Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/EQ7EgP1MNSM

It’s an old saw, but a French study just published in the journal Stroke puts yet another black mark next to the concept of overwork.  Working long hours, defined as 10 hours a day for at least 50 days a year will increase your risk of stroke by 29%.  If you consistently work long hours for 10 or more years, your risk of a stroke rises to 45%.

You’re probably saying, “I’ll bet those statistics are for old people.”  You’d be wrong.  The study tabulated data from nearly 144,000 people aged 18 to 69 years, and the risk of stroke for those working the long hours over a 10 year period was greater if the individual was under the age of 50.  

The risks were lower among farmers, business owners, professionals, and managers suggesting that the stress of having less control over your work life may well be a key factor.  We should all take these results to heart and play as hard as we work.

Marc Fadel, Grace Sembajwe, Diana Gagliardi, Fernando Pico, Jian Li, Anna Ozguler, Johannes Siegrist, Bradley A. Evanoff, Michel Baer, Akizumi Tsutsumi, Sergio Iavicoli, Annette Leclerc, Yves Roquelaure, Alexis Descatha. Association Between Reported Long Working Hours and History of Stroke in the CONSTANCES Cohort. Stroke, 2019; DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.119.025454

#Work #overwork #stroke

Vidcast:  tps://youtu.be/KAKxzmjoacw

So you’re out of shape and finding your body toning workout impossibly grueling.  A  Canadian study just published in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise shows that listening to upbeat music as you work up that sweat will sweeten your experience.

Music is a known dissociative influence that distracts you from the consequences of exercise including sore muscles and heavy breathing.  The investigators exposed a group of 24 exercisers to each of 3 different audio experiences: upbeat, swinging music, a non-musical podcast, or no sound.  

The subjects demonstrated better performance and reported a more enjoyable experience when they were “sweatin’ to the oldies” or any fast-paced tunes.  Their heart rates also increased as though the fast music was almost serving as a heart metronome.

So create a swinging playlist to accompany your exercise, and those many minutes of seeming physical torture will fly on by.

Matthew J. Stork, Costas I. Karageorghis, Kathleen A. Martin Ginis. Let’s Go: Psychological, psychophysical, and physiological effects of music during sprint interval exercise. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 2019; 45: 101547 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.101547#Music #exercise #upbeat

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/HHJZs5YRDXU

You know you should exercise but you don’t have the time or money for a health club.  A British study just published in the Journal of Physiology shows that you can keep fit with three 20 minute home sessions a week using high intensity training and virtual but not direct supervision.

The researchers studied some of the toughest cases, 32 obese adults at risk for significant heart disease participating in one of three exercise regimens for 3 months.  The data showed that that those subjects using the three weekly 20 minute self-directed high intensity home exercise programs without the use of equipment showed the same benefits as those in a professionally supervised high intensity training program at a gym or a more leisurely 150 minutes a week moderate intensity home training program.  The benefits of all programs included reduced cardiovascular disease risk, better glucose metabolism, and improved body composition.

This study supports use of inexpensive structured home exercises for those in need of cardiovascular rehab training.  If you have the need, your physical therapist can design such a program for you to use at home that which will be cost effective and convenient.

Sam N. Scott, Sam O. Shepherd, Nicola Hopkins, Ellen A. Dawson, Juliette A. Strauss, David J. Wright, Robert G. Cooper, Pradesh Kumar, Anton J. M. Wagenmakers, Matthew Cocks. Home-HIT improves muscle capillarisation and eNOS/NAD(P)Hoxidase protein ratio in obese individuals with elevated cardiovascular disease risk. The Journal of Physiology, 2019; DOI: 10.1113/JP278062

#Cardiacrehab #homeHIIT #HIIT

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/dzrI4PAJc3E

A Brazilian study just presented last week at the American Society for Microbiology reminds us just how contaminated our cell phones can be.  Forty percent of the phones carried by university students were infested with antibiotic-resistant Staph Aureus.  Even more frightening but not surprising is that fact that the majority of such phones were in the hands of nursing students risking spread to their patients.

This is nothing new as previous studies over the past years have demonstrated E. coli bacteria, influenza viruses, and a raft of other contaminants on phones.  One study proved that your phone was at least 10 times dirtier than your toilet seat.  

Your own phone is unlikely to make you sick, but it can spread bug to others if they touch it or via tables on which it is placed. Microbiologists recommend decontaminating your phone at least once a day with disinfectant wipes, a foam hand sanitizer, or a UV smartphone sanitizer and charger.

American Society for Microbiology. "Dissemination of pathogenic bacteria by university student's cell phones." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 June 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/19

https://cals.arizona.edu/news/why-your-cellphone-has-more-germs-toilet

#Smartphone #bacteria #Staph

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/QAUrV6t24sc

The non-psychoactive component of weed may be one way to control menacing supergerms that are no longer sensitive to our strongest antibiotics.  Australian microbiologists presented their exciting findings at last week’s meeting of the American Society For Microbiology.

Studies of topical CBD as treatment for a variety of skin conditions revealed that this agent can kill antibiotic-resistant Staph Aureus, known as MRSA, and antibiotic-resistant Strep Pneumoniae or Pneumococcus.  The CBD could also kill bacteria hiding in biofilms, those mucus layers that typically sequester nasty bacteria permitting them to evade many antibiotics.

CBD is already used for treatment of epilepsy and thought to be helpful for management of anxiety, pain, and inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.  It may soon be added to our infectious disease-fighting toolbox as well.

