Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CsAnbDhMTRO/

Daily smokers of electronic cigarettes are more than twice as likely as those who never smoked e-cigarettes to report erectile dysfunction or ED.  Epidemiologists at NYU report this finding after analyzing data on 45,971 adults 18 years and older.

In the study group, 13,711 males provided information about any problems with ED as well as information about their use of e-cigarettes, any history of cardiovascular disease, and exercise habits.  The analysis showed that daily e-cigarette users were 2.2 times more likely than never-users to experience ED. Those e-cig users with a CV disease history were even more likely to have ED at 2.4 times.  The good news is that exercise seems to protect against the development of ED.

My advice guys: don’t use e-cigarettes and exercise vigorously.

https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(21)00429-3/fulltext#

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-12-e-cigarettes-independently-linked-erectile-dysfunction.html

#ecigarette #erectivedysfuction #ed #cardiovasculardisease #exercise

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CsAmXlWLMRh/

Teens with higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids have longer attention spans and reduced impulsivity.  Spanish epidemiologists measured the levels of fish-based DHA and plant-based ALA score in the red blood cells of 332 teens with a mean age of nearly 14 years.

Their data revealed that those with the highest levels of DHA scored best on tests of attention span and focus and shorter reaction times.  Higher levels of ALA in contrast correlated best with low impulsivity. 

DHA is found fish including salmon, trout, tuna, cod, herring and a variety of shellfish such as mussels, oysters clams, and crab.  Good sources of ALA are spinach, broccoli, tomato, green peas, brussel sprouts, and rice.

Parents adding these foods to their teens’ diets should be rewarded with not only better report cards from school but also enhanced cooperation at home.

https://optinghealth.com/foods-high-in-dha/?utm_source=MicrosoftAds&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=foods-high-in-dha&utm_term=foods%20high%20in%20dha&utm_content=Foods-ECPC-PARTNERS-US

https://www.myfooddata.com/articles/foods-high-in-DHA.php

https://superfoodly.com/top-10-list-of-foods-high-in-alpha-lipoic-acid-ala/

#omega3fatty acids #DHA #ALA #attention #impulsivity #teenagers

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CsAldFvNxtA/

Bariatic surgery for obese individuals with non-alcoholic liver disease cuts their risk of heart attacks and strokes by nearly 50%.  Ohio State University informatics researchers along with gastroenterologists and surgeons completed a cohort study of 86,964 morbidly obese persons.

Compared with those who were treated medically, bariatric surgical patients enjoyed a 49% lower risk of all cardiovascular disease.  The surgery group showed a 47% lower risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke and a 50% lower incidence of angina, transient ischemic attacks, focal arterial blockage, and generalized atherosclerosis.

This OSU study underlines the fact that reaching a health weight is life-saving.  Many can do so with healthy eating habits and medically-supervised dietary strategies.  When that fails, it’s time for a trip to the operating room.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2797180

#obesity #bariatric #surgery #dieting #cardiovascular #heartattack #chf #stroke #tia #atherosclerosis

Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/CsAkRM2JJdb/

Fifteen minutes of structured yoga added to a half-hour aerobic exercise program more effectively tones your cardiovascular system than 15 minutes of stretching added to vigorous exercise.  Researchers at the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute demonstrated this phenomenon  in 60 individuals with high blood pressure over a 3 month period.

Those with yoga added to their exercise program enjoyed a greater reduction in their systolic blood pressures, reduced resting heart rates, lower lipid levels, reduced blood glucose, and a lower assessed 10 year risk of cardiovascular disease.  

So far, the investigators cannot explain the mechanism of yoga’s superiority to simple stretching, but studies are ongoing.

https://www.onlinecjc.ca/article/S0828-282X(22)00892-3/fulltext

#yoga #aerobics #stretching #bloodpressure #cardiovascular

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CsAjYmrPUMD/

Following a diet rich in fish, vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans, nuts, and olive oil reduces the risk of preeclampsia by 28%.  Columbia University epidemiologists led a multi center cohort study of 7798 first time mothers with single pregnancies and complete dietary data.

