UF Health Podcasts

A new survey of Americans reveals that a third of us are exhausted even after rolling out of bed in the morning. By lunch, the average person’s energy levels begin to rapidly fade.

In a sense, their workday ends hours before they leave the workplace.

Physicians worry that the continual grind of life in the computer age, with its endless electronic distractions and duties, takes a cumulative toll on the body. If we don’t spend time winding down and relaxing effectively, the stress builds and can adversely affect our health.

The representative survey of 2,000 Americans by Talker Research, a market research firm, shows about half report they feel wiped even after a day off.

How respondents try to combat that midday energy drain is instructive. A quarter of those whose energy is spent by noon turn to caffeine. Another 15% turn up the music on their earbuds. Surprisingly, about the same number sneak off for a nap.

Indeed, a quarter of those polled believe that a minor change in habit, such as drinking more water, can rejuvenate them.

The experts insist that maintaining our energy stores requires we actively seek out what works best to keep us energized. Hydration, better quality sleep and meaningful downtime can, for example, make a significant impact.

The poll also shows that many Americans blame their fatigue on endless household chores, financial woes, bad weather and dull social interactions.

It doesn’t hurt if you love your work. Boredom or lack of enthusiasm is an energy vampire. Happy people, science has shown, live healthier and longer lives.

Anyone who’s struggled to stand up straight after a long car ride or felt restless while sitting through a movie knows that arthritic knees are no fun.

And while more than 10% of knee arthritis patients get cortisone or other shots to relieve the pain, a new study suggests the practice may be linked to faster joint damage in the long run.

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, analyzed data from more than 200 patients who were part of the Osteoarthritis Initiative, a project that tracked Americans with knee problems from 2004 to 2015.

The team used detailed MRI scans to assess knee-joint health. They evaluated images from two years before injections, at the time of injections and two years after.

Then, they performed a comprehensive assessment of cartilage, bone marrow, meniscus, ligaments and fluid buildup.

Researchers found that patients who received cortisone shots showed more signs of arthritis progression compared with those who either got no treatment at all or a different type of injection.

Meanwhile, patients who got hyaluronic acid injections — a gel-like lubricant for joints — avoided signs of worsening arthritis and showed less disease progression on MRI scans.

The researchers made clear, however, that the findings do not prove steroid injections cause arthritis to progress faster. Their study was observational and could not account for all differences between patients. Still, the results raise important questions.

Current guidelines call for cortisone shots for short-term pain relief and advise against the routine use of hyaluronic acid injections.

Next steps, as they say: Before you go for the needle, talk to your doctor.

Has your pet shown abnormal behavior lately, such as hiding or growling? Our animals can’t tell us when they’re hurting and assessing pain in our pets can be difficult. It’s important that pet owners are in tune with any changes in behavior, including the way your pet stands, walks or even looks at you. On this archived show, Dr. Elizabeth Maxwell, a surgical oncology specialist, will discuss why pain assessment is so important, why contacting your veterinarian is critical if you suspect your pet is in pain and different methods of pain management.

There are those who live to drink coffee, and those who drink coffee to live. Now, a new study suggests that a cup of joe could be doing more than just jumpstarting the day — it could be extending your life.

Adults who drank one to three cups of caffeinated coffee per day had between a 14% to 17% lower risk of dying early, compared with those who skipped coffee entirely.

The study analyzed data from 46,000 adults ages 20 years and older, and categorized consumption based on preferences like whether participants drank their coffee black or added cream and sugar.

Notably, the strongest benefits showed up in those who drank their coffee black or with only small amounts of cream or sugar. When people added large quantities of those tasty extras to their coffee, the longevity benefits disappeared. Additionally, those who drank more than three cups of black coffee per day did not see the same lower mortality risk, especially when it came to heart disease.

With nearly half of Americans reporting that they drink at least one cup of coffee per day, understanding how it impacts our health is important, according to the study. Researchers also pointed out that the health benefits of black coffee are likely derived from the drink’s naturally occurring bioactive compounds.

The study emphasizes that while coffee does convey health benefits, how the coffee is prepared and how much you consume is heavily associated with how much you could profit.

So if coffee is already part of your morning routine, consider keeping it simple. A little less cream and sugar today might mean a few more years to enjoy coffee tomorrow.

There are plenty of old wives’ tales about food before bed. What to eat, what not to eat and whether you should eat all. Now, a new study from researchers in Canada is adding a point against eating cheese just ahead of going to sleep.

The team of scientists studied how diets influence our dreams. In a study that included more than 1,000 participants, 40% reported that certain foods impacted their sleep. One of the standout culprits? Cheese.