American Society for Microbiology. "Cannabidiol is a powerful new antibiotic." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 23 June 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190623143055.htm

#CBD #cannabis #Staph #Strep #antibiotic

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/vr8B0vBAEoI

Nearly one- quarter to one-third of women surveyed in two recent psychological studies admitted that they only set up a date to get a free meal.  This so-called “foodie call” phenomenon was analyzed by teams at Azusa Pacific University and UC-Merced.

The researchers surveyed a total of nearly 1200 women # The two-thirds to three-quarters of women who had not been on a foodie call felt that the practice was morally objectionable.

The “foodie call” women were more likely to have so-called “dark triad” personality traits of narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism.  Many also have one night stands and faked orgasms. 

Men were not studied, but the psychologists hypothesize that the “foodie call” sham can be perpetrated by all genders.  A trying for a free meal isn’t the worst male dating infraction.

Society for Personality and Social Psychology. "Foodie calls: Dating for a free meal (rather than a relationship)." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 June 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/19.

#Freemeal #foodiecall #darktriad

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/wyBHE3qHJ2o

If you’re suffering stomach and esophageal ache from enjoying Buffalo wings or accidentally swallowing that red pepper hidden in your Szechuan chicken , the food scientists at Penn State have some first aid for you.  It turns out that the best liquid for neutralizing pepper burn is good old milk.

The study looked at 72 subjects each using 7 different liquids as rescues after drinking a hot Bloody Mary mix containing Scoville-rich red peppers.  Milk, regular and skim, followed by Kool Aid were best at relieving the pepper pain.  Carbonated beverages such as cola, seltzer, and beer helped the least.  Plain old water was in-between.

So if you find yourself the victim of some hot sauce at a barbecue or elsewhere, quickly swig some milk.  In the pinch, I’ll bet that ice cream would also do the trick.

Penn State. "Milk: Best drink to reduce burn from chili peppers." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 June 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190625133526.htm.

#Hotsauce #pepper #milk

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Yi3WTYMJtcw

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

Here are this weeks stories :

Medical Reversals Make Some Therapy Obsolete

Visiting Mother Nature Is Healthy

White Coat Hypertension Is Dangerous

Eat Lots Of Red Meat And Die Earlier

Exercise Effects Differ Day Versus Night

Move Away From That Pregnant Woman

Overweight Kids Develop High Blood Pressure

American Baby-making Peaks In Summer

Are Your Social Media Accounts Better Than Fitbit For Predicting Health?

Cool It As You Exercise

Video Games Lead To Obesity But Not For Whom You Think

Teens Lured To Tanning Salons And Later Cancer

Your Facebook Posts Leave Clues To Disease

Fear Of Trying Foods Bad For Your Nutrition

Yogurt Prevents Bowel Polyps And Cancer

For show notes and references to for the stories, check out my website at:https://www.drhowardsmith.com/june-2019-3rd-week-health-news

#Medicalreversals #guidelines #RCT #randomizedtrials #Outdoors #health #exercise  #Hypertension #whitecoathypertension #bloodpressure #Redmeat #death #bacon #hotdogs #Exercise #circadianrhythm #Pregnancy #personalspace #Obesity #overweight #hypertension #Coolingvest #overheating #athletics #Conception #delivery #summer #spring #Friends #Foodphobia #diabetes #obesity #neophobia #socialnetwork #fitbit #wearables #exercise #wellness #Gingivitis #dentaldisease #livercancer #Tanning #adolescents #melanoma #Facebook #diagnosis #lifestyle #Yogurt #polyps #cancer 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Dw1wOG3lpec

Eating yogurt twice a week lowers a man’s risk of developing adenomatous, cancer-producing polyps by 26%.   Researchers studied colonoscopy data from over 88,000 participants in the continuing Health Professionals and Nurses Health Studies.  Sadly, the data did not show any beneficial association between yogurt consumption and polyps in women.

The investigators feel that the live culture bacteria found in yogurt likely feed on the carcinogenic substances found in the gastrointestinal tract.  They also point to yogurt’s known anti-inflammatory properties as helpful in reducing colon adenoma formation.

So guys—try to enjoy several cups of yogurt a week especially if you have a personal or family history of bowel polyps or bowel cancer.

BMJ. "Yogurt may help to lower pre-cancerous bowel growth risk in men: Observed association strongest for growths highly likely to become cancerous." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 18 June 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190618192027.htm.

#Yogurt #polyps #cancer 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/k8fA_BxQ9d4

If you avoid trying new foods, so called food neophobia, you might just be starving your body of proper nutrients leading to obesity and declining health.  Population data on some 4000 subjects was tabulated by two Finnish universities and just published in The American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition.

Food fear was associated with a reduced dietary quality with less fiber, protein, and monounsaturated fats, increased fasting insulin, a greater risk of type 2 diabetes, unwanted weight gain, and more cardiovascular disease.  Food neophobia, common in kids and senior citizens, seems to be hereditary in up to 78% of cases.

The news you should use here is that a varied diet is a healthy diet.  Trying new things is also as good for your psyche as it turns out to be for your body.

Heikki V Sarin, Nele Taba, Krista Fischer, Tonu Esko, Noora Kanerva, Leena Moilanen, Juha Saltevo, Anni Joensuu, Katja Borodulin, Satu Männistö, Kati Kristiansson, Markus Perola. Food neophobia associates with poorer dietary quality, metabolic risk factors, and increased disease outcome risk in population-based cohorts in a metabolomics study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2019; DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz100

#Foodphobia #diabetes #obesity #neophobia