InfoTrak

An American Psychiatric Association report found that Americans have experienced a 51% increase in anxiety levels in the past two years. Laurie Nadel, PhD, a psychotherapist who specializes in treating acute stress, anxiety and PTSD, author of The Five Gifts: Discovering Hope, Healing and Strength When Disaster Strikes said the report illustrates an epidemic of anxiety issues, including PTSD. She said it can be triggered just by watching disturbing images on electronic devices, causing what she terms “vicarious traumatization.” She outlined five techniques that may help those suffering from mental trauma.

Jamie Cooper, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Foods and Nutrition at the University of Georgia led a study that found that stepping on the bathroom scale once per day may help to avoid weight gain. She said the average adult gains 1-2 lbs over each vacation or holiday period, and normally doesn’t lose it afterwards. She said although people may walk more and get other forms of physical activity during vacations, they tend to eat more.

Rachel Moon, MD, Pediatrician and Researcher at the University of Virginia Children's Hospital was the lead author of a study that found that babies are dying in car seats when the child is out of the car and sleeping. When looking at infant deaths in sitting devices, like car seats and strollers, her team found that more than two-thirds occurred while in car seats. In those cases, parents were using the car seats as directed less than 10% of the time. She stressed the importance of educating parents to use a crib or bassinet when they are at home.

Rachel Moon, MD, Pediatrician and Researcher at the University of Virginia Children's Hospital was the lead author of a study that found that babies are dying in car seats when the child is out of the car and sleeping. When looking at infant deaths in sitting devices, like car seats and strollers, her team found that more than two-thirds occurred while in car seats. In those cases, parents were using the car seats as directed less than 10% of the time. She stressed the importance of educating parents to use a crib or bassinet when they are at home.

A recent investigation by the Food and Drug Administration found toxic per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in a wide variety of produce, meats and processed foods. David Andrews, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Environmental Working Group outlined the health dangers. He said food packaging is a major source of the chemicals, along with contaminated water and soil used to grown the food. He would like to see greatly increased government regulation and monitoring of the chemicals.

Joshua Gotbaum Guest Scholar in the Economic Studies Program at The Brookings Institution, and Chair of the Maryland Small Business Retirement Security Board said the retirement industry has spent decades largely sidestepping perhaps the biggest question most Americans have about retirement planning: how much of their earnings should they be saving? He cited research from the Employee Benefits Research Institute that recommends saving at least 10% of each paycheck. He stressed that Millennials should begin saving in earnest as soon as they enter the workforce.

Corporate psychologist and management consultant Patricia Thompson, Ph.D., author of The Consummate Leader: A Holistic Guide to Inspiring Growth in Others…and in Yourself

Corporate psychologist and management consultant Patricia Thompson, Ph.D., author of The Consummate Leader: A Holistic Guide to Inspiring Growth in Others…and in Yourself

Karen Page Winterich, PhD IS Associate Professor of Marketing, Frank and Mary Smeal Research Fellow, Penn State University. Dr. Winterich’s research team conducted six studies that found that when consumers are aware that recyclables are transformed into new items, they recycle more. She believes that improving consumer education should be a priority for any organization seeking to increase recycling.

Stefanos N. Kales, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School co-authored a recent study that suggested that the number of push-ups a middle-aged man can perform might be a strong indication of his overall heart health. He found that men who can do more than 40 pushups in one minute have a 96 percent reduced risk of heart attack, stroke and heart disease compared with men who could muster fewer than 10. He also noted that push-up capacity appears to be a better and obviously less costly measurement of heart health than the standard treadmill test routinely used by cardiologists.