to weaken connective tissue can lead to a sudden rupture of the aorta, the high-pressure “fire hose” leading from your heart and distributing arterial blood back to the heart itself, your brain, and to other vital organs.  If an aortic tear occurs, sudden death can follow.  If you’re luckier, an excruciating back pain may drive you to the hospital where a risky operation often requiring cardiac bypass may stabilize your situation.

Persons with high blood pressure, known vascular disease especially aortic aneurysms, advanced age, neurologic conditions, and diabetes should not take the “FLOXIN” antibiotics.  If you are taking one of them, immediately ask your doctor if another, safer drug may be substituted.

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/2UGAW5ndXMI

#fluoroquinolones #floxinantibiotics #aorta #aorticaneurysm #aorticrupture #diabetes #hypertension #psychiatricdisease, ciprofloxacin #levofloxacin #ofloxacin #moxifloxacin #healthnews #radionews

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm628960.htm

https://www.empr.com/safety-alerts-and-recalls/fluoroquinolone-antibiotics-hypoglycemic-coma-psychiatric-adverse-reactions-labeling-update/article/779706/

If you’re taking an antibiotic with “FLOXACIN” in its name, listen up.  The FDA wants you to know that the drug can weaken the walls of your aorta leading to deadly ruptures.

The fluoroquinolone antibiotics including ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin), ofloxacin (Floxin), and moxifloxacin (Avelox) and a few others have been around for more than 30 years, and they can be invaluable for treating some nasty bacteria that other drugs won’t touch.  Although used in Europe, their approval by the FDA for use in the USA was delayed for many years by concerns about their tendency to weakening connective tissues leading to tendon ruptures.  Now, after FDA approval, they are increasingly and unnecessarily being prescribed for less critical infections such as sinusitis that other antibiotics can effectively treat.

This year, the FDA issued significant warnings and labelling changes due to an accumulation of adverse event reports.  This past July, the FDA strengthened warnings that this class of drugs can cause serious mental disturbances including disorientation, agitation, memory impairment, nervousness as well as blood sugar disturbances including hypoglycemic coma.

Now, the FDA heralds a more serious warning: the “FLOXIN” antibiotics tendency to weaken connective tissue can lead to a sudden rupture of the aorta, the high-pressure “fire hose” leading from your heart and distributing arterial blood back to the heart itself, your brain, and to other vital organs.  If an aortic tear occurs, sudden death can follow.  If you’re luckier, an excruciating back pain may drive you to the hospital where a risky operation often requiring cardiac bypass may stabilize your situation.

Persons with high blood pressure, known vascular disease especially aortic aneurysms, advanced age, neurologic conditions, and diabetes should not take the “FLOXIN” antibiotics.  If you are taking one of them, immediately ask your doctor if another, safer drug may be substituted.

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/2UGAW5ndXMI

#fluoroquinolones #floxinantibiotics #aorta #aorticaneurysm #aorticrupture #diabetes #hypertension #psychiatricdisease, ciprofloxacin #levofloxacin #ofloxacin #moxifloxacin #healthnews #radionews

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm628960.htm

https://www.empr.com/safety-alerts-and-recalls/fluoroquinolone-antibiotics-hypoglycemic-coma-psychiatric-adverse-reactions-labeling-update/article/779706/

Unpredictable income can be deadly, and that reality is all too common in today’s so-called gig economy.  A collaborative study from the Universities of Miami, Minnesota, California at San Francisco, Northwestern, and Massachusetts of nearly 400 persons 23 to 35 years of age was launched in 1990, and the subjects were monitored for 25 years.

Those relatively young persons without steady jobs and ping pong incomes were twice as likely as consistently employed persons to develop cardiovascular disease including heart attack and stroke and were twice as likely to die.  This conclusion underscores just how stressful personal economic turmoil can be.

If you are subject to income fluctuations due to participation in the gig economy, take precautions to avoid tragedy.  Live a healthy lifestyle with sensible eating, abundant exercise, avoidance of smoking and excessive drinking, and stable relationships for stress reduction.  Be on the lookout for trouble by having regular check-ups and surveillance of your health.