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a 21% lower risk of any adverse pregnancy outcomes, a 28% reduction in preeclampsia, and, wait for it, a 37% lower risk of gestational diabetes.

We know that a Mediterranean diet lowers risks of cardiovascular disease and metabolic problems.  Now we add a lowered risk of preeclampsia with its elevated blood pressure, kidney and liver problems, and later seizures to the list of benefits.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2799855

#Mediterraneandiet #pregnancy #preeclampsia #diabetes

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cruy-DXMX26/

Dr. Smith takes an on-air call from a woman with a late menstrual period.  They discuss signs of pregnancy, home and in-office pregnancy testing, and reasons for late periods.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-is-my-period-late/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/menstrual-cycle/art-20047186

#lateperiod #pregnancy #pregnancytest #menstrualcycle #wbznewsradio

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Crux4fxtl9s/

Dr. Smith speaks with a male caller with a unilateral throat tickle.  They discuss the fact that a tickle is the mildest form of pain.  Dr. Smith also cautions about the danger of one-sided throat pain.

https://www.healthline.com/health/sore-throat-on-one-side#swollen-lymph-nodes

#throatpain #unilateral #tonsillitis #peritonsillarabscess #neckabscess #tickle #wbznewsradio

Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cruw-_FNaY1/

Exercising regularly not only tones your muscles but also the executive control center in your brain.  This is the conclusion of a study by Columbia University neurologists.

They studied 132 couch potatos of all ages and split them into two groups each with an identical age profile, gender distribution, educational background, and test scores on cognitive exams.  One group started regular aerobic exercise while the other group pursued non-strenuous stretching and toning.

The subjects who were aerobically exercising by either treadmill walking, stationery cycling, or using an ellipical machine scored twice as high on problem-solving tests as those only stretching.  Those aerobic exercisers who were middle-aged tested as though they had the executive brain powers of those 10 years younger while elder exercisers performed as though they were a whopping 20 years younger.

Aerobic exercise is good at any age, but it really pays off as you get older.

Yaakov Stern, Anna MacKay-Brandt, Seonjoo Lee, Paula McKinley, Kathleen McIntyre, Qolamreza Razlighi, Emil Agarunov, Matthew Bartels, Richard P. Sloan. Effect of aerobic exercise on cognition in younger adults A randomized clinical trial. Neurology, 2019 DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000007003

#aerobics #executivefunction #cognitiveimprovement 

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cruv-nQr_q3/

Contrary to urban legend, the best-liked kids are not always the best-looking, athletic, or smartest.  They are the most fun!  Psychologists at the Florida Atlantic University and Montreal’s Concordia University performed a longitudinal study on 1273 pre-teens 9-12 years of age.

The data reveal that being fun, stimulating other kids with upbeat creativity and sometimes mischievous behaviors, is a peer magnet.  The poster child for fun is Ferris Bueller.  The school principal hates him but ..... (clip: He’s a righteous dude!

Fun leads to status. Then elevated social status often translates into lifetime success. 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jopy.12546

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200423093725.htm

#fun #popularity #success #ferrisbueller

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CruvLBYOSKW/

Consistent consumption of mushrooms may reduce your risk of cancer by as much as 34%.  Penn State public health and food scientists report this observation after their meta-analysis of 17 observational studies published between 1966 and 2020 with data for more than 19,500 cancer patients.

The beneficial effect of mushrooms was particularly strong for breast cancer patients and many of the reports focused on this type of cancer.  Comparing the risk of non-breast cancer for the highest mushroom consumers versus the lowest revealed only a 20% benefit.

Mushrooms are an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.  Shiitake, oyster, maitake and king oyster mushrooms are particularly rich in the powerful antioxidant ergothioneine.

https://academic.oup.com/advances/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/advances/nmab015/6174025?redirectedFrom=fulltext

#cancer #mushrooms #antioxidants #ergothoneine