The dairy product was associated with some not-so-gouda effects. Specifically, cheese consumption was linked to folks reporting more nightmares than sweet dreams, especially if a participant was lactose intolerant.

Why? Well, it all comes down to digestion.

Cheese is challenging to break down. The amount of fat and protein each morsel of muenster contains means its journey through the digestive tract is slow. At night, we are also not well equipped to digest food. Sleep is an activity that requires your body’s attention in full to achieve its list of hearty benefits. Add in some complicated digestion to the mix, and the focus becomes split between two areas. This affects your sleep quality … and what you get out of it.

Notably, cheese isn’t the only dairy product to impact our sleep. A warm glass of milk before bed can have a benefit. It is easier to digest than cheese, and it possesses the amino acid tryptophan, which helps promote solid shut-eye.

Generally, sleep experts recommend avoiding meals at least two hours before bed. And, if you are lactose intolerant, reconsider dairy consumption of any kind before you hit the hay — it’ll save you the nightmare of a late-night trip to the bathroom.

Who knew a bunch of fat cats could teach us so much?

These chunky cats, however, might just help us shed the pounds.

Got an obese cat? You aren’t alone in overindulging your pet. Six out of 10 cats in the U.S. are overweight. Cats don’t know better. Their humans feed them, after all, and have their own problems walking by the food bowl without stopping.

Researchers at The Ohio State University recently found that dieting cats undergo a significant change in the populations of bacteria in their gut. In fact, it’s thought to be like what happens in their people.

Now, it’s important to understand that a cat just doesn’t step on a scale or look in the mirror and decide they need to trim down to fit into that old collar they wore during their lean, stray years.

No, researchers put a group of the overweight, wannabe tigers on a calorie-restricted diet.

The cats dieted in phases for 12 weeks. Investigators tested the kitty litter poop to find out what bacteria live in their gut.

They found increased levels of a short-chain fatty acid that, in other mammals, is known to regulate appetite and reduce fat. It also offers protection against diabetes and obesity. As levels of the fatty acid rose, so too did levels of a certain bacteria linked to weight loss.

This work suggests the human gut might also be altered with therapeutics in overweight individuals. One idea is that probiotics might be found to help. Scientists are studying the question.

Now, don’t be fooled. If your cat insists on extra treats in the name of science — she’s probably just pulling your paw.

A position statement from the Feline Veterinary Medical Association has explained why some feral kittens respond to socialization better than others.

Strong cat-human bonds are usually forged when kittens are socialized before a certain age. For companion kittens — that is, kittens already used to some human contact — that’s before nine weeks of age. If these kittens don’t have positive interactions with people before then, they may be afraid of humans for the rest of their lives.

When it comes to feral kittens that aren’t used to any human contact, attempted socialization is not recommended after four months of age because of the likely emotional distress. Instead, the association recommends using a trap-neuter-release process, where kittens are captured, neutered and returned outdoors.

With antibiotic resistance growing all the time, researchers are looking for alternatives to fight infections — in people and animals, too. They just may have found some hope in a molecule made by pigs.

Swine dysentery is a bacterial infection that causes serious clinical signs and death in growing pigs. There’s no preventative vaccine — only antibiotics to treat the disease.

After years of analysis, researchers found that pigs that produce more of an immune defense peptide called pBD-5 were less likely to get sick from the bacteria. After the researchers created pBD-5 in the lab, they showed that the synthetic version also inhibited bacterial growth.

In pigs, at least, this discovery may help to boost immunity to fight infections, without having to rely on antibiotics.

A cataract is a clouding of the eye lens that, although not inherently painful, can lead to bigger issues.

An early cataract is often just an incidental finding on your pet’s veterinary exam — like a pinpoint lesion that’s not causing a problem. However, cataracts grow to involve more of the lens, causing a progressive loss of vision. Cataracts can cause other problems too, like increased pressure or inflammation in the eye, which can be painful.

The most common causes of canine cataracts are hereditary disease and diabetes. In cats, chronic intraocular inflammation is most often to blame.

Other problems can cause the eye to appear cloudy, and any of them warrant a veterinary visit. Treatment is available, but it’s most effective sooner versus later.

In the world of competitive employee benefits packages, pet care has become a valuable perk.

With 70% of U.S. workers being pet parents, pet care costs can take a significant bite out of wages. Balancing work with pet care can also be stressful and adversely impact employee productivity. Now, an increasing number of companies are taking note and offering pet-related benefits and pet-friendly work policies.

These days, employee benefit packages may include pet insurance or stipends to apply toward pet food, supplies or day care costs. And some companies have created pet-friendly environments so employees can bring their fur babies to work. Flexible work hours and increased remote time can also help employees balance work and pet care responsibilities.