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/tfzgr7QQHjg

Fluctuatingincome #heartattack #stroke #earlydeath #gigeconomy #healthnews #radionews

American Heart Association. "Fluctuating personal income may be associated with an increased heart disease risk." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 7 January 2019. .

Unpredictable income can be deadly, and that reality is all too common in today’s so-called gig economy.  A collaborative study from the Universities of Miami, Minnesota, California at San Francisco, Northwestern, and Massachusetts of nearly 400 persons 23 to 35 years of age was launched in 1990, and the subjects were monitored for 25 years.

Those relatively young persons without steady jobs and ping pong incomes were twice as likely as consistently employed persons to develop cardiovascular disease including heart attack and stroke and were twice as likely to die.  This conclusion underscores just how stressful personal economic turmoil can be.

If you are subject to income fluctuations due to participation in the gig economy, take precautions to avoid tragedy.  Live a healthy lifestyle with sensible eating, abundant exercise, avoidance of smoking and excessive drinking, and stable relationships for stress reduction.  Be on the lookout for trouble by having regular check-ups and surveillance of your health.

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/tfzgr7QQHjg

Fluctuatingincome #heartattack #stroke #earlydeath #gigeconomy #healthnews #radionews

American Heart Association. "Fluctuating personal income may be associated with an increased heart disease risk." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 7 January 2019. .

Repeated miscarriages, that is 3 pregnancy losses in a row each before 20 weeks of gestation, are usually thought to be due to maternal factors including uterine defects, infection, hormonal imbalances, and autoimmune disease.  A study from Imperial College, London, now suggests that flawed sperm may also play a key role in some miscarriages.

After analyzing the sperm of 50 men whose partners experienced recurrent miscarriages and compared them with sperm from 60 males whose partners had delivered successfully, the investigators found twice the incidence of DNA damage in the recurrent miscarriage group.  The damage may be done by an excess of reactive oxygen species that, in normal quantities, protect sperm from bacterial infection.

Isolated miscarriage occurs in about 15% of pregnancies, but recurrent miscarriage happens in only 1-2% of pregnancies.  If you are experiencing recurrent miscarriages, be certain that both you and your partner are studied.

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/oJszVtWkY-E

#Recurrentmiscarriage #miscarriage #sperm #healthnews #womenshealthcare #radionews

Channa N. Jayasena, Utsav K. Radia, Monica Figueiredo, Larissa Franklin Revill, Anastasia Dimakopoulou, Maria Osagie, Wayne Vessey, Lesley Regan, Rajendra Rai, Waljit S. Dhillo. Reduced Testicular Steroidogenesis and Increased Semen Oxidative Stress in Male Partners as Novel Markers of Recurrent Miscarriage. Clinical Chemistry, 2019; 65 (1): 161 DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2018.289348

Repeated miscarriages, that is 3 pregnancy losses in a row each before 20 weeks of gestation, are usually thought to be due to maternal factors including uterine defects, infection, hormonal imbalances, and autoimmune disease.  A study from Imperial College, London, now suggests that flawed sperm may also play a key role in some miscarriages.

After analyzing the sperm of 50 men whose partners experienced recurrent miscarriages and compared them with sperm from 60 males whose partners had delivered successfully, the investigators found twice the incidence of DNA damage in the recurrent miscarriage group.  The damage may be done by an excess of reactive oxygen species that, in normal quantities, protect sperm from bacterial infection.

Isolated miscarriage occurs in about 15% of pregnancies, but recurrent miscarriage happens in only 1-2% of pregnancies.  If you are experiencing recurrent miscarriages, be certain that both you and your partner are studied.

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/oJszVtWkY-E

#Recurrentmiscarriage #miscarriage #sperm #healthnews #womenshealthcare #radionews

Channa N. Jayasena, Utsav K. Radia, Monica Figueiredo, Larissa Franklin Revill, Anastasia Dimakopoulou, Maria Osagie, Wayne Vessey, Lesley Regan, Rajendra Rai, Waljit S. Dhillo. Reduced Testicular Steroidogenesis and Increased Semen Oxidative Stress in Male Partners as Novel Markers of Recurrent Miscarriage. Clinical Chemistry, 2019; 65 (1): 161 DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2018.